Ashes Of Victory Ch 9
Disclaimer: Not mine – hers with the red hair and fabulous imagination.
Author Notes: Thanks for the reviews. Due to a problem with getting on FanFiction.net right now (they seem to be down) I haven't been able to read any of the new ones. Please feel free to join my Yahoo Group (see my author page for that URL) and leave your comments there. I update there sooner than FanFic also.
The slowly setting summer sun warmed the sand and back of Severus Snape as he slowly regained consciousness. He turned over and propped himself up on his elbows. He looked around a moment, spotting Albus walking towards him. The headmaster was a ways off. Then Severus' sight was arrested by the sunset before them.
They were on a beach. The sun was slowly sinking into the water on the horizon. Brilliant colors – red, gold, deep blue and purple filled the skyline. Waves crashed on rocks off the coast, providing background music to the songs of gulls winging overhead. Softly, waves lapped at Severus' outstretched feet. For the first time in along time, peace settled over the ex-Death eater. Severus Snape was content to just be.
Albus came and sat down on the sand next to him. He held in his had a seashell he had picked up. Neither said a word as the sun set. It wasn't until the full moon rose that Severus reached out and took the shell from Albus. Turning it over in his long fingers, he silently looked at it, then passed it back.
"Of all the shells that surely litter this beach, Albus, why pick one that is beautiful, but flawed?"
"Because, child, to me, the one beautiful but flawed needs my love more than the perfect one. The flawed one can see me as I am, imperfect myself, and I do not have to hide and pretend. Perfect beings always expect to see perfection shining around them. They hide the truth away so it will not hurt their perfection."
Severus sat for a moment, before giving Albus a small smile. Albus smiled himself. They both knew that neither had been speaking of shells, but of their selves. Severus had wanted to know why Albus treated him like his own child, when he had been surrounded by the shining Griffindors that were Minerva McGonagoll's favorites.
"Where are we, Albus?" Severus could see the lights of a city off to the right. The air was warm here.
"America, Severus," the older man replied. "The South Texas coastal region. Those lights off to the right are a city called Corpus Christi. We are currently on what is known as South Padre Island."
"Are we going to this city?"
"Yes. There is an excellent Muggle restaurant called Water Street Oyster Bar that we will dine at in a bit. Don't worry," Albus added at the look of concern on Severus' face, "we will not be entering the magical community there. We are tourists on holiday. Let me transfigure our clothes, and use a few charms to transfigure my beard and hair as well as yourself, and we will be off."
Albus stood and pulled his wand from his pocket. He quickly changed his long hair into a short cut. His beard disappeared completely. His robes changed into a Hawaiian shirt, a pair of khaki's and boat shoes. Turning to Severus, he waved his wand a few more times.
"There, Severus. No one will recognize either of us."
Severus felt his hair, and pulled a strand down into his eyes. It was now a dirty blond color. Still the same length. The color of his hand caught his eye. The pale white skin was gone. In its place was a healthy tan. Looking down at his clothes, he saw he now sported a t-shirt, tan colored shorts and canvas sneakers.
He looked up at Albus. It was disconcerting to see the twinkling blue eyes without the waist length beard. Albus transfigured some seashells into American money, then pocketed his wand.
"Where are we tourists from? And what shall we call ourselves? Albus and Severus are not common muggle names, and would catch the ear of anyone looking for us." Severus sounded slightly grumpy, but had a half smile on his face.
"I think I shall be Stephen Collins. As you would best be served by acting as my son, I would say that all you need is a first name."
"Mike, then."
"Good choice, Sev-Mike. Just remember to call me Dad." Albus' eyes twinkled even more, as he came to stand next to Severus. "Let me Apparate the two of us, as you don't know where we are going." "Sure, Dad." Severus replied with a smirk on his face. Albus put both hands on Severus' shoulders and with a small pop they were gone.
Disclaimer: Not mine – hers with the red hair and fabulous imagination.
Author Notes: Thanks for the reviews. Due to a problem with getting on FanFiction.net right now (they seem to be down) I haven't been able to read any of the new ones. Please feel free to join my Yahoo Group (see my author page for that URL) and leave your comments there. I update there sooner than FanFic also.
The slowly setting summer sun warmed the sand and back of Severus Snape as he slowly regained consciousness. He turned over and propped himself up on his elbows. He looked around a moment, spotting Albus walking towards him. The headmaster was a ways off. Then Severus' sight was arrested by the sunset before them.
They were on a beach. The sun was slowly sinking into the water on the horizon. Brilliant colors – red, gold, deep blue and purple filled the skyline. Waves crashed on rocks off the coast, providing background music to the songs of gulls winging overhead. Softly, waves lapped at Severus' outstretched feet. For the first time in along time, peace settled over the ex-Death eater. Severus Snape was content to just be.
Albus came and sat down on the sand next to him. He held in his had a seashell he had picked up. Neither said a word as the sun set. It wasn't until the full moon rose that Severus reached out and took the shell from Albus. Turning it over in his long fingers, he silently looked at it, then passed it back.
"Of all the shells that surely litter this beach, Albus, why pick one that is beautiful, but flawed?"
"Because, child, to me, the one beautiful but flawed needs my love more than the perfect one. The flawed one can see me as I am, imperfect myself, and I do not have to hide and pretend. Perfect beings always expect to see perfection shining around them. They hide the truth away so it will not hurt their perfection."
Severus sat for a moment, before giving Albus a small smile. Albus smiled himself. They both knew that neither had been speaking of shells, but of their selves. Severus had wanted to know why Albus treated him like his own child, when he had been surrounded by the shining Griffindors that were Minerva McGonagoll's favorites.
"Where are we, Albus?" Severus could see the lights of a city off to the right. The air was warm here.
"America, Severus," the older man replied. "The South Texas coastal region. Those lights off to the right are a city called Corpus Christi. We are currently on what is known as South Padre Island."
"Are we going to this city?"
"Yes. There is an excellent Muggle restaurant called Water Street Oyster Bar that we will dine at in a bit. Don't worry," Albus added at the look of concern on Severus' face, "we will not be entering the magical community there. We are tourists on holiday. Let me transfigure our clothes, and use a few charms to transfigure my beard and hair as well as yourself, and we will be off."
Albus stood and pulled his wand from his pocket. He quickly changed his long hair into a short cut. His beard disappeared completely. His robes changed into a Hawaiian shirt, a pair of khaki's and boat shoes. Turning to Severus, he waved his wand a few more times.
"There, Severus. No one will recognize either of us."
Severus felt his hair, and pulled a strand down into his eyes. It was now a dirty blond color. Still the same length. The color of his hand caught his eye. The pale white skin was gone. In its place was a healthy tan. Looking down at his clothes, he saw he now sported a t-shirt, tan colored shorts and canvas sneakers.
He looked up at Albus. It was disconcerting to see the twinkling blue eyes without the waist length beard. Albus transfigured some seashells into American money, then pocketed his wand.
"Where are we tourists from? And what shall we call ourselves? Albus and Severus are not common muggle names, and would catch the ear of anyone looking for us." Severus sounded slightly grumpy, but had a half smile on his face.
"I think I shall be Stephen Collins. As you would best be served by acting as my son, I would say that all you need is a first name."
"Mike, then."
"Good choice, Sev-Mike. Just remember to call me Dad." Albus' eyes twinkled even more, as he came to stand next to Severus. "Let me Apparate the two of us, as you don't know where we are going." "Sure, Dad." Severus replied with a smirk on his face. Albus put both hands on Severus' shoulders and with a small pop they were gone.
