Consequences Duo
[Early-December 1933]
Severus appeared on the threshold of the Riddles residence, and wasted no time barging in. He ignored the bewildered servants, mildly surprised to find the door unlocked, but paid it no particular mind.
He stalked down the corridor, and threw open the door connecting into the living room. The stench of fresh blood hit his nose almost immediately—-
“Oi! What do you think you’re doing?”
—but it was nothing compared to what he was used to.
He swept his gaze across the room, briefly pausing over the few noticeable details in the scene: Shattered glass, alcohol splattered across the walls. A woman lay sprawled across the floor, unconscious— or perhaps dead. He paused his examination when his gaze landed on the figure next to the woman.
Severus narrowed his eyes.
“Hey! You have no business here, so get the fuck out of my house!”
Severus calmly started towards the pair, expression completely stoic.
“Wait a minute, you’re that fucking freak that did that shitty magic business on me, aren’t you?”
Severus’ steps didn’t falter.
“I swear if you take onemore step—”
He continued on his path.
The other man in the room growled, and raised his arm, moving to throw the object in his hand. But before it even left his fingertips— CRASH — the beer bottle shattered right in his face.
The man sputtered, beer now dripping all over him. “What the— you, you dare to use that–that thing against me, again?!”
Severus just calmly lowered his wand, as if nothing had happened, and elegantly knelt down next to the woman— Riddle’s mother—, careful to avoid the blood pooling beneath her head, and pressed two fingers into her neck.
“Oi! Don't you dare ignore me here, you worthless piece of shit! I’m your biggest threat, here— you've wronged me, and now you've got to pay the goddamned price!” The other man roared, spit flying everywhere, his fist already tightening over the neck of yet another beer bottle.
Severus made no reaction, silently removing his fingers from the woman’s neck. He shifted his attention to the small figure kneeling next to the woman.
The small boy— Riddle— was clutching his mother’s hand, eyes wide, glimmering with tears that refused to fall— that couldn’t fall.
Severus watched the kid, and his cold expression, which hadn’t changed since he entered the room, softened ever so slightly. He lowered his head slightly, in slight condolences.
“You ignorant little— take this then!” The other man— Riddle Senior— snarled, hurling yet another bottle at Severus.
Severus sighed, standing up. He swiftly raised his hand, using wandless summoning magic to easily catch the bottle that was thrown at him, before drawing his wand and flicking it, promptly vanishing the object.
Severus turned to face Riddle Senior, glaring daggers at the man. Riddle Senior growled in return.
“You— you think you’re so high and mighty, don’t you, with that stupid stick and freakish magic nonsense,” he sneered at Severus, already reaching into the cabinet next to him to grab another bottle.
Unfortunately for him, the beer bottle that he had grabbed was almost instantly jerked out of his hand, smashing into millions of pieces onto the floor, and Riddle Senior glowered at Severus with pure contempt.
Severus narrowed his eyes, briefly studying the man, before expertly moving his wand in a slashing motion in the other’s direction. The dozens of alcohol bottles next to the man almost instantly exploded, resulting in a loud ‘CRASH’.
Riddle Senior flinched unintentionally, blood dripping from various cuts that the shattered glass pieces had made, but still remained standing where he was, expression defiant.
Lowering his wand, Severus started towards the unsightly man, face showing nothing but enmity. Riddle Senior sub-consciously took a step back. He glared at Severus, breathing hard.
“Don’t you— don’t you dare take another step, or I swear, I will– I will–” the man’s eyes darted around as he took yet another step back, arms reaching out around him, groping blindly.
Severus kept stalking towards Riddle Senior, wand and hands clasped behind his back. He only stopped, a few metres away from the man, when Riddle Senior had thrust out a piece of broken glass in front of him, arm shaking.
Severus passively observed the other man, eyeing him.
Does he believe that that piece of glass will… Severus had never been so unimpressed. Even those idiots at Hogwarts were smarter than this, and the bar was pretty low.
“Step–step away, now, or I’ll attack you, you fucking freak,” Riddle Senior hissed, jabbing the glass shard at Severus.
