by Elfish Arrow
"How long since you have fed, Severus?"
The man seated at the windowsill in the Dumbledore's office looked deathly pale; his eyes had sunken in, and he looked altogether dead. Staring out the window and into the black water of the lake, Severus said nothing.
Albus sighed and setting his steaming teacup on his desk, he walked over to the window and sat across from the younger man, "Severus?"
Severus tore his eyes away from the dark ripples and focused on the headmaster. He shrugged, "A week, maybe more."
A calm hand reached out and soothed back the hair that fell across his face. "You can not continue like this, Severus," Albus's voice held heavy concern for the professor. "Did you not say it was possible to live off animals?"
Severus's eyes fell back to the window, "Anything is possible, Headmaster... but try living it for a week."
Albus frowned, "But surely-"
"I did not wish for this!" the anger apparent in Severus's voice was enough to silence the headmaster's response. Severus rested his forehead against the cold glass, looking now more drained and tired than angry, "I did not wish for it..."
Albus carefully drew Severus into an embrace until the younger man was leaning with his back against him. "I know, Severus. Had there been anything I could have done..."
Severus nodded softly and placed an arm atop the one Albus had securely across his still chest. "It is hard. It weakens me, Albus... I will wither. I feel it everyday; my movements slow, I do not hear an intruder until they are at my very doorstep... my vision blurs from time to time. It feels as though there is a perpetual fog within my mind," he lifted his head from Albus's shoulder and craned his neck to meet the Headmaster's gaze. "There must be a way, Albus... Surely, you would be able to find a way..."
Albus's eyes were filled with sorrow as he slowly shook his head, "I am afraid, Severus, that there is no cure, no way to reverse the process... But I swear to you, I will help you through it."
"You will die." The statement was made monotonely as Severus began to stare back down to the lake, "They will all die."
"We will, indeed, my Severus. I fear for what will then befall you; I hope that you will remain at Hogwarts, there will always be help here. When I am gone, Minerva will give you aid, and after her... well, you should not worry about the future now. You need to feed."
Severus scoffed, "On what? Chickens? Rats?" He sighed, "No, I'd rather starve... They may revive me for an evening, Albus, but the price is high. It takes more out of my system to digest it than it is worth."
They were silent for a while, Severus, still staring at the lake below on the grounds, and Albus, deep in thought.
"Severus," the Headmaster's voice again drew Severus from the hypnotic waves, "stay here a moment."
Albus rose and entered his private study; he returned a few moments later carrying a wineglass filled with dark liquid. He again sat beside the professor and rested a hand on his shoulder, offering the glass, "Here, Severus."
Severus glanced at the glass and back to Albus in confusion. He then caught sight of a bandage wrapped tightly around the other man's wrist, beneath his long sleeve. Severus's eyes widened in shock, "Albus... I can not-"
Albus placed the glass in Severus's hand, "You must. Quickly, dear, before it grows cold."
Hesitating, Severus brought the glass to his lips and drank half of its contents before gasping and reaching out to steady himself against Albus, "So strong..."
Albus nodded and encouraged him to finish the rest, which Severus did with little complaint. When he had finished, he moved back into the Headmaster's warm arms.
"Why?"
"I told you I would help, Severus. Always."
A sigh. "You do not have Always... I wish I did not."
Fin.
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