Torina Archelda (torina_archelda) wrote in severus_sighs, @ 2009-11-17 22:02:00 |
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Entry tags: | drabble, member: torina_archelda, pairing: none, rating: pg-13 |
To Sleep by Torina Archelda
Title: To Sleep
Author: torina_archelda
Pairing: none
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 278
Warnings: Substance abuse
Summary: lemondropseven and I decided to each write a short fic based on the prompt: Severus becomes addicted to potions to cope during/after the war. We wanted to see how two different writers would respond to the same situation in a short amount of words. This is the result. Hers can be found here.
A/N: This idea was conceived during the car ride back to Dallas after the Austin meetup. So if they make you cry, blame the meetup girls for…well, something. *grin*
Severus stirs the cauldron slowly, the heady and familiar aroma of lavender relaxing him and taking some of the edge off already. He takes a deep, steadying breath as he adds a drop of dragon’s blood to the mixture and stirs it a final time, then reaches for a tray of vials and begins decanting it.
Soon, he tells himself as he tilts the bluish-grey liquid into the vials. Soon he won’t have to think anymore—won’t have to hear their screams ringing in his ears. The accusatory gazes will recede into the background, and every time he closes his eyes he won’t have to see Albus’ face as he falls from the tower, already dead. Soon.
He makes it to the fifth vial before he can’t take it anymore. He drops the cork, poised to stopper the vial, to the floor. Lifting the cool glass to his lips, he drinks greedily; the welcome taste washes through his mouth, and he swallows, and yes—he can breathe again.
What would happen if he took one more? he wonders, as he always does; his eyes are already sliding closed as he sinks slowly to the floor. One more, five, a dozen—the vials are blurring together now as he blinks lazily, and he imagines what it would be like to drink them all. Not to sleep, but to sleep—his eyes fall closed again—to sleep, to never wake again.
Next time, he promises himself as his breathing slows and he dances closer to the edge of dreamless sleep. Next time, he repeats, and he takes two more soft, peaceful breaths before his lungs and body still.
Severus sleeps.