Challenge # 91: The Knockturn Alley Challenge
Title: Opportunity Lost
Rating: PG
Pairings: none
Author's note: This is simply the same story as "Eyes of a Stranger" written from Snape's perspective as opposed to McGonagall's.
Spoilers for HBP
Snape moved cautiously through the back passages and narrow paths that made up the more hidden places of Knockturn Alley. Damn but being one of the most wanted men in wizarding Britain was exhausting. He never seemed to be able to catch his breath and feel really secure for long. Fortunately, he only had a bit further to go and then he could rest for awhile at least. Until something or someone else forced him to move again.
As he passed a narrow passageway that led up to the main thoroughfare, he glanced through it and saw her standing at the other end looking straight at him. Fortunately, he retained the presence of mind to keep moving. What the hell had possessed her to come here of all places? Hadn’t she learned anything from her little encounter last week? Had he truly wasted his time after all?
He paused near the end of the passageway with a frown on his gaunt face. Would she come looking for him? A disgusted snort escaped his lips as they twisted into a parody of a smile. Of course she would. She never did buy into that old saying about curiosity killing the cat. Though she’d probably be much better off if she had.
Immediately, he cast a Disillusionment Charm on himself and crossed the small space to press up against a nearby section of wall, wand in hand. Then he held his breath, stood as still as possible, and waited.
He hadn’t long to wait before her face peered cautiously around the corner of the nearest building. Slowly she scanned the courtyard, her sharp eyes sliding right over his motionless form as he’d hoped that they would.
Carefully, she stepped into the courtyard and crept along the near wall to peer into the archway that led out of the open space into a sheltered dark area. As she leaned in for a closer look, he pushed himself away from his section of wall and moved silently up behind her. With a quick movement, he shoved his wand up beneath her chin and forced her back into a standing position.
When she didn’t drop her wand immediately at his command, he pressed his wand harder against her throat. He didn’t want to hurt her, but he certainly couldn’t afford to be careless. Minerva was a strong and formidable woman and, with a pang, he realized that they were no longer allies.
“What are you doing here, Minerva?” he hissed in her ear.
“Severus, I thought it was you,” her voice sounded wary and a bit sad to his ears. “Are you going to kill me, too?”
That simple question, honestly asked, sent a sharp jolt through his body and his wand trembled slightly in his hand. Kill her? He supposed he deserved that. Without answering, he released her and stepped back. “You shouldn’t be here alone,” he stated simply.
She turned around to face him. “I’m not alone.” She extended her hand and pointed back to the opening she’d come out of. “Hagrid is right at the end of that passageway. He’d be here in a matter of moments if I call for him.”
“Are you going to call for him?” he asked.
“Are you going to stop me if I do?” she asked in return.
He found himself staring into her eyes, trying to read her thoughts. Was she bluffing? Or was help really so close at hand? As he stared at her, he noticed how thin and pale she was looking. She seemed older and more careworn than when he’d last seen her. The past weeks hadn’t been much kinder to her than they’d been to him apparently. But determination still shown from the firm set of her jaw and the sharpness of her eyes and the tall, straight way that she held herself.
“Why did you do it, Severus?” she whispered suddenly.
Though he’d been expecting the question, he still shivered slightly to hear it pass her lips. There was such pain in her voice.
“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.” He shook his head with certainty. None of his former colleagues would believe anything he said now, and who could really blame them? Not that most of them had ever had much faith in anything that he’d said or done anyway. Bitterness twisted his lips slightly; he’d never been the most trusted member of their little group.
“Try me,” she said simply.
For a moment, he considered it. If any of them would listen to him, it would be her. She’d always been fair and rational, not cloaked in the righteous piety that most Gryffindors wore like golden armor. She was leaving herself open to his probing; he could see her sincerity in her eyes… Should he take the chance? Would he get another?
He opened his mouth, not completely sure what he was going to say, when suddenly another familiar voice filled the air
“Perfesser McGonagall! Where are you? Perfesser!!”
So she had been telling the truth. She wasn’t alone. At least, his recent lesson had taught her something.
A look of extreme annoyance crossed Minerva’s face, and she turned her head to glance back towards where, with the finesse of a bull elephant, Hagrid was obviously charging to the rescue.
The moment was lost, the mood broken. Perhaps it was for the best. He’d have probably regretted speaking anyway. She might be sincere in her desire to hear his explanation, but there were still no guarantees that she’d either believe or understand what he would tell her. Retreat was by far the wisest course. So while Minerva’s attention was distracted, Snape accepted reality and quietly apparated away.
