::ducks as things are thrown at her head:: I'm so damn sorry that it has taken me this long to update. My writers block was doing a complete rape and pillage of my mental file cabinet, and I was completely devoid of any motivation to write. But alas, I have returned. So .. enjoy. If this chapter seems a bit like I've been here before ... blame it on Mindless Self Indulgence and the Dresden Dolls!
Silverthreads - I always thought Sevvy would have the most beautiful nervous breakdowns, so .... voila!
Kayla Summers - You want it to be longer? Then you write it.
Mookins - Writing video games? That actually does sound like fun ... I'd be working so hard to slip my brain-washing techniques into the game that I'd completely forget that it actually was a game and not some mindless plot to blow up the White House. But ahh ::giggles:: that's just me. I'm sorry for the cliffe ::winks:: I know, I'm an evil muther.
Author's Note: I'm writing this chapter (or atleast, the beginning it) on five hours of sleep that preceeded 30 of non-sleep; you bitches better enjoy this. I'm imploring you ... please review. I have no idea what you people want out of me unless you tell me. I'm writing these damn chapters as long as I can without going into a bonafide obsessive-compulsive rampage. So please ... enjoy my pitiful excuse for a story and review to tell me how crappy it is. : )
Chapter Three : Breathe
Albus knocked teantively on the wooden door, three raps. No answer. He repeated the action, only this time a bit harder. Still ... no answer. Sighing and hardly looking forward to the confrontation of the Potions Master, he opened the door with the twist and push of a doorknob. Taking a few steps in without really looking around, he closed the door behind him and walked in the direction of the fron of the classroom. From the position of the entry way, he could not view the desk of the Potions Master. After his scant few steps, however, he did indeed notice the desk and oh, so much more. The floor from the wall to the desk and all about was littered with small glass vials, corks out and scattered around hapazardly. And there, amdist the chaos of glass, was the desk, currently supporting the frame of Professor Snape. From his trained eye, and obvious clues, Albus could plainly see that this was no mere resting of Severus. This was a self induced slumber, if you could call it that.
Severus' hair was covering his face, head resting on arms attached to twitching hands. Sporadic gasps escaped his half open mouth, hardly causing his body to move with the miniscule rise and fall of his chest. His eyelids moved, hardly noticable, indicating that he must have been having somewhat of a dream. All of this Albus noticed, jaw dropped, wide eyed and truly scared for the first time ... in a long time.
Snapping back to his sense, he did double time to make his way over to Severus, fearful of a million different things. What side effects would this potion have on him, especially on an over dose? What potion was it anyway? And why on earth would he have done such a thing? These questions, and a million others, fluttered through his mind as his brain went on Auto-Piloit.
Gathering the man in his arms, and grimacing at the lack of weight, he strode over a door in the corner that he knew led to Severus' private quarters, which housed a fire place. Shifting the mans weight, or lack thereof, to one arm he opened the door in a hurry and bothered not to close it behind him. Striding towards the fireplace in the main room, he noticed how disordered things seemed to be about the room. Severus was, indeed, a most clean and orderly person, and one of his belongings being out of place would surely throw him into a cleaning frenzy. Albus breifly recalled a time when he'd come down to visit Severus during the Summer holidays, and saw the many with his hair pulled up in a bun and an apron on, looking very much like a psychotic matron-come-maid. So busy was he scrubbing and dusting everything in sight, he noticed not that were anyone else to pop in during the day, Severus' reputation would most deffinately be in jeopardy.
Pushing these thoughts to the back of his mind, Albus freed his right hand once more to grab a pinch a Floo powder off of the fireplace mantel. Stepping in, he threw the powder down at his feet, and said as clearly as possible 'Hogwarts, Hopital Ward.' A slightly hazy feeling ensnared his mind for a moment or two, but soon after he was striding through the fireplace of Poppy's ward and making his way over to the dimmest, darkest corner of the hospital. He knew that placing Severus in a bed with full sunlight was a near death wish, even for Albus.
Hands shaking, he laid Severus as gently as possible into the high hospital bed. Noticing that his breathing had become less and less frequent, and that the shaking of his hands had began to spread throughout his body, Albus called for Mme. Pomfrey in his most urgent of tones. 'Thank Merlin there are no students in the ward ...' Albus thought absently, wringing his hands as he anxiously awaited the arrival of the nurse.
Poppy came in, curious eyed and worried at the tone of the Headmaster's voice. A sight to behold came upon her as she neared him and the figure on the bed, soon to discover that it was none other than Severus Snape. Jaw dropping and rendered temporarily speechless, she stopped dead in her tracks. Albus turned to face her, his expression grim. Poppy soon found her voice, her mind slowly clicking into Nurse-mode.
"What ... how ... ?" She stuttered, moving to the side of the bed to gently poke and prod the man on the bed. Albus merely cast his eyes downward, and shook his head. His voice sounded vaguely disattached, and when he looked back up, Poppy noticed that the ever present twinkle in his eye was lost.
