Chapter One.
When Severus arrived just before the beginning of the Easter Holidays, I was surprised to say the least. He would come home during the holidays and at weekends if he could manage it. However, there he was, his chest with the many legs scurrying after him, and his black robes swirling. I had more or less only just gotten up, being a late sleeper whenever Severus wasn't around, so I was at the top of the stairs, yawning, in my dressing-gown.
"Severus?"
"Yes."
"What on earth are you doing here?"
"Nothing, presently."
"I mean, why are you at home?" I descended down the stairs. He smiled slightly.
"I resigned."
"Oh, Severus," I remember not quite comprehending those words on that morning, being rather fuzzed up in the mornings. I'm one of those people, you see. I don't get going until my first cup of Coffee. Not that I do, but if I could then I would. It's usually after the first couple of fags to be honest. "That was a bloody silly thing to do."
He sighed. "Oh, Isaac. We're going to have to calm down a bit." He said that in his ever-sarcastic voice, but with a bit of a depressed note to it.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean no more Ritz meals every week."
"Oh."
"Yes, indeed. We'll have to start buying supermarket brands."
"Damn."
"I'll say." He cradled my face in his hands. "I'm joking Isaac."
"Ha ha."
A peck on the lips and he had walked off to the kitchen. I was still asleep, as you've probably guessed. But the kiss was sweet. That's Severus for you: he manages to be endearing and a bastard at the same time.
It was only around evening that I asked Severus in a clearer state of mind why he was here, at home, and not at Hogwarts. Teaching.
He looked at me witheringly. I grinned sheepishly. Then he groaned and waved a fork. "I told you, I resigned. Sometimes I wish you would pay a bit more attention, Isaac. It makes you seem like an idiot when I of all people know you're far smarter than you let yourself on to be."
Ouch.
"Why on earth did you do that?"
Pause. Then he returned to his meal.
"Hellooo, I said-"
"I know what you said," he muttered. "I just don't want to answer."
"Why on earth not?"
"Because-" he mumbled. "It's... personal." He practically spat the last word out. "Now shut-up Isaac, or I'll get angry." The risotto was ficiously stabbed with the fork. The prawns suffered a rather gruesome impaling by the three spikes.
"What is it?" I asked patiently. From experience, I've learnt that Severus doesn't actually get angry. The whole flashing eyes and clenched teeth thing are just signs of his natural, ingrown crankiness.
"You never learn, do you, Isaac?" He sneered.
"I've learnt that I have to probe you for the crap that you never want to tell me, because you have a guilt complex the size of Godzilla," I snorted. "Now tell me."
"I said I won't-"
"-Now Severus."
It took a fascinating mixture of threats of blackmail and torture along with several liberal helpings of bribery and wheedling. Along with a smashed plate and a cracked glass. As well as several reassurances that no, the Widescreen TV was *not* damaged and we could do just fine without the washine machine for a few... years, to actually persuade Severus to reveal all to me. He had the nerve to do so grudgingly.
We sat down together in the living room, Severus on the couch, me on the floor with several magazines littered around me. I took his hand in both of mine and asked again. He wasn't in any position to argue: I had a pair of scissors in my hand.
"Isaac," his voice was grave and he looked me straight in the eye. "There's been a murder at Hogwarts."
Silence.
"Is that why you came back?" I asked quietly.
"No. I came back because I resigned." He said, as if I'm some sort of Dunce. I rolled my eyes and he smiled quite charmingly. "I'm sorry Isaac."
"Is that why you resigned?"
"No."
"Well, why did you resign?" I asked heatedly. I may be in love - for some strange reason - with Severus, but that doesn't mean I have to put up with all thaht shit from him. And he was *annoying* me.
"I was... under a lot of... pressure."
"You were scared."
"Hell no!" He growled and pushed me away roughly. "It's just that there's only so many times your former mortal enemy can taunt you about your sexuality before you eventually snap!" He began to count off his fingers. "Suggesting *I* had something to do with it all, that *I* couldn't care less about the other students except for those in my house... when the first victim was a student *from* my house!" He cupped a hand round his chin and mouth, eyes smouldering. "I don't get his problem: just because he didn't manage to get off with *my* sister! And just because his only surviving best friend can't keep his dick in his pants for longer than two seconds!"
"Sev-" I murmured pacifyingly. "Who was the ... who was it?"
He knows what I mean.
"A boy... named Zabini Blaise."
"I remember him.. or at least, you talking about him... second year? Dark hair?"
"Yes."
"How did they kill him?"
Silence.
"Well," Severus said his voice little more than a whisper. " He might have been raped before... but he was knocked unconscious before they strangled him and..." He paused. "Injected dragonsalt in the nerve at the small of his back. He was raped post mortem." He put his head into both hands. "Oh God... it was just disgusting."
Dragonsalt.
