Aiden hovered in the doorway of the hospital wing, watching the scene
before him. Remus was still unconscience, wrapped in bandages; Sirius was
curled up in the bed next to him, crying silently into his husband's
shoulder. Poppy had done all she could, but the werewolf had been exposed
to the silver for along time, and the open wounds on his chest had residue
of the substance in his blood. Albus lie sleeping in a bed on his left
handed side and Draco on the other. Ginny had returned to St. Mungos to
take care of the masses that were injured, and Severus was in his dungeons
working on potions to help the three invalids.
Aiden walked quietly to Remus' bed, and laid his hand softly on Sirius' shoulder. His godfather started and twisted around to look at him. Almost all of Aiden's resentment faded away at the haunted look in the mans eyes. He hesitantly leaned forward, wrapping his arms around Sirius in an awkward hug. "I'm sorry" He whispered. Sirius shook his head. "Not your fault." Aiden sighed. "No." he stood and stretched. "I'll go see if Severus needs any help."
He walked down the many flights of stairs heading for the dungeons, stopping once to pick up coffee, and sandwiches. "Gubraithian" he spoke the password, and entered the quarters he and the Potions Master shared. He paused at the door, which he assumed was to Severus' lab. He had been staying here for a couple weeks, but he had only seen Severus actually in his other rooms once or twice, if he was actually in any part of his quarters, it was this room, and as Aiden could feel the powerful wards guarding against unwanted visitors. Nothing he couldn't get past, but he knew Severus was one of the most private men in existence, and he respected that, since his fondest wish was solitude as well. He raised his hand and knocked three times, and waited.
"Come in, Applin." Snapes silk voice sounded husky.
Aiden slowly entered, looking around. It was nothing like the Potions Classroom. Sterile gray tiles covered the floor, silver steel tables and cabinets ran along all the walls, one large lab table in the center of the room. Six Cauldrons were bubbling at once. He turned to the Potions Master, and his eyes widened. The man looked even paler than usual, his normal, flowing black robes were gone, his plain black slacks were wrinkled as well as his jacket, the sleeves pushed up to his elbows, showing the Dark Mark. As if sensing Aidnes looking at it, he quickly rolled down his sleeves. Aiden looked up in the mans face. His eyes were red rimmed and rather puffy, purplish circles under them, if Aiden didn't know any better, he would think the man had been crying. His hair was pulled back in a ponytail, a few strands falling in his face. Aiden had a sudden urge to push the inky black hair behind his ear, and take the man into his arms. He almost blushed at the thought. Where had that come from?
"What do you want, Applin?" Snape growled, pinching the bridge of his hooked nose.
"You look horrible."
Snape snorted. "As opposed to.?"
"Well, more than usual, anyway. I brought you food."
Severus looked slightly surprised, but snapped "I don't eat while working."
"You need to take a break from working. You were just tortured, you need to rest."
"You may be able to take time off from life, but in case you have not noticed, there are three people depending on me to make these potions."
Aiden smiled. "I know. And that is why I am here. You did manage to drill a few things into my head before.well.I am not all that bad at Potions myself."
Severus merely raised one skeptical eyebrow. "Uh huh. Look, I really don't have time for this. I have to get back to work."
"But you have to rest, or you will end up in the Hospital wing as well, and then no one will be here to brew the potions."
Severus opened his mouth to retort, but a knock on the door interrupted him, and Hermione Granger slipped into the room. "Evening, sir- oh.I am sorry.Aiden.I didn't know I would be interrupting anything. Ill just go."
Severus shook his head. "You weren't. What do you need?"
"I just wanted to see if you needed any help."
Severus glanced at Aiden at the corner of his eye. "Your assistance would be appreciated."
Aiden stared for a second, then should his head. "Well, I'll just leave the food here." And he stalked out of the room, slamming the door behind him, angrily heading back up to the Hospital Wing. There was a twinge of.something.inside him. There had been no noticeable animosity between them for the past weeks, but apparently Severus preferred not to be in his company. He shook his head, not knowing why he cared so much. It wasn't like they were even friends. Just, he had felt so.protective. He didn't want Severus to be hurt. He entered the Hospital Wing, and headed to Madam Pomfrey's office, where she was sitting behind her desk, filling out papers.