"I noticed his class wandering down the hall, obviously not in their classroom and questioned them on such. They stated that Severus had send them out, so I went down to check on him ... and found him surrounded by empty potion vials, passed out on his desk." The Headmaster said all of this very fast, hoping that he would not have to repeat it once more. He'd seen Severus beaten and broken, battered and bruised, hundreds of times, what with his double-agent spying and all. And though the though of Severus inflicting pain upon himself had indeed crossed his mind many a good time, he never thought Severus would go through with something like this.
"Do you have any idea what sort of potion it was that he took?" Poppy asked, gently removing Severus' heavy outer garment and trying to keep her voice even and calm. Albus shook his head as the nurse looked up, and he could see the wheels literally turning in her head for a cure.
"I do know, however, that whatever he took, he took in abundance. There were ... so many bottles ..." he trailed off, not really seeing or hearing any longer. Severus wasn't just like a son to him, he was his son. Not biologically, of course, but he might as well have been. Seeing Severus in such a state floored the Headmaster into a state of sheer mental frenzy and panic, and he was more than certain Poppy could see that in his eyes. "Is there anything I could do to help?" He asked, wringing his hands even harder and swallowing down the panic in his voice.
Poppy cast aside Severus' heavy outer robe, and chewed on her quivering lip thoughtfully. "Perhaps ... bring me one of those bottles from his classroom, and if need be, we can try and find a student that who was in the classroom while the potions were being brewed." She looked Albus directly in his eyes, searching for a sign that he understood what to do. Sighing deeply, Albus nodded once and headed off towards the fireplace to floo, once more, to the private quarters of Severus Snape.
Poppy watched him go, letting a single tear fall down her cheek. She wasn't used to seeing the Headmaster in such a state of distress, and was certainly not used to seeing the most feared Professor in Hogwarts lying so vulnerable on her hospital bed. When Severus was in here, it was usually right after a Death Eater's meeting, and generallly he was swearing under his breath while Poppy doctored him and Albus drilled him for information. Always, though, coherent and strong, no matter how badly injured. Seeing him in such a state now, and of his own accord, was enought to make the nurse want to crawl in bed and cry the day away.
Sniffling and straightning up, she continued to bustle about, doing everything she could in her power to make sure that Severus wasn't in too bad of shape when he awoke ... if he awoke.
Ending note: I know that was total shit. And I'm sorry it was so short ... and again for it taking me forever to get this out. You can all tie me to a tree and beat me with a stick. I deserve it. I swear upon my collection of Cure CDs', though, that I will get to working on the next chapter as soon as freaking possible. Teaser: Finally we get Mr. Potter and Mr. Snape in the same room together .... oh my ...
Silverthreads - I always thought Sevvy would have the most beautiful nervous breakdowns, so .... voila!
Kayla Summers - You want it to be longer? Then you write it.
Mookins - Writing video games? That actually does sound like fun ... I'd be working so hard to slip my brain-washing techniques into the game that I'd completely forget that it actually was a game and not some mindless plot to blow up the White House. But ahh ::giggles:: that's just me. I'm sorry for the cliffe ::winks:: I know, I'm an evil muther.
Author's Note: I'm writing this chapter (or atleast, the beginning it) on five hours of sleep that preceeded 30 of non-sleep; you bitches better enjoy this. I'm imploring you ... please review. I have no idea what you people want out of me unless you tell me. I'm writing these damn chapters as long as I can without going into a bonafide obsessive-compulsive rampage. So please ... enjoy my pitiful excuse for a story and review to tell me how crappy it is. : )
Chapter Three : Breathe
Albus knocked teantively on the wooden door, three raps. No answer. He repeated the action, only this time a bit harder. Still ... no answer. Sighing and hardly looking forward to the confrontation of the Potions Master, he opened the door with the twist and push of a doorknob. Taking a few steps in without really looking around, he closed the door behind him and walked in the direction of the fron of the classroom. From the position of the entry way, he could not view the desk of the Potions Master. After his scant few steps, however, he did indeed notice the desk and oh, so much more. The floor from the wall to the desk and all about was littered with small glass vials, corks out and scattered around hapazardly. And there, amdist the chaos of glass, was the desk, currently supporting the frame of Professor Snape. From his trained eye, and obvious clues, Albus could plainly see that this was no mere resting of Severus. This was a self induced slumber, if you could call it that.
Severus' hair was covering his face, head resting on arms attached to twitching hands. Sporadic gasps escaped his half open mouth, hardly causing his body to move with the miniscule rise and fall of his chest. His eyelids moved, hardly noticable, indicating that he must have been having somewhat of a dream. All of this Albus noticed, jaw dropped, wide eyed and truly scared for the first time ... in a long time.
Snapping back to his sense, he did double time to make his way over to Severus, fearful of a million different things. What side effects would this potion have on him, especially on an over dose? What potion was it anyway? And why on earth would he have done such a thing? These questions, and a million others, fluttered through his mind as his brain went on Auto-Piloit.