I don't know how familiar you are with the wizarding underworld, but dragonsalt is one of the most vile drugs ever brewed. I'm guessing you've all heard of heroin, which is the main component in Dragonsalt. The gall bladder of a hatchling dragon is dried and crushed into a powder. Mix that with a hint of mercury, the heroin and you have it: Dragonsalt. It can knock out even a hardened user, depending on the ratio of the components. It can kill a virgin user.
"Zabini must have been-"
"-An addict, yes, I know. He should have died right away with the amount they had pumped into his veins, if he had never touched it." Severus wasn't crying: He never cries, but there was anguish behind the cold exterior.
"Severus-"
"And I am the Potions Master. I make the perfect candidate. Dumbledore knew it wasn't me. He only questioned me just to clear the record and to get an idea himself. None of teachers suspected Blaise to be a user. You know users gain almost superhuman strength, hallucinations and speech addlement?"
I nodded.
"No sign of it. None at all."
I thought for a bit. "Did he have... any admirers?"
"Do you want the honest truth?" He looked at me and I nodded. "No. None at all. And I'm practically an expert in those things-" a self-ingratiating, mocking smile. Still sad. "Only an awkward second year after all."
"You have to go back." I got up and stroked his shoulder. He flinched. I sighed. "You're Head of a bloody house for fuck's sake Seerus, you're the fucking Potions Master!" I paused. "Not that I don't wnat you around of course. I do miss you. But you have a responsibility... a duty."
"To you as well," he looked at me fondly.
The funny thing is, I'm Severus' senior by two whole years. It never seems like that though. I should get more respect, you know.
"Was anyone else murdered?"
He stops and practically freezes.
"Yes?" I fold my arms. "Who?"
"Three girls from Hufflepuff... The Patil twins... Creevey..." I was surprised to hear the snigger. "Sorry, it's not funny but, Crabbe was murdered as well. In the snow. Been missing for three days, and we found him frozen, caught in the act of masturbation, only we couldn't suspend him for immoral acts." Severus gives a low, sinister giggle/cackle. "Miss. Chang..." He added seriously. "She was attacked. She wasn't a user, just got knocked out as the murderer heard McGonagall coming along. Didn't have time to inject the whole load into her. Wonder why he didn't finish McGonagall off as well. This murderer seems strong enough." He lighted a fag.
"Were they-"
"Yes. Isaac. All raped post mortem." He drags and the embers glow. "We have a necrophile on our hands."
As we went up to the bedroom, I remarked quietly, "they'd be making ballads about it next."
When Severus arrived just before the beginning of the Easter Holidays, I was surprised to say the least. He would come home during the holidays and at weekends if he could manage it. However, there he was, his chest with the many legs scurrying after him, and his black robes swirling. I had more or less only just gotten up, being a late sleeper whenever Severus wasn't around, so I was at the top of the stairs, yawning, in my dressing-gown.
"Severus?"
"Yes."
"What on earth are you doing here?"
"Nothing, presently."
"I mean, why are you at home?" I descended down the stairs. He smiled slightly.
"I resigned."
"Oh, Severus," I remember not quite comprehending those words on that morning, being rather fuzzed up in the mornings. I'm one of those people, you see. I don't get going until my first cup of Coffee. Not that I do, but if I could then I would. It's usually after the first couple of fags to be honest. "That was a bloody silly thing to do."
He sighed. "Oh, Isaac. We're going to have to calm down a bit." He said that in his ever-sarcastic voice, but with a bit of a depressed note to it.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean no more Ritz meals every week."
"Oh."
"Yes, indeed. We'll have to start buying supermarket brands."
"Damn."
"I'll say." He cradled my face in his hands. "I'm joking Isaac."
"Ha ha."
A peck on the lips and he had walked off to the kitchen. I was still asleep, as you've probably guessed. But the kiss was sweet. That's Severus for you: he manages to be endearing and a bastard at the same time.
It was only around evening that I asked Severus in a clearer state of mind why he was here, at home, and not at Hogwarts. Teaching.
He looked at me witheringly. I grinned sheepishly. Then he groaned and waved a fork. "I told you, I resigned. Sometimes I wish you would pay a bit more attention, Isaac. It makes you seem like an idiot when I of all people know you're far smarter than you let yourself on to be."
Ouch.
"Why on earth did you do that?"
Pause. Then he returned to his meal.
"Hellooo, I said-"
"I know what you said," he muttered. "I just don't want to answer."
"Why on earth not?"
"Because-" he mumbled. "It's... personal." He practically spat the last word out. "Now shut-up Isaac, or I'll get angry." The risotto was ficiously stabbed with the fork. The prawns suffered a rather gruesome impaling by the three spikes.
"What is it?" I asked patiently. From experience, I've learnt that Severus doesn't actually get angry. The whole flashing eyes and clenched teeth thing are just signs of his natural, ingrown crankiness.
"You never learn, do you, Isaac?" He sneered.
