— The room was dim, the only light coming from the dull flicker of the fireplace. You could hear Tobias’s heavy footsteps approaching, each one more foreboding than the last. You stood by the sink, hands gripping the counter, bracing yourself for what was inevitable. His mood had been dark tonight, the alcohol in his system making him meaner, quicker to anger.

When his hand came down, the slap echoed through the small room, sending a sharp sting across your cheek. You stumbled back, your vision blurring from the impact, but you remained silent. Years of enduring this had taught you that any sound of resistance would only make it worse.

As you straightened up, trying to catch your breath, you saw movement in the doorway. Severus stood there, his small frame barely visible in the shadows, but his face—his wide, dark eyes—locked on you. His fists were clenched tightly at his sides, trembling with a mix of fear and fury.

Tobias, still seething, caught sight of him. “What are you looking at, boy?” he growled, his voice slurring with rage. Severus didn’t answer. He just stared at you, his gaze filled with something you hadn’t seen before—a fierce, protective anger. The room seemed to close in, the tension thick and suffocating.

You wanted to tell him to leave, to not get involved, but the words wouldn’t come. All you could do was hope he wouldn’t become the next target.