Consumption

One of the hospital orderlies led Sirius down the dark hallway towards the room where he was allowed fifteen minutes of supervised ‘free time’. In reality, it was just a larger cell with two windows with bars, allowing him a limited view of the green courtyard. His hands stayed cuffed in front of him as he took a seat on the metal chair placed in the center of the room, allowing the sunlight to hit his pale skin.

He had always been unusually pale, maybe due to his strong French genes, or possibly due to the inbreeding his family had decided to participate in; but ever since being incarcerated, he had become ghostly, his blue veins shining boldly through his white skin. His hair had grown longer, reaching just past his shoulders until Snape had gotten tired of having to assign an orderly to brush his hair after it had gotten matted. Now, much to Sirius’ dismay, his hair barely made it past the base of his skull, the front hanging loosely over his forehead. It was an unfortunate haircut, one that Sirius hadn’t worn since he was a child and his mother forced him into the barber chair.

The orderly from before stood on one end of the room, just behind the bars. Sirius could feel his eyes on the back of his head. The man had a strange look to him. Physically, he was quite attractive, his shaggy black hair fit perfectly around his slightly tanned face, small paler scars standing out against his skin…But it was his eyes that set Sirius on edge. The beady blackness bore into him, allowing Sirius to see the madness within.

“What’s your name?” Sirius asked, back still to the man. His voice was detached, a lazy drawl that made him appear almost uninterested.

“Barty.” The man had a crazed tone behind his words as he shuffled closer to the bars. Sirius could hear the clink of keys against the door, his eyes firmly fixed on the barred windows.

“Barty.” Sirius rolled the name over his tongue as the man moved closer to him in the cell. “Do you know who I am, Barty?”

“Sirius Black.” The orderly reached for Sirius, quickly uncuffing him and moving his arms around his back before snapping the handcuffs back on. “Big fan. People don’t understand much about me; or about you. But at least we understand each other…Have you ever seen how a snake will squeeze the life out of its prey? You and I are snakes, Mr. Black.”

“Snakes are solitary animals.” Sirius was unamused as he listened to the erratic man.

“That’s their weakness…But imagine if they started working together. They could take down even bigger prey.”

Sirius could almost laugh at the thought and what the man was insinuating. He's a fan of work that isn’t his. Is this considered plagiarism? “Then you wouldn’t mind doing me a favor…”

“Anything.” Barty led Sirius back down the hall, heading towards the man's cell once again.

Sirius stayed silent, waiting until he was locked in his cell and his handcuffs were removed. He stayed close to the bars, motioning for Barty to come closer so he could whisper.

“Kill Remus Lupin.”

The water flowed over his head, his strong arms pushing against the force of the liquid as he gracefully propelled through the water. Due to his…extracurriculars…Remus had to stay in shape, and what better way to do that than a relaxing nighttime swim. His muscles stretched across his back as his feet kicked ferociously behind him. He felt a light ripple of water as a man jumped into the lane next to him.

Remus very rarely let his guard down, it was scarce to see the man actually relaxed, but he would be lying if he said that the quiet sound of water in his ears didn’t distract him from the man swimming next to him.

He hadn’t realized that the man had exited the pool until Remus grabbed onto the edge, sucking in a large breath after the strenuous exercise. A pinch in his shoulder pulled him out of his thoughts. His brain instantly fogged, his arms slightly weakening as he looked over at his shoulder to see a tranquilizer dart lodged in it. His hands struggled to drip onto the ledge, slipping on the slick surface as his vision went black and water crept up his nose.

He woke with a gasp, his head pounding and his vision foggy. Rough rope rubbed at his wrists, the skin going red and raw. His feet were tied together in front of him, the cold tile of the floor pressed against his still slightly damp skin. He gently tested his restraints, silently applauding his captor for his knot tying skills. He took a moment to look around the room, presumably the pool’s locker room. It was eerily quiet, the only sound being Remus’ slightly haggard breathing and the light dripping of water hitting tile.

A man silently emerged from around the corner, his damp black hair shining under the fluorescent lights.

“Remus Lupin.” The man spoke slowly, enunciating every syllable. “You’ve made some enemies apparently.”

The doctor stopped himself from sighing at the pathetic display. He knew that Sirius had sent someone to kill him, and the thought sent a little exhilaration down his spine. But could he have not chosen someone more…capable?

“You’re an orderly at the hospital.” Remus said instead, his voice blunt and face closed off. “Are you an admirer of Sirius Black then?”

“We are simply the snakes killing our prey.”

“Snakes are solitar-”

Barty let out a loud groan at the statement, throwing his head back in frustration, “We have a mutual respect.”

“Sirius isn’t who you think he is.” Remus continued, his fingers struggling with the knot at his back. “He’s not a murderer.”

“Well, he is now. At Least by proxy that is.” Barty shrugged, moving closer to the man tied up on the floor. A knife hung loosely in his hand. The light reflection of blood on the blade made Remus look down at himself, documenting the cut across his chest. He hadn’t really felt it until now, but in no way was it debilitating, just more of an annoying sting. “Now, I’m going to ask you a few yes or no questions. No need to respond verbally, I’ll know just by your eyes. Pupils dilate, that’s a ‘yes’, no dilation, that’s a ‘no’.”

Remus’ eyes tracked the man who couldn’t seem to sit still, it was quite distracting. His wrist was bent at a slightly uncomfortable angle as he toyed with the rope.

“Now,” Barty clapped, a grin spreading on his face. “Are you The Artist?”

Remus smiles, his head lolling to the side as he stared up at the man. Apparently, his expression was enough of a tell as the man nodded, quickly spinning around before looking back at the doctor.

“How many times have you watched as someone clinged to a life not really worth living?” Barty's voice dropped all playfulness, his expression sincere. “Eking out those last few seconds of life as you wonder why they even bother?”

“I know why.” Remus said, his voice light. Barty makes a humming noise like he’s genuinely curious as he leans forward, bending at the hips so he’s closer to Remus’ face. “Life is precious.”

Remus’ hand reached up from behind his back, grabbing onto the hair at the back of the man’s head and slamming his face into the cold tile of the floor. Blood pooled around Barty’s face. He definitely wasn’t dead, but he would stay unconscious for a bit, allowing Remus time to untie his feet.

By the time Barty woke up, he was securely tied to one of the metal chairs of the locker room, his broken nose gushing blood over his face and down his still bare chest. His eyes were locked onto Remus, the only sound coming out of his mouth being slight winces and gasps.

The doctor slightly smiled at the small look of regret on the man’s face, and he couldn’t help but agree with him.

“He used you.” Remus almost laughed; Sirius was playing the game.

“No,” Barty’s voice was rough, his head shaking a miniscule amount before he cried out in pain and immediately stopped the motion. “No, we’re snakes.”

“No, you’re really not.” He watched the pathetic man writhe before him, observing as he tried to believe that his ‘friend’ hadn’t betrayed him. Remus felt the euphoria and anticipation for the kill bubbling in his chest. “You don’t truly know Sirius, but I do…You are a test for me. A gift.”