"I've learnt that I have to probe you for the crap that you never want to tell me, because you have a guilt complex the size of Godzilla," I snorted. "Now tell me."
"I said I won't-"
"-Now Severus."
It took a fascinating mixture of threats of blackmail and torture along with several liberal helpings of bribery and wheedling. Along with a smashed plate and a cracked glass. As well as several reassurances that no, the Widescreen TV was *not* damaged and we could do just fine without the washine machine for a few... years, to actually persuade Severus to reveal all to me. He had the nerve to do so grudgingly.
We sat down together in the living room, Severus on the couch, me on the floor with several magazines littered around me. I took his hand in both of mine and asked again. He wasn't in any position to argue: I had a pair of scissors in my hand.
"Isaac," his voice was grave and he looked me straight in the eye. "There's been a murder at Hogwarts."
Silence.
"Is that why you came back?" I asked quietly.
"No. I came back because I resigned." He said, as if I'm some sort of Dunce. I rolled my eyes and he smiled quite charmingly. "I'm sorry Isaac."
"Is that why you resigned?"
"No."
"Well, why did you resign?" I asked heatedly. I may be in love - for some strange reason - with Severus, but that doesn't mean I have to put up with all thaht shit from him. And he was *annoying* me.
"I was... under a lot of... pressure."
"You were scared."
"Hell no!" He growled and pushed me away roughly. "It's just that there's only so many times your former mortal enemy can taunt you about your sexuality before you eventually snap!" He began to count off his fingers. "Suggesting *I* had something to do with it all, that *I* couldn't care less about the other students except for those in my house... when the first victim was a student *from* my house!" He cupped a hand round his chin and mouth, eyes smouldering. "I don't get his problem: just because he didn't manage to get off with *my* sister! And just because his only surviving best friend can't keep his dick in his pants for longer than two seconds!"
"Sev-" I murmured pacifyingly. "Who was the ... who was it?"
He knows what I mean.
"A boy... named Zabini Blaise."
"I remember him.. or at least, you talking about him... second year? Dark hair?"
"Yes."
"How did they kill him?"
Silence.
"Well," Severus said his voice little more than a whisper. " He might have been raped before... but he was knocked unconscious before they strangled him and..." He paused. "Injected dragonsalt in the nerve at the small of his back. He was raped post mortem." He put his head into both hands. "Oh God... it was just disgusting."
Dragonsalt.
I don't know how familiar you are with the wizarding underworld, but dragonsalt is one of the most vile drugs ever brewed. I'm guessing you've all heard of heroin, which is the main component in Dragonsalt. The gall bladder of a hatchling dragon is dried and crushed into a powder. Mix that with a hint of mercury, the heroin and you have it: Dragonsalt. It can knock out even a hardened user, depending on the ratio of the components. It can kill a virgin user.
"Zabini must have been-"
"-An addict, yes, I know. He should have died right away with the amount they had pumped into his veins, if he had never touched it." Severus wasn't crying: He never cries, but there was anguish behind the cold exterior.
"Severus-"
"And I am the Potions Master. I make the perfect candidate. Dumbledore knew it wasn't me. He only questioned me just to clear the record and to get an idea himself. None of teachers suspected Blaise to be a user. You know users gain almost superhuman strength, hallucinations and speech addlement?"
I nodded.
"No sign of it. None at all."
I thought for a bit. "Did he have... any admirers?"
"Do you want the honest truth?" He looked at me and I nodded. "No. None at all. And I'm practically an expert in those things-" a self-ingratiating, mocking smile. Still sad. "Only an awkward second year after all."
"You have to go back." I got up and stroked his shoulder. He flinched. I sighed. "You're Head of a bloody house for fuck's sake Seerus, you're the fucking Potions Master!" I paused. "Not that I don't wnat you around of course. I do miss you. But you have a responsibility... a duty."
"To you as well," he looked at me fondly.
The funny thing is, I'm Severus' senior by two whole years. It never seems like that though. I should get more respect, you know.
"Was anyone else murdered?"
He stops and practically freezes.
"Yes?" I fold my arms. "Who?"
"Three girls from Hufflepuff... The Patil twins... Creevey..." I was surprised to hear the snigger. "Sorry, it's not funny but, Crabbe was murdered as well. In the snow. Been missing for three days, and we found him frozen, caught in the act of masturbation, only we couldn't suspend him for immoral acts." Severus gives a low, sinister giggle/cackle. "Miss. Chang..." He added seriously. "She was attacked. She wasn't a user, just got knocked out as the murderer heard McGonagall coming along. Didn't have time to inject the whole load into her. Wonder why he didn't finish McGonagall off as well. This murderer seems strong enough." He lighted a fag.
"Were they-"
"Yes. Isaac. All raped post mortem." He drags and the embers glow. "We have a necrophile on our hands."
As we went up to the bedroom, I remarked quietly, "they'd be making ballads about it next."