When the Moment comes

Severus averted his eyes concentrating on the leaf patterns on the rug as he held out another outfit helping his stepbrother into it. Basil in boxers is not a sight he ever wanted imprinted in his memory. The flabby parts trembled like a jelly, the entire mass reminiscent of a huge, melted snowman.

“Kerdo honey this one should be saved for the second ball.” Tanya examined her son like a hawk. Kerdo mumbled something affirmative. He showed off in front the life size mirror thinking himself irresistible. On the day of the announcement he sent owl post to his mother and Tanya before afternoon ordered six different outfits for each of her sons.

Cleaning the toilets after a ravenous pack of trolls went through them was a more pleasant chore than having to endure collective family praise for his stepbrothers. Their egos were in no need of farther improvement, Severus mused grimly. It was strange how fast the crest of interest skipped from one subject to another. Only a week ago, all the students could talk about was a group of masked wizards who abducted teenagers in the neighbouring regions. Speculations were made that Death Eaters were once again on the move collecting recruits. All fears vanished as soon as the arrival of the royal family was announced. All houses in Hogwarts lost more points in one month than last year in one semester. The notes were passed around with tips about the best tailor, newest hairstyles and hints on the make up styles.

“We will finish in the evening.” Tanya said to Severus' greatest relief. “The dance instructor should be here any moment. Go out and greet him.” Her sons obeyed. Severus hoped she might follow them so he could work in peace on his regular chores however she surveyed him until he was most uncomfortable. Every year he asked permission to go to the Halloween party and he was never allowed, thus he was not about to ask again. “What about you?” Tanya asked coldly refraining from additional insult. “Do you want to go?”

Severus wished she would go away. “Yes mam, I wish to go but you do not want me to attend.” He answered putting aside the games. She will be able to extract the truth eventually.

“Pray tell me why not?” She prompted.

“Since I was not worthy to attend regular celebrations, this one is surely too fancy for me to even dream about it.” Expertly he kept the bitter notes out of the flat tone.

“Of course you are not worthy.” Tanya agreed venomously. “However,” she made sure to have his undivided attention, “I am willing to give you permission.” It had to be a trick, Severus decided. She would never do anything kind for him. “Under certain conditions.” Perhaps she knew that his lack of reaction was based on mistrust. “You are to attend as my son’s personal servant. You are to carry and fetch for them and to fulfill their demands. Is that clear?”

Severus considered what sounded a lot like an order. So, this was for the benefit of showing off. She hoped to impress everyone. He could imagine what the Marauders would say when they saw him but they were awful to him anyway and it was a small price to pay to attend the ball. “Yes mam. I would like that.” He replied politely.

“Good. And don’t you dare mess up on purpose. You will regret it.” Her threats were never idle. “You can attend the ball assuming that in addition to your regular chores you can complete few assignments I have for you and if you can find something more presentable to wear.”

“Yes mam.” Tanya fixed him with one last glare and then swept out of the room. Breathing a sigh of relief Severus went around picking up discarded things and cleaning the room. A tiny hope blossomed in his heart and gave him the energy necessary to complete everything as Tanya requested. Close to smiling he went downstairs where upon hearing voices in the living room he altered the path to reach the back yard.

“Meow.” Amber came out of the bushes stretching to greet him. She treated Severus with indifferent negativity when the stepfamily was nearby and snuggled to him when he was alone. During winters she came to the basement and cuddled by the boy’s side at night. Tanya bought her at the market when Amber was still a kitten.

“Good to see you too.” Severus told her. Amber rubbed against his foot purring loudly. “Careful. I don’t want to step on you by accident.” He warned. Previous night, a pile of wood twice his size was delivered to the mansion. He was to carry it to the fuel shack. Severus roguishly examined his surroundings. His stepbrothers enjoyed spying on him and playing tricks. The music floating through the windows proved that both of them were occupied. “Wingardium leviosa.” Severus whispered stretching his hand towards the wood. The pie trembled and slowly lifted off the ground. In the fifth year Severus discovered he could do minor wandless magic. Nothing complicated, however it saved him from many beatings when he was given chores he could not possibly finish fast enough. He was working on creating blue flames. Unfortunately so far only the blue sparks appeared when he snapped fingers. The winter would not be so awful if he could learn the spell.

