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Hello everyone!!! Sorry about the delay - Some serious issues in my life, however, Sev was getting pissed at me! I am sitting here looking at my Harry Potter Calendar (February - Gryffindor vs Slytherin) and I can't believe I actually killed off beloved Draco. It WAS better than letting his father or Ignoble ax him, don't you think?
I got my first nasty review today on this story - it took 106 to get one. They got a particularly Slytherin response back - a warning, don't hack my art! I completely flipped out on the chick! If any of you are concerned about the spelling, I am Canadian and thus spell using a British flair.
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38 -
Shaking
'Dear Merlin, not now! All this time, all this waiting to know if she will come around.. and she awakens to this news!' In his haste to get to Cassandra's bedside, Severus felt the floor shift dizzyingly and landed heavily on the edge of her bed, grasping the foot board for support. The wailing continued, and he reached up, placing his hand onto the huddled child's shoulder in an attempt to reassure her. Her initial reaction was to pull away, but then she pushed hard into his hand which refused to yield to her.
"Poor child, there, there it's alright. It's all a nightmare.." -would it work, would she believe it???-"Just another bad dream, it's over Cassandra. Go back to sleep, I'm here."
"Professor Snape? Is that you?" She gasped between sobs.
"Yes, Cassandra. It is I. You've had an evil dream, that is all. As it is, I would like Madame Pomfrey to get you a calming potion. I don't think this stress is going to help you recover. We need all the strength and rest we can get." His quiet attempt at reassurance seemed feeble, even to his own ears. However he needed the girl to hear the truth in a better fashion. He also wanted to be able to give her an explanation, and at this point he had none. Inwardly, he was quaking at the news, but once again his emotions would have to wait in line behind those of greater consequence.
It was at this point that Albus Dumbledore chose to make his appearance, and Madame Pomfrey was busy gathering calming potions for Cassandra and the Elf (upon whom Severus had placed a silencing charm), much hindered by Dobby's feeble attempts to help her. Professor Dumbledore looked exceptionally grave, and did not even attempt to feign a smile. Severus noted with some dark amusement that Albus wore pure black robes, a first in all his experience.
"Severus, if you could please join me in Madame Pomfrey's office," motioning towards the door at the far end of the room, the old headmaster began to walk away. "I would appreciate it."
"Cassandra, I will return momentarily. Please drink the potion Madame Pomfrey gives you, I assure you it is safe, it is from one of my batches." Attempting a reassuring pat on the shoulder and achieving what might have been seen as a light slap, he arose from the bed and the girl sat up to drink the proffered vial of potion. Taking a moment to regain his center of balance, he took a deep breath and walk cautiously to the far end. No indeed, the stress wasn't good for any of them.
Dumbledore was pacing the private offices of Madame Pomfrey, moving back and forth between the sterile desk and the equally sterile glass cabinets containing various bandages, potions, healing salves and medical spell books. He paused for a moment and Severus entered and the door clicked shut. Motioning the Potions Master to take a seat (for which he was immensely grateful - at the rate of Albus' pacing, he was getting disturbingly seasick.) Albus began to speak.
"I need you to resume your role as Head of House as soon as possible. You students will need you, I do not trust anyone else considering the circumstances and neither will they." He began without looking up from the white and black tile flooring.
"So it is true then? What that Elf said is true." Severus' voice trailed off, shocked at the sudden reality. Nothing seemed true unless Albus admitted to it, and the lack of small talk that usually accompanied all bad news added effect.
"Yes, Severus. I am afraid to say that it is true. We lost Draco Malfoy this morning. He died overnight. It is a great shock to all, staff and students both."
The silence hung heavy in the room, and it felt as if the walls were closing in, the air was growing thin, and a hazy darkness threatened the edges of Severus' vision as he placed his head into his hands. Tears were threatening the corners of his eyes.tears! He couldn't remember crying, ever. Not even as a child. Learning early that it was inappropriate, he had long ago shut down this function within himself.
Grinding the heels of his hands into his eye sockets and willing the moisture away, he focused momentarily on the ingredients (in order of use and with correct quantities) that would create Veritaserum, the most challenging potion he could think of. The distraction worked quickly, and within a minute he could look up at the Headmaster and ask the question which was burdening his heart. "Ha.. How did this happen? Was he attacked? Was it his.. Father?"
"Alas Severus, my suspicions are confirmed. But no. to my eyes this is a darker fate.he took his own life, in Miss Caliga's room. There were letters left at the bedside, addressed to various people in his life, yourself included. An owl has been sent to his parents, with news from the school as well as the letters addressed to his parents. It appears he took a combination of Dreamless Sleep and an unknown Painkilling Potion.."
