We'll never get free
Lamb to the slaughter
What you gon' do when there's blood in the water?
The price of your greed is your son and your daughter
What you gon' do when there's blood in the water?
Look me in my eyes
Tell me everything's not fine
Oh, the people ain't happy
And the river has run dry
You thought you could go free
But the system is done for
If you listen real closely
There's a knock at your front door
We'll never get free
Lamb to the slaughter
What you gon' do when there's blood in the water?
The price of your greed is your son and your daughter
What you gon' do when there's blood in the water?
When there's blood in the
Beg me for mercy
Admit you were toxic
You poisoned me just for
Another dollar in your pocket
Now I am the violence
I am the sickness
Won't accept your silence
Beg me for forgiveness
We'll never get free
Lamb to the slaughter
What you gon' do when there's blood in the water?
The price of your greed, your son and your daughter
What you gon' do when there's blood in the water?
When there's blood in the water
I am the people
I am the storm
I am the riot
I am the swarm
When the last tree's fallen the animal can't hide
Money won't solve it
What's your alibi?
- Blood/Water by grandson
"How is Arthur Weasley?" I asked Hippocrates Smethwyck in the staff room. He was an elderly wizard with a lot of experience, but I had the impression that this time he was faced with a mystery.
"Mr. Weasley gets blood-forming potion every day, but his wounds won't close," he said briefly, before continuing to read a book about rare bite wounds.
"I suggested to him today that we could try a Muggle method," Augustus Pye chimed in.
"What muggle method? Surely not stitching up wounds?" I asked with my mouth open. I knew that Pye was prone to extraordinary ideas, but a magically poisoned wound that wouldn't heal close with a needle and thread was not something I thought was not profit-ringing.
"Exactly these. I'll start tomorrow. The patient seemed enthusiastic about this idea," Pye said, beaming with joy. Oh Arthur, of course he was, it dawned on me when I thought of the many Muggle items he had in the Burrow.
"Um, if I give my opinion on this-" I began, but I was immediately sharply interrupted by Smethwyck.
"Not at all. I don't believe in interfering with poisoning by plants and therefore nothing of it if you want to hang yourself in my field like a tea bag," the magician said growlingly. "Maybe you should take care of the two Muggles who fell victim to those biting doorknobs that Willy Widdershins sold, even though that's not your area of expertise too, right?"
Behind me, I heard a familiar throat clearing.
"If I may ask that you use an appropriate tone with my extremely capable deputy healer-in-charge. She has a clever mind and I know she wouldn't want to give advice if she hadn't thought about it very precisely," Sharp said in an assertive voice, noisily placing his cup of black tea on the side table of his armchair.
"Sharp, I know you think highly of this young woman, but I would like to ask you to trust my expertise. And maybe you should be less blinded by beauty, where modesty and respect for years of experience and maturity are more of a virtue for a healer like her," the old wizard said sternly, raising his eyebrows clearly.
"If she lacked respect, she would certainly have preferred to lend a hand herself rather than trust dusty or crazy treatment methods for days. Come on, Catherine, let's go back to our patients. No one here can listen to that anymore," Sharp hissed sharply and stood up as he looked at me invitingly. I stared at him as if spellbound because I had not expected that my question could lead to such a scandal in this staff room today.
I nodded goodbye to the other two wizards before heading back to our floor with Sharp.
"It's unbelievable how he behaved in front of you. You shouldn't put up with something like that with your talent. He underestimates you beyond measure! What he's babbling about beauty is such nonsense," Asclepius whispered as we walked down the stairs together. "I mean... I didn't mean to say that you weren't beautiful... on the contrary, you are exceedingly..."
"I know, Asclepius," I giggled, which made the seasoned man next to me turn pink. "And I thank you for your efforts. But there was no need for that."
"Yes, it was necessary. Some views of the older generation are simply too dusty. It dates back to a time when Muggle women didn't even have the right to vote."
"That's right, considering that it hasn't even lasted a hundred years... there is probably still a long way to go in many people's minds. But at least we are on the right track and we are no longer subject to any restrictions when it comes to our career choices."