"Evening, Poppy. Anything I can do to help?"
"Hello, Aiden. No I am afraid not, it would be best if you just left, my patients need their rest. They'll be fine, don't worry, Severus will have the potions finished soon."
Aiden sighed and headed to the entrance hall, and sat on the front steps of the school, feeling quite useless. He watched as storm clouds rolled in, and the rain fell, listening to the thunder. He slowly stood, and walked out into the rain. He followed the cobblestone path, out past the apparation wards. Concentration on where he wanted to go, and with a pop, disappeared.
Severus felt a tug at his navel, and looked up, confused. It took his a minute before he remembered the charm he had placed on Aiden. Sighing, he cleaned up what he was doing, and turned to Hermione.
"These are almost done. Something has come up, am I correct in assuming that you can finish on your own?"
Hermione nodded. "Yes sir."
"Thank you", Miss.Granger. And I expect my lab to be exactly the way it is now when I return."
He stalked out of the dungeons and then out into the storm. "Bloody hell." He muttered. "What has he gotten into now." He pasted the wards, and disapparated, following the charms direction. Arriving, he looked around. He could hardly see through the pouring rain, but the place still seemed vaguely familiar. Gray shapes rose up from the ground, and, walking closer to one; he realized where he was. "Godric's Hollow..."He whispered. He hadn't been here in years.since that one Halloween Night. After the Potters Deaths; the hollow was turned into a cemetery for those killed in the war against Voldemort. He walked slowly through the marble pillars, looking for Aiden. It was not safe for him to be out alone, especially now that his cover was blown. Voldemort would no doubt be furious, and doubling his efforts. He was caught up in his thoughts, and he almost missed the dark shape at one of the markers.
Aiden stood at his best friend's grave. His eyes filled with tears as he read the epitaph. "Ronald Weasley, friend, lover, son. A flame extinguished too soon. Betrayed, you shall be avenged." Yes, thought Aiden, he will be avenged. He sat down in the wet grass, running one hand over the engravings.
"Hey, mate. Sorry I didn't come sooner." He whispered. "Been busy. I miss you. no one can quite kick my ass all over a chess board like you could." He smiled sadly as he thought about all the times they had played together. He had never won a single game. "Remember how it used to be? Me, you and Mione, wandering the school, minding everyone's business but our own.giving Snape and Filch heart attacks."
Severus had to hold back a snort at that. He leaned against a spreading oak, giving Aiden some time alone with his friend. He half listened as Aiden continued.
"This isn't how it was supposed to be. You were supposed to marry Hermione, have a bunch more red headed Weasleys, become an Auror. We all had such great plans for our futures, huh? Mione is a teacher now.I always thought she would go into research or something I know she wanted to.and she misses you more than most. I don't think she will ever love anyone again. If there is an afterlife.she is waiting for that." Aiden sighed and wiped the tears off his cheeks. "I want her to be happy. I wish everything were the way it was before. Well, not quite. I wish my parents were alive.Pettigrew had never betrayed.the Marauders were be still together.Draco and Severus had never gotten the Dark Mark."
Severus sighed, putting his right hand over his left forearm. How he wished that as well. There wasn't anything he wouldn't give.
Aiden rested his forehead against the cold marble stone. "I am sorry." He whispered. "So sorry.my fault.all my fault.You knew it wasn't me didn't you? Didn't you?!" His shoulders shook with his sobs. "I love you... and I'll kill him. I swear to you, I'll do it." He reached into his pocket, taking out a single sickle. With a wave of his wand, he transfigured it into a small silver chess piece, a rearing horse, armor clad warrior astride it. He closed his eyes, and laid it on the ground by the marker.
Severus watched the young man fall against the grave stone, sobs wracking his body. Severus slowly walked up behind him, and laid his hand on the shaking shoulder. Aiden whirled, and Severus found himself staring down the length of a wand. Aiden's eyes widened. "Se-Severus! Oh, Merlin.Sorry.reflex."
