Chapter 9: No sugar!
In the dungeons, Severus was brewing in one of the potion labs that Professor Slughorn gave permission to use. While he continued to stir his potion in the cauldron, his thoughts travelled to last Friday evening's ball at Malfoy manor.
'Blasted woman.' Severus thought inwardly. Tsking in annoyance as he recalled the events that occurred after the ball ended.
Iris had not uttered a single word to him -both vocally and mentally- the whole evening after their encounter with Voldemort. To say it had irked Severus was an understatement, it rattled him. Before long the ball was coming to an end and Lucius asked Severus to stay for a little while longer and stand next to him to greet the guests good bye. A 'Final front, to burn your image in their minds!' or so what Lucius says.
As they greeted the guests good byes one by one, it was finally Regulus black and his parents who were about to leave. With formal 'thank yous' and 'you're welcomes' here and there, the adults began to converse in small talk. Iris was too busy rejecting the same man with the Norwegian accent, so it was just Regulus and Severus. The silence between the two was very awkward.
"In regards to what you said." Regulus suddenly spoke. "I'll admit their plans and ideas 'were' very intriguing indeed. However, as it progressed I realized that no matter what we do the wizarding community thrives on mud-" Regulus caught himself, Severus raised a brow at him as if daring him to say the foul word. Clearing his throat, Regulus continues. "-I mean muggle borns. If we are to look at it genetically, if everyone was born Purebloods and we all had to marry our own cousins to keep blood 'pure'. Then we'd all have been born loony like cousin Bella." Regulus finished, nudging his head towards Bellatrix who was staring and giggling at a little snake statue. This earned a small chuckle from both teens.
"So what does this mean now?" Severus asked Regulus, who pondered while looking at his parents.
"It means you've gotten your answer. But at the same time I still have duties to perform as the next heir to the Black household. I plan to do things in a more civil way rather than continue making a mockery of myself, unlike my brother. There are far better ways to break 'tradition', rather a family curse if I may put that word into a different light." Regulus answered.
By then the adults had finished their small talk and the Blacks were now finally ready to leave. Walburga glanced at Severus.
"Regulus dear, aren't you excited to see Severus again on Monday?" Walburga said, in a gentle tone which rendered Severus completely awkward and unprepared. Regulus glanced back at Severus.
"Yes, I am." Regulus said with a nod, Severus nodded back. Walburga, her husband, and Regulus finally left for their carriage to spend Saturday and Sunday together at Grimmauld.
Severus realized that now there were less guests in the hall, he decided it was a good time to tell Lucius about his plans.
"Lucius, may I speak with you in private?" Severus asked.
"I'd love to Severus, but there are still many guests left over-" Lucius said, but Severus interrupted him.
"It's very important." Severus urged. Catching Lucius off-guard, the look in Severus' eyes made it clear to Lucius that the topic at hand was serious.
Lucius turns to Narcissa to tell her that he and Severus will be having a quick private chat. Narcissa reassures him that she and Iris can handle the rest of the guests. Turning back to Severus he guides the boy towards the garden.
"Let's have a walk at the garden, Severus." Lucius said.
Severus quietly follows Lucius to the hedge garden, making sure they were ways away from the rest, did Severus began to speak.
"Lucius-" Severus began, but Lucius interrupted him.
"I know you must have had quite a shock to see the dark lord for the first time. But I'm here to reassure you that you have nothing to worry about, it's natural that you'll get goosebumps and that's a good sign. I did so too the first time I've met him-" Lucius prattled.
"What? No, no, this isn't about the dark lord, well partially-" Severus tried to explain, but Lucius continued to interrupt him.
"Oh, then could you perhaps be here to ask me for financial assistance of some sorts? I will gladly-" Lucius continued to prattled. Severus shook his head side to side, he was beginning to become annoyed.
"No, Lucius I am not in need of financial assistance-" Severus said, but was interrupted again.
"Then perhaps you need my influence for something? Because if so-" Lucius said, thinking that he finally guessed what Severus wanted to say. By then Severus had enough.
