Sorry this took a while people! I had some school stuff goin on, but the next chapter should be up real soon.
Enjoy!
Read and review!
Disclaimers: I obviously am not claiming to own any of these characters, so please don't sue, everybody knows full well that they belong to J.K. Rowling and are kept on a tight leash. The storyline is mine though. applause applause ;) cough don't steal it you mangy curs! grrrr
cHAPTER eleVEn
Severus cursed himself. He shouldn't have treated Minerva like that, she was the closest thing to a friend he had, but she needed to know that the Headmaster could not find out what he had experienced, under any circumstances.
He smirked. Minerva probably hadn't believed his threat. But, Severus knew he was capable of killing her if necessary.
There was a reason he distanced himself from emotional alliances.
He shuddered.
More than one reason
Minerva would probably convince herself that his behaviour had been due to the impact of his physical state. She always had to be so damn rational. Although, looking down at his white wrists, he thought perhaps she was right.
His skeletal fingers shook violently and the luminous veins on his wrist were bulging unnaturally through the frail skin, throbbing with the invasion of healing potions.
Severus cringed as he recalled how roughly he had thrown Minerva against the wall. Without her wand she was just a frail woman after all. It sickened him to see himself abuse his power like that.
Severus would never torment his victims before he killed them.
He could never enjoy such demonstrations.
Of course, armed with a wand, Minerva was a worthy opponent. Minerva could transfigure him into anything she pleased and he'd be powerless to stop her.
He smiled smugly; on the other hand, he was perfectly capable of slipping Minerva a potion to keep her trapped in animagus form forever.
Not that that would be a good thing; that woman did enough sneaking around as it was.
Severus rubbed his eyes wearily. God it was bright in here- why the hell...?
Looking up, he saw that someone -presumably Minerva- had conjured a cloud of Lightdust, which was now hovering awkwardly above his bookshelf. Reaching for a tiny box on his ingredient shelf, Severus took a pinch of the powder and blew it gently into the air, muttering an incantation. The light subsided. Only the dull flicker of candlelight remained. He sighed softly, closing his eyes and returned to his thoughts.
He couldn't believe Minerva had found out about his father, after all these years.
Damn Lucius to hell.
Severus smirked bitterly. Where else could someone as malicious as Lucius hope to end up? The man probably had a reserved seat.
At least Minerva had not discovered the depth of his father's abuse; she had not thought to remove his trousers when she'd helped him, and the small trickle of blood licking his thigh was proof that he was not yet fully healed inside.
He swallowed shakily. If she ever realised the truth...he could not face that thought. He couldn't live with such shame. He would have to leave Hogwarts. Where else could someone like him hope to be accepted?
He shuddered at the possibilities.
Severus truly appreciated Minerva's healing skills, limited as they were. External wounds required a series of potions to heal completely and he usually had to stop the bleeding the muggle way in the meantime. Minerva had saved him a lot of pain and effort.
Catching sight of his gaunt reflection in the mirror, Severus realised that he must be bleeding internally worse than he had guessed.
He was white as a sheet; his lips were completely colourless and the blue tinted skin around his eyes made them look like they'd been hollowed into his skull.
Even his hair looked more revolting than usual. The dried blood made the hair near his head look thick with dirt and grime, the long ebony ends hung in greasy strands around his taut neck.
The Pain Preventer was starting to wear off too; sharp pains stabbed at his gut.
Severus tore his eyes from the mirror in disgust.
Overdosing slightly on the Blood Replenishing Draught he decided to start concocting some more Skele-grow to mend his broken ribs, which he knew from experience were dangerous injuries to sustain.
Then he would have to call a healer from the village to heal his internal injuries. It was easier for him to get someone else to help in that area and then destroy his or her memory of it, rather than attempting to heal himself.
Severus looked at the clock. It was almost six in the morning now. The Skele-grow was brewing in a cauldron suspended over the fire. He needed to call the healer soon. Wincing, he lowered himself gingerly onto the bed.
He would have to do something about those bloodstains.
Severus stared distantly into the flames, trying to recall exactly what had happened that night. Blurred images rushed through his mind.
The Death Eater Meeting...staggering home through the forest...passing out on the bed... nightmares about his father, who merged into Voldemort, then...
What had happened then?
He had woken up...he'd been in his room and then....
Severus remembered the cold hands on his neck, agony in his shoulder, the tall black figures, the panic, the screaming and ...
"Severus!"
He leapt half out of his skin as the Headmaster's bearded face appeared in the fire. Severus could feel his heart thudding erratically in his chest.
"May I have a word?"
God, that man had such perfect bloody timing.
The old man smiled indulgently at Severus. "Sorry, I know it's early, but I thought you'd be awake. Will you come to my office?"
Severus stood up stiffly, bracing himself against the pain in his gut and shoulder as he moved.
"Yes, of course Sir."
"Oh good, see you in a moment then!"
With a loud "pop!" the headmaster and his beard disappeared from the fire.
Severus groaned to himself. Minerva couldn't have told Albus could she? He'd been so sure that she wouldn't, after what he'd said.
No. She would never betray him like that.
He needed to turn down the heat on his cauldron. He looked around for his wand. Where was his wand?
His eyes swept the room rapidly and to his horror he caught sight of it, lying broken in the doorway. He rushed over in disbelief. His wand meant everything to him, how could it be broken?
Severus put his head in his hands.
The familiar drained feeling of exhaustion returned, as the effects of the "Pepper Up" potion drained from his body.
He slowly gathered up the splinters of mahogany and the dragon heartstring core. He placed the remains in an intricately engraved silver box on his bedside table.
All he wanted to do now was mourn the loss of his childhood wand...but no. He had responsibilities, he reminded himself bitterly. He had to go and relive the traumatising details of his Death Eater Meeting to Albus.
At least, he hoped that was what he had to do. Unless Minerva had told Albus...
In that case, he would be forced to endure a degrading interrogation from Albus as to what really happened to him at the meetings and why, which would undoubtedly lead to him finally revealing the truth about his childhood.
Just another thing the Headmaster would love to pity him for.
Severus had no idea how that man could always make people confess their deepest secrets. Anyone would think he had the whole school drugged with veritaserum.
No, of course not. Not an honourable Gryffindor like Albus Dumbledore.
Severus' ribs were aching again. He wished he could take more Pain Preventer, but he couldn't appear drowsy in front of the headmaster. The internal bleeding would have to wait.
Dumbledore probably only wanted a short talk, he reassured himself, moving towards the fireplace, he could call a healer afterwards.
Severus sighed and prayed that Minerva had kept quiet, before throwing a pinch of floo powder into the fire and stepping into the flames.
Not a lot happened in that chapter-soz
I just wanted to give Sev's POV for anyone who was interested- loads more action in the next one!
Reda and reviewa pleaze!
(italian accent- bit random I know)....
To be continued......(in english accent)