Raising an eyebrow, Severus took a step forward. Riddle Senior took a step back. Severus took another step forward. The other took another step back. Or half-step, really, for he had now foolishly backed himself into a wall, a fact that the idiot of a man had noticed far too late.
Severus observed, more unamused than irritated at this point.
Riddle Senior’s eyes widened, his head jerking around in panic, free hand feeling around for a possible exit, but there were none. Finding nothing else, he gripped onto the liquor cabinet next to him like his life depended on it.
The Senior Riddle gulped.
“I-I said s-step away, you weirdo— You haven’t seen what I can do just yet— and you don't want to know!” The man threatened, voice not nearly as steady as it was before.
Severus considered his next course of action.
Of course, he would’ve liked to deal with this bundle of problems right then and there, but… Severus glanced back to where Riddle was, too upset to notice what was occurring around him.
Severus sighed. He couldn’t leave the kid there and carry on as if there wasn’t a child in the room. Riddle was already traumatized enough, and he would rather not add on to that trauma— he wasn't that heartless.
His gaze flicked back to Riddle Senior, who was trying to inch along the wall, towards the doorway. He instantly spotted that Severus had noticed him, and, to Severus’ slight surprise, he bolted.
Unfortunately for Riddle Senior, he was up against a wizard, and an experienced duellist at that, who's reflexes were much more than a pampered individual such as him could’ve handled.
As expected, in no more than a second Severus had his wand up and Riddle Senior was lying on the floor, bound in ropes around his waist and arms, wrists, and ankles, writhing against them futilely.
Severus stepped up to Riddle Senior, and raised his eyebrows mockingly.
“How does it feel, Riddle, to be the powerless one for once?” Severus asked, tone dripping with disdain. The man in question growled, baring his teeth.
“You— don’t you underestimate me, you freak! I swear, once I escape, I will — mmph!” Riddle Senior was unceremoniously cut off by a cloth appearing and tying itself around his mouth, effectively gagging him.
Severus leaned down closer towards the man, expression aloof. “Well. Let us not be hasty— I shall deal with you later.” And with that he straightened himself and pivoted around, heading back towards the younger Riddle, leaving the Senior Riddle not-so-quietly thrashing about.
Riddle was still in the same position as he was before, clutching his mother’s hand ever so tight, as if it would help to bring her back.
Severus stood awkwardly for a moment, staring down at the child, not quite sure on how to proceed.
I am not the most suited for this sort of thing, he thought, softly exhaling as he tucked his wand into his coat pocket and crouched down next to the trembling kid. The other professors are far more capable in these situations.
Pursing his lips, he hesitated for a second before trying to place his hand on Riddle’s shoulder. It seemed to be the natural thing to do in this situation, seeing how Minerva usually did as such whenever she was consoling distressed students.
Yet, much to his consternation, as soon as his hand came into contact with Riddle’s shoulder, it was almost instantly thrown off by the boy himself, who was now looking at him, eyes wide and afraid. Severus simply stared back, hand hanging in mid-air.
They watched each other for a while, Severus mildly concerned and unsure on how to respond, before Riddle eventually turned back to face his mother, looking just as helpless as before.
There was some glimmer of recognition in the boy’s eyes, Severus noticed, but Riddle didn’t seem to quite fully acknowledge his presence, likely too shocked to focus on much else at the moment.
Severus observed Riddle for a while longer, feeling that strange but all too familiar tug at his chest. He reached out his arm once more, hesitating for another moment, before gently placing it on the boy's shoulder.
He was ready for the kid to throw him off again, but to his surprise, there was no such gesture. He gently squeezed the kid’s shoulder. Riddle flinched slightly, which made Severus almost immediately let go, but he ultimately didn’t move.
Severus slowly inched towards Riddle, careful not to startle the child. He gingerly slipped his hands around the child’s small form, closely observing for any negative reaction. Much to his relief, there was none.
He scooped Riddle up, surprised at how easily he did it.
There was a small sound of protest from Riddle, and he paused for a split second, but forced himself to hold on to the kid. If he wanted to apparate away, carrying the small child was probably the safest method.
