webmistresses (webmistresses) wrote in severus_sighs, @ 2010-02-14 21:57:00 |
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Entry tags: | event: anti-valentine's day 2010, ficlet, member: sweetmelodykiss, pairing: severus/harry, rating: r |
My Twisted Valentine by sweetmelodykiss
Title: My Twisted Valentine
Author: sweetmelodykiss
Pairing: Severus/Harry
Rating: R
Warnings: Main Character Death, Bottom!Snape
Word Count: 2826
Summary: Post war, strange murders are happening at Hogwarts, but the killer remains elusive.
A/N: Beta'd by drachenmina. Thank you so much for all your help and wonderful ideas.
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters herein. All are owned by J.K.R.
Written for Severus Sighs Anti-Valentine's Day Mini Fest
My Twisted Valentine
It was late January and the ground was frozen solid. Christmas was long forgotten but spring still seemed a million miles away. The Hogwarts Lake lay silent and snow covered as Severus stared sourly out of his office window. The distant winter sun, diffused by shapeless clouds, left the stark landscape dreary and depressing.
Minerva entered quietly and called for a house elf who arrived a moment later with a steaming pot of tea. She poured a cup for Severus and sank down gratefully into the chair across from his desk. Severus sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. He felt a severe headache coming on as he sat down and took a long sip of tea.
"Severus, Mr. Potter is waiting to see you. He's been here every day since he returned for his eighth year. You cannot avoid the boy forever. He needs to speak to you."
"I know, but I do not want to talk to him right now."
"You can't keep hiding, Severus. Harry is not a child. He knows everything you did for him. I assume you haven't forgotten his testimony at your trial? He wants to thank you and acknowledge your achievements. Despite all that you have done to alienate him, Severus, he's thankful that you survived, and I think you owe it to him to let Harry in."
Severus' eyes narrowed. "I appreciate your opinion, Minerva, but I need to deal with Mr. Potter in my own way and in my own time." He sighed in exasperation. "For your information, I am not hiding. I am pondering the best way to handle the situation."
Minerva smirked, knowing that Severus wasn't pondering a thing. He was afraid to face Harry, plain and simple. "Fine, Severus. Have it your way, but Harry is not going to go away, so I hope you are prepared to dig in for a long siege."
The corners of Severus' mouth quirked upward slightly. Minerva was mostly likely correct. The boy was the epitome of a rash, irresponsible, and stubborn Gryffindor.
~~~~~~
"What can I do for you today, Lucius?" Severus asked with irritation. He was getting tired of all the bloody interruptions. How was he supposed to get anything done with people knocking on his door constantly?
"What, no friendly greeting? I am wounded, Severus, wounded." Lucius placed one hand theatrically upon his breast even as his eyes narrowed. "The question is, Severus, what can I do for you?"
"Please, Lucius, I have neither the time nor the inclination to play games. Spit it out. What the hell do you want?"
"One would have thought that nearly dying would have tempered your impatience, but I see nothing has changed. Such a pity considering you've quite a delectable morsel camped outside your door. I almost tripped over the dear boy on my way in."
"Leave Potter out of this, Lucius. He is not a plaything. Might I remind you that Mr. Potter is now the most powerful wizard in the Wizarding World? I suggest, for your sake, that you refrain from making him angry."
"My, my, how we do take up for the boy," Lucius drawled. "It must be true love. It's also the reason for my visit. Draco's incessant whining about the Potter brat is tedious at best. How they ever became friends is beyond my realm of understanding. If you do not consent to see the boy soon, I'm afraid that I will be forced to take matters into my own hands."
Severus snorted, "Do you think that I am afraid of your petty threats? I can hold my own against you any day, Lucius.”
"I'm not a fool, Severus. I know how you feel about Mr. Potter. Did you ever think that perhaps he might feel the same way about you?"
"You are talking nonsense, Lucius. My feelings for the brat have not changed one iota."
"Did I ever say that they had? You've always loved him."
"I do not! Severus snarled viciously. "I never have and I never will!"
"You may have convinced yourself of that, but I have known you a very long time, Severus, and I know how you feel about the boy. Draco tells me that Harry is neither eating properly nor sleeping. He's obsessed with seeing you." Lucius' lips curved in a lascivious smile. "I could help you here, if you'd let me. Just a simple love spell would have the boy clamouring to get into your bed."
"Get out of my office, Lucius, before I hex you into the middle of next week. You will stay away from Mr. Potter. If I so much as suspect that a love spell has been placed on the boy, you will wish you were still in Azkaban. Do I make myself clear, Lucius?"
"Quite," Lucius said as he stood up and brushed an invisible piece of lint from his sleeve. "It's a shame you never developed a sense of humour in all these years. Good day to you, Headmaster. I hope your little problem works itself out."
"Good day, Lucius," Severus growled as the door swung closed behind Malfoy's hasty exit.