Gathering the man in his arms, and grimacing at the lack of weight, he strode over a door in the corner that he knew led to Severus' private quarters, which housed a fire place. Shifting the mans weight, or lack thereof, to one arm he opened the door in a hurry and bothered not to close it behind him. Striding towards the fireplace in the main room, he noticed how disordered things seemed to be about the room. Severus was, indeed, a most clean and orderly person, and one of his belongings being out of place would surely throw him into a cleaning frenzy. Albus breifly recalled a time when he'd come down to visit Severus during the Summer holidays, and saw the many with his hair pulled up in a bun and an apron on, looking very much like a psychotic matron-come-maid. So busy was he scrubbing and dusting everything in sight, he noticed not that were anyone else to pop in during the day, Severus' reputation would most deffinately be in jeopardy.
Pushing these thoughts to the back of his mind, Albus freed his right hand once more to grab a pinch a Floo powder off of the fireplace mantel. Stepping in, he threw the powder down at his feet, and said as clearly as possible 'Hogwarts, Hopital Ward.' A slightly hazy feeling ensnared his mind for a moment or two, but soon after he was striding through the fireplace of Poppy's ward and making his way over to the dimmest, darkest corner of the hospital. He knew that placing Severus in a bed with full sunlight was a near death wish, even for Albus.
Hands shaking, he laid Severus as gently as possible into the high hospital bed. Noticing that his breathing had become less and less frequent, and that the shaking of his hands had began to spread throughout his body, Albus called for Mme. Pomfrey in his most urgent of tones. 'Thank Merlin there are no students in the ward ...' Albus thought absently, wringing his hands as he anxiously awaited the arrival of the nurse.
Poppy came in, curious eyed and worried at the tone of the Headmaster's voice. A sight to behold came upon her as she neared him and the figure on the bed, soon to discover that it was none other than Severus Snape. Jaw dropping and rendered temporarily speechless, she stopped dead in her tracks. Albus turned to face her, his expression grim. Poppy soon found her voice, her mind slowly clicking into Nurse-mode.
"What ... how ... ?" She stuttered, moving to the side of the bed to gently poke and prod the man on the bed. Albus merely cast his eyes downward, and shook his head. His voice sounded vaguely disattached, and when he looked back up, Poppy noticed that the ever present twinkle in his eye was lost.
"I noticed his class wandering down the hall, obviously not in their classroom and questioned them on such. They stated that Severus had send them out, so I went down to check on him ... and found him surrounded by empty potion vials, passed out on his desk." The Headmaster said all of this very fast, hoping that he would not have to repeat it once more. He'd seen Severus beaten and broken, battered and bruised, hundreds of times, what with his double-agent spying and all. And though the though of Severus inflicting pain upon himself had indeed crossed his mind many a good time, he never thought Severus would go through with something like this.
"Do you have any idea what sort of potion it was that he took?" Poppy asked, gently removing Severus' heavy outer garment and trying to keep her voice even and calm. Albus shook his head as the nurse looked up, and he could see the wheels literally turning in her head for a cure.
"I do know, however, that whatever he took, he took in abundance. There were ... so many bottles ..." he trailed off, not really seeing or hearing any longer. Severus wasn't just like a son to him, he was his son. Not biologically, of course, but he might as well have been. Seeing Severus in such a state floored the Headmaster into a state of sheer mental frenzy and panic, and he was more than certain Poppy could see that in his eyes. "Is there anything I could do to help?" He asked, wringing his hands even harder and swallowing down the panic in his voice.
Poppy cast aside Severus' heavy outer robe, and chewed on her quivering lip thoughtfully. "Perhaps ... bring me one of those bottles from his classroom, and if need be, we can try and find a student that who was in the classroom while the potions were being brewed." She looked Albus directly in his eyes, searching for a sign that he understood what to do. Sighing deeply, Albus nodded once and headed off towards the fireplace to floo, once more, to the private quarters of Severus Snape.
Poppy watched him go, letting a single tear fall down her cheek. She wasn't used to seeing the Headmaster in such a state of distress, and was certainly not used to seeing the most feared Professor in Hogwarts lying so vulnerable on her hospital bed. When Severus was in here, it was usually right after a Death Eater's meeting, and generallly he was swearing under his breath while Poppy doctored him and Albus drilled him for information. Always, though, coherent and strong, no matter how badly injured. Seeing him in such a state now, and of his own accord, was enought to make the nurse want to crawl in bed and cry the day away.
Sniffling and straightning up, she continued to bustle about, doing everything she could in her power to make sure that Severus wasn't in too bad of shape when he awoke ... if he awoke.
Ending note: I know that was total shit. And I'm sorry it was so short ... and again for it taking me forever to get this out. You can all tie me to a tree and beat me with a stick. I deserve it. I swear upon my collection of Cure CDs', though, that I will get to working on the next chapter as soon as freaking possible. Teaser: Finally we get Mr. Potter and Mr. Snape in the same room together .... oh my ...