"I really hope so," he looked thoughtfully into the corridor of the third floor. It was quiet, somehow too quiet for my taste. But Sharp suddenly pulled me into an empty hospital room, sealed it off, and came very close to my face.
"Tell me, do you have any idea what exactly is behind the bite wound? I mean, I'm sure you know the place and reason for this injury," he whispered, looking straight into my eyes. I took a deep breath. Of course, I had a hunch, because Severus had informed me in the meantime that the attacker was a snake that had become a kind of companion for Lord Voldemort at the moment. Severus had also told me that he could not determine the species of this apparently very special snake. But he knew from Peter Pettigrew that he had to milk her for Voldemort so that he could make a potion from her that would allow Voldemort to live in a weak stunted body. It was more than an ordinary poisonous snake. And I remembered something last night when I woke up drenched in sweat after we were talking about the safety of the prophecy in the Order of the Phoenix. A prophecy made by Sybill Trelawney about Harry and Voldemort. Just like one that she had apparently made to me at Hogwarts, which I had not taken seriously, since I only now understood the meaning of her words and only now realized the extent of such a prophecy.
If the lover wants to preserve her love from the man who serves two masters, she must be armed against the poison of a maledictus.
Nagini may have been such a creature, although such an ancient curse was a true rarity.
"So, would you like to let me in on all your clever thoughts?" Askelpios asked me again as I was pulled out of this vortex in my head. As I looked at him so close in front of me, I wondered if I could trust him completely. But hadn't he proven that he was my good friend? A valuable companion on my path?
"I can't tell you much. But have you ever heard of a Maledictus?" I asked him quietly. He audibly sucked in the air so that I felt this draught on my face.
"A Maledictus. This is... the poison is instantly fatal if used in a strong dose. The man is lucky that it was only three bites," Sharp said with a shocked face, he moved away from me a little.
"And it kills slowly, because the wounds usually can't heal," I chimed in, and was surprised to see a slight smile spread across his face.
"I know someone who might have a clue about an antidote. She has lived in Indonesia for decades, an excellent witch when it comes to potions. She wanted to continue her education in Asia, to discover new recipes of potions, but she stayed there for the love of her life. I'll send her an owl right away!" said Asclepius, opening the door behind me with a wave of his dark wand and rushing out.
He left me dumbfounded, but also with a smile on my face. I had trusted him, even though my mind had advised me against it. And with that, I might even have been able to save Arthur.
A few days after Christmas, Asklepios Sharp cheered this idea to Smethwyck along with the appropriate healing potion. We were both of the opinion that the old wizard would not let anyone else help him, but another male colleague and I didn't care who would get the credit for it, the main thing was that Arthur finally comes back to his family after almost three weeks in the hospital.
"You're a talented healer, Catherine," Severus said after I teased him for being late. It was the last evening of the Christmas holidays and we had arranged to meet at the cottage. Since only 2 students had endured it during the holidays under Umbridge and the meetings of the Order were paused at Christmas, we were finally able to see each other during this time.
"You can hardly diminish your tardiness with this compliment," I laughed and nudged him lovingly in the ribs. "How did you come up with that?" I looked at him from the side, as he sat smiling on the small couch in the cottage by the sea, enjoying every movement of his face and literally sucking him in with my eyes. I missed him so much that I could hardly put it into words.
"It was you who saved Weasley, wasn't it? At least one of your potions worked, he was released today," Severus said with sparkling eyes and I wondered if he missed me as much as I missed him. At the same time, I was very happy about this good news, although I was well informed about Arthur's state of health, thanks to Asklepios Sharp.
"You're misinformed. Sharp got the recipe for the antidote from an acquaintance. Without his help, I might not have made it in time," I explained with a wave of my hand. "But who even told you that I had a hand in it?"
"The days that have passed without a solution. I know you and your work." His voice was deep and he gently placed his hand on my thigh, making my skin tingle under the fabric of my emerald dress. His gaze searched my eyes, which were fixed on his face, completely lost in his face.
