Author's Notes: Fortune plango vulnera: I weep for the wounds of luck.
Taken from Carl Orff's "Carmina Burana".
"I weep for the wounds of luck, with brimming eyes, because her gifts to me she rebelliously takes away."
A multi-chapter story that has a little bit of everything. Angst, drama, violence, romance, lust, action, and even a little humor. Snape/OC. Snape meets an enigmatic woman with a complicated past. And she's neither a professor, nor young enough to be his child! There's sexual tension from the start, and fate draws them together for some serious adventure and plot twists set during the summer and fall following GOF. Will he get the girl in the end? If only it were so easy for our much abused, but beloved, Potions master. The infamous "student trio" makes an appearance, but have their own troubles to deal with. Mary Sue? Maybe her older, more human sister. First creative writing in over a decade, not to mention first ever fanfic. Please take into account author's woeful lack of experience when reviewing. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: If you recognize it from any of the books, then it belongs to J.K. Rowling. The rest is pulled from my twisted little psyche.
Rating: R, for language, violence, and sexual content. (Yes boys and girls, Snape gets some!)
Chapter 1: Dog Days Of Summer
It was shaping up to be a beautiful midsummer's afternoon. The grounds of Hogwarts School of witchcraft and wizardry bloomed with a riot of colorful flowers, both magical and common. Professor Sprout hummed merrily to herself as she tended her garden of magical plants. Hagrid sat on the steps of his little hut, whittling a stick and keeping an eye on his boarhound, Fang, who was romping and chasing after squirrels. Even headmaster Dumbledore was standing at his open window, a bag of candy in hand, looking out at the sunbeams dancing and glistening on the surface of the lake.
It seemed as if all of the school faculty present during the summer holidays were relishing the sunshine and fresh air. All except for one... Deep in the basement dungeons, there was one room that was not bathed in warm rays of light. The only light came from small glowing fires burning under a row of cauldrons, a massive black iron chandelier, and a candle burning on a black marble workbench where a dark robed figure stood hunched over a mortar and pestle, carefully grinding dried wormwood into a fine powder.
Professor Severus Snape did not notice the folded piece of parchment slide under the laboratory door. He was deep in concentration, working on a new potion to make the user resistant to the effects of Veritaserum. The powerful "truth potion", which could be used to uncover valuable secrets by the followers of the Dark Lord. While most people were caught up in the long dreamy days of summer, Snape could not forget the events of the previous term. Tragedy had befallen the school, and the wizarding world was rocked by the gathering of followers of evil and the reawakening of their master. He also worked with a fervor spawned by fears of his own mortality. Snape wanted to get as much work done in as short of a time as possible because his life as a double agent, treading the razor's edge between good and evil, meant he was a man of numbered days.
His days on Earth had nearly come to an end at the beginning of summer, when he was summoned to Voldemort to account for the rumors and suspicions of betrayal that had been raised following his actions during the previous school term. He was not executed on sight, but allowed to live and strive to regain his master's trust through humble service. If he were to survive his punishment, that is. His punishment consisted of having the unbearably painful Cruciatus curse placed upon him by each and every other Death Eater present at the summoning.
More than once during that hellish half hour, he felt himself start to slip away into death's cold grip, but the hatred he felt for his former Lord and master burned with a fierceness that rivaled even the mind shattering agony of the curse. It was not the first time he had been tortured at the hands of Voldemort or his followers, but it left him profoundly and permanently changed. After a week in recovery, where his clung to his sanity and intellect by a precarious thread, he resumed his work with a motivation that bordered on mania. Headmaster Dumbledore was extremely concerned and kept a watchful and nurturing eye on him to make sure he didn't burn out from overwork.
The wormwood ground finely enough, the potions master divided it evenly into the bubbling cauldrons, and decided to call it a day and get a bite to eat, as the potion would have to simmer until the next morning to reach it's full potency. He approached the dungeon door, and spied the folded piece of parchment on the floor. He picked it up, pocketed it, and headed towards the smaller faculty dining hall that the teachers and staff who remained at the school year round used for informal meals. It was too early for supper, but as he had worked straight through lunchtime, he rang for a house elf and ordered a bowl of soup and an assortment of fruit and cheeses served with a hearty slice of bread. His meal appeared on the table within seconds of the elf's departure.
He scarcely tasted his food, his attention held by the story of the Death Eater attack on the general store in Diagon Alley in the Daily Prophet. Death Eaters had demolished a shop that stocked various muggle items on their shelves alongside more common magical merchandise. "Damn they're getting bold." He thought to himself. Not only was this attack carried out in broad daylight, but also it was carried out against a wizard family owned business. "It's escalating," he thought. "This is only the beginning".
His empty bowl and plate disappeared as soon as he finished his meal. He decided to check his pocket watch and see just how much longer the potion had left to simmer. As he pulled the watch from his robe pocket, the piece of parchment caught on his hand and fluttered to the ground. Curious, he picked it up off the floor and unfolded it. It was a memo from the headmaster. It read: "I hope the soup was savory and filling, please join me for tea in my office as soon as you are through." "Damn!" said Snape, who wanted nothing more than to return to his dungeon chambers and spend the evening deep in a good book.