Riddle was reaching for his mother’s hand, one that was now lying limp on the ground. His lips were trembling, eyes watering up dangerously quick. Severus exhaled softly.
“Riddle, it is alright, everything is alright now.” Severus tried comforting the kid, grimacing internally at his stiff tone. It didn’t seem to quite help, as suspected, with Riddle still feebly groping in his mother’s direction. He tried something else.
“It is… quite alright. I am here now,” Severus murmured, not sure what drove him to say as such, but in some sense it sounded…right.
The small boy in his arms stayed quiet, arm limp. Severus wondered if he had said the wrong thing, and was about to attempt to rectify it, when Riddle let out a choked sob, and buried his face in Severus’ trench cloak, sniffling softly.
Severus froze for a fraction of a second, before consciously forcing himself to relax. He didn't know what to do at this point, but it wasn't the priority at the moment. As long as Riddle was compliant, it was good enough for him. He just needed to get Riddle somewhere else, safe.
He looked up to confirm that Riddle Senior was still in place, and there he was, still wriggling and thrashing about, just as he was before. The gag didn't really help with muting Riddle Senior, and Severus was beginning to regret not just using a silencing charm.
Just as he was about to apparate away, someone peeking through the doorway leading into the room caught his eye.
Severus’ eyes darted to the person in question, narrowing them suspiciously. His free hand slipped into his pocket, fingers curling around the grip of his wand, ready to use it should there be a need to.
She looked to be a servant, based on the attire that she was wearing, and she was staring at him, eyes wide and mouth agape, in something akin to disbelief and slight awe.
Severus drew his wand, preparing to cast an obliviate on the woman. He could not let anyone who witnessed what had just occurred run free. That would clearly be dangerous for the Wizarding World, and more importantly him, in more ways than one.
Yet just as he was about to cast the spell, the woman clasped her hands together and bowed to him, as if she was…thanking him?
Severus eyed her speculatively.
Was this a ploy to make him let his guard down? He observed the servant’s expression closely, before easing suspicion minutely. He had seen countless fake fronts that others put up, and, as far as he could tell, her expression was not one of them.
He nodded curtly in reply, shifting his gaze to Riddle Senior, before pinning the servant with a hard stare once more. The woman gave one glance at the tied up man on the ground, and bowed once more to Severus, in concession to his request.
Severus gave a final nod of acknowledgement, swiftly casting a tracking charm on the woman, as a precaution, before securing his hold of the still sniffling child in his arms.
And, pivoting sharply on his heel, Severus disapparated.
________
Severus appeared in his room at the leaky cauldron.
He quickly glanced down to check on Riddle. The kid was lying limp in his arms, eyes closed. Severus felt his heart seize for just a moment.
Had he misjudged Riddle’s condition? Was he too fragile for apparition?
He hastened to check for Riddle’s pulse, and breathed a silent sigh of relief when he felt the steady beat of the kid’s heart. It seemed as though Riddle was just passed out from the sudden displacement. Nothing quite so serious.
Severus strode over to his bed, and gently laid Riddle on it, careful not to jostle him awake. He quickly cleaned the mess on his cloak, before summoning the chair across the room to him, and tiredly lowering himself down onto it.
Leaning against the backrest, Severus closed his eyes, processing what had just occurred.
That was certainly one way for things to play out, Severus thought, sighing. Thank Merlin I had gotten there in time, else… He wasn’t in the mood to toy with the possibility.
Although, he conceded, opening his eyes, I wouldn’t exactly say ‘in time’, with… Severus glanced at the slumbering form on the bed, face still contorted with grief, even in his sleep.
Ironic, dying at the hands of the very person that ‘loves’ her, Severus thought, pursing his lips.
It was unfortunate that Riddle’s mother had to suffer the fate that she did, yet it felt quite justifiable that she received such a fate, if Severus was honest with himself.
Letting her own child be abused was a sin on its own, and to let it carry on for years, knowingly? That was just vile.
Severus was somewhat glad, truth to be told, that Riddle's mother died the way that she did. And not entirely due to her poor life choices.
