Let me bring you love from the field:
poppies red and roses filled with summer rain.
To heal the wound and still the pain
that threatens again and again
as you drag down every lover's lane.
Life's long celebration's here.
I'll toast you all in penny cheer.
(Jethro Tull - Songs from the wood)

Tales from the Wood:
•What is this about?• •A Most Important Element in Water• •Exorcism• •Arachne• •Climate Change• •The Vibrator, the Witch and the Painting• •Drabbles• •Master of Deception, My Own Snape Backstory• •Gen Stories• •Tags•
History of Magic
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Mar. 28th, 2008 @ 02:21 pm AMIEW II - 10. Laying Plans
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Disclaimer: Nothing you recognise belongs to me. Just borrowed. Will be returned. Snape is welcome to stay, though.

A big Thank You goes to my beta-reader, Maggie, and my beta-reader and brit-picker, Melusin, who both are always encouraging, helpful, and thorough.



Part II – Initiation

Chapter 10 – Laying Plans

18. All warfare is based on deception.
19. Hence, when able to attack, we must seem unable;
when using our forces, we must seem inactive;
when we are near, we must make the enemy believe we are far away;
when far away, we must make him believe we are near.
(Sun Tzu, The Art of War, I. Laying Plans)


"Rennervate!" ( Read more... )
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Mar. 28th, 2008 @ 02:14 pm AMIEW I - 9. What is right and what is easy
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Disclaimer: Nothing you recognize belongs to me. Just borrowed. Will be returned. Snape is welcome to stay, though.

A big Thank You goes to my beta-reader, Maggie, and my beta-reader and brit-picker, Melusin, who both are always encouraging, helpful, and thorough.




Hermione tumbled out of the fireplace in St. Mungo's and looked around, feeling numb. She wasn't quite certain if anyone else was injured, or worse, but she had heard the Killing Curse and seen Mrs. Weasley fall.

Harry was standing at the side of the room, looking as shocked and horrified as she felt. Her eyes searched for Ron, who stood in a group with his brothers, Ginny, and Fleur. He stood slightly stooped and looked at something in his hand. Hermione walked over and put her arms around him. ( Read more... )
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Mar. 28th, 2008 @ 02:10 pm AMIEW I - 8. It's not much, but it is home
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The usual disclaimers apply

"Oooh, it's another letter from Viktor," Ginny gushed when the owls delivered the morning mail in the Great Hall. Harry continued laughing and joking with Ron and tried to ignore the inquisitive stare from Luna Lovegood. A group of sixth-year Gryffindor girls were grouped around Ginny, oohing and aahing about the frequent mails Ginny received from the Quidditch hero.

Harry could afford to be very relaxed; he was meeting Ginny in the Room of Requirement every day, and no one suspected anything. To the rest of the school, it seemed clear that both he and Ginny had moved on after their break-up. ( Read more... )
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Mar. 28th, 2008 @ 02:07 pm AMIEW I - 7. How Fools Who Love Act
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Disclaimer: Nothing you recognize belongs to me. Just borrowed. Will be returned. Snape is welcome to stay, though.

A big thank you goes to my beta-reader, Maggie, and my beta-reader and brit-picker, Melusin, who both are always encouraging, helpful, and thorough.


When Hermione was released by Madam Pomfrey the next day, Harry and Ron were already waiting impatiently for her.

"Hermione, do you know where the Marauder's Map is?" Harry threw at her as soon as the door to the hospital wing had closed behind her.( Read more... )
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Mar. 28th, 2008 @ 02:06 pm AMIEW I - 6. Expecto Patronum
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Disclaimer: Nothing you recognise belongs to me. Just borrowed. Will be returned. Snape is welcome to stay, though.

A big Thank You goes to my beta-reader, Maggie and my beta-reader and brit-picker, Melusin, who both are always encouraging, helpful, and thorough.



