InsaneJournal

                He secretly watched the wedding from inside, marveling at how lovely a couple his brother and the Princess Narcissa made, standing next to each other, reciting vows he could not hear from his hiding spot. He sighed happily to himself, even though the sting of being left for her still frightened him. Her dress was a gorgeous deep blue, with a train that seemed to go on for miles, and Lucius was dressed in a soft green that emphasized the grey of his eyes, or would if Severus could see the color of his eyes from his spot.

                As soon as the striking couple had their first kiss, Severus dashed back down to the dining hall and helped the other servants with the food. The feast went off without a hitch.

                The part Severus was worried about would be when Lucius and Narcissa returned from their honeymoon. What he should have been worried about was the time that Lucius was away. There was to be three weeks where Narcissa and Lucius would be away from the castle. Severus had forgotten what it was like the one time Lucius had gone away on a trip. It had been hell.

                "Goodbye all," said Lucius, sounding oh-so-proper, but his eyes were linked with Severus's who gave him a nod.

                It was to be the dawning of a new era. Lucius's absence meant no protection for Severus.

                King Gellert ordered them to have him sleep in the dungeon. It was so frightening down there that he hardly got any sleep at all, the stone rough on his back, a bleak alternative to his thin mattress. The horrible part was the torture devices outlined in the light of the waning moon. He knew all of these and their function. He'd never been product of their usage before, but they all said it was only a matter of time. He imagined he could hear the screams of women and men, guilty and innocent, easy to crack and harder, all finding naught but pain in a part of the castle that was his home.

                Tom made him sit still and read a story aloud, all the while sticking him with sharp pins. He had to carefully control his voice, not wanting to do anything to upset his eldest brother.

                Peter made him cook exotic dishes, and though he knew he had done it all correctly, Peter would whine and complain and then force Severus to eat it himself. It was all delicious, but very rich, and after he was finally excused, he ran outside to be sick upon the mud they'd made him roll in not a week before.  He had at least gotten to bathe for the sake of the wedding.

                Bartemius had Severus make tea, and then remake it and remake it until Severus truly thought he might go as insane as Bartemius. He drank most of the tea even still, though, and they sat in silence. Severus let his mind wander to more pleasant times, with Lucius around, until Bartemius ordered him to kneel in front of him. Then he lowered his pristine trousers and pissed all over Severus's thin body and ragged clothes. Severus, reeking, and gagging at the smell, ran out to the grounds to have a dip in the lake, to Bartemius laughing as he ran, and even following him to laugh at him as he washed off. He was very cold by the time he got back inside.

                Walden just avoided him as usual, until he needed him. He ordered Severus to join him on a hunting trip. Honestly, it sounded like a nice break from the other remaining brothers. He hauled all of his brother's equipment, wondering but not asking about the small bag of gold coins. Why should he need money hunting? They'd never brought money to hunt before. He continued to pull the wagon, trying not to worry about the bag of coins. It wasn't really his concern.

                Lupin was still rather jumpy. Even though he'd been paid to do it, and it was all hush-hush, he still pictured them torturing him or locking him away to be hanged for killing off the king's son Igor. He was only a quiet woodsman most of the time. He almost fainted dead away to see Walden back again.

                "What is it?" he asked nervously, seeing Walden's hands behind his back. Slowly, Walden drew forward toward him, then held out his right hand revealing a bag of money just as before. He relaxed. "So, another job, then?"

                Walden nodded. "You heard of how Prince Lucius was married, no doubt. Well, his play thing, this servant of ours, is evil. He is a thief and a menace to everyone but Lucius, and now that he's on honeymoon, he has become unbearable. His true colors are shining. He may even be running off with my equipment now. On top of that, the king our father only likes beautiful things. The other servants are nice looking. This one smells odd and is the ugliest child around. We really have no more use of him."

                Lupin looked at the bag of gold for a moment. It was twice as large as the time before. He looked up at Walden again. "He's just a servant? Why so much money?"

                "Just take it and do the deed, man," said Walden, leaning down to place the bag lightly at the woodsman's feet. Lupin took it into his hands, feeling its weight. He grinned and nodded. "Yes. I will kill this wayward servant of yours."

                "Leave all wounds on his back. Wash him off like last time."

                "For a meager servant?"

                "Do as I say, woodsman, and no harm will ever come to you."

                "Yes, of course," said Lupin with a bow.

                His first thought upon seeing the boy in tatty clothes, sitting on the old stump of a tree, was that this was no menace. Neither did he look particularly evil, crying to himself, patiently waiting for the return of Prince Walden. Though, looks could be deceiving.

                "Hey there," said Lupin, stepping forward into the boy's sight. Severus brushed the tears from his face and sat up straight.

                "Hello," he answered softly. "Is there something you need?"

                "I just get lonely out here in the woods," said Lupin with a smile. That much was true at least.

                "Ah."

                "Do you work for Prince Walden, who is out here hunting?"

                Severus nodded.

                "Are you king Gellert's hidden son?" Lupin asked abruptly, causing Severus's eyes to widen. "I know about you." Yes, he'd heard as much as the rest of the village had about Severus's existence. Most believed it to be untrue.

                Severus said nothing, neither confirming nor denying. He just stared at him with frightened black eyes under long lashes, lowering his head so his matted hair created a sort of curtain of protection about him.

                Lupin threw his knife upon the ground. "I won't kill you. You have to run, though. Since he's hunting boar, he'll be mainly headed that direction. You need to go the opposite way. Stay in the forest, at least until Lucius's return. God be with you."

                Severus just stared at him for a moment.

                "Go!"

                Severus got up, slowly, taking one of Lupin's hands in his and giving it a squeeze as he turned to run in the direction indicated.

                After a moment, Lupin stood, killing a boar expertly. He dragged it to his house to be cut up for meat, but first removed the heart, placed it in a nondescript wooden box and made his way to find Walden. That it was not a human heart he would imagine no one would be able to tell. He claimed he'd thrown the body, too mutilated to do any good, into the river.