Hey everyone. I know, I know...it's been forever. I had a job this summer as well as the sixth book coming out and the finishing of my other story (finally).
I've already started the next chap for this story so it will not be as long. I know I said that last time but there's a lot of things going on as of now.
This story isn't close to being finished, even with the arrival of the sixth book. It is now AU, as you know and I am going to continue it. Thanks once again to everyone whose been so patient and here is the next chapter.
Chapter nineteen- Goodbye, Draco
Darian exited the Hospital Wing the next morning with a chattering Hermione. Word had gotten out that he had saved the minister's grandson and though Darian had no idea what was so unusual about it, he was once again the center of attention. Madame Pomfrey had identified the poison easily as the Meager Force Poison, which was mainly an extremely strong weakening potion that had been used as distractions in the first war against Voldemort. Luckily, it hadn't been fatal, not that it would have mattered.
"It was really amazing though. Out of all the chaos that was going on, only a few students sustained some minor injuries," Hermione was saying. "You were the one with the severest injuries, actually."
Darian shrugged. "How did they manage to save all of the students?"
"Well, Professor Dumbledore told us that most of all the students had already barricaded themselves with a bunch of adults in the shops. He was actually congratulating them on it last night." Hermione paused for a moment. "Plus, I think the Death Eaters weren't really interested in them anyways."
"Yeah," Darian muttered sullenly. "It was me they were after. Voldemort knows I'm Harry Potter, Hermione, remember?"
Hermione blanched but said nothing, obviously having forgotten. For a moment they were silent as they passed a group of fourth years lingering by Remus's classroom. They didn't bother to lower their voices as Darian and Hermione passed.
"Saved the minister's grandson, he did."
"Probably just trying to get on Dumbledore and the Ministry's good side."
"Yeah, it's only a matter of time before he really starts to show his true colors."
"Just ignore them," Hermione said as she glared at the fourth years. "They don't know what they're talking about."
"Hermione," Darian said weakly. "Is everybody reacting like this?"
"Well…." she paused for a moment too long.
"Why do I even ask?" Darian said heatedly as they entered the Great Hall. "I'll never have a normal life where I'm not the topic of discussion will I?" Ron joined them, looking highly peeved about something. "You ever notice that no matter what I do they always make me out to be either a nut job or a Death Eater?" he went on.
"Or the next Dark Lord," Ron added. Hermione gave him a disapproving look.
"Same difference," Darian muttered irritably. He headed for the Ravenclaw table out of instinct.
"I wouldn't go there," Hermione whispered in his ear.
"Yeah, Lisa has been a right git since yesterday," Ron said angrily.
Darian rolled his eyes, "Figures."
"Oh don't let her get to you, Darian," Hermione said soothingly. "She just feels threatened by you."
"What?" Darian said blankly. "She feels threatened by me? Why?"
"Well," Hermione said uncomfortably. "She saw the wandless magic you did and I guess it kind of….scared her."
"She could be just jealous," Ron added at the drained look on Darian's face. He shook his head.
"No, Ron," he said quietly. "Whenever someone does something unusual that no one else can do, it scares them and they act on that instinct alone. They did the same thing when they learned I was a parselmouth, remember?"
"Hogsmeade trips are canceled, of course," Hermione went on after a long silence.
"Guess we'll have to start using the Marauder's Map again," Ron said, grinning at Darian.
"Don't you dare!" Hermione snapped as they sat down at the very end of the table, farthest from the teachers. "There was a Death Eater attack yesterday and you are talking about sneaking out unsupervised! Honestly, Ron, when are you going to use your head?"
"Yeah, honestly, Ron!" Darian mocked in a girlish voice. Hermione threw a biscuit at him.
"Fifteen points from Gryffindor, Miss Granger. You should know better," McGonagall said as she passed. Hermione flushed and ducked her head. Ron snickered.
It was at that moment that Darian realized the air of tragedy that hung over the Great Hall, and though the students were still talking animatedly to each other, the noise seemed almost quieter then usual.
"Hermione," Darian said slowly, his eyes flickering around the Gryffindor table, where some students were whispering quietly amongst themselves. "You said that no students died, right?"
"Yes," Hermione murmured, looking uneasy.
"What happened, than?" Darian asked quietly, staring up at the teacher's table to find a dozen perfectly masked faces muttering and had they been teenagers, Darian would have suspected their heads would be together as well. He stared around the Hall again. "Why is everyone so….subdued?"
