Les Sylphides, chapter 5: And Every Advance a Retreat
by flax, June 2003
JK Rowling owns the characters. They're only in this daydream for a profitless romp. :)
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Snape spoke a small charm to give them a bit of privacy in the face of what was clearly going to be an emotional moment. Melusina Snape on the other hand spared a few moments to wish with all her might that the false Sylph chit and Snape would get what they deserved for stealing her happiness. Just thinking about Snape abandoning her like that made her angrier than she had thought possible.
"I regret being an ass," said Snape. "I don't know why I always am one around you, Melusina."
"An ass. Too bad you couldn't tell me that when we first met," said the sylph, shaking with anger. Her jaw was gripped. Her wings were even tense. Her fists were clenched. "But that wouldn't have gotten you what you wanted."
"I regret that I can't be now who I was when I was twenty."
"You are exactly who you were, selfish and cold."
"Melusina, this really is for the best for both of us."
"Don't try to tell me what's best for 'us' - you gave up the right to use that word when you didn't come down and renew our union in the light of the beginnings."
"Melusina, what future do you think we should aim for."
"There is no 'we' here."
"Yes there is, and that's the problem. Melusina, I want the best for you and for me. So do you. Tell me what you think that looks like."
"You belong with us." Melusina waved her hand to indicate the flock mixing below with the flower and the adults of the local wizarding world.
"You have my loyalty and my heart."
"But you don't come home."
"Both true at the same time."
"We are your people," insisted the sylph.
"Yes," agreed Snape.
"You are hurting me by being so cold. So like a human. I trusted you."
"My constancy is real, but not to be respected. I can not be full hearted in the woods of the sylphs."
"You're not one of them anymore. You are one of us."
"I am me."
"I demand your return, Severus."
"I wish I could, but my heart can't do it, Melusina."
"A Bean Nighe is here. The night is ill omened. Consider what you are bringing down upon yourself."
"She could just as easily being granting three wishes."
"Severus, it is the washerwoman of doom."
"Melusina, you must understand, I am part and parcel of my world. My world is not at peace. I can not now retire to the woods with you."
"You leave me no choice but to declare you gone from the flock."
"Melusina, I regret hurting you."
"And what of the hussy?"
"The who?" asked Snape, confused by this particular turn of accusation.
"The hussy you paraded before me up here."
Snape resisted shrugging or huffing at the mess. He aimed for simple, hoping to defuse at least this much of the misunderstandings. "I don't know who she was. She was here, I expected you, and the rest is me being confused."
Melusina narrowed her eyes and tried to understand the whole picture. Severus, as far as she could sense, did not belong with these humans. And his protests still made no sense to her. "Severus, you are not reconciled with these people. They are not your flock."
"Things are rough right now."
"I don't think you can be a sylph and abide this much misery."
"Melusina, you could do it if you had to."
"I don't think you understand."
"Both of us, all of us, are built to find where we belong and then do what it takes to stay there."
"You belong in my life."
"Visit me here."
"I can't leave the flock."
"Then we have a problem."
Melusina walked angrily about the balcony while Snape stood impassive. This was her way of thinking, he knew from experience, and that she'd started pacing meant she had begun to consider possibilities.
"Go. I'll take care of it. But never return."
"Or you'll rip me to shreds?"
"The fate of the threats to unity."
"I am not. But I accept that you think so now. If it is a husband you want, I hope you find better than me." Snape was trying very hard, and was wearing out. But soon, he knew, he could relax in private, this over, never to hurt his ex wife again.
"So busy with your world and your causes," she said with anger.
"I wish they didn't burn in my mind," he said.
"Leave me," she said. Snape turned to go. That she could begin to let him go was, he hoped, the beginning of some sort of conclusion that she could make peace with. He bowed and left while Melusina remained to brood and grieve a bit more. Glaring at the room, she spotted the false sylph and felt inspiration. Melusina threw a pair of curses into the air. Somewhat heartened, she returned to the ball proper and the comfort of kith and kin. "I wish the second one embarrasses him no end," she mutters.
