Another fic
Sep. 1st, 2007 05:13 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
matrilThis one's a missing moment, at the end of the third book. It doesn't have any startling new ideas in it; it was mostly just an exercise in writing Snape-Dumbledore interaction, which turned out to be rather fun. Snape is such a self-righteous git. :P
Grudges
Severus was clearly still fuming. Dumbledore eyed him over the top of his glasses as he sat down in a huff and folded his arms, avoiding the headmaster’s gaze.
“You know why I called you in.”
Scowling, Severus said, “I suppose it has something to do with Black and that ridiculous lie he convinced you of –”
“Severus.” Dumbledore leaned forward over his desk, forcing Severus to meet his eyes. “You know Sirius Black was telling the truth.”
“Of course not,” Severus snapped, a little too quickly. “All that nonsense about Pettigrew still being alive –”
“It explains a great deal, actually,” Dumbledore said in a quiet voice that silenced Severus. “You know as well as I how close James and Sirius were, how his apparent betrayal was such a shock to all of us.”
“...capable of murder at age sixteen...” Severus muttered mutinously.
“Yes, you have reminded me of that with great frequency this year,” Dumbledore replied impatiently. “And my response is simply this – Sirius was a careless, unthinking teenager. I do not deny it. He bore a particular malice toward you, and of course the feeling was mutual.”
Severus snorted. “From the day I first had the misfortune of meeting him. He was arrogant beyond all reason. No wonder he had Potter got along so well –”
“Exactly!” Dumbledore said, exasperated. “The best of friends! Inseparable. And yet we are to believe that Sirius betrayed James? For what? To gain the favor of the Dark Lord? Sirius despised the dark arts, you know that, Severus! Becoming a Death Eater would have been entirely out of character for him! Peter, on the other hand –”
“That cringing coward?” Severus said derisively.
“Cowardice was one of the Dark Lord’s greatest tools,” Dumbledore reminded him. “How many of his Death Eaters truly served him out of loyalty? A few, perhaps. But how many more served him out of fear?”
Severus did not attempt to contradict him this time; he merely sat in sullen silence.
“In your own time as Death Eater,” Dumbledore went on relentlessly, “did you ever suspect Sirius of serving Voldemort?” Severus flinched and said nothing. “And last night, did you really bring him into Hogwarts to see justice done?” A silence during which Severus’s scowl deepened. “Of course not. You brought him because of a childish grudge. You didn’t care whether he was guilty or not – you would gladly have seen an innocent man suffer the dementor’s kiss to satisfy a petty teenaged hatred.” He let the words hang over Severus, then, “I am disappointed, very disappointed indeed. I had expected better of you.”
Severus did not seem inclined toward speech, so Dumbledore pressed on. “Even if we were to still believe that Sirius is guilty, and deserving of that cruel punishment, you would have brought it about for the wrong reason. And doing the right thing for the wrong reason is a terrible thing. You know that.”
“What would you have me do?” Severus burst out angrily. “Apologize to Black? Rather difficult, seeing as how he seems to have vanished off the face of the earth.”
“No, Severus,” Dumbledore sighed, “I think we both know how likely that is, although I will continue to hope for it against all reason. No, our main concern now is Peter. I believe, and this is more than a mere hunch, that having lost his longtime hiding place, he will now seek out what remains of Lord Voldemort.”
Severus paled. “The Dark Lord? Do you mean – he will help him return?”
“Yes.” Dumbledore paced the floor of his office, deep in thought. “Peter has always clung to those who were stronger; since he is no longer safe with young Mr. Weasley, I’m afraid his intents will inevitably turn toward Voldemort.”
Severus rose. “What will you have me do?” he asked quietly.
Dumbledore raised his eyebrows. “Am I to take this as an acknowledgement of Sirius Black’s innocence?”
A glower crossed Severus’s face. “I didn’t – that is, I simply meant – how can you call him innocent?” he exclaimed heatedly. “Even assuming he was not the betrayer, think of all he has done doing this year alone! Breaking into school grounds – terrorizing students –”
“I am already quite painfully aware of Sirius’s questionable behaviors,” Dumbledore said calmly. “I believe he is paying for them even now as he is forced to continue a fugitive’s life. I never said he was blameless, Severus. But he did not cause the deaths of James and Lily Potter.”
Severus sank into the chair again and said nothing, his expression distant as it always was upon mention of Lily’s name.
“I expect both of you to behave more reasonably in the future,” Dumbledore said crisply. “You have a rather similar habit of letting your old grudges get the better of you. I know you will despise the comparison –” Indeed, Severus looked furious – “but you are two very stubborn, willful men. It is time for both of you to do some growing up.”
Severus still did not speak. Dumbledore supposed it was the best to hope for right now.
“You will, of course, be aware of it when Voldemort begins to gain power again,” Dumbledore said somberly, glancing at Severus’s left arm. “You will keep me informed. That is all we can do for now. When the time comes, it is Harry’s safety we must concern ourselves with most.”
Severus gave a curt nod. “Will that be all for now?” he said stiffly.
“For now.” Severus got up to leave, but Dumbledore called out just as his hand was on the doorknob, “Oh, and Severus? In regards to what you did to Remus this morning.”
Turning slightly, his face wary, Severus waited.
“That was sheer maliciousness,” Dumbledore said bluntly, “and it has cost Hogwarts an excellent teacher. Be assured that you will not be filling his position next year.”