From what he deduced in that short time frame, it was clear that Riddle Senior was advancing on the younger Riddle throughout the entire duration, up until Severus had arrived on the scene.
Yet, if the man was really left to his own devices with the beer bottle unobstructed, the child would not have been alive by the time he had arrived. But the fact that Riddle was still conscious, as well as how Riddle's mother was lying across the floor in front of him — injured from blunt force trauma, based on the visible wound and shattered glass around her, there was one likely explanation.
Riddle's mother was actually shielding Riddle from his father in some fashion, probably for once in her life. And yet the worst possible outcome for her in that scenario had played out. Severus snorted. How unfortunate.
It was ridiculous to Severus, how it had taken the woman several years to work up the courage to do what she did in that moment. To stand up just once. But he supposed it was somewhat applaudable nonetheless.
Severus sighed. At the very least it left a relatively positive impression on her son, if his reaction told him anything, despite the…unfavourable circumstances.
And speaking of unfavorable circumstances… Severus crossed his arms and gazed down at Riddle. Whatever am I going to do with this child?
Severus had somewhat acted on impulse, bringing Riddle back with him, but now that he was here, what was he to do?
Leave the child at an orphanage? Alter his memory?
Severus wrinkled his nose at the thought. He wasn't sure why, but he didn’t quite like either idea, or not enough to have them be one of the first choices.
Although if that were out of the picture, what else was there? Severus frowned.
There was adoption, but he felt that looking for a foster home for the child was not really the most suitable option, be it a muggle or wizarding family.
Severus wasn’t quite comfortable letting a wizarding child be adopted into a muggle family, even a half-blood. Who knows what could happen if the foster parents suddenly found out that their adopted child had magical abilities?
Were he their biological child perhaps there was a chance, but look what happened with Riddle’s own parents. He couldn’t rule out the possibility that the same thing wouldn’t happen as with foster parents.
On the other end of the spectrum, Wizarding adoption was off the table as well. He had no recollection of there being Wizarding adoptions, even in the 1900s, aside from blood adoption.
Even then that was under extremely strict regulation, implemented long before the 1300s, due to it being blood magic, which according to the ministry was classified under ‘Dark magic’.
Thus, many wizarding families were naturally reserved about performing such a ritual, due to both the massive amounts of paperwork as well as the widespread fear and poor misconception of the magic.
Severus sighed, tilting his head back.
Well, there was always the option of looking after Riddle himself, but Severus found himself a tad…apprehensive about the idea.
He didn’t quite mind the idea of having to look after the kid, much to his own surprise. But was more concerned about whether he was qualified enough to do so.
Severus was hardly someone who could look after a child, and had never found himself willing to do so before, so how was he to know if it was best for Riddle to stay with him of all people, even if it were ephemeral?
He absentmindedly rubbed the dark mark on his forearm.
Would it be right for him to even do so? He could hardly qualify as one to properly care for a child. He never even had the best childhood— Severus grimaced at the thought. It was quite similar to Riddle’s in a sense.
Severus shifted his gaze to the child lying on the bed. He was moving around in his sleep, tossing and turning. Severus frowned, slightly concerned.
Is he having unpleasant dreams? I can’t exactly give him a dreamless sleep potion at the moment…
He watched Riddle closely for a while more, until the kid finally lay still, chest slowly rising and falling. Severus sighed.
Well, he decided, I suppose it is alright for Riddle to stay with me temporarily, until I can figure out a better place for him to stay. It shouldn't be too much of an problem. Although, I do have another problem to attend to…
Severus narrowed his eyes. Yes, he was rather looking forward to dealing with this issue. He straightened himself and stood up in one swift motion.
Glancing over to make sure Riddle was still sound asleep, Severus conjured a blanket— white this time— and let it drape over Riddle's curled up body. He cast a quick charm over Riddle to alert him should there be anything wrong, before safely tucking away his wand and adjusting his coat.
As he observed the kid’s peaceful form, his gaze hardened.
“I'm sorry, kid,” Severus murmured, turning away. “But there can't be any more second chances.”
