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Tweak says, "Hey there, hustler."

S.S. (sollicitussnape) wrote in veritaserum_rp,
@ 2008-06-20 00:41:00

Entry tags:

albus dumbledore, severus snape

Who: Snape + Dumbledore.
When: 11pm.
Where: Spinner's End.
What: TBA.

The day's heat had not dissipated even after the sun had set, but Snape, as usual, was robed in his heavy black cloak. The world beyond his windows was obscured by a thin layer of condensation- a testament to his general incompetence when it came to temperature altering charms. Any attempt he made to heat a space with a charm usually resulted in singed eyebrows for all parties involved, while his cooling charms had the potential to wilt any frost-sensitive plants in the immediate vicinity.
He leaned back in his chair, lifted a stray book from the table in front of him, gave the pages a noncommittal turn, and finally tossed the book across the room. A stream of vapor escaped his lips-a visible sigh. He placed his boots on top of the table and leaned farther back in his chair until it was balanced on two legs. A half empty bottle of firewhiskey gleamed at him from across the room. He couldn't remember when he'd put it there or how long it had been there for, but was that really any reason to neglect it? After all, the evening wasn't occupied by any other obligations...
The partronus burst into the room just as Snape shifted his weight towards the bottle, startling him just enough to send him crashing to the floor. The partronus waited with an air of infuriating patience while Snape untangled himself from his robes.
"Well?" He snapped at the phoenix, apparently hoping his shortness would be a sufficient stand-in for his momentarily misplaced dignity, "What is it... Sir?"

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wzrding_legends
2008-06-24 10:09 pm UTC (link)

In his office, behind his desk, Albus Dumbledore awaited the appearance of his Potions Master. He had had doubts about discussing his thoughts with Severus, given how the younger man had seemed almost obsessed with The Renegades the last time they had spoken. But...one couldn't get far if they trusted no one, and Albus already had many things he trusted no one with, so here they were: Awaiting Snape.

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sollicitussnape
2008-06-24 11:10 pm UTC (link)

Flames flared in the fireplace, momentarily saturating the office in green light. Snape's eyes were locked on Dumbledore's before the verdant hue had even begun to fade. There was one conviction that he was determined to honor: he would not drop his gaze. Too much remained unsaid, acknowledged only by the meeting of their eyes.
'I'll deal with the Renegades- without interference.' That hadn't been the worst of what he'd said before he'd stormed from the office months ago. And here he stood now, feeling as though his words had never stopped resounding, as though they had echoed through the walls of the office since he'd left.
"If you're looking for fresh information, I'm not the man to ask." He'd hoped to sound cold, but his voice came out flat, expressionless- more apologetic than he had ever intended.

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wzrding_legends
2008-06-24 11:35 pm UTC (link)

There was a long silence before Albus nodded, his half-moon spectacles having slid a remarkable distance down his nose. "You're certain?"

"Come, take a seat." He took Snape's tone as being sufficiently apologetic, but it could still be noted that there was no offer of the usual candies and treats. A long time ago, Albus trusted Severus enough to be prepared to ask him to kill him to save the future of a youth. Fortunately, it had never come to that. It was a pity, therefore, that here was where they currently stood.

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	sollicitussnape 2008-06-24 11:52 pm UTC (link)
	Snape remained standing. He didn't realize that he'd been longing to hear a note of absolution until it didn't come. Dumbledore's forgiveness, a resource Snape had though inexhaustible, seemed to have finally been worn too thin. "I've speculated some, but I haven't come across any concrete evidence." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

wzrding_legends
2008-06-25 12:12 am UTC (link)

It wasn't that Albus' forgiveness was out of reach, rather, he was tired. He too was a man, and capable of his own weaknesses. Anger being one of them.

"With many witches losing their magic, I feel as if it's only moments before large scale things will begin to happen. Surely, you've heard about young Ms. Abbott's dissapearance? It is definitely the work of Rodolphus."

Fawkes left his perch to land on the desk, he peered at Snape in innane greeting.

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sollicitussnape
2008-06-26 12:14 am UTC (link)

The way the lines around Dumbledore's eyes looked was the way bedrock looked after a thousand years' worth of water had carved crevices into it. The ridges and wrinkles stood out like the contours of a fingerprint pressed into wet clay. This wasn't a man- it was living stone.
Secretly, Snape had always wanted to see the slightest fissure split the statue that was Albus Dumbledore, but only if he could be the one to initiate the crack. In his anger, Dumbledore seemed more resilient than ever.
"'Large scale.'" Snape repeated quietly. "Large enough to warrant some action on-" Hesitation before he decided on the next word, "our part?"

