Severus Snape awoke suddenly, sweating and his heart racing. His dreams were always haunted by dark shadows from the past, last night being no different. He sat up rubbing his eyes, trying to clear his mind of the images still troubling him. He hadn't slept for long, not getting finished dealing with the chaos downstairs until, 3 am. He rubbed his hand through his hair, brushing it out of his eyes. Two things occurred to him at the same time then, one; that Kriss was no longer there and two; that his sleeve was rolled up slightly, revealing the mark on his arm. He groaned pulling down the sleeve to cover it up again. Leaning forward and closing his eyes, he rubbed his forehead in consternation at his own stupidity. He wondered what would happen now, his whole life rested in Kriss's hands. If she decided to tell of their liaison and make it sound like it was all his doing, he wouldn't stand a chance.
He walked over to the bathroom, thinking a shower was a good idea right now. He looked at himself in the mirror, thinking how terrible he looked and started to undress.
He tapped his wand by the showerhead and immediately warm water cascaded out. He discarded his clothes on the floor and climbed in, the warm water refreshing him. He paused for a while thinking, then shrugging, he reached for his new shampoo and rubbed a big blob into his hair.
All the while he was showering, worrying thoughts bothered him "What was he going to do if she told someone? What was he going to say to Dumbledore if he found out? What would he do if they threw him out of the school? Where would he go?" He was starting to get a headache. He shut off the shower and climbed out. Looking in the mirror again he decided he had better have a shave.
After dressing he knew it was time to go and face the school, but just as he was getting up to go, there was a polite tapping on his door.
"Who is it?" He asked
"It is only me sir, Sniff - the house elf, bringing your breakfast" Said Sniff nervously.
"Oh, very well, bring it in" Severus called
The door opened and the house elf came in carrying a tray. On it was a single, tall glass of greenish liquid. Severus took the glass off the tray and gulped it down, after emptying it he placed it back on the tray.
"You may go now!" He said to the elf, rather sharply
"Yes sir!" the elf turned to go and the door opened for him then shut behind him.
Severus felt a little better after his breakfast, a nutrient rich protein shake of his own invention. Understanding potions also gave him an understanding of the body and the effects of different chemicals on it. His diet consisted only of all the essential elements to keep him going each day.
He put on his jacket and looked for his cloak in the wardrobe. He couldn't find the one he had been wearing the previous night, but he did find Kriss's corset. He picked it up holding it close to him, breathing in the smell of her still lingering on it. He wondered why she had left it behind, then remembered that he should have woken her up. He had every intention of doing so. He remembered lying on the bed beside her for a while, just watching her breathe and realised he must have just dropped off to sleep. She would have been in a great hurry to get out and it would have taken too long to get on again. He placed the corset carefully back in the wardrobe, reached for his spare cloak and put it on.
With every step down the stairs to the portrait hole, he was filled with dread. Coming out he made his way down to his office, opened the door and closed it behind him. Immediately on entering the room he went over to the bottle of firewhisky on the fireplace and after taking a swig put it in one of his desk drawers. He just sat there then, waiting to see what, if anything would happen. Knowing that now it was out of his hands and resigning himself to the situation with a sigh.