Written for hp100, the Challenge being 'Balance'.

Title: The tipping point.
Word Count: 100

He has thrown away victory. His wand is locked with Voldemort's and now, painfully, Snape is getting to his feet.

He should not have wasted time on Snape.

'A most suitable reward for my most faithful servant,' sneers Voldemort. 'I give him to you.'

Impassively, Snape picks up Rowena Ravenclaw's dagger and then throws it, hard, pinning his victim to the ancient wood of the church door. As Voldemort struggles frantically to break free, Snape leaps forward to hold the weapon in place.

'Traitor,' whispers Voldemort. 'Imperio! Kill him.'

Harry's world turns fluffy and pink.

Why not?

Harry hates Snape.

Title: Equilibrium.
Word Count 100

At a distance it appears fragile. In the middle of the bridge, metal columns disappearing into darkness, the rivets are inches across. Wet, starving, cold and exhausted, still Harry wonders at the thing.

His wand falls away into darkness. Gently, he allows himself to tip and then suddenly, pinned against the rain-slick metal, he's struggling with someone he'd believed dead.

'You killed Dumbledore!'

'To save you! Greyback would've ripped your throat out. Dumbledore was already dieing from something he'd ingested. I'd made a vow to protect Draco.' Snape let go of him. 'I'd made the same vow to protect you.'

Title: Samhain.
Word Count: 100

'Balancing the damage they'd have done, not just your life and Draco's, against the last few minutes of his; that potion was eating him alive: I'd no choice.'

'So what did he plead for?' Harry asked leadenly.

'For me to help you,' replied Snape. As the moment of death approaches, the rules . . . bend. Dumbledore could see tonight but couldn't do anything. He thought that, perhaps, I could.'

'I thought I'd killed you,' murmured Harry. 'I'm sorry.' They moved aside for a crowd of Halloween revellers. 'What are you going to do?'

But Snape isn't there.

Author's note: this tryptich is (hopefully) suited to the season. I intended to imply that Harry actually had killed Snape and I'm wondering if I've succeeded?