"From the description you gave me, I suspected that Nagini might be a Maledictus. This is a rare poison that requires a specific antidote. That also explained why Smethwyck didn't come up with it himself," I replied, thinking about how I could package the next piece of information. I didn't want to scare him, but I had to tell him about this connection.
"A Maledictus. Extremely interesting," Severus said thoughtfully. "Now I also understand this close bond that Nagini has with the Dark Lord."
"Severus, there's something else I need to tell you. It's about a prophecy by Sybill Trelawney. It was I-" It was Severus this time who rudely waved off my words.
"You know, I only heard half of it back then. Dumbledore is the only one who knows the words completely and he is reluctant to share his knowledge with me at the moment," Severus said in a bitter voice, his other hand on my thigh stiffened, but I shook my head.
"I don't mean those. But I have a feeling they could be connected," I said, trying to look firmly into the black eyes, above which the forehead was suddenly wrinkled.
"Sybill told me some strange phrases in the hallway at Hogwarts, I didn't take the whole thing for granted and completely underestimated her words. You know what I think of divination, but I didn't connect it to her who spoke the prophecy about the Dark Lord and Harry."
"What did she say to you?" he asked in a dry voice, his eyes fixed on me tensely.
"If the mistress wants to preserve her love from the man who serves two masters, she must be armed against the poison of a maledictus."
"And you suppose I'm the man with two masters and you're the mistress? And in order to preserve our love, you must have an antidote to a Maledictus," Severus puzzled the words together more understandably. He leaned back with his eyes closed and groaned in annoyance. "You know, it's only when we give meaning to a prophecy that it's relevant."
"But don't you understand, Severus? What if Nagini hurts you?" I asked in awe.
"If something so unlikely happens, you now have a viable recipe for a potion against Nagini, right? Don't worry more than you need!" he replied curtly, but I courageously grabbed his hand, which spread a gnawing coolness over me.
"How can you be so calm when your life might be at stake?" I asked angrily, for I did not understand how he could be so serene in the face of danger.
"I am exposed to this danger every day. Just one mistake and the Dark Lord kills me on the spot. Just one mistake and the whole order and its task are lost. Don't you understand?" he asked seriously, massaging the bridge between his eyes to relax while I clutched his other hand tightly.
"Severus, I've never asked you how you manage all this. How can you stay in control at the side of such a monster?", I asked quietly, because for the first time I became aware of the immense extent of what he had to do there and his daily risk. I stared at our bandaged hands.
"It's not easy. Every time I show the Dark Lord my innermost being, the thoughts I want him to see. This usually coincides with what he wants to see. Dumbledore also hasn't been telling me about his plans lately. That's exactly what I pass on to the Dark Lord, for example. He sees in my thoughts and memories that it's true. He sees me asking Dumbledore for information and he denies me. What Dumbledore tells me, however, I close from him. And since the Dark Lord doesn't know anything about you, he can't ask me about you. If he did, I would show him my memories of our quarrel at school. Our pretended distance in your time as a teacher. The Dark Lord can't tell that we've only played this distance. That's usually enough for him."
"And I'm guessing he's not the master of Legilimency and Occlumency that you are, is he?" I asked, looking at him impressed. His black hair surrounded his face, but it gave a glimpse of his lips, which formed a smile.
"He is currently grossly overestimating his strength. His fixation on Potter blinds him to many things. He's obsessed and I take advantage of that, too." Severus suppressed a yawn, which was visibly uncomfortable for him, because he tried to distract directly from the heavy topic of conversation and this fact.
"By the way, I was only stopped by your old friend Black earlier. He wanted to teach me how to behave towards his godson during our Occlumency lessons. As if I had asked for the joy of teaching this good-for-nothing in Occlumency. I'm sure he's completely ungifted in this, as he is in everything." His gaze darkened, and his eyes flashed cold and scornful.
"Don't you say you dueled?" I asked with bated breath, because I knew the two of them didn't take anything from each other in their hatred of each other.
