Dedicating this to Hailey.

Durmstrang, Year 1

Theme: Prejudice

Write about a character reconsidering their long-held views (prejudicial, political, religious, positive to negative or vice versa etc.).

Buzzwords: Power dynamics

Different perspectives

Morality/Conscience

Main prompt:

5. [Emotion] Rage

Optional prompt: 12. [Quote] "The version of me you created in your mind is not my responsibility."

Word count: 3099, I used the extra 100 words:)

Betaed by: Tee, Alex, Crissie, Georgie, Mia, Mels, Orca and Viola. Thank you all so much for your patience, for your help, for your scissors and for not killing me.

I love you all.

Author's Note: This takes place at the start of seventh year, well Ginny's sixth year in the first two weeks. It could be an AU or it could be a background canon.


'With Snape as Headmaster, everything is going to be horrible,' Ginny mused while boarding the train.

Tears were threatening to fall as she said goodbye to her parents, but were soon squished by pure rage. Death Eaters didn't deserve her tears. If they thought she'd go down without a fight, they were wrong.

The train ride was quiet; everyone was fearful, sad, or angry. Harry had left without even a goodbye, and her rage grew as she realised she might never see her friends again.

Ginny occluded her emotions, as she'd learned to do after the Chamber. Her parents had sent her to a Mind Healer who'd taught her, and she'd continued to practice on her own. It kept the nightmares away.


One day of classes and Ginny was sure she couldn't possibly despise the man more than she already did. Snape was as foul as the Death Eaters he'd appointed as teachers. They'd started already with torture lessons in Muggle Studies, she knew.

At lunch, she'd found an injured first year, made to lie bleeding on the floor until he addressed Alecto Carrow with respect. Ginny had given him some food; it hadn't gone unnoticed. A Slytherin had snitched, and she'd been given detention with Snape.

She worried about what would happen, but her rage didn't let her stand down.

"Purity is all," she spoke with disgust. There was nothing pure about the man.

She climbed the steps to the office she hadn't seen since the funeral. Opening the door, Ginny was surprised to see it still looked like it was Dumbledore's.

"Good evening, Headmaster Snape, Sir." The words left a bitter taste in her mouth.

"Weasley. I see you're taking after your good-for-nothing brothers, disrupting the order of things."

Despite her desire to speak back, Ginny knew she had to keep quiet. The DA needed her alive, and nothing was beyond an angry Snape. He'd killed Dumbledore in cold blood.

His eyes narrowed, and she wondered if he'd read her mind.

"You will serve detention with me for the next month. However, you shall start tonight. My… new lab needs a thorough cleaning."

"New lab, Sir?"

With a look she couldn't quite place, he turned and nodded to the right wall. It pushed back, revealing a messy, unorganised chamber—nothing like the potions lab she'd imagined he'd have.

Snape gave her a long look.

"Get to work. Until the floor shines, you're not getting out of here."

With a sigh, Ginny set to work, thinking of DA strategies to pass the time. They'd discussed it as a house, the DA was needed to inspire students. With Harry, Ron, and Hermione gone, someone had to take the reins of leadership.

Hours later, the floor vaguely resembled cleanliness. Ginny wondered how it could have gotten so dirty. What had Dumbledore or Snape attempted there?

She couldn't ask the man. She had this image of Snape in her head, but it may be even worse than that.

When the door finally opened, the office was empty. Ginny saw a note on the desk. Saturday, you will present yourself right after breakfast. Do not be late.

"Bastard," she said, "gonna make me work all day." With that she left, unaware of the figure that lingered in the shadows.


It'd been a reasonably good week. Horrible in most aspects, but good since they'd re-established the DA. They were going to start slow, lulling everyone into a false sense of security.

"Purity is all," she said, and the gargoyle let her in.

"Good morning, Miss Weasley. I hope you've eaten well, for you shall spend lunch here. Organise everything in the lab, from the glass beakers to ingredients. Also, the floor needs another scrubbing."

He pushed her into the room and closed the door.

