Knowledge is Power

Chapter 76

Severus woke feeling an unusual mix of extremely ill and gleefully triumphant. Ill because thanks to Sekhmet he had a dreadful hangover and triumphant, because due to the last time he and Nightshade were hung over, also around the holidays as it happened, he'd learned from the experience and made up several drafts of a very effective hangover potion. Now he just had to get out of bed and get it. That would be a feat in itself thanks to the relentlessly spinning room and his pounding head that was apparently trying to keep up a rhythm to the spinning.

"Please tell me I did not sing that disgusting song last night," Severus begged the warm lump at his side that was Mag.
"Well," she replied slowly after a moment of hesitation. "I can tell you that you are now the proud owner of a beautiful black obsidian pyramid that you promised to share with me."
Severus found this only mildly comforting. He was certain he'd care more about the pyramid after his pounding head stopped beating him up.

//Actually you didn't sing, if it makes you feel any better, Prof. It's rap music, so you actually rapped. Not very well, but I'm sure Sekhmet got a gigantic kick out of the attempt. I'm sure Millicent did.//
"If Bulstrode sells a copy of that tape to Potter I will kill them both," Severus stated through gritted teeth as he slowly dragged himself to a sitting position. That was step one. Step two involved putting his feet on the floor and standing and if he was very slow and careful he could manage it.

"Wait," Mag said. "I only had one drink, and you had at least two. I'll get up and get the hangover potions. Cabinet above the sink, right?"
"Yes," Severus said, because nodding instead would've probably caused his head to explode. Mag rose from bed and staggered across the room. Soon she was back with two small bottles one of which she extended to him.

"I love you," he said with true feeling and she gave a weak chuckle.
"Even though I'm a Vietnamese hooker?"
Severus opened the bottle and chugged down the contents. "Bloody right. You're my Vietnamese hooker after all, and I don't have to share."

//Come on, Prof. Let's go down to breakfast. The potion has you feeling better now and your damned owl is hungry,// Nightshade said.
Severus sighed. "Would you like me to bring you up some breakfast or...you could breakfast at Wolfgang's and visit with Sekhmet," he suggested, turning to Mag. Though he currently hated Sekhmet more than usual, it was Christmas morning and Mag shouldn't have to spend it shut up in his rooms alone.
"I could breakfast at Wolfgang's," Mag agreed thoughtfully. "I'll be back in an hour though. I want to spend the day with you."

"You're better than I deserve, do you know that," Severus said, reaching to draw Mag into his arms.
"Hm...I think I'm just what you deserve," she corrected gently. They didn't speak for over half an hour, and by the time they were finally dressed for breakfast, Nightshade was glaring angrily.
//Shagging before eating is stupid, because food gives energy, and energy probably makes for better shagging. Plus it's rude to keep me waiting,// he complained.
Mag called Mira and asked her to apparate her to Adler Manor while Severus and Nightshade headed down to breakfast. Severus's mood was improved by the hangover potion as well as the shagging, so he didn't respond to Nightshade's argumentative comment.

Though the Carrows were at breakfast, they merely greeted Severus then went back to their food rather than bitching and moaning to him about this that and the other as they were all too often wont to do. He doubted they had any particular Christmas spirit, so perhaps they were just hungover. Unlike him, they apparently had no hangover potion, Severus thought in pleasantly mean spirited satisfaction. They deserved hang overs if anyone did.

Filius arrived shortly after Severus poured his first cup of coffee. The little charm's master was cheerful and bright eyed, quite as if he hadn't had nearly a bottle of Egyptian spirits at a Christmas eve bash last night. His constitution was impressive, Severus thought. Due to the Carrows silence and Filius's company, breakfast was pleasant enough.