Chapter 4



Severus did not return for tea. Eugenie waited for him in the classroom.

Finally she summoned the house elf to remove the tea things. Just before the dinner hour he appeared at the door of the classroom where they took their meals. Eugenie was at her desk putting things in order. She heard the door open and turned to look just as Severus entered.

"Miss. Eugenie?" he said, in a calm quiet voice. "I am sorry for my behavior earlier this day. You are right. It is my responsibility to do what my father wishes." She looked up at him and smiled, but the smile was not returned.

Supper was set upon the schoolroom table as it always was. The house elf quickly arranged things and then departed. Usually this time was full of discussion of the day's studies or plans for side trips to museums or galleries but not tonight. They ate in silence, both picking at the food. When the meal was finished Severus rose and walked to the window. The sun was setting over the lake. Her first instinct was to comfort him, to place her arms around him and hug him like a mother does her child but she knew he would pull away.

"Good Night," he said and he walked to the door that adjoined the classroom to his bed chamber.

"Good Night," she said as he shut the door.

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Sleep would not come to Eugenie that night. The comforting thoughts of work and security were gone from her mind. She knew that finding a new position in a wizarding household would not be hard. Most parents with any position in society wanted their young children schooled at home. Yet it was still the thoughts of the sudden change in her life as she knew it which kept her awake.

As the thoughts tumbled through her head, she began to think back seven months, Isaias was home during the Yule break. He and his friend Lucius. were spending the holiday. Mostly they had ignored Severus and his world of books and boyish dreams. They had more interesting things on their minds, but that day things were different.

She and Severus were in the classroom. Severus was sitting on the floor before the grate playing with a treasured set of toy knights and books of heraldry they had borrowed from the manor library. The knights were carefully lined up when they heard raucous laughing coming down the corridor. Severus recognized the two voices and looked up at the door just before it flung open.

The young men who entered the room were tall and stately with aristocratic features but the opposite in coloring. Isaias' blue black hair and almost milky skin were in strong contrast to Lucius' pale yellow white hair and rose leaf complexion. The young men politely bowed to Miss. Eugenie and continued with their loud conversation. Ignoring Severus, they walked around the school room picking up items and making comments. Finally their eyes landed on Severus.



"Well, little brother, what are you up to today?" Isaias touted as he strode toward the Severus followed by Lucius.

"Look, Lucius," Isaias continued, "his armies are ready for battle." Isaias stooped and plucked one of the knights from the floor and pitched it to his friend. Severus' eyes followed the toy as Lucius began carelessly tossing it into the air.

"You know," Isaias continued, "if we were at school I could make them battle. Not much different from my chess set." Both boys smirked as they looked around the room becoming bored with its contents. Finally Isaias glance settled on the lake that was visible through the frost on the window.

"How about a stroll down by the lake, Lucius, something to do before tea? And, how about if we take the little brother along?" Eugenie looked up at the young men with concern.

"Don't mind, Miss Ermengild," Isaias said with a soft drawl, "We'll keep an eye on the young master, we'll keep him out of trouble." She could see from the glint in his eye and the sarcasm in his voice that he had something planned. Yet she could not refuse to let him go. Severus got up excitedly. It was not often that his beloved brother invited him on an adventure.

Soon Eugenie could see the trio walking along the lane toward the lake. It had been a sunless day and already dusk was beginning to grow. The older boys were walking in tandem with the younger following behind.

It had been a warm autumn and the weather had abruptly turned cold just before Christmas, causing a sudden freeze on the lake. The snow that had fallen during Christmas week had given the grounds a fairy-like appearance. Eugenie remained at the window watching the three. As they neared the lake she saw Lucius remove something from his pocket and begin tossing it in the air and occasionally between the older boys. She could see Severus trying to catch it as they tossed it over his head.

Once they tossed it into the snow. Severus made a dash for it, only to be overtaken by his taller brother who roughly shoved snow in his face as he grabbed the toy from his hand. The older boys kept up with their ruthless game until the object was tossed onto the ice. Again Severus made a dash for the toy.

As Eugenie watched from the classroom window she saw Severus run out onto the ice. The deceiving snow cover on the ice made it appear to be stronger then it was. She gasped in horror as the events unfolded before her. Severus had reached the toy but as he turned the ice before him started to break. As if she was watching in slow motion he began to sink. First the hole was small and as the gap widened he was soon up to his shoulder, grabbing at the crumbling edges.

The older boys had continued walking along the lane and hadn't noticed that Severus was no longer following them. They must have heard the splashes for she could see them turn and look at the spot where Severus should have been. One of the boys turned to run out onto the ice but the other stopped him. Again she could see the splashes of the smaller boy in the icy water. Finally the taller boy broke free of his friend and ran onto the ice.

By this time Eugenie had regained her senses. She grabbed her cloak that hung on the hook by the door and made a mad dash for the entrance hall. As she ran she called out for the house elf that was in charge of Severus and the school room.

"Crow . . . Crow," she shouted, "Master Severus has fallen through the Ice!" She raced through the front door and along the frozen gravel. Her heart throbbed in her chest as she pushed further toward the lake.

As she ran she could see a dark-haired boy lying on the ice trying to pull his brother from cold water. One hand had Severus by the hair and the other was grabbing his cloak as he attempted to pull him up. The surface had become wet and slippery. The water that had splashed up onto the snow-covered ice turned it into a soft and crumbly mess.

With much effort Isaias was able to pull his brother onto the ice. They both lay there in exhaustion. She could see Lucius standing on the shore with his wand in his hand and his mouth hanging open. The suddenness of the situation had left him without words or the use of magic.

"Don't move, the ice is too thin," she shouted out across the ice as she raced the last hundred yards toward the shore. As she ran she pulled her wand from her sleeve, ready to cast the Wingardium Leviosa charm at the boys, but if it was the shock of the cold water or the direction of the breeze Isaias did not hear her. Isaias had regained his strength and rolled from his back as in preparation to kneel.

The ice that was now covered with water had been weakened further and the added weight of the older boy was too much. As he began to move the entire section he was on gave way and he slipped below the surface. Eugenie pointed her wand and screamed the spell but it was too late. She again repeated the chant and unconscious Severus levitated from the ice.

"Accio Severus" she yelled and the limp wet boy began floating to her over the ice.

"Do something, he'll drown!" Eugenie screamed at Lucuis who stood like a statue. "Do something," she repeated. " A rope, we have to get him out of there!" He still did not move. By that time the household staff began to appear.

"Crow will do it Miss. Ermengild," the house elf said anxiously. She quickly conjured a rope that was tied to a nearby tree and around the elf's middle.

Nimbly he ventured out onto the ice toward the gaping hole and the black water. They watched in trepidation as he neared the spot. He slipped and landed near the hole coming close to sliding into the water himself. The ice near the hole appeared to be rotting away as the water lapped its edges. Crow lay on the edge of the ice with his arms and face in the water trying to locate Isaias. He was not to be found.