"Lucius!" Severus bellowed. "I want no part in joining you and the death eaters anymore!" Severus was finally able to say.
This rendered Lucius speechless, staring at the young pale boy for what seemed like forever before finally he chuckled. Turning into full on laughter.
"Oh, Severus, you were always joker with your words. People who don't know you would never understand your sense of-" Lucius began to say.
"I'm not joking." Severus said with conviction. Lucius stopped laughing. His face contorted to that of disbelief, grabbing Severus by the shoulders.
"What are you talking about boy?! Do you not hear yourself right now?!" Lucius objected, his grip on Severus' shoulders tightening with every word. Severus swatted Lucius' hands off of him, taking a step back from the blonde man.
"I do hear myself very clearly, and I'm sorry. I've been meaning to tell you but I didn't want to ruin your mood in the middle of your party, I respect you that way." Severus said.
"If you call that respect, it's not enough. I knew I shouldn't have introduced you to the dark lord so soon, you've gotten cold feet." Lucius said. Severus scoffed at him.
"I told you it's not-" He heavily sighs. "You know what? Okay, let's say I did get cold feet. But don't you too? Can you not feel that everything he says seems too good to be true? If my poverty stricken life has taught me anything Lucius, it's that 'there's no such thing as a free lunch.' Do you seriously think I wouldn't notice your generous ways are just so that one day you could use it against me?" Severus said.
"Severus, how could you say any of this? I've finally given you everything you've ever wanted and now you say you don't? What has happened to you?" Lucius said, grabbing Severus' shoulder to shake him.
"My eyes were opened, that's what happened." Severus said in a grave voice. Lucius gritted his teeth.
"It's that mudblood, isn't it?" Lucius said, his eyes boring down on Severus.
"No, it wasn't-" Severus tried to say, grinding his teeth at the mention of Lily.
"Of course it is! She has always been in the way of you achieving great things! You deserve everything the world has to offer Severus and I am willing to give that to you, why would you throw it all away?!" Lucius practically bellowed at Severus.
Severus only looked at Lucius indifferently. Staring at the beet red man who looked like an enraged white dragon.
"Listen to yourself Lucius, do you not hear how hollow the words of the dark lord are? Does it not irk you how small he speaks of life? What makes you think he'll care for yours when he does not need you anymore? You and Narcissa would one day have a child of your own. What if he was a dark lord for the muggle borns who would want to eradicate the purebloods? How would you fare considering there are very little of you now? How would your future child fare, would he even exist if that were so?" Severus said.
Lucius stared straight at Severus' black orbs, there were unspoken words through the two men's stare down. But it was clear that Lucius still could not see what Severus was trying to say to him. Standing upright, he combs strands of hair off his face and clears his throat to speak in a more calm tone.
"I see that you're still confused of what you want, and that's okay." Lucius said, with a smile on his face. Severus stared at him dumbfounded.
'Did none of my words reach this dunder head?' Severus thought inwardly.
"Look my boy, I completely understand what you're trying to say. Yes, the dark lord's ways are a bit… 'eccentric'. But don't let your little mud- I mean muggle friend, cloud your mind with what she hears from the rest of those self-righteous lions. They know not what they speak." Lucius said grabbing Severus by the shoulder and guiding him back to the main hall.
"Lucius, stop-" Severus tried to say.
"You know what? Let's put a pin on the topic at hand. It would be best to converse about it on a different time when you and I are not so exhausted from a party. Although, I do warn you Severus-" Lucius said, stopping at the hedge archway whispering to Severus' ear. "-the dark lord will not be so pleased with your thoughts about his ideals and goals. It would serve you best if you would be more careful with your words next time. You wouldn't want anyone else to receive the brunt of the stick you're waving now do you?" Lucius warned, lifting an eyebrow as he spoke.
Severus gave a hard stare at Lucius, but he didn't say anything else. Satisfied with what he said to Severus, Lucius guided Severus back into the manor. Not realizing that someone else had been eavesdropping on the two's conversation.