~~~~~~
Severus slept fitfully that night. Dreams of a green-eyed boy with messy, dark hair invaded his subconscious and left him trembling with desire. As the hours ticked away, in the darkest recesses of the night, Severus moaned.
The mist hovered above Severus' bed and descended over the sleeping wizard like a soft blanket. Dark eyelashes fluttered as wispy tendrils caressed his heated flesh and whispered sweet nonsense in his ear.
Unseen hands parted Severus legs, nudging gently and pressing forward until completely filling him. Severus writhed beneath the smoky haze, crying out in ecstasy with every thrust of his phantom lover's cock. Electrically charged fingers teased at hardened nipples as each long slide of that ghostly prick struck Severus' prostrate with precision.
Severus gasped and shuddered in release, eyes flaring wide open as the mist dissolved into nothingness. He shivered in the aftermath. So real, Severus thought as he regained his sensibilities.
"Just a dream, it was just a dream," Severus whispered to the darkness as he clutched his pillow tightly and fell back to sleep.
The next morning Severus awoke stiff and sore. As he went to attend to his morning routine, he noticed several marks dotting his neck and chest. If one looked closely, the marks could be considered tiny love bites. Visions of his dream came back to him in disjointed flashes, but the most telling evidence was the slight pain in his nether region. Something had violated him last night whilst he slept.
Severus tested his wards and found them all sound. Everything was as it should be, except for the fact that his body thrummed with a feeling of sexual satiation. The conversation he'd had the day before with Lucius Malfoy stuck out like a sore thumb. The bloody fool had done something, done something stupid, and done something that he would pay dearly for when Severus was through with him.
~~~~~~
Harry watched from beneath his invisibility cloak as Severus grabbed Lucius Malfoy by his shirt front and pulled him forward. Harry was too far away to hear what they were saying, but the scene looked intense. Severus was right in Malfoy's face, panting and sputtering in anger from what he could make out. Lucius looked nonchalant as he laid a calming hand on Severus' shoulder and leaned into him.
A stab of jealousy shot through Harry. The stone wall behind him vibrated with magic as it absorbed most of Harry's outburst. Severus looked around, sensing a shift in the air. Someone was watching. He could feel eyes upon him as he shoved Lucius away and stormed off.
Harry growled to himself as Malfoy wandered away in the opposite direction. He had a nerve, daring to touch Snape. Snape was his. Harry was going to make Severus realize that they were meant to be together no matter what it took. Harry's eyes grew dark and smoky as he slid silently from his hiding place and followed Malfoy down a darkened corridor.
Lucius turned around several times, throwing a quick glance over his shoulder. He had the uncanny feeling that someone was following him. The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end, making him intensely alert to any danger that might be lurking nearby. Sweat beaded on his upper lip as Lucius pulled out his wand and whirled around to face his invisible attacker. When nothing appeared out of the gloom after several moments, Lucius laughed. Paranoia, nothing more. He sheathed his wand and turned back to resume his path down the hallway, shaking his head in self-reproach.
The mist appeared out of nowhere directly in front of him and a scream died in Lucius' throat as its foul blackness swallowed him up in one large gulp. The mist rumbled with satisfaction as it spat out what was left of Lucius Malfoy and an ominous thundering echoed through the halls of Hogwarts.
At that moment, Severus shook violently as acute pain shot up his arm and took his breath away. The castle wailed in agony as its core shuddered with fury. Severus jumped to his feet and ran, ran faster than he ever had before. It was only a few minutes before Severus stumbled headlong over the broken body of Lucius Malfoy. He sank to his knees and stared at the blond head streaked with blood, face contorted and twisted almost beyond recognition, but the eyes, the silver-grey eyes stared up at him in abject terror. Severus took a deep breath and closed his eyes, his heart breaking for his Godson. How in the world was he going to tell Draco that his father was dead?
~~~~~~
Draco was inconsolable as Severus held him tensely, trying to comfort the boy as best he could. Things like this should not be happening. The war was over and the Dark Lord defeated. Was there no light at the end of this accursed tunnel? Apparently, no peace was to be had, at least not for the inhabitants of Hogwarts.
The staff and returning eighth years sat around the table trying to comprehend what had just happened. Harry, Ron, Hermione and Neville huddled together, faces grave. Harry watched Draco tremble with grief as Snape held him in his arms. Harry could feel the magic starting to get away from him again and he used every bit of his self-control to reel it back in. Draco was his friend. He'd just lost his father. He wasn't a threat, or was he?
That night as the Dreamless Sleep potion eased Draco's tortured mind, the winding mist slithered through his deep subconscious and created a fantasy world far better than the life he was living. In this world, Draco's family was whole and happy, bursting with a joy that the boy had never experienced in his real life. Draco smiled in his sleep and embraced his new reality, hugging his parents tightly as he basked in their never-ending love.
~~~~~~
Harry paced back and forth across the Headmaster's office, clenching and unclenching his fists in rage. He'd finally been granted access to Snape's inner sanctum, but the circumstances weren't exactly what he'd had in mind.
