WARNING: This is a slash story, which means it contains male/male erotic content involving consenting adults. If you're not of legal age or are offended by such material, please go find something else to read.
Title: Cry, Baby, Cry
Author: Demeter
E-Mail: ladydemeter@hotmail.com
Web site: http://members.tripod.com/ladydemeter/
Rating: PG
Summary: Sirius Black makes a mistake. Again. And again. And again. Part of the Severus Snape Fuh-Q Fest. For Scenario 122: Someone sees Snape facing down a Boggart.
Disclaimer: I do not own these lovely beings. For if I did, they would be snogging on my couch and doing all sorts of strange things at my every whim. Especially Snape.
________________________________________________
The chest rumbled.
It opened.
A werewolf leapt out, its teeth shining with saliva and a lust for warm flesh.
The man gave out a half-gasp, half-scream.
He scrambled away. Wand out. Shining. "Riddi... Riddik... Riddikulus!"
Nothing happened.
The wolf snarled.
The man choked. His face whitened.
"Riddikulus. Riddikulus. RIDDIKULUS!" The words whispered, murmured, said, screamed, shouted.
Nothing.
No time?
No happy memories?
No power?
What was it?
Face purpled.
A new voice rang out, "Riddikulus!"
Eyes the color of the blackest night stared up at him. Eyes that were trembling. Frightened. Naked.
"You..."
"I didn't mean to..."
"You... again."
"Uh... I'm sorry."
He was sorry.
He had not meant it. Not really.
Not for that expression of pure despair. Not for the heavy silence that seemed breakable at his every single movement. Not for the dimming in eyes that should have been snapping with righteous anger.
"I..."
"Leave."
"But Snape-"
"LEAVE!"
He left.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
There were not many things that could frighten Severus Snape. Small things as a child. Largely forgotten as the years passed.
Now. Few. Little. His fear for his children - only Slytherins, for the others had more than enough people to worry about them - who were always teetering on precipices they couldn't understand. Fear for Hogwarts, where his mentor and wherein his salvation lay. Fear for The Boy Who Lived, a paradox of sorts, since the boy had never truly lived. Fear of the dark he tried to keep himself and others away from, even as he understood it, reveled in it.
And a fear of werewolves. Left on the night where he died. Where Severus Snape had died and where Severus Snape had been born.
Death and rebirth.
Severus Snape cried silently in the black privacy of his room.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Sirius... you're a git and an idiot."
A hung head, stripped of any glory or pride. "Remy... I didn't... I mean..."
"No, shut up. I'm telling Dumbledore and you can... you can... you can... " The voice trailed off before growing strong again in complete disgust.
"You can go sleep outside. Just... just stay away from me."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pretty, pretty werewolf. Dancing in the trees.
"Severus? Severus, please open this door." S
everal persistent knocks.
"Severus, I apologize for Sirius. He was a complete prat."
No sound.
"Severus?"
A muffled word. "Leave me alone."
"He didn't mean... alright, he did mean it. But yell at him. Punch him. Hex him. Do what you want. I won't stop you."
"Leave me alone, Lupin."
"Please."
"Leave. Me. Alone. Or there will be a large quantity of silver in your draught next time."
From the tone, there was no joking. Silence.
Quiet. "I'm sorry, Severus."
Rustling of feet leaving.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Brooding.
"I said sorry!"
Ignoring.
"C'mon! Remus! It's beena week! You can't still be angry!"
Pretending.
"It's not fair! It's not as if it's my fault he's scared of werewolves!"
"It is! It is your fault! So shut up before I clod you with my shoes!"
Weakly, "Sirius, maybe we should leave."
"No way! Remus! Harry and me were going to go play Quidditch! Want to join us?"
"No."
"Please?"
"No."
"Harry! Say something!"
Sighs. "I agree with Remus. You were being awfully like a prat."
"You're all against me!"
"Not you. Against your stupidity."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hate. Hate. Hate. Hate.
Hate Sirius Black.
"Severus. I'm sorry."
Twenty years ago.
"Severus, I'm sorry."
Twenty years later.
Always the same. Sirius Black. Destroying his chance with Remus Lupin.
He hated Sirius Black.
But then, he was Severus Snape. He hated everyone. And feared only a few.
FINIS
If you can catch the subtle (or is it not so subtle?) point, ten points to whatever House you want.
