Safe Haven

Waking Up

The walls of the shack were closing in, his eyesight becoming fuzzy. He wanted it to end. He needed it to be done. He relaxed against the wall. He was done fighting. Surrender felt fine. He just wanted to be safe. Perhaps death would be a haven for him. As he began to drift, a familiar screech filled his ear and a flutter of red landed beside him.

"Fawkes..." he whispered, the liquid gurgle trickling down his throat

The bird leaked his tears onto Severus' throat, the magical mixture instantly opening up his airways, the blood stopping, his vision returning. Severus stifled the urge to scream out of frustration. His damn loyalty to Albus was being rewarded by the phoenix, but in a twisted way it was also a betrayal. He was ready for death but apparently it was not ready for him.

He gave Fawkes a pat, staring into his eyes, for what, he didn't know. Fawkes leaned in, soft feathers comforting against his skin.

"I want to find a safe haven...I just want to live free" he whispered, chest tightening with fear and rage as he felt for his wand beside him

Fawkes cawed kindly, finishing up the wound, and fluttered away under the shade of night. He focused his mind as much as he could on a place, any place.

"I just want to be safe" he spoke aloud and disapparated

He opened his eyes after the familiar pull and release and found himself in a thicket of trees. The night felt warm and heavy on his skin as he laid on the soil and moss. He couldn't move. His body wanted to continue but he couldn't. The sleep was tugging at him. He gave in.

"Oi! What's happened to you? Come on now" a deep and friendly male voice spoke to him, waking him up out of his battle stupor

"I'm fine..." he whispered, struggling to sit

"Had a few too many? Got a wee bit lost? Nearest pub is almost three miles from here" the kind voice asked, kindness was something he was not accustomed to hearing

"No..." Severus rasped, lifting his arm up to wipe his eyes, realizing the dark mark was visible

He had no idea if he was in front of a wizard or a Muggle. He contorted his face to neutrality.

"Oh. I see. Hold on..." the voice said, and stood up to yell

"Hazel! Hazel, it's one of yours. Get your arse up and come help me!"

Out of the darkness, a light shone as the door opened to a small shop. He noticed a figure of a woman skipping over to him, kneeling beside his stomach

"Hey, friend or foe?" she asked carefully, taking note of his arm

"I mean... no harm" he wheezed, ribs beginning to ache in a way he didn't know was possible

"Alright my guy. We're going to help you" she spoke, the two of them putting their arms underneath his shoulders and dragging him into the shop.

He glanced up and read the blurry words "safe haven tea shop and apothecary"

He fought back a groan at how literal apparition could be.

"For Christ's sake, look at all the blood" Hazel exclaimed as they hoisted him onto an overstuffed orange sofa

"That's very helpful" the male voice remarked, propping him up with a pillow

"I'm going to brew you some tea and a tincture. Then you can sleep off whatever happened to you here. No one will bother you, I promise" Hazel assured him, getting busy with the kettle and the clinking of glass vials

"What's your name?" the man asked, and for the first time, Severus got a good look at him

Tall and barrel chested, dressed in a black tee, muggle jeans and shiny leather shoes. His hair strewn haphazardly around his face in honeyed toffee curls, framing a strong face with a square jaw and straight bridge nose. Clover green eyes stared intently into his own obsidian ones. He was too tired to feel self conscious.

"Severus" he mumbled, taking several sips of the tea that Hazel brought over, which he immediately realized was a sleeping draught, expertly brewed.

Whatever was going to happen, he would deal with it tomorrow.

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