Hermione glanced at Ron and sighed unhappily. "Madame Rosemerta was killed, Darian."
Darian fell into silence, the burning in his chest that had formed with Cedric's death swelled even more. Another life wasted, another person dead. He closed his eyes briefly, bowing his head in silent respect. Another reason why Voldemort should never have walked this earth…
"Is anyone even the least bit happy that I wasn't taken by the Death Eaters?" Darian asked calmly as they walked to the library to do some last minute homework.
"Don't think so, mate," Ron replied gloomily, obviously not wanting to spend a perfectly good Sunday in the library, as he had stated rather loudly only moments ago. Unfortunately, it was two against one, since Darian had gotten to be a bit of a bookworm since he had been sorted into Ravenclaw.
"People can be so closed minded sometimes," Hermione said as they entered the library. "I mean, even Ginny thinks you're for the dark side just because you're Snape's son."
Darian winced; it hurt to know that a person he had loved like a sister would judge someone as 'dark' so easily so….pathetically. He had thought that Ginny was a bit more open-minded then that.
"I suppose shallow mindedness does run in the family, kind of. First Percy and now Ginny, but Ginny isn't being near as bad as Percy, of course. And it's not like she goes out of her way to insult Darian of something," Ron defended half-heartedly.
"I guess you really don't know someone unless you've been in their enemy's shoes," Hermione said thoughtfully as she skimmed through Hydro-Spore: Poison, or Antidote?
"Bunch of gits," Ron grumbled, though he was really only talking to himself since Hermione and Darian were rather engrossed in their own books.
"Language, Weasel. I'm sure Professor Snape will love to hear how you address your classmates," a voice drawled. Hermione glanced up from her book to stare at Draco Malfoy's pale face.
"Don't you have somewhere to be?" Darian asked in a bored voice.
Malfoy smirked. "You'd do best to consider my father's offer, Snape," he said haughtily. "It isn't very often that the Dark Lord shows any interest in mudblood lovers."
Darian's wand was in his hand faster then his brain would work and he found himself saying quietly, "And you'd do best to watch your tongue, Malfoy, before I rip it out." Ron also had his wand out but Hermione was only watching with slight interest.
Malfoy arched a pale eyebrow. "Now is that really any way to treat a fellow classmate, Snape? Especially one who is making such a profitable offer."
"Why, might I ask, does Voldemort have such an interest in me?" Darian asked, letting disgust bleed into his voice. He smirked slightly at Malfoy's shudder to Tom Riddle's other name and assessed the young Malfoy, wondering whether or not he knew of Darian's true identity. Reaching out his senses, he couldn't really sense any hostility directed at him, which would probably be the case if Malfoy did know of his association to 'Harry Potter.' He really didn't think that Lucius Malfoy would tell his son something like this; figuring that, most likely, Draco would blab about it to his fellow Slytherins or taunt Darian and Snape with it. If there was one thing that Draco Malfoy wasn't, that was an actor.
"And if you wanted me to consider the offer so much, Malfoy, then it might benefit if you'd treat my friends and I with a little more respect," Darian countered, idly twirling his wand between his fingers. "Here I thought that the Malfoys were such a reputable family. You really disappoint me, Malfoy. Where is that mannerism I've heard so much about?"
A tinge of pink appeared on Malfoy's pale cheeks, something that Darian had only seen happen a select few times when the blonde was either very angry or embarrassed. Malfoy regained his composure the next second and nodded. "So you will be taking my offer into consideration, Darian?"
Darian suppressed the urge to slap the other boy, but instead inclined his head arrogantly and glared down his nose at the youngest Malfoy. "Unlike you, Draco, I would rather stay as sane as possible in this war and I cannot say that a continuous amount of crucio's will help that." He paused to smirk. "But your parents would know all about that wouldn't they?"
"You know nothing of my parents, Snape," Malfoy growled, his gray eyes flashing. "And you know nothing of the power the Dark Lord possesses." He sneered triumphantly. "The ministry is already under our control. I wonder how long it will take for Hogwarts to fall as well?"
"Our control, Malfoy?" Darian asked coolly. "As in your family and you? Since when has Lord Voldemort ever shared with anyone, let alone his slaves?" His lips curled in a scary impression of his father. "What?" he asked softly at Malfoy's second flinch. "Afraid of hearing your future master's name? And here I thought the Malfoys feared nothing."
