The pain is growing more difficult than ever and it leaves the wizard in questioning. He grasps his arm and cradle it as if it's broken. He observes his surrounding in the large party gathering that Lucius has arranged for his son's engagement celebration. The way Lucius seems to be in comfort and not acting either. The guests are slowly leaving and more follows through.
"You enjoyed your stay, Severus?" Lucius joins his side.
Severus hums, "It is rather tolerable. May we talk privately?"
Lucius nods and leads the way to the private study room. He sees his son and fiancée properly sending the guests out of the mansion and thanks them for attending. Severus pays no attention to others around him and focuses on the concerns itself. He continues to cradle the pain in his arm and growing more difficult than unusual. Lucius closes the door and locks it up to secure privacy. He turns around to see the professor in the same position, especially cradling his arm strangely.
"Draco has become a wonderful young man, hasn't he, Severus?" Lucius softly smiles.
Severus nods briefly, "He has matured and taken responsibilities of his own, yes. I do have to ask, have your mark cause you any pain? What are you doing to reduce it?"
Lucius freezes his movements and notices that Severus did not waste time into the matter. He locates where the pain would possible be and the way he holds himself together. The way he seems too tense while holding himself and refusing to make more movement of his own. The blond notes the important signs and he moves closer to see how much pain.
"When did it begin?"
Severus glances away, "Two months after the war. It was easy to ignore for a while and now, it becoming unbearable. I have tried pain potion and a few spells, but none of them is working effectively."
Lucius nods and gesture, "May I see?"
Severus allows him and holds the scream in from the movement. Lucius carefully rolls up the sleeve and seeing the mark itself. The way it is still physical in its form and has no faded at all over the years. Lucius carefully uses his finger and traces and Severus hisses loudly. It is clear the pain increases much worse for over a year now.
"Considering we are no longer involved the war, Draco had a similar issue as well. It turns out there is hatred rooted in the marking and enforces the behavior of darkness of those who bears the mark."
Severus blinks, "What is he doing to handle the pain? It is clear he hasn't done any dark deeds and neither have I, Lucius."
Lucius hums, "Of course. It cannot force you unless you do the opposite. Draco noticed the pain faded when he is making love with his girlfriend and it is actually fading away. You, on the other hands, don't have anyone to love."
Severus stares at the blond as if he has gone mad. The thought of loving another has seems impossible for him to believe, yet, he could see Lucius' mark already fading and Draco is much similar case. The evidence is clear in sight to reveal how powerful the dark magic can render a person's life. Lucius notices the expression that Severus has no faith in such possibility for love and losing the closest friendship has died years ago.
"Do you trust me, Severus? I have a few people in mind that is willing to love you and spare you the pain."
Severus crosses his arms, "You mean for them to use me and discard me?"
The brow rose, "You truly don't think you are loved, Severus? Your godson cares enough to tell you as the first person about the dating and being engaged to his fiancée before his parents. Does he use you and discard the godfather and godson relationship?"
"That is because he grew up with me during his Hogwarts years, Lucius. He will likely to be forgetting me soon enough."
Malfoy rolls his eyes and sighs, "Why don't you stay for the night in the guest's bedroom and tomorrow, I will bring the person to love you properly. Why did you not see me sooner?"
Severus scowls at Lucius for the question for delaying the pain for so long. He leaves the room and finds the bedroom as the blond wizard tells him to do. Lucius shakes his head and decides to search the few people to become a part of Severus' life.
… … …
Lucius is finding things more difficult to get anyone to agree and it is nearing eleven o'clock at night. He looks at the door and understands that there might be no one could help him. Perhaps, he would have to find a way to save Severus from the burning pain of the mark. He knocks on the last door and opening this person is awake. The lights did flicker on within a minute and the footsteps are loud enough to tell someone is coming to the door. Lucius braces himself for the possible final rejection and the door reveals to be Potter.
Harry tilts his head and blinks at his unexpected guest. He stands in the doorway to prevent anyone entering his small mansion. The emerald eyes read the body language and understands this might be important.
"Mister Malfoy…what brings you here?" Harry straighten his shoulders back.
Lucius breathes in, "Someone is enduring great pain through the mark and we need help. I would like to discuss it with you inside, but with open mind of the situation that I will bring in to tell you. You are the last person I could think of, Harry."
