Chapter Text
Staring out of the window, Severus watched as the leaves were blown across the sparse ground. It was then he noticed the squirrel that scurried to grab a fallen nut then make its way up the closest tree. He found himself shaking his head, the simple creatures of the world had no idea just how much blood, sweat and torture he had gone through to get the world to where it was now.
Children born into this generation would be told about the war but only what the Ministry wanted them to know. They would hear about Dumbledore's army, the Order of the Phoenix and how Harry bloody Potter had conquered the Dark Lord. What the Ministry would not put in the history book would be the names of the people who put their whole lives on hold just to dedicate it to finding ways to help Harry win said war because they had done it in a way that the Ministry did not approve of.
Severus snorted to himself, the ministry did not approve of the ways he chose to help the war yet they continuously used him for information during the war.
“Severus, have you listened to a word I have spoken?”
It was not the words that pulled him back to reality but the tone of Lucius’ irritation that brought him back to where he was.
He had lost track of how long he had been staring out of his office window. He pinched the bridge of his nose as he was trying to recall what it was exactly his friend had been talking about when he had disassociated. He took a swig of his fire whiskey to give himself a few more seconds to come up with an excuse as to why he had not been listening but even he had to admit that would have fallen on deaf ears.
He turned to find Lucius had helped himself to a glass of fire whiskey and was now sitting in his chair that sat behind his desk. Lucius had a brow raised as he watched him, his stare became icy when Sverus simply shrugged a shoulder in response.
“Honestly, why do I still put up with you after all of these years, Severus?”
“I ask myself the same thing every time you come over here. I have told you to stop coming years ago and yet, here you are. So tell me, why do you keep submitting yourself to my joyous presence if you hate it so much?" He asked with a dry sarcastic tone as he poured more Fire whiskey in his empty glass.
“You think I enjoy coming to this,” Lucius paused as he looked around Severus’s office with a disgusted look on his face before he continued, “rustic establishment time and time again only to be ignored when I talk?”
Severus slammed his glass so hard on his desk the amber liquid sloshed over the edge, marking the parchment underneath it, “Then stop coming Lucius.” he said through gritted teeth.
Lucius leaned back in the office chair as if he owned the place, inhaled deeply as he tapped a finger on the head of his cane, “No.”
Rage started to boil inside of Severus as he stared down at the arrogant look on Lucius’ face. With each beat of his heart, he could feel himself getting closer and closer to snapping. Warmth started at his neck, radiating down his arms until his fingertips began to tingle.
The fire in the hearth began to ripple and flicker as a strong gust of wind filled the room. Parchments not anchored to the desk by something heavy, slipped to the floor before the wind caught them, carrying them around the room along with debris from the floor.
Lucius glare narrowed at him, “Severus.” he said as if warning him not to continue.
Sevrus flexed his hands in response, causing sparks to flare between his fingers.
A single spark leapt from Severus’s fingertips, grazing the corner of a parchment flying past. For a moment, nothing happened, then the edge blackened, curled and fully ignited. The flame spread with unnatural hunger, racing along inked lines as though the words themselves were fuel.
Within seconds, several pieces of parchment burned, their flames snapping and hissing as the wind he’d summoned fed them creating a vortex around them.
Sheets of burning parchment spun in widening circles, whipping through the air like a storm given life. It grew stronger and stronger causing the glass cabinet doors to rattle as they fought to remain closed.
Its flames in the hearth surged outward, bending unnaturally toward the cyclone, stretching long orange, yellow and red tongues into the spiral until fire and wind became one monstrous entity. Heat pressed in from every direction, thick and suffocating, the scent of char and smoke biting at the air.
Still, Severus stood at the center of it, unmoving. His eyes were darker than ever, his jaw clenched as his magic bled from him in waves.
“Severus.” Lucius said again.
The warning in it was sharp enough to cut through the roar of the storm but Severus ignored it. His fingers curled slightly, causing the flames to roar brighter as they grew higher, licking dangerously close to the ceiling.
A beam above them cracked from the heat.
With a sharp exhale, Lucius rose from the chair, pulled his wand free from its spot at the top of his cane. He did not bother with wording the incantation as he snapped his wand in a seamless motion. The spell hit like a bludger slamming directly into Severus’s chest. The impact sent him airborne before he could even realize what was happening.
His back collided with the far stone wall with a sickening crack. The air was forced from his lungs as he hit, the remaining magic in the room snapping like a severed thread. The vortex collapsed instantly, the flames extinguishing midair, leaving only charred scraps of parchment drifting weakly to the ground.
Severus remained against the wall for a moment, breath ragged, black hair fallen into his face. Slowly he pushed the hair from his view, before spitting blood onto the floor and gave Lucius a half hearted laugh.
Lucius, posture still immaculate, slid his wand back into his cane as he made his way around the desk and over to Severus. He crouched in front of him, his expression hardened into something cold, “You are losing it,” Lucius said quietly. “I wish that I could simply let you rot in this hell hole of what you call a house but I can not. Although it would make my life so much easier,” He sighed heavily as he looked over Severus, “You saved Draco’s life during the war, for that I owe you a life debt and I plan on fulfilling it even if it puts us both in a grave.”
Lucius held a hand out to Severus. He stared at it for what felt like forever before he pushed the manicured hand out of his face.
With another sigh, Lucius stood, straightened his robes and said, “You did not win the war just to live your life waiting to die.” He walked to the door, opened it and turned back to Severus, “You are to attend dinner at the Manor this Friday.”
Severus opened his mouth to deny but Lucius cut him off.
“Before you give me another useless excuse, I know that you have no other plans as you do not have a life so you can not decline my offer. Besides, Narcissa is also involved in the creation of this dinner and we all know how my wife can get about events. You will come, you will endure and I promise that if nothing else, you can return to your pitiful life afterwards. Alright?”
Severus only nodded as his response.
Lucius paused for another moment, “This has gone on for far too long Severus.”
With that, he was gone, leaving Severus alone with the mess of his decisions.