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Written for;
Hogwarts; Back To School; Severus Snape
Are You Crazy Enough; 180. Firewhiskey
Double Or Nothing
The rules had changed. It wasn't enough that he'd had to kill the only person who'd ever believed in him, now he had to allow for the torture of students he was supposed to be caring for.
Severus sipped at the firewhiskey in his hand, wishing he could neck the bottle, knowing that he couldn't. It wouldn't do for his thinking to be impaired at any moment until this was all over; one way or the other.
Either Potter would win, and Severus would be killed for his actions, or the Dark Lord would win and he'd be killed for his betrayal - the truth would come out eventually.
Severus was not fool enough to believe that he would make it to the end of this war. He'd done his best with a bad hand and a good poker face, but even the best bluffers had to fold eventually.
He cringed inwardly at comparing his life to a muggle game, but he supposed it was apt; his start in life had been sighing relief when his father gambled a winning game and dealing with bruises, be it his own or his mothers, if he had a losing streak.
He supposed, if he tried hard enough, he could trace his bad cards back to his father, but he was no such coward.
He could, and would, face the consequences of his own choices. He only hoped he would be around to see the brat conquer his lordship before he had to face life's dealer.
Perhaps if he threw a double or nothing… at least then, he would know he'd done all he could as he faced off an eternity in purgatory.