And he disapparated with a muffled crack.
________
Severus appeared directly in the living room of the Riddle household.
Looking around, he found that the servant from earlier was still in the room, standing quite a ways away from Riddle Senior, watching the tied up man intently. From all the way across the room, in fact.
Severus raised an eyebrow. Apparently Riddle Senior’s special treatment wasn’t quite so special.
The servant jerked her head around at the sound of his appearance, posture immediately alert. But the moment she noticed who he was, she relaxed, bowing to acknowledge his presence, an action which Severus chose to ignore.
Riddle Senior had stopped his ridiculous thrashing at this point, in favour of glaring at Severus as intensely as he could from his position. Although being tied up while doing so wasn't as intimidating as he probably would've liked.
Severus simply narrowed his eyes in response to the taunt, expression calm and aloof.
“Hm. I suppose there is no need to question the obvious, but he hasn’t tried anything of note in the past hour or so, has he?” Severus addressed the servant, keeping his eyes on Riddle Senior.
“No sir.”
“Well, I thank you for your services, miss.” Severus nodded graciously to the woman. She bowed back before excusing herself. As she turned to leave, Severus spoke up again.
“One more thing, miss.”
The servant paused in her tracks and turned back to face him.
“Yes, sir?”
“I would rather it if neither you nor your dear colleagues listening in spread around any of what has occurred here, or the events that will proceed,” he turned to the servant, who’s eyes widened upon hearing his words.
There was a distinct scrambling from behind one of the doors leading into the room he was in.
Severus raised his eyebrows innocently. “I do not believe that any of you would like to explore what would happen in that scenario, yes?” The servant hastily shook her lowered head. “I would imagine so. Now, please, don’t let me stop you,” he finished, turning his back to the woman.
He stood, listening to the woman's quickly receding footsteps. The door behind him gently creaked open and he heard it softly shut, but the commotion that followed afterwards was not quite as discreet.
He waited, slightly amused at the whispers, which were almost comically loud, whilst staring down at Riddle Senior, who was still glaring at him unsuccessfully.
Fortunately, his warning seemed to have worked, for a few moments later the noises ceased, and it was quiet outside. He assumed that all the servants who were eavesdropping were gone by now, but he cast a homenum revelio just to be sure.
“Well then, now that we’re on our own, we can enjoy ourselves, just the two of us,” Severus smirked at the other man, who was once again jerking on the ropes tied around him.
He sighed.
“You do realise that your struggles are utterly pointless? But then again, I don’t expect someone like you to grasp the gravity of the situation. You don’t have much experience in this position, do you?” Severus raised an eyebrow. Riddle Senior just glowered at him, not really capable of doing much else.
Severus continued.
“Yes, it is quite a feat you have managed here, Riddle, I shall be completely honest with you.” Severus started pacing back and forth, wand in his hands clasped behind his back. “You certainly have caught my attention— though not for anything admirable, mind you. I do hope that you are feeling proud of yourself at this moment.”
“There aren’t many things that aggravate me enough to be dealt with personally. A simple poison would’ve been enough for a muggle like you, but what you have done, Riddle,” Severus paused and turned his head to pin Riddle Senior with a hard stare, “is just too far.”
Riddle Senior’s heated blue gaze followed Severus as he continued to pace.
“The bar in my book was already so low, Riddle, that it was a tripping hazard in the place you muggles call Hell. Yet here you are, beating ‘the devil himself’ at a limbo contest.” He shook his head, ignoring Riddle Senior’s unspoken threat.
“You must be ever so impressed with yourself, beating the worst being in your religion. Don’t give me that look, Riddle,” Severus narrowed his eyes at Riddle Senior’s indignant expression, “I do know what I am saying.”
“Now,” Severus said, halting his pacing to face Riddle Senior, “let us get to the root of the problem, shall we?” He raised his wand and pointed it directly at the other. “You.”
Riddle Senior’s eyes widened, body wriggling in an attempt to distance himself from Severus.
