A Chill in the Air (H/D, PG)
Alrighty then ... in a desperate attempt to bring myself up-to-date with the challenges that are 'out there' for November (aka NaNo month), here is my entry for FIVE challenges:
Title: A Chill in the Air
Author: sesheta_66
Rating: PG
Word Count: ~ 910
Challenges: dracoharry100's November 07 The Challenge - prompt one: "I believe in the forgiveness of sin and the redemption of ignorance" - Adlai E. Stevenson Jr., AWDT's prompts of "Sometimes when we are generous in small, barely detectable ways it can change someone else's life forever." - Margaret Cho, (Author) weblog, 03-11-04 and "Are you sure it's mine?", GJ's we_ship_hd_here's prompt "a chill in the air," and my GJ 100_prompts table #081 - "Air".
Summary: Some words of advice from an unexpected source beyond the grave give Harry and Draco much to think about.
Disclaimer: The characters contained herein are not mine. They belong to JK Rowling and her publishers. No money is being made from this fiction, which is presented for entertainment purposes only.
There was a chill in the air that day ... the day they had received the letters.
They arrived together at Grimmauld Place, delivered by an unfamiliar owl. As Harry removed the parchment and the owl flew back out the window, a gust of wind seemed to blow right through him. Shivering, he hastened to close the window and headed for the kitchen.
He handed one scroll to Draco. "Are you sure it's mine?" he had asked. "Nobody knows I'm here, not my parents, no one."
"It's addressed to you."
"Are you sure it's safe?"
"Voldemort's dead and the wards on this house are still strong enough to detect anything dangerous that anyone else might come up with."
Draco placed the scroll on the table and stared at it. Harry huffed and opened his, knowing that the Slytherin would wait to make sure Harry's letter wasn't cursed first. Harry skimmed over it quickly. "It's from Snape," he said.
"But ... but Snape's dead. How can you be sure?"
"Trust me, I'm sure." Something in Harry's letter convinced him that the letter was authentic.
Draco opened his letter cautiously. "Well?" Harry asked.
"It's from him," Draco confirmed.
The two of them sat in silence, reading their letters, mulling the contents over in their minds. After the fourth or fifth read-through -- he had lost track -- Harry sat back and said, "Well."
Draco narrowed his eyes at Harry and mirrored his stance. "Well, indeed."
"Care to share yours with me?"
"I'll show you mine if you show me yours," Draco offered, with a look that Harry couldn't quite read.
Harry shot him a feral grin as he thought of just what he'd like Draco to show him. "Fair enough," he said, and pushing aside that train of thought, he tossed his letter onto the table.
*****
To Harry Potter:
If you are reading this letter, it means I have died, and you now know the truth. I do not expect anything from you where I am concerned. My life has been lived, and my choices made. But others have their entire lives ahead of them.
I believe in the forgiveness of sin and the redemption of ignorance.
Your mother once told me this, and I never forgot it. She, of course, had been referring to forgiving me, but I recall this now in the hopes that you would consider these words as they might apply to someone you know. Someone who made the wrong choices because he knew not what he was choosing.
Don't make the same mistakes I did. Don't let the sins of the father befall the son, as I let yours befall you.
And understand that your own sins committed against another in ignorance also deserve forgiveness. Forgive yourself as you would forgive someone else.
Sometimes when we are generous in small, barely detectable ways it can change someone else's life forever.
You could change someone's life forever. You only have to choose to do so.
Severus Snape
*****
"Well, how about that?" Draco said. Casting a curious look Harry's way, he asked, "Why would your mother have told him that?"
"I think maybe that's a story for another time," Harry replied. "Go on. Give over your letter." Harry held his hand out for Draco's letter.
*****
To Draco Malfoy:
If you are reading this, it means that I am now gone, but I hope to impart one more letter's worth of advice, if you'll allow it.
I believe in the forgiveness of sin and the redemption of ignorance.
Someone very important to me once said this, and it has stayed with me throughout my life. You would be well-served to forgive those sins committed against you, especially when the sinner acted out of ignorance. I believe people can learn from their mistakes, as I hope that you have learned from your own.
You must also allow yourself to be forgiven, for you did not know what it was you were choosing. Your greatest sin is that of pride. Don't let it rule the rest of your life.
Sometimes when we are generous in small, barely detectable ways it can change someone else's life forever.
I know you are a proud wizard, Draco, but sometimes you need to let people help you. Let them help you in ways you would never have imagined. Money and power are nothing without acceptance. Power is a hollow victory at best.
Accept the generosity of others and your life will be more full than you could ever hope for. It was too late for me, but it's not for you. Don't make the same mistakes your father did, and don't wait until it's too late like I did. There is time for you, and if I am not mistaken, I believe there is someone willing to help you.
Severus Snape
*****
"So, what do you reckon he expects us to do? Kiss and make up?" Harry asked.
Draco laughed. "Well, that might have him rolling around in his grave."
"Huh. Almost makes it seem worthwhile."
"Is that an offer, Harry?" he asked.
"Why, Draco? Are you accepting?"
Harry opened the window to let Draco's owl in, as he recalled that fateful day, almost a year ago. As he affixed his reply telling his husband that he would be joining him in two days' time, a breeze sent a shiver through him.
