Warning: R, language, slash, het, drama, dark, angst, humor, romance.
Disclaimer: All characters belong to J.K Rowlings, other than the plot and extra characters to support the main characters.
The Void Between Sinners and Saints
C & P by G.Arnet, 2002
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Chapter 01 :: The Pretenders
There was no different between night and day in this place. The sun never reached this part of the slum, leaving the alleys in a pitiful darkness. The walls were colored by black mud, wet and sticky. Well, there were so many of them in London in the first place. It wasn't the first time the young boy was shoved against the wall, and got... what he /did not/ deserved. His charcoal eyes slit in pain as he slumped against the dirty wall. It was lucky he was still alive, if not broken, bloody, and bones fractured here and there. His attackers probably believed he was dead and left him alone. An explosion was heard, and then there was nothing. Several hours passed. The night chilled and the mist hovered down the street. It was freezing bellow normal. Surely he would die now, he thought with happiness. He wrapped him self into a ball. He wanted to die, die, die, die and be done with it. Then a small shoe nudged his body, breaking his reverie.
He looked up.
His charcoal eyes meet emerald. The time went still, the air was still, and the mist was no more.
It must be a dream, must be an Angel, or Death, he didn't care which.
Amazing, he thought, looking at those emerald eyes, green tinted gold glowed eerie with face silhouette against the moon, outlining them with silver and tinted with gold. Yes, the moon. It was a miracle the moonlight shone through but not the sun. Ah, the slum was part of the night indeed. The little child with the green eyes was looking down at him with her curious big eyes, slightly crouching to see him better. The hem of her black robes almost enveloped him like a protective cocoon, a world only for two.
She straightened herself and brushed the dirt from her robes. Now he could see her more clearly. The girl took off her robes and tugged it around him. He shivered and flinched when her icy fingertips accidentally touch his almost naked skin. Her fancy black lacy gothic and Victorian-like long dress bellowed behind her. The young boy was confused, afraid and at lost. Why was she being nice to him?
A tall dark man with cold cryptic aura, with his piercing eyes looked like poison eyes came behind her. His black cape and robes pooled around the girl as he bent slightly to take her hand. She didn't move or look back and just stared at the young boy with unreadable eyes.
Then her soft voice spoke in the silent alley, "Daddy, can I keep him?" vibrating in the air like silken whispers.
The taller man spoke back quietly, "No, Poupette. You can't keep him."
"I want him, daddy."
"No, Poupette, you have enough toys." The man said, firmly tugging her hand. It was time to go.
"But I want him, daddy." She said as she squeezed her father's hand in silent request. "Please," she murmured.
The young boy was in the haze. He just sat there frozen in place, staring blankly at the scene of father and daughter arguing quietly with no words exchanged, only their bodies told otherwise. Their face remained impassively white, revealing no emotion at all, but the internal battle was more violent than the surface.
At the end, the man relented. He sighed and released her hand, "Very well." He turned around, his black cape trailing behind him. "He is your responsibility." His voice echoed and sent shivers down the boy's spine.
The young girl's red lips moved slightly. Distantly, the boy could hear her whisper, "Thank you, daddy." She bent down again to touch him. The boy didn't flinch this time, only stared at her in wonder with brave eyes. The girl smiled amusedly but it didn't reach her eyes. The boy was interesting, very strong specimen.
Their eyes locked. The girl seemed smiling but the boy didn't know for sure.
That night, they took him out from the slum. It was the beginning, or the end. He didn't care. He had nothing to loose anyway.
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A cherubic young boy was standing between platform 9 and 10, cursing slightly. He was lost. It said in his ticket that he has to go to platform 9 3/4 to catch the train. But was there such a thing? He asked everywhere but the answer was negative. It didn't look like anyone knew where it was. He tightened his long brown coat. The air was freaking cold for September. He swore again silently as his emerald eyes gazing wildly. He just needed to find a magical folk. That was so bloody brilliant. Sarcasm here.
