Half a Life Without You

Chapter 17: Fire Whiskey Deals

Severus POV

What a mess…I frown at the green goo dripping steadily onto the table and wish it was the mess I was thinking of. With a sigh I wave my wand, "Evaneso" successfully vanishing most of it away before narrowing my gaze at the fractured cauldron, "you're next, Reparo." I watch it slowly realign and meld back together and wish I could repair my actions as easily as I could the cauldron. I don't regret kissing Everly, the complete opposite. I just don't know how she will feel about it and hope I didn't push her away before I even had a chance. Damn Dumbledore's timing.

Suddenly, the castle felt very small the walls closing in around me. I can feel dread waiting to take over. It sits like an angry ball propelling me towards an anxiety I just don't need. Desperate for fresh air, I move briskly up the dungeon stairs until I reach the main hallway, but instead of heading towards the courtyard I just continue straight out the front door, through the castle gates.

The air is sweet, the weather mild, there are birds singing above me. There's something about being outside that evaporates my apprehension and concern over potentially ruining my chances with Everly. My body begins to relax as I continue walking further and further away from Hogwarts until the skies begin to darken and the birds now longer sing.

I find myself standing outside of the Three Broomsticks Inn. I can hear the boisterous laughing and happy music from inside and begin to reconsider going in. It's just a reminder that I'm alone. Before I can decide if I should go in or return back to Hogwarts, I hear a familiar voice call out from the darkened streets.

"Well, if it isn't Severus Snape." I glance behind me catching the pale image of Lucius Malfoy approaching me. Oh hell.

"Good evening, Lucius." I reply courteously.

He waves my greeting away with a scoff, "no need to be so formal Severus, we're friends after all."

We are? This is news to me. Of course, I would never say this out loud especially to his face, so I just nod and try to force a smile, "how have you been Lucius?"

"Good. Great actually. I'm getting married soon." He replies with genuine happiness of a man in love.

"Right, you and Narcissa. Congratulations."

"You're invited of course." He announces as if only just realizing as a friend I would expect to be included. "We didn't want to send an owl to your…muggle… home, so it's quite fortuitous us meeting here." I don't miss the way he stresses the word muggle nor the flash of distain that flashes momentarily.

"I didn't go home this summer anyway. I'm staying at Hogwarts over the summer tutoring students."

"Wonderful, you may expect my owl this week with an invitation." Great, now I was going to have to actually attend the toff's wedding.

Lucius steps past me to open the door to the Three Broomsticks Inn, "Well let's not just stand here, come have a drink with me Severus." He then turns to walk in just expecting I will follow.

"Sure, why not?" I say mockingly behind him knowing he's not listening. I'm almost positive I may live to regret this.

We find a seat in the back away from the rowdy locals. Madam Rosmerta sways over seductively while racking her eyes over Lucius with appreciation. "What can I get fer ye?" she purrs leaning over practically pushing her bosom into his face.

"Fire whiskey" He looks at me slyly, "for both of us."

"But he's a…" Lucius reaches out to lightly take her hand cutting off what she was going to say. He carefully unfurls her fingers before pressing two gold coins into her palm, then proceeds to push her fingers closed until they wrap firmly around them.

"What is it you were saying, love?" He asks while turning her hand over and placing a feather light kiss on the top of her hand.

Her eyes met mine briefly before scanning the room to see if there anyone is watching. She hesitates for a moment appearing torn if serving a student fire whiskey was worth the gold coin in her palm or the attention from such a handsome man.

Her hand tightens around the coins locked inside, her decision made, "yes sire, anything else I can get ye?" She asks in a breathy voice implying what else she would be willing to provide.

"No, just the fire whiskey."

A pout forms on her ruby lips, "yes sire. If you change your mind sire you know where to find me."

We both watch her sashay temptingly to the bar before returning with two glasses filled with a dark amber liquid. "Enjoy," she says while trailing her fingers over Lucius arm as she walks away.

I snatch up my drink ready to get this over, bloody hell that burns. Lucius laughs while slapping my back. "Don't worry you'll get used to it." Not fucking likely…damn.

