Broken Chapter 7

I apologise for the long absence; of course, my exams were slightly more important than poor Severus. Only this once though.

Thank you so much to all the kind reviews; they have kept me going this last month! I have missed everyone so much!

I am updating Broken in honour of a certain Miss Kati, who has made this quite amazing video for the Breaking trilogy—and I suggest you check it out! You can find the link on the SeverusSnape19 FaceBook page; please go and have a lookie!

Just to remind you, in the last chapter, Severus was dreaming about his captivity with Voldemort—but the Dark Lord still has a lot of power over him...now he is awake, and the Pain Relieving Potions are wearing off...


"Do you understand me, sir?" Kati said softly to Albus, who nodded. "I understand."

Here then was the true test. Kati had been informed that the Pain Relieving Potions were about to wear off—and when they did, the pain would be severe. Although some of his body had started to heal; his hands, still wrapped in bandages, were almost human once more; long, dirtied and blackened finger nails were protruding from underneath the folds of the soft white material, he would still be in much pain; and they were not quite sure how he would react when he was fully conscious.

Right now, the younger wizard was still dreaming—but his forehead was furrowed, his eyes screwed up, fingers twisting the blanket. He was in the grips of a terrible nightmare—the silence in the small hospital room punctuated by his cries; pleas for someone to stop and begging for something to take the pain away.

Albus was tense—he could feel it. He looked down at his hand and saw his fists clenched. He was angry; but he was not sure what at. In his sleep, Severus was careless; his words were like knife blades falling upon Albus' skin. He was muttering about things that Albus did not understand; yet he seemed aware of who he was, and what was happening around him.

What had happened.

"He's waking up." Kati said softly to Albus, who swallowed his dry throat. How bad would it be?

Severus looked up at the ceiling for a long moment. His breathing was rapid and shallow. He frowned, biting his lip.

Albus released a breath he had not noticed he was holding, waiting for the first reaction to the pain.

Snape raised one hand, and looked at it for a long moment. His fingers were trembling violently. He pulled the hand to his chest, a small moan forcing itself from between his lips.

Without warning, his whole body seemed to spasm. His limbs jerked repeatedly, his legs trapped beneath the covers. He cried out—more from a lack of control than pain.

Albus gripped the end of the bedstead tightly in one fist, clenching his fingers until his knuckles turned white. He breathed in steeply as Severus screamed again—this was too much for him to bear...

Severus moaned, pulling himself into an upright position. His eyes were open but almost unseeing.

"I still control you, dearest Severus. Crucio!"

He winced, curling up into a ball, trying to steady his arms and legs. "Stop!"

"You have run away from me."

"Leave me be." Severus sobbed, "Please..."

"Why don't you just kill yourself? You are worthless."

Severus scratched at his Dark Mark angrily, drawing blood, "I hate you!"

"No, Severus. You hate yourself. Or at least...you will hate yourself. Until we meet again, beloved servant. Crucio!"

"Severus!" Albus crossed to him, pulling his hand away from his Dark Mark, "Don't do that."

Severus shuddered again, wrenching himself away from Albus, "Kill me. Please, somebody kill me..." He stared at his own limbs which were not answering his command, "This is too much..."

Albus knew exactly what he meant; seeing Severus so emotionally shattered was more painful than any physical torture. Why this obsession with death; what could Voldemort have possibly done to him, to make him so weak?

Severus crumpled onto the mattress, tearing at the blankets with his hands. "Let me go!" He shouted, to nothing. No one answered him. He tore his fingers across his arm again, happy when red specks appeared across the white material beneath him.

"Severus!" Albus grabbed his arms and pulled them in front of him, restraining his limbs. "You need to stop hurting yourself!" He knew his voice trembled; Severus stared at him for a long moment. His legs moved of their own accord; Albus could see just how much this was upsetting his younger friend.

He looked to Kati for a brief moment, "We'll hold you still..."

Severus shook his head angrily, "No, I have my dignity!"

Kati gripped Severus' ankles, even when the other tried to struggle. He tried to yank his hands away from Albus, but the older wizard would not let go. "Let go of me!" Severus shouted.

"I can't." Albus whispered, "I'm sorry. You need to hold still."

"I hate you, let go, don't touch me!" Severus was violent in his movements, but both Albus and Kati showed determination; and he finally fell still. "You imprison me like he did. He said you would do this to me." Black eyes stared into Albus', filled with powerful hatred. "He said you would."

Albus realised that Severus recognised him, "What?" He felt relief flood his veins, even though Severus' words were not positive.

"You're the same as him." Severus muttered, "You hurt me, incarcerate me, torment me. I want to go back to the Dark Lord!"

"Why?" Albus demanded, wanting a straight answer to this request; how could Severus want to be with Voldemort?

Severus paused for a long moment. "I..." He trembled in Albus' grasp, "I need him. Let me go back to him! Let me go back to him, or let me die!"

"I won't do that." Albus shook his head, "You will not return to his shadow, Severus, I will ensure it."

"I hate you. I hate you more than him. You are nothing to me." Severus answered bitterly, "Leave me alone!"

The words were too much for Albus, and he felt the anger overwhelm him. "As you wish." He let go of Severus' wrists, "If you truly want to die, then I am sure you will find some way of carrying out the deed. But Voldemort cannot find you here." He ignored Severus' flinch, "But I will protect you no longer, Severus!" He stormed from the room, taking a firm grasp of Kati's elbow and taking her with him.

They closed the door—and he made a display of locking it.

If Severus truly wanted to die, if he truly wanted to return to the Dark Lord, even after all the trouble Albus had been through, all the torment he had suffered trying to rescue him, then Albus no longer cared.

He turned away, threw himself down in a convenient chair, buried his head in his hands.

And sobbed.


Update soon; I promise. This was hard to write. It's been a long time, so apologies if it's not very good. All my love, SS19.