He heard a chuckle behind him. The green eyes boy whirled around to see who dared to laugh at him.
Another boy with blue eyes twinkled humorously as he tried to control his laughter.
The first boy glared. He didn't like if someone was laughing at him.
"I'm really sorry," said the blue eyed boy, trying to apologize but didn't try to hide his amusement. "I shouldn't laugh at you. You're a muggle born?"
"If you're talking about parentage, born from none-folk magic, yes." He knew that much at least.
"Name's James Ignis Potter. And you are?" The boy extended his hand in invitation of friendship.
"Nygma Lillian Evans, pleased to meet you," he said politely, taking the other boy's hand.
They shook hands. "A pleasure."
"How do you know what I'm looking?" Nygma asked.
"You have this first year look, lost and clueless. After seeing a bunch of your older cousins going in and out of school, you know how to tell. The muggle born always seemed lost to me."
"Oh, I see."
"Nothing to be ashamed off." James waved in dismissal. "We have to go, the train leaved in about ten more minutes."
"Alright."
Fortunately, Nygma (and James) already checked in their bags, trunks and others. James pulled him and ran through the wall. Nygma gave a surprised yelp and close his eyes, bracing for impact but he didn't feel the pain he expected to feel, just a sudden darkness and a wave of penetrating magic.
They stopped and Nygma opened his eyes slowly. "Wow," he said in awe, seeing the wonder around him. James just smiled at his companion. He too was amaze. He heard stories about the Hogwarts Express and all from his cousins. This was beyond his imagination.
The Hogwarts Express was painted in red and black, with the words printed in gold. The sunlight gave a glossy coat, giving a life of its own. The station was slightly different than the muggle one, instead of the cool blue, it was glowing in eerie shades of brown. The pillars were in dark red, high standing, supporting the whole foundation black ceiling. The forest on the other side grew wild virgin trees, with leaves blushed in tropic green and the autumn flowers grew on the sides. The sky was blue, the morning air was cool and the sun was warm. It was a perfect day.
They went into the train and find a compartment for them selves. Outside the window, Nygma saw a half giant man helping the other kids and their bags and trunks for those who came in late for the check in. He remembered the other kids called him Hangrid or something. The half-giant man seemed nice, smiling warmly and all. He smiled and leaned back on the soft comfortable cushions with his hands folded on his lap. James was in front of him, whistling a weird tune, happiness and excitement clearly showed on his face.
In at precise time, the train started to move. Nygma and James involved in a discussion. Namely about Hogwarts and what it was like. James had tons of knowledge he heard from his cousins. He retailed them to Nygma with animated gestures and eyes. Nygma listened and occasionally asked questions. He liked this boy already.
"Four houses?" was one of Nygma's questions.
"Yep." James beamed at him. "Gryffindor, the house for the brave. Ravenclaw are smart. Hufflepuff for their loyalty," he paused and took a breath. "And Slytherin for their cunning and ambition."
Nygma quirked an eyebrow for the lapse, but didn't say anything. "So, what house do you want to go into?"
"Gryffindor of course! Most of my family is there, with occasionally Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw." He dropped his voice slightly," but never Slytherin though."
"Oh? Why?"
James shrugged, "Nothing much, but I heard the house is quite nasty, especially concerning the dark arts. My father will be very angry and disowned me if I'm sorted into the House of snake." He shivered to emphasize his point.
"I see," said Nygma, impassively.
"So, what about you? What house do you want?"
Nygma shrugged. "Anything's fine. I have no preference."
"I hope we can be roommate and friends," said James, wishfully.
Nygma smiled sweetly, "But aren't we friends now?"
James laughed. "Yes, we are. Yes, we are." He leaned forward, "Unless you're a Slyth that is." He was joking, but there was seriousness in James's tone. For some reason Nygma felt uneasy.
