Dust Will Be the Serpent's Food - Part 1, Severus Snape
By: PepperjackCandy
Rating: PG13
Disclaimer: Everyone, and everything, in this story, belongs to J.K. Rowling.
A/N: I can't help myself. I was plundering the Bible for chapter titles again, and got stuck on Isaiah 65:25. I started with searching for the word "wolf," but when I saw "lion" (Gryffindor) and "serpent" (Slytherin) in this verse, I just *had* to use it.
This takes place in the summer following GoF.
==========
"Sev."
Kiss.
"Sev."
Kiss.
"Severus." Remus grabbed my shoulders, pushing me gently yet forcefully away from his body.
"What?" I whined.
"It's getting late. I have to go." Remus dodged my lips.
"Why do you have to go so early? It's not even dark yet."
I saw Remus's face fall. "I can't tell you. Not yet."
"Is it a secret? I can keep a secret, you know." I insisted, wishing I could tell Remus some of the dark things I hid in my own soul.
"I'm sure you can, Sev. But trust me, you're just not ready for this one."
I was determined to keep my chin up. "All right. But can I have one more kiss before you go?"
Remus grinned. "I think I can manage that."
Remus and I leaned towards each other, our lips touching gently at first, then with more insistence, as the sky continued to grow dark.
Finally, Remus pulled himself away. "I've *got* to *go*" he whispered.
I sighed. "All right. Go." I gazed into Remus's warm brown eyes and weakened. "But I'll expect," kiss, "you," kiss, "to make it up to me later."
Remus grinned. "I will. Tomorrow."
"First thing?"
"Second thing. Right after breakfast. The usual place."
I felt like I was walking on clouds as I returned to the castle. I was so euphoric I nearly ran straight into Sirius Black, who was glowering at me darkly.
"Snape." Sirius said shortly.
"Black." I returned, feeling the corners of my lips turn up slightly.
"What's with you?" Sirius demanded, grabbing my arm roughly.
"I don't know what you're talking about." I said, hoping my robes weren't in too much disarray from my snog with Remus.
"You're . . . smirking at me."
"I'm not smirking at you." I assured him haughtily. "I may be smirking, but it's most assuredly not at you."
Feeling pretty good about myself, I walked away, not realizing just exactly how far Sirius Black would go in his hatred of me.
The next day, Remus didn't show up for breakfast. I worried, but not overly so. Remus had a tendency to get up early to study and lose track of time. I left my breakfast untouched and headed for the library.
I searched the library twice, but Remus wasn't there.
I hoped he was in Gryffindor tower, but had the awful, bone-chilling feeling he wasn't. Instead, I headed where instinct took me. The hospital wing.
The nurse who greeted me at the door was a recent Hogwarts graduate, in her first year out of school. Poppy Pomfrey. She was so young that most of the students called her by her Christian name. After all, most of us had been her schoolmates, once.
"Poppy." I said desperately. "Do you know where Remus Lupin is?"
"Yes. He's up in his room." I would have breathed a sigh of relief, had she not said the next sentence out of her mouth. "He's been excused from classes today. And probably tomorrow, as well."
I felt the bottom drop out of my stomach, but tried to keep my face from showing it. "I see. Thank you, Poppy."
My heart was in a turmoil as I headed back toward Slytherin tower, where I ran into Lucius Malfoy. "Snape." He said with false pleasantness. "It's time for class. Don't you have your books?"
It always set my teeth on edge when Malfoy called me by my surname. I've always wondered if Crabbe and Goyle feel the same when Draco Malfoy do the same to them.
"I'm just coming back from breakfast." I could see that he knew that I was lying, but I would never admit where I really was, checking on Remus. Not until Remus gave me permission to take that step.
"Well? Hurry up then. Or we'll be late." I hurried as quickly as I could without running and grabbed my textbooks and assignments. Soon, I returned to Lucius's side, and together we went to Charms class.
The whole day passed in a haze. He tells me that he's hiding something from me, then that he'll see me in the morning. The next morning, he's too ill to go to classes. What's wrong with him? I pondered over and over.
After dinner that night, I ran into Black again. "Good evening, Snape."
I couldn't bring myself to wish him the same. Even mouthing the words as a pleasantry would be a lie, as long as I didn't know where Remus was. "Black." I responded coldly.
"It's my understanding that you and Remus have been spending time together." Black said.
I hunched my shoulders defensively, not to protect myself, but to protect Remus. "He's been helping me with my homework."