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wzrding_legends
2008-06-26 12:27 am UTC (link)

"I'm unsure if warrants such action." Dumbledore admitted. But was he, really? Or was it just another web of intrigue. "However, witches all over, losing their magic? If it isn't the work of Rodolphus, and I doubt it is as he lacks the finesse, he will certainly take advantage of it."

Long slender fingers folded together, "I wonder if you will be able to find out. If the Renegades are mobilizing as I believe they are, the Order must as well. Better to crush first, I'm finding."

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sollicitussnape
2008-06-30 04:34 am UTC (link)

"Rodolphus has always been an opportunist. If he hasn't had his hand in this from the start, he'll be in it up to his wrists by now..."
Snape had managed to maintain a look of cool detachment throughout most of their exchange, and to most observers the change that came over him after Dumbledore had finished speaking was so subtle that it would go undetected. His eyes, still and dark a moment before, now gleamed like shards of obsidian.
"I see."
Better to crush -first-? It's hardly considered a first strike if your enemy has already dealt you a blow to the face-And if Dumbledore had only listened to him in the first place, they might have had the first strike, might have headed off the Renegades before they were even able to act-
But Snape's remark died behind his teeth. 'I cannot allow this'- That had been as far as Dumbledore had gone to prevent Snape from taking care of the Renegades on his own.
In the time since, Snape had done nothing to uncover Rodolphus' motives. He'd been so certain that Rodolphus would come to him before putting any plan into action...So certain that Rodolphus would honor the man the Dark Lord trusted above all others.
It would have made no difference if Dumbledore had backed Snape's plan the first time around; he still would have failed. Dumbledore must have realized it. Why else would he issue as a command the suggestion Snape had made in the first place, if not to remind Snape of how totally incompetent he was?
Snape dropped his eyes, his face paler than usual.
"I agree." He said softly, hating Dumbledore.

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wzrding_legends
2008-07-26 12:37 pm UTC (link)

"Yes." Dumbledore hummed lowly, steepling his long fingers in front of his face before looking up.

Well aware of the thoughts of failure running through the younger man's head, Dumbledore wasn't sure whether to feel sorry for the potions master, or pleased: Perhaps this show of incompetence would remind the man who was capable of orchestrating great plans and who wasn't. "Now, Severus. You know that Rodolphus is not Tom Riddle, and Tom's favor to you most likely shall not pass on to Rodolphus. I believe you will most likely have to work to receive his trust. Afterall, Rodolphus belonged to an elite clique with Lucius and Rabastan, and trusted no others."

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sollicitussnape
2008-07-27 09:20 pm UTC (link)

"I think that trust is too strong a word for the regard Rodolphus held for those two."
He felt another surge of hatred towards Dumbledore, but this time his resentment was less focused towards the man in front of him. It was aimed more towards Rodolphus, for disregarding Snape's former Deatheater status, towards Lucius, Snape's superior once more even after death, towards himself, for relying entirely on an authority that now meant nothing, an authority that Dumbledore had dismissed as easily as Rodolphus had.
"But I understand your concern, all the same. The biggest difference between Rodolphus and the Dark Lord isn't a matter of power; it's a matter of motivation. We knew the Dark Lord's motivations; his desire for power was only paralleled by his fear of death. But Rodolphus is different. I've never seen him act out of pure fear- only a sort of-" Snape paused for a moment, as if searching for a word strong enough to describe the mad gleam he had seen in Rodolphus's eyes while he tortured his victims. "ravenousness."

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wzrding_legends
2008-07-27 09:31 pm UTC (link)

"Yes." Dumbledore hummed , idly petting Fawkes as the Phoenix curled into his lap. "That is cause for concern mainly on the actions he will follow through on, but then it is also good for us because it means his plans will not be excuted with the meticulousness of one who fears for his being."

Dumbledore saw parallels between Rodolphus and Grindelwald. Not exactly the same in personality, but both no where near the cold desperate insanity of Voldemort.

"So, make contact and let me know as soon as you hear anything." He ordered, and then, before Snape could leave, pushed the candy bowl forward, "Take a lemon drop to tide you on your travel home."

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sollicitussnape
2008-07-27 09:55 pm UTC (link)

"Perhaps. But we could also be dealing with the plans of one who has no fear for his being. And that, I'm sure you've found, is infinitely more dangerous."
Snape turned to leave, but as the bowl scraped across the desk behind him he stopped in mid-step, the movement oddly twitchy. He kept his back to Dumbledore just long enough to allow a sigh of frustration to escape from behind his clenched teeth.
"You know I hate those things." But he snatched one out of the bowl anyway.
He reached into his pocket and after a moment's hesitation withdrew a small pouch of what appeared to be reddish candies . He tossed the bag onto the desk in front of Dumbledore.
"For the bird." He said stiffly, nodding towards Fawkes.
With that, he walked out of the office, snapping the door shut behind him.

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