He picks up his glass, smoothly swirling the brown liquid inside before tilting it back and draining it completely without even the slightest wince. Show off.

"What have you been up to Severus?" His eyes search mine as if he is looking for something.

I feel a slight pressure skim across my mind, so subtle it was hard to notice at first. He wouldn't be trying to use legilimens…he wouldn't…he would, absolutely he would.

I immediately suppress all my thoughts, especially of Everly and shrug indifferently "not much."

He frowns while absently spinning his now empty glass around in his hand. "Hmmm, tell me what your plans are for after school?"

Why did all his questions sound like commands?

"I'm not sure." I reply while taking a sip of my drink in order to avoid meeting his eyes. Fuck it's so hot, my eyes blur as they start to water. I really needed to stop drinking this.

"Come now Severus, you can tell me."

Wow what a snake, I wouldn't be surprised if he tried to give me an apple.

I narrow my watery eyes and decide to play along. I'm not sure what game he was playing, but I want to know what he's after.

"Well actually, I am working on something."

He leans forwards a bit too eagerly, 'yes, what is it?"

"It doesn't matter, I'm missing an ingredient. I'll never be able to finish it." I make a show of slumping in my chair, hoping I appear defeated.

"Missing? Why, is it expensive?" he asks.

"It is very rare and very expensive, but…" Lucius cuts in before I can finish, "I can loan you the funds for your missing ingredient."

I continue my sentence ignoring his last statement. "But, it's not expensive in they way you think. It may cost more than money."

"Explain" he commands arrogantly.

I resist rolling my eyes at his tone. I still have to play along to learn what his motives are, and it seems I may also benefit at the end of the game we are currently playing. I do really want to get my hands on that elusive ingredient.

"Muffiliato" I murmur before responding, not wanting to risk anyone overhearing us.

"I need vampire dust." I answer bluntly.

Shock was easy to see on his face, "vampire dust!?" he yells at me in a whisper. "what the fuck kind of potion do you need that for?"

"Sun's Death." I calmly reply.

He gives a low whistle, "that's a very dangerous potion Severus." A slow smiles spreads across his face, "I can help you with your missing ingredient."

"Really?" I ask trying to not appear too enthusiastic.

He smirks, "Yes, really… However, there will be a cost." Here's the catch I've been waiting for.

"I'll provide the location of a vampire with instructions on how to obtain the ingredient you desire. In return you provide me with 8 vials of veritaserum."

Now it was my turn to be shocked. "8 vials!" I sputter out. "You do realize the ministry has made the creation of the veritaserum illegal, just how do you suggest I brew these up for you?" I ask scornfully.

"That's easy, you will come visit me at Malfoy Manor every Saturday over the summer. I have a fully stocked potions lab. No one will know." He arches his eyebrow, "Well do we have an agreement?"

I sigh, "yes, it's a deal." I stare into his steely gray eyes wondering if I just made a deal with the devil. He extends his hand and we shake to lock in our agreement.

He breathes out, I can see the tension drain from his shoulders. I wonder who exactly he promised those 8 vials to. Veritaserum was temperamental and I'm sure he was egotistical enough to believe he could brew it on his own. He must have panicked when it didn't work and was trying to escape his failure at the bottom of a bottle.

Lucky bastard found me instead. I'm going to regret this; I gulped down the rest of my drink letting the hot burning sensation fill up my chest.

I release the muffalito spell and wave over Madam Rosmerta, "one more round."

"No more for me." Lucius stands grabbing hold of her hip, I have need of something else." He tosses a bag of coins on the table, "get anything you want Severus. I will see you next Saturday." He smiles at my expression and shrugs, "I'm not married yet."

I watch them head into the back of Inn. Cheating bastard. Maybe love was a colossal joke after all.

By the end of the night, I barely felt the burning anymore. I don't even remember how I got back to the castle, but the familiar Slytherin tapestry hanging in my room tells me I did return at some point. I close my eyes to stop the room from spinning and drift into a dreamless sleep.