"They are toxic when used in combination. There is no antidote. It wouldn't have taken more than 5 minutes for it to be over. Poor boy, what drove him to this point? If only I had been there for him." Again tears threatened in the corners of his eyes, and again Severus buried his face in his hands. Breathing was becoming extremely difficult, and his head felt as if it might explode. He was surprised to find a comforting hand on his shoulder.
"You were very fond of young Malfoy, weren't you?"
"Draco. His name is..was..Draco. Not Malfoy. He HATED that name." Severus suppressed the rage that was threatening beneath the surface. This was NOT the Headmasters fault, but the whole scenario seemed so, well, surreal. Taking a clearing inhalation and holding it for a moment, he began to attempt decent speech again, baring controlling his tone.
"Albus, you can't know what that child went through in his childhood, his life. The expectations, the façade he created to protect himself from his supposed family, friends and schoolmates. You cannot know the torture he felt in being a Malfoy. That his life was... pre -DISPOSED. He didn't want to be like his father. Manipulative, conniving, cruel, heartless.a sniveling toady bent on anarchy and corruption. He had such a strength.He had been doing so well, considering."Again the grief overtook him, and Severus found himself speechless, a state which rarely affected him.
"They will be bringing his body up here within the hour. It will be brought to the private office until proper arrangements can be made by Draco's family." An aged hand offered Severus an envelope with his name on it. "This is yours. I have a short perfunctory note of my own. There is also a heavier one for Miss Caliga, but I don't know if she could handle the news yet."
Severus took the envelope and held it in a shaking hand, shocked as the ink was suddenly blurred by a drop of water on the paper. But it was not water. a renegade tear had found it's way out. He flicked it off the envelope, hoping that Dumbledore had not seen. If he had, he showed no signs of it.
"Poppy says she is neither strong nor healthy yet Albus, but I am afraid one of your demented House Elves has already shouted the news to the entire infirmary. The girl is distraught. I must prepare to inform her of the entire circumstances of Draco's demise, and need to read my letter before I can begin to help her. I would appreciate you casting an Obliviate on her . I lied and told her it was all a bad dream, and to go back to sleep, but that won't be enough. just enough of a Charm to erase the last 12 hours of her memory." As an afterthought "and then a heavy sleeping charm.I will be in a better state to deal with this in the morning."
Silence fell over the room again as the Headmaster weighed the logic of this request, and he slowly nodded. Before he could reply, Severus added a final afterthought
"Please."
The old wizard simply nodded and turned to leave, barely pausing to look back at the battered wraith of a man hunched over his last link to a dead child.
Hello everyone!!! Sorry about the delay - Some serious issues in my life, however, Sev was getting pissed at me! I am sitting here looking at my Harry Potter Calendar (February - Gryffindor vs Slytherin) and I can't believe I actually killed off beloved Draco. It WAS better than letting his father or Ignoble ax him, don't you think?
I got my first nasty review today on this story - it took 106 to get one. They got a particularly Slytherin response back - a warning, don't hack my art! I completely flipped out on the chick! If any of you are concerned about the spelling, I am Canadian and thus spell using a British flair.
************************************************************************
38 -
Shaking
'Dear Merlin, not now! All this time, all this waiting to know if she will come around.. and she awakens to this news!' In his haste to get to Cassandra's bedside, Severus felt the floor shift dizzyingly and landed heavily on the edge of her bed, grasping the foot board for support. The wailing continued, and he reached up, placing his hand onto the huddled child's shoulder in an attempt to reassure her. Her initial reaction was to pull away, but then she pushed hard into his hand which refused to yield to her.
"Poor child, there, there it's alright. It's all a nightmare.." -would it work, would she believe it???-"Just another bad dream, it's over Cassandra. Go back to sleep, I'm here."
"Professor Snape? Is that you?" She gasped between sobs.
"Yes, Cassandra. It is I. You've had an evil dream, that is all. As it is, I would like Madame Pomfrey to get you a calming potion. I don't think this stress is going to help you recover. We need all the strength and rest we can get." His quiet attempt at reassurance seemed feeble, even to his own ears. However he needed the girl to hear the truth in a better fashion. He also wanted to be able to give her an explanation, and at this point he had none. Inwardly, he was quaking at the news, but once again his emotions would have to wait in line behind those of greater consequence.
It was at this point that Albus Dumbledore chose to make his appearance, and Madame Pomfrey was busy gathering calming potions for Cassandra and the Elf (upon whom Severus had placed a silencing charm), much hindered by Dobby's feeble attempts to help her. Professor Dumbledore looked exceptionally grave, and did not even attempt to feign a smile. Severus noted with some dark amusement that Albus wore pure black robes, a first in all his experience.
"Severus, if you could please join me in Madame Pomfrey's office," motioning towards the door at the far end of the room, the old headmaster began to walk away. "I would appreciate it."
