When the Moment comes

He didn’t have enough time to clean up properly again, Severus thought anxiously. He glared at himself into the mirror. His head never looked good no matter what. He used the ribbon which he removed from the robe sleeve to pull the greasy hair strands out of sight. At least the robes were beautiful. He caressed the silky fabric again. He had so little left of his parents, especially of his mother. Tanya removed all pictures and traces of the former Mistress out of sight and burned them when Emilian died. Severus ran downstairs. His cheeks flushed with excitement. “I did it mam.” He called out loud. “I finished everything you asked. Am I allowed to go?”

Tanya and her sons stared at him convoluted like a mass stupefy had hit the room. “Mother! He can’t! He can’t!” Basil exploded tugging her sleeve. Kerdo also weaved his howling into the protest.

“Silence!” Tanya’s hand slashed the air freezing all sound. “A deal is a deal.” She said advancing on Severus. “And I never go back on my word.” She stopped inches away. Her naturally dark green eyes were pools of pitch darkness. “These robes however.” She fingered his collar. “I don’t recall you were ever given the right to touch. You owned no such fancy.” She gestured for her sons to come closer. “What do you think?” She asked them.

“I don’t like them.” Basil said stupidly.

His brother was quicker. “You little thief.” He snarled and grabbed the blue ribbon pulling it off and ripping out Severus’ hair with it.

“He always sneaks around trying to pilfer something.” Basil validated his point by punching the smaller boy in the stomach, very much encouraged by Tanya’s indulgence. Beatings he understood perfectly. Tanya turned to a mirror to adjust the ribbons in her hair. She was not shy to hit but she didn’t like to witness mass violence. She ignored the beatings of her stepson when she was not there to see it. The duo made the best of the opportunity kicking and punching unrestrained. Severus heard the bones crack in his hand when Basil stomped on it. Finally the duo pulled the damaged robe off Severus and threw it into the fireplace. With a strangled yelp the boy tried to rise. Kerdo pushed him and kicked him in the ribs.

Admonishing, “Boys!” put an end to the kicking contest. “The carriage is here. There is no reason for you to get upset before the ball.” Tanya opened the door motioning her sons out. “Severus. Good night.” She told the bloodied form sprawled on the floor.

All the lights in the mansion went out as the door clicked shut. Severus twitched. Taking shallow, pained breaths he crawled to the fireplace. With bare hands he reached into the flame and grabbed what was left of the garment and slapped the remnants of fire until it was gone. He was too numb to feel the burns. Having no energy for anything else he curled up on the cold, stone clutching the ripped and burned remains to his chest. What a fool he was. Tanya made it all up. She never intended for him to attend the ball. She only toyed with his hopes. He shuddered violently. Unwanted tears slid down his cheeks. He shut his eyes tight wishing he was dead. His tears never fell on the floor. They turned into silver crystals which soared about him in a shimmering cloud until they formed into a shape of a woman. Kindly, she stroke boy’s hair and back. The bruises vanished where her hands touched. “There, there, little one.” She whispered softly.

“Go away Rosy.” The boy muttered before he registered unfamiliar voice. His eyes snapped open and he struggled to sit. He was shocked by the sight of a youthful woman with long, silver hair and flowing, silver robes. He knew her youth was an illusion when he saw her eyes; grey and ancient they contained knowledge and ancient wisdom. He must be hallucinating, Severus decided.

“Goodness no! I am your godmother, not a hallucination.” The woman cried out. “What have these monsters done to you?” She took his hands and examined them. Soft glow traveled from her fingertips surrounding both of them. Severus felt the bones shift into right places and heal. The burns were also gone.

This was a very convincing hallucination. Hallucinations did not make the pain to away, although she did it without a wand. “Why.” He ventured.

“Why didn’t I visit you before?” The woman interrupted vividly. “Sweetheart, I’m a druid. We live in isolated communities in places like forbidden forest. Out elders frown upon contacts with other social groups, unless there is an emergency.” She cupped his face gently vanquishing the bruises along the jaw. “Tonight the forest brooks whispered to me and wasters unveiled what is yet to come that must be.” She whispered, unfocused like she could see beyond the folds of the night. “We must hurry. There isn’t much time.” She continued more urgently.

“Excuse me.” Severus interrupted. “Time for what?”

“To get you to the ball of course!” The lady exclaimed like it was the most obvious thing in the world. She dragged Severus to his feet and then produced an elegant birch wand from her sleeve.

Severus almost laughed at her. His outfit got burned in the fireplace. Not to mention his stepbrothers would finish the job and really murder him if he showed up at the ball. “Hey!” He gasped when the lady blew a cloud of shiny powder onto him. Reflexively he tried to wave it away. Something soft tickled his shoulder. He reached out to bat it away only to encounter his hair lock. He glanced into the mirror. The dust worked like a bath removing all grime and bruises. His hair was not dull and greasy. It was soft and it fell in smooth waves on his shoulders. He also noticed that he wore nothing except underwear which was highly inappropriate in the presence of his hallucination. He blushed.

His godmother didn’t seem to notice. She circled around him muttering. “No, no. That certainly is delicate but too pale. Ugh. Certainly not orange. No. Yes!” she smiled victoriously. “I got it.” At the flick of her wand, blue mist surrounded Severus. When it cleared he was dressed in the velvet robes. They were dark green and richly decorated with silver ornaments. “Wear this.” The lady offered him a mask which hid upper part of his face. “Aw, sweetheart, you are so handsome.” She kept smiling as she examined her work. “Just like Emilian. He was absolutely stunning. If your mother didn’t want him, I might have seduced him.”

“Yes mam.” Severus said. He finally resigned that although most friendly, his hallucination was nuts. The robes and the mask he had to admit did a good job hiding his large nose and bony body from view.

“None of that now. This is not a night for brooding.” The godmother said strictly. “My name is Violla, not hallucination, you know.” She hung a pendant with two dark stones at the center around his neck. “This is a port key. Use it discretely.” She explained. “Press the upper stone to be brought to Hogwarts grounds and press lower stone to return home.” Severus nodded. “Now listen even closer. Druid magic is capricious. It will not last infinitely. The charm will wear off at the last stroke of midnight. You must leave the ball before it happens.” Seeing that the boy understood she hugged him. “Good luck.” Violla whispered. Her lips were soft and large on his cheek. She tapped the upper stone.