"I hate him!" she cried. She hadn't eaten much, how could she? She'd put on a brave face, and her anger kept her hunger in check, but without the rage, she was empty. Empty and afraid of what the man in the next room could do. She'd seen it in his eyes on Wednesday. He wasn't to be messed with. Yet, somehow, she'd planned to do exactly that.

"Monster," she murmured under her breath. Somehow, she'd make him pay.

After hours working on the beakers, Ginny decided to begin on the floor. No matter how hard she'd scrubbed, the beakers wouldn't get clean. Her hands and back hurt; it was time for a change.

While she wasn't sure her knees had recovered from Wednesday, the floor seemed pretty inviting. At least, her back would have some sort of break. She hoped.

Ginny ached everywhere. She wished she was allowed to use magic, but Snape would come down on her worse if she tried. She'd heard tales from the other students, seen them shaking and afraid. They were being tortured.

She briefly wondered why she wasn't among them.

At the end of the day, Ginny had almost collapsed. She'd ended up trying to lay down and just rest when one of the paintings had played Auror with her and she'd had to start scrubbing again. However, one thing that she was really content with, was the state of the room. It wasn't spotless, but it was clean.

The wall finally opened to let her through. Snape was missing again, but this time there was no note. She assumed it was because she ought to report back at the same time the next day.

Ginny took the opportunity to look around. To her surprise, she came face to face with Dumbledore.

"Headmaster?" she murmured, taking a step closer. She couldn't believe her eyes.

"Miss Weasley," he greeted her, but his eyes weren't twinkling.

"You're awake." It was a statement.

"Been awake for a while, girlie," Phineas Nigellus' portrait said.

"But then, why haven't you spoken? Snape—"

"Headmaster Snape, Miss Weasley," he corrected; Ginny gaped at him.

"He killed you! He killed you, and you're still defending him?"

The old man sighed.

"Miss Weasley, the image you have of Headmaster Snape is flawed. He's not as bad as you believe."

"Not as bad? Not as bad! How can you say that? Not even the second week of school and students are being tortured! That could drive them insane! Tell me, how is that not as bad?" Her voice went higher as her rage slipped through her Occlumency.

"Miss Weasley, I assure you, that—"

"Silence!"

Ginny jumped. Behind her stood Severus Snape, a murderous look in his eyes. Safe to say, she had never seen him this furious before.

"Stop, you nosy little blood traitor. And you!" He turned towards the painting. "How dare you talk with a student!"

"Severus, I believe that Miss Weasley should know!"

"And I believe that you shouldn't tell lies. I am who I am, and I hope that Miss Weasley has learnt her lesson. The version of me you created in your mind is not my responsibility, old man. Your painting is under my command, and you'll do as I say."

Ginny watched as Dumbledore's painting deflated, nodding sadly.

Snape turned to her, and she barely resisted the urge to back away.

"The paintings in the Headmaster's office may believe I am a saint, as they all do when the owner of the office changes, but I will not have you talking with these morons. Understood?"

She nodded meekly. He emanated rage and danger.

"Good. Tomorrow, 9 am. Do not be late."


Sunday, Ginny arrived five minutes early; she couldn't forget Snape's crazed expression.

He was pacing around the office when she entered.

"Early, I see. Good. Take everything Dumbledore had in this office and sort through it. Do not attempt to steal; the consequences will be dire. You have until noon."

He stormed out, leaving her alone. Looking around, it seemed like everything belonged to the former headmaster. How was she to finish in three hours?

Nevertheless, she did her best. She ignored the paintings though they were all awake, including Dumbledore.

Ginny tried not to let it get to her, however, after almost three hours, she couldn't hold it in any longer. She marched right to the portrait and glared at it.

"Talk to me. What did you mean yesterday? "

He looked at her, sadness dancing in his eyes.

"Nothing Miss Weasley. You see, when former Headmasters have their painting appear here, it's not an accurate depiction. We have the memories but are cursed with a flawed view of the current Headmaster and a need to protect him. Hearing your insulting words hurts us."

Ginny couldn't believe it.

"You're just as awful as he is!"

"Perhaps even more," the man whispered, but Ginny paid no heed. She was furious. She didn't know why she'd asked. Snape was Snape. Nothing could redeem him.