"Of course." It must be a serious empathy in James Potter's family. Nygma shrugged it off and they moved into a saver topic.
Suddenly the compartment's door was opened. Two boys peeked in; one with black-jet black eyes and hair, and the other have an amazing pair of golden cat eyes and light brown hair.
"Hi there! Can we come in? The other compartments are full," said the black haired boy.
"Sure, just step right in," said James. "The more the merrier."
"And shut the door," added Nygma.
They came in and settled on the remaining seats. The golden eyes boy sat beside Nygma, while the other one sat beside James.
"My name's Sirius Reinheit Black and your?"
"James Ignis Potter."
"Potter? The famous Potter who helped the downfall of Grindelwald?"
"My Grandfather actually." James's cheeks reddened faintly. "And if I'm not mistaken, your family also helped in the process."
Sirius grinned back, "My dear 'ol Grandmother."
"So, you two are from famous families?" asked the quiet boy. "As in royals?"
"All those who were vital in the Dark Lord's fall were," said James. "At least the top ranks in the order."
"We don't call out self royals, mind you. Just pure blooded family which still can be traced for thousands of years," added Sirius. "Unlike Potty boy here, his blood is blue like ink."
"Hey," exclaimed James.
Sirius smirked, "But it's true, right? I heard your distant cousins married to some British Royals. AND your great-great-great-grandfather once ruled over Britain."
James pouted. "You sure do your homework, Black.
"Sirius. Name's Sirius!"
"Yeah, whatever. Sirius, your families also have benefits and connection in various countries in Europe, all of them are royals. All in all, we're much the same."
Nygma shook his head. "Maybe we should talk something else. Those are great things, mind you, but I don't think I want to hear the 'ooh' and 'aah' about your royal families. And we still haven't finish introducing our selves." He pointed himself and the boy beside him. The other boy just shrunk deeper into his seat and smiled uneasily.
Sirius and James bowed their head in shame, "Sorry, we're always go over board."
"That's okay though."
Sirius looked at him, "And you are?"
"Nygma Lillian Evans."
"A muggle I presumed."
Nygma didn't reply and just nodded.
"How about you?" Sirius turned to the other boy.
"My name's Remus Jacob Lupin. Pleased to meet you."
"Lupin? Haven't heard the name. You're born from a Magical family, right?"
"Yes, but my family's just a simple wizard." Remus blushed.
Nygma rolled his eyes. There was something else about Remus' last name that James and Sirius didn't know. Remus seemed reluctant so Nygma just kept it to his self and stored the information for future reference. He was a muggle, but he did his shared studies to learn this folk magic before coming to school.
After the exchanged pleasantries, Sirius and James were engrossed in discussing the game of Quidditch. Remus contributed occasionally, but Nygma just stayed quite and became a good listener. He didn't like heights and the thought of flying with a broom frightened her. Naturally, he was neutral against Quidditch because it was still an amusing sport.
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When they had arrived, Nygma felt a strange vibe rippled in his senses. That something was so familiar to him but he couldn't locate it. The first year children were lining up behind an old hag, excused me, an old woman with a tall black pointed hat and dressed in the last 10 years of the worst fashion ever. Oh, it was dark purple by the way. Nygma hardly contained him self. He snickered to himself and glanced around to his new companions. James and Sirius were chatting animatedly, while Remus looking around everywhere before his golden eyes rested on him. The young boy gave a smile, which he returned kindly.
Nygma looked around some more. It was close, very close but he could not see through. Something was blocking it. He mused and shrugged.
And then the sorting began after the sing a song from the rusty old hat. Then it was time for Nygma to sit on the stool to get sorted. The boy sat comfortably with the hat on his head, searching and running around in /his/ head. Nygma wasn't sure he liked the idea, but he kept silent.
/Hmmmm, difficult, difficult/, it said, twirling its head (if you could call it a head) around, deep in thought.
Nygma fidgeted.