Three days later, Harry went into the Room of Requirement to retrieve Snape's old Potions book for Hermione. After they had come back from Malfoy Manor, almost all of their time had been spent with Professor McGonagall and other Order members. Everyone had been surprised and disgusted by the careless attitude with which the Ministry had treated the search of Malfoy Manor. The Aurors among the Order had promised to keep a closer eye on such operations in the future, but Harry hadn't been convinced. Order members were powerless when dealing with the wishes and demands of those who frequently made financial 'contributions' to the Ministry. Putting a stop to that preferential treatment of certain individuals would mean that the Minister would have to admit that things like bought favours were rather common. Harry thought that it was more likely that Snape would be spotted tap-dancing on a table in the Three Broomsticks than the Minister admitting that corruption in the Ministry existed. ( Read more... )
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Mar. 28th, 2008 @ 02:03 pm AMIEW I - 5. His talented friends
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Disclaimer: Nothing you recognise belongs to me. Just borrowed. Will be returned. Snape is welcome to stay, though.

A big Thank You goes to my beta-reader, Maggie, and my beta-reader and brit-picker, Melusin, who both are always encouraging, helpful, and thorough.



The next day after lunch, Hermione met Harry and Ron in the common room. They had to start searching for the remaining Horcruxes; as yet, they didn't have anything even remotely resembling a lead.

“Let's go over what we know already one more time, shall we?” Hermione suggested. “Let's try to do it systematically this time; maybe we'll find something we overlooked in the past.”

“You mean, in order of Horcrux creation? Good idea,” Ron said. ( Read more... )
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Mar. 28th, 2008 @ 02:01 pm AMIEW I - 4. The Ministry's Mascot
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The usual disclaimers apply

Harry didn't want to make a scene. That's why he let himself be dragged to the dance floor despite being angry and confused. But then Ginny started to explain.

“Harry, do you trust Viktor Krum?”

Harry scowled. “You're not asking for my blessing to go out with Viktor Krum, are you?" ( Read more... )
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Mar. 28th, 2008 @ 01:53 pm AMIEW I - 3. A Little Bit More Love in the World
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A/N This chapter is dedicated to lunafish, who wrote the part between the asterisks (***) for me. It was part of a prize I won from her for a [info]snapeartcontest. Thank you, lunafish!

I also thank excessivelyperky for a roasted plot bunny, which is served in the last section of this chapter.


The next morning, everyone got up late and had a big breakfast in the kitchen. There wouldn’t be lunch, and before the reception in the early afternoon, no other food would be served.

After breakfast, Hermione and Ginny helped each other to get ready because Ginny refused to be assisted by Fleur's relatives. Although she had finally agreed to be one of Fleur's bridesmaids, Ginny had confessed to Hermione that she would rather hex the whole lot than let them help her get dressed and made up. ( Read more... )
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Mar. 28th, 2008 @ 01:49 pm AMIEW I - 2. Knew an Awful Lot About the Dark Arts, Snape did.
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Disclaimer: Nothing you recognise belongs to me. Just borrowed. Will be returned. Snape is welcome to stay, though.

A big Thank You goes to my beta-reader, Maggie, and my beta-reader and brit-picker, Melusin, who both are always encouraging, helpful, and thorough.


August 10th, 1980

My dear Harry,

This diary is for you. Look at you, how tiny you are. This wizard photograph was taken when you were two days old. Look at your little fists, waving at the camera. And your tiny footprints. Such a handsome little boy.

I will record all your little triumphs and tribulations here, and when you are older, we can look at these pictures and stories together and laugh.

Your mother, Lily Potter ( Read more... )
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Mar. 28th, 2008 @ 01:36 pm AMIEW I - 1. Frogspawn and Teacups
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Disclaimer: Nothing you recognise belongs to me. Just borrowed. Will be returned. Snape is welcome to stay, though.
A big Thank You goes to my beta-reader, Maggie and my beta-reader and brit-picker, Melusin, who both are always encouraging, helpful, and thorough.