"I almost taught him a lesson. Especially because he called me Snivellus. Yet he is a cowardly dog who has been hiding in his hideout for six months." His voice sounded bitter and left an unpleasant sound in my ears.
"Severus, I know it makes you infinitely angry. But he has no other choice, he has to watch as the other members help the Order while he literally suffocates in loneliness. I know how he must feel," I said bitterly. Severus looked at me silently with raised eyebrows. And although I didn't particularly appreciate Sirius in our school days, I now recognized him as many reasons that had led to his actions, even if it could not justify these actions. The forbidden love for Lily, the hatred from his own parental home, from which he was only able to escape through Hogwarts, where he met friends who got him out of this black hole. I saw the boy in front of me, who finally seemed to be freed from the shackles of his pure-blood heritage, hiding his head in nonsense and misdeeds, only to finally feel this freedom. And then Severus, who was also abused by his parents' house, but took refuge in his skills in black magic... exactly what Sirius loathed so much. Between the two stood Lily. An innocent soul, raised with a lot of love and care, something that was so detrimental to both of them. And neither of them could conquer her heart. So, were the two really so fundamentally different or had they never wanted to see through each other's eyes? They would have preferred to make themselves archenemies, something that seemed so much easier because of their childhood.
"Why do you have so much understanding for everything? Why aren't you as full of disgust for diverse people as I am?" he whispered and looked at me questioningly, but I smiled.
"Every person acts out of a certain motive, he does not make mistakes on purpose. Only sometimes they are those that you only look at and recognize in retrospect. And every human being has different prerequisites, be it in the intellect, in the experience of feelings or other infinitely many facets. And that's what I try to look at before I judge a person. It's something I learned in the first order and the time after, and it leads to more relaxation," I explained, noticing for myself how my eyes sparkled.
"And would you say the same about Death Eaters like me?" he asked after a few moments, moving closer to me, grabbing a long strand of hair and slowly sliding it through his fingers. Of course, he understood that I missed him, our togetherness. The brief exchanges of glances during our Order meetings were simply laughable, on the contrary, they hurt me more, because I had to pull everything together not to touch him, to kiss him, to publicly declare my love for him.
"You realized the mistake in time, Severus. But if I'm honest, I don't understand anyone who can continue to answer the call of the Dark Lord after all the horrors of the first war," I replied and my smile grew sadder. How could you still join someone like him? Were many so desperate? Or blinded by power and apparent control over the supposedly weaker? But, like Severus, maybe they were still bound to Voldemort, he would never give freedom to his followers. They were perhaps all like lambs awaiting slaughter, in constant fear of the last mistake.
"You have a big heart. Maybe too big," Severus whispered, leaning over to me.
First, I felt his breath gently caress my skin like a warm summer wind. The way his lips curled as he grinned let a small gush of moisture seep into my creases, and suddenly I was very, very aware of his erection before his lips touched mine.
"Oh, I wish Black could see us. He would be so jealous. I have a woman by my side that he can't even dream of," he breathed between our kisses, but I took my hands to his chest and pushed him slightly away from me to look into his beautiful eyes that looked at me in surprise.
"Severus, please don't. Sirius has nothing to do with us," I whispered and my hands moved further into his black curtain of hair that fell into his face and I clawed into his hair. "Never."
"You're right. Never," he agreed quietly and pushed himself over me. I got the impression that he enjoys and absorbs my love as a supply for the coming days, which he had to spend without me. So, we gave free rein to each other's desire. His kisses burned like fire on my body, every cell in me longed for him. I felt that I wanted to enjoy this moment forever.
Severus pressed close to me, a hand slowly running up my side and began to caress my neck. He looked me insistently in the eyes, I swallowed with excitement as he slowly approached my chest.
"You look so happy when I touch you," he whispered in my ear, his voice vibrating against my ear and making me shudder. I lowered my head to his shoulder and enjoyed the warm, tingling sensations he caused.
But he, too, put his cheek to my face, closed his eyes, and clasped my hips with one hand while the other wrapped around my torso, just below my quivering breasts.
