Casting Shadows at Noon
Fire in an Opal, Ice in a Heart
Two months later, Severus Snape entered Florish and Blotts with his usual enthusiasm for new literature, and ran straight into Lily Potter. As usual around his classmates, it was Severus who fell down, while Lily swayed and recovered herself. "Oh, hello Severus," she exclaimed enthusiastically, radiating the sense that she was happy to see anyone at that moment "Have you heard the good news? I have a son named Harry. He's soooo cute! Well," she began again, talking considerably faster than the average human being, sounding oddly similar to one Hermione Granger on her first day of school. "I simply have to run, I just came in for a parenting book, there's so much to learn, I hope I do everything right, have a nice day, it was good to see you, goodbye." and she was gone.
He didn't know why Lily had always affected him like that. Something about her perpetual relentless good humor, her habit of always seeming to care more that there was someone to talk to than she did who it was that was listening, always left him breathless and felling more connected to humanity at large than usual. Simply by virtue of being willing to listen, he had often sat with her in the library as she discussed everything from Charms to dating. The teachers encouraged their odd association, and everything went well until their fifth year. On January fourth, Lily Evans had gone to him for help with potions, and at that exact moment James Potter noticed them both for the first time.
The pattern continued throughout their last three years at Hogwarts. The more that James Potter pursued Lily with a furious and arrogant determination, the more Lily disliked him and sought out a normal life, the more Severus, who had never understood the concept of love or dating, and certainly never regarded Lily, a silly albeit intelligent Gryffindor, in that light, found himself being tortured by the Potter boy and his gang.
Severus had never heeded the Marauders. They were Gryffindor, mostly muggle- born or half muggle, except for Black, of no consequence to him. But, somehow, after January, they were everywhere. Severus was a powerful wizard, but he succeeded mainly through pure magical force rather than speed. He tended to find himself upside down, with his head rammed into cupboards, and other similarly uncomfortable positions. Lily tended to be furious with Potter, expressing disdain to him after the fact. Thus, Severus took to hexing the marauders whenever they met, and staying in his common room.
The last day of finals, 5th year. Severus had wandered onto the grounds, buried in book and completely oblivious to life in general. A phrase, snapped cruelly. Severus' reflexes, failing. A handful of words he certainly wouldn't use at home falling from his lips, and Potter hexed him again. "Leave him ALONE!...What's he done to you?" Great. Now she was trying to help him again. "Well," drawled Potter casually "It's more the fact that he exists, if you know what I mean" Poor James Potter. He never knew how much those words meant, never knew that he was achieving his intention, chasing Severus away from Potter's property. For Lily was his property, and from that day forward, she never defended him again. He supposed it was his own fault. He never knew what made him call her a mudblood, except that at that moment, he saw Albus Dumbledore, his TEACHER, sitting on a rock, laughing at him.
The transfiguration teacher of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry sat upon his favorite rock, and watched the 5th year students enjoying their break in studying. There was Evans and her gang, and Malfoy's following, and Potter's. They seemed to have fallen back on their favorite sport- Snape hunting. The Hogwarts faculty was aware of them, but they chose to let this run its course, and Snape was improving. His reflexes were much better now, and his devotion to keeping Potter out of his head had given him an unbelievably good skill in occlumency. A phrase drifted across the grass "What's he done to you?" "Well, It's more the fact that he exists, if you know what I mean". Dumbledore laughed at the insolence of a boy who had yet to encounter the real world, and marveled at the force of hatred in the eyes of his victim.
Severus staggered from the shop and collapsed in an alleyway, Lily's excited little voice rang in his ears. No. She had married Potter. She deserved what she got. But she was so excited. And she had been so kind ot him. Frank Longbottom passed him with a vague smile. How could this be? What power left the fate of two families in the hands of one man, let him decide who's child would die, and who could keep their child for another year? How could his master demand this of him? why did they have to die? because they were dangerous to his master. Who said that his master should rule? his master. what happened to those who questioned him? they died. What did he do in the face of this tyranny? he helped. who resisted this, who thought for themself? Albus Dumbledore.