Harry glances outside and notices no one is around. He nods and lets the senior Malfoy joins into his home. Lucius quickly walks in and finding himself being heard first before rejected, perhaps there might be someone else that could be recommended. Harry leads him into the kitchen and offers a seat.
"Something tells me it'll be a long night. Would you like a cup of tea, sir?"
Lucius gulps, "That would be nice," He sits down at the table and watches Harry arranges the drinks.
Harry nods and pours in hot water, "I see they have no issue with you since I helped in the court?"
Lucius nods, "Yes…which I owe you with my life debt, Harry. I think…this might help in return."
Harry walks over and hands him a cup of tea, "How?" Sits across from the table and sips his tea.
Lucius sighs, "As you know there are others who wears the mark, it should be fading completely. Unfortunately, the mark can recognize the lack of dark deed and can inflict the pain until you do so. It cannot force you to behave, but it is rooted in darkness connection. However, this person," He shakes his head, "…confess it is getting worse and tried to treat it himself. My son has already gone through it in and found the opposite will work effectively and removing the mark better. Draco tells me the pain fades away when he does is simply loves someone and no longer feels them."
Harry nods slowly and continues to listen, "So, this person have a lover or something? There isn't that many death eaters who bears the mark."
The blond sighs, "Unfortunately, no one truly loves him and…he doesn't think he is capable to be loved. Harry, you must understand that I looked after him when I first met him and life has been difficult enough for him."
The Gryffindor frowns, "Impossible, there has to be someone that loves him. Just have to make the right moves and showing him that. Who is it?"
Lucius carefully sips his tea and breathes in, "Severus Snape…" He closes his eyes and prepares to hear the worse.
Harry blinks and slowly set down his cup. The name seems so unrealistic, yet, making it different than he could make it out to be. Harry didn't know what to make of it, but Lucius came to him as a last person. The thought of the war and how it all came together to his answers about everything he knew, the way that Severus cried and begged for his life. The way they both clung onto each other and Harry couldn't leave him to die. Harry remembers how quickly he would make a spell and draws out the poisonous venom and Hermione joining in to heal his injury to survive. She quickly checks to see the type of blood due to the blood loss and Ron actually turns willing to spare his blood for Snape's life. When Harry watches him calms down, he could see that there is no more fear in the man's life.
They just left him alone to keep him safe and continue on the war. Harry didn't see him since that day, but the thought of speaking to him again brings the closeness again. He looks up at Lucius and sees the man already losing hope for him.
"…of course. After all, I admire the man who protected me all my life and it'd be nice to have him in my life again."
Lucius blinks several times and looks up at Potter like there are four heads, "You'd truly love him properly? You'd do this for him?" He holds his breath and gulps down the emotions before the worse could backfire.
Harry nods, "Yes…I can." He smiles, "But I don't think he'd be willing if he knew who it is."
A chuckle, "True…he sometimes bickers too much, but to think about it, I think he's blind to his own feelings."
"He…talks about me still?"
Lucius nods, "Oh yes, he complains and honestly, mentions too much of your eyes. I think he can't bring himself to love anyone else."
The Gryffindor sips his tea and weighs in some idea, "Blind-fold him. Tell him there is someone who actually loves him, which…I…merlin, I was wondering how he's been doing and I was worried. Idiot, I should have seen him sooner."
"Really? You've been talking about him a lot around your friends?"
A snort, "Yes, Ginny hated that I talked about all the things he did in our years and stated that I should go marry the bat. I was confused at that time."
"Seems like your friends should have contacted me and would have arranged this sooner."
Harry chuckles, "Yeah…" The starting idea about blind-folding, "…perhaps have him become blind until he is truly in love with me."
"He would still recognize your voice, Harry." Clicking his tongue.
Harry draws out his wand and cast a spell, "Does this sound better?" Much deeper and nothing familiar to Potter's voice.
Lucius nods, "Perfect, but I better be entitled to visit to check on him or he can contact me as well."
Harry grins, "Good. Bring him here in the morning and blind-folded, I'll cast the blind spell since it is a spell that can only be done by the person who performed the spell."
