I don't own Harry Potter or any other characters. I sure wish I did.
Chapter 1: Forced Musings
Harry gazed at the cold eyes in front of him.
A dark eyebrow raised in mockery. "No insults, no questions, no gnashing of teeth?"
Harry didn't look at the man.
"I do not know you; I do not hate you; there are no answers that I'd be interested in"
"Is that so?" the deep voice whispered. "We shall see about that".
"What do you want? I can hardly be of great importance to you. I am reduced to ashes and I await the moment I am swept away. Perhaps you'd do the honours?"
"So poetic, Potter, so poetic. Such a shame only I bear witness."
"It is isn't it?"
Snape smiled nastily.
"There is rumour that the Dark Lord is to visit his stronghold tonight Potter. Imagine that. All of the students are to line up and await inspection… what do you think he'll make of you? Hmm."
I should imagine he'd think I was lousy at potions. You do tell me so often".
"I do don't I?"
"Hear something that often and you're inclined to believe it."
Snape smirked.
"I assure you your lack of magical talent is nothing fictitious. Your father was the same, cared only for games. Your mother though," he sighed wistfully, "such a shame she was a mudblood".
Harry didn't respond.
"I've heard things too, professor. Such witty stories the portraits tell, of young slytherins losing their way in the nights. I'm hardly surprised Pettigrew joined the Death Eaters. He wouldn't risk losing his fuck buddy… nobody else would shag him".
Snape's face paled.
"Is that so? I should imagine many stories get distorted, especially by the gossipers this school has seen".
"But you see, it doesn't matter. We both know no one else would care and I'll be dead as soon as old Tom sees fit to see me off. It is overdue. I almost wish he'd just managed to hit the target when I was one, save us all a lot of bother, even you."
"How selfless of you. Gryffindors are so noble".
"You misunderstand Professor. It is entirely selfish. Your own happiness would merely be a by-product. Tom might have just killed you off though, what use is a spy when you rule everything? Perhaps it would suit you to keep me alive a little longer?"
"I hardly think so"
"Neither do I. This world seems old to me. I wish only to have seen it in its youth, to have looked upon open valleys, scores of children running the fields and not one Death eater in sight. Wouldst that all of us could see such days?"
"Perhaps such days await you, after the visit; I should hate to think of Harry Potter unhappy in death after such a gruelling existence."
"I should think it would make you very happy"
"Not at all, for if such fate awaits you, what hope have I? I tire of these games. I wish I had the courage to kill you now, but I would follow you to the grave with great and fearsome speed."
"I imagine you would. You don't fancy coming along for the ride?"
"Not especially. The Dark Lord's ire is a terrible thing to behold. I should much prefer to see it on your side of the Quidditch Pitch".
"I loved flying. It was like I was no longer part of the world. I wonder if death shall feel as flying does. I should be very happy with that."
"I doubt it will then. No man should be happy. It does not seem right while the rest toil away in their miseries."
"A welcome reprieve would lighten the way of all sorrows when they are seen"
"You are delusional Potter. How do you think he'll kill you?"
"Dramatically of course, a little speech about how he does not err twice and then fire the Killing Curse at me as if his own life depended on it, and then it either rebounds and I win or it doesn't and I die. Heads you live, tails you die. Or he'll give me a few crucios first, just to liven me up a bit. You know how he likes it."
"Oh I do. He'll have you writhing on the floor, begging for mercy"
"I should hate him to give it to me. I ask only what I am to be given, and to be given it only as I should".
"I think you a fool, Potter. The Crucio is not a curse to be taken lightly. I have things to do. Enjoy your feeble last hours."
"Goodbye Professor. You'd best pick up you best black robe, and put your blood repulsion charm on, just to be safe, eh."
"I thank you for your concern".
Snape pivoted and swept back into the castle as Harry's gaze remained fixed on the lake wondering if it really was possible to cheat death Again and again he had evaded it but never before had it been of his own undertaking. This would be different. This would be Harry Potter versus the Fates, and they weren't good odds. But he was going to die anyway. He might as well give it one last chance. He had nothing better to do. The grounds were warded especially for him. His entire magical signature was coded into them ensuring he did not wander over the borders and out to freedom. Hogwarts was no longer a sanctuary, but a jail cell, a comfortable one but a prison none the less.
His mentor Albus Dumbledore had been murdered as had his second and any other Order member that stood in the way, and Snape had seen it all, had watched it all with a quirk of the lips that Harry had hated. He had been cursed, tortured, burnt and broken but Harry still stood, stronger for it. Without a wand his magic had been fused anew as new channels opened as his blood spilled and wept for his aching bones, and Harry grew. Without his wand his magic found new ways to work, and so Harry had carefully healed, slowly and surely. He let nobody suspect for no one could know that his jail keeper had given him the power that was unknown by all, but him.