/You could do brilliant things, extremely/. The hat twirled Heaven ward. /I know your secret/.
The boy gulped. /Please no, please no, please no./
/Ah, I see, you're one of /that/ kind. So, which should I choose? Hmmm? Tell me, little /boy//
/Erh.... I don't know?/
/What I see is what I see, what they don't see won't hurt them. The strongest point was your bravely./ The hat paused, /Even the other one was close to second./ The damn Hat paused for dramatic effect. /I say.../ GRYFFINDOR! It shouted the last part and let the boy go.
Nygma sighed in relieved. He strode along the aisle between the Hufflepuff and Gryffindor table and sat down on the edge. His new friends one by one were sorted into Gryffindor. They smiled all together and got to know their housemates. Then the Headmaster stood up and made his usual, ah, un-usual speech. Nygma liked him already. That old man was funny. Albus Dumbledore looked back at the young boy with a smile and a twinkle in his eyes. Nygma gulped nervously, then stared down at his own plate when the food was magically appeared.
They chatted and laughed for sometime, when Nygma snapped his head up. He felt it again. What-, WHO was it? His eyes stared upon the tables and strayed upon the Slytherin's table. His eyes narrowed, but before he could find the person, the presence was gone. Nygma swore.
"Hey, what are you looking at?" James poked his ribs, which earn a rather nasty glare from the boy himself.
"Nothing," he muttered, poking at his dinner.
James followed his gaze and frowned. "Don't look at them," he warned. "They don't like it. And it won't do good for you."
"Hm, hm." Nygma nodded absentmindedly.
James furrowed deeper. His new friend was strange.
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Nygma was still deep in his thought when they reached the Gryffindor tower, lead by a fifth year prefect. He followed his friends through the portrait, a big fat old woman with aristocrat's features. White wigs, pale face, red lips, peach Victorian dresses. The old woman smiled at them as the prefect said the password. It swung open to welcome them. The common room greeted them in a warm subdued silence, shades of red, gold and brown spread all over the place. The fire was lit, danced in abstract dance, giving the living room a life of its own.
Sirius nudged his new friend and smiled. Nygma smiled back. Apparently they would share the same bedroom with James, Remus and a fat boy by the name of Peter Pettigrew. Peter was a chubby little boy with a face like a rat, smooth skin like a new baby born, and round red cheeks.
James liked all of his roommates, except Peter. That was because he was very clumsy and shuttered in every word. Surprised to see that much bravery from Gryffindor. But, James mused out loud, where else could the boy go? Sirius seemed to think along the line, but they were wise and taught well by their family to talk otherwise. Remus was as usual, collected and calm. He placed his belongings on top of his bed near the entrance. The boy was a neat kind of boy. Nygma stared at his new roommates with one or two things to comment; otherwise he stayed silence and went to his chosen bed near the window. James already occupied the other one across his bed, with Sirius beside him. Peter stood by the entrance, seemed lost and unsure for him self. The fat boy walked cautiously toward the bed between Nygma's and Remus' and settled his small bag on top of his trunk, near the bed's footer. The house elves had brought their trunks earlier and tidy up their belongings while they were at dinner.
Nygma smiled at Peter a bit, knowing that his other roommates weren't that keen of him. Hi seemed like a nice boy, but out of place. Nygma took pity on him. He knew what it was like to be unwanted and different. He best to make friends with the fat boy too. While James, Sirius, Remus and Peter went for a shower (which he declined to join with vague reason), Nygma flopped unto his still covered bed and looked around the room. The room was not that big, but enough for five grown boys. The five beds with poles were kind of like in the fairytales, where long red heavy lines hand on top of it, draped down unto the floor, embroiled with golden floral pattern. Ah, so, curtains for privacy. The beds were colored in red wood Mahoney, with white linen sheets and light peach comforter, covered with yet another heavy dark red layer, also embroiled with golden floral pattern. The carpeted floor was in deep rich dark red, almost brown. Too much red, he thought. And gold, he thought again, distastefully. The first year dorm was on top of the common room, it seemed. The boy looked at the window beside his bed. The window was huge, from top to bottom, reaching the ceiling, with dark wood supports. A golden lion was placed on the key. It seemed like it would roared into the dark night. He looked beyond the window, into the forbidden forest. The whistling wind and the grimacing of the leaves were like music, dancing with the roaring sound of the moor. The night sang like it never sang before, greeting the boy in the most welcoming. Like death whispered in the night. A small glint in Nygma's eyes and he smiled unlike the usually warm smiles his used with his new friends.