Severus smirked. “There is no need to rush. We have plenty of time to ourselves. Although you will have to hold on for just a moment,” he turned his wand to face the walls of the room, and expertly cast a few wards around the room, most notably a silencing ward.
“Excellent. Now, back to you.” Severus pivoted to face Riddle Senior, pointing his wand at the man once again.
“I have been rambling on for quite some time, haven’t I? Much more than I usually do, in fact. But a conversation doesn’t quite work with just one person, so here’s a favour from me.” And with a quick flick of his wand, the gag around Riddle Senior’s mouth vanished.
Riddle Senior appeared to be momentarily shocked at the sudden change, moving his mouth around, but the moment quickly passed, and he wasted no time in lashing out at Severus. With some rather interesting choice of words.
“You—what did you do you freak, let me go this instant! You think that you have the fucking right to do this, to me!? You fucking weirdo, stop this shit right now— when I get out, you’re gonna regret it, so fucking bad you won’t be able to—mmph!” He tried to move his mouth, but it was sealed shut.
“Tsk. Such use of profanities is not encouraged here, Mr Riddle. You should really know better.”
Riddle Senior silently glared up at Severus, who was shaking his head. “The inner professor in me just could not quite take it. Let us take care of that awfully contaminated mouth of yours, shall we?” Severus raised his wand once more with cool detachment, eyes glimmering with contempt.
“Scourgify.”
The effects took place instantly, causing him to descend into a coughing fit, choking on the soap foam filling his mouth. Riddle coughed, hacked, and jerked his body around, while Severus stood there, smirking.
“It is rather ‘neat’, isn’t it? A multitude of spells have dual uses, it is quite fascinating.” Severus twirled his wand. “ Although I must give credit where credit is due, this little trick was inspired by another individual, one quite similar to yourself in fact.” Severus scowled at the memory.
“Don’t you—cough—”
“How I despise people like you,” Severus continued. “Putting others down just for the sake of it. Sadistic? Not quite— at the very least people of your sort are not that low yet— Bully is the word, yes, you bullies are vile.”
“Who the fucking hell are you to say anything you freak— you’re just a weirdo with a stupid—ack!”
“What did I say about profanities, Riddle?” Severus tsked, his fingered idly tracing his wand. “Rather unbecoming of an individual. Yet then again, you were a rather pathetic excuse of a man in the first place, so there isn’t much of a difference, is there?” He smirked at Riddle’s glower, which was not achieving much, seeing how he was choking on soap while doing so. It in fact made Severus feel like laughing.
“You—cough—are fucking retarded—cough cough—” Riddle Senior descended again into a coughing fit, scowling the best he could all the while.
“This is barely good enough for an appetizer, Riddle, did you really think that was horrible? Ha, ” Severus scoffed, “ha, haha, ha!” He slowly started to chuckle, all the while Riddle Senior kept hacking away, face a bright shade of red.
“What—cough—the shit is—cough cough—so funny about—ack—this?!” Riddle growled (or gurgled, really), still actively foaming at the mouth.
“What’s so funny? Well, let me just enlighten you, Riddle,” Severus said lightly, stepping towards the man, ignoring the soapy puddle around him, “ it’s you. You’re a joke, Riddle. A genuine terrible one, to top it off.”
“I’m not a joke you—”
“No?” Severus cut in, his tone still uncomfortably light. “Genuinely, the only thing more laughable than your threats are how much you seem to think they work.”
“I’m—cough— no laughing stock—cough cough— freak! I—cough— am a powerful—”
“Powerful? Are you certain about that?” Severus scoffed. “From what I see, you’re the one that’s tied up, helpless andpowerless.”
Severus lowered his tone, voice dripping with contempt. “It is the irony, Riddle, that is what makes you quite the laughing stock. Because you see, or what you desperately fail to see, is that you’ve been doing the very same thing as I am right now. For years.”
“Don’t you dare group me with your lot, you goddamned freaks,” Riddle Senior hissed, the cleaning spell seeming to have finally worn off. “I—"
“ —you abused a child. Your child, in fact, which I feel ever so sorry for that he had you as a father. In fact,” Severus pinned the man with a cold stare, “I am sorry that your parents had a terrible offspring such as yourself.”
