This? Is completely amazing, Mystery Author. Probably one of my favorites of yours that I've read so far. I had certain expectations based on the chosen prompts, and you way, way surpassed them. You could have done a simple wank in the woods with this, but instead you gave it meaning that never would have occurred to me. And in so few words!
You do a wonderful job of establishing Snape's character - sarcastic and bitter and calculating -- right from the opening lines. This entire piece has a quite aura to it that's perfect for the scene.
Oh, man. Snape's longing for Harry is palpable, and I LOVE that he twisted and used his desires to suit his purposes with Voldemort. That's so very, very like Snape -- pragmatic to the extreme, though keeping a tragic little kernel of something for himself.
picturing the boy-turned-man that Severus's entire adult life revolved around.
Those fierce green eyes – his heart clenched. What he would give to see them look at him with something other than hatred, just once, even though he'd done everything to deserve it.
Brilliant insights.
The way the sword's magic guides Severus' actions is fab. And even though Severus imagines himself to be "defiling" a Gryffindor artefact, he still does what he knows the sword wants. Then his belated recollection of Dumbledore's words and his realization that Dumbldedore's had his way even beyond death -- yes! And the way you utilized that one little line from canon -- SHEER BRILLIANCE.