The first curse drifted, looking for a chance to land on Granger, twisting and turning, dodging and swerving until it got an opening. But as it dove for its target, one of the multitude of spell catchers wafted through the air, caught it in its threads, making of the sylph's curse one more crystal bead upon its spider web net of silk charms. Granger will not sprout donkey ears during this event. The other curse sees this and lurks in the shadows until it can land upon its goal, Severus Snape, outside the protection of these spell catchers.
Oblivious to this farewell gesture, Snape returned to the party and scouted out the green washerwoman, the Bean Nighe. "Good evening to you," he said to her.
"And to you, Master Snape. My how you have grown," she replied.
"Not in height since we met, certainly. But to know my limits. Yes," he said.
"I always knew you would go far," replied the green woman kindly, part teasing, part affection.
"So are you here with wishes or death?" he asked, getting to the point.
"You imply a difference," she replied in her best mystic tone. Then she waved his annoyed reply down. "Two granted and one to go, and that's a far more lucid answer than anyone should ever expect from me."
"Yes it is and thank you. About that final wish--" Snape started, before she cut him off.
"Leave it to someone else," she said vaguely. She patted his arm and got a huffy glare in response. "Oh, look, you've been hit," she said laughing.
Snape looked down to see the cupid's arrow emanating from his chest.
"Do you love me now?" asked the Bean Nighe, plastering herself politely to Snape's side.
"Always, auntie," he growled in reply, pushing her back, but not unwrapping her arm from his. Then he pulled out the arrow, thinking to plant it back in face of the erstwhile cupid. Cupid bounced up and thanked him for the arrow back. When Snape recognized Cupid, it didn't help. He was left with nothing to do but give his headmaster the blackest stare he could, one that petrified students and horrified parents.
The Bean Nighe laughed and merry Cupid thanked Snape, bouncing off to shoot more guests. Snape turned and bowed to the washerwoman, wishing her well and taking his leave.
"Give it at least a year before you even consider getting in touch with the flock," said the green woman.
"I thought I'd let them make the first move," replied Snape.
"You're the one with a vision of a future, and that means you've got responsibilities," said the washerwoman, knowing how he would respond.
Snape pressed his lips together, glared, and said farewell. She smiled to see him go, he was too easy to tease. The Bean Nighe then turned to find the Oracle of Delphi on her left. They compared notes on what it was to tell people things they weren't going to hear.
------------------
In a corridor outside the party, at about midnight, and ready to return to his role as controlling professor, Snape let his costume charm fade. His black robes swirled at his feet and his black hair clumped upon his head. And he could hear children in the corridor, where they did not belong. And then he realized it was the annoying trio. 'Cupid's favorite brats,' he thought to himself. Things felt right.
He let his gait whisper as he approached, hissing at them loudly as they turned the corner and nearly collided with him: "Is there any rule you self righteous children won't break? SILENCE!" It was the trio and they seemed a bit surprised to be caught. Snape felt a small bit of satisfaction.
"Thirty points a piece from Gryffindor, Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley and Ms. Granger. You are out after tonight's curfew. Look forward to Dumbledore's 'special' detentions next week. I am. Go to your dorm NOW before I choose to take points for your disrespect." He raised his brows at the three, noticing the boys' growing anger and the girl's ... sorrow?
"NOW," he thundered, dismissing them and their issues from his mind.
The trio did as told. Hermione simply kept up with Ron and Harry, silently trying to understand what had gone on tonight.
Snape was clearly the Shelly-coat. And he was a decent person when chatting on the balcony. Sympathetic. Hermione was happier when she could feel unrequited affection for an anonymous man from a masque ball. That would have been romantic. This was something completely different.
"What's wrong," asked Ron back at the tower.
"I met adults who clearly need help. Or better friends," replied Hermione.
Harry laughed. "It kills me sometimes that this is supposed to be maturity."
"I hope it works out for them," finished Hermione.