"I'm going to burn you from the inside out. I want to feel you completely, your soul, your heart, your body," he whispered softly, so that my chest tightened.
I whimpered under his words as Severus fell to his knees in front of me, took the fabric of my dress and pulled it agonizingly slowly out of the way until hot kisses covered every vacant part of my thigh. I leaned against the cushions of the couch, no longer able to maintain my balance under these touches.
Severus was now kneeling in front of me, my dress pulled up to my waist, he put one leg over his shoulder, his breath breathing a heat on the fabric of my panties. I shuddered and gasped with excitement, feeling my inner walls slowly filling with moisture. Severus slowly moved my panties to the side and took a deep breath.
"Your scent is beautiful to die for..." he whispered against my genitals before leaning over and tasting me.
His tongue drove me into sheer madness with every pass over my swollen clit. His fingers began to penetrate my opening. I groaned.
Severus pulled away from me for a moment, his lips gleaming with my juice and his own excitement, which my eyes took in with satisfaction. We grinned at each other briefly before his tongue penetrated deep into my vagina, becoming demanding. His nose brushed my clit and made me tremble.
My lips opened in front of his face as he ate me with such passion that I wanted to cry.
"Fuck, Severus... I'm coming...", I warned him as a sheer heat came over my body, my hips began to press against him. I closed my eyes, grabbed his hair and clung tightly, making him growl softly.
I bit my lip painfully, chasing my orgasm and riding on his face as he stuck his fingers into me, his tongue pampering me further. I was so close... just a little more –
But he paused.
"What's the point?" I grumbled angrily, snatched from my climax.
"I warned you. I want to feel you completely, your soul, your heart, your body. It's not there yet. I want more." Severus wiped my juice from his chin as he stood up. However, I pushed his head back down and tried to get him to lick me even more, but my lover just laughed scornfully and just stood up.
His black eyes sparkled mockingly, it visibly enjoyed this power. He dipped his long finger into my inner walls again, pulled out the nectar and brought it to his lips as he watched me.
"You're so wet, Catherine," he moaned.
"Fuck me at last, Severus," I replied, hearing a tension coming out of me. He grinned crookedly, took a few steps back, and finally began to unzip his pants.
His pants slowly fell to the ground, he gracefully stepped out of them as his hand massaged his hard cock. I swallowed with excitement, felt the burning sensation inside me.
"Hold up your dress," he ordered, but I shook my head and just ripped it off. The fabric tore in two, but I didn't care, nothing that couldn't be saved with magic.
"Just shove your cock in... Now," I shouted to him, ready to do anything for it.
Slowly, he approached my begging body, putting my legs further apart.
Severus slowly ran his penis over my labia, feeling its wetness as my breath caught in my lungs.
"So wet for me..." he whispered on my neck and began to kiss me, gently and slowly, as I just wanted to feel him everywhere.
I waited for him to finally thrust in, but he waited grinning before closing my thighs tightly around his penis.
With wide-open eyes, I looked at him questioningly.
"Not burning enough yet, Catherine," he said, thrusting between my thighs. The tip of his penis lightly touched my clit and I moaned loudly in disappointment and horniness. But I wouldn't let him get away so easily and so I closed my legs tightly, tensed all my muscles.
"Damn... so tight..." he gasped and now it was me who grinned with a sneer. He flicked his hips at me excitedly, slid his cock between my pussy lips dripping gently over him.
"Oh God, Severus, please... I'm on fire, I can't stand it any longer...", I groaned to shake his intention to get between my thighs. He gripped my hips tighter; I gently opened my trembling legs and finally I felt him inside me.
"Your burning, your heart, your soul, your body... all mine..." he groaned as he thrusted with quick, rhythmic movements, finally bringing the friction inside me that I so longed for, screaming everything inside me. Leaning against the couch, unable to hold my face, I felt my orgasm kick in, engulfing his penis in juices and contractions, so he didn't linger any longer either, giving free rein to our bodies...and the night was still young... it didn't end on the couch, but in bed.
