Snape-centric Drabbles
Written in response to various challenges on the Snape 100 community on Livejournal and Insanejournal. Various pairings. Various ratings.
Title:A Cunning Plan Challenge:Snape's Animagus Form Warnings:None Words:100
Severus Snape was a creature of habit. A mug of tea, a wash and shave at the Shelter in the morning; afternoons spent in the warmth of libraries and museums.
At night, he came into his own, slinking through shadows scavenging food – a burger here, a kebab there. Overturning a dustbin, he attracted a woman’s attention. Smiling, she walked on.
Snatching his prize, he trotted to the allotments and went to earth. Underground, he lovingly licked the bone that would keep for breakfast. Safe from Muggle and wizard alike, Severus yawned, tucked his snout under his brush and fell asleep.
Challenge #153
Title:Severus Snape and the Writer's Potion Rating:G Warnings: None
Hogwarts’ newest professor dipped his pen into the pearly red liquid, closed his eyes and concentrated on the task in hand. Satisfied, Severus touched the quill to the parchment and let go. Instead of his usual elegant hand, an almost illegible scrawl began to cover the sheet. He read with some difficulty as it continued its spidery progression
You are here to learn the subtle science and exact art of potion making…
‘Not bad,’ Severus mused. Maybe this teaching lark would be easier than he thought. Smirking, he left the pen to its work and went back to his crossword.
Challenge:Snape in Love (Well, sort of) Pairings:Snape and erm... some lips. Warnings:None A Valentine for Severus
The young Slytherin tapped the box suspiciously. It seemed harmless enough, even though the garish green and red ribbon was perfectly hideous. Probably another practical joke. Fearing the worst, he pulled the curtains around his bed and opened it.
He was knocked flat on his back and kissed senseless by a pair of invisible lips.
‘Severus.’
He never knew who sent it but thirty years later he still had the little box. Today, as on every Valentine’s day, he opened it, allowing those sweet, passionate lips to remind him that there had once been a time when he was loved.
Title:On the Astronomy Tower. Challenge#165, For Enemies Warnings:None Rating:All ages Word Count:100
‘I thought I’d find you here.’
‘Go back to your friends, Lily.’ Wasn’t it enough that Black and his cronies had made a fool of him in front of the entire school?
‘You are my friend, Severus.’
‘Leave me alone.’
Lily sighed and turned away. ‘Okay. If that’s what you want.’
No, I don’t want. He knew he should stop her; knew he should fall to his knees, kiss the hem of her robe and beg her forgiveness for calling her names. But he didn’t. His stubborn pride wouldn’t let him.
Then again, he always was his own worst enemy.
Challenge:#166 The Four Elements. Characters:Snape, Voldemort. Rating:G Warnings:None Word Count:100.
Element:Water
Water. A lake. Still, calm, profound. Like glass, a mirror to the world.
A pebble, a ripple on the surface. No, no. Out. Keep out. Nothing to see here.
‘Show me! Now.’
Fingers. Creeping like death. Probing, seeking entry.
Plunge. ‘Let me in, Severus.’
No. Cold, hard. Ice. A skating rink.
Voice like a serpent. ‘Ice? How unoriginal, Severus.’
Fingers stabbing like knives. Hot, sharp. Pain.
Melting, steam rising, thoughts escaping. No, no.
‘You are keeping something from me, Severus. I know it.’
‘You know everything, My Lord. I am your faithful servant.’
Calm, calm. The lake. Black, deep, fathomless.
Title: Vengeance is Sweet. Challenge #169:Room of Requirement. Rating:PG Word Count:100 Characters:Snape, Lily, James, Sirius Disclaimer:No money has changed hands - it's all Jo's.
‘What do you think we should do with them, Lily?’
Lily giggled. ‘They look like a couple of lambs ready for slaughter hung up like that.’
Severus laughed in turn. ‘Shall I cut your throats, eh? Potter, Black?’
‘Please… no.’ Sirius whimpered.
‘Sorry, Snape,’ said James, wriggling. ‘We didn’t mean it, honest.’
Severus smirked. ‘Want to see what they’ve got in their pants, Lily?’
She snorted. ‘Not much to write home about, by the looks of it. Just get rid of them, Severus.’
Severus concentrated and the boys vanished. A large four-poster bed appeared.
‘Much better,’ said Lily. ‘Come here.’
Challenge: Sorting Hat AU Word count: 100x2 Warnings: None
For once in its existence, the Hat was at a loss for words. The boy with the green eyes stared at it.
‘Please. My parents are crossing the lake as I speak. If you put Snape in Slytherin, they will die.’
‘The future is not my responsibility,’ said the Hat.
‘Not only will they die,’ the boy continued, ‘Voldemort will reduce this school to ashes. Do you want that on your conscience?’
The Hat was about to speak again when they heard voices.
‘I must go back,’ said the boy, fiddling with some mechanical device. ‘It’s up to you now.’
~ * ~
The First-Year fidgeted nervously.
‘GRYFFINDOR.’
James Potter ran to join his new friends.
‘Snape, Severus.’
The young boy in second-hand robes sat down on the stool, visibly shaking.
