When Draco turns to face him, he looks him over more carefully. Snape hadn't been sleeping, but Draco had been. At least for a little while. His hair was just slightly ruffled, but more, there was that wild expression in his eyes, the sheen of his skin that suggested waking terror. Snape knew well why he took the potion, what drove him to that extreme. He didn't know the specifics, but he was well versed in fear. It didn't take much to imagine what Draco was experiencing.
Draco is standing near that uncomfortable chair, and it would be easy to change it for him into something more tolerable - he knows sitting still can't be comfortable even under the best of circumstances - but he doesn't. He's watching him shift and fidget, watching how his attention moves about the room before finally it raises to his face. Idly, Snape wonders just how red his behind still is…
He waits for Draco to speak, and then he does. Snape is silent for a moment, watching him as he shifts where he stands. It's clear it's a request even if it's not quite a question. He can see that Draco needs so much more than reagents. Otherwise, he wouldn't be here.
Finally, he gives a single nod and leaves the room, returning with a small vial in hand, held for him to see. He doesn't say the words, doesn't make it explicit, I knew you were coming and made this for you, but it's obvious all the same. It's a caring gesture, even if it might be enabling.
"All you had to do was ask," he says softly, turning the little stoppered vial over in his fingers. He spares it a glance as the candlelight catches the carved glass, and looks again to Draco.
"This isn't a cure," he says slowly, to make sure Draco was aware. It would keep the nightmares at bay temporarily, but they'd keep coming back, and eventually he would reach a tolerance, need more, and the effects would pile on each other… Snape didn't want to see Draco go down that road.
"But you can have it now if you need it." It's resting in his palm, free for the taking, and he's not looking away from Draco's pale blue eyes. "Or you could stay the night," he offers after a breath.
"Or you may have both," he adds. Later, they'll discuss choosing one or the other, but tonight is not the night for that.
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Draco is standing near that uncomfortable chair, and it would be easy to change it for him into something more tolerable - he knows sitting still can't be comfortable even under the best of circumstances - but he doesn't. He's watching him shift and fidget, watching how his attention moves about the room before finally it raises to his face. Idly, Snape wonders just how red his behind still is…
He waits for Draco to speak, and then he does. Snape is silent for a moment, watching him as he shifts where he stands. It's clear it's a request even if it's not quite a question. He can see that Draco needs so much more than reagents. Otherwise, he wouldn't be here.
Finally, he gives a single nod and leaves the room, returning with a small vial in hand, held for him to see. He doesn't say the words, doesn't make it explicit, I knew you were coming and made this for you, but it's obvious all the same. It's a caring gesture, even if it might be enabling.
"All you had to do was ask," he says softly, turning the little stoppered vial over in his fingers. He spares it a glance as the candlelight catches the carved glass, and looks again to Draco.
"This isn't a cure," he says slowly, to make sure Draco was aware. It would keep the nightmares at bay temporarily, but they'd keep coming back, and eventually he would reach a tolerance, need more, and the effects would pile on each other… Snape didn't want to see Draco go down that road.
"But you can have it now if you need it." It's resting in his palm, free for the taking, and he's not looking away from Draco's pale blue eyes. "Or you could stay the night," he offers after a breath.
"Or you may have both," he adds. Later, they'll discuss choosing one or the other, but tonight is not the night for that.