He cast a quick cleaning spell and closed the curtain. Nygma cast a few serious charms and slept before his friends return.
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The night settled in nicely.
And all was quiet.
A female figure dressed in strange outfit. Her eyes gleamed jaded in the darkness and it was gone.
James woke up in sweat. He looked around. His friends were asleep. The blue eyes boy shrugged and went back to sleep.
The Illusion whispered.
Dreams be damned.
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Two weeks had passed; they went into their schedule nicely. James was very proud with his skills in transfiguration in his first try. Sirius was smug, since he was close in second. But the black haired boy smiled winningly when he won over the first place in charm. Until Nygma showed what he could do. Sirius pouted but he did do better in other classes, surprisingly, with Runes. Nygma observed that Remus was very good in the Dark Arts and Potions, to everyone's surprise. Usually the Slytherin dominated those fields (since the Slytherin and the Gryffindor have many classes together). Remus just shrugged and gave a reason since his father was an auror and his mother was a researcher in healing potions... all was said.
"I bet you'll do good in Ravenclaw," said James, over a toast. They were having breakfast early in the morning. For once the boys were up. Usually Nygma was the early riser and he had a heavy task to wake up his friends.
Remus just smiled calmly, took an apple and bit a large portion of it.
"My, what a big mouth you have," snickered Sirius.
"My, what a bad breath you have," Remus bit back and snickered at Sirius reddened face. It was rare to see Sirius spluttered incoherently. Only Remus could do that in numbers of time.
James laughed and toasted the golden-eyed boy. Nygma just rolled his eyes but smiled out of politeness. After some more bickering they went to their class, double potion (inserted some loud groans from the boys here) with the Slytherin.
When they sat in, Sirius nudge James and pointed a certain dark raven-haired boy sitting in the front row. James raised an eyebrow at his companion. Remus sat beside Nygma while the other boy busily prepared his books. Peter sat beside Nygma because he was so nice to him lately. James and Sirius whispered quietly before they settled in front of Remus and Nygma.
James turned around and whispered something at Remus; in turn Remus whispered what he said to the boy beside him. Nygma raised an eyebrow in question. They wanted to do WHAT? The boy turned to Peter but at the same time the Professor swept in, forcing Nygma to pay attention. He glanced at Peter in apologetically smile. The fat boy smiled back reassuringly.
The lesson started. Professor Hecate, the Potion mistress, was as strict as hell. She favored no one and hated everyone. But she had a soft spot for Remus and apparently it bestowed the boy they saw earlier. His name was Severus Snape.
And then it happened. Sirius threw a chopped worm into Snape's cauldron, when the red eyed Professor had her attention else where, making it boiled and erupted. The potion splashed on the poor boy in a sticky goof-ed green ooze. Yuck.
The Professor turned around, and was forced to take ten points from the Slytherin. She ushered the boy to go to the Hospital wing. Luckily it wasn't a dangerous potion, it was just a revealing potion. Nothing harm done, except the boy's pride of course. The other Slytherin looked at the Gryffindor side accusingly while the golden lion boys just sat there innocently.