"Indeed." He hauled Aiden to his feet and crossed his arms, glaring at the young man, who was hastily composing his face. "You are coming with me back to the school, now." He grabbed his arm, pulled out a medallion from around his neck. "Hogwarts Dungeons." And the duo disappeared.
Aiden walked quietly to Remus' bed, and laid his hand softly on Sirius' shoulder. His godfather started and twisted around to look at him. Almost all of Aiden's resentment faded away at the haunted look in the mans eyes. He hesitantly leaned forward, wrapping his arms around Sirius in an awkward hug. "I'm sorry" He whispered. Sirius shook his head. "Not your fault." Aiden sighed. "No." he stood and stretched. "I'll go see if Severus needs any help."
He walked down the many flights of stairs heading for the dungeons, stopping once to pick up coffee, and sandwiches. "Gubraithian" he spoke the password, and entered the quarters he and the Potions Master shared. He paused at the door, which he assumed was to Severus' lab. He had been staying here for a couple weeks, but he had only seen Severus actually in his other rooms once or twice, if he was actually in any part of his quarters, it was this room, and as Aiden could feel the powerful wards guarding against unwanted visitors. Nothing he couldn't get past, but he knew Severus was one of the most private men in existence, and he respected that, since his fondest wish was solitude as well. He raised his hand and knocked three times, and waited.
"Come in, Applin." Snapes silk voice sounded husky.
Aiden slowly entered, looking around. It was nothing like the Potions Classroom. Sterile gray tiles covered the floor, silver steel tables and cabinets ran along all the walls, one large lab table in the center of the room. Six Cauldrons were bubbling at once. He turned to the Potions Master, and his eyes widened. The man looked even paler than usual, his normal, flowing black robes were gone, his plain black slacks were wrinkled as well as his jacket, the sleeves pushed up to his elbows, showing the Dark Mark. As if sensing Aidnes looking at it, he quickly rolled down his sleeves. Aiden looked up in the mans face. His eyes were red rimmed and rather puffy, purplish circles under them, if Aiden didn't know any better, he would think the man had been crying. His hair was pulled back in a ponytail, a few strands falling in his face. Aiden had a sudden urge to push the inky black hair behind his ear, and take the man into his arms. He almost blushed at the thought. Where had that come from?
"What do you want, Applin?" Snape growled, pinching the bridge of his hooked nose.
"You look horrible."
Snape snorted. "As opposed to.?"
"Well, more than usual, anyway. I brought you food."
Severus looked slightly surprised, but snapped "I don't eat while working."
"You need to take a break from working. You were just tortured, you need to rest."
"You may be able to take time off from life, but in case you have not noticed, there are three people depending on me to make these potions."
Aiden smiled. "I know. And that is why I am here. You did manage to drill a few things into my head before.well.I am not all that bad at Potions myself."
Severus merely raised one skeptical eyebrow. "Uh huh. Look, I really don't have time for this. I have to get back to work."
"But you have to rest, or you will end up in the Hospital wing as well, and then no one will be here to brew the potions."
Severus opened his mouth to retort, but a knock on the door interrupted him, and Hermione Granger slipped into the room. "Evening, sir- oh.I am sorry.Aiden.I didn't know I would be interrupting anything. Ill just go."
Severus shook his head. "You weren't. What do you need?"
"I just wanted to see if you needed any help."
Severus glanced at Aiden at the corner of his eye. "Your assistance would be appreciated."
Aiden stared for a second, then should his head. "Well, I'll just leave the food here." And he stalked out of the room, slamming the door behind him, angrily heading back up to the Hospital Wing. There was a twinge of.something.inside him. There had been no noticeable animosity between them for the past weeks, but apparently Severus preferred not to be in his company. He shook his head, not knowing why he cared so much. It wasn't like they were even friends. Just, he had felt so.protective. He didn't want Severus to be hurt. He entered the Hospital Wing, and headed to Madam Pomfrey's office, where she was sitting behind her desk, filling out papers.
"Evening, Poppy. Anything I can do to help?"