The aromas streaming from the kitchen made his mouth water. As soon as breakfast was over he was recruited to assist with the masquerade, thus he could not snatch few leftover sandwiches as he would when he cleaned the table. The dance instructor was staying for dinner, Severus deducted because Rosy was cooking, lucky for him. Tanya only made him the waiter in the family atmosphere. She did not want anyone to see him. Severus had no moment to spare, thus he used another door to avoid exchanging words with the house elf. He had to clean all curtains and tapestries and wash the windows on the second floor. His magic could do little to assist him. He could not place a permanent enchant on the brushes that were cleaning the tapestries and they kept falling. He finished three and they were barely done with the first one. It was help nonetheless not to be taken for granted. Everything could have been done with a wand in an instant. He tried to smuggle his wand from Tanya’s room when he was thirteen. There were black gaps in his memory of the incident, the only message left firmly imprinted in his mind was to never, ever try it again.

The windows sparkled after his ministrations. He brought the mass of tapestries back into the house. Amber, who lay in the sun observing his work, followed him curiously. Severus heard the clatter of plates as he hung the curtains in place. With the chore complete he unlocked the trap door to the attic and tip toed upstairs. The attic was a labyrinth. Things like broken brooms, musical instruments, cages and toys belonging to his stepbrothers lay close to the entrance. Severus had something specific in mind. He moved to the back of the room to a huge, old wardrobe. Amber sniffed it suspiciously. Her tail twitched nervously. Severus climbed inside. Soon he emerged holding elegant, dark blue robes. “Don’t you think they are beautiful?” He whispered reverently sliding his fingers along the soft material. “They belonged to my father.” He discovered the wardrobe by accident when he was told to drag Kerdo’s destroyed bike to the attic. He instantly recognised the outfit. Emilian wore this when his son played in the garden. His mother was still alive, Severus dimly registered. He was roughly two years old. A garden gnome jumped out of nowhere snarling and baring his teeth. Severus yelped and ran to his father who lifted him high off the ground and held him close. Emilian was wearing these robes and he was laughing.

Amber meowed in approval and nudged the robes with her nose.

“I know they are a bit out of fashion.” Severus said. He pointed to the ribbons which fixed the sleeves at the elbows. “I will need to make only few minor adjustments, mainly to the length.” He added after brief consideration. His father by far was taller than any wizard who came to visit them, Severus recalled from his childhood.

The bell jerked angrily. “Severus!”

“Oh well. I will have to wait.” The boy muttered running to answer the summons. The instructor must have left.

Tanya was in the living room. Her sons ran past Severus to wreck havoc outside and didn’t miss the opportunity to hit him. Tanya seemed too preoccupied to snarl at any of them. “I forgot to tell you. The widow witches club will be holding meetings during the same nights as the balls. I want you to examine and iron my clothes, once you are done with the first floor cleaning. It better be done by tonight.”

“Yes mam.” Severus replied mildly.

“By the way, I was remiss on something a month ago. Why were there milk stains all over the floor when I distinctly told you to clean it?”

Severus lowered his head. “Sorry mam.” It didn’t matter that those stains must have appeared after he finished cleaning, if they were not made up.

“Don’t think you can get away with it just because a month passed. You will be missing dinner today.” Tanya said. “Go.”

Severus went. They were going to make it as difficult as possible to fulfill all expectations and take away the permission to attend the ball at the first opportunity. He would not let them, he decided firmly. Ignoring the protests of his stomach, Severus grabbed the cleaning brush with renewed stubbornness.