Chapter 10 – Addicted

Disclaimer: All recognizable characters belong to J.K. Rowling, and I am not earning anything by writing this story.

Thanks a lot to my beta-readers, saiyanwizardgurl and AmyLouise, for correcting my mistakes!

Chapter 10 - Addicted

Severus ate everything that was on his plate and leaned back to enjoy the heavy feeling in his stomach. I can’t remember feeling this good in a long time, he thought happily.

Albus had not yet finished his supper, and so Severus just pushed the table a little bit further away from himself to sit more comfortably. When Albus saw Severus’ struggle with the table, he swallowed, cleaned his hands with his napkin, and reached for his wand. “Wait, before you spoil your bedclothes,” he ordered and then removed the dishes with a wave of his wand. He stood up and put away the now-empty table. He went over to the nightstand and moved his glasses further up his nose so that he could read the labels of the vials.

“Okay, Poppy said that you should take these two after you ate.” He handed the first one to Severus.

“Why do I have to take them? I feel good, Albus! Better than I have felt for a long time.”

“The Strengthening Potion makes you feel that way, Severus. This one will give support to your body so that it can assimilate the food you ate as best as possible. You still need to gain more weight.”

Severus grimaced, sniffed at the vial, and drank it reluctantly. When he handed the empty vial to Albus, he motioned with his head to the other still in Albus’ hand and asked, “And this one?”

“This one is a painkiller.” Albus placed the vial in Severus’ hand.

Severus eyed it closely. “This isn’t one of mine. And I don’t feel any pain.” With that, he handed the vial back to Albus.

But Albus refused the take it back. “Severus, Poppy said you should take it. You will be in pain later if you don’t, and she wanted you to be without pain for a few days. You have taken too much of your own painkillers, and your body is already showing some signs of addiction. When you feel pain just so that you can take another dose of the painkiller, you are addicted. Your body tricks you into getting what it wants, or better said, needs. This potion will stop your body’s feigned pain reactions as long as it still wants the pain potions you are addicted to.”

“I’m not addicted to anything,” Severus said angrily. “Why didn’t Poppy say anything to me before? I won’t take it!” He moved to place the vial on the night table, but Albus grabbed his hand before he could.

“Severus, I thought we both agreed that you would let us help you. If Poppy says this is necessary, then it is,” he said sternly.

They were both so deep in discussion that they didn’t notice Poppy’s and Alastor’s arrival. “What is going on here?” Poppy asked in her no-nonsense voice as she approached the bed.

Albus sighed in frustration. He had hoped to finish this discussion without Poppy’s interfering. It was not good that so many people were telling Severus what to do. Severus always felt cornered and despaired when he was outnumbered, but now that Poppy was present, Albus had no choice but to hand the task over to her. “We just had a little discussion about the pain killer.” He took the vial out of Severus’ hand and gave it to Poppy. Then he moved beside Alastor at the foot of the bed to observe.

Severus had gone quiet and was scowling at Poppy.

“So what is the problem with the potion, Severus?” Poppy asked as she went over to the nightstand to check the records on Severus’ clipboard.

“I do not see a need for me to have to take the potion at all. I am not in pain.” He shifted in his bed further away from her and positioned himself so that he had a good look at Poppy. She will not trick me with anything this time, he thought, a little worried that Poppy would force him one way or the other to take the potion.

Poppy was calm as she approached him and placed a hand on his forehead to feel his temperature. I will not lose my temper again, she told herself.

“Severus, the headaches you’ve had lately were just your body’s reaction to a lack of your pain killers. You are addicted to them.”

Severus was already opening his mouth to protest, but Poppy stopped him by laying a calming hand on his arm. “No, Severus, don’t start arguing with me about it. I performed several diagnostic spells on you, all with the same result. Your headaches are symptoms of the addiction. I have asked for special pain killers from St. Mungo’s which will help to overcome the addiction. And that’s exactly what’s in this vial.” She opened the vial and offered it to Severus.

“I would like to speak with you alone.” He angrily looked in Alastor’s and Albus’ direction. Why does there always have to be others around when she tells me embarrassing things like this? It’s hard enough to be scowled at by Poppy, but having an audience while she tells me this is really embarrassing, he thought sadly.

“Of course, Severus.” Poppy said and started to close the curtains around the bed.

Albus turned to Alastor and said, “Maybe we could go to my office and you can tell me the sleeping arrangements you have made up for Charlie.”

Poppy didn’t even wait for Alastor’s response before she closed the curtain in front of the two men’s noses.

Severus could hear their footsteps and then the closing of the door. Poppy sat on the bed and looked at him while he stared at the vial and then at Poppy again. “Are you sure about this?” he asked, still hoping she would take her assumption back.

“Yes, Severus, I’m sure. I even contacted a specialist at St. Mungo’s, and he came to the same conclusion. From now on, you should not take your self-brewed pain potions. Your body will start to show the same symptoms again. The potion from St. Mungo’s works well; it is specially-brewed for addicted patients, and you cannot get addicted to it.”

Severus was staring at the vial the whole time Poppy spoke to him. Maybe she is right, he thought and then grabbed the vial and gulped it down.

Poppy smiled at him. “I would never give you something that was not necessary, Severus. I want you to heal as fast as possible.” She took the empty vial from him, but still remained sitting on the bed. “How do you feel, Severus?” she asked softly.

“Good. Better than I have felt in years. You don’t have to worry any longer. I understand what you want from me, and I will take better care from now on,” he said while staring at the ceiling.

“I really hope so, Severus,” she said while softly stroking his cheek.

The moment she wanted to draw her hand back, he caught her wrist. “I – I am very grateful for everything you have done for me,” he said. “But it’s not easy for me to lie here and just accept whatever you do to me. I hate not having the control and feeling helpless. Still, I want to leave the hospital wing as soon as possible. It has nothing to do with you; don’t take it personally. I just hate being so vulnerable. Please understand, Poppy.” He realized that he was still holding her wrist and let go.

She stroked her hand again over his forehead and cheek and said, “I understand, Severus. But you also have to understand that I cannot let you leave the hospital wing before you have recovered enough to take care of yourself. Sometimes people need others to show them what is best, especially a stubborn man like you.” She smiled at him and stood up. “Minerva will arrive soon. The Strengthening Potion will last for another two hours. She said she will bring some books and magazines for you. But no wandering out of bed or anything else that will wear you out too much.” She grinned and winked.

“Very funny, Poppy.” He rolled his eyes and started to blush again.