The Danger of Truth
Title: The Danger of Truth
Team: Spy for the mighty Order!
Word Count: 600 (6 x 100 each)
Rating: G
Challenge: The Perils of Veritaserum
Characters: Severus/Hermione
A/N: I know it's been forever, but recent exposure to Phoenix Rising and some random thoughts about this challenge brought about this offering. GO ORDER!
~*~
The true power of Veritaserum lies not in its ability to coerce the truth out of its victim. Every question is answered, truthfully, unemotionally, and without reserve.
Severus twirls the small vial between his fingertips. No, the dangers are not for the victims, but for those who administer the potion. They are never certain of just what will be revealed; only that it is the truth.
Sometimes the truth is too much to handle.
And the knowledge that it is always the truth can be addictive.
Severus' hand shakes slightly as he allows two drops to fall into Hermione's tea.
~*~
'Severus, what has become of you?' Albus' portrait carried the softly worried expression that Severus had come to know in the later years.
'Albus, it's unforgivable, but I cannot stop.'
'You must, my boy. It is not right to betray such a trust. She is your wife.'
'I know... I know, but still, somehow....'
'Do you doubt her love for you?'
'N-no... I don't.'
'Then why?'
'Safety, Albus. Surely you cannot begrudge me that?'
'Not at all, but this is a false safety that you build around yourself at her expense. Hermione would never forgive you.'
'She need never know.'
~*~
For weeks, Severus slips from his marital bed to brew the potion in his lab as Hermione sleeps. His eyes are hooded from lack of proper rest and his posture is stooped by the weight of the knowledge of his betrayal.
Not long after he finishes, a noise at the door alerts him to her presence, and she shuffles sleepily towards him, placing a cup of tea on the table.
'Drink, love, you look exhausted.'
He takes the cup, lovingly offered, and as he drains the warm, soothing liquid in one gulp, he belatedly notices the glint in her eyes.
~*~
'It is my turn to ask the questions, Severus.'
Betrayal! The one thing he fears above all else is now before him, his wife's face is mere inches from his own, the questions already dancing on her tongue. He is sickened, not only to be caught unawares like this, but by the realization that she knows of his actions...
'Why, Severus? That's all I want to know. Why?'
Her tone is not as harsh as it could be, and he feels the compulsion slide over him, soothing away his cares and blurring the lines between what is right and wrong.
~*~
'Fear.'
His voice is dull and listless even to his own ears, but it doesn't concern him. Nothing does, and the gentle ebb and flow of his thoughts calm him.
The hurt in her voice is unmistakable, yet she persists. 'How long?'
'Twelve days, seven hours and some minutes,' he says automatically, for every moment has been wrought with self-loathing.
'Do you love me, Severus?'
'With everything that I am, Hermione. Every fragment of my being, and every shred of my soul.' He is almost surprised to hear himself utter those words, but his Veritaserum is top notch.
'Then why?'
~*~
'At first, I needed to know the truth beyond a question of a doubt, so I used Veritaserum on you.' Severus still remembers his relief that night when Hermione had answered all his questions: never with Weasley, merely kisses with Krum, but a longing and desire only for him.
Her eyes narrow. 'And then?'
'I failed to honour, cherish, and trust you, and I doubted myself more. I doubted us, so I continued, knowing it was wrong, but unable to stop.'
He notices that her hand tightens around her wand.
'I can never forgive myself.'
'I forgive you, Severus. Obliviate!'
~fin~
A/N: Hmm. Was that a cop-out? Or was it the kindest thing she could do to him?
Team: Spy for the mighty Order!
Word Count: 600 (6 x 100 each)
Rating: G
Challenge: The Perils of Veritaserum
Characters: Severus/Hermione
A/N: I know it's been forever, but recent exposure to Phoenix Rising and some random thoughts about this challenge brought about this offering. GO ORDER!
~*~
The true power of Veritaserum lies not in its ability to coerce the truth out of its victim. Every question is answered, truthfully, unemotionally, and without reserve.
Severus twirls the small vial between his fingertips. No, the dangers are not for the victims, but for those who administer the potion. They are never certain of just what will be revealed; only that it is the truth.
Sometimes the truth is too much to handle.
And the knowledge that it is always the truth can be addictive.
Severus' hand shakes slightly as he allows two drops to fall into Hermione's tea.
~*~
'Severus, what has become of you?' Albus' portrait carried the softly worried expression that Severus had come to know in the later years.
'Albus, it's unforgivable, but I cannot stop.'
'You must, my boy. It is not right to betray such a trust. She is your wife.'
'I know... I know, but still, somehow....'
'Do you doubt her love for you?'
'N-no... I don't.'
'Then why?'
'Safety, Albus. Surely you cannot begrudge me that?'
'Not at all, but this is a false safety that you build around yourself at her expense. Hermione would never forgive you.'
'She need never know.'
~*~
For weeks, Severus slips from his marital bed to brew the potion in his lab as Hermione sleeps. His eyes are hooded from lack of proper rest and his posture is stooped by the weight of the knowledge of his betrayal.
Not long after he finishes, a noise at the door alerts him to her presence, and she shuffles sleepily towards him, placing a cup of tea on the table.
'Drink, love, you look exhausted.'
He takes the cup, lovingly offered, and as he drains the warm, soothing liquid in one gulp, he belatedly notices the glint in her eyes.
~*~
'It is my turn to ask the questions, Severus.'
Betrayal! The one thing he fears above all else is now before him, his wife's face is mere inches from his own, the questions already dancing on her tongue. He is sickened, not only to be caught unawares like this, but by the realization that she knows of his actions...
'Why, Severus? That's all I want to know. Why?'
Her tone is not as harsh as it could be, and he feels the compulsion slide over him, soothing away his cares and blurring the lines between what is right and wrong.
~*~
'Fear.'
His voice is dull and listless even to his own ears, but it doesn't concern him. Nothing does, and the gentle ebb and flow of his thoughts calm him.
The hurt in her voice is unmistakable, yet she persists. 'How long?'
'Twelve days, seven hours and some minutes,' he says automatically, for every moment has been wrought with self-loathing.
'Do you love me, Severus?'
'With everything that I am, Hermione. Every fragment of my being, and every shred of my soul.' He is almost surprised to hear himself utter those words, but his Veritaserum is top notch.
'Then why?'
~*~
'At first, I needed to know the truth beyond a question of a doubt, so I used Veritaserum on you.' Severus still remembers his relief that night when Hermione had answered all his questions: never with Weasley, merely kisses with Krum, but a longing and desire only for him.
Her eyes narrow. 'And then?'
'I failed to honour, cherish, and trust you, and I doubted myself more. I doubted us, so I continued, knowing it was wrong, but unable to stop.'
He notices that her hand tightens around her wand.
'I can never forgive myself.'
'I forgive you, Severus. Obliviate!'
~fin~
A/N: Hmm. Was that a cop-out? Or was it the kindest thing she could do to him?