Arriving back inside the manor to return to the two women they left to care for the guests, Severus noticed that Narcissa was slightly red and a bit out of breath. Lucius however, did not notice such at all.
"My love, forgive us for taking a long while to come back. I hope you and Iris did not have too much difficulty in our absence?" Lucius said, Narcissa did not speak to Lucius, only answering him with a simple shake of her head to tell him they did not have difficulties.
"None, Lucius. Although I believe that Severus and I need to go back to Hogwarts now, it's getting very late." Iris said. Lucius clapped his hands in agreement.
"Yes, yes, I do agree. A good night's rest would be best for all of us right now. Although I am aware that Severus has problems with disapparating, I believe it would be best if the two of you would take my coach." Lucius said, gesturing his hand to a black coach with gold linings, pulled by six Abraxan winged horses. Before Severus had a say in it, Iris agreed for the both of them.
"Thank you Lucius, we would be delighted to take your coach." Iris said, in a curtsy.
"Think nothing of it you two, I will 'always' extend my help to the two of you." Lucius said, eyeing Severus at the word 'always'. Severus said nothing but silently scoffed at Lucius.
The two teens curtsied, saying their good byes to the two adults and entered the carriage. The Abraxans sprinted through the long driveway, opening their wide wings they soared into the dark clouds. A waning gibbous moon illuminating the Abraxans' soft shiny coats, a small lit lantern inside the carriage illuminated the two teens who sat opposite of each other. Despite now that they were alone, Iris still remained silent. Severus' frustration with Lucius piled on Iris' silent treatment.
"What happened to you?" Severus almost yelled. Iris, startled by Severus' tone of voice looked at him surprised.
"I beg your pardon?" Iris asks.
"The silent treatment. What the fuck was all that? I feel like pulling my hair out in annoyance with you. You wouldn't say anything, not even through my mind. What's with you?" Severus further asks. Iris sighed inwardly.
"I'm sorry, I was just deep in thought-" Iris tried to explain but Severus cut her off.
"Bullshit!" Severus yelled. "The entire night without a single word just because you were deep in thought? Alright then, if you were in such deep thought care to explain what you were thinking about?" Severus probed. Iris was in serious contemplation whether to tell him or not to the point that her eyebrows were knit together. Finally she relented, heavily sighing.
"Things became difficult." Iris mumbled, avoiding his intense gaze.
"What do you mean?" Severus asked, lifting an eyebrow at her.
"I've felt it when Tom touched me, we spoke to nothing but a shell of a man." Iris said, bringing her hand up to her forehead to lean on.
"I really don't understand what you're talking about, Iris." Severus said, crossing his arms.
"Oh that's right, Dumbledore kept you in the dark. Although, I am unsure if you're prepared to hear what I am about to tell you." Iris said, in a quiet undertone. By then Severus was both curious and annoyed, the suspense was killing him and he didn't like it.
"Merlin's sake, stop beating around the bush and tell me." Severus said. Iris was silent for a few seconds before finally glancing back at Severus.
"Horcurx, Severus. In your other future and in this life he made horcruxes. It was how he was able to come back to life after his confrontation with Lily at Godric's Hollow. He wanted to become immortal, a blasphemy to both life and death, his existence is a grave insult to me personally." Iris said, her voice when speaking about Tom was grave and dark.
Severus slacked in his seat, leaning on the cushion to keep him upright. At that moment everything made sense to him, how in his future the dark lord disappeared and somehow arrived again. The trouble Dumbledore placed him in, all the pain and anger he endured for Dumbledore made sense. Gritting his teeth, he heavily sighs inwardly.
"I see, now I feel stupid how I wasn't able to even figure out something as such, and here I am who's supposed to know and have great interest in the dark arts." Severus solemnly said. They both remained in silence for awhile, looking down Severus realized they were passing a large lake that glistened in the moonlight.
"If that's so then why wouldn't you utter a single word to me after our encounter with him? I thought you said as long as we meet him you'd take care of the rest." Severus said, looking back at Iris, who looked down at the lake as well. Shame wafted her eyes, her brows still wrinkling together as if this time she was annoyed.