He stuffed the parchment and watch back into his pocket, and stalked off down the corridors to the headmaster's chambers. Just as he was finishing the climb up the stairs, the door opened and Headmaster Dumbledore greeted him with an impish smile. "Do come in Severus, and sit down. I have tea and ginger biscuits on the table." The professor stepped warily into the room, suspicious at why he had been summoned to the headmaster's office. Surely not to exchange pleasantries over a cup of tea and a cookie? He sat down, and Dumbledore poured him a cup of tea. "Sugar or honey?" "Neither headmaster, can we dispense with the pleasantries and get to the point of this little meeting, I have a very complex potion brewing and I need to be there in case there is a problem".
"Well Severus, I am crushed... I thought ginger biscuits were your favorite." Said Dumbledore with a twinkle in his eye. The potions master shot back with a glare that would send a first year student scurrying down the hall. "Albus, please. I have more pressing things on my mind than a tea party right now; or have you not read the Daily Prophet this afternoon?"
"All right, all right, I see your point, no need to get upset. However, we must discuss the issue of the new faculty formal robes. I have the list on my desk, and you are the only member of the faculty who has not yet been measured. It is near the middle of July and it takes time to have the robes made. They are not magicked up out of thin air you know."
Snape rolled his eyes and sighed. "Headmaster, be reasonable. I don't have the time to deal with this foolishness. Can't you have one of the house elves take one of my old robes and copy the measurements on a scroll and owl them over to the tailor shop? Is this really necessary?"
"I have been very patient with you Severus. I realize that your time is very valuable these days, but the measurements must be taken at the tailor shop in Hogsmeade. It will only take a little while. Besides, it will do you good to get out of the school for an afternoon. I must insist Severus that you take care of this by the end of the week. You may not see the importance of it, but it is something that the entire faculty has had to do, you are not an exception".
"Very well. I need to go to town and check on a special order from the apothecary anyway, I'll take care of it tomorrow afternoon".
"Good. I knew you would be able to find the time. That will be all, but are you sure you don't want a cookie for the walk back to the dungeons?"
"No thank you headmaster, I would not". With that, Snape stood up and quickly exited the room, shutting the door a little harder than necessary on the way out. Dumbledore chuckled to himself as he picked a ginger biscuit off of the tea tray and bit into it.
"I weep for the wounds of luck, with brimming eyes, because her gifts to me she rebelliously takes away."
A multi-chapter story that has a little bit of everything. Angst, drama, violence, romance, lust, action, and even a little humor. Snape/OC. Snape meets an enigmatic woman with a complicated past. And she's neither a professor, nor young enough to be his child! There's sexual tension from the start, and fate draws them together for some serious adventure and plot twists set during the summer and fall following GOF. Will he get the girl in the end? If only it were so easy for our much abused, but beloved, Potions master. The infamous "student trio" makes an appearance, but have their own troubles to deal with. Mary Sue? Maybe her older, more human sister. First creative writing in over a decade, not to mention first ever fanfic. Please take into account author's woeful lack of experience when reviewing. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: If you recognize it from any of the books, then it belongs to J.K. Rowling. The rest is pulled from my twisted little psyche.
Rating: R, for language, violence, and sexual content. (Yes boys and girls, Snape gets some!)
Chapter 1: Dog Days Of Summer
It was shaping up to be a beautiful midsummer's afternoon. The grounds of Hogwarts School of witchcraft and wizardry bloomed with a riot of colorful flowers, both magical and common. Professor Sprout hummed merrily to herself as she tended her garden of magical plants. Hagrid sat on the steps of his little hut, whittling a stick and keeping an eye on his boarhound, Fang, who was romping and chasing after squirrels. Even headmaster Dumbledore was standing at his open window, a bag of candy in hand, looking out at the sunbeams dancing and glistening on the surface of the lake.
It seemed as if all of the school faculty present during the summer holidays were relishing the sunshine and fresh air. All except for one... Deep in the basement dungeons, there was one room that was not bathed in warm rays of light. The only light came from small glowing fires burning under a row of cauldrons, a massive black iron chandelier, and a candle burning on a black marble workbench where a dark robed figure stood hunched over a mortar and pestle, carefully grinding dried wormwood into a fine powder.
Professor Severus Snape did not notice the folded piece of parchment slide under the laboratory door. He was deep in concentration, working on a new potion to make the user resistant to the effects of Veritaserum. The powerful "truth potion", which could be used to uncover valuable secrets by the followers of the Dark Lord. While most people were caught up in the long dreamy days of summer, Snape could not forget the events of the previous term. Tragedy had befallen the school, and the wizarding world was rocked by the gathering of followers of evil and the reawakening of their master. He also worked with a fervor spawned by fears of his own mortality. Snape wanted to get as much work done in as short of a time as possible because his life as a double agent, treading the razor's edge between good and evil, meant he was a man of numbered days.