"You think you are so dominant just because you held up a few Death Eaters until your Daddy could save you?" Malfoy asked tauntingly. "You are pathetic compared to the Dark Lord, Snape, and in time, you will come to realize that." He folded his arms haughtily. "And maybe I'll get the honor of…well...persecuting you when you come groveling up to the Dark Lord."
"Like your father does?" Darian said lazily, idly twirling his wand. Out of the corner of his eye, Hermione was giving him an odd look. "I thought Malfoys bowed to no one, especially not a half-blood."
Malfoy whipped out his wand and shouted, "Cul-"
"Expelliarmus!" a voice roared before the blonde could finish what was obviously to be the knife curse. Malfoy's mahogany wand was snatched out of the air before it could hit the ground and Snape straightened up, looking furious.
Hermione gripped Darian's shoulder in a vice-like hold. "He just performed a dark curse in front of a teacher!" she exclaimed in a loud whisper. "He could get expelled!"
"Mr. Malfoy," Snape said in a slow undertone. His face was pale with anger. "Exactly what do you think you are doing?" he hissed dangerously; Malfoy looked as if he were going to wet himself.
"Sir! I….I mean they--! They threatened me! It was self-defense, sir!" Malfoy stuttered lamely. He glanced at Darian, Ron, and Hermione as if expecting them to immediately agree. Darian stared solemnly back, feeling a twinge in his heart as he realized that in the last second, Malfoy had completely destroyed his future. While the knife curse wasn't an Unforgiveable, it was still a possibility that a short sentence to Azkaban could result.
"The headmaster's office immediately," Snape commanded thrusting his hand to the library door, his black eyes similar to chips of ice. He turned back to Darian as Malfoy slowly exited the library. "And you will wait for me in my private office," he said evenly before sweeping out of the library with a swish of his robes. "Without Granger and Weasley," Darian heard him call without turning around.
&&&&&&&&&&
The door banged open and Darian jumped from where he sat in a chair in front of Snape's desk. Snape strode in, looking furious but grim, and Darian the strangest urge to ask the man if he was all right.
Snape sank into his seat across from Darian. He looked old and incredibly worn all of the sudden and Darian shifted uneasily.
"Sir?" he asked quietly. Snape looked at him as if just realizing he was there. "You…er…asked me to wait for you here," Darian offered softly.
Snape nodded immediately and was silent for a moment, seemingly collecting himself. "Mr. Malfoy," he began in a gruff voice before pausing to clear it. "Was expelled."
Darian stared up into his father's face and was surprised at the shock that welled up in him. Sure he had known that expulsion had definitely been an option but now that it was said and it had been done he felt….empty almost. Yet another life that had been destroyed because of Voldemort.
Snape put his face in his hands and took a deep, shuttering breath. "Yet another I've failed," he whispered, though Darian knew he hadn't meant to say it.
"It's not you fault," Darian murmured. "It's no one's but Voldemort's."
He waited, half expectantly, half fearfully, for Snape to yell at him for using the Dark Lord's name, but it didn't come. Snape didn't move, nor did he make any acknowledgement to Darian's words.
Darian bit his lip, feeling guilt well up in him. "It's my fault too," he admitted awkwardly. Snape looked up at him wearily.
"Not everything that messes up is your fault!" Snape snapped and immediately regretted the words as Darian stared at him with deadened eyes. "I didn't…" he began, uncomfortably. "Mean it to sound harsh."
Darian sighed and shook his head. "I shouldn't have gotten him riled up. He just was taunting us as usual. But we actually responded this time," he said, shifting uneasily under his father's gaze. "One of the only times I said something really insulting to him, he gets expelled for trying to curse me."
Snape was silent for a couple moments, as if contemplating on something. "Draco Malfoy," he murmured quietly. "Has always had violent tendencies."
"I can tell," Darian said dryly, remembering the duels Malfoy had challenged him to and the curses the blonde had thrown at him. He remembered one in particular, including a certain white ferret… Darian shook his head again. He shouldn't think about that. It had been in his previous life, and he'd have to forget what had happened in the past if he ever wanted a future.
"We are going to add an extra lesson a week," Snape said suddenly, looking up at Darian, composure regained. "We need to work on Occlumency, no matter how much you wish to avoid it."
"I've been practicing," Darian practically burst out. "I really have, but I just….don't think I do it right."
Snape eyed him critically, "Then we shall see."
Darian sighed.