-------------------------
a/n : thanks Fey. :) I'm trying!
by flax, June 2003
JK Rowling owns the characters. They're only in this daydream for a profitless romp. :)
-----------------
Snape spoke a small charm to give them a bit of privacy in the face of what was clearly going to be an emotional moment. Melusina Snape on the other hand spared a few moments to wish with all her might that the false Sylph chit and Snape would get what they deserved for stealing her happiness. Just thinking about Snape abandoning her like that made her angrier than she had thought possible.
"I regret being an ass," said Snape. "I don't know why I always am one around you, Melusina."
"An ass. Too bad you couldn't tell me that when we first met," said the sylph, shaking with anger. Her jaw was gripped. Her wings were even tense. Her fists were clenched. "But that wouldn't have gotten you what you wanted."
"I regret that I can't be now who I was when I was twenty."
"You are exactly who you were, selfish and cold."
"Melusina, this really is for the best for both of us."
"Don't try to tell me what's best for 'us' - you gave up the right to use that word when you didn't come down and renew our union in the light of the beginnings."
"Melusina, what future do you think we should aim for."
"There is no 'we' here."
"Yes there is, and that's the problem. Melusina, I want the best for you and for me. So do you. Tell me what you think that looks like."
"You belong with us." Melusina waved her hand to indicate the flock mixing below with the flower and the adults of the local wizarding world.
"You have my loyalty and my heart."
"But you don't come home."
"Both true at the same time."
"We are your people," insisted the sylph.
"Yes," agreed Snape.
"You are hurting me by being so cold. So like a human. I trusted you."
"My constancy is real, but not to be respected. I can not be full hearted in the woods of the sylphs."
"You're not one of them anymore. You are one of us."
"I am me."
"I demand your return, Severus."
"I wish I could, but my heart can't do it, Melusina."
"A Bean Nighe is here. The night is ill omened. Consider what you are bringing down upon yourself."
"She could just as easily being granting three wishes."
"Severus, it is the washerwoman of doom."
"Melusina, you must understand, I am part and parcel of my world. My world is not at peace. I can not now retire to the woods with you."
"You leave me no choice but to declare you gone from the flock."
"Melusina, I regret hurting you."
"And what of the hussy?"
"The who?" asked Snape, confused by this particular turn of accusation.
"The hussy you paraded before me up here."
Snape resisted shrugging or huffing at the mess. He aimed for simple, hoping to defuse at least this much of the misunderstandings. "I don't know who she was. She was here, I expected you, and the rest is me being confused."
Melusina narrowed her eyes and tried to understand the whole picture. Severus, as far as she could sense, did not belong with these humans. And his protests still made no sense to her. "Severus, you are not reconciled with these people. They are not your flock."
"Things are rough right now."
"I don't think you can be a sylph and abide this much misery."
"Melusina, you could do it if you had to."
"I don't think you understand."
"Both of us, all of us, are built to find where we belong and then do what it takes to stay there."
"You belong in my life."
"Visit me here."
"I can't leave the flock."
"Then we have a problem."
Melusina walked angrily about the balcony while Snape stood impassive. This was her way of thinking, he knew from experience, and that she'd started pacing meant she had begun to consider possibilities.
"Go. I'll take care of it. But never return."
"Or you'll rip me to shreds?"
"The fate of the threats to unity."
"I am not. But I accept that you think so now. If it is a husband you want, I hope you find better than me." Snape was trying very hard, and was wearing out. But soon, he knew, he could relax in private, this over, never to hurt his ex wife again.
"So busy with your world and your causes," she said with anger.
"I wish they didn't burn in my mind," he said.
"Leave me," she said. Snape turned to go. That she could begin to let him go was, he hoped, the beginning of some sort of conclusion that she could make peace with. He bowed and left while Melusina remained to brood and grieve a bit more. Glaring at the room, she spotted the false sylph and felt inspiration. Melusina threw a pair of curses into the air. Somewhat heartened, she returned to the ball proper and the comfort of kith and kin. "I wish the second one embarrasses him no end," she mutters.