"Cassandra, I will return momentarily. Please drink the potion Madame Pomfrey gives you, I assure you it is safe, it is from one of my batches." Attempting a reassuring pat on the shoulder and achieving what might have been seen as a light slap, he arose from the bed and the girl sat up to drink the proffered vial of potion. Taking a moment to regain his center of balance, he took a deep breath and walk cautiously to the far end. No indeed, the stress wasn't good for any of them.
Dumbledore was pacing the private offices of Madame Pomfrey, moving back and forth between the sterile desk and the equally sterile glass cabinets containing various bandages, potions, healing salves and medical spell books. He paused for a moment and Severus entered and the door clicked shut. Motioning the Potions Master to take a seat (for which he was immensely grateful - at the rate of Albus' pacing, he was getting disturbingly seasick.) Albus began to speak.
"I need you to resume your role as Head of House as soon as possible. You students will need you, I do not trust anyone else considering the circumstances and neither will they." He began without looking up from the white and black tile flooring.
"So it is true then? What that Elf said is true." Severus' voice trailed off, shocked at the sudden reality. Nothing seemed true unless Albus admitted to it, and the lack of small talk that usually accompanied all bad news added effect.
"Yes, Severus. I am afraid to say that it is true. We lost Draco Malfoy this morning. He died overnight. It is a great shock to all, staff and students both."
The silence hung heavy in the room, and it felt as if the walls were closing in, the air was growing thin, and a hazy darkness threatened the edges of Severus' vision as he placed his head into his hands. Tears were threatening the corners of his eyes.tears! He couldn't remember crying, ever. Not even as a child. Learning early that it was inappropriate, he had long ago shut down this function within himself.
Grinding the heels of his hands into his eye sockets and willing the moisture away, he focused momentarily on the ingredients (in order of use and with correct quantities) that would create Veritaserum, the most challenging potion he could think of. The distraction worked quickly, and within a minute he could look up at the Headmaster and ask the question which was burdening his heart. "Ha.. How did this happen? Was he attacked? Was it his.. Father?"
"Alas Severus, my suspicions are confirmed. But no. to my eyes this is a darker fate.he took his own life, in Miss Caliga's room. There were letters left at the bedside, addressed to various people in his life, yourself included. An owl has been sent to his parents, with news from the school as well as the letters addressed to his parents. It appears he took a combination of Dreamless Sleep and an unknown Painkilling Potion.."
"They are toxic when used in combination. There is no antidote. It wouldn't have taken more than 5 minutes for it to be over. Poor boy, what drove him to this point? If only I had been there for him." Again tears threatened in the corners of his eyes, and again Severus buried his face in his hands. Breathing was becoming extremely difficult, and his head felt as if it might explode. He was surprised to find a comforting hand on his shoulder.
"You were very fond of young Malfoy, weren't you?"
"Draco. His name is..was..Draco. Not Malfoy. He HATED that name." Severus suppressed the rage that was threatening beneath the surface. This was NOT the Headmasters fault, but the whole scenario seemed so, well, surreal. Taking a clearing inhalation and holding it for a moment, he began to attempt decent speech again, baring controlling his tone.
"Albus, you can't know what that child went through in his childhood, his life. The expectations, the façade he created to protect himself from his supposed family, friends and schoolmates. You cannot know the torture he felt in being a Malfoy. That his life was... pre -DISPOSED. He didn't want to be like his father. Manipulative, conniving, cruel, heartless.a sniveling toady bent on anarchy and corruption. He had such a strength.He had been doing so well, considering."Again the grief overtook him, and Severus found himself speechless, a state which rarely affected him.
"They will be bringing his body up here within the hour. It will be brought to the private office until proper arrangements can be made by Draco's family." An aged hand offered Severus an envelope with his name on it. "This is yours. I have a short perfunctory note of my own. There is also a heavier one for Miss Caliga, but I don't know if she could handle the news yet."
Severus took the envelope and held it in a shaking hand, shocked as the ink was suddenly blurred by a drop of water on the paper. But it was not water. a renegade tear had found it's way out. He flicked it off the envelope, hoping that Dumbledore had not seen. If he had, he showed no signs of it.
"Poppy says she is neither strong nor healthy yet Albus, but I am afraid one of your demented House Elves has already shouted the news to the entire infirmary. The girl is distraught. I must prepare to inform her of the entire circumstances of Draco's demise, and need to read my letter before I can begin to help her. I would appreciate you casting an Obliviate on her . I lied and told her it was all a bad dream, and to go back to sleep, but that won't be enough. just enough of a Charm to erase the last 12 hours of her memory." As an afterthought "and then a heavy sleeping charm.I will be in a better state to deal with this in the morning."
Silence fell over the room again as the Headmaster weighed the logic of this request, and he slowly nodded. Before he could reply, Severus added a final afterthought
"Please."
The old wizard simply nodded and turned to leave, barely pausing to look back at the battered wraith of a man hunched over his last link to a dead child.