"Hello, Aiden. No I am afraid not, it would be best if you just left, my patients need their rest. They'll be fine, don't worry, Severus will have the potions finished soon."
Aiden sighed and headed to the entrance hall, and sat on the front steps of the school, feeling quite useless. He watched as storm clouds rolled in, and the rain fell, listening to the thunder. He slowly stood, and walked out into the rain. He followed the cobblestone path, out past the apparation wards. Concentration on where he wanted to go, and with a pop, disappeared.
Severus felt a tug at his navel, and looked up, confused. It took his a minute before he remembered the charm he had placed on Aiden. Sighing, he cleaned up what he was doing, and turned to Hermione.
"These are almost done. Something has come up, am I correct in assuming that you can finish on your own?"
Hermione nodded. "Yes sir."
"Thank you", Miss.Granger. And I expect my lab to be exactly the way it is now when I return."
He stalked out of the dungeons and then out into the storm. "Bloody hell." He muttered. "What has he gotten into now." He pasted the wards, and disapparated, following the charms direction. Arriving, he looked around. He could hardly see through the pouring rain, but the place still seemed vaguely familiar. Gray shapes rose up from the ground, and, walking closer to one; he realized where he was. "Godric's Hollow..."He whispered. He hadn't been here in years.since that one Halloween Night. After the Potters Deaths; the hollow was turned into a cemetery for those killed in the war against Voldemort. He walked slowly through the marble pillars, looking for Aiden. It was not safe for him to be out alone, especially now that his cover was blown. Voldemort would no doubt be furious, and doubling his efforts. He was caught up in his thoughts, and he almost missed the dark shape at one of the markers.
Aiden stood at his best friend's grave. His eyes filled with tears as he read the epitaph. "Ronald Weasley, friend, lover, son. A flame extinguished too soon. Betrayed, you shall be avenged." Yes, thought Aiden, he will be avenged. He sat down in the wet grass, running one hand over the engravings.
"Hey, mate. Sorry I didn't come sooner." He whispered. "Been busy. I miss you. no one can quite kick my ass all over a chess board like you could." He smiled sadly as he thought about all the times they had played together. He had never won a single game. "Remember how it used to be? Me, you and Mione, wandering the school, minding everyone's business but our own.giving Snape and Filch heart attacks."
Severus had to hold back a snort at that. He leaned against a spreading oak, giving Aiden some time alone with his friend. He half listened as Aiden continued.
"This isn't how it was supposed to be. You were supposed to marry Hermione, have a bunch more red headed Weasleys, become an Auror. We all had such great plans for our futures, huh? Mione is a teacher now.I always thought she would go into research or something I know she wanted to.and she misses you more than most. I don't think she will ever love anyone again. If there is an afterlife.she is waiting for that." Aiden sighed and wiped the tears off his cheeks. "I want her to be happy. I wish everything were the way it was before. Well, not quite. I wish my parents were alive.Pettigrew had never betrayed.the Marauders were be still together.Draco and Severus had never gotten the Dark Mark."
Severus sighed, putting his right hand over his left forearm. How he wished that as well. There wasn't anything he wouldn't give.
Aiden rested his forehead against the cold marble stone. "I am sorry." He whispered. "So sorry.my fault.all my fault.You knew it wasn't me didn't you? Didn't you?!" His shoulders shook with his sobs. "I love you... and I'll kill him. I swear to you, I'll do it." He reached into his pocket, taking out a single sickle. With a wave of his wand, he transfigured it into a small silver chess piece, a rearing horse, armor clad warrior astride it. He closed his eyes, and laid it on the ground by the marker.
Severus watched the young man fall against the grave stone, sobs wracking his body. Severus slowly walked up behind him, and laid his hand on the shaking shoulder. Aiden whirled, and Severus found himself staring down the length of a wand. Aiden's eyes widened. "Se-Severus! Oh, Merlin.Sorry.reflex."
"Indeed." He hauled Aiden to his feet and crossed his arms, glaring at the young man, who was hastily composing his face. "You are coming with me back to the school, now." He grabbed his arm, pulled out a medallion from around his neck. "Hogwarts Dungeons." And the duo disappeared.