"Like I said viper, we spoke to a hollow man. He wasn't supposed to have split his soul into completion. But now in this timeline he has completed splitting himself in such a way that now nothing remains in the vessel we just spoke to." Glancing back at Severus, the dark clouds parted and the moonlight shown through the glass windows illuminating Iris' face. She was transparent in the moonlight. Her celestial form, Arianrhod, peeking through her mortal body. But rather than her usual white aura, a deep darkness emanated off of her.
"I fear that our… No, 'my' actions have affected the timeline as such." Iris sad, her words echoing as if both of her forms were speaking to Severus in unison.
Severus blinked a few times and rubbed his eyes thinking that he was just seeing things. Looking back at Iris again, the moonlight was gone and she was back to her solid mortal body. Avoiding Severus' gaze, she looks down below at Hogsmeade, the carriage circled around Hogwarts once. Finally landing smoothly on the cobblestone road before the school's gates, the Abraxans trotted inside towards the stone stairs close to the large doors. There was no one around anymore since it was already past curfew.
Severus got off first, silently offering a hand to Iris who took it and got off the carriage as well. Before the Abraxans returned to the Malfoy's, Iris approached one of them stroking its mane gently. Leaning her forehead unto the largest Abraxan that led the group, staring into its dark eyes.
"Thank you for bringing us home safely. May you have safe passage towards the bridge." Iris sadly mutters to the Abraxan who snorts at her, rubbing his muzzle on her cheek.
Iris walks backwards from the large Abraxan and it bows its head to her. Signaling his companions, they sprinted away from Hogwarts to fly off, going back to their masters. Now in the air far from Hogwarts, a snap could be heard and Dobby appears to solidify on the coachman's seat. Looking back at the large stone castle, he nervously wriggles his bandaged fingers thinking about the conversation between the two teens whom he did not mean to eavesdrop on.
Iris and Severus walked silently through quiet dim halls. Severus decided to accompany Iris all the way to the Gryffindor tower, stopping at the fat lady's portrait. Before Iris could enter, Severus speaks up.
"Iris, no, Arianrhod." Severus quietly says, calling Iris by her deity name caught the young woman off guard. "What you said back at the coach, does that mean you regret revealing to me what would have happened to me? Do you regret trying to change my fate?" Severus asks. Iris only stared right through Severus, taken aback by his question. Iris not replying to Severus was like a thousand spoken words to him.
"I see." Severus said, turning to walk towards the dungeons without another word.
In the present, Severus sighs, bringing himself out of his thoughts of that night. Severus finally completed the potion he was brewing and began to vial it carefully, blue smoke wafting the air. Taking the vials he just made he approaches one of the cupboards that Sulghorn lent to him to let it ferment. Taking out a different batch he previously made and has now completely fermented. Locking the cupboard with a spell from thieves and prankers, he brings the fermented potions to the table. Casting a charm on the vials to avoid breaking, he carefully places the potions in his satchel one at a time. Cleaning up after himself he leaves the potions lab, it was already evening by then just in time for dinner.
Arriving at the great hall, Severus scans the room. It was slightly difficult to find the person he was looking for, since it was the start of dinner and students were still bustling about. Suddenly, he felt a small tap on his shoulder.
"Hi Sev! Were you looking for someone?" Lily gleefully asks, tilting her head at him. Severus gently smiles at her presence.
"Uh, yes, I was looking for Lupin." Severus says.
"Oh, you probably won't find him here. Since it's Monday he'll probably be at Mcgonagall's office to receive instructions for this week." Lily happily answered Severus.
Ever since he and Iris came back, many have immediately noticed the distance the two were trying to keep. Potions class that day was a clear answer to their suspicions when Iris and Severus spoke little to no words at all, not even Slughorn could get them to talk to each other. Lily however, was slightly ecstatic on the fact that Iris was keeping a slight distance away from Severus. But she would notice the snow haired girl would steal glances of Severus from time to time. Lily decided not to share her findings to Severus just yet.