James and Sirius tried to contain their laughter for their joke. Remus looked at them, scolding, while Peter looked scared. The Professor cast a quick cleaning spell and brought the cauldron to the sink. No one noticed Snape gave James and Sirius the dirtiest looks. Nygma saw, the blazing light that burn in those strange coal black eyes so different than Sirius. While Sirius was lightening black eyes, this boy's eyes were full of darkness, so deep like an abyss. Snape unconsciously lowered his shields. Waves of waves of that vibe assaulted Nygma's senses. The ripple of power shared between the two twined like snakes dancing in sync. Snape's eyes lingered at them for a few moments before it switched to him. Nygma looked back. Eyes locked in a different time, different life. The marks in their soul glowed in radiant and it tone down and disappeared. No one noticed.
And then the boy swept away.
Nygma stared at the blank spot where the boy previously stood, in shock and something else. Silently, he smiled.
*I've found you. *
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The day progressed quietly. Nygma was debating on some ways to approach the boy, but James and his friends were so persistent, keeping close to him, to his annoyance. They didn't do it on purpose but one or the others always went with him. When at last he went to the library, only Remus was with him. The other three boys were reluctant to follow him, them there. They were allergic to books. Heh. They stranded outside instead, playing catch ball. Oh Sirius and James were very close friends, with Peter tagging along. Remus and Nygma sat near the window behind the dusty old shelves full with thick dusty books and parchments. They went straight studying charms. The boy looked at his brown haired friend in concern. Since this morning Remus looked like ill. One of the time in those months. The boy was feverish but tried to hide it anyway. That wouldn't work with Nygma because he was an empathic. He could feel those around him with closeness. Only a few people he could not read, but that was because of a reason.
"Remus, are you alright?" The boy asked, gently.
Remus looked at him and smiled but not the usual bright smile he used to wear. "I'm perfectly fine, Ny." That was their nickname for him.
Nygma frowned. "But you're flush! And hot." He touched the other boy. Remus flinched.
"I'm fine really. It must be something I ate." He giggled nervously.
He glared. Remus was so stubborn sometimes, knowing his weak condition. Oh yes, Remus confided to them that he had a weak heart, but nothing to worry about. Oh, but Nygma was very worry of his friend. He had a kind heart indeed. "Remus Jacob Lupin." Uh, oh, if Nygma already used a full name, it means he didn't want to be crossed. "You are going to the Hospital Wing or I drag you there my self." He gave his patented glare.
Remus swallowed hard and looked down unto his opened book. "I was thinking of going there this afternoon."
"Well?"
"I will, I will." Remus closed the book and looked back at Nygma, "I'm going now, ok?"
Nygma smiled back. "Good."
Remus smiled teasingly, "All for you."
Nygma blushed faintly. "Now go on!" He almost shuttered his words.
"Thank you for your concern, really."
"No problem, Remus."
And then Remus left, leaving Nygma in his own musing. Now for business.
He needed to find a certain black haired boy who caught his attention earlier that week.
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The sun was setting in, leaving the sky in shades of orange to blue sapphires. The wind was cool; it was in the middle of September after all. The leaves were in the shades of four colors, yellow, red, brown and some greens. Autumn was the best under the sky. The students were busy inside, couldn't stand the cool weather. Weak. Nygma strode down the lawn, passing Hangrid's hut. In the edge of the Forbidden forest, he found the boy. Normally, no one would dare step even that close to the Forbidden forest, due to the warnings and the wicked stories surrounded the dark evil forest. But it didn't do anything to them. Now that Nygma stood face to face with a pale white skin boy, with hooked nose, intelligent black eyes and somewhat greasy shoulder length hair.
There was no smile, no pleasantries passed between them, just silent, utterly dark silence and devoid of emotions.
"I was wondering when would you notice me." He said, in voice like the night, rich in deep black tone. Face betrayed nothing.
Nygma looked at him, subdued. "You're like me."
Severus let out a hollow laugh. "Indeed." he sneered. "It took your /friends/," he spat out. "For you to notice me."
"I'm sorry for what they did." Nygma took a calm face. "I have reasons."