"What's wrong with Draco?" Harry cried. "Why won't he wake up?"
"I don't know, Mr. Potter, but I assure you that everything possible is being done for him. The best healers from around the globe have been summoned to St. Mungo's. He will be taken care of."
"I don't understand why this is happening. It's not supposed to be like this. I killed Voldemort, damn it! Why can't things ever be good?" Harry shouted.
"Calm yourself, Mr. Potter. This is not all about you. Draco is my Godson." Severus sighed. "You are not the only person in pain."
"How can you say that to me? I'm not being selfish. I care about Draco. I also care about you, but you keep pushing me away. I can’t deal with this anymore!" Harry yelled and stormed out of Severus' office, slamming the door behind him.
"Bloody hell," Severus shouted aloud. "What am I going to do, Albus? I need help."
"I'm sorry, Severus. I'm afraid that I cannot offer a solution. I have no idea what is causing this situation. I wish I did, but I have faith in your ability to handle this new threat." Painted blue eyes twinkled in a way that Severus found entirely inappropriate, given the gravity of the situation.
"Thanks for nothing," Severus snarled at the portrait. "You've been completely useless as always."
"Now, now, my boy, try looking into yourself. Connect with the castle. She may know the answer.
"It would be nice if just once you would give me a straight answer, but I suppose that is too much to hope for," Severus sighed.
~~~~~~
The week before Valentine's Day turned out to be the most grisly. Three more bodies were found bloodied and broken in the halls of Hogwarts. Pansy Parkinson, Blaise Zabini, and Argus Filch became the latest victims of the phantom killer. Severus was at his wits' end by the time Valentine's Day finally arrived. All celebrations were cancelled. Most of the parents had taken their children home from school right after Parkinson's death.
Harry, Hermione, and Neville stalked the halls, searching fruitlessly for the elusive murderer, but the walls of Hogwarts gave up no secrets. Molly and Arthur had sent for Ron as soon as they had heard about Draco's coma. Now only the staff and three brave Gryffindors remained on the premises.
Severus had tried to convince Harry to leave the school, but the boy had flatly refused to go. He said he wasn't going to let anything happen to Severus and even under the horrific circumstances, Snape found it rather endearing. Harry was certainly proving his loyalty and love for Severus in this time of grief and suspicion.
On Valentine's evening as Severus climbed into his bed, he felt giddy. Harry had kissed him that afternoon and the promise of better things to come played out in Severus' mind. As Severus slept, dreaming of his Harry, smoke seeped under the door of his bedchamber and wrapped around Severus' sleeping form.
Light, teasing touches rippled across Severus' chest and down his abdomen. The delicate caresses danced over his skin, kissing and nipping over his body, escalating Severus' desire to a fevered pitch.
Every drop of air was sucked out of Severus' lungs and all the moisture vaporized from his body as his frenzied lover embraced him in a final dance of death. Coherent thought abandoned the dark wizard as his body dissolved, turning to smoke and intertwining with his Harry.
~~~~~~
As time passed, things slowly returned to normal at Hogwarts. Minerva reluctantly took over the duties of Headmistress. They still searched for Severus and Harry, but the longer they were missing, the more disheartened everyone became. Hermione searched for months, but no trace of them was ever found. She finally came to the conclusion that Harry had been the killer. She believed he'd been given a love potion that had driven him completely insane.
"Who would do such a thing, Mione?" Ron asked in disbelief.
"It's the only theory that makes any sense, Ron." Hermione paused, her face pinched and unhappy. "All the evidence leads back to one source. The magical imprint on the vials of love potion that I found in his quarters was Professor Snape's. He had pictures of Harry hidden away in a wooden box, Ron. Hundreds of pictures of Harry from age eleven until the present. I think he was obsessed with him. The heart shaped box of chocolates I found in Harry's room was filled with the love potion."
"Blimey, but why? Why would Snape do such a thing?"
"I don't know, Ron. He felt something for Harry, no matter how twisted it was. Maybe Nagini's attack unbalanced his mind. Maybe Voldemort cursed him. It could be any number of things, but I doubt that we will ever know the truth. With Snape and Harry both gone, there's no way to know for sure.
"I suppose not," Ron whispered. "I hope Harry is safe wherever he is. I hate to think that Harry is trapped with the crazy, greasy git. Merlin, I wish there was something we could do"
"So do I, Ron, so do I," Hermione sniffed as tears rolled down her cheeks.
~~~~~~
At night, when all is quiet, the walls of the castle pulse with power, writhing in passion, and coupling with ferocity as the misty spectres seep through the crevices. Smoke weaves its way through her corridors and dances a strange tango of life, or death. Hogwarts embraces the lost lovers and holds them protectively to her bosom.
Inside the Headmistresses office, Dumbledore's portrait still twinkles with delight, knowing that the castle will keep his little secret forever.
The End