"Have you eaten yet?" Lily asked Severus, who shook his head side to side.
"No, I haven't." Severus answered, Lily pulls him by the arm towards the Gryffindor table.
"Sit with me Sev, I haven't spoken to you very much in a while." Lily said, Severus was slightly hesitant at first not because of the snarky side glances of the Gryffindors but because of Iris.
Who sat at the far front of the table, avoiding his gaze opting to stare straight in front of her. Finally he relented, he realized that Lily was right. They hadn't been together for awhile since their fight and they just recently made up, so it was a good chance to talk to her again. Sitting down next to her, a bowl of soup suddenly appears before him.
"Hm. That's not what the rest are having?" Lily said, eyeing the bowl of soup curiously. Severus immediately knew who it was from. Glancing at Iris who still wouldn't look at him, he silently nods to himself.
'Thank you.' Severus thought inwardly. Unbeknownst to the two that Iris slightly smiled.
Once dinner was over Lily and Severus walked the halls of curfew. Back at the great hall they decided that it would probably be best if Lily helped Severus to look for Remus, so here they are now scouring the library and halls for Remus.
"Sev, I never got to ask a while ago. What do you need Remus for?" Lily asked. Severus glances at her with the corner of his eye and back at the hall again.
"Nothing, I just have something to give Lupin." Severus answered. Lily noticed that he was slightly dodging to answer the question again like last time. But she knew better than to argue with him right now.
"You always say his name with slight stern contempt, Sev. He's not that bad." Lily said, clasping her hands behind her back as they continued to walk.
"If you call not stopping your friends from bullying even if you're a prefect 'not bad' then I guess we have different definitions of that phrase." Severus scoffed in reply, rolling his eyes as he spoke.
"I'll admit he has his faults but he really isn't that bad." Lily said, tilting her head to look at Severus. "You know back when you and I were still not talking to each other. Remus kind of saved my hide." Lily began to say, Severus looked her curiously.
"What happened?" Severus asked, worry stricken on his face.
"Don't worry it wasn't something too bad. It was just… Rosier trying to push my buttons." Lily said, clutching the hem of her robes tightly as she remembered the words Rosier said to her. This small act of Lily did not go unnoticed by Severus.
"Did he insult you? Called you the slur? Because if he did I'll-" Severus began to angrily speak, but Lily waved it off.
"No, it's alright. Actually I was about to hit him square in the face muggle style, but Remus stopped me in time before I could have caused trouble. He even blocked Rosier from me. I owe him from that, had I actually hit Rosier I can only imagine what the rest of the Slytherins would have done in his defense." Lily said, looking at Severus she continues. "Especially since you and Iris being friends has slightly calmed the house wars into nothing more but point gaining rather than actual confrontations. A lot of people are afraid of you two." Lily finished.
"Well they should be. It's good that Lupin was there then." Severus said, smirking at the thought that the Slytherins feared him.
"You know, since our first year you've always called him Lupin. He has a name Sev, it's called Remus." Lily lightly joked, earning a smirk from Severus.
"You know me enough to understand that I only call people through their first names when they're important to me." Severus answered, side glancing Lily who slightly blushed at the word important. Clearing her throat, she tries to keep a dignified tone.
"So you admit I'm important to you?" Lily asks in a teasing voice, smirking.
Severus stops in his tracks, causing Lily to stop as well. Eyeing the red haired girl who looked curiously at him for suddenly stopping. Taking a strand of her hair and thumbing it he looks up at her green eyes.
"When did you ever think you weren't?" Severus answered, Lily felt like her face was as red as her hair. Averting her eyes from Severus' gazing black orbs, embarrassed. Suddenly a question pops into her mind.
"Then… does that mean… Iris is important to you as well?" Lily asked, her eyes slowly turning back to face Severus, she wanted to see how he'd react to her question.
"She's-" Severus was about to say but their conversation was cut off.
"Lily?" Remus arrived, catching the two off-guard.