"I know," Severus whispered. He straightened up. "My name is Severus Snape."
"My name is Nygma Lillian Evans." They shook. Severus sneered at his muggle name but didn't say anything.
Nygma in return smirked.
Their eyes passed more than what it seemed.
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The next morning, while James, Sirius and Peter went for breakfast, Nygma woke up refreshed. It was lucky today was Friday. No class. Homework was for later. Nygma woke up and got ready. He glanced at the other beds and frowned. Remus' bed was still closed.
He went over to his friend and peeked inside. Remus was asleep and sweating. Nygma paled.
"Remus! Wake up!"
"Huh? Wha----?"
"Wake up! Your fever got worse!"
"Uh," Remus stumbled out of the bed but Nygma pushed him down. He leaned over and touched his forehead against the sick boy. "You're so damn hot, and yesterday you'd said you're okay!" He pushed Remus back unto the bed and covered him with the thick blanket. "Didn't you go to the Hospital wing?" He scolded.
"I did." Remus coughed a bit and looked flushed. "Madame Pomfrey told me to go again this afternoon. And she told me to take a rest. Don't worry," Remus gave out a coughing fit. "He gave me something for the fever."
Nygma looked at Remus very close to worry.
Remus smiled at him. "Don't worry, Ny. I'll be fine. It's once a month thing. I have a weak body after all." He gave a weak laughter.
The other boy stared at him sadly, "Shh, you better sleep. I'll call Madame Pomfrey, alright?" He touched Remus forehead gently and caressed the sick boy. Remus was lulled with his gentle touches to sleep. He closed his eyes.
"Thank you, Ny."
Nygma closed the curtain and left, shaking his head.
Remus slept with a smile on his face.
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All day he didn't see Severus. It worsens his mood. Not only his friend Remus was sick in bed, Severus was missing too. And on top of that, he heard (ears dropping more likely), behind the shelves in the library, some Ravenclaw talking that Severus was taken to the Infirmary for severe burns. Apparently some six years Gryffindor and Hufflepuff cornered the young boy and do things unnamed. It was a hush, hush among the houses. \Nygma's eyes blaze in anger. So that was why he seldom saw Severus in classes. No wonder it was hard to find that familiar vibe. Severus was closing his inner to stop everything coming contact into him. Oh, Merlin. /That/ was why James, Sirius and now, Peter always used any excuse to torment Severus.
Nygma stormed out from the library and almost knock down a tall older girl. "I'm sorry!" he cried out, face flushed in red.
The older girl, who was not mad, just smiled. "It's alright, Ny."
He looked at her, "Molly!" She was a fifth year prefect. They got to know each other very well because they were both muggle born.
She chuckled, "Hold your horses, Ny. Really, it's not like you rushing like that and face hot like a tomato."
"Molly!" exclaimed the boy. "It's not funny."
"I'm sorry. Now tell me, what's going on?"
And Nygma proceeded to rant the injustice among the houses. Molly just listened and regarded him in a silent sad smile. After Nygma finished pouring out his heart, it was Molly's turn.
"It's how it is, dear. We as muggle wouldn't understand the strains between the houses, especially between Gryffindor and Slytherin, ESPECIALLY between the three houses against the house of snake."
"But, Molly!" whined Nygma.
She rubbed her forehead, "Just drop it, Ny."
Nygma was so frustrated.
"I know how hard for you. But this is the way it's been. You can't change that."
"How do you know? How do you feel?" tears threatening to fall. Here he found someone like him, a missing link. And he was tortured beyond reason, just because he was a Slytherin.
Molly smiled sadly, very sad, it almost broke his heart. "Because my love is from a Slytherin."
Nygma choke back his tears. "What?"
She patted his head (he was shorter a few inched). "Between you an me, it is a secret. Now hush. Let it be."
He looked at her with sadness. "I'm sorry."
"It's alright." She smiled reassuringly. "I'm sorry too."
