snarrymod (snarrymod) wrote in snarry_games, @ 2007-04-24 11:40:00 |
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Original poster: snarrymod
Title: The Birth of a New Age
Author: iulia_linnea
Team: Postwar
Genres: Romance and Horror
Prompt: Safe Conduct
Rating: R
Warnings:Drag mouse over space if you wish to know:* For mentions of mpreg and one awful pun. *
Summary: A great man learns from his mistakes.
Word Count: 2165
Author’s Notes: I’d like to thank alisanne, calmingshoggoth, empathic_siren, and snakeling for providing me with feedback while I wibbled over which draft to work on, and fodirteg and klynie1 have my deepest gratitude for being the best, most patient betae ever.
Disclaimer: This piece is based on characters and situations created and owned by J.K. Rowling; various publishers, including, but not limited to: Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books,
Raincoast Books; and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
Summary: A great man learns from his mistakes.
He’s exhausted when he reaches the tomb; fighting one’s way through a werewolf pack while protecting a heavy burden will cause that, but it’s All Hallows’ Eve, and he must speak to the great man as soon as possible. The well-warded structure isn’t easily opened, but it opens for him. That is something of a small comfort as he descends into the still and disturbing coldness to prepare a scrying bowl as he’s been instructed.
Hating himself for his fear, he clutches the object resting safely against his heart and whispers, “It’s all gone wrong,” by way of greeting.
“Has it, dear boy?” the great man’s shade replies, as if he’s been expecting the words.
“You must know that it has. All your supporters—I’ve watched them fall into ruin.”
The expression on the face of his spectral leader is grim but resolute as he replies, “Everything I’ve ever done was for the good of our world. Believing me gone, those who feared me—fear me yet in their unspoken dreams—begin to speak ill of me. . . . That is not unexpected, and it shouldn’t trouble you.”
“You understand me well enough to know that I turn a deaf ear to such talk, and many of us love you still.”
“You’re a loyal . . . friend to say so, and I have always appreciated loyalty.”
“You have mine. What can I do? The war . . . it’s not going as planned.”
“Voldemort is dead. The war’s over,” the great man responds, his tone almost teasing.
“A technicality! The Ministry’s in shambles, the Order is scattered, Death Eaters follow nothing but their own urges and create chaos at every turn—no one thinks of the future! We do need you.
You could talk sense into them. I could make them come to you if only you’d agree to—”
“There is no need for me to address anyone. My plan is in motion. Be patient and watch with me.
Soon, though perhaps not as soon as you would desire it, change will come and order will be restored.”
“Forgive me for doubting . . . the circumstances. You must know I do trust you.”
“Come. Look into the scrying bowl. See the Chosen One and his hero. It’s all rather romantic.”
“Nymphadora told me that he never liked being referred to in that way.”
“Nymphadora has told you many things, hasn’t she? But it’s understandable that Harry has rejected his title—no one ever taught him the use of such things.”
“You’re surely not blaming yourself?”
“Of course not. Regret isn’t a profitable emotion. Come. Watch with me. Our true victory depends greatly on what will soon occur between the young lovers.”
As bidden, he looks more deeply into the scrying bowl at Harry Potter and Severus Snape. They’re embracing—or perhaps fighting—either way, their actions look like foreplay. He doesn’t like it.
“Our Severus may not have fully trusted me,” the great man says, “but he always obeyed. It wasn’t difficult to introduce the potion into his system—although, to see him now, I’m not convinced that administering it to him was strictly necessary.”
“He wanted Potter. I saw that much myself when they fought together. I knew when Severus shrank from—”
“He surely did want the boy, but it would have taken him years to accept it, and I needed him by
Harry’s side at the end.”