They'd stopped talking at the right time, for not a second later, Snape stormed in.

"Out! Next Saturday at 9! Don't be late!"


All week, Ginny hadn't been able to focus on anything but Dumbledore's words. Were the paintings slaves to the current headmaster? Was it the same every time or had Snape somehow cursed them. She couldn't be sure. Somehow, he'd gotten to her.

Perhaps she was reading too much into it, Snape was a monster, however, she couldn't let go of a feeling there might be some truth to Dumbledore's words.

There was one way to be sure: to ask McGonagall. She'd been headmistress, she would know.

"Professor McGonagall?"

"Miss Weasley! What are you doing? You should hurry towards your dorm." The professor fretted.

"I know. But I really have to ask you something."

McGonagall stared intensely at her, waiting.

"Do the paintings in the Headmaster's office get a surge of affection for whoever is in the office?"

"Excuse me?"

"Are they controlled, forced to care about the new Headmaster?"

"Miss Weasley, I don't know how and why you're asking this, but the answer is no. What you are seeing is the essence of each person. No magic can force that. I suggest you go. You don't want to be late."


All night, Ginny had been able to think of just one thing: Dumbledore had tried to redeem Snape in her eyes. Dumbledore, the man that Snape had killed. But Snape had always been the bad guy. That couldn't change.

The next day she arrived early; she'd have skipped breakfast if it wouldn't have attracted attention. Entering the office, she noticed that Snape wasn't there yet.

All the better for her plan. She was going to confront Dumbledore's painting. As she entered, all the paintings stared at her. Without warning, Ginny pointed her wand at Dumbledore's form.

"Miss Weasley?" His eyes widened in surprise.

"You lied. I asked Professor McGonagall, you don't get protective of the current Headmaster. Why'd you lie, and what did you mean last Saturday?" Desperation leaked into her voice. Dumbledore's words had awoken in her the need to be right.

"Miss Weasley, you have to understand…."

"No. I need to know the truth. So speak." She inched her wand closer. "Or I'm lighting you on fire."

The painting sighed, but nodded slowly in agreement. "Very well. I know you've had Occlumency classes. How are your shields?"

"Good enough. Stop stalling! He may return soon. What did you mean when you said that Snape isn't that bad?"

"Simply that, Miss Weasley. He isn't bad."

"He killed you."

"Yes, he did. But I asked him to."

Ginny felt her knees shake.

"You did what?"

"I asked him to kill me because I was dying anyway. I'm sure you'd noticed the blackened hand. It was a curse. He tried everything—you saw the state of the lab—but he failed."

Ginny sat down. The potions lab she'd spent hours cleaning had been in that abysmal condition because Snape had wanted to find a cure for Dumbledore. So he wouldn't have to kill him.

"But, you begged… Harry said."

"I'm afraid Harry saw what I wanted him to see. I begged for Severus to keep his promise and kill me. It was between him and young Draco, and we had to save Draco's soul. Besides, now he's the Dark Lord's most trusted servant."

Rage filled Ginny. It wasn't possible.

"Let me get this straight. You asked Snape to kill you to save Malfoy and didn't tell anyone. You made Harry watch, helpless to save you?"

"Yes. However, I assure you, Harry watching was an accident."

Ginny couldn't believe her ears. Could he sound more detached? More scheming? Maybe her views on Dumbledore should change too.

"Does anyone know what your master plan was?" Her anger was audible though she tried to keep her voice steady.

"No."

"NO?"

"Miss Weasley, the fewer people to know, the safer the plan would be. This way, the Dark Lord trusts him above all others."

Thinking back over the awfulness of the first two weeks at Hogwarts, Ginny wondered who truly was the monster. If Snape was still acting on Dumbledore's orders, it must have hurt him, too.

"Trust him enough to make him Headmaster at Hogwarts."

The look in the blue eyes confirmed all that Ginny suspected.

"If he was here, he could try and protect the students, at least. You, for example—"

"He tries," Ginny said, angry still. Dumbledore didn't understand...

"I hated him."

"Miss Weasl—"

"No, let me finish. I hated him. For everything. He's a horrible teacher, but he doesn't deserve what you did. I'm not even sure you understand."