When he got dressed, I stopped him by taking his shirt away and pressing it tightly against my naked body. I didn't want him to leave yet, because I knew I wouldn't see him for a long time. Umbridge didn't make it easy for Severus to sneak out of the castle with her lockdowns, and his workload seemed far from normal.
"When do the Occlumency lessons with Harry begin?" I asked and while Severus wanted to reach for his shirt, I pulled him back on me.
"Next week, Monday. It's certainly going to be terrible. Potter has no sense of subtleties, he does not understand subtle differences. This is one of the shortcomings that makes him such a deplorable potionmaker. He is truly incapable of becoming a good wizard. Why doesn't he understand the importance of learning in his situation? He doesn't make an effort and lacks respect, just like his father. It triggers an anger in me that I can hardly contain. Then I also waste my time with him several times a week. I could be with you instead," he scolded, grimacing angrily.
"But you told me that he was successful in repelling Crouch Junior's fourth-year Imperius curse in class. It shows that he can control his thoughts."
"A small glimmer of hope," he replied sarcastically, his face was a grimace of rejection.
"Remember that you are protecting your thoughts," I replied, after I had looked at him for a few moments and wrinkled my forehead at his dislike.
"You think he'll manage to fight back?" he asked, slightly incredulous, his bottomless eyes seeming to sparkle with mockery.
"Just as a precaution. Not that he sees anything that should be hidden from him… like me," I said softly, while Severus ran his finger over his lips and thought.
"I'm going to ask Dumbledore about his Pensieve," he thought aloud. I knew there was one in his office, where there were countless memories and thoughts.
"That's an excellent idea! You just can't ignore the boy." I remembered the large shallow stone bowl in the Headmaster's office where past experiences and memories could be stored and revisited later.
"I'll lock the door, then no one can disturb us," he said quietly.
"Yes, just like we used to." I grin as Severus threw himself back at me with a smile and kissed me intimately before he quickly grabbing his shirt behind my back to throw it over.
"Did Dumbledore actually tell you what he suspects about Harry? Because of his vision of Arthur and Nagini?" I asked as I watched with a certain sadness as Severus dressed completely.
"No, he's still leaving me in the dark. But I suspect there's a specific connection that goes beyond this scar. You were of the same opinion when you researched the curse scars, didn't you?"
"Yes, it's a case that hasn't happened before. I suspect that Voldemort shares his thoughts and emotions with Harry when he is vulnerable - like in his sleep," I thought out loud.
"Unfortunately, Voldemort is now also aware of this connection and I'm afraid he will want to use it against the urchin. Let's hope I'm successful with my teaching."
Severus stretched slightly and yawned before grabbing his robe, which was lying over the chair.
"I have to go and correct essays in my office," he said, tired and exhausted, although the dawn was already looming.
"You need sleep," I admonished.
"There's no time for that if I want to see you from time to time and believe me, I really want to. Besides, you know my potions," Severus waved his hand nonchalantly, as if it were the slightest victim.
"Yes, but they are harmful in the long run, Severus. Your body can't stand it much longer. I can already see the discoloration on your teeth, the yellowish fingers. I'm afraid for your health," I replied, sensing that he was underestimating the risks that his current lifestyle entailed.
"Mh, when it's all over, I'll sleep as much as you want. By your side!" he said evasively, looking at his long, graceful fingers, which now shimmered yellowish, frowning, but fascinated.
"I'm serious, Severus," I said seriously, and my gaze showed him how serious I was. He sighed.
"Me too," he said, closing his cloak.
"How many working hours does your week have? 90?" I asked, watching him closely.
"I don't count them. But I don't really spend a free minute. Unless I'm counting the hours with you. And these hours are the most valuable to me." He smiled crookedly and leaned his upper body towards me for a goodbye kiss.
"Then bring your essays here! I'll correct them and you'll sleep," I suggested, before feeling his hand gently caress my cheek. He pondered, nodded briefly, and kissed me gently before turning around, and marched out the front door with his cloak billowing.