Lentus Nex

Lentus Nex
Chapter One

-----------

Onyx eyes woke suddenly in the middle of the night. Something was wrong with the chambers; the comforting blankets of the wards were absent. In the pitch black it was impossible to see anything, but there was an unwelcome alien presence moving about. Two words were whispered, and in the resulting flash of light there was a glimpse of blonde hair fleeing through the portrait hole.

“Lentus Nex.” Oh Merlin, please let him have been mistaken. He felt his bedmate shift and wake.

“Sev’rus? What’s wrong?”

“Nothing Harry. Go back to sleep.”

“But-”

“Shh. It was nothing. Go back to sleep.”

“Mmkay. G’night.” With that, Harry Potter spooned into the comforting cradle of his husband’s body, and promptly rejoined the world of the unconscious.


The next day was witness to an unusual sight. Professor Severus Snape, rarely seen outside of Hogwarts, was making his way at a brisk pace to St. Mungo’s. He had unenthusiastically asked Lupin to cover his classes, and snuck out before Harry could wonder what was going on. He hated the incompetent morons that passed for healers, but he had to know for certain. Not that knowing could change anything.

The waiting room was a disgusting shade of mint blue/green, something that must have been bought in mass quantities at a Bargain Bin somewhere. It did little to comfort Severus’s shaking nerves. He found poetic irony in the fact that he had looked for death for much of his life, and now that he had something to live for, it had found him. Before his morbid musings could go any further, a rather plump little witch called his name.

“Severus Snape? Healer Sanders will see you now. Right this way.” Severus rose gracefully from his chair and followed her down a blindingly sterile looking hallway.

Healer Sanders was a tall thin woman with crazy red hair pulled back tight into a pony tail. She had a reserved assurance in the air about her. Severus immediately sensed that the witch knew what she was doing, and wouldn’t mollycoddle him once she discerned what had happened to him. It was a nice thought.

“So, Mr. Snape-”

“Professor.”

“Excuse me. Professor Snape, what seems to be the problem today?”

“Well I feel perfectly fine, but I have a strange recollection of last night. I feel unfortunately certain that I was cursed as I slept.”

“And what makes you say that?”

“Not anything, really. My wards were in place when I went to sleep, and I found them that way this morning. However working as a professor in a highly volatile subject at a school full of dunderheads for so long, I’ve come to rely on my instincts greatly and I just feel that something is amiss.”

“Are you experiencing any symptoms?”

“No, as I said, I feel perfectly fine. However the curse I think I was subjected to has no side effects.”

“Oh? And what curse is this?”

“Lentus Nex.” A slight raise of the eyebrow was all the response Severus garnered. Yes, this woman defiantly was not the mollycoddling type.

“Well Professor Snape, the tests for that curse are quite lengthy and somewhat costly. I see no reason to perform them based on something you thought you heard in a sleep-hazy state, but seeing as I am not the one paying for these tests, and seeing as Lentus Nex has no side effects, I will test you if you feel it necessary.”

“I do.”

“Alright. Let’s begin then.”

Three hours later, Healer Sanders had concluded testing. Although she still had to officially have the results examined by a third party, she was certain she knew what the outcome of that examination would be. In all her years as a healer at the wizarding world’s most prestigious hospital, she had never once seen anyone cursed with Lentus Nex. It rattled her, knowing there was little she could do for this man, but her concern did not show on the outside.

“I’m sorry, Professor Snape. It seems as though you were correct. You are in fact suffering from the curse Lentus Nex, otherwise known as the delayed death. As I assume you know, there is no cure for this curse, and there is little hope of delaying its purpose for very long.”

Severus took the news well. He wasn’t sure if he had resigned himself to his fate last night, or if it still had yet to hit him, but he felt oddly calm. The only pain he felt was for Harry.
“How long do I have to live?”

“At the most, I’d say ten months. That’s an unofficial conclusion and I will give you more specific details when I get the examination of your results back, but I’ve never heard of anyone living longer than that.”

“I see. Well thank you Healer, for all your help.”

“I wish there was more I could do. I truly am sorry, Professor.”

Severus turned to go. Healer Sanders stopped him. “Oh Professor?” He turned back.

“Legally, I am obligated to ask you if you know who performed this highly illegal curse. It is punishable by life in Azkaban.”

Severus knew exactly who it was. “I have no idea. I didn’t see them.”

“Well, if you suddenly remember, contact the police. I will file a report for you.”

“Thank you.” Severus walked out of the clinic, and slowly began his journey back to Hogwarts. He needed to talk to the Headmaster, but first he needed to think about what he wanted to do with the precious months he had left to live.

Severus muttered the password to Albus’s office with no little trepidation. Of all the unpleasant conversations he’d ever had in the little room, this was sure to top the list. But it had to happen. Albus was going to find out somehow, and Severus supposed that it would be best for his well-being if the old man heard it from his own lips. Not that his well-being was really a concern anymore.

“Severus my boy Lovely to see you. To what do I owe the pleasure of your company?”

“I’m afraid it might not be so pleasant today, Headmaster.”

“Oh? Well then. Have a seat, won’t you? Can I get you some tea?” Severus rolled his eyes, but accepted for the first time in many years. Albus raised his eyebrows slightly but said nothing as he busied himself with making the tea. After several seconds of awkward seconds, the Headmaster spoke.

“Has something happened to Harry?”

“No, no, Harry’s fine.” Severus twisted his wedding band in a uncharacteristic show of nerves. “It’s rather something that occurred to my own person that is causing me some distress.” He took a deep breath. “Last night, I woke to a presence in my chambers. I thought I heard a curse being cast, but since I was neither certain that I was awake nor willing to leave Harry alone, I let it go and went back to sleep. Still as you know my paranoia has kept me alive thus far and I felt it ill-advised to not go see someone. So as you know, I took a personal day today and went to St. Mungo’s to get some tests run. I’m afraid they confirmed my suspicions.”

“My dear boy, what has happened to you?”

“I was cursed with Lentus Nex, Albus.”

For once, the Headmaster was at a loss for words. He blinked a few times, as though unable to comprehend what he was hearing.

“But Severus, how?”

“It seems I’ve become lax in my security since the war ended. I though t that with Voldemort gone, and his followers locked in Azkaban, I was somewhat safe, especially at Hogwarts. Really it’s my own fault. I forgot about Draco.”

“Ah. So you think that young Mr. Malfoy is behind this?”

“Yes. He’s the only person other than Harry that my wards would admit as family, and he’s the only person I know of who was not a supporter of Voldemort and yet still passionately wants me to die.”

“Misinformed as that wish is.”

“Yes well I did my best to rectify that, but apparently I failed. It’s off little matter now. We cannot change the past and I have resigned myself to my fate.”

“How long to do you have?”

“At the most, till the end of the year.”

“What are your plans?”

“I’ve spent the last three hours, since I returned from St. Mungo’s, thinking about this Headmaster. While I wish I had accomplished more during this lifetime, I wish I had seen more, learned more, I know I could not be happier than I am at Hogwarts with Harry. Therefore, I’ve decided to continue life as normally as I can until such a time as it becomes impossible to do so. I’d greatly appreciate both your support and your discretion on this matter.”

“You’re not going to tell Harry?”

“I can’t bring myself to cause him more pain than is absolutely unavoidable. While I know he would be angry if he learned of my deception, I wish that he and I continue on as we have for the last three years for as long as possible.”

“I understand. I will keep your secret, Severus.”
“Thank you Headmaster.”

“Of course my boy. I wish I had the ability to do more for you. I’m so sorry Severus.” Severus just nodded slightly and left the office.