Harry smiled. There was a chill in the air that day.
.
Title: A Chill in the Air
Author: sesheta_66
Rating: PG
Word Count: ~ 910
Challenges: dracoharry100's November 07 The Challenge - prompt one: "I believe in the forgiveness of sin and the redemption of ignorance" - Adlai E. Stevenson Jr., AWDT's prompts of "Sometimes when we are generous in small, barely detectable ways it can change someone else's life forever." - Margaret Cho, (Author) weblog, 03-11-04 and "Are you sure it's mine?", GJ's we_ship_hd_here's prompt "a chill in the air," and my GJ 100_prompts table #081 - "Air".
Summary: Some words of advice from an unexpected source beyond the grave give Harry and Draco much to think about.
Disclaimer: The characters contained herein are not mine. They belong to JK Rowling and her publishers. No money is being made from this fiction, which is presented for entertainment purposes only.
There was a chill in the air that day ... the day they had received the letters.
They arrived together at Grimmauld Place, delivered by an unfamiliar owl. As Harry removed the parchment and the owl flew back out the window, a gust of wind seemed to blow right through him. Shivering, he hastened to close the window and headed for the kitchen.
He handed one scroll to Draco. "Are you sure it's mine?" he had asked. "Nobody knows I'm here, not my parents, no one."
"It's addressed to you."
"Are you sure it's safe?"
"Voldemort's dead and the wards on this house are still strong enough to detect anything dangerous that anyone else might come up with."
Draco placed the scroll on the table and stared at it. Harry huffed and opened his, knowing that the Slytherin would wait to make sure Harry's letter wasn't cursed first. Harry skimmed over it quickly. "It's from Snape," he said.
"But ... but Snape's dead. How can you be sure?"
"Trust me, I'm sure." Something in Harry's letter convinced him that the letter was authentic.
Draco opened his letter cautiously. "Well?" Harry asked.
"It's from him," Draco confirmed.
The two of them sat in silence, reading their letters, mulling the contents over in their minds. After the fourth or fifth read-through -- he had lost track -- Harry sat back and said, "Well."
Draco narrowed his eyes at Harry and mirrored his stance. "Well, indeed."
"Care to share yours with me?"
"I'll show you mine if you show me yours," Draco offered, with a look that Harry couldn't quite read.
Harry shot him a feral grin as he thought of just what he'd like Draco to show him. "Fair enough," he said, and pushing aside that train of thought, he tossed his letter onto the table.
*****
To Harry Potter:
If you are reading this letter, it means I have died, and you now know the truth. I do not expect anything from you where I am concerned. My life has been lived, and my choices made. But others have their entire lives ahead of them.
I believe in the forgiveness of sin and the redemption of ignorance.
Your mother once told me this, and I never forgot it. She, of course, had been referring to forgiving me, but I recall this now in the hopes that you would consider these words as they might apply to someone you know. Someone who made the wrong choices because he knew not what he was choosing.
Don't make the same mistakes I did. Don't let the sins of the father befall the son, as I let yours befall you.
And understand that your own sins committed against another in ignorance also deserve forgiveness. Forgive yourself as you would forgive someone else.
Sometimes when we are generous in small, barely detectable ways it can change someone else's life forever.
You could change someone's life forever. You only have to choose to do so.
Severus Snape
*****
"Well, how about that?" Draco said. Casting a curious look Harry's way, he asked, "Why would your mother have told him that?"
"I think maybe that's a story for another time," Harry replied. "Go on. Give over your letter." Harry held his hand out for Draco's letter.
*****
To Draco Malfoy:
If you are reading this, it means that I am now gone, but I hope to impart one more letter's worth of advice, if you'll allow it.
I believe in the forgiveness of sin and the redemption of ignorance.
Someone very important to me once said this, and it has stayed with me throughout my life. You would be well-served to forgive those sins committed against you, especially when the sinner acted out of ignorance. I believe people can learn from their mistakes, as I hope that you have learned from your own.
You must also allow yourself to be forgiven, for you did not know what it was you were choosing. Your greatest sin is that of pride. Don't let it rule the rest of your life.
Sometimes when we are generous in small, barely detectable ways it can change someone else's life forever.
I know you are a proud wizard, Draco, but sometimes you need to let people help you. Let them help you in ways you would never have imagined. Money and power are nothing without acceptance. Power is a hollow victory at best.
Accept the generosity of others and your life will be more full than you could ever hope for. It was too late for me, but it's not for you. Don't make the same mistakes your father did, and don't wait until it's too late like I did. There is time for you, and if I am not mistaken, I believe there is someone willing to help you.
Severus Snape
*****
"So, what do you reckon he expects us to do? Kiss and make up?" Harry asked.
Draco laughed. "Well, that might have him rolling around in his grave."
"Huh. Almost makes it seem worthwhile."
"Is that an offer, Harry?" he asked.
"Why, Draco? Are you accepting?"
Harry opened the window to let Draco's owl in, as he recalled that fateful day, almost a year ago. As he affixed his reply telling his husband that he would be joining him in two days' time, a breeze sent a shiver through him.
Harry smiled. There was a chill in the air that day.
.