Fic: Walking the Thin Line
A Dictionary Ficlet for the After_Class HP/SS list. The theme word is "ostensible," meaning "being such in appearance : plausible rather than demonstrably true or real."
WALKING THE THIN LINE
Albus Dumbledore was a meddlesome old fool.
Two years ago, he had made Snape and Sirius Black set aside two decades of hatred and distrust to work together for the good of the war effort.
One year ago, he had demanded that Snape and Remus Lupin do the same. This had been somewhat easier, but no less galling. Snape enjoyed his hate.
Now Dumbledore was trying to force him into making his peace once more, this time with the most unlikely person of all.
"No," Snape said flatly.
Dumbledore peered over his spectacles as he poured a steaming cup of tea. "I'm afraid I must insist, Severus," he replied quietly.
"And *I* am afraid I must insist you stop poking your nose in my personal affairs, Headmaster," Snape snapped. Damn the man for insisting they meet so early in the morning, especially on a Saturday when Snape would have otherwise treated himself to a lie-in. His eyelids were heavy from lack of sleep, and he felt dim-witted and slow.
"We no longer have the luxury of indulging in such nonsense," Dumbledore said, setting the teapot aside. "We will be at war in short order, and we must have a united front."
Snape sighed his irritation. "You don't realize what you are asking of me, Headmaster," he said, leaning forward aggressively. "That boy has been a boil on my arse from the moment he first set foot in this school. He has broken nearly every rule on the books, he has put his life and the lives of others in danger more times than I can count, and he has flouted my authority at every turn. He - "
"He is also our best hope for defeating Voldemort," Dumbledore interrupted. His expression softened. "He is really quite a delightful young man, Severus. All I ask is for you to spend some time with him and get to know him a bit better. I think you'll find you rather like him once you do."
Snape snorted. "You don't expect much, do you, Albus."
"Nothing more than I know you are capable of, Severus," Dumbledore replied. "In any case, you must try, dear boy. There is too much at stake to allow this foolishness to continue."
Snape pushed his chair back forcefully and got to his feet. "I will give the matter all the thought it deserves, Headmaster," he sneered in an oily voice. Dumbledore looked after him sadly as he turned and stalked away.
****
The air in his bedroom was cold, but the sheets were blessedly warm as Snape shrugged out of his robes and slipped back into bed. The source of that warmth shifted and rolled over in his arms when Snape spooned up behind it.
Green eyes opened and blinked up at him sleepily. "'Lo, Severus. Back so soon? What did Dumbledore want?"
"To talk about the war," Snape said softly, brushing long fingers across a jagged scar.
The body beside him tensed. "More bad news?"
Snape shook his head. "No. Good news, for once." He smiled at the confused expression that crossed his young lover's face. "It appears we won't have to hide this much longer, Harry," he said, leaning in to press a gentle kiss to sweetly parted lips.
Meh. Fluff. I needed a break from sadistic-powercrazy!Lucius, and besides, it seemed to fit the theme word pretty well.
In other news, the ornamental cherry tree in my front yard is in glorious bloom and the weather is to die for. I love spring!
WALKING THE THIN LINE
Albus Dumbledore was a meddlesome old fool.
Two years ago, he had made Snape and Sirius Black set aside two decades of hatred and distrust to work together for the good of the war effort.
One year ago, he had demanded that Snape and Remus Lupin do the same. This had been somewhat easier, but no less galling. Snape enjoyed his hate.
Now Dumbledore was trying to force him into making his peace once more, this time with the most unlikely person of all.
"No," Snape said flatly.
Dumbledore peered over his spectacles as he poured a steaming cup of tea. "I'm afraid I must insist, Severus," he replied quietly.
"And *I* am afraid I must insist you stop poking your nose in my personal affairs, Headmaster," Snape snapped. Damn the man for insisting they meet so early in the morning, especially on a Saturday when Snape would have otherwise treated himself to a lie-in. His eyelids were heavy from lack of sleep, and he felt dim-witted and slow.
"We no longer have the luxury of indulging in such nonsense," Dumbledore said, setting the teapot aside. "We will be at war in short order, and we must have a united front."
Snape sighed his irritation. "You don't realize what you are asking of me, Headmaster," he said, leaning forward aggressively. "That boy has been a boil on my arse from the moment he first set foot in this school. He has broken nearly every rule on the books, he has put his life and the lives of others in danger more times than I can count, and he has flouted my authority at every turn. He - "
"He is also our best hope for defeating Voldemort," Dumbledore interrupted. His expression softened. "He is really quite a delightful young man, Severus. All I ask is for you to spend some time with him and get to know him a bit better. I think you'll find you rather like him once you do."
Snape snorted. "You don't expect much, do you, Albus."
"Nothing more than I know you are capable of, Severus," Dumbledore replied. "In any case, you must try, dear boy. There is too much at stake to allow this foolishness to continue."
Snape pushed his chair back forcefully and got to his feet. "I will give the matter all the thought it deserves, Headmaster," he sneered in an oily voice. Dumbledore looked after him sadly as he turned and stalked away.
****
The air in his bedroom was cold, but the sheets were blessedly warm as Snape shrugged out of his robes and slipped back into bed. The source of that warmth shifted and rolled over in his arms when Snape spooned up behind it.
Green eyes opened and blinked up at him sleepily. "'Lo, Severus. Back so soon? What did Dumbledore want?"
"To talk about the war," Snape said softly, brushing long fingers across a jagged scar.
The body beside him tensed. "More bad news?"
Snape shook his head. "No. Good news, for once." He smiled at the confused expression that crossed his young lover's face. "It appears we won't have to hide this much longer, Harry," he said, leaning in to press a gentle kiss to sweetly parted lips.
Meh. Fluff. I needed a break from sadistic-powercrazy!Lucius, and besides, it seemed to fit the theme word pretty well.
In other news, the ornamental cherry tree in my front yard is in glorious bloom and the weather is to die for. I love spring!