"So, you are interested in magic, too?" Sabrina said with a bright smile. She was a rather pretty girl with long brown hair that was tinted red with henna. Her fashionable jeans and top were decorated with a multitude of necklaces and with tiny pearls of semi-precious stones, crystals and silver amulets. The silver bracelets on her wrists were jingling with every movement, and her perfume had slight patchouli overtones; it wasn't unpleasant, but persistent. She looked like a Muggle version of Sibyll Trelawney. ( Read more... )
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Mar. 28th, 2008 @ 01:30 pm AMIEW I - Prologue
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While hunting for Horcruxes with her friends, Hermione learns surprising facts about Snape's past. Will that change the way she thinks about him?


Disclaimer: Nothing you recognize belongs to me. Just borrowed. Will be returned. Snape is welcome to stay, though.
A big Thank You goes to my beta-reader, Maggie and my beta-reader and brit-picker, Melusin, who both are always encouraging, helpful, and thorough.



A Most Important Element in Water

Part I - Separation

Prologue


The night was warm, quiet, and very dark. The salty air felt sticky, and no sound was heard except for the occasional hoots of ship sirens and the soft lapping of the waves against the rocks of the shore. A multitude of holes covered these rocks like pockmarks; some were large, some small, and some gaped like the toothless mouth of an old giant. Some of these mouths were barely more than rock overhangs, but others opened up to cave systems formed by labyrinths of passageways and large cavities.

In one of these large cavities, a tall, thin man with a bald head, red eyes, and a flat, reptilian nose stood motionless, staring at a man in black robes laying prostrate in front of him. Other people, wearing hooded robes and silver masks, surrounded them keeping a respectful distance. ( Read more... )
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Mar. 27th, 2008 @ 06:54 pm A Just Reward and other drabbles
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This is a combination of 100 word drabbles, written for [info]snape100. It is, basically, HG/SS although her name sometimes isn't mentioned.



Disclaimer: Nothing you recognize belongs to me. Just borrowed. Will be returned. Snape is welcome to stay, though.

A big Thank You goes to my beta-reader and brit-picker, Melusin, who is always encouraging, helpful, and thorough. These drabbles were written for different challenges at the snape100 community.



Onwards

"Onwards, good lady. I shall find my goal, or else shall perish bravely in the charge!”

"Dear sir. Chocolates? How you tempt me!"

Severus blinked, blushed violently and stared. ( Read more... )
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Mar. 27th, 2008 @ 06:52 pm Climate Change - Chapter 2
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Chapter 2

On a quiet evening in late January, Severus Snape tiredly entered his private quarters after a long and exhausting staff meeting. He wanted nothing more than a hot and relaxing bath, followed by a glass of Firewhisky, a book and bed. He toed his shoes off, threw his teaching robes over a chair and walked to the bathroom while unbuttoning his shirt. ( Read more... )
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Mar. 27th, 2008 @ 06:51 pm Climate Change - Chapter 1
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Twenty Years Later.

" …and that is why I want you all to act as if all the houses were one, using all the skills and talents each house represents. I want all the students to be cunning and ambitious, brave and daring, clever and studious, loyal and caring. The house that wins the House Cup this year should do so by combining the qualities that together make us all great, and not just by playing to their individual strengths.

“We have to put a stop to the old prejudices, and now is the time. This is a time of change at Hogwarts: teachers have retired, Heads of Houses have changed. It's now or never. I’m counting on you."

"You can't be serious, Minerva!" ( Read more... )
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Mar. 27th, 2008 @ 06:47 pm Climate Change - Prologue
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Name of recipient: [info]floorcoaster.
Rating:PG13 (?)
Warnings: Danger of fluff-induced asphyxiation
Prompt: #2 – may be DH-compliant. Hermione and Snape are both heads of their houses at Hogwarts and their houses are neck and neck for the Quidditch cup. Humor, romance, snark.
Summary: Hermione and Severus are both heads of their houses and compete for the Quidditch Cup and the House Cup. However, a few things have changed since Hermione was a student.

This story was written for the SS/HG exchange, winter round 2007/2008.

I wish to thank my beta readers for their patience, support and hard work. There wouldn't be a story without them.

Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.



Prologue</b>

"Rennervate!"