"Is that what they're calling it these days?" Black gave a humorless laugh. "Well, if you want to know where Remus is, go to the Whomping Willow tonight. After the moon rises."
"The Whomping Willow." I gave him a disbelieving look.
"Trust me on this. Take along a long stick. There's a knot, about six inches from the ground. Press the knot in and wait. The Willow will settle down then, for a few minutes, and you can get past it. Nestled in the roots is a tunnel. Follow the tunnel. Remus will be waiting for you." He said with a cold smile.
"Like I'm going to trust you."
"Fine. Don't trust me. But if you want to continue your . . . homework . . . with Remus, you'll show up." He left then, the unspoken threat that Remus would stop meeting me dangling in the air between us.
I knew I couldn't trust anything that Black said, but I also knew that I couldn't afford to take the chance. Remus was worth anything -- everything -- to me. So I went.
I complied with Black's instructions, following the tunnel. It seemed like miles. Then it suddenly widened, and I realized I was in the cellar of a building.
I've always had good night vision and I found the steps leading up into the building easily. I took the first step. "Remus?" I called out. "Are you here?"
I was expecting to be the butt of some joke. Undoubtedly Black and Potter up to something. Possibly they'd alerted Albus to my presence and I'd be punished for curfew violation.
What I got wasn't anything like I expected.
I reached the top of the stairs and saw a form, bathed in the light of the full moon outside, sitting below the window. "Remus?" I called out.
The figure snarled and leaped towards me, just as I felt arms behind me tugging me backwards.
"Snape!" I heard James Potter's voice. "Go!" He hurled me towards the stairs back towards the cellar.
I stood, frozen, as I recognized the figure. It was a werewolf.
"Run!" Potter yelled. "I can handle him! Save yourself!"
I didn't even think about it. I ran.
The next thing I knew, I was in Albus's office. I'm not even sure how I got there. And I was pouring out my heart to him.
"It was Sirius Black. He was jealous, of . . . of me and Remus . . . and so he lured me to, I'm not sure where I was, a house somewhere, and set a monster on me. If Potter hadn't come along, I'm sure I would have been killed."
"A monster?" Albus seemed slightly amused.
"Yes, sir. A werewolf."
In retrospect, I think for some reason, Albus wanted me to know. Or felt that it was inevitable that I'd find out. Because his mask slipped for a moment, and I saw his discomfort as he repeated. "A werewolf?"
"Yes, sir."
The next time I saw Black was when I was on my way back to the Slytherin tower from Albus's office.
"Snape." He snarled.
"Black." I snapped back. "You're going to get expelled for that little stunt."
He shook his head shortly and snorted. "Dumbledore wouldn't do that."
"Why not? Is my life worth less than yours?"
"Probably not. But Remus's life is worth three of yours. And Dumbledore would never do anything to risk Remus's safety."
It was then I put two and two together. Of course, I got something in the vicinity of 3.75, but it was close enough. "That monster? Was Remus?" I asked, stunned.
"Who'd you think it was? Father Christmas?" Black chuckled mirthlessly.
Just then, Potter and Remus stumbled through, looking the worse for wear. Oh, to be able to take back my next words! "You . . . monster!" I snarled at the boy I loved. "How many innocents have you killed, with your friends," I threw a glance full of loathing at Black and Potter, "procuring fresh meat for you?"
Remus looked at me, his lower lip trembling. "What? Sev? What happened last night?"
"Like you don't know. Monster." I enunciated clearly.
Ignoring the pain in Remus's eyes, I turned and walked away.
I heard him cry my name behind me. "SEVERUS!!"
But I never looked back.
Until now. Now everything has been turned upside down. The Dark Lord is back, and so is the Mark on my arm.
So is Remus.
He's upstairs, eating breakfast with Albus. And Black's around here, too, somewhere. Black and I have agreed to put aside our differences for now, but I doubt we'll ever be friends.
When Black was sent to Azkaban for betraying the Potters, I hoped desperately, foolishly, that he'd betrayed Remus, too, that night. But then Remus returned, and Black returned, and they tried to make me believe that Black hadn't betrayed the Potters at all.
So, where does that leave us?
Did Black betray Remus?
Or was I right the first time?
Did Remus and Black set me up to be killed together?
I have no appetite, but I haven't eaten in days, not since Remus came back. So I steel myself and head up to breakfast, hoping I'm not making the biggest mistake of my life.
