Challenge #21 The Time Turner Challenge…use one. :)
Title: Full Circle
Rating: PG
Author's Note: Severus Snape gets some unwelcome advice from an unsettling source.
"Full Circle"
Severus Snape stood outside a large stone building and rubbed his left arm thoughtfully. His thoughts spun wildly around in his head and the breath in his throat caught on the sizable lump that seemed to have formed out of nothing. He shifted his feet and brushed the lank hair from his eyes. This was the right decision…the only option…it would work out okay. What was he so nervous about? Malfoy had assured him that it didn't hurt…well not much anyway…and what difference did a little pain mean anyway?
He'd finally belong…he'd be a part of things…going places…be needed…useful…respected. He nodded his head firmly and dropped his arm to his side. Yes. This was the right decision.
As he took a step forward towards the building and made to enter, a hooded shape detached itself from the surrounding shadows and stepped forward to block his path. With a gasp, the teenager fumbled for his wand and threw himself backwards away from the menacing shape.
"Who are you? What do you want?" he questioned as firmly as he could manage, inwardly cringing at the slight vibrato that could be heard in his voice. "You'd better stay back or I'll curse you."
The dark figure stopped and stood very still. It simply looked at him quietly and a low somehow slightly familiar voice said softly, "I'm not here to harm you, Severus. I'm here to help you. I'm here to warn you. You're about to make the biggest mistake of your life."
Snape bristled and held his wand higher and tighter. His eyes narrowed. "What do you mean warn me? How do you know what I'm about to do anyway? Who are you?"
"Who I am doesn't matter. I know what you're about to do. And I know that you'll come to regret it. I hope to be able to spare you a lifetime of pain by stopping this reckless choice. Please, listen to me. This isn't the answer for you. Joining Voldemort's cause will only seal your doom."
Snape's mouth fell open and he stared openly at the hooded figure. "How do you know about that? I didn't tell anyone what I'd decided…that I was coming here today. How do you know?"
The hood shook back and forth sadly. "It doesn't matter…how I know. I do."
Snape frowned and lowered his wand but didn't pocket it again. "I've spent a lot of time thinking about this decision. It wasn't made lightly. This is the right place for me…the place where I'll fit in the best. All my friends belong…they're all happy about it…they've suddenly got more money…fancy clothes… Why shouldn't I have what my friends have?"
"Are they truly your friends, though…or do they only want to use you…to help themselves?"
The boy shrugged. "Everyone uses everyone else…it's the way things work. There's nothing wrong with that. Yes…I'm sure they're my friends…the only ones I have. They respect me…and my abilities. No one else does…not ever. They don't sneer at me…they accept me. If they have a use for me that just means that I'm a valuable asset to them…and they'll respect me all the more if I can continue to prove my value. If they can make use of what I can provide for them…so what?"
"What indeed," the voice whispered faintly. "What will you do for them? Do you even know what they want of you?"
Snape shook his head. "It doesn't matter. Whatever is necessary. Voldemort is a great man. He has a great vision. Wizard kind will be better…stronger… with his guidance. All we need is to convince the weak fools who constantly coddle the Muggles and hold us back. I can help him to prove his worth…to prove that his way of doing things is the right way. Under his guidance I'll be given greater freedom to work…without all the stupid rules and restrictions put on research by the old fools at the Ministry of Magic. I can create potions that will help wizards…that will keep us strong and vital…"
As the boy warmed to his theme, the hooded figure stepped closer and his voice rose sharp and strong. "No! Under his guidance…all you'll create is death…and horror. Voldemort doesn't care about the strength of wizard kind. He only cares about himself and how much power and influence he can amass. His grand vision is domination…not betterment. He doesn't want to show Muggles and the Muggleborn our superiority. He simply wants to exterminate them…to enslave them…and all the rest of wizard kind as well."
The voice dropped in volume as he saw the shock reflected in the young dark eyes. "You'll be nothing more than a pawn…a tool…a slave who will grovel in the dirt and call him Master. If you allow him to put that brand on your arm…your life will cease to be your own…you will belong to him body and soul for the rest of your life! Is that what you truly want? Think for yourself while you still have the chance. That mark isn't a badge of belonging and fraternity…it's a symbol of ownership…nothing more."
The boy stepped back from the dark intense figure with his unwelcome words and shook his head. "No. You're just trying to confuse me! Why should I listen to you? I don't even know who you are. I'm leaving."
As Severus stepped forward trying to go around the menacing figure, an arm shot out and a strong hand grabbed his arm in a viselike grip. The young man raised his eyes in fear to the hood as the other hand of the figure pulled it back to reveal the face he saw in the mirror every morning of his life…yet it wasn't quite the same. This face was lined and scarred with ancient eyes full of pain and suffering.
Horrified the boy gasped in confused fear. "Who…who are you?" he whispered.
"I'm your conscience. The one who knows that deep down inside you know that this is the wrong path for you to take. For once in your life don't be driven by hatred and anger and bitterness at the unfairness of your life. Don't let your contempt for those who have dragged you down cause you to lose yourself completely. Listen to what you know is right…before its too late."
Suddenly the door in the building behind them opened and a couple of figures looked out into the darkness. A young man with silvery blond hair called out to Snape. "Severus? Is that you? Are you coming? He's waiting to welcome you."
The dark figure put up his hood once more and moved away into the deeper shadows and watched as his younger self hesitated for a moment, staring into the shadows with confusion on his face…then slowly he turned and went to join the young men in the doorway. With a perplexed frown he glanced back into the darkness and paused before entering.
"What's the problem?" questioned the blond boy trying to see anything in the darkness outside the lighted doorway. "Changed your mind? Afraid?" his tone was challenging…arrogant.
Snape stiffened and turned at the mocking tone. "Of course not. Let's get this over with, Lucius."
The blond nodded with a look of immense satisfaction on his face and putting an arm around the dark boy's shoulders drew him inside and the door closed…blocking out the light.
The hooded figure in black gave a shudder and bowed his head then slowly he reached up to his neck. His shaking hand came away with a small golden hourglass in his palm. With a sigh full of a lifetime of frustrated despair he began to turn the glass slowly and vanished from sight.