They parted ways. Nygma returned to his room, unto his bed and closed the curtains. He stayed there until dinner.
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The boy refused to talk to anybody.
James and Sirius stared at the non-disturbed signs.
"What's wrong with him?" asked James in concern.
"Dun no, if he doesn't want to eat, just let him." Sirius took James hand and dragged him outside.
"But," he cast another worry glance at Nygma's bedpost.
"It's nothing. It must be because Remus was sick, ya know, they seemed close," said Sirius, still dragging James, with Peter trailing behind them. Peter also looked at the bed in worry, but he was too afraid to do anything.
The door closed behind them, leaving the boy in comfortable welcoming silence.
Nygma didn't cry. HE wasn't supposed to cry.
Opening the bed curtain, he made sure no ones there. He went to the shower room (there was one in each dorm room), taking off his robes. He unbuttoned his white shirt and stripped to his underwear. He was bare like the day he was born.
He turned the water hot. Tasted bitter and salty running down his cheek. He brushed his body raw clean and red and then turned the water to freezing cold, letting it washed his lit well-shaped-feminine-curves and soft body. It cleared his head somewhat. In the shower he thought a lot. He learned many things from Molly, many horrible things behind the teachers' back. He doubt if the Headmaster knew or even cared. Albus was a busy man. Yeah, right.
Nygma was beginning to hate everything. He decided that something must be done.
He turned off the shower and dressed. He covered his layers of clothing with his robe, patented in reddish brown color with a Golden Griffin lion badge. He could throw up.
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Nygma found Severus in the corner of the castle.
They talked in spoken silence. Just with their eyes. There were so many things they could convey.
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"Come on, James! You have to eat something," urged Sirius, shoving even more food on James' plate.
"Sirius," exclaimed the tousle haired boy, glaring at his friend, but with no heart behind it.
Sirius rolled his eyes heavenward, "Don't worry about Ny and Remus. Remus' sick and Ny is also sick because they are close. You can bring him food after you eat, for god's sake!"
"Yeah, James," said the fat boy timidly. "Ny, Ny would be fine. He was just tired."
"See? Even Peter agreed with me." Sirius cast a warm smile toward Peter for a second and returned his attention to his best friend.
"Alright," James poked his food and took a bite.
"That's my boy!' exclaimed Sirius, happily.
They finished dinner soon and went back to their dorm room. Nygma was not there.
"He must forgot something in the library, you know how he is," reassured Sirius.
James just nodded and got ready for bed.
Peter cast another glance at Nygma's bed and sighed. He changed his clothes and slipped under the warm blanket.
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The portrait swung open. Nygma and Severus stepped into the Slytherin common room together. The room instantly went silent. Not a word, not event the older kids said anything. Too shock to say anything. A Gryffindor?! In a Slytherin common room?! A pompous idea! But Nygma was there for real.
"What's the meaning of this?!" a tall sixth year prefect stood up. A leader of the pack it seemed, because the older, seventh graders didn't move. "Severus?!" asked the boy again. A Malfoy, by the looks of it, noted Nygma. The distinguish of a Malfoy, tall, handsome, pale white aristocrat face, silver blue eyes, and the arrogance of a pure blood wizard family.
Severus looked at Malfoy warningly.
Nygma played his wand absentmindedly. Twirling the long black wooden wand between his fingertips.
"What is that /mudblood/ doing in /our/ common room?" The blonde boy spat the word mudblood, glaring back and forth between Severus and the intruder.
Severus fidgeted beside the boy.
Nygma raised his wand, its point was pointing at Malfoy, with a smiled that didn't reach his green emerald eyes. A soft whisper in the dark night,
"Crucio."
And then a pain stretching scream wretched into the fabricated darkness.
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TBC
27/10/02
A/N: Ny seemed to know more than a muggle born knew, ne? Like it? Hate it? Should I continue?
A/N2: I need a beta, please email me or write in the review