Difficult,said the Hat. Cunning, ambition – bravery. Smart and loyal.
Slytherin,Severus begged.
Not this time. ‘GRYFFINDOR.’
Severus dragged his feet towards the House table.
‘Sit with us,’ said a red-headed girl. ‘This is James and this is Remus.’
Severus nodded at the boys.
Across the Great Hall at the Slytherin table, Sirius Black felt something was out of place.
‘Welcome, cousin.’
Sirius turned towards the female voice.
‘Let me introduce you to Lucius.’
Title: Shaken not Stirred. Challenge: Pick your Poison. Words:100 Rating:G?
‘Hard day, Rolanda?’ Severus enquired as the classroom door shook on its hinges.
Hooch sat down, kicked her boots off and put her feet up.
‘Little bastards,’ she groaned rubbing her temples.
‘I’ll take that as a yes.’ Severus selected some bottles from his personal stores. ‘What’ll it be? Dragon bile, aconite, ice and a slice or Aracumatula venom and belladonna with a twist of hellebore?
‘Do you have any olives?’
‘Of course.’
‘Then you know my poison.’
Severus smirked as he fixed his colleague her drink.
‘You’re wasted as a teacher, you know,’ Hooch sighed sipping her perfect Martini.
A/N:This was inspired by my old chemistry master who used to keep gin in the bottle marked 'Sulphuric Acid.'
Title: A Blessing Bestowed. Challenge: Wikipedia Word count: 2 X 100 Pairing: SS/MM Rating:A bit less than NC-17 (whatever that is). A/N: This was spooky. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Menrva Never done these two before...
This time they had gone too far. Humiliating him in front of the whole school… hanging him upside down… stripping his pants off. Severus sat huddled against a tree in the Forbidden Forest. He wasn’t going back there – not ever. But, they’d pay. Oh, yes. They’d pay.
Gazing at the moon rippling on the pool’s surface, he thought he saw movement on the far side. His breath caught as the figure slipped into the water. Her hair was down; he had never seen her with her hair down. Black, like his own. He almost didn’t notice she was naked.
Almost.
~ * ~
Unable to tear his eyes away, Severus watched Minerva swim unhurriedly towards him. He inhaled sharply when she stood up in the shallows unashamedly; her body bathed in the cool moonlight. Then she turned her head in his direction, and he shrank back into the shadows, afraid of discovery.
‘Come, child.’
Entranced, Severus got up and moved slowly to the water’s edge, uncertain what to do.
‘Don't be ashamed of your body, Severus. It will be your home for a long while yet.’
Fingers shaking, Severus disrobed. Minerva smiled at him. Needing no further encouragement, he stepped into the pool.
Title: Snake Eyes. Words: 2 x 100 Challenge: One Thing That Never Happened. Pairing: Lily/Snape (implied) Rating:G
This one came to me ten minutes ago. Just had to get write it before it turned into something longer.
‘I’ve got something to tell you.’ Lily smiled, a little unsure of herself.
‘So have I,’ Severus replied, rolling up his left sleeve.
Lily stared at the hideous tattoo in abject horror. ‘Severus? Oh, God. How-how could you?’
‘The world is changing Lily,’ he replied. ‘It’s time to choose a side – the right side. Now, what was it you wanted to tell me?’
‘N-nothing. It’s… um – homework. A-a potion.’
The scene faded. Something about that conversation had always bothered him. He sighed before extracting another memory with his wand and placing it in the Pensieve. Then he was falling, falling…
~ * ~
He’d found the house, but he still hesitated before knocking. She answered the door with the baby in her arms. Her face… shock, pleasure. ‘You’d better come in.’
‘Hold him a moment, would you? I’ll make some tea.’
Expecting him to protest, Lily quickly put her son in Severus’ arms.
The baby opened his eyes…
Severus pulled out of the Pensieve gasping. No… oh… no. His knees buckled as he fell into the chair. It couldn’t… she couldn’t.
Black eyes. His eyes. It could only mean one thing.
Potter… Harry was a Horcrux… And he would have to kill him.
Challenge#191. Snape the Spy. Title: The Voyeur. Words:100 Rating M
Gryffindors. Reassuringly predictable. And punctual. Here they come, same place, same time. She giggles. He glances around furtively before taking her beautiful face in his hands and slobbering all over her. He lifts her onto the ledge – Gently, you oaf! A spell and they are naked. She arches, eyes closed as he sucks a nipple. That’s his idea of foreplay; no finesse or imagination, he paws her briefly where I would gladly spend an eternity. Duty done, he shoves her legs apart and, without further ado, roughly takes what is mine. And I burn.
And he will die for it.
Title: Requirement and Recompense. Challenge: Obsession. Words: 100x2 Rating: PG A/N: The idea for the second drabble grew out of the 'Senses' challenge on grangersnape100, but it seemed to follow on from the first, so I've included it here.
Requirement
Oh, no. Not him again. When is he going to give this up? He’s pacing the corridor outside – as if I didn’t already know what he requires. Alright, alright, I hear you. There’s no need to shout. If there’s one thing I’ve learnt in a thousand years, it’s that teenage boys don’t change.