That night, Severus returned to the Death Eater's camp, and very calmly and systematically destroyed the Imperius potion. He burned the books he used, he destroyed the notes he took and the cauldron he made it in. He practiced his Occlumency, clearing his mind. And he lifted the Book of the Dead from its shelf in his tent. He walked quietly into his master's tent, placed the book before him, and added the opal ring that was his mark of favor.
Voldemort regarded Severus as he set down the ring. The young man's eyes said clearly that he was going to betray his master, and offered the option of killing him. There was fear there, and yet ruthlessness. Severus did not want to die, but he continued his loyalty through the offering of his life. After that, he made no guarantees. Silently, Voldemort returned the ring, replacing it on Severus' finger.
Two hours later, Severus had wept upon Dumbledore's lap.
Severus winced with the force of the memory as he walked up the stairs to the castle. He still had that blasted ring in his office. He'd been so noble, so determined to do right, so proud that the Dark Lord recognized this, so sure Dumbledore would as well. And in return for following his ideals, he had been ruined. Utterly and completely ruined.
"He didn't harm you at all?" "He acted perfectly delighted to see me." "Well, you certainly seem able to convince him of anything. If only you could convince him that muggle borns are nice." Severus snorted beneath his breath. For all of Dumbledore's brilliance, he never really understood what Severus told him about Voldemort. This was doubtless an attempt at humor, but Albus should know better than to think Voldemort believed him. "He doesn't care about muggles, I told you that. He's half-blood himself. By his own scale, he isn't fit to lick my boots, and that would be funny. He saw a point of contention, saw that everyone with talent and influence was on the losing side, and completely disturbed our government." "Still, he is influenced by your skill with words, and that is excellent" Severus was seriously vexed now. Either Dumbledore was truly stupid, or he was baiting him, and Severus didn't intend to stick around to find out. So he purred, "Well, It's more the fact that I exist, if you know what I mean". There. He had answered respectfully, and if the old man had any since of decency he wouldn't follow Severus as he swept coldly from the room.
Albus was completely blown away. "Well, It's more the fact that I exist, if you know what I mean". Severus had seen him that day, had seen him siting inactive. Laughing. Severus thought he had been mocking him.
Two months later, Severus Snape entered Florish and Blotts with his usual enthusiasm for new literature, and ran straight into Lily Potter. As usual around his classmates, it was Severus who fell down, while Lily swayed and recovered herself. "Oh, hello Severus," she exclaimed enthusiastically, radiating the sense that she was happy to see anyone at that moment "Have you heard the good news? I have a son named Harry. He's soooo cute! Well," she began again, talking considerably faster than the average human being, sounding oddly similar to one Hermione Granger on her first day of school. "I simply have to run, I just came in for a parenting book, there's so much to learn, I hope I do everything right, have a nice day, it was good to see you, goodbye." and she was gone.
He didn't know why Lily had always affected him like that. Something about her perpetual relentless good humor, her habit of always seeming to care more that there was someone to talk to than she did who it was that was listening, always left him breathless and felling more connected to humanity at large than usual. Simply by virtue of being willing to listen, he had often sat with her in the library as she discussed everything from Charms to dating. The teachers encouraged their odd association, and everything went well until their fifth year. On January fourth, Lily Evans had gone to him for help with potions, and at that exact moment James Potter noticed them both for the first time.
The pattern continued throughout their last three years at Hogwarts. The more that James Potter pursued Lily with a furious and arrogant determination, the more Lily disliked him and sought out a normal life, the more Severus, who had never understood the concept of love or dating, and certainly never regarded Lily, a silly albeit intelligent Gryffindor, in that light, found himself being tortured by the Potter boy and his gang.
Severus had never heeded the Marauders. They were Gryffindor, mostly muggle- born or half muggle, except for Black, of no consequence to him. But, somehow, after January, they were everywhere. Severus was a powerful wizard, but he succeeded mainly through pure magical force rather than speed. He tended to find himself upside down, with his head rammed into cupboards, and other similarly uncomfortable positions. Lily tended to be furious with Potter, expressing disdain to him after the fact. Thus, Severus took to hexing the marauders whenever they met, and staying in his common room.