His days on Earth had nearly come to an end at the beginning of summer, when he was summoned to Voldemort to account for the rumors and suspicions of betrayal that had been raised following his actions during the previous school term. He was not executed on sight, but allowed to live and strive to regain his master's trust through humble service. If he were to survive his punishment, that is. His punishment consisted of having the unbearably painful Cruciatus curse placed upon him by each and every other Death Eater present at the summoning.
More than once during that hellish half hour, he felt himself start to slip away into death's cold grip, but the hatred he felt for his former Lord and master burned with a fierceness that rivaled even the mind shattering agony of the curse. It was not the first time he had been tortured at the hands of Voldemort or his followers, but it left him profoundly and permanently changed. After a week in recovery, where his clung to his sanity and intellect by a precarious thread, he resumed his work with a motivation that bordered on mania. Headmaster Dumbledore was extremely concerned and kept a watchful and nurturing eye on him to make sure he didn't burn out from overwork.
The wormwood ground finely enough, the potions master divided it evenly into the bubbling cauldrons, and decided to call it a day and get a bite to eat, as the potion would have to simmer until the next morning to reach it's full potency. He approached the dungeon door, and spied the folded piece of parchment on the floor. He picked it up, pocketed it, and headed towards the smaller faculty dining hall that the teachers and staff who remained at the school year round used for informal meals. It was too early for supper, but as he had worked straight through lunchtime, he rang for a house elf and ordered a bowl of soup and an assortment of fruit and cheeses served with a hearty slice of bread. His meal appeared on the table within seconds of the elf's departure.
He scarcely tasted his food, his attention held by the story of the Death Eater attack on the general store in Diagon Alley in the Daily Prophet. Death Eaters had demolished a shop that stocked various muggle items on their shelves alongside more common magical merchandise. "Damn they're getting bold." He thought to himself. Not only was this attack carried out in broad daylight, but also it was carried out against a wizard family owned business. "It's escalating," he thought. "This is only the beginning".
His empty bowl and plate disappeared as soon as he finished his meal. He decided to check his pocket watch and see just how much longer the potion had left to simmer. As he pulled the watch from his robe pocket, the piece of parchment caught on his hand and fluttered to the ground. Curious, he picked it up off the floor and unfolded it. It was a memo from the headmaster. It read: "I hope the soup was savory and filling, please join me for tea in my office as soon as you are through." "Damn!" said Snape, who wanted nothing more than to return to his dungeon chambers and spend the evening deep in a good book.
He stuffed the parchment and watch back into his pocket, and stalked off down the corridors to the headmaster's chambers. Just as he was finishing the climb up the stairs, the door opened and Headmaster Dumbledore greeted him with an impish smile. "Do come in Severus, and sit down. I have tea and ginger biscuits on the table." The professor stepped warily into the room, suspicious at why he had been summoned to the headmaster's office. Surely not to exchange pleasantries over a cup of tea and a cookie? He sat down, and Dumbledore poured him a cup of tea. "Sugar or honey?" "Neither headmaster, can we dispense with the pleasantries and get to the point of this little meeting, I have a very complex potion brewing and I need to be there in case there is a problem".
"Well Severus, I am crushed... I thought ginger biscuits were your favorite." Said Dumbledore with a twinkle in his eye. The potions master shot back with a glare that would send a first year student scurrying down the hall. "Albus, please. I have more pressing things on my mind than a tea party right now; or have you not read the Daily Prophet this afternoon?"
"All right, all right, I see your point, no need to get upset. However, we must discuss the issue of the new faculty formal robes. I have the list on my desk, and you are the only member of the faculty who has not yet been measured. It is near the middle of July and it takes time to have the robes made. They are not magicked up out of thin air you know."
Snape rolled his eyes and sighed. "Headmaster, be reasonable. I don't have the time to deal with this foolishness. Can't you have one of the house elves take one of my old robes and copy the measurements on a scroll and owl them over to the tailor shop? Is this really necessary?"
"I have been very patient with you Severus. I realize that your time is very valuable these days, but the measurements must be taken at the tailor shop in Hogsmeade. It will only take a little while. Besides, it will do you good to get out of the school for an afternoon. I must insist Severus that you take care of this by the end of the week. You may not see the importance of it, but it is something that the entire faculty has had to do, you are not an exception".
"Very well. I need to go to town and check on a special order from the apothecary anyway, I'll take care of it tomorrow afternoon".
"Good. I knew you would be able to find the time. That will be all, but are you sure you don't want a cookie for the walk back to the dungeons?"
"No thank you headmaster, I would not". With that, Snape stood up and quickly exited the room, shutting the door a little harder than necessary on the way out. Dumbledore chuckled to himself as he picked a ginger biscuit off of the tea tray and bit into it.