(no subject)
Who? Severus Snape
What? Doing what he does best: betrayal, hurting Potters, lying, and mooing. But mostly mooing.
Why? …Because Severus Snape oscillates. End of story.
When? Before, during and after the rescue of Harry’s two daddies.
Title: In Memoriam
Rating: PG 13 for some hurt.
Author's Notes: Snape is going to start charging for betraying. 30 pieces a head.
The first person Severus had killed had been under Amycus’ tutelage, it was a woman about 24. She choked on her gavotte. Severus had stepped away from the crumpled piece of humanity on the floor and stared at it as an infant stared a broken toy: confused as to what had just happened, and annoyed because this clearly was not what suppose to be what happened.
Amycus had walked over, studied the frame and laughed. Clapping one hand firmly onto Severus’ thin shoulder, he nodded. “Points rewarded for ingenuity, Mr. Snape but remember in this game, we’re suppose to get the information before we send them home to their families…
“I’ve never seen anyone ever die on shrinking potions before…” Severus mused, as he began to chew on his fingernail. “That was kind of neat…can I try again?”
“Of course, but this time…don’t use the potion on their larynx…too much blood to get there…and they die.”
Severus remembered the smell. The way humans folded them into themselves. His stomach was churning as he followed Amycus into the cellar of the Chateau. His head was still warm and swimming from the Cooley’s Whiskey he had brought for Amycus. The bottle had been the only way to keep Amycus happy, and distracted enough to send off the location (Using Amy’s own Owl no less.) This was stupid. Useless.
He had no bloody reason to do this. He was betraying his Master again. For what?
Severus thought of the man on his knees begging. Pleading. The five steps of torture.
Quiet. The. Heart.
The smell hit him face first, cause Severus to stumble back a little, recoiling, horror stricken. He could see Amycus smiling. Remembering.
He had hid most that year as Headmaster, tucked away in his offices while they worked. He had only come afterwards, to heal the wounded or release those trapped. Never in front of the Carrows, never appearing to render aid...but cleaning up the mess.
Cleaning up the mess…
Right. To business, Snape had to see who needed the most help. He smiled easily and put his hand over Amycus’ arm, keeping just outside the door before speaking and swooping the room like an overgrown bat.
“Quick!” He hissed, desperate and afraid. “Remus…Tonks, they’re in here! We don’t have much time…” He waited for small eternities.
Please don’t be dead…either one of you…please don’t be dead…
James moved first, venturing to open his eyes or try to. Severus crossed into the room, was to the wall in a moment.
You bloody fool. You stupid, arrogant man. You had everything…you have everything…and you’re throwing it away. Why? For a war…do you even believe in it, you fool…or is this just your damn game? Another trick to alleviate your boredom?
You had them both. You didn’t deserve either one of them.
Step five. Hope destroyed. Severus grabbed the nearest weapon and slams it against James’ side hard before he allows himself to think.
The howl is wonderful. Amycus laughs as he enters. Severus has to force himself to remember the mission and he drops whatever he grabbed to step back.
Sirius. He hadn’t responded…he hadn’t even moved to the voice, to the words…
Do not be dead.
Severus is barely listening to Amycus, as he turns to squat beside Sirius, to study the body and look for injuries, for signs of life. He can’t risk healing here. Not so close to Amycus…
Where is Draco?
Don’t be dead, Sirius…please…you gave him a way to see Catherine…you’re protecting her…sparing her. Do not be dead…
He looks over and stares at the weapon he had grabbed earlier. He can’t stop the laughter that comes when he recognizes it. The simplicity. The irony… some part of him that would- and will- tear him apart because of his part in inspiring that weapon will strike him later, when he allows the mask to slip…
But for now, the Death Eater laughs.
“A cattle prod?” He demands, between fits of laughter. “I never learned my lessons properly…did I? I could…kiss you for this…” He ventures a look down at Sirius again, studying the body. He should be dead, but Sirius can’t be dead. He wouldn’t dare leave Harry…
Do not leave him. Do not betray him. Please. Sirius. He has lost too much…not you.
The noise causes him to look up. He doesn’t move when Amycus is struck and he smiles as he stares Draco down. Severus swallows, and nods just slightly.
The cattle are too predictable at times…
…Maybe he can keep the cattle prod.
“…Moo.” He said. Then blackness.
Severus awakes in terror, because every dreamless slumber brings him to terror. Not because of death…but because in his dreams…he sees Albus Severus…he sees Teddy’s broken body… he sees his betrayal…and feels Nagini…he begged…
He pushes himself up groggily and looks around the room. James and Sirius are gone. The shaking stops.
He’s at Amycus’ side a moment later, healing. Altering. Doing what he does best. Cleaning up. Tidying up the corners of the war…because after all what else do spies do? They smooth over the kinks and make it appear flawless. They hide the cloaks and daggers…and betrayals.
Memory charms are easy things with the half-dead…
“Wake up, Amycus,” He hisses angrily when he’s finished and doesn’t bother to move. He slumps against the wall. “That beast…broke free…” He catches Amycus’ expression and then says easily most distracting thing he could think of. “What are you going to tell the Dark Lord?”