“Cut the crap! He deserved the shit I did to him— You goddamned shithead have no right to talk to me like that! Do you know who I am?!” Riddle Senior snarled, baring his teeth.
“Are you someone important? I honestly would’ve given a sheet of parchment more credit than you.” Severus stated apathetically, fingering his wand yet again.
“Shut up! Let me go you fucking bastard! You’ll regret this— just you wait!” The man once again started pulling at his bindings, even attempting to bite through them. Severus watched on, unamused.
Well, the wheel is spinning up there, but the niffler’s long dead, Severus thought to himself, starting to question why he even bothered to come personally in the first place.
After a solid few seconds, Severus had already grown tired of watching the vacuous attempt at breaking free. He just silently pointed his wand at Riddle Senior, and mustered up the smallest amount of hate in him.
Crucio.
Riddle froze for a moment. Time seemed to stand still, but not a moment later—
“AARRGHHH”He began thrashing about again, but this time, not as an escape attempt.
Severus watched on, expression carefully blank, but there was an unmistakable glimmer of satisfaction in his eyes. “Well, isn’t this a refreshing change of pace?” He commented, his wand still raised.
Riddle Senior writhed around on the wooden floor, screaming in agony as the curse did its work. It felt as though his entire body was on fire, as though his organs were being twisted in every way, shape and form, as though his entire nervous system was being electrocuted again and again. There was no other way to describe it. It was pure suffering.
“Stop it—STOP IT!” Riddle Senior screamed, face contorted in anguish.
Severus contemplated the man convulsing in obvious pain on the floor.
“Should I?” He asked, making no move to pause the spell. “You seem to be rather enjoying yourself, are you not?” He was replied with agonising screams. Severus smirked. “I should’ve executed this when I had the first chance to— how unfortunate.”
Severus waited a few more seconds before simply lifting his wand. Instantly, the other stopped all movement, and lay limp on the floor, panting hard.
“That’s it for now— I do not want to kill you just yet, after all.”
Riddle Senior didn't respond, breathing ragged and irregular, limbs twitching from the after effects of the curse. Severus leaned in slightly, upper lip curled.
“How does it feel then? To be on the receiving end of this treatment,” Severus sneered, his wand still poised. Riddle Senior just glowered at him.
“You’re fucking sick, you shitty bastard.” He scowled weakly, body still twitching every now and again. Severus merely raised an eyebrow.
“That might’ve offended me, if I cared what you think,” Severus replied simply, studying the man. “But does it offend you, I wonder, that the ‘bastard’ you are referring to is really just yourself?”
“For god’s sake— you're going back to that freak again?” Riddle Senior wheezed, his tone still managing to convey disgust. “He deserved every little bit of what he got, that fucking little shit, with that stupid magic nonsense, being a danger to humans, to me. I was doing humanity justice, goddamn it!”
“Ah, yes. The ‘victim’ narrative,” Severus sneered. “That is rich, coming from you, having victimised an innocent child—”
“I didn’t victimise anyone! What I did— and what I will do to you when I get out of here— was fucking right. Freaks like your sort have no right to live,” Riddle Senior retorted, expression defiant.
Severus’ lip curled in disdain.
“Do you even understand the severity of what you've done?” Severus took a step towards the man. “Do you understand how much pain you’ve cost that child? How much suffering?”
He took a step closer.
“Do you?”
Riddle Senior glowered at him, mouth opening to answer, but Severus cut him off, voice low.
“No, you don’t.”
He eyed Riddle Senior, hands clasped behind his back. “That’s the problem with people like you. You think that just because you have some semblance of authority, you’re above it all. That the consequences don’t apply.” His voice dropped. “But that’s where you’re wrong.”
“Fucking shut up, weirdo—you don’t deserve to give me a lecture—”
“Oh, this isn’t a lecture, Riddle.” Severus’ tone was light once more, but had a sinister undertone. “This is a wake-up call.”
