Enchanted Parchment

I am actually looking for an illustrator who might be willing to work with me - small dream of mine is to have some Albus and Severus fan art for my walls - if anyone is a dab hand with the arts, please let me know - I can't offer money but we might be able to come to an arrangement?

A little rusty here, so you may have to excuse me… ~SS19

Albus.

Hello, my boy. How does this wonderful Sunday find you?

Fine - thank you - but I wanted to say - Quirrell.

Oh, not this again, Severus. Please - I understand, he's a terribly unfashionable man with a penchant for turbans and an obsession with power that caused him to seek out the Dark Lord and is now somehow helping him into the castle.

…Your sarcasm is not appreciated.

My apologies, my dear boy - but I do not know what else you expect me to do in this case!

…Stop him, perhaps?

Severus, you have yet to give me concrete proof that he is…what you say he is. As you know, to be accused of being a Death-Eater is a terrible crime, and can result in some rather severe punishment.

He is no Death-Eater.

I'm sorry?

Death-Eaters are far more worthy than some parasite.

Oh, come, come, Severus. Surely you are not feeling jealous that the Dark Lord chose Quirinus and not you?

Why would he choose some unknown? Why did he not come to one of those he Marked? One of those he deemed his Inner Circle?

…If it is him, at all.

I am not jealous. I am just intrigued. For all these methods of communication that he prided himself in -

You mean your left arm?

Yes, damn it, my left arm - why not one of us?

Maybe he thinks you have all changed sides? Maybe he believes that you were not as loyal as you once were? Perhaps Tom is just as vulnerable as the next man?

I doubt he is vulnerable.

He is very vulnerable, Severus - especially now - he has no physical body, no true manifestation - he can only prey on those who are easily tempted.

Indeed.

What if he were to offer you the same as before? You held a very high position in his circle, if I remember rightly - what if he were to offer you power beyond your imagination and access to knowledge you can only dream of?

I'd deny him.

Really? And what if he offered you fame and fortune?

I'd still deny him.

That's very honourable of you, Severus, and I am very pleased to hear that there is no way he could tempt you.

Well.

Well?

There is one way.

Pardon?

If he were to offer me this one thing, I would be tempted. He could probably gain my allegiance once more.

…And what is that? The power to bring people back from the dead?

Not quite…

Sherbet lemons?

Not exactly what I had in mind…

Then tell me. What could secure the allegiance of Severus Snape?

- Access to Albus Dumbledore's private library so I could peruse the texts that no other living wizard has seen and be allowed to use them in my research…

Looks as though you will be staying put then, my boy.

My thoughts exactly. Can I have the key, then?

Hmm? Oh - it's a password - it never changes - it's 'fizzing whizzbee'

Of course it is.

I cannot believe it was so simple to buy you, Severus.

Buy me? Do not tarnish my honour, sir. There was no buying involved. I have already pledged my loyalty to you - I just wanted access to your library. You are too easy to provoke, Headmaster.

Or perhaps I knew that was the plan all along, and went with it?

Or perhaps you are just a barmy old man?

And perhaps…it's time for dinner?

Your quarters or mine?

I think mine. This 'barmy old man' wants to beat you at chess once again.

Is that so? Give me ten minutes.

Looking forward to it, my boy.