elmyraemilie (elmyraemilie) wrote in snape_potter, @ 2014-07-27 14:37:00 |
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Entry tags: | summer challenge14 |
Summer Challenge 14: An Honest Man (General)
Title: An Honest Man
Author: elmyraemilie
Other pairings/threesome: None
Rating: General
Word count: ~890
Theme chosen: Summer quote: "She, though in full-blown flower of glorious beauty,
Grows cold even in the summer of her age." --John Dryden, Œdipus. Act iv. Sc. 1
Warning(s): Pre-slash
Summary: When all you have to eat is cake, something bitter and salty is a sweet relief.
A/N: Unbetaed.
I.
"So glad we got a good spot to see the parade. Oh, oh! There he is! Harry, Harry, over here! You're my hero!"
"He's so handsome, isn't he? I think he's smiling at me!"
"Like a marble statue from some ruin or something."
"Must be nice to be him. Look at all those girls, sniffing after him like bees to a flower."
"Oi, not so much of the flower. Never saw a flower with muscles like that, eh?"
II.
"Will you take this tray and stop waving that rag in my face?"
"No need to be rude, Mr. Snape. I thought you'd want to see the story about the parade. It's a shame you were too unwell to take part."
"No shame, I assure you. It is almost worth these injuries not to suffer through a spectacle of that sort."
"You are an odd one. Well, here's the paper if you decide you want something else to read."
"Another photo of Saint Potter. Joy... But do my eyes deceive, or is the Wizarding Saviour looking a bit unhappy already?"
III.
"No. No, I don't think I will."
"But Harry, they're expecting you!"
"For fuck's sake, Hermione, someone or other has been expecting me to dance to their tune for the past three years! I'm tired of it, and I'm not going."
"But it's the dedication of the play park for veterans' children! If you don't turn up, the press is going to eat you alive."
"No they won't. I'll tell them I'm suffering from a flare-up of the old injury, whatever that might be. It'll be sympathy all around and little old ladies will send me get-well owls."
"You know, you've changed. And I don't know if I like what you've become."
IV.
"Old injury, is it? And what do you expect me to do about it?"
"You're the best potions master there is. Everyone knows that. The healer's record is there on the table. Just make this stop hurting."
"Hmmmm. I see. This pain in your throat--has it been present ever since the final battle?"
"No, you... I mean, no. Just the last year or so, and it's getting worse, a little more every day."
"This record is extensive. How many of the symptoms did you invent?"
"You wanker! How dare you! My throat hurts like a bitch, you arsehole!"
"And yet you have no trouble shouting at me. Does the pain in your throat affect the ache in your back, or the bad knees?"
"If you don't want to help me, just get out!"
"Good day."
V.
"There is nothing wrong with you. Nothing."
"That's not what--"
"Mr. Potter. Nothing is wrong. Despite what your representatives tell the press, I can find not one ailment. Any other man of twenty-five with your history would brag about a clean bill of health. I refuse to endorse these blatant falsehoods so you can justify avoiding your celebrity and your responsibilities to the public."
"Snape told me you were the finest healer he'd ever met! You have him fooled. You're a quack."
"Mr. Snape is very kind. We have had a long relationship in the years since he came into my care after the war. I do not consider that his opinion is anything other than honest. You may take that as you like."
VI.
"Snape. Mr. Snape, I mean. May I come in?"
"Mr. Potter. Why should I admit you to my home? You have called me a wanker, an arsehole, and now, to my own physician, a liar. You do not want my help, even though you asked for it. Therefore, I will bid you good day."
"No! Wait! You were... That is, I... I'm sorry. I've been wrong, and I've done things that I'm not proud of, looking back. It would be good to talk with you, just to clear the air."
"Would it? Very well. You have fifteen minutes to unburden yourself. Sit there."
VII.
"That was damned unpleasant."
"Many necessary duties are. It is over and done now, though. How do you feel?"
"Like a man who just admitted he's been lying to a whole nation of people. Very small. Very, very small."
"The way you react in the next several weeks will show whether you are a small man or not. Did you speak with the Weasleys?"
"Yeah. They were...they were mostly forgiving. I think Molly was really hurt."
"She was very concerned about your health. To discover that it was all a lie of convenience mut do damage."
"Well. Yeah. From here on out, no more lies. I'm going to get on with my life, as well as I'm able. I have you to thank for helping me get this mess untangled."
"I appreciate your thanks. We will only see each other in passing from now forward. I will..."
"Snape? You know, we don't have to stop getting together. I'd really kind of, um, sort of miss seeing you. If that's okay, I mean."
"As long as you swear to stop using three diminutive qualifiers in every sentence, I suppose that would be all right."
"How about tonight? Maybe we could Apparate to Birmingham or Bangor or someplace, have dinner in a Muggle restaurant. A little peace and quiet, with no lies attached."
"No more lies, Potter. I accept."
"It's Harry, you know."
"And Severus, as well."
"See you at eight."
"Until then, Harry."