"Report here after dinner," Snape told him curtly. "They probably will be announcing Draco's expulsion then…" he broke off and turned away, looking almost pained with regret. Darian wished he could say something besides the repeated parrot of, "It's not your fault," something that he had learned from personal experience, didn't help at all.
Instead, Darian looked at the man earnestly, hoping that it offered some comfort. "I'll be here, sir," he announced loudly, snapping Snape from his reverie again.
Snape nodded, looking dazed before waving Darian away.
Darian stood, "Goodbye, sir."
He didn't receive a response.
&&&&&&&&&&&&
"Severus Snape, you bring Darian back this instant!" Lily shouted from where she stood on the front porch, her hands placed firmly on her hips, eyes flaring.
"Oooh, Daddy, you're in trouble," Darian whispered, looking up at him with solemn green orbs from under a mop of black hair.
Severus flinched, but managed a half-smile down at his four year-old son, who was currently sitting in his lap, clutching the front of his robes in a death grip.
"I'll deal with her as long as you don't tell her we went upside down," Severus said in an undertone, eyeing his wife wearily as he steered the Silver Arrow to the ground.
"Faster, Daddy!" Darian exclaimed, and Severus smirked at his son's exhilaration, unable to resist ushering the broom forward so they were speeding in a curve to the ground, enjoying the rushing exhilaration of the wind whipping through his hair and Darian's cries of excitement as he held the boy in a vice-like grip.
"Severus!" Lily shrieked in panic and he pulled up, gradually decreasing speed until they came to a full stop in front of her. Darian wiggled off his father's lap and bounded for his mother.
"I flew, Mummy, I flew!" he shouted happily, running into Lily's outstretched arms. "Did you see me? Did you?"
"I most certainly did," Lily said in a shaky voice, pressing a kiss on his forehead and penetrating Severus with a glare that froze him in his act of getting off the broom. "Now why don't you get washed up for dinner while your father and I talk," she tried to make her voice gentle though it quivering with fury.
Darian's emerald eyes widened as he glanced between his parents. He chewed his lower lip nervously and gave his father a pitying look that couldn't help but make Severus's lips twitch.
"You!….how…could…I…clearly-," Lily managed between gritted teeth after Darian had retreated into their cottage-like house. She took a deep breath and glared fiercely at him. "I clearly told you that he wasn't to be on a broom until he was at least six!" she snapped finally.
"Six, Lily?" Severus said shaking his head bemusedly. "You couldn't possibly have thought that Potter and Black could have waited two more years."
"What?" Lily whispered, though her fury seemed to grow. "You mean this isn't the first time he's been on a broom!"
"It was the first time," Severus told her, almost soothingly though he knew it wouldn't help. "But I'll be damned if Potter or Black were to take Darian up on a broom for his first time when I-"
"But they weren't going to take him on a broom!" Lily snapped. "They would have listened to my requests as his mother and waited until he was six, as you should have!"
Severus snorted. "You can't honestly think that they wouldn't have pulled something while you were gone, Lily? Black and Potter? Listen to you?"
Lily seemed to deflate slightly, but still looked rather miffed.
"It's fine," Severus told her, walking up to the redhead and wrapping his arms around her. "He didn't get hurt, Lily, he had fun. Besides, he deserved it after enduring yesterday we spent with your beloved sister," he said coldly, though it wasn't directed at his wife.
"I know," Lily murmured, sighing with fatigue. "But I hadn't seen her in so long….I thought she might've-"
"Changed?" Severus finished for her and she nodded. "Lils, your dear sister is never going to change her views about us. It's best if we keep Darian away from that family, especially their pig of a son."
Lily shuddered, unable to imagine raising a child like Dudley Dursley.
"And that man," her husband went on quietly though Lily knew he was livid. "I don't like him," he said and Lily was surprised at the seriousness of his tone. "The way he looked at Darian…"
Lily nodded solemnly. "I know," she said quietly. "It's just…..Petunia and I were so close before I went to Hogwarts…I just wish-"
"I know, Lils, I know," Severus said softly to her. "But it is best if we leave them be…" he trailed off for a moment before continuing. "I have a feeling he would've hurt Darian had we not been with him."
Severus felt rage build up in him as he remembered how Dursley had yelled at Darian for showing Dudley a chocolate frog card, which had ended with Vernon resembling something along the lines of a gerbil, and himself, Lily, and Darian leaving two days early. Unfortunately, Lily had had to come back an hour later to undo the aftermath of Severus's spell before the Ministry could interfere. He never wanted to step foot in that wretched house again.
