King of Pain Part 3 (See Part 1 for warnings etc)
There's a red fox torn by a huntsman's pack
There's a black winged gull with a broken back
There's a little black spot on the sun today
It's the same old thing as yesterday
Harry groans as the owl hooting at the window awakens him from his sleep. His neck cracks painfully as he shifts on the couch. He glances over at his lover with a frown, hoping the illness that struck a few days ago remained short lived. He remembers remarking to the older man about looking even worse than usual. He'd expected a snide remark and maybe a hex, but being thrown out of bed hadn't as well with him. He sits up reaching for his glasses and wiping the sleep out of his eyes. That wasn't actually what disturbed him the most, however. Recalling a night when a drunken Severus had picked him up bodily and slung him over a shoulder, he couldn't help but notice the man could barely budge him. He'd wanted to comment, but found himself dodging a bony set of knuckles.
He walks over to the window, quiet, so he doesn't wake his lover. He winces as his bare foot encounters a scraggly bit of hair. He's noticed these more often lately, but seeing the full greasy mop atop Snape's head where it's always been he chose not to comment. He shivers a bit as he opens the window and takes the paper from the owl. He recognizes it as belonging to Hermione and he lets the small bird in to warm itself by the fire still going on the other side of the room. He tiptoes past the sleeping form and resettles on the couch, a leg tucked underneath him. Accustomed to receiving her usual weekly "Mr and Mrs Weasley bulletin, he feel a moment of concern. Further inspection however, reveals the paper to be a copy of the Daily Prophet with a note attached. He makes a slight face reading it.
"Dear Harry,
I know that you don't receive the Daily Prophet anymore since that article about your weight, so I sent you my copy after I received it this morning. It's awful! I didn't think things like this existed in the wizarding world. Even so, I never would have expected such a thing from well, just read the article please.
Hermione."
He bit his lips and nervously reached for the cookie tin on the table. He took out a large chocolate chip one and nibbled on it as he read. His eyes got as far as "Star Quidditch Player Dead at 26" when he dropped the cookie. He almost choked as he scanned down the article.
"In our top news story today, Star Quidditch Player Oliver Wood was pronounced dead in his bathroom at a hotel in London. The popular captain of the Falmouth Falcons was found at approximately 5:30 this morning by one of the house elves. She had been sent to Mr Wood's room at the request of fellow player, Peppino Barke who was concerned for his friend after a victory party following their sound defeat of the Chudley Cannons the day before. Mr Wood's family has requested that we do not show pictures. Sources close to him who wish to remain anonymous say that they noticed his strange behavior since he joined the team in 1995. 'Well, he'd never skip a meal,' one young man remarked when questioned, 'but he'd always go to the bathroom right after. I... can't believe we'd tease him about it, saying he wasn't used to real food but... Merlin why... why him?!' The young man, and several other team members have been offered counseling through St Mungos free of charge. I also had a chance to speak to Ms Mabelyne Lorrel who has been researching this very subject for her latest book 'The Darker Side of Quidditch'
'It's terrible the things these young men and women do to their bodies! Many witches and wizards are quite ignorant of this problem. Indeed, until it strikes a friend or a family member we in the magic community tend to pass off serious eating disorders and various psychological disorders as nothing but muggle diseases. I think by publishing this book, I can reach a lot of people and let them know that even some of the athletic idols we worship are fallible. Why did you know that nearly 70% of all the Quidditch Seekers in Great Britain have admitted to having a form of eating disorder? It's only now coming to light, the cover up of seeker Cho Chang's death last year. A spokesperson for the Chudley Cannons said it was an accident in the bathroom, but indeed, people are now coming forward with the truth.
'Many of them believed what they were doing wasn't harmful, but with this recent tragedy, I think we can all agree that something must be done about this destructive behavior. As a matter of fact, a few players even told me anonymously that they had friends watch the bathroom so no one would find out what they were doing. These enablers had no idea they were merely exacerbating the problem. This behavior began according to them as early as their school days when they realized that keeping weight down would enhance their playing. In fact, it's not only seekers with problems, but statistics from players chosen for a survey reveal that 15% of beaters, 45% of keepers, and 51% of chasers have admitted to having eating disorders of similar...'"