Ginny closed her eyes and shook her head.

"I can't wrap my head around your words. I've spent the whole week wondering what you could have meant. Your words make sense, even if I wish you were lying. You're merciless! Saving Malfoy's soul? What about Snape's? He's all alone, hated by all. He must be on his toes with everyone. And he can't help much, because of the Carrows. What you heard me calling him, everyone else does too. That's how we see him. Do you understand how that must be?"

Ginny saw remorse in Dumbledore's eyes.

"I understood last week when I heard you. I know he's not alright. That's why I thought to tell you. Give him one ally. He stopped me, but I knew I planted the seed in your head."

"You want me to be your pawn. You took away his choice again. While I don't hate him any longer, I still don't like him. I will offer help, but it's within his right to refuse."

"Miss Weasley, there wasn't another way."

Ginny just stared at him, a hard look in her eyes. Suddenly, the door opened, and she realised the time.

"Early again, Miss Weasley?"

Now that she was paying attention, Ginny could hear the different tone in his voice. He seemed hollow. 'How didn't I see this before?' Her whole world was changing. How could it be that Snape was one of the good guys?

"Miss Weasley! The polite thing is to answer, or did your parents not teach you manners?"

Biting down a remark, she looked him straight in the eyes, gripping her wand.

"Dumbledore told me the truth."

"What?" he seemed so panicked she almost smiled.

"I know he lied about how you control their feelings. He told me he asked you to kill him. I know now why the laboratory was so dirty and unkept." Ginny noticed how his eyes darkened at that.

She took a step back, just in time for he turned towards Dumbledore's painting, raging and trembling with magic.

"How could you old man? HOW COULD YOU?"

"I pressed," Ginny said before Dumbledore could speak.

Faster than one could say Quidditch he turned to her, his wand pointed at her. Ginny raised hers in surrender.

"Look, I couldn't get the thought from my head that you might be good. Or that something wasn't truly as it seemed. I was right. I needed to know. And I think you need someone."

He sneered. "What makes you think that? I am doing just fine."

Ginny smiled sadly. "No, you're not. I noticed before, but my view of you was so distorted, I didn't care."

"The version of me you created in your mind is not my responsibility." He echoed the words he'd told Dumbledore.

"Maybe not. But that image is changing. I thought you meant purity as in blood purity by your password. I see now you mean something totally different. You're affected by all the hate around you, by Dumbledore's death. You need someone on your side."

She could see the rage leaving his eyes as his wand was slowly lowered. He did need someone, and he didn't have the energy to fight her.

"What makes you think you're suited for it?"

"I don't. But I know Occlumency, which not many do. I'm a Weasley, and Harry's friend. If there's anyone no one would suspect of helping you, it's me. Think about it."

Snape lowered his wand and looked straight into her eyes. He seemed defeated. The man had never looked more worn and tired.

"No one can know. And don't you dare see me as a sort of a hero. I am not."

Ginny was tempted to grin.

"I wouldn't dream of it." Her views may be changing, but not that much. He may be on the Light side, but that didn't make him one of the good guys. The world wasn't so black and white.

Snape cleared his throat.

"Once you finish sorting, pack it into boxes. I need to think. You may leave when you're done."

He disappeared into the potions lab, leaving her with the portraits.

Ginny glared at Dumbledore when he tried to speak. "If you're going to spill any more secrets, don't. You accomplished your goal. I no longer see him as a monster."

She got to work, being none too careful with his things. Yes, Ginny may have disliked Snape, but now she despised Dumbledore. They were at war, and they all needed all the help they could get. If aiding Snape—she didn't even know how—would help with the final outcome, she'd do it. She hated Dumbledore's schemes more than anything, but at least her views were changed, and an essential person had one ally in a sea of enemies.

It seemed that in the end, Snape had been both wrong and right. He was responsible for what she thought of him, and yet, half of it was Dumbledore's fault.

Calming her rage, Ginny continued packing in peace. So what if something broke? It wasn't as if Dumbledore needed it.

Unbeknownst to her, all the paintings smiled.