† No other Cure †

Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters. They belong to the author.

Pairings: Severus Snape and Draco Malfoy

Rating: M for sex scenes and language. This is a MM, meaning a man having sex with another man. If you don't like, don't read.

Genre: Romance/Angst

Theme: Harry Potter Chapter III Without Hope

Draco didn't feel good at all. Every hour it got more painful to so much as breath. That night was hard, Madam Pomfrey had stayed at his side all through the dark, though she wasn't helpful. He kept his eyes half shut the whole time, breathing painfully. The next morning Snape and Dumbledore stopped in to check up on him. Draco didn't move to look at them, he couldn't move, he felt if he did he'd break. But luckily they came into view. Madam Pomfrey got up and came back with a nasty smelling brew in a cup. "Drink this, it will bring down the fever." She said with a smile. She pressed the edge of the cup to Draco's lips. There was a moment and than he cough hard, very hard and Pomfrey fetched the bucket and he threw up.

"He can't keep anything down… We tried water last night too…" she said with a sigh. Snape watched him closely, no, that wasn't right; he should be able to keep down water at least. Snape walked up to Draco's side and, with a moment to pause, pressed his cold hand against Draco's forehead.

"He's hot but he's in a cold sweat still…" he said withdrawing his hand. He turned to Dumbledore, waiting to hear exactly what was to happen. "I suppose, we will ride it out, see if it gets any better." He said with a sigh. The two of them turned to leave.

It was horrible. He felt so sick. His stomach ached and the sweat on his body chilled him to the bone but he was so hot. He wanted so bad to be free of his robes but under a nice warm blanket and to be able to quench his thirst and speak. But he couldn't. This wasn't like the times he made a fuss over small things. This was so much worse, this hurt and it made his body ache. His eyes, when they weren't closed, were open only barley and lifeless, he felt as if his insides were exploding and he ached all over. Madam Pomfrey tried to get him to drink water again, it did no good and it was quickly sent back up. She tried mango, his favorite fruit and he sadly spite up the now very slimy orange mush. Nothing would work. He wheezed when he was asleep and his breathing was off. He had managed, with help to roll over so he was looking at the door. He wanted so badly for Snape to return. He whished he hadn't ruined things with Severus days before…

It must have been five in the afternoon before Snape, Professor McGonagall and Dumbledore returned to the room to check on him. This time it was Dumbledore who felt his head while Snape stood and waited. He wanted Snape to be the one touching him, because those cold hand's felt so much better than these warm ones. "Any luck, Pomfrey?"

"Not any sir, he can't keep it down. If he goes another couple of days without water…" they all knew the end of that sentence. Malfoy would die of dehydration. Madam Pomfrey sighed and tried to get him to swallow the medicine again but he wheezed and coughed hard. The three sighed and turned to leave when Snape stopped and looked at the boy. Draco felt so sick. His whole body was singing in pain. He gripped the sheets tight until they ripped, he screamed in pain but there was no noise, his body reacted bad and than it was over.

By this time it was all over the school, the rumor that Malfoy had been discovered all bloody by Snape and was now dying in the hospital wing and that no one was trying to save him. It hurt to hear that rumor from Crabbe and Goyle, who had come to visit him. They parted when the 2o' clock bell rang and they headed off to class. Later Pansy visited him with some flowers and a light word; it didn't cheer him up at all. He felt ghastly. By that night Madam Pomfrey and Professor McGonagall had worked out a plan. Madam Pomfrey would watch the boy during the day for signed of improvement and Professor McGonagall would take over at night, to let Pomfrey sleep a little. It worked fine.

The next day brought the same bore. He had to lie still for hours; he had to throw up water and medicine and could feel himself starving. That evening, McGonagall had taken her shift and Dumbledore and Snape visited again. This time with a bit of hope. Snape was going to take a look at the boy and try to find out what he was suffering from. Snape sat on the bed next to Malfoy and removed his shirt then laid him down. He felt sick at the sight of the boy's ribs jutting so fare out from the pale skin. He ran his hands over the skin and stopped at his stomach.

"Albus… feel here…" he said removing his hand, Draco winced when Dumbledore touched the spot.

"My, that's swollen." He said with puzzlement. Snape felt around more. "It seems all his organs are swollen." H e muttered, than they noticed it for the first time. "Look here." Said Snape, pointing at a bruise on the boys arm.