Lily sighed and turned to look at the setting sun, casting an orange glow around their small summer home. "Alright, Severus," she agreed finally. "Just….promise me you won't take Darian flying…at least until he's five."
Severus smiled and flicked a strand of red hair out of her eyes. "Of course."
&&&&&&&&&&&&
"Professor?" a hesitant voice called.
Severus stirred, unwilling to come out of the wonderful fantasy he had somehow formed.
"Professor?" louder this time, more persistent followed by a tap on the shoulder.
'No,' Severus said mentally. 'Leave me be.' He desperately tried to grasp the merest wisp of the image of the innocent boy with emerald eyes that was his son, and the fiery redhead that he had was loved so.
The warmth of the setting sun felt as real as the hand that was currently trying to prod him from his paradise. However, it faded away along with the picture of the family he could have had, leaving a hollow, empty space in his soul, and finding himself only in the cold dungeons, having fallen asleep on his desk.
"Professor?"
"What!" Severus snapped, flaring up and nearly smacking his head against Darian, who was cautiously trying to rouse him.
Severus winced, carefully massaging his neck as he glared resentfully at Darian, who was staring at him with a slightly fearful expression. For an instant, his eyes seemed to blur and he was once again staring at the young boy that could have been his. Severus swallowed and turned away from the boy, unable to keep the embarrassment of his student seeing him asleep. What was the boy here for anyway?
"Did you have another dream?" he asked groggily, not yet facing Darian until he had rubbed the sleep from his eyes.
Darian gave him an odd look. "No," he said slowly. "You…er…told me to come here for Occlumency lessons, sir."
"At this hour-" Severus cut himself off as he found his clock, which read '6:43PM', and felt heat rise to his cheeks. How could he have fallen asleep at this hour? He hadn't done anything strenuous today nor had he gotten little sleep the night before.
"Fine," he heard himself say tiredly. "We will practice in the potions classroom as we usually do. Wait for me there while I finish something up."
Darian nodded, though Severus could see a flash of concern in those eyes before the boy turned away and walked out of the classroom.
Severus watched him go before nearly collapsing on his desk again, unable to keep the emotions from rising within him at the thought of that dream. He seldom dreamed, and when he did, it was filled with death and destruction as if his conscience was punishing him for everything he had done. But this….this wonderful, perfect alternate reality…
It was worse then his usual dreams. So much worse to know that that world had been so close, so easily in reach years ago but now it was impossible. It was like staring into the Mirror of Erised, watching your greatest desire play out before you with you off to the sidelines, unable to feel the emotion your other self felt, unable to experience the same experiences….
Severus closed his eyes and tried to erase the memory of Lily….his wonderful, beautiful Lily. How he had loved to simply look at her as he had done in his dream. It had been so long, so very long since he had looked at her picture. But even a picture could not capture the orange glow of the sunset that had surrounded Lily, making it look as if she had a golden halo above her head. Portraits could not express the emotion Severus got whenever he was around her and they certainly couldn't give off the same warmth that surrounded her in waves.
He sighed and reopened his eyes, noticing that almost five minutes had already passed and Darian was still waiting for him. At the thought of the brooding teenager that was his son, an image of the four year-old Darian flashed through Severus's head. Would Darian have truly looked like that at the age of four? Could that pure, endearing, young boy with vibrant green eyes possible have grown up to be Darian?
'No,' he mentally told himself. The Darian of this world and the little Darian in his dream were two different people with two different lives and two different memories. The four year-old Darian had never been neglected, had never been abused nor had he had the plaguing weight of the world on his shoulders, thrown on him at the age of one. It was just as the Darian of this world had never known love, had never had a (true) parent, had never known peace, and had never been that childlike.
Severus slipped on his outer robes, realizing that the little Darian didn't have the wizened look that his Darian had, nor the shadows under his eyes. They could have been the same once, a long time ago, but now they were as different as Snape and Dumbledore. With that thought in mind Severus viciously shoved the overwhelming yearning that had seized him, and slammed open the doors to his classroom setting his mind, instead, on his son, who was currently waiting cautiously for him.
"Let's begin," he said curtly and he noticed that the boy looked drained. He whipped out his wand.
"Legilimens!" Severus knew at once that Darian hadn't been ready at the deer-caught-in-headlights look before the spell struck him.