What? Doing what he does best: betrayal, hurting Potters, lying, and mooing. But mostly mooing.
Why? …Because Severus Snape oscillates. End of story.
When? Before, during and after the rescue of Harry’s two daddies.
Title: In Memoriam
Rating: PG 13 for some hurt.
Author's Notes: Snape is going to start charging for betraying. 30 pieces a head.
The first person Severus had killed had been under Amycus’ tutelage, it was a woman about 24. She choked on her gavotte. Severus had stepped away from the crumpled piece of humanity on the floor and stared at it as an infant stared a broken toy: confused as to what had just happened, and annoyed because this clearly was not what suppose to be what happened.
Amycus had walked over, studied the frame and laughed. Clapping one hand firmly onto Severus’ thin shoulder, he nodded. “Points rewarded for ingenuity, Mr. Snape but remember in this game, we’re suppose to get the information before we send them home to their families…
“I’ve never seen anyone ever die on shrinking potions before…” Severus mused, as he began to chew on his fingernail. “That was kind of neat…can I try again?”
“Of course, but this time…don’t use the potion on their larynx…too much blood to get there…and they die.”
Severus remembered the smell. The way humans folded them into themselves. His stomach was churning as he followed Amycus into the cellar of the Chateau. His head was still warm and swimming from the Cooley’s Whiskey he had brought for Amycus. The bottle had been the only way to keep Amycus happy, and distracted enough to send off the location (Using Amy’s own Owl no less.) This was stupid. Useless.
He had no bloody reason to do this. He was betraying his Master again. For what?
Severus thought of the man on his knees begging. Pleading. The five steps of torture.
Quiet. The. Heart.
The smell hit him face first, cause Severus to stumble back a little, recoiling, horror stricken. He could see Amycus smiling. Remembering.
He had hid most that year as Headmaster, tucked away in his offices while they worked. He had only come afterwards, to heal the wounded or release those trapped. Never in front of the Carrows, never appearing to render aid...but cleaning up the mess.
Cleaning up the mess…
Right. To business, Snape had to see who needed the most help. He smiled easily and put his hand over Amycus’ arm, keeping just outside the door before speaking and swooping the room like an overgrown bat.
“Quick!” He hissed, desperate and afraid. “Remus…Tonks, they’re in here! We don’t have much time…” He waited for small eternities.
Please don’t be dead…either one of you…please don’t be dead…
James moved first, venturing to open his eyes or try to. Severus crossed into the room, was to the wall in a moment.
You bloody fool. You stupid, arrogant man. You had everything…you have everything…and you’re throwing it away. Why? For a war…do you even believe in it, you fool…or is this just your damn game? Another trick to alleviate your boredom?
You had them both. You didn’t deserve either one of them.
Step five. Hope destroyed. Severus grabbed the nearest weapon and slams it against James’ side hard before he allows himself to think.
The howl is wonderful. Amycus laughs as he enters. Severus has to force himself to remember the mission and he drops whatever he grabbed to step back.
Sirius. He hadn’t responded…he hadn’t even moved to the voice, to the words…
Do not be dead.
Severus is barely listening to Amycus, as he turns to squat beside Sirius, to study the body and look for injuries, for signs of life. He can’t risk healing here. Not so close to Amycus…
Where is Draco?
Don’t be dead, Sirius…please…you gave him a way to see Catherine…you’re protecting her…sparing her. Do not be dead…
He looks over and stares at the weapon he had grabbed earlier. He can’t stop the laughter that comes when he recognizes it. The simplicity. The irony… some part of him that would- and will- tear him apart because of his part in inspiring that weapon will strike him later, when he allows the mask to slip…
But for now, the Death Eater laughs.
“A cattle prod?” He demands, between fits of laughter. “I never learned my lessons properly…did I? I could…kiss you for this…” He ventures a look down at Sirius again, studying the body. He should be dead, but Sirius can’t be dead. He wouldn’t dare leave Harry…
Do not leave him. Do not betray him. Please. Sirius. He has lost too much…not you.
The noise causes him to look up. He doesn’t move when Amycus is struck and he smiles as he stares Draco down. Severus swallows, and nods just slightly.
The cattle are too predictable at times…
…Maybe he can keep the cattle prod.
“…Moo.” He said. Then blackness.
Severus awakes in terror, because every dreamless slumber brings him to terror. Not because of death…but because in his dreams…he sees Albus Severus…he sees Teddy’s broken body… he sees his betrayal…and feels Nagini…he begged…
He pushes himself up groggily and looks around the room. James and Sirius are gone. The shaking stops.
He’s at Amycus’ side a moment later, healing. Altering. Doing what he does best. Cleaning up. Tidying up the corners of the war…because after all what else do spies do? They smooth over the kinks and make it appear flawless. They hide the cloaks and daggers…and betrayals.
Memory charms are easy things with the half-dead…
“Wake up, Amycus,” He hisses angrily when he’s finished and doesn’t bother to move. He slumps against the wall. “That beast…broke free…” He catches Amycus’ expression and then says easily most distracting thing he could think of. “What are you going to tell the Dark Lord?”