"A bruise from a needle?" asked McGonagall.

"No way Malfoy would take a drug, especially not something so dangerous." But than he reminded himself how depressed Draco had seemed. He took his notes and they all left for dinner. The Professor returned and took her post. It was about twelve o'clock when a figure walked in and woke the Professor up with a cold hand. "Go get some sleep. I'll watch him for now."

"T-thank you Severus." She sighed and left. Snape pulled a chair close to the bed and sat down. Draco's grey, wounded eyes watched quietly, happy the man had arrived. For a long time there was no noise, than, Snape spoke. "Go to sleep stupid boy. You need rest." He than gently reached out and touched Malfoy's cheek it felt good to be touched by that cold hand, it made his warm body cooler and it made him comfortable.

"I really hope you didn't shoot yourself up because you were upset about that drawing…" he muttered, taking back his cold hand. Malfoy had felt awful about the picture and Snape seemed to read his mind. "It was nothing but a picture, it's gone now, so don't worry about it…" he paused a moment, than continued in a frighteningly calm voice. "I take no offence by it, we are still Teacher and Student." He finished. 'And nothing more' Draco's sad mind finished and he closed his eyes, and drifted off. Snape studied him for a while. "Your just a child after all." He said in his cold, sharp voice and he too fallowed in nightmares.

Morning. It was bright, a honey suckle color spilling in from the window. Snape had been awake for a while when Malfoy woke up as well and looked at him in a quiet search. It was this time that Dumbledore walked in. "Ah Snape, I have sent Draco's father an owl, I think it's time we told him about his sons condition." At this point, Madam Pomfrey would have just stuck a needle in him and given the medication that way but it didn't seem wise since they didn't know what it was he had been poisoned with. "I have also sent an owl to the Minister of Magic, asking he send one of his finest Alchemists to take a blood sample from Malfoy and to try and find a cure. Luscious is a powerful man, I'd hate to have him against us cause his son died." That made both Draco and Snape take a sharp breath. 'Died?' Snape was confused, no, he wasn't going to let that happen to his friend's son. "They should both be here around Lunch." He said and dismissed himself. Snape didn't leave him, not even for breakfast. He kept sitting by Draco, watching him with dangerous black eyes. "Silly, silly boy… this whole time you've been worrying about that picture haven't you? You should be considering your life." Draco's dead eyes widened a little, since when did Snape read minds!?

To say the least, both Snape and Draco weren't keen on seeing Luscious. The enraged blond would be worse than the horrors of Azkaban. Though, neither mentions it. Snape only left Malfoy twice that day. Once to get a book, for he had decided, by himself, that if his prim student was to miss his class than he would have to update Draco himself. He brought back Potion books and read them to Draco in a cold, never changing voice and Draco listened quietly. The second time was to go to the Dinner Hall at lunch and he returned with a small plate of a bit of fruit and a goblet of water. He had pulled a chair, a nice and comfortable one, up to Draco's bed so he could endure the long hours of watching, for any signs of improvement, it was day three and there had been none. Severus gave a noticeable, but small sigh and looked at the blond. "Well... I suppose we should try water again Mr. Malfoy." He said in a chilly voice and moved to the edge of the bed, he put a icy hand on his shoulder and brought him up to sit gently, letting him rest against his left as he pressed the goblet to the boys lips. He took a small sip but he found it harder to swallow than ever. Snape noted this, after watching Malfoy close his eyes and strain slightly. Snape exhaled sharply. "Silly boy." He snapped and brought his right hand to the other's throat. For a second Draco feared Snape was going to strangle him, but the hand ran from the top of the cord and down, in such a way that the pressure of his fingers opened his throat up. He felt the water trickle a little lower, though it took all he could to remember to breath through his nose. After the water trickled down his body reacted accordingly, no matter how painful it was and allowed the liquid to drain. Snape waited, the bucket beside the bed for what was expected to fallow. His body felt horrid but nothing came back up, he only coughed a few times, a gentle hand rubbed his back, so pleasantly cold on his burning skin. Snape noted sickly that he could feel the boy's rib cage joining the spine; there was not an ounce of muscle left on him, what a horrid poison this was. Which brought up the fact that Snape had sadly been unable to find a cure for the poisoning, which troubled him greatly, for he had even checked in the restricted section, it must have been a well deceived mix… They'd know when the blood sample was taken what had been in the mix and hopefully how to cure it.

