Chapter Four – A Poisonous Birthday.

Harry slept fitfully, tossing and turning at every moment. Snape's actions of the past night dogged him. It hurt, he hated being treated like a child, he was not a child not since the moment Voldemort gave him that scar. He hated being so humiliated, degraded and almost exploited by Snape. It wasn't good enough, this wasn't the way his life was meant to be.

"Right," Snape said finally. "I am going to get a cup of cocoa, it would be good if you would join me," Harry cast a quick tempus charm and groaned, it was 4 am, Snape hadn't yet said anything cruel, so he decided that it might as well try it. He got out of bed and followed his husband into the lounge.

The cocoa was piping hot and sweet, the conversation was not.

"Harry, I am sorry for how I acted earlier," He looks it Harry thought supressing a smirk, knowing how hard it would be for Snape to say the words. Of course an apology didn't discount the original crime, one for which Harry felt there was to be no forgiveness for.

"No, you're not," Harry said bitterly, finding his voice.

"I am, I am not used to living in such close quarters," the older man grumbled.

"I don't care, that is no reason to strip me!"

"You were disobedient," Harry thought that he knew where this impulse had come from, especially when he reflected upon the pensieve images he'd seen in fifth year.

"You will never, ever strip me again,"

"Never?" Snape looked amused, damn him.

"Yes never!"

"Well, I am sorry Harry, how can I make it up to you?"

"You can stay out of my way," Harry said finishing his drink and returning to bed.

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Harry had never wanted to be held so much in his life. He lay in Snapes bed, wishing the someone would come up to him and tell him that the whole marriage was just some sick joke. He wanted to feel strong arms around him, the warmth of another person and the feel of their skin beneath him. Soon after, Snape joined him and all was silent.

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The next week was spent in silence, Harry sat in the lounge reading some of his books on Gryffindor history, Snape alternated between a potions book and his lab. They hardly spoke, only to negotiate who was to have the first shower and the like. Harry supposed it was better than the fighting, but still, he wanted more and he didn't see what was wrong with that. He certainly didn't want more with Snape, especially not after his behaviour! Harry understood perfectly why Snape had punished him but that still didn't make it acceptable. One soon learns the difference between a confrontation and domestic violence.

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Dear Harry,

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

I hope that things are improving with Snape, we are so sorry Harry. If there's anything we can do, just let us know.

We'll be back in less than a week, we're having a party at the Burrow on the 7th, Snape's invited too.

We really hope that you have a good birthday, we miss you so much!

Love

Ron and Hermione.

Harry frowned at the letter, it was clearly written by Ron, apart from the scrawling handwriting, Hermione would've known better than to use a plural pronoun when assigning sympathy. It was okay though, it wasn't their fault after all.

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So far so good, Harry thought happily. It had been one of the better birthday's so far, Snape had been civil to him, there had been cake in the staff room and Hagrid had joined him in the grounds for an impromptu tea party. He'd received nice presents from everybody – the Hogwarts staff had bought him a life size carved wooden lion for his office, apparently, it could be coaxed to speak. At the moment, it just roared, Harry had a suspicion that that is all it would do for a very long time. It was a kind present nevertheless. The Weasley twins had sent him a sample of what felt like everything in their shop and the Weasley family had presented him with a beautiful set of quills – to enhance his reputation as a professor they said. Ron and Hermione's present was to arrive later according to a previous letter and Snape's only gift was to be civil, which was more than enough in Harry's opinion. Everything was going well.

Too well.

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It was night-time when the symptoms began. Snape felt the poison turn to ice in his bloodstream and he waited, praying, hoping that it would go away. Just to be safe, he stayed around Harry, heaven help that he should need the boy. The boy who was sitting in his usual chair, reading that pathetic Gryffindor book and looking like Lucius when he'd lost a favourite toy, as a matter of fact, probably the way that Lucius looked right now, he thought with a sneer. He knew the next stage and the stage after that. He might die, he might not. It all depended upon the way things went.

"Harry, would you please fetch me the blue potion near the stone basin in my lab?" he asked, knowing that he didn't have the strength to get there. Harry stared at him curiously, but that was to be expected, he'd never been allowed in Snape's labs before.

He eventually returned with the potion, the potion that Severus knew would get him upstairs to the Hospital Wing without even needing the brat to help any.

"I will need to go to the Hospital Wing," he announced when he felt ready to stand. "If you remember, in the Shrieking Shack, Nagini?" the boy nodded. "Her poison was changeable, every time it changes, I create a potion to fix it, depending upon what's in the potion, into changes the poison into something to counteract it. It makes it an incurable disease."

"Phoenix tears?" Harry asked inquisitively.

"Where would I get a phoenix from?"

They had reached the Hospital Wing, Snape took Harry by the arm.

"Harry, before I go in, there's something I wanted to tell you," he began nervously.

"What is it, s-" Harry broke off, he was just about to call Snape 'sir'.

"I wanted to tell you why I agreed to married you."

"Oh," Here goes, Harry thought.

"Harry, it is very likely that I will eventually die from the effect of this poison and, the first and foremost aim of the Prince family, is to have a blood heir. When I first married you, I thought that this might happen and since, it's become obvious that I will not. It does not matter now, what matters is that you've not had to marry Malfoy and you've been able to remain at Hogwarts. When I die, you will be left a widow and unable to be a party to another forced marriage. I am willing to die now, I have seen many things Harry and it would be a lie to say that I'm not tired of this world." he paused. "I'm sorry,".

And with that, he collapsed.

A/N : Does he live or does he die? Does he live on in intolerable pain and misery? How will Harry respond to the pronouncement? I for one, have no idea.

-SforSnarry.