Rating: PG
Pairings: none
Author's note: This is simply the same story as "Eyes of a Stranger" written from Snape's perspective as opposed to McGonagall's.
Spoilers for HBP
Snape moved cautiously through the back passages and narrow paths that made up the more hidden places of Knockturn Alley. Damn but being one of the most wanted men in wizarding Britain was exhausting. He never seemed to be able to catch his breath and feel really secure for long. Fortunately, he only had a bit further to go and then he could rest for awhile at least. Until something or someone else forced him to move again.
As he passed a narrow passageway that led up to the main thoroughfare, he glanced through it and saw her standing at the other end looking straight at him. Fortunately, he retained the presence of mind to keep moving. What the hell had possessed her to come here of all places? Hadn’t she learned anything from her little encounter last week? Had he truly wasted his time after all?
He paused near the end of the passageway with a frown on his gaunt face. Would she come looking for him? A disgusted snort escaped his lips as they twisted into a parody of a smile. Of course she would. She never did buy into that old saying about curiosity killing the cat. Though she’d probably be much better off if she had.
Immediately, he cast a Disillusionment Charm on himself and crossed the small space to press up against a nearby section of wall, wand in hand. Then he held his breath, stood as still as possible, and waited.
He hadn’t long to wait before her face peered cautiously around the corner of the nearest building. Slowly she scanned the courtyard, her sharp eyes sliding right over his motionless form as he’d hoped that they would.
Carefully, she stepped into the courtyard and crept along the near wall to peer into the archway that led out of the open space into a sheltered dark area. As she leaned in for a closer look, he pushed himself away from his section of wall and moved silently up behind her. With a quick movement, he shoved his wand up beneath her chin and forced her back into a standing position.
When she didn’t drop her wand immediately at his command, he pressed his wand harder against her throat. He didn’t want to hurt her, but he certainly couldn’t afford to be careless. Minerva was a strong and formidable woman and, with a pang, he realized that they were no longer allies.
“What are you doing here, Minerva?” he hissed in her ear.
“Severus, I thought it was you,” her voice sounded wary and a bit sad to his ears. “Are you going to kill me, too?”
That simple question, honestly asked, sent a sharp jolt through his body and his wand trembled slightly in his hand. Kill her? He supposed he deserved that. Without answering, he released her and stepped back. “You shouldn’t be here alone,” he stated simply.
She turned around to face him. “I’m not alone.” She extended her hand and pointed back to the opening she’d come out of. “Hagrid is right at the end of that passageway. He’d be here in a matter of moments if I call for him.”
“Are you going to call for him?” he asked.
“Are you going to stop me if I do?” she asked in return.
He found himself staring into her eyes, trying to read her thoughts. Was she bluffing? Or was help really so close at hand? As he stared at her, he noticed how thin and pale she was looking. She seemed older and more careworn than when he’d last seen her. The past weeks hadn’t been much kinder to her than they’d been to him apparently. But determination still shown from the firm set of her jaw and the sharpness of her eyes and the tall, straight way that she held herself.
“Why did you do it, Severus?” she whispered suddenly.
Though he’d been expecting the question, he still shivered slightly to hear it pass her lips. There was such pain in her voice.
“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.” He shook his head with certainty. None of his former colleagues would believe anything he said now, and who could really blame them? Not that most of them had ever had much faith in anything that he’d said or done anyway. Bitterness twisted his lips slightly; he’d never been the most trusted member of their little group.
“Try me,” she said simply.
For a moment, he considered it. If any of them would listen to him, it would be her. She’d always been fair and rational, not cloaked in the righteous piety that most Gryffindors wore like golden armor. She was leaving herself open to his probing; he could see her sincerity in her eyes… Should he take the chance? Would he get another?
He opened his mouth, not completely sure what he was going to say, when suddenly another familiar voice filled the air
“Perfesser McGonagall! Where are you? Perfesser!!”
So she had been telling the truth. She wasn’t alone. At least, his recent lesson had taught her something.
A look of extreme annoyance crossed Minerva’s face, and she turned her head to glance back towards where, with the finesse of a bull elephant, Hagrid was obviously charging to the rescue.
The moment was lost, the mood broken. Perhaps it was for the best. He’d have probably regretted speaking anyway. She might be sincere in her desire to hear his explanation, but there were still no guarantees that she’d either believe or understand what he would tell her. Retreat was by far the wisest course. So while Minerva’s attention was distracted, Snape accepted reality and quietly apparated away.