Chapter 88: In The Wake Of Revelations
{A/N: Here's Another Update...}
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{"I know I hate you, I can't escape you...You bring me emptiness and nothing I've become...I can't resist it, I wouldn't miss it...It's finally coming out, the darkness and the cold...You can't break me...Taking hold of it all...I've finally gone straight down...I can't deny it, I lie and loathe... I've finally gone straight down...I can't deny it, I lie and loathe."} Loathe, Rev Theory
The Snape Residence, Muggle London, England...
No sooner had Hermione and Snape reached their flat, the dour wizard doubled over in pain. Hermione's eyes widened as she noted the blood that seemed to come from out of no where. Snape groaned too weak to move his body. His wife had been trying to keep her composure as she went about trying to ease her husband's suffering. She blamed Dumbledore's curse for what her husband was going through. Snape groaned as the pain became more severe. He gripped the sofa beneath him as his wife tried to help him lie back. He had been covered in sweat and his lengthy raven hair had been sticking to his forehead. Hermione wiped him down with a wet wash cloth. He looked at her noting the tears that had swelled in her amber eyes.
"B-Briefcase." he said weakly. "I-I need...need...it."
Hermione had not known why her husband would make such a request but she quickly went to retrieve it. She looked around but didn't find it anywhere near the sofa. She thought about the health potion in the medicine cabinet in the bathroom. She made her way toward the bathroom as quickly as she could manage.
Snape struggled to get control over his agonized muscles.
"Accio briefcase." he said using his wand-less magic.
Instantly his briefcase appeared.
He fumbled over it getting it open despite the pain and trembling hands. The small black phial had been clasped in his trembling pale fingers as he unstopped it with a good deal of effort. He aimed the phial at his open mouth and drank down a good measure of the contents. The pain immediately subsided and Snape did his best to rid himself of the evidence. He banished the briefcase to the far corner of the room and looked up at the ceiling. Hermione came back with a phial of health potion and he drank it down immediately at her urging.
His body still jolted but the pain had been absent as he looked up at her with glossy obsidian eyes. The concerned witch stroked his sallow pale cheeks relieved that she could find a way to assist him. Snape wrapped his arms around her as she shifted her weight and rested her head against his chest. He could feel the wetness of her salty tears as they fell from her amber eyes and onto his ebony clad chest.
"Severus." she said more afraid than she had been in a very long time.
"It'll be alright." he said softly stroking the small of her back.
They sat like that in silence as both their minds drifted back to Hogwarts castle and to their eldest son. Neither of them could imagine what the boy must have been feeling in the wake of everything that had occurred only a few hours prior.
The Grounds, Hogwarts Castle, Scotland...
Phaeron Snape sat alone near the lake with his potions book at his side. He looked out over the slick black pool as the night sky reflected in it's murky waters. He could see the twinkling of stars that lined the black velvet background as if they had been diamonds. It was the first time he had ever been out at this spot without Ursula. He had known the spunky witch ever since his first day at Hogwarts. She had come through for him more often than anyone else he had ever known here even being the reason he got to see his father for the first time in Dumbledore's office. He smiled recalling her nickname for the old bastard. "Dumbledork."
The past few hours had been the result of a good deal of change. He and Ursula had crossed the often blurred line between being friends and lovers. She had been the first witch he had taken to bed and he couldn't help but feel overwhelming concern for her. She had been out there on her own and he hadn't the faintest clue as to how she was fairing. Sure she had been a very talented and resourceful young witch but he still couldn't help but feel concern for her.
Ursula had never talked about her family much. Other than the aunt she lived with far from anything remotely resembling civilization. She had not seemed to have a warm relationship with her aunt. Then again Ursula did not seem to have a very warm relationship with anyone. The raven haired Slytherin got to his feet sick of his numerous wondering thoughts and made his way back toward the dungeons.
As he made his way back to his dorm with his potions book safely tucked beneath his arm and his hands deep within his pockets. Lily Luna Potter had come up to him with concern in her sad dark eyes.
"Phaeron." she said unable to say much else after hearing what had happened from a few of the other students.
The cold obsidian eyes of the boy she once considered a dear friend glared rather murderously in her direction almost making her want to cringe at the intensity.
"What do you want Potter?" he asked in a bitter tone.
Lily had not expected him to be angry with her.
"I-I just came to see if you were alright." she said finding a measure of Gryffindor courage.
"Why to absolve you of your Gryffindor guilt?" he asked in a snide manner. "Don't you worry your pretty little red head about me...Potter, I'll be just fine."
Lily had been on the verge of tears in the wake of his callous attitude.
"Phaeron why are you being so mean?" she asked with her voice trembling.
"Why don't you ask your precious Potter brothers..." replied Phaeron still bitter. "Or better yet how about you go ask your murderous father."
With that he pushed passed her and walked off toward the dungeons.
Lily Luna Potter stood alone near the lake with tears streaming down her pale cheeks. She had known Phaeron ever since she was seven years old, he had been the one that helped her find her teddy bear when she lost it due to James II's antics, he had always been so nice to her in those years. Even going so far as to act as her protector and instructor when she first came to Hogwarts. She couldn't fathom him not liking her anymore. While it was true that she had only been thirteen years old and he sixteen, she did want to think about them never being friends again. She had barely any time to process what her father had done to Phaeron's family and as such never went to visit her father in the infirmary. She had chosen instead to seek out her friend. Still unable to make out how everything had gotten so bad, the broken hearted girl made her way toward the Gryffindor tower.
The Corridors, Hogwarts Castle, Scotland...
Scorpius Malfoy had been on his way to the Great Hall for supper. He couldn't imagine what Phaeron would have been going through. To have been banned from Quidditch, then to find out that the wizarding world's greatest hero tried to murder his father, and to lose his girl in the passed few hours. He caught sight of the somber raven haired Slytherin as he got ready to pass the grounds. He had not known what to say to the bloke but he made it a point to inquire wither or not he had eaten a decent meal as of late.
"Phaeron." said Scorpius slapping on a rather trademark Malfoy smile.
"Scorpius." said Phaeron in as much a polite manner as he could stand.
"Where are you off to in such a hurry?" asked Scorpius trying to make conversation.
"Bed." replied Phaeron evenly.
Scorpius arched an eyebrow at this.
"Y-You aren't going to have any supper?" he asked. "If I recall you haven't eaten in quite a few hours."
"I don't have much of an appetite." replied Phaeron.
"Surely, you must be famished." said Scorpius amazed.
"I said I am not hungry." said Phaeron giving a flash of temper.
The youngest Malfoy fell silent. He had not wanted to push his god-uncle but he had been rightly concerned.
"M-Maybe I'll bring you something later?" he said.
Phaeron sighed.
"Do what you'd like." he said.
Then proceeded to continue on his way toward the dungeons.
Scorpius sighed as well watching the moody teen wizard disappear into the dungeons.
Snape's Quarters, Slytherin Dungeons, Hogwarts...
Phaeron entered his father's quarters after giving the necessary pass phrase and made his way over toward the bed he had last shared with Ursula. He sighed and collapsed into the center of it feeling a good deal more exhausted than he had been the first time he found himself falling into it. The weight of all that has happened pressing heavily upon his shoulders. There in the safety of the darkened room that had been home to his father for much of his adult life, Phaeron Snape let the anguish of his tattered emotions run down his sallow pale cheeks. Come morning it would be like nothing ever happened to everyone else but for now he was content to let it all out.
He could almost see a clear picture of Ursula Black in his mind, her chaotic dark eyes and her sensuously wicked smile before him as he slipped into the deep realms of sleep.