He crouched down, jabbing his wand into Riddle Senior’s neck, who was straining just to get as far as possible with his limited movement. Severus spoke in a low voice, barely a whisper, expression hard.
“You hurt an innocent kid, Riddle. A kid that did nothing to you, who just wanted to please you, who never complained about what you did to him. A kid who did nothing to deserve what you put him through. And yet,” Severus twisted the wand deeper into Riddle Senior’s neck, “you walk around like you’ve done nothingwrong. Like you’re untouchable.”
“Argh— Get the hell away from me you freak!” Riddle Senior yelled, writhing around once again, spit flying everywhere. Severus stood up and stepped back, face twisted in disgust. He flicked his wand and cleaned himself, but that didn’t stop him from feeling absolutely repulsed.
“Merlin,” he muttered to himself, wrinkling his nose at the man thrashing on the floor.
“Let. Me. OUT!Don’t you— I’ll call the cops on you when I’m through with you, and you’ll learn your goddamn lesson, you’ll fucking see,” Riddle Senior sneered, all the while pulling on the rope around him. Severus arched an eyebrow.
“I’m not the one going to learn a lesson today, Riddle. And if it wasn’t already clear enough for your pathetic mind who is,” Severus casually studied his wand, before his gaze snapped back down to Riddle Senior. “You are.”
“Shut the goddamn hell up— When I get out of this, you’re gonna get what you deserve! You’re gonna cry, and beg for me to—”
“Beg?” Severus’ voice was calm, deceptively calm, but there was a glimmer of contempt in his eyes. “How quaint. You think I’ll beg to you, a pathetic excuse of a man who can’t even extricate himself from simple, tied rope? How your overconfidence astounds me.”
“I’m fucking way better than you could ever be, you asshole, I—” Riddle Senior paused, seeing what Severus had just summoned. He swallowed unintentionally. “What— what are you doing—”
“What am I doing?” Severus gripped a beer bottle in his left hand, feeling its weight. “Simply paying back the favour, of course.”
He stepped forward. Riddle jerked back, skidding across the floor. “Get away from me, you bastard,” Riddle growled, baring his teeth. Severus raised an eyebrow.
“Interesting. You show minimal fear to magic, yet when I pull out a physical weapon, you react with such conviction.” Severus tilted his head, narrowing his eyes speculatively. “Is it because you are familiar with how these work? How they feel? Because you have such experience with these?”
Severus took another step forward.
Riddle Senior wriggled even further away. “You— you don’t want to mess with me, fucker! Y-You’re—”
“ —going to regret this, yes, as you have said multiple times before.” Severus sighed, flexing his fingers around the bottle in one hand, wand held in the other. “But, as I have said multiple times before,” he took a step closer to Riddle. “I’m here to teach you a lesson.”
“Get away from me, you monster!” Riddle Senior spat as he tried to wriggle himself further away.
“Monster?” Severus scoffed. “You use that word easily, yet it is you who thrives on cruelty, is it not?” He shook his head. “ You should at least try to expand your array of insults. These mediocre ones can get quite repetitive.”
Riddle Senior’s eyes widened when he felt his back thud against the wall. He glared weakly up at Severus.
“Y-you get away! You don’t scare me, fucking w-weirdo!” He stammered, eyes constantly flicking between Severus and the beer bottle in his hand. an emotion other than anger finally showing through.
Severus tsked, waving the beer bottle in the air, making Riddle recoil further. “I don’t need to scare you, Riddle. Fear is already inside you. You underestimate fear— it can destroy you from within.”
He let a malicious smile dawn his face.
“I wonder what other lovely devices you’ve used on that dear, innocent child,” Severus commented, words not matching his tone in the slightest. “It would be rather fun to find out how those feel, don’t you agree?”
Severus took a third step forward, eyes glinting. “I believe this has dragged on for far too long. It’s time we finally stop the pleasantries, don’t you think so?” Severus held up the beer bottle, smirking. “We can finally get down to business.”
Riddle Senior’s eyes widened, desperately jerking at his bindings as Severus stepped closer.
“Step away— step away now, you fre— AARGHHHHHH”
To be continued