Harry stood in front of the mirror in the bathroom, assessing the damage to his cheek. As he took in the bruised skin and the cut running across his cheek he thought back to what this fight had been over. It had been stupid really; he should have told Severus he was going to be late. But he had been having a good time and had lost track of the time. Harry had really thought Severus would have been fine with it. After all he was only a half hour late.
As he stood there lost in thought, someone wrapped their arms around him. Harry involuntarily flinched, and looked up into the mirror meeting the startling onyx eyes that were watching him.
"You know I'm sorry don't you?" murmured Severus. "I know. But Sev- I can't- This has to stop Sev." Harry answered hesitantly.
"What do you mean?"
"This Sev." Harry said gesturing to his cheek.
"Harry. I told you I can't just-"
"I know Sev, 'Old habits die hard. I'm used to dealing with things like this.' I've heard it all Severus. But I can't keep doing this. I told you as long as you tried to change, and I wasn't afraid of you that I'd try to make us work. But Sev I just can't keep this up."
"What are you saying? Harry?"
"I'm saying Sev-"At this Harry started sobbing. "I'm saying I am afraid. And that's the one thing I can't deal with. I love you but I'm so scared that if I do the wrong thing, you'll hurt me."
"Harry? I can change. I swear." Severus' voice took on a pleading tone. Harry started sobbing at that. "But what if you can't? I'm sorry Sev, but this isn't working anymore. I guess I've finally had enough. This is the end of us."
"Please don't say that."
"I haven't got another choice Severus. I have to look out for me now. But I'll tell you what, if you get help and change, come find me in a year's time and we can try again. But for now au revoir et ne laissez pas la morsure basilic." With that Harry apparated away.
Severus sat there in stunned silence for an hour, before he stood and flew into a rage he had rarely felt before. He destroyed everything around him. He kicked and punched the walls, tore apart anything he could fins and as suddenly as it had begun, he stopped. After that he started screaming, it was a scream that one would expect to hear from a dying animal, not the normally very controlled Potions Master. It was the scream of a broken heart.
~Fin~
A/N: I wrote this as part of a collection of stories for greenschist's OTP Playlist Challenge. It was written while listening to Facedown by The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus. If you think I own this, you probably do more drugs than you must think I do. Did that make sense? No? Ok. I'm rambling a bit, aren't I? Don't blame me I'm sick. Maybe I'll go write a crack fic now… Till next time, au revoir et ne laissez pas la morsure basilic! Ps: You get a cookie if you PM me with what the French here means.