Harry drops the paper. His hands shake and he turns blindly, walking into the couch. He grabs the ends trying to stop the shaking. He can't find his voice to speak and he opens his mouth but can't seem to voice a sound. He takes a few deep breaths and a step back accidentally knocking a statue off the table. He's unaware of anything else until his lover stumbles out of bed looking up at him. Harry can't seem to breathe and he holds his throat seeing sallow features flicker from a normal olive to a sick yellow. Dark eyes switch to sunken dead sockets, his hair in sparse patches is rich and thick at the same time, and the skeleton goes from a healthy man to a dilapidated shade.
"Severus?!" He reaches out finally realizing exactly what he's seeing.
Tight lipped, the man looks about to fall over but says nothing.
"You bastard. How could you do this?" His voice is soft and he grabs the other man's shoulders before thinking better of shaking him.
"Why?" He looks up and then turns away burying his face into the black hair man's shoulder. He sobs softly, suppressing the lot of it, trembling when spindly fingers stroke his back.
"Really, Mister Potter," Severus rasps, "you'll soil my robes..." Harry cries harder and the man above allows him the passing of several long minutes before pushing him back. By then Harry's regained his quiet composure.
"Oliver... W-Wood died today. Do you hear me he's dead c-cause of this." Taking a step back, Harry stares at the floor. "If... if you die it's because of me... I killed you. Don't die, please Sev don't die. Don't leave me alone." he whispers. There's a sigh from above.
"Such a celebrity Mister Potter It's always about you isn't it?" He doesn't force Harry to look at him. His fingers lightly stroke Harry's hair. "I'm not going anywhere Mister Potter..."
"Do you love me Severus?" He looks at his lover. Thin lips tighten but he doesn't answer.
"Stupid question..." Harry smiles and hugs him.
"I love you too."
"Sentimental brat," he mutters shutting his eyes.
"Wake up Severus!..."
I have stood here before in the pouring rain
With the world turning circles running 'round my brain
I guess I always thought you could end this reign
But it's my destiny to be the king of pain......
"Wake up Severus!"
"What?" the young man blinked and looked at the blonde across from him. He noticed the finger pointing to a near melted dish of ice cream, and felt a flush on his cheeks. Lucius sighed and took out his wand.
"Your mind keeps wandering Sev." He flicked his wrist and the melted mass solidified. "What did I tell you the other night?" Severus took a firmer grip on the spoon playing with the whipped cream.
"That I think too much." He glared at the sundae. "Do I really have to eat it?" His hand went for his wand.
"Try to hex me and I won't let you become a Death Eater with me Sev." Lucius smugly took a large spoonful when Severus, pouting, took a reluctant spoonful.
"What makes you think I want to be a Death Eater anyway?" He licked the sweet cream off his lips and went for another bite.
"Because I said so Severus. Besides you and I are going to rule the world together!"
"What about Narcissa ?" Lucius snickered softly.
"Oh she'll be my head concubine of course. My first wife of many." A sardonic smile made its way onto Sev's face.
"She'd kill you." Lucius ate a little more ocassionally pausing to wipe his mouth.
"Alright... why don't we get you a harem then? Like in those muggle books. Oh I picture it already! " He paused dramatically. "James Potter doing the Dance of the Seven Veils!" Severus almost choked but he still had to laugh. "That's the spirit. Now eat..." He cocked his head to the side looking as if he was thinking about something. "and sit up straight. You're distracting me."
"Yes, mother." He sat up eating with a little more relish. Lucius groaned.
"Don't say that again. I'm not a think like her I swear." Severus reached across the table toying with a dangling hoop from Lucius' ear.
"Aren't those her earrings?"
"Shuttup. Hold still there's something on your face." He dunked his napkin into a glass of water and reached across the table cleaning to corner of his friend's mouth, looking satisfied when the hot syrup was wiped away.
"Priss."
"Hush."
"Lucius?"
"Hmm?" He looked over.
"Have you ever met this Lord Voldemort?" Lucius shook his head.
"No, but I heard about him being whispered about in Knockturn Alley. He's gonna rule the world someday. And I bet if we join with him we will too. I mean no one lives forever right?"
"We will."
"Yeah. Remember that one semester of muggle studies we had?" Severus' eyes lit up for a moment and both their eyes met over the table. Lucius took his hands.
"Dream as if you will live forever. Live as if you will die today." Severus smiled.
"I will."
I will always be the king of pain
Fin