InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "I haven't slept in six years."

janus (janus) wrote in slytherin_100,
@ 2009-05-13 21:34:00

Current mood:	enthralled
Entry tags:	author: janus, char: snape

slytherin100 Seal
"Oaths and Vows" (Severus Snape, G, 2x100)
Title: Oaths and Vows
Character(s): Severus Snape, Albus Dumbledore,
Pairing(s): None
Rating: G
Warning(s): None
Challenge(s): Seal
Word count: 2x100
Author's notes: A series of two interconnected drabbles. X-posted.

His eyes emptied everything into those of his new merciful lord. Dumbledore. The bottomless void gaped, terrifying. He poured out loss, fear, selfishness, guilt, broken pride. His mind lay naked. He knelt, eyes red, face wet.

"A teacher? But... even with... How will they accept..." He thrust back his sleeve to reveal the yawning skull, the twisting snakes - seal of commitment treason.

"Do not fear. You'll work for me. I'll make you Head of Slytherin."

Their hands clasped. Dumbledore's wand bound them in fire.

"Will you serve my Order; serve my school?"

"I will."

Red flame sealed his new commitment.

Still, the brand on his arm - his Dark Mark - itched with the lives of his jailed, mourning friends. No remorse, no terror, not even the death of his Dark Lord himself - and all Severus' hope - could remove this bond, still precious.

No one had left that Band of Brothers save by death. They were bound by awareness indelible, by soft-hearted ties none outside could guess, their oaths sealed by darkness.

This alone, he kept back, locked. After all, the Mark had been laid upon him when this man, now offering succour, had betrayed Severus and all his House. His family.

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	severed_lies 2009-05-15 10:20 pm UTC (link)
	Knowing how strongly Severus honored his commitments, I am ashamed to never before realized that he must have been torn when accepting Dumbledore's offer of asylum. That makes Severus' sacrifices even more deep than I had previously thought. Lovely juxtaposition, and thanks for giving me another piece of the puzzle to contemplate. (Reply to this) (Thread)

janus
2009-05-15 11:11 pm UTC (link)

Aw, thank you so very much! Severus is a lovely puzzle. Did I ever say how revealing I found your piece on Severus' work? Of course it was pennance, and punishment and so much. I had never thought before about how much he had to do, but had only looked at each aspect in isolation. I'm trying to always remember to incorporate that idea into my writing. It rang so very true and was so illuminating.

I couldn't understand at first how he could do it at all (disregarding book 7 revelations.) But finally I realised that Voldemort seemed to be dead, the DeathEaters were dead or worse (save a few such as Lucius), and Severus must have been completely lost, as well as having been recently left to face what they had been doing alone, without encouragement or immediate familial feeling. He must have been desperate as well as repentant and horrified both by himself and what had happened to his friends (brothers.)

Maybe? I am in a musin mood, apparently. 8^)

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