Images flashed through Snape's mind: a young Harry sitting sadly at a table by himself in a school lunchroom, watching his classmates eat their lunch with a hungry look; an eleven year-old Harry watching furiously at his uncle burning a stack of letters; Harry reaching up a shaking hand to touch a silvery patronus that looked strangely like a stag….
Snape felt a spike of irritation at the lack of resistance against his attack. Was the boy even trying? He pried deeper into Darian's more guarded memories, easily knocking down the pathetic mental wall before carefully sifting through to find the right one…
Harry being held underwater by his aunt in a tub of cold water; Harry pleading to be let out of his cupboard, promising to be good; Harry asking Nearly Headless Nick if Sirius Black could come back as a ghost; Harry in Dumbledore's office screaming, "THEN-I-DON'T-WANT-TO-BE-HUMAN!"
Snape pulled back, rather shocked at the pure rage in the boy's voice. His grip on Darian's memories slipped and he unwillingly delved even deeper into his son's personal memories, a place where he had vowed he wouldn't go again.
An image of a very young Harry formed in his mind and Severus was reminded of the four year-old Darian from his dream. Harry's uncle was towering above him, a thick belt in one had that was oddly reddish around the end. Horrified, Severus jerked back with such force that he feared he might have torn through Darian's ribbon of memories. The memory faded away, but not fast enough to prevent Severus from seeing the fat man bring down the belt and a tortured cry from ringing through his ears.
Severus stumbled as his office swam back into view. He suppressed the consuming feeling of rage that he seemed to get whenever he came across one of Darian's 'bad' memories. Clenching his teeth, he took a steadying breath and gripped the edge of his desk before finally looking up to see the damage he had done.
He had expected Darian to be on the floor, pale and trembling, and for an instant, he wished that that was the image that met his eyes. Instead, Darian was hunched over, clutching his head and moaning faintly.
Severus quickly strode over to the boy and hesitantly touched his shoulder. Darian didn't make a move and Severus suddenly wished that the boy had at least jerked away from the touch.
"Darian?" he asked softly, cautiously, his heart rate speeding up. 'Oh God, please say something, anything…' he silently begged, shaking Darian a little. The boy didn't respond and he would have fallen over had Severus not caught him.
Severus carefully lowered the boy to the ground, straining his ears for any kind of sound coming from his son other then the hitched breathing and weak whimpers.
"Darian?" he whispered again, shaking him harder. He closed his eyes and took a shuddering breath, mentally cursing himself in every language he knew. How could he have been so careless? He might have ripped a piece of Darian's mind just because he had let his emotions get to him.
Reopening his eyes, Severus shifted the boy to his lap and carefully brushed a strand of raven hair off Darian's forehead, pointing his wand at his head.
"Legilimens," he whispered shakily and felt his mind drift into his son's.
Severus probed through Darian's mind, searching for the memory he had last seen. Warily, he dove into the deepest recesses of the boy's mind where the memory had been. He scanned his son's ribbon of memories, examining each memory for an instant before continuing to the next, growing even more fearful at each passing memory.
He felt a wave of relief settle over him as the memory started to bleed into his mind. Severus noticed that the image was dulled, a bit faded and, with a lurch in his stomach, he began to carefully mend the tear he had caused.
Severus felt his head begin to throb as he willed Darian's magic to cooperate and heal. He delicately wove his magic into his son's, hesitantly prodding the boy's unwilling magic to focus on the torn memory, though it continued to ignore his presence.
'Come on,' he willed silently, dutifully increasing his own flow of magic. Darian's essence reacted instantly to the foreign, amplified magic and struggled to shove Severus out violently.
Severus cursed mentally, causing a wave of irritation from Darian to strike at him. He pushed back, equally as hard, realizing that he was going to have to force Darian's magic to cooperate with his. His head felt like it was splitting open from the pressure that built up in his mind as Darian's magic powered over him. Desperate, he heaved as much of his magic as he could transmit through him and thrust it at his son's. He instantly felt drained, having put every ounce of magic and energy toward overpowering Darian's essence until it was forced to obey.
Exhaustion was tickling the edge of his mind and he strained himself to stay conscience. Hastily yet meticulously he began to mend the tear, using Darian's magic to unite the tendrils into one again. He could feel Darian slowly beginning to regain consciousness.
Severus swayed as he withdrew from his son's mind, his head was pounding, and he collapsed to his knees in fatigue as he saw Darian stir from where he lay on the stone floor. Severus sighed in relief when the boy's green eyes fluttered open and focused on him, before he lost his battle against exhaustion and fell to the floor.