“I see.” Severus was clearly not ashamed as he ought to be, but he at least had the sense to look somewhat unhappy. “Good day, Professor.”
“Good day, Severus.”
Grudges
Severus was clearly still fuming. Dumbledore eyed him over the top of his glasses as he sat down in a huff and folded his arms, avoiding the headmaster’s gaze.
“You know why I called you in.”
Scowling, Severus said, “I suppose it has something to do with Black and that ridiculous lie he convinced you of –”
“Severus.” Dumbledore leaned forward over his desk, forcing Severus to meet his eyes. “You know Sirius Black was telling the truth.”
“Of course not,” Severus snapped, a little too quickly. “All that nonsense about Pettigrew still being alive –”
“It explains a great deal, actually,” Dumbledore said in a quiet voice that silenced Severus. “You know as well as I how close James and Sirius were, how his apparent betrayal was such a shock to all of us.”
“...capable of murder at age sixteen...” Severus muttered mutinously.
“Yes, you have reminded me of that with great frequency this year,” Dumbledore replied impatiently. “And my response is simply this – Sirius was a careless, unthinking teenager. I do not deny it. He bore a particular malice toward you, and of course the feeling was mutual.”
Severus snorted. “From the day I first had the misfortune of meeting him. He was arrogant beyond all reason. No wonder he had Potter got along so well –”
“Exactly!” Dumbledore said, exasperated. “The best of friends! Inseparable. And yet we are to believe that Sirius betrayed James? For what? To gain the favor of the Dark Lord? Sirius despised the dark arts, you know that, Severus! Becoming a Death Eater would have been entirely out of character for him! Peter, on the other hand –”
“That cringing coward?” Severus said derisively.
“Cowardice was one of the Dark Lord’s greatest tools,” Dumbledore reminded him. “How many of his Death Eaters truly served him out of loyalty? A few, perhaps. But how many more served him out of fear?”
Severus did not attempt to contradict him this time; he merely sat in sullen silence.
“In your own time as Death Eater,” Dumbledore went on relentlessly, “did you ever suspect Sirius of serving Voldemort?” Severus flinched and said nothing. “And last night, did you really bring him into Hogwarts to see justice done?” A silence during which Severus’s scowl deepened. “Of course not. You brought him because of a childish grudge. You didn’t care whether he was guilty or not – you would gladly have seen an innocent man suffer the dementor’s kiss to satisfy a petty teenaged hatred.” He let the words hang over Severus, then, “I am disappointed, very disappointed indeed. I had expected better of you.”
Severus did not seem inclined toward speech, so Dumbledore pressed on. “Even if we were to still believe that Sirius is guilty, and deserving of that cruel punishment, you would have brought it about for the wrong reason. And doing the right thing for the wrong reason is a terrible thing. You know that.”
“What would you have me do?” Severus burst out angrily. “Apologize to Black? Rather difficult, seeing as how he seems to have vanished off the face of the earth.”
“No, Severus,” Dumbledore sighed, “I think we both know how likely that is, although I will continue to hope for it against all reason. No, our main concern now is Peter. I believe, and this is more than a mere hunch, that having lost his longtime hiding place, he will now seek out what remains of Lord Voldemort.”
Severus paled. “The Dark Lord? Do you mean – he will help him return?”
“Yes.” Dumbledore paced the floor of his office, deep in thought. “Peter has always clung to those who were stronger; since he is no longer safe with young Mr. Weasley, I’m afraid his intents will inevitably turn toward Voldemort.”
Severus rose. “What will you have me do?” he asked quietly.
Dumbledore raised his eyebrows. “Am I to take this as an acknowledgement of Sirius Black’s innocence?”
A glower crossed Severus’s face. “I didn’t – that is, I simply meant – how can you call him innocent?” he exclaimed heatedly. “Even assuming he was not the betrayer, think of all he has done doing this year alone! Breaking into school grounds – terrorizing students –”
“I am already quite painfully aware of Sirius’s questionable behaviors,” Dumbledore said calmly. “I believe he is paying for them even now as he is forced to continue a fugitive’s life. I never said he was blameless, Severus. But he did not cause the deaths of James and Lily Potter.”
Severus sank into the chair again and said nothing, his expression distant as it always was upon mention of Lily’s name.
“I expect both of you to behave more reasonably in the future,” Dumbledore said crisply. “You have a rather similar habit of letting your old grudges get the better of you. I know you will despise the comparison –” Indeed, Severus looked furious – “but you are two very stubborn, willful men. It is time for both of you to do some growing up.”
Severus still did not speak. Dumbledore supposed it was the best to hope for right now.
“You will, of course, be aware of it when Voldemort begins to gain power again,” Dumbledore said somberly, glancing at Severus’s left arm. “You will keep me informed. That is all we can do for now. When the time comes, it is Harry’s safety we must concern ourselves with most.”
Severus gave a curt nod. “Will that be all for now?” he said stiffly.
“For now.” Severus got up to leave, but Dumbledore called out just as his hand was on the doorknob, “Oh, and Severus? In regards to what you did to Remus this morning.”
Turning slightly, his face wary, Severus waited.
“That was sheer maliciousness,” Dumbledore said bluntly, “and it has cost Hogwarts an excellent teacher. Be assured that you will not be filling his position next year.”
“I see.” Severus was clearly not ashamed as he ought to be, but he at least had the sense to look somewhat unhappy. “Good day, Professor.”
“Good day, Severus.”
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Date: 2007-09-02 05:03 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-09-03 04:36 pm (UTC)