Lentesco

Thank you so much to my lovely reviewers! I hope you enjoy this foray into the past...



Lentesco – Chapter Four



It had been a month since Lucius and Severus had begun their … whatever it was. To Lucius it was merely convenient. The boy was eager to please, accepted any pain as deserved, and worked hard to satisfy Lucius’ capricious whims. For Severus, it was protection and care he craved, and which he almost got with Lucius. He still loved Lily, and hated the four Gryffindor boys who tormented him, but at least with the blond he knew what to expect, and he did receive pleasure from the things he was called upon to do, however degrading and humiliating they were.



Of course, this being Hogwarts, and Slytherin House at that, all the students were aware of what was taking place. The teachers had their suspicions, Albus Dumbledore especially, but he could do nothing, as when he had tentatively approached Severus about the relationship, the boy had stared blankly back at him.



And so, Lucius kept making use of Severus, and the boy became more and more adept at hiding bruises and spell scars, even from Madam Pomfrey. He also learnt much about the Dark Arts from the blond, and heard tales of the things the Dark Lord was doing to any Muggles who dared to cross him. Secretly, Severus was thrilled to imagine cruel, unforgiving Muggles suffering, and he wished wholeheartedly that his father might be among the dead. In public, just like Lucius, he pretended outrage and horror at the atrocities.



And yet…and yet, despite the enjoyment he received from Lucius, he couldn’t stop himself craving something else. Something more loving, more caring, something that didn’t make it necessary that he knew advanced healing spells and was skilled at pretending he felt no pain.



He was sitting under a tree, sore from the previous night, and wanting nothing so much as to be quiet and still and read. But the four Gryffindors loomed over him. “All right, Snivellus?” Sirius Black sneered, flicking his own, much better kept, black hair away from his face. “Never hear of shampoo?”



Pettigrew giggled, rodent-like eyes small and harsh.



Go away! Go away! Go away!



“Why would he need it?” James Potter asked, leaning one elbow against the trunk, “It’s not like anyone would be interested in him, would they? Or,” he paused, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively, “are the rumours right, Snivelly? Is Malfoy buggering your arse nightly?”



Remus Lupin sighed and shifted slightly.



“What do you reckon, Moony?” Sirius asked, “Do you think anyone would want to touch him? Maybe Malfoy makes him put a bag over his head!” He laughed cruelly at his own joke and Pettigrew dutifully joined in.



Go away! Go away! Go away!



The werewolf spoke softly, “I haven’t handed in my homework for Professor McGonagall, I need to do that.” And he left, not once glancing back at his supposed friends.



“I bet he’s such a good whore.” James observed to Sirius, “I bet the whole of Slytherin has had him, you know, with a bag over his head, cos who’d want to look at that?!”



“How’d you give head?” Sirius asked. “Do they let you take the bag off, or do they just shove their pricks under for you to suck on?”



“Oy! Black!” It was Lily Evans, charging towards them, her red hair flying out behind her as she glared at them all. “Leave him alone!”



James looked stunned. “Aw, come on Evans, we were just joking with him, weren’t we Snivelly?”



Her green eyes blazed. “I’ve seen the way you joke before, Potter, and I think you’re pathetic! Three of you picking on one!” She span on her heel and stormed off, tossing over her shoulder, “I thought Gryffindors were brave.”



The three boys watched her go, and their distraction was what Severus needed. Adroitly, he drew his wand and cast three hexes so quickly that the first boy hadn’t even begun to scream in pain before Severus had finished.



He slowly, painfully, got to his feet. “Brave? Fucking morons more like.” He limped away, leaving the three to writhe and cry under the tree.