First pass – his dormitory bed, complete with Slytherin green sheets.
Second pass – surround it with scented candles.
Third pass – the red-headed girl lying naked, waiting, green counterpane turned down invitingly. I am ready for him. The boy enters and stares approvingly at my efforts before slowly disrobing.
Recompense
Lips tingling from the taste and pressure of her kiss, Severus drummed up the courage to say the hardest words known to man.
‘May I see you again?’
‘Of course, silly.’
Later, on his way home, he put his fingers to his lips, remembering how she had responded to his touch. He never would have believed himself worthy of another chance like this, of her. His wounded heart throbbed with happiness.
On a whim, he drew his wand and called out ‘Expecto Patronum’. To his astonishment, a silvery otter shot into the air and scampered off into the night sky.
Challenge#197. Clothing. Title:A Lesson in Thrift Word count 100 Rating: G Characters: Severus, Lily, Eileen Snape and Mrs Evans.
A/N: W.I stands for 'Women's Institute.' ( Made famous the world over by the film, 'Calender Girls.')
~ * ~
The W.I jumble sale. Why had Mam brought him here? It wasn’t like they were paupers.
‘How much is this, love?’ his mother asked the woman behind the stall, although Severus didn’t notice what it was. He was too busy staring at her daughter.
‘What do you think, Lily?’ the woman asked.
‘Two shillings,’ she replied.
To Severus’ mortification, Eileen held a blouse up in front of him.
‘It’ll do.’
‘But Mam, it’s a girl’s–’
‘I’ll alter it. Thank you, dearie. I’ll take it.’'
Burning with embarrassment, Severus left the church hall, Lily’s laughter ringing loudly in his ears.
Title:A Boy's Own Adventure Rating:G Challenge #213: Libraries. Word count:100 Warnings: None Disclaimer: Not mine. Not now, not ever
Paralysed with fear, Snape was helpless to prevent Nagini from sinking her fangs into his neck. Blood: a boy, green eyes and... darkness.
Severus inhaled sharply, heart pounding. Wiping the sweat from his brow, he gazed around Hogwarts’ library in confusion. School uniform? What the...? He rolled up his left sleeve... nothing.
‘Did you enjoy your adventure, Mr Snape?’ Madam Pince asked.
‘No, I—’
The Librarian studied the ashen faced boy critically. ‘It is a book of... potential, child. Nothing is set in stone.’
Wordlessly, Severus left the library, determined to avoid Lucius and his ‘friends’ at all costs.
Severus sat on the landing, peering through the banisters. Mam had company.
‘What’ll it be dearie? Tarot cards, crystal ball, palm—’
‘Mrs Snape,’ said the woman, ‘I’m here about my daughter. Lily. Your son has been filling her head with all sorts of nonsense, and I want it to stop. Immediately.’
‘What sort—? I’ll have word with him. Good day.’ Mam closed the door.
‘Severus! What have you been saying to that Muggle girl?’
‘Lily’s not a Muggle,’ Severus shouted downstairs. ‘I saw her fly.’
‘She’s got a broom?’
‘Doesn’t need one.’
‘That’s impossible.’
But Severus knew better.
Title: The Aviator Rating:G Challenge #224: Snape Flies Word Count:100 Disclaimer: Not mine - all JKR's - no money being made from this work of daftness.
‘Too high, Lily,’ shrieked Petunia.
Lily, giddy with laughter, flew off the swing, landing gracefully on her feet.
Severus stared at her hungrily. Lily, noticing the scrawny boy for the first time, approached him.
‘How d’you do that?’ he asked.
Lily shrugged. ‘Dunno. I sort of... think I’m a bird... or something.’
Later, gazing from his bedroom window, Severus gave that some thought. He didn’t like birds much – not since Granny Snape’s canary had drawn blood when he’d tried to stroke its plumage.
Something fluttered in the twilight, snatching a moth mid-flight. Severus grinned. It wasn’t only birds that flew.
Title: Bitter Earth Challenge:#229 The Four Elements:Earth Word count: 2x100 Rating: G A/N:The characters depicted belong to JK Rowling. No money has changed hands. The artwork was a gift from the talented Alienor.
Disillusioned in the shadow of the ancient yew tree, Severus waited for the last mourner to leave. The men with shovels moved in then, talking football while they heaved great clods of earth into the grave; every thump-thump of clay on wood feeling like a Bludger to the chest. Eventually, they left, too, whistling and joking, heading for the pub and a well-earned pint.
Clutching the single-stemmed rose, he approached the fresh mound of earth intending to place it there. The finality of it proved unbearable; he threw himself down on top, prostrate, begging for Gaia to swallow him whole.
Gripping the rose even harder, he welcomed the pain of thorns digging into flesh. It was real. It was something--anything was better than this numbing emptiness. Tears blinding his eyes, he called out her name, burying his free hand in the soil, wanting to touch her, desperate for forgiveness. If he'd known how to raise the dead, he would have done so.
'That will not bring her back,' said a voice at his side. 'Come, Severus, I have work for you to do.'
Barely registering Dumbledore's words, Severus scrambled to his feet, staring mutely at the blood on his hands.