Severus immediately let go of Lily's hair, this disappointed Lily.
'Merlin's bloody balls, Remus.' Lily cussed inwardly.
"Lupin." Severus said, approaching the tall Gryffindor who looked at him curiously but slightly guarded. "May I talk to you in private?" Severus asked, Remus was slightly taken aback.
"Well, yes. But Lily weren't the two of you-" Remus tried to say.
"We were if you didn't interrupt us." Lily muttered under her breath, tsking. Remus immediately shut up, his heightened hearing catching Lily's words. While Severus didn't hear a single thing, tilting his head at Remus.
"Well? Are you free right now?" Severus asked Remus again. Remus eyed Lily and back at Severus, nodding his head at him. Severus turned back to Lily.
"Thanks for helping me Lily, see you tomorrow." Severus said, waving at Lily and walking ahead of Remus. The light haired boy was confused at first but decided that it was probably best to follow Severus and avoid the fuming Lily.
The two boys ended up walking a little while longer, Severus wanted to make sure that they were in a secluded area. While Remus was both curious and nervous.
'What could Snape possibly want?' Thought Remus, who was so in his thoughts that he didn't notice the lanky boy stop, bumping into him.
"Sorry…" Remus softly apologized, Severus looked at him with contempt but only grunted in reply. Now that Remus looked around they were in one of the greenhouses.
"So… ummm… Why were you looking for me?" Remus nervously asked, scratching the back of his neck. Severus didn't immediately answer, he repeatedly sighed, walking back and forth while grunting as if he was arguing with himself. Finally he stopped, rubbing his hair violently, he opens his satchel to carefully grab seven vials filled with bluish liquids. Handing to Remus.
"Take them." Severus simply said. Remus took the potions without question. "Take one vial per day for seven days." Severus instructed.
"Seven days? But that's-" Remus said.
"I know, you don't need to remind me of your… 'transformation'." Severus said, slightly shivering at the memory of seeing Remus as a werewolf when Sirius' prank almost cost Severus his life.
"What does it do?" Remus asked.
"You'll see for yourself in seven days." Severus answered, his shoulders shrugging.
"Are you sure you're not trying to poison me?" Remus asked.
"If you don't want it you can give it back." Severus said, extending his hand and tsking. Remus pulled away from him.
"No! I mean… I'll take it. Thank you, Severus." Remus thanked, wide eyed at Severus.
"Don't say my name." Severus' face contorted hearing Remus say his name, it irked him. Remus never called him by his name, not even when they were adults. Severus huffed turning to walk to the exit, not wanting to stick around the greenhouse long enough for anyone to notice them.
"Why are you doing this?" Remus asked, staring back at the boy who seemed to have given him a ray of hope for his curse. Severus stopped in his tracks.
"Why 'am' I doing this?" Severus softly muttered. "I'd just feel better knowing that you're not on a blood thirsty rampage around the school's perimeter." Severus said, continuing to walk out of the greenhouse but stopping once again. "By the way, don't even think of adding sugar in it." Severus finished, a look of warning in his eyes, closing the door shut behind him. Leaving the brown haired boy to stare at the bottles.
At the Gryffindor tower in boy's dorms, Remus was the only boy awake. Holding one of the blue vials that Severus gave him. Looking at the clock, it was exactly one in the morning. The start of the seven days till the full moon. Gently twisting the cork open, a blue vapor rising from the vial. Immediately the smell of the potion was what hit Remus first, he gagged.
'Merlin, if it smells this bad I wonder how it tastes like.' Remus thought inwardly, swallowing the knot in his throat he holds his breath and gulps it all in one go. Remus shivered and retched, heaving at the disgusting taste.
'Merlin's balls! That was disgusting. Maybe if I add a bit off…' Remus thoughts suddenly cut itself, remembering Severus' warnings. '-don't even think about adding sugar in it.' Severus' words echoing his head. Remus chuckles to himself.
'How did he know?' Remus thought inwardly, with a small smile on his face. Before retching again.
Author's note:
Damn Sev! Very smooth, sheesh!