Author's Note: Just a short story that I thought about. Please read, review, and enjoy!
Yours always,
severussnape922
Disclaimer: I do not own any Harry Potter characters. I earn no profit from writing this.
I am a prisoner. A bird who flits between two cages, that restrict every thing that is worth living for.
One is the Dark. The Dark Lord can imprison even my soul, forcing me to do his bidding. He threatens with death and torture, with unmentionable things that would cause even the bravest of people to shudder with fright.
I am not a fool. I do his bidding because I have to, not because I want to. I know the consequences otherwise. I do so because I want to see the next sunset.
The other is the Light. Albus Dumbledore does not imprison my thoughts, my soul, because he knows that he has succeeded in doing so without even trying. He threatens me with kindness, with unbearable pride. Everything he threatens me with is foreign to my nature. But I still submit to his wishes willingly.
Why? I have no idea. I hate myself. I know that he treats me as no more than a dispensable tool, someone who has to be sacrificed for the greater good. But I still obey him.
The Dark Lord wants me to bow before him. And I do. Mostly because I want to save my own neck. But there is a shred of truth in the 'respectful' bow.
I do admire him. He has lethal, but finely controlled skill. His skill in magic is legendary even among the wizarding public. I also like the darkness around him. It is home to me, it is my haven.
Albus Dumbledore does not want me to bow before him. But I do. It is a matter of habit to me, and my bow is completely sincere.
You may wonder which of my two masters have more control over me. Well, the Dark Lord certainly controls me with an iron hand. Albus Dumbledore does not. But Albus has far more power over me than you may think. I am like a puppet, with my every move controlled by him.
The Dark Lord offers me riches, power... in short, everything that a person could wish for. Albus Dumbledore offers me nothing. I question myself about my sanity when I obey Dumbledore. Why do I spy for someone and put myself in mortal danger when I get nothing in return?
Why?