"And add in grounded spell. He can still apparate in all warding except grounded spell."
"You're truly serious?"
"I want him to not be in pain and believes he is capable to be loved." Lucius' brow rises, "I will bring his clothes packed as well since he often stays at my place rather too much."
Harry shakes his head, but the idea of loving the man for himself didn't seems too complicated. Lucius finishes his tea and leaves the empty cup on the table. Harry watches him leaves and begins to prepare everything before his soon-to-be-lover arrives. The way he recalls of creating a removal venom spell is not typical skill and the way Severus didn't let go of him. The way Severus clings onto him for comforts and trying to stay alive. Harry wanted to take him home for so many days, he has no idea this is actually happening.
Harry enters into an empty bedroom and glances around. He vanishes the dusts and trash out of the room. He adds in a walk-in closet and a bathroom to available and accessible. He fixes up the bed and adds more pillows and sheets for the comforts. He tries to figure out other things, but nothing comes to mind that would fit Severus' needs and wants.
… … …
Lucius is drinking his coffee in the morning and reading the papers as he waits for Severus to join him. Narcissa is out for the day and his son have moved out with his fiancée. Severus doesn't wake up extremely early anymore due to his double-spy roles no longer needed and tends to sleep until eight in the morning. Lucius notices the time nears and the wizard joins him for breakfast.
"How are you feeling, Severus?"
The professor scowls, "The same…I take it the searching for someone to be a lover declined?"
Lucius folds his newspaper and sets it aside, "Actually, there is one person who wish you to be their lover. We discussed and agreed that you will not know their identity until you trust them."
Severus slowly sits down at the table, "…and what?"
"This person's intention is you fall in love with them. Honestly, I can see you both together and this person will make you extremely happy. You will live with them and you will have contact to reach me and I will visit."
Severus narrows his eyes, "Why the illusion of identity and admit their feelings?"
"Because the person felt you did not want anything to do with them. Do you wish the pain to go away or you'll just suffer?"
The pain sharpens and grows worse than usual. Severus grits his teeth and knowing this will continue unless he does dark deed or fight with love. The thought of either lifestyle scares him, but he knows Lucius would look after him.
"…fine." He sighs roughly and trying to ease the pain, but no luck.
Lucius nods, "We will leave after breakfast. I'm not having this stalled any longer."
Somehow, Severus suspects that there is more to the plan and accepts it for now until he finds another substitute lover. He trusts Lucius to look after him or there would be issues between them.
As breakfast is finished, Lucius gathers his clothes into a suitcase and Severus grows weary of the situation already. With little knowledge of the potential lover, he decides it is a temporary fix. Lucius picks up a long scarf and prepares to blind-fold his friend.
"What are you doing?"
"The person requests you to be blind-folded to keep identity away. You are stubborn and tends to judge others easily, Severus. Relationship requires trusts before you love another, so this person wish to build that with you."
Severus grumbles and allows Lucius to completely blind him in scarf around him. Lucius guides him and leads him the way. He can feel the tug on apparition and knowing it will be somewhere different than he anticipated. Severus notices the walk is short and going up the stairs, which isn't much of a step. The knocking follows along and the silence between them. It is obvious how silence the morning it is and the sun shining brightly. The door squeals as it reveals to be opening and the tug by Lucius to follow in. Severus walks along and sense another person in the room.
"Welcome, I hope you both ate already?" The voice is completely unrecognize and nothing familiar to him.
"Yes, and Severus agrees to try your way and see if it will helps smoothly transition complete lovers' relationship."
"Thank you, Lucius. Severus," The voice appears to be a wizard, yet, still unfamiliar, "Since my identity remains unknown until I earn your trust, you may call me Warrick for now. That and you will be blind literally until I feel we are ready to remove the identity issue." Hearing the wand swish quickly.
"What? Why in the name of Merlin can't you let me see?" Severus scowls.
Harry smiles, "Because I want to be starting all over again without judgement from you, Severus. I'm afraid you would rather pick pain over love than to be with me."
Severus mutters, "This is ridiculous."
"I will visit within a week. Don't kill each other." Lucius sighs and sets down the suitcase before he leaves.
Harry nods, "Thank you, Lucius. We will look forward to your visit."
