Akira and Severus stood in the Great Hall together, near the Slytherin table. Akira was leaning against Severus who had his arms wrapped around her. They looked quite comfortable together. It was now common knowledge in Slytherin that they were indeed a couple. Whether it was love or some sort of 'fling' as some called it was questionable to most. Severus didn't seem to be the sort of person for love and Akira did use her looks to her advantage a lot.
It was rumoured she used her 'womanly charm' as Lucius so sickeningly described it, to prevent a Ravenclaw prefect for giving her over to Filch(who hated the Blacks thanks to her dear brother's adventures with James Potter) when she was caught sneaking out. The reason she was sneaking out was never really confirmed but rather speculated about.
But then again there were a lot of rumours about both Akira Black and Severus Snape floating around.
"I heard you were really sick last night Severus."
"Yes" He answered shortly. He didn't like attention unlike some people.
"Were you?" Akira looked up at him questioningly.
"Yes I was. I'm alright now. Just an overly large headache." He lied in his most innocent tone of voice.
"But Narcissa said when she was there last night you were coughing non-stop." Akira argued.
"Narcissa was in my dorm last night? I'm sure her and Lucius wer- "
"No-They weren't- Evan went and got her. And he said after she left and Madam Pomfrey was there that you were vomiting."
"I think they are making all this up. I don't remember any of that."
Akira shrugged and settled back into the reassuring warmth of his arms.
But Severus suddenly remembered something and let her go.
"Severus?!" She whirled around to face him unsure of what he was going to do next. zigzaging her arm across his chest she repeated his name and then suddenly he took a step away from Akira and dashed out of the hall without any indication of where he was going or what he was doing,
Akira crossed her arms and looked around dangerously. Most of the students occupying the Slytherin table were staring curiously at the embarrassed girl.
She'd sort him out for leaving her there like that.
Lily Evans had been watching.
~~**~~
"Severus?"
Severus had been pulling books out of the shelves in the library as Lily entered.
She didn't get an answer.
"Severus what are you doing. What is going on."
"I'm ill Lily" Severus said as he reached for a book from the top shelf before proceeding to throw it down on a desk causing a resounding thud that made Lily jump.. "and I don't know why…"
Lily watched him.
She didn't understand.
He had her totally and utterly confused.
He never admitted there was anything wrong with him. He was usually stubborn or arrogant but never as open as he was then.
Maybe she had caught him off guard……
"But I'm about to find out." He muttered as he opened the book.
"You know Severus I've probably got better things to do with my Saturday like go and annoy Jamsie or Remie….. But you have me damned curious." She sat down and watched him. "Now start from the beginning."
Severus looked up at Lily. He looked irritated. He wondered whether to give her the hint to 'shove off' or just conceal his sudden irritation at her.
"Okay. Remember I told you about the day I was marked so to speak.?"
"Yes…"
"Remember I told you about the man who died?"
"Yes…."
"I came into contact with him. Vold- My master told me that it was highly contagious and now I have all the symptoms of…….." He turned a page of the book.
Lily gasped softly and finished his sentence. "Consumption…."
He rolled his eyes. He was under the impression Lily loved drama. How like her to gasp and finish his sentence like that.
"Precisely….." He made a small exclamation of triumph as he found the page he was looking for.
"Here look Lily."
Lily snatched the book off him and read.
"Consumption, or tuberculosis, is a disease caused by bacteria called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The bacteria can attack any part of your body, they usually attack the lungs…….But can attack kidneys, spinal cord and brain."
Lily paused as she scanned the page.
"hmmm, ah! Tuberculosis is spread through the air from one person to another. The bacteria are put into the air when a person with the Tuberculosis disease of the lungs or throat coughs or sneezes. People nearby may breathe in these bacteria and become infected."
Lily turned the page and scanned for more relevant information.
"Tuberculosis bacteria become active if the immune system can't stop them from growing. The active bacteria begin to multiply in the body and cause disease. Some people develop the Tuberculosis disease soon after becoming infected, before their immune system can fight the Tuberculosis bacteria. Other people may get sick later, when their immune system becomes weak for some reason. Hmm no that's not
important.. eh I won't read that out.. Oh! Babies and young children often have weak immune systems."
Lily paused. That twinkle in her eye indicated to Severus an insult was going to follow.
"Well that's you the isn't it Severus?. A big baby boy with a weak immune system."
Severus scowled the best he could. A scowl especially reserved for Lily Evans.
"Severus, you give me the chills when you stare at me like that. Please don't. You made me lose my place! Ah here we go-. Ahem. Other people can have weak immune systems, too, especially people with any of these conditions . Hmm Substance abuse- well you don't drink do you Severus?"
"No… well not much."
"Don't lie- I've seen you down at hogsmeade…"
"Yes alright.."
"You Mr. Alcoholic Anonymous. One tequila-two tequila-three tequila- Floor! Oops 'ee passed out again!."
"Yes alright Lily you proved your point. But my alcohol intake this year would hardly do the amount of damage to my immune system as they talk about here. Just keep reading."
"Why do I have to do the reading Severus?"
"Because I'm doing the thinking- something you would find hard to do."
" … right Severus .diabetes mellitus?."
"I don't have diabetes, well last time I checked I didn't have diabetes."
"silicosis?"
"No."
"Cancer of the head or neck?"
"No!"
"Hodgkin's disease?"
"I do not think so!"
"Severe kidney disease?"
"No."
"Aha! Don't deny this one. Low body weight."
"My body weight is fine thank you."
"Mm hmm.Hey look under this is symptoms."
"Read it out."
Lily cleared her throat.
