Kat (katling) wrote in snape_potter, @ 2007-09-06 13:47:00 |
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Entry tags: | ficlet, katling, rating: g |
Fic: Cave In (G)
Title: Cave In
Author: katling
Rating: G (practically gen but pre-slash if you put your slash goggles on)
Warnings: None
Disclaimer: Not mine... wish they were
Summary: Our favourite duo gets stuck after a cave in.
Author's Notes: This was written as part of a challenge to write a piece that was dialogue only. It is completely AU after OotP.
“Hot in here.”
“Hmmmph.”
“The least you could do is give an answer.”
“Yes, it is hot in here. Are you happy? Would you like to ask anymore asinine questions?”
“No need to be rude. I was just trying to pass the time. We could be stuck here for a while. Do you really want to spend the entire time silent?”
“It would be infinitely better than listening to your prattling.”
“Oh.”
“Oh, for Merlin’s sake! What did you wish to speak about then?”
“Well, I don’t know.”
“Mr Potter, my estimation of your intelligence is diminishing rapidly. Which is quite remarkable considering I never considered it very high to begin with.”
“Hey, I wasn’t the one who cast Stupefy in an unstable passageway.”
“And what would you have done then?”
“You could have tied him up. That spell doesn’t require shouting an incantation.”
“True, then we would now have to deal with angry, tied-up half-grown acromantula instead of a dead one. It was buried under the rubble that fell.”
“Oh, is that what it was?”
“What did you think we were chasing down here?”
“I... didn’t know. The Headmaster didn’t tell me.”
“You didn’t think to ask?”
“Well, he seemed to indicate there wasn’t time. He summoned me back from the mission I was on and insisted I accompany you to hunt what he said was something large and dangerous.”
“That could be anything from a Manticore to Hagrid.”
“True. Anyway, he said you were leaving right away so I just assumed it was important and you’d fill me in.”
“I see. Do you always go on missions with such scanty information?”
“No. I suppose I trusted the Headmaster... and you.”
“Blind trust will get you killed.”
“I am aware of that. I don’t just trust anyone, you know.”
“And how does one earn your trust?”
“By their actions. By the way they treat me.”
“I am surprised you trust me then.”
“Huh, you should be surprised that I trust the Headmaster.”
“I... do not understand.”
“I think you do.”
“Actually I can safely say that for once I do not understand you, Mr Potter.”
“You’ve never lied to me and you’ve never treated me as though I was anything special. You’ve been mean, unfair, annoying and a right bastard of course but you’ve never lied.”
“The Headmaster... lies to you?”
“Of course he does. He lies to everyone, Professor. I thought you of all people would know that.”
“I would say he uses... misdirection or omission rather than lies.”
“Same, same. What makes lying by misdirection or lying by omission any better than outright lying?”
“Intent, I suppose.”
“Bollocks! Was lying to me for five years about the prophecy a good thing? Or even a wise thing?”
“Five years?”
“Yes, I asked why Voldemort had tried to kill me after that whole debacle with Quirrell and the Philosopher’s Stone and he told me that there were some things he could not tell me.”
“He was…protecting you?”
“Hah! Don’t sound too sure of yourself, do you? Why was keeping me in the dark protecting me? I’d say it made things worse.”
“How so?”
“If I’d known why it was so damn important that I learn Occlumency in Fifth Year, I’d have taken it seriously. Now I’m not saying we wouldn’t have argued or the whole thing wouldn’t have been as painful as it was but I would have taken it seriously. I would have done my best to learn. So you tell me, how was not knowing the prophecy protecting me?”
“Could you actually have handled the knowledge when you were eleven?”
“I don’t know. Maybe, maybe not but we’ll never know, will we? I think if I had known I might have made a whole lot of different decisions over the years.”
“You hate him.”
“No... no, not really. I don’t trust him and I’m very wary of anything he says but I don’t hate him. I know he cares about me, maybe even loves me.”
“But you’re bitter.”
“Yes. What amazes me is you aren’t. At least not about what he asks you to do.”
“Who says I am not?”
“But you blindly go along with whatever he says.”
“You believe that Mr Potter because you are not privy to our private discussions.”
“So he just talks you around in private, does he?”
“I suppose some might see it that way. He explains his reasoning to me. Something he will not do in public.”
“So I should talk to him privately then, should I?”
“It might be worth trying.”
“I guess.”
“You do not sound convinced.”
“I’m not sure it will work. He likes to treat me as though I’m still that eleven year old boy walking into the Great Hall for the first time.”
“He likes to treat us all like that. You must simply persist.”
“You may be right.”
...
“Professor?”
“I am trying to overcome the shock of hearing you admit I am right.”
“Prat.”
“I beg your pardon.”
“You heard me.”
“Yes, I did. Insufferable brat.”
“Greasy git.”
“Potter.”
“Ooh, good insult.”
“Thank you.”
“Hey, what was that?”
“That is, I believe, our rescue party.”
“Oh, good. It was getting rather stuffy in here.”
“Indeed.”
“Looks like they’ve almost broken through.”
“Yes.”
“Professor?”
“Yes, Potter?”
“Would you mind if I came around this evening so that we could have a talk?”
“It wouldn’t kill me, I suppose.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“You’re welcome.”