Severus hears his friend leaves the building and the door closes. He removes the blind-folded scarf and finds himself unable to see anything but the lights and shadows, which makes it difficult to make out of anything in his vision. Harry notices the man is already trying to overcome the spell, but he knows it is a long process.
An immediate groan catches Harry's attention and sees Severus in pain already. He quickly moves forward and tries to locate the pain. Severus jerks away, but somehow caught before falling onto the floor.
"Easy there, Severus. Just…trust me?"
He growls, "Let me go, just because Lucius trusts you doesn't mean I will. What kind of foolish game are we playing, Warrick?" He hisses as the pain grows worse.
Harry shakes his head and decides to lead the man to the upstairs for his room, "Come on. I will take you to your room and I ensure you that I will provide you a space of your own here. You have a closet and a bathroom to access easily."
"…and why are you telling me this?"
"…because you won't be able to leave?"
"Warrick," Severus growls, "What the hell are you up to? The secret identity is beyond stupid and idiotic idea to do and making it difficult to trust you."
"Trust. You think no one ever will love you, right?"
"…and your point? To make me regret and feel worse of myself? You can stop there, my father already told me I'm too ugly."
Harry freeze before getting to the bedroom and Severus notices the motions stop after his comment. It is strange to react and nothing to comment back on immediately. It is clear this person isn't seeing him in that kind of view.
"You are handsome, Severus. Your father doesn't know any better. Now, your room is here and I'm not sure if I manage things around well for you to adjust without sight. If it isn't helping, I will rearrange it. Walk around and adjust yourself here." Harry breathes in slowly.
Severus groans miserably, "So you could treat me like Rapunzel trapped in the tower."
Harry chuckles, "Well, she was only stuck upper tower and couldn't get down. You are more likely to be around the house and interact with Lucius and me."
"Wonderful," Sarcastically, "A pet to play with, isn't it?"
Harry shakes his head, "I prefer an actual lover."
Harry watches Severus feeling his surrounding environment of his bedroom. Severus feels the first door and enters in to understand it is a bathroom. He scans through and comes out to continue the rest of the room. He gets to the middle of the room that has a large bed that gets the wizard in questioning and continues to dismiss it for now. He finds another door and walks in to notice the space and shelves for his clothes to put away. He gets out of the closet and ends up back to where he is originally.
"The bed is rather large, don't you think? Do I need that many pillows?" Severus grumbles.
Harry breathes in, "I figured you're not going to let me kiss you to help start easing the pain, so the pillows to help find you comforts."
"…you have a theory?"
Harry nods, "Yes."
Severus turns away and tries to hide the pain. He still finds himself confused to the mysterious identity and wonders why this person will not share it with him.
"…I...never been in a relationship, Warrick. I trust you have a plan?"
"You have experienced friendships enough, but imagine as we are friends, but it becomes more romanticized. I will work this on with you and see where it goes. If by the time you learn my identity and that you still hate me, I will not stop you leaving."
"You sound confident that I will leave, why?"
"…the way you treat me." Harry moves closer and places a kiss on Severus' cheek, "Let's work on our trust first, okay?"
Severus notices the pain goes down a little and finds himself conflicted with doing everything necessary to help him, but the person leaves him in easy position to be taken advantage of. Harry notices immediately and sympathizes the man for going through that. He places another kiss on the cheek and helping him ease the transition out of pain.
"My room is just next to the right and the first door to reach, if you need me at night or anytime. I do cook as well, so I'm not sure what you'd like to eat for lunch and dinner. Any suggestions?"
Severus hums, "I didn't realize I know someone who can cook. Are you certain I know of you?"
Harry chuckles, "That is probably you are never around when I do cook. After all, you've been busy teaching and other things you do."
"Obviously…" Drily comments, "…a simple sandwich will do."
"I will arrange that. Any dislike in the sandwich?"
"No ranch."
"I'm glad I'm not the only one who dislike ranch," Harry hums, "What would you like to do, Severus?"
Severus finds himself uncertain due to being blind and only using lights and colors to clue him in his surroundings. Everything is difficult to interpret and understanding the dark figure is the mysterious person claimed Warrick.
"Continue the tour. I prefer knowing my way around and not risk myself into a place that will endanger me."