==========
Next: Sirius Black
By: PepperjackCandy
Rating: PG13
Disclaimer: Everyone, and everything, in this story, belongs to J.K. Rowling.
A/N: I can't help myself. I was plundering the Bible for chapter titles again, and got stuck on Isaiah 65:25. I started with searching for the word "wolf," but when I saw "lion" (Gryffindor) and "serpent" (Slytherin) in this verse, I just *had* to use it.
This takes place in the summer following GoF.
==========
"Sev."
Kiss.
"Sev."
Kiss.
"Severus." Remus grabbed my shoulders, pushing me gently yet forcefully away from his body.
"What?" I whined.
"It's getting late. I have to go." Remus dodged my lips.
"Why do you have to go so early? It's not even dark yet."
I saw Remus's face fall. "I can't tell you. Not yet."
"Is it a secret? I can keep a secret, you know." I insisted, wishing I could tell Remus some of the dark things I hid in my own soul.
"I'm sure you can, Sev. But trust me, you're just not ready for this one."
I was determined to keep my chin up. "All right. But can I have one more kiss before you go?"
Remus grinned. "I think I can manage that."
Remus and I leaned towards each other, our lips touching gently at first, then with more insistence, as the sky continued to grow dark.
Finally, Remus pulled himself away. "I've *got* to *go*" he whispered.
I sighed. "All right. Go." I gazed into Remus's warm brown eyes and weakened. "But I'll expect," kiss, "you," kiss, "to make it up to me later."
Remus grinned. "I will. Tomorrow."
"First thing?"
"Second thing. Right after breakfast. The usual place."
I felt like I was walking on clouds as I returned to the castle. I was so euphoric I nearly ran straight into Sirius Black, who was glowering at me darkly.
"Snape." Sirius said shortly.
"Black." I returned, feeling the corners of my lips turn up slightly.
"What's with you?" Sirius demanded, grabbing my arm roughly.
"I don't know what you're talking about." I said, hoping my robes weren't in too much disarray from my snog with Remus.
"You're . . . smirking at me."
"I'm not smirking at you." I assured him haughtily. "I may be smirking, but it's most assuredly not at you."
Feeling pretty good about myself, I walked away, not realizing just exactly how far Sirius Black would go in his hatred of me.
The next day, Remus didn't show up for breakfast. I worried, but not overly so. Remus had a tendency to get up early to study and lose track of time. I left my breakfast untouched and headed for the library.
I searched the library twice, but Remus wasn't there.
I hoped he was in Gryffindor tower, but had the awful, bone-chilling feeling he wasn't. Instead, I headed where instinct took me. The hospital wing.
The nurse who greeted me at the door was a recent Hogwarts graduate, in her first year out of school. Poppy Pomfrey. She was so young that most of the students called her by her Christian name. After all, most of us had been her schoolmates, once.
"Poppy." I said desperately. "Do you know where Remus Lupin is?"
"Yes. He's up in his room." I would have breathed a sigh of relief, had she not said the next sentence out of her mouth. "He's been excused from classes today. And probably tomorrow, as well."
I felt the bottom drop out of my stomach, but tried to keep my face from showing it. "I see. Thank you, Poppy."
My heart was in a turmoil as I headed back toward Slytherin tower, where I ran into Lucius Malfoy. "Snape." He said with false pleasantness. "It's time for class. Don't you have your books?"
It always set my teeth on edge when Malfoy called me by my surname. I've always wondered if Crabbe and Goyle feel the same when Draco Malfoy do the same to them.
"I'm just coming back from breakfast." I could see that he knew that I was lying, but I would never admit where I really was, checking on Remus. Not until Remus gave me permission to take that step.
"Well? Hurry up then. Or we'll be late." I hurried as quickly as I could without running and grabbed my textbooks and assignments. Soon, I returned to Lucius's side, and together we went to Charms class.
The whole day passed in a haze. He tells me that he's hiding something from me, then that he'll see me in the morning. The next morning, he's too ill to go to classes. What's wrong with him? I pondered over and over.
After dinner that night, I ran into Black again. "Good evening, Snape."
I couldn't bring myself to wish him the same. Even mouthing the words as a pleasantry would be a lie, as long as I didn't know where Remus was. "Black." I responded coldly.
"It's my understanding that you and Remus have been spending time together." Black said.
I hunched my shoulders defensively, not to protect myself, but to protect Remus. "He's been helping me with my homework."
