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It was your average day in Hogwarts. The empty seat at the Slytherin table where Osamu Dazai usually lounged and whined, it was breakfast, there would have been a dramatic entrance by now. Professor Severus Snape’s sharp eyes darted to the empty seat, and an involuntary twitch pulled at his mouth as his eyes narrowed....Dazai’s absence was unusual and deeply concerning.. Usually, the boy would be as dramatic as possible about his absence, ensuring all would know...but not this time.. his seemingly endless theatrics too quiet... he never missed a meal...not without a dramatic speech about the 'woes of existence' to irritate Snape.. the daily chatter throughout the hall, clanking of cutlery. Snape caught snippets of conversations...Eventually deciding he’d had enough of student gossip, ignoring the half-eaten plate of food in front of him as pushed himself up from the staff table. He paused when Minerva McGonagall glanced at him from her seat.
"Problem, Severus?" she asked, raising a brow ..."Merely a matter of ensuring my house doesn’t… collapse under idiocy," he replied bluntly. Her skeptical glance followed him as he swept out of the hall, his black robes billowing dramatically behind him....Severus's boots echoed in the cold dungeons as he made his way to the Slytherin common room. He didn’t bother with subtlety, shoving the door open to find a few students lounging about. They jumped to attention at his sudden entrance.
"Where is Mr. Dazai?" Snape demanded, his voice cold and clipped as he crossed his arms, and began to scowl.. ...The students exchanged nervous glances before one stammered, "How in the wizarding world would we know!!"... the other nodded, before speaking up "Mhm! he could be anywhere!"..her eyes rolled, "especially with such a reputation..."
"Do.. Not.. give me cheek. 5 points.. from Slytherin. Each.." Severus replied in a measured.. irritated tone, as his scowl deepened as he turned and strode toward the dormitories, muttering about how useless and stupid this generation was. He approached Dazai’s door and knocked sharply. "Mr. Dazai, open.. this door... at once..." No response. .. "If you’re indulging in.. one of your insufferable dramatics, I.. will not... hesitate.. to... deduct points." ...Still nothing. Snape’s irritation had just a small flicker of genuine concern. With a muttered "Alohomora..".. the door unlocked, and he pushed it open. The sight inside made his eye twitch. Dazai was curled up on his bed, his usually pale complexion, somehow, even paler. His lips were tinged with blue, and his breathing was shallow and labored. Beside him on the nightstand sat an empty glass, its rim stained with a faintly purple residue....Snape’s jaw tightened as he approached, his hands moving with practiced precision. He pressed two fingers to Dazai’s neck, finding a weak but present pulse.
"Foolish boy," Snape muttered under his breath, a flicker of unease in his dark eyes..if only for a moment... He pulled out his wand from his pocket and casted a diagnostic spell, 'Versis', his wand emitting a soft glow as it hovered over Dazai’s prone form. The results confirmed his suspicion: poisoning. Whether self-inflicted or otherwise was a question for later...he summoned a stretcher with a flick of his wand.. before casting another spell, 'Wingardium Leviosa', although nonverbally..Dazai levitating in front of him as he brought the boy to the medical wing, his cloak seemingly stiller than usual, ignoring the other students and there glances whilst he was on route their... as Severus entered with Dazai, Madam Pomfrey was already approaching them.
"One of yours, Severus?" she asked, motioning to an empty bed...."Unfortunately," Snape replied, his tone a mix of exasperation, annoyance and a hint of..worry. As they settled Dazai onto the bed, "Poisoning... probably self-inflicted ...knowing the brat.." Snape muttered...as Pomfrey began her work, administering a series of antidotes and potions. Snape lingered, his arms crossed and his expression unreadable.
"This isn’t the first time he’s landed himself here.." Pomfrey remarked, her voice tinged with concern. ..."No, it is not," Snape said darkly. "And I certainly doubt...that it will be the last." he rolled his eyes as he said that, knowing that this would probably happen again the same time next week...Thankfully, 2 Hours later, Dazai stirred, his eyes fluttering open. He winced as the light hit his eyes and let out a faint groan... Snape, who had been sitting in a nearby chair, straightened and fixed the boy with a piercing glare.
"Awake... at last, are we?" Snape drawled, his tone biting. "I trust... you’ll provide an... explanation... for this stupidity." ...Dazai’s lips curled into a weak smile. "Ah, Professor Snape. You’ve come to my funeral. How touching." . .. "Spare me your theatrics.." Snape snapped. "Was this an accident, or did you ...deliberately.. Ingest poison?" ...Dazai’s smile widened, it held his usual mischievous energy. “Does it matter?” he teased....Snape’s patience was wearing thin. "It matters... because I... have no desire to... fill out the paperwork... for a dead student, especially... one... as irritating.. as you."
Dazai chuckled weakly, the sound more wheeze than laugh. "Severus~, you wound me.. it would actually be such an honou-." ...Snape leaned forward, his voice cutting Dazai off, his tone low and dangerous. "You are a Slytherin... Mr. Dazai. We... do not.. waste our lives... on reckless stupidity... If.. you wish to endanger yourself.... do it outside of Hogwarts grounds, on your own time, not mine..." although for once, he didn't correct or deduct points from Dazai for using his name ...For a moment, Dazai’s mask slipped. A flicker of something raw and vulnerable passed across his face before he quickly masked it with another faint smile. "Understood, sir."
Snape stood, his robes swirling around him... "Rest... And.. finish your overdue Runes essay... for Professor Oleander before... he... decides to poison you himself.."... He gave Dazai a bowl of soup before he turned to leave, Dazai’s voice stopped him. "Professor… must you Ru-ne everything." Dazai sighed dramatically "so close..swept from beneath my feet..just out of reach"...Dazai tried a spoonful of the soup, his face scrunching up at the flavor(which wasn't as terrible as he was acting it was). "This soup is awful, my tastebuds are being assaulted here!".. Snape paused but did not turn around, rolling his eyes, although his voice softened for a moment "Quiet brat..such a problem child.." he said before sweeping out of the room.
Muttering a curse under his breath about ungratefulness and his own concern as he strolled to his quarters. His thoughts returned to Dazai, and for a fleeting moment, he wondered if perhaps.. just perhaps.. The boy’s theatrics were not entirely without reason, was it some cry for help, or attention?...if only he knew... The following morning, Dazai returned to breakfast, pale but upright, and immediately began lamenting the "tragic monotony of his life" to anyone who would listen... Snape’s glare pinned him in place..as the cycle continued as Snape sighed...
"Merlin help me," he muttered under his breath, already silently dreading the next shitstorm.