The body of the lifeless man on the ground twitched slightly. That had to be good enough, Hermione Granger thought. She took a phial out of her bag and gently prised Severus Snape's lips open. She poured a few drops of the liquid onto his tongue and then massaged his throat, repeating the process again and again until she noticed him swallow on his own. Then she fed him phial after phial of the potion. ( Read more... )
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Mar. 27th, 2008 @ 06:42 pm Arachne - Chapter 7
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A detail from Chapter 5

Bonus Chapter for Melusin, written as a thank you for the beta stress of the last SS/HG summer round.




It was a soft and tender closed-mouthed kiss that apologised for being forthright, and at the same time, asked for permission to proceed. When I kissed you back in earnest, your lips opened slightly and your tongue probed carefully. ( Read more... )
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Mar. 27th, 2008 @ 06:41 pm Arachne - Chapter 6
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Disclaimer: Nothing you recognise belongs to me. Just borrowed. Will be returned. Snape is welcome to stay, though.

My beta readers, Maggie and Melusin, deserve much thanks and the highest praise, a lot of chocolate, flowers and relaxing music. All remaining errors are my fault.



Chapter 6


As soon as you left, I packed my things and Apparated back to Hogwarts. I debated with myself if I should take another look at you in my Arachne-the-Spider form but decided against it. The longer I stayed around, the harder it would be to leave. You would just have to accept that the spider had run away, or died, or whatever spiders do when they migrate. ( Read more... )
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Mar. 27th, 2008 @ 06:39 pm Arachne - Chapter 5
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Disclaimer: Nothing you recognise belongs to me. Just borrowed. Will be returned. Snape is welcome to stay, though.

My beta readers, Maggie and Melusin, deserve much thanks and the highest praise, a lot of chocolate, flowers and relaxing music. All remaining errors are my fault.


Realising and accepting my feelings didn't make my life as your pet spider any easier. While I craved the close contact with you, it was very frustrating at the same time. What chance of winning your affection did I have as a spider? And did I want to win your younger self's affection at all, knowing that I would have to leave again soon? Would the feelings I thought I had for the complete version of you – the mixture of younger and older Severus – would that feeling change when I came back and met the older version of you again, hopefully on the way to recovery? Would you even remember me? And how would you react to that loathsome know-it-all, that thorn in your side, being in love with you? Would you reject me? Would you despise me? Would you be able to forgive me for invading your privacy as Arachne the spider? I didn't have the answers to these questions; all I knew was that I wouldn't want to give up my hopes, that I would want to explore these feelings with you, the older version, because you are the complete Severus Snape, the result of the many different Snapes of your past. And yet, I felt that this was unfair to your younger self; that your younger self had a right to be seen individually, to be treated as an independent entity. I was very confused. ( Read more... )
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Mar. 27th, 2008 @ 06:38 pm Arachne - Chapter 4
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Disclaimer: Nothing you recognise belongs to me. Just borrowed. Will be returned. Snape is welcome to stay, though.

My beta readers, Maggie and Melusin, deserve much thanks and the highest praise, a lot of chocolate, flowers and relaxing music. All remaining errors are my fault.


The next few days brought nothing new. You taught, I listened, and the students slowly understood that Severus Snape was nothing at all like Horace Slughorn. Almost every Potions lesson in that first week of teaching had resulted in one or more detentions, together with a significant loss of house points for all houses, except Slytherin. ( Read more... )
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Mar. 27th, 2008 @ 06:36 pm Arachne - Chapter 3
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Disclaimer: Nothing you recognise belongs to me. Just borrowed. Will be returned. Snape is welcome to stay, though.

My beta readers, Maggie and Melusin, deserve much thanks and the highest praise, a lot of chocolate, flowers and relaxing music. All remaining errors are my fault.


The next day was a Wednesday. You got up early and only dressed in a shirt and black trousers, nervously paced up and down in front of your fireplace while you drank a cup of coffee, frowning and murmuring all the while. Clearly, you were preparing yourself for your first Potions lesson, which, so I guessed, would be the seventh-years’ Advanced Potions class. Oh, how I wanted to see this! ( Read more... )
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