"Symptoms of Tuberculosis or Consumption depend on where in the body the Tuberculosis bacteria are growing. Tuberculosis bacteria usually grow in the lungs. Tuberculosis of lungs may cause- A bad cough lasting longer than 2 weeks. ..Severus?"
Severus looked particularly pensive for a moment. "Yes. Keep going."
"Pain in the chest. Coughing up blood or sputum. God that sounds nasty."
"Thank you for that analytic comment Lily."
"No problems Severus. There are more symptom things here should I go on?."
"Please don't I'm depressed enough."
"Don't worry Severus you probably don't even have it. You are just paranoid.
There is a bit here about muggle medicines to fight the disease and there is magical medicine- a potion is here. Doesn't look too hard."
Severus sat there silent while lily read some more.
"You know I bet I could make this potions, provided I had the time and ingredients.. it reminds me of… no I won't tell you that…" After a while she looked up, propping her head up with her elbow as she eyed him.
"You can't get sick Severus. First Morganna and now you, I can't ha-"
Severus's gaze snapped up to her. Lily squealed and clasped her hands to her mouth.
"What did you say!"
"Nothing!.I said absolutely nothing, I think you are sick because, because.. because your hearing things- yes you are . Lets go to madam Pomfrey right now. Actually lets not. Its such a nice day don't you think! Absolutely beautiful day!"
"…… Its raining Lily."
"I knew that, yes the rain is beautiful, lets go dance in it."
She stood up and bounced about unknowingly letting it show that she was nervous about something.
He stood up and rounded on her.
She gulped.
He was so much taller than him.
It wasn't fair!
"Don't lie Lily.. what did you say." He said calmly.
"I said you can't get sick. you can't leave me here!."
"You did not say that. You said something about Morganna."
"Alright I did, but I can't tell you anything else alright? Its none of your business."
"Lily! Morganna is my friend too."
"Yes and if she wanted you to know she would have told you herself."
"Told me what?"
"Severus please don't, .."
Severus had began to sulk. Lily crossed her arms suddenly looking severe.
"Severus, don't you dare get sulky. I have a nice sharp pair of scissors back in my dormitory. I'm sure we both don't want me to have to use them…"
~~**~~
Severus looked at his calendar.
Perfect. Why is this year going so slow?... this is my punishment for not going to the family reunion last year isn't it God?... Where is that book. ..Oh god what is that doing in here. Better get rid of that in case Narcissa comes in here… other wise Lucius is a dead man. Hello, what the hell is this? Oh too much information… I'll just .. throw this out.
Severus searched the room for his journal finding a few –interesting- things along. He and his roommates had become fully aware over the past 2 weeks that Lucius had been bringing girls into their dorm. None of which were Narcissa. Severus decided to be ignorant of all nocturnal activities in their dorm apart from sleeping- with only ones self. Which was rather hard when he kept finding stray bits of underclothing, undeniably those of a female, strewn about on their floor.
This place would be unacceptable to a dung beetle that had lost interest in his career and really let himself go. Somebody ought to do the laundry. I'm sure I left my journal here…… What the hell is that?!
Severus sighted something mould covered and unmistakably beating. "That's it!" Severus headed out of his dorm moodily and down into the common room to find the owner of the mould creature on his dormitory floor.
All he saw was Tomii.
She saw him… and jumped.
"S-s-s-severus you gave me a fright!"
"I'm sorry T-t-t-tomii. Wouldn't have seen Aeolus or Evan around?"
"I saw Rosier, I can't say I've seen- what was his name?"
"Aeolus."
"Oh yes. Haven't seen him."
"Oh I see." Severus turned muttering, trying to think of where he could locate them given the time of day. Tomii took immediate advantage of this and jumped on the sofa, ontop of none other than the journal of Severus Snape.
Severus turned sensing her sudden movement and his eyes landed on a loose piece of paper, lying on the floor.
Tomii's heart stopped. Severus was famous for his tempers and his unforgiving nature and Tomii could just feel her life expectancy dropping.
He recognized the hand the writing was written in. It was his own. In a voice of forced calm he inquired.
"Tomii is that yours?"
Tomii laughed weakly as she quickly slid his journal beneath a cushion before diving for the paper. Severus however was quicker. He retrieved the paper first.
"What.. heh fast reflexes you have Severus."
"So you say this is yours… But its written in my hand writing…. How very peculiar."
"Ha! We have so much in common our handwriting being so similar and all…"
"So this is a page from.. your diary then?"
"Oh yes.." She made a swipe for the paper and missed as Severus held it high out of reach.
"Hmm it seems to be retelling the events of… my day."
"Oh yes I watch you sometimes…."
"Stalking me now?"
"Oh yes… all the time…"
Severus raised an eyebrow. "How strange you seem to have written this from my perspective. Now how could you accomplish that unless you were me."
Tomii gave up." Okay okay.. its from your journal."
"So you were reading my journal!?" He advanced on her.
"Yes… oh but I didn't read much.. just a page.. or two."
"Where is it?" He hissed. He felt very threatened by the notion of some one else reading his thoughts.
Tomii took it slowly out from under the sofa cushions then chucked at him before commencing a mad dash for the door.
Severus snorted in amusement.
Poor girl… thought I was going to kill her.
He slipped back into his dormitory.
……
Breathing hardened and slowed while vision failed him.
The ground slipped from beneath his feet and he fell to the ground with a resounding thud.
And thus all movement ceased apart from the tiny trickle of blood making its way from the very edge of Severus's mouth to the ground as gravity made it do.
~**~
'You hair is so long and beautiful Severus. Would you like me to brush it?'
'Don't baby him Angele…'
~**~
The door creaked open a tiny bit and the harmonious voice of Akira floated in.
"Severus why did you go like that…. Severus!"