Chapter 20:  The Bond is Broken

            Blissful swirling darkness surrounded him.  So peaceful, so quiet.  Nothing to bother him here…no worries, no reminders of what he was, no thoughts about Voldemort, Death Eaters, or burning tattoos.  It was just he, nothing else, floating in a deep, unlimited night. 

            Someone calling…go awaystop calling my name…what are you…?  No…don't touch me…I just want…sleep…no, don't make me move…now what are you doing?  Don't make me…

            "Open your eyes, you stubborn…"

            No, don't want to…

            "Snape, open your eyes now!"

            A rough hand behind his head, another one forcing his mouth open…a burning fluid pouring down his throat…

            With a gasp Severus' eyes flew open and he sat up choking.  The rough hand returned, forcing him to lie back on the bed. 

            Wait, bed?  Severus looked up at his assailant, ready to give him or her a piece of his mind.  He saw Alexander leaning over him, the dark eyes in the skeletally thin face unreadable. 

            "Now, will you just lie still before you do any more damage?"  Alexander growled. 

            "I didn't know you cared so much about me." Snape sneered. 

            Alex rolled his eyes.  "I don't, Snape.  I meant any more damage to me.  You like to flail around a lot in your sleep."  He moved a bit so light hit his face a bit more directly and Severus could see a fresh bruise blossoming across his cheekbone.  Oops…

            Alexander stood up straight and turned away.  Severus took the moment to get his bearings.  He was lying in a bed, his bed to be exact.  The room they were in was his, and there was actually a bright fire crackling in the usually cold hearth. 

            "Why…?" Snape started to ask uncertainly.

            "I was going to take you to the infirmary, but I heard there were two students in there." Alex interrupted,  "I made a guess that you wouldn't want to make that sort of impression on them, so I found out where your rooms were and here we are.  Madam Pomfrey has already been here and made her diagnosis."

            "What's my diagnosis?" Severus asked weakly.

            "That you're a stubborn, hard-headed prat, but she needn't have bothered.  I already knew that." Alexander said before turning around holding a goblet full of steaming liquid, and Snape swore he could see the merest ghost of a smile playing on his lips. 

            "Does this amuse you?" Severus snapped in a bout of self-pity.  The smile disappeared abruptly.

            "No.  Drink this." Alex said impassively handing Severus the goblet. 

            Severus cursed himself when he found his hands were still shaking so badly that he couldn't hold the goblet.  The last thing he needed was for this man to see him acting weakly.  Alexander moved forward slightly and took the goblet back before holding it up to Snape's lips. 

"I don't need help…" Severus protested feebly and Alex snorted.

"Shut up, Snape, and drink." 

Which he did, with Alexander watching him with hawk-like eyes, making sure he drank every drop.  When he'd finished Alexander turned away once again and placed the goblet on the a small table.

"Where's Dumbledore?" Severus asked.  "Does he know I'm back?"

"Yes…I informed him immediately that you'd returned.  He said he had some business to attend to, but he would be down later."

"Do you know where I went?"  Severus' next question was hesitant and he watched Alexander's back tense slightly.

"Would I care where you were?  What you do on your own time is no business of mine, even if it includes getting hit by an unknown curse and a paralysis potion."  Alex's voice had a tremor in it, barely noticeable that no one else would pick up.  But Severus did.  He frowned to himself as  Alexander walked to the fire, not looking at Severus, and stared into it.

"I can get rid of that bruise for you…" Severus said quietly. 

Alexander waved his hand in a dismissive gesture.  "I can take care of it myself." 

Severus turned on his side, still shivering, from what he wasn't sure.  He froze when something heavy draped over him.  Alexander had summoned an extra blanket.  "I'm not cold." Severus complained. 

"We aren't sure how that curse combined with the potion will effect your body's homeostasis.  Therefore, we need to keep you as warm as possible, whether you think you need it or not.  Understand, Snape?" Alexander explained without turning around. 

"Did you train to be a Healer in school?"  Snape asked.

Alexander snorted again.  "Healer?  Gryffindor extraordinaire?  No.  Besides, everyone knows only Hufflepuffs wind up being Healers.  They are the only ones with the patience to deal with obstinate patients."

"Yet you're managing fine with me." 

"You have no idea," Alex laughed shortly, "how difficult it is to keep myself from finishing the job Voldemort started."

"What?" Severus' voice was almost a roar.  "What do you mean, the job Voldemort started?  How do you even know I was anywhere near Voldemort this evening?"

Alexander's head bowed slightly and Severus could see him fidgeting with the sleeve of his robe. 

"Weasley!" Severus snarled dangerously, and prepared to jump out of the bed.  It was only then he noticed he was naked as the day he was born under the covers.  "Where are my robes?" He demanded.  Alexander pointed in a general direction without looking around.  Severus summoned the now cleaned robes and pulled them on, muttering the entire time to himself.  He then stomped up to the fire where Alexander was still staring at the flames.  "What do you know about tonight?" Severus asked, barely restraining the fury in his voice. 

"I may have…overheard some of your conversation with Dumbledore before you left."  Alexander said quietly. 

Snape grabbed his arm, forcing Alex to face him.  "What did you hear, exactly?" 

"I heard," Alexander gritted, wrenching his arm out of Snape's grasp and looking at him defiantly, "enough to tell me where you were going."

"What else did you hear?" Snape asked, moving his face in close to the smaller wizard's. 

"Nothing of any importance." Alex said coldly, not backing down a fraction of an inch. 

Severus moved back, his expression like someone who'd just been slapped.  "Very well."  His legs started to tremble violently, and in a flash, Alexander had an arm around him, keeping him supported on his feet, and guided him to the bed. 

"You shouldn't be on your feet for too long." Alexander said impassively, letting Severus slump down on his own. 

"Why are you doing this if you want to kill me so terribly?" Severus asked. 

"Eye for eye." Alexander said shortly, "Now who's the deliverer?"  There was an odd glint in the normally deadened eyes that made Severus shudder a bit.

"You know you didn't have to…"

Alexander scowled unpleasantly.  "I may not have had to, but I did.  Now I'm free of debt.  I no longer owe you anything."

"I never said you owed me anything in the first place, Weasley." Severus said in a slightly confused voice.  He watched Alexander's frown deepen even further, his eyes hidden in shadow.

"Wizard life bond, Snape.  You saved my life.  No matter how much I hated the fact, it created a bond between us that could only be repaid by my saving you.  And I have.  The bond no longer exists."

"Then why are you still here?" Severus growled turning on his side so he wasn't facing Alexander. 

"Good point," came the soft reply and then nothing but the sound of the door shutting behind him broke the silence. 

A/N: Thanks for the review Elspeth!  You were right about the Princess Bride thing, and I've changed it, so it's all good now  ^_^.  There may be some slash, though Alexander doesn't seem to open to a relationship at the moment, does he?  **evil grin** 

And yes, "Omae o korosu" means I will kill you.  I love Heero Yuy, as well as Gundam Wing itself, though personally I wouldn't mind "glomping" Duo Maxwell…hehe… ^_^ He