The last day of finals, 5th year. Severus had wandered onto the grounds, buried in book and completely oblivious to life in general. A phrase, snapped cruelly. Severus' reflexes, failing. A handful of words he certainly wouldn't use at home falling from his lips, and Potter hexed him again. "Leave him ALONE!...What's he done to you?" Great. Now she was trying to help him again. "Well," drawled Potter casually "It's more the fact that he exists, if you know what I mean" Poor James Potter. He never knew how much those words meant, never knew that he was achieving his intention, chasing Severus away from Potter's property. For Lily was his property, and from that day forward, she never defended him again. He supposed it was his own fault. He never knew what made him call her a mudblood, except that at that moment, he saw Albus Dumbledore, his TEACHER, sitting on a rock, laughing at him.
The transfiguration teacher of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry sat upon his favorite rock, and watched the 5th year students enjoying their break in studying. There was Evans and her gang, and Malfoy's following, and Potter's. They seemed to have fallen back on their favorite sport- Snape hunting. The Hogwarts faculty was aware of them, but they chose to let this run its course, and Snape was improving. His reflexes were much better now, and his devotion to keeping Potter out of his head had given him an unbelievably good skill in occlumency. A phrase drifted across the grass "What's he done to you?" "Well, It's more the fact that he exists, if you know what I mean". Dumbledore laughed at the insolence of a boy who had yet to encounter the real world, and marveled at the force of hatred in the eyes of his victim.
Severus staggered from the shop and collapsed in an alleyway, Lily's excited little voice rang in his ears. No. She had married Potter. She deserved what she got. But she was so excited. And she had been so kind ot him. Frank Longbottom passed him with a vague smile. How could this be? What power left the fate of two families in the hands of one man, let him decide who's child would die, and who could keep their child for another year? How could his master demand this of him? why did they have to die? because they were dangerous to his master. Who said that his master should rule? his master. what happened to those who questioned him? they died. What did he do in the face of this tyranny? he helped. who resisted this, who thought for themself? Albus Dumbledore.
That night, Severus returned to the Death Eater's camp, and very calmly and systematically destroyed the Imperius potion. He burned the books he used, he destroyed the notes he took and the cauldron he made it in. He practiced his Occlumency, clearing his mind. And he lifted the Book of the Dead from its shelf in his tent. He walked quietly into his master's tent, placed the book before him, and added the opal ring that was his mark of favor.
Voldemort regarded Severus as he set down the ring. The young man's eyes said clearly that he was going to betray his master, and offered the option of killing him. There was fear there, and yet ruthlessness. Severus did not want to die, but he continued his loyalty through the offering of his life. After that, he made no guarantees. Silently, Voldemort returned the ring, replacing it on Severus' finger.
Two hours later, Severus had wept upon Dumbledore's lap.
Severus winced with the force of the memory as he walked up the stairs to the castle. He still had that blasted ring in his office. He'd been so noble, so determined to do right, so proud that the Dark Lord recognized this, so sure Dumbledore would as well. And in return for following his ideals, he had been ruined. Utterly and completely ruined.
"He didn't harm you at all?" "He acted perfectly delighted to see me." "Well, you certainly seem able to convince him of anything. If only you could convince him that muggle borns are nice." Severus snorted beneath his breath. For all of Dumbledore's brilliance, he never really understood what Severus told him about Voldemort. This was doubtless an attempt at humor, but Albus should know better than to think Voldemort believed him. "He doesn't care about muggles, I told you that. He's half-blood himself. By his own scale, he isn't fit to lick my boots, and that would be funny. He saw a point of contention, saw that everyone with talent and influence was on the losing side, and completely disturbed our government." "Still, he is influenced by your skill with words, and that is excellent" Severus was seriously vexed now. Either Dumbledore was truly stupid, or he was baiting him, and Severus didn't intend to stick around to find out. So he purred, "Well, It's more the fact that I exist, if you know what I mean". There. He had answered respectfully, and if the old man had any since of decency he wouldn't follow Severus as he swept coldly from the room.
Albus was completely blown away. "Well, It's more the fact that I exist, if you know what I mean". Severus had seen him that day, had seen him siting inactive. Laughing. Severus thought he had been mocking him.