After a few minutes with no sign of illness from the water, past his coughing, Snape smiled in that sly yet mystic look and repeated the technique till Malfoy had drunk at least two glasses before they gave it a rest. The Professor had only an hour before he would switch off with Madam Pomfrey to go attend his classes for the fallowing four hours. He looked at the plate he had brought with the fruit. He took a knife and fork and cut a kiwi very thinly before skewering one and held it for Draco. The boy stared at the food for a moment; did Snape seriously want him to eat? After finally getting some water into his body Snape wanted him to spew it all back up again? Had he gone mad? He stared at the food. Snape glared slightly.

"EAT." He said in a demanding voice, Draco was a little taken back by his Professors tone but opened his mouth a little and ate the kiwi, despite the sick crack coming from his jaw after not being used for so long. He had to swallow the same way as before, though, as the pain had not increased it had not subsided much either. He got it down and they waited. He felt very sick, as if his body didn't even want the food. But it did, it needed it so much. Snape gave him another slice. He felt so sick now but it didn't re-surface. Snape forked some more and offered it but Malfoy couldn't handle anymore and turned his head away. Snape snorted. "Have it your way than." He growled and gently laid Draco back down and stood up. Draco wanted to ask where he was going but could only watch Snape leave. He wondered if he had somehow angered him. He didn't forget it, watching him leave, his cloak streaming behind him like a bat's wings. It was only one o'clock when Snape returned with Dumbledore and a man he had never seen before in his life. The man was tall, thin, he had a great red cloak fluttering behind him and he had orderly dusty blond hair. He was at least as tall as Snape and his voice was calm and strong. Draco learned shortly after that he was the Alchemist the Minister had sent.

"Well, Snape how has he been, any better I hope?" Asked Dumbledore. Snape nodded.

"He drank two goblets of water and two thin slices of a kiwi before he felt ill, about twenty minutes ago." It was so much like Snape to be exact in his count at a time when it really didn't matter.

"Ah, that's good than." Chuckled Dumbledore, everyone in the room must have been wondering how he could laugh at a time like this. There was some silence before the tall man took a step forward.

"No means to be rude sir but I think we should go about collecting the blood, no?" Draco felt a little sick, how exactly was he proposing they took said blood sample, from a needle he hoped! Madam Pomfrey took away for a second than retuned with a needle, thank Merlin he thought they were going to slice his arm and take the blood that way or use some type of leech. He held stayed still as they put the needle in, right below where the bruise still remained from his drugging. He felt sick, like his body was fighting back, not waiting to let any blood loose, it must have been a side effect of the poisoning. He kept his eyes on Snape the whole time. The blood was taken and he felt light headed. The crimson liquid was put in a vial and locked up with a spell and given to the Alchemist who thanked Pomfrey and put it in a specially designed pouch in his jacket for vials, he was an alchemist after all.

It was at this time the door flew open, hitting the wall with so much force you swore that poor wall would collapse. A very bitter looking Luscious flooded towards them. "DUMBLEDORE!" he growled out, furious of his son's condition.

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Chapter three complete! Now I'll mention at this time that I am looking for an artist for make some imaged for this fanfic. Send me a sample to of either Malfoy or Snape. Consider it like a contest :D The only rule it, it has to be your own work. If your art is accepted you will be asked to make a few pictures, about one per chapter, you make include a © sign and your name if you wish on the images you make and you will be referred By a given name, a site or album (whatever you prefer) and your email.

Snape: Kiwi?

Draco: I like Kiwi…

Snape: But kiwi? Do you know how hard that stuff is to cut?

Draco: I like mango too…

Author: It's a sweet food thing…

Draco: And strawberries…

Snape: Why do you keep mentioning my 'icy hands' over and over?

Author: Because, Draco has a fever and since this is mostly focused on his point of view, he notices your coldness more than say 'his burning eyes' understand now?

Draco: And honey…

Snape: Why is it told from his point of view more than mine?

Author: … (this is going on forever) would you like me to do a bit of your POV in the next chapter?

Snape: Yes.

Draco: Why couldn't it have been blueberries? I like blueberries more than kiwi's…

Author: sigh Ok tune in again for chapter four, with special (one time only) Snape POV! Join us for Cyteryus' Kiss.