The first curse drifted, looking for a chance to land on Granger, twisting and turning, dodging and swerving until it got an opening. But as it dove for its target, one of the multitude of spell catchers wafted through the air, caught it in its threads, making of the sylph's curse one more crystal bead upon its spider web net of silk charms. Granger will not sprout donkey ears during this event. The other curse sees this and lurks in the shadows until it can land upon its goal, Severus Snape, outside the protection of these spell catchers.
Oblivious to this farewell gesture, Snape returned to the party and scouted out the green washerwoman, the Bean Nighe. "Good evening to you," he said to her.
"And to you, Master Snape. My how you have grown," she replied.
"Not in height since we met, certainly. But to know my limits. Yes," he said.
"I always knew you would go far," replied the green woman kindly, part teasing, part affection.
"So are you here with wishes or death?" he asked, getting to the point.
"You imply a difference," she replied in her best mystic tone. Then she waved his annoyed reply down. "Two granted and one to go, and that's a far more lucid answer than anyone should ever expect from me."
"Yes it is and thank you. About that final wish--" Snape started, before she cut him off.
"Leave it to someone else," she said vaguely. She patted his arm and got a huffy glare in response. "Oh, look, you've been hit," she said laughing.
Snape looked down to see the cupid's arrow emanating from his chest.
"Do you love me now?" asked the Bean Nighe, plastering herself politely to Snape's side.
"Always, auntie," he growled in reply, pushing her back, but not unwrapping her arm from his. Then he pulled out the arrow, thinking to plant it back in face of the erstwhile cupid. Cupid bounced up and thanked him for the arrow back. When Snape recognized Cupid, it didn't help. He was left with nothing to do but give his headmaster the blackest stare he could, one that petrified students and horrified parents.
The Bean Nighe laughed and merry Cupid thanked Snape, bouncing off to shoot more guests. Snape turned and bowed to the washerwoman, wishing her well and taking his leave.
"Give it at least a year before you even consider getting in touch with the flock," said the green woman.
"I thought I'd let them make the first move," replied Snape.
"You're the one with a vision of a future, and that means you've got responsibilities," said the washerwoman, knowing how he would respond.
Snape pressed his lips together, glared, and said farewell. She smiled to see him go, he was too easy to tease. The Bean Nighe then turned to find the Oracle of Delphi on her left. They compared notes on what it was to tell people things they weren't going to hear.
------------------
In a corridor outside the party, at about midnight, and ready to return to his role as controlling professor, Snape let his costume charm fade. His black robes swirled at his feet and his black hair clumped upon his head. And he could hear children in the corridor, where they did not belong. And then he realized it was the annoying trio. 'Cupid's favorite brats,' he thought to himself. Things felt right.
He let his gait whisper as he approached, hissing at them loudly as they turned the corner and nearly collided with him: "Is there any rule you self righteous children won't break? SILENCE!" It was the trio and they seemed a bit surprised to be caught. Snape felt a small bit of satisfaction.
"Thirty points a piece from Gryffindor, Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley and Ms. Granger. You are out after tonight's curfew. Look forward to Dumbledore's 'special' detentions next week. I am. Go to your dorm NOW before I choose to take points for your disrespect." He raised his brows at the three, noticing the boys' growing anger and the girl's ... sorrow?
"NOW," he thundered, dismissing them and their issues from his mind.
The trio did as told. Hermione simply kept up with Ron and Harry, silently trying to understand what had gone on tonight.
Snape was clearly the Shelly-coat. And he was a decent person when chatting on the balcony. Sympathetic. Hermione was happier when she could feel unrequited affection for an anonymous man from a masque ball. That would have been romantic. This was something completely different.
"What's wrong," asked Ron back at the tower.
"I met adults who clearly need help. Or better friends," replied Hermione.
Harry laughed. "It kills me sometimes that this is supposed to be maturity."
"I hope it works out for them," finished Hermione.
-------------------------
a/n : thanks Fey. :) I'm trying!