"Is that what they're calling it these days?" Black gave a humorless laugh. "Well, if you want to know where Remus is, go to the Whomping Willow tonight. After the moon rises."
"The Whomping Willow." I gave him a disbelieving look.
"Trust me on this. Take along a long stick. There's a knot, about six inches from the ground. Press the knot in and wait. The Willow will settle down then, for a few minutes, and you can get past it. Nestled in the roots is a tunnel. Follow the tunnel. Remus will be waiting for you." He said with a cold smile.
"Like I'm going to trust you."
"Fine. Don't trust me. But if you want to continue your . . . homework . . . with Remus, you'll show up." He left then, the unspoken threat that Remus would stop meeting me dangling in the air between us.
I knew I couldn't trust anything that Black said, but I also knew that I couldn't afford to take the chance. Remus was worth anything -- everything -- to me. So I went.
I complied with Black's instructions, following the tunnel. It seemed like miles. Then it suddenly widened, and I realized I was in the cellar of a building.
I've always had good night vision and I found the steps leading up into the building easily. I took the first step. "Remus?" I called out. "Are you here?"
I was expecting to be the butt of some joke. Undoubtedly Black and Potter up to something. Possibly they'd alerted Albus to my presence and I'd be punished for curfew violation.
What I got wasn't anything like I expected.
I reached the top of the stairs and saw a form, bathed in the light of the full moon outside, sitting below the window. "Remus?" I called out.
The figure snarled and leaped towards me, just as I felt arms behind me tugging me backwards.
"Snape!" I heard James Potter's voice. "Go!" He hurled me towards the stairs back towards the cellar.
I stood, frozen, as I recognized the figure. It was a werewolf.
"Run!" Potter yelled. "I can handle him! Save yourself!"
I didn't even think about it. I ran.
The next thing I knew, I was in Albus's office. I'm not even sure how I got there. And I was pouring out my heart to him.
"It was Sirius Black. He was jealous, of . . . of me and Remus . . . and so he lured me to, I'm not sure where I was, a house somewhere, and set a monster on me. If Potter hadn't come along, I'm sure I would have been killed."
"A monster?" Albus seemed slightly amused.
"Yes, sir. A werewolf."
In retrospect, I think for some reason, Albus wanted me to know. Or felt that it was inevitable that I'd find out. Because his mask slipped for a moment, and I saw his discomfort as he repeated. "A werewolf?"
"Yes, sir."
The next time I saw Black was when I was on my way back to the Slytherin tower from Albus's office.
"Snape." He snarled.
"Black." I snapped back. "You're going to get expelled for that little stunt."
He shook his head shortly and snorted. "Dumbledore wouldn't do that."
"Why not? Is my life worth less than yours?"
"Probably not. But Remus's life is worth three of yours. And Dumbledore would never do anything to risk Remus's safety."
It was then I put two and two together. Of course, I got something in the vicinity of 3.75, but it was close enough. "That monster? Was Remus?" I asked, stunned.
"Who'd you think it was? Father Christmas?" Black chuckled mirthlessly.
Just then, Potter and Remus stumbled through, looking the worse for wear. Oh, to be able to take back my next words! "You . . . monster!" I snarled at the boy I loved. "How many innocents have you killed, with your friends," I threw a glance full of loathing at Black and Potter, "procuring fresh meat for you?"
Remus looked at me, his lower lip trembling. "What? Sev? What happened last night?"
"Like you don't know. Monster." I enunciated clearly.
Ignoring the pain in Remus's eyes, I turned and walked away.
I heard him cry my name behind me. "SEVERUS!!"
But I never looked back.
Until now. Now everything has been turned upside down. The Dark Lord is back, and so is the Mark on my arm.
So is Remus.
He's upstairs, eating breakfast with Albus. And Black's around here, too, somewhere. Black and I have agreed to put aside our differences for now, but I doubt we'll ever be friends.
When Black was sent to Azkaban for betraying the Potters, I hoped desperately, foolishly, that he'd betrayed Remus, too, that night. But then Remus returned, and Black returned, and they tried to make me believe that Black hadn't betrayed the Potters at all.
So, where does that leave us?
Did Black betray Remus?
Or was I right the first time?
Did Remus and Black set me up to be killed together?
I have no appetite, but I haven't eaten in days, not since Remus came back. So I steel myself and head up to breakfast, hoping I'm not making the biggest mistake of my life.
==========
Next: Sirius Black