averygoodun42 (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
averygoodun42) wrote2011-05-03 01:16 pm
averygoodun42) wrote2011-05-03 01:16 pm
Fic: Shelter
This is, as of now, a WIP fic for Ayerf. I started it three (four?) years ago for the SS/HG exchange, and when I got about halfway through I realized there was no way I was going to finish it in time, so I did art instead. But, I liked the idea enough that I hung on to it and worked in dribbles and drabbles till I got where I am now, which is chapter 16 and close to the end.
I am quite motivated to finish this fic as I still need to write Ayerf the ficlet she won in the TPP auction last fall. (Don't question my priorities; I don't understand them well enough to explain.) And then the exchange will start, so... I hope to be finished writing this before the exchange prompts are sent out.
Thank yous go out to Septentrion for the alpha read and Ayerf for the beta. Any mistakes you see belong to me.
Title: Shelter
Rating: PG-13/R for language and mature themes
Prompt: 2007 Prompt 2: Partly DH compliant. What if Voldemort granted Severus a personal reward, in addition to becoming Headmaster: Hermione Granger to do with as he wished. Alternate version of the Malfoy Manor chapter. Bellatrix may still torture Hermione (particularly if she's jealous of Voldemort favouring Severus), but Severus comes to claim his prize. With him there, does Harry escape before Voldemort arrives? Only restriction is that Hermione's only way out is with Severus.
Summary: AU. Fatigued, Snape makes a mistake that could cost the wizarding world everything.
One doesn't know, till one is a bit at odds with the world, how much one's friends who believe in one rather generously, mean to one. ~D.H. Lawrence
Snape was tired. He couldn't remember ever being this tired before. He was so tired that he could feel even his smallest toes protesting in exhaustion, and that was over the aches and pains the rest of his body was screaming at him.
But the day was finally done. He made his way up the hill to the ostentatious manor with the thought that he would finally be able to lie down again and rest. To sleep. And with the Dreamless Sleep, there was no chance of dreams...
That, more than anything, was what made Snape smile. It had been a long day, following a long month, but it was all done for now. The Dark Lord was most pleased with him, and he would be even more pleased with the progress he had made. The information was falling into place, and that would make the Dark Lord very happy, indeed.
Severus always preferred it when the Dark Lord was happy. It was so much easier to hide everything.
The doors opened before him, and he staggered in. He didn't care whether the others were here and if they saw him or not. They knew better than to mock him now. Especially where the Dark Lord might hear them. Snape smirked slightly. There were benefits to being the Dark Lord's most trusted servant. He could see why Bella was so eager to regain the position. Granted being obsessed with her "master" helped that ambition, but the perks were quite nice enough to encourage even the laziest among them. Snape knew he would enjoy them even more if he didn't have a conscience, but there was nothing to help with that anymore. Lily had done that job too thoroughly.
He reached his room and started undressing the moment he closed the door, leaving a trail of shoes and clothes as he made his way to the massive bed. There was nothing he wanted more at that moment than to sink into the soft down and embrace oblivion; he knew he would be asleep the moment his head hit the pillow.
He sat down on the edge of the bed with a sigh. Even that was an immediate relief. He undid his trousers' buttons and sighed again before he closed his eyes and reviewed what he would be telling the Dark Lord after his nap, and what he needed to bury deep, deep inside. Albus' portrait needn't have reminded him of the importance of sharing Potter's true departure date; he knew that very well. However, he thought it best to keep the departure of Tuney's family a secret. There was no need to risk her worthless, scrawny neck any more than it already was.
He sighed again, rubbing his burning eyes. Getting through the protective wards at Hogwarts was much more exhausting than he had anticipated. He half hoped the Dark Lord overthrew the Ministry as soon as planned, as it would make talking with Dumbledore's portrait much easier. Although he would have to be careful not to rouse the suspicions of the new headmaster. He hoped the Dark Lord would grant him the position, but he knew better than to count on it. The Dark Lord had a perverse sense of humor. He hoped that would work in his favor, this time.
Snape rubbed his face again, trying to concentrate some more. Organizing his mind was the first priority. He could sleep after that.
Potter... It all came down to Potter. Well, really it all came down to Potter, Weasley and Granger. Without Granger, the Boy Wonder would be lost. Probably wouldn't be able to find his own arse if it weren't for Granger's organizational and research skills. Not to mention that Granger's casting abilities were not trivial. She could probably even make most of the Death Eaters sweat a little before Potter's overwhelming good luck kicked in and swept them off to safety.
Safety being a relative term, of course.
Snape cursed Albus and his nefarious plotting once more. He wondered whether Albus really knew how cold-hearted and vile his actions were. He suspected that the old man did, which made it even less excusable.
Snape shook his head, trying to get back on track. His feelings about Albus could wait. Those were the fun ones to feed the Dark Lord.
As long as Potter got away from Privet Drive safely, the boy would be protected. His friends were already at the Burrow, so they would be safe until the Ministry fell. He hoped Granger and Weasley were prepared to run. He suspected that Potter only had the barest glimmer of what it would really be like on the run. To be fair, Granger probably only had the faintest glimmer of what it would really be like, but she would at least be a fast learner.
And, with her along, he could at least be sure that Potter's personal wards would be adequate, if not superb.
A knock on the door interrupted his thoughts. The door opened silently, admitting the spitting image of his tall, fair-haired host.
"The Dark Lord would like a moment of your time, Professor."
Snape bowed his head, both in acknowledgment and despair. He had hoped to get rest first.
He was surprised when Draco didn't move. He wearily lifted his head to see the boy looking around the room with an uneasy frown. When his face returned to Severus, Draco frowned further and made a nervous gesture.
"Professor..." His voice was rough, so he stopped and cleared his throat. His eyes started darting around the room once more, as if searching for an escape, but he reined in the nervous tic and looked at Severus again. "He wants to leave soon, sir, so don't delay."
He then left the room. Severus frowned, not knowing what to think about Draco's behavior. He knew that the Dark Lord had taken to using the boy as his personal stress ball, but Severus was surprised that Draco would break so quickly.
He got up, pondering the small mystery, wondering what Draco had wanted to say. He summoned his clothes and pulled them on distractedly as he made his way down to the meeting room.
Voldemort was in the middle of the room, talking with the Carrows. Most of the Inner Circle were in the room, though the majority of them were happy to keep their distance from their lord and master. All except Bella, who hung back, but whose attention was riveted on the Dark Lord. The Carrows looked pleased about something, and just as Severus made his way into the throng, Voldemort looked up and spotted him.
"Severus!" he cried, looking rather happy. Severus took that as an invitation to approach and did so. "Thank you for meeting with me, Severus. I know how tired you must be, but I am off within the hour and I wanted to tell you of my decision before I left."
Severus bowed his head humbly but then looked up, curious. "What decision is that, my Lord?"
"Why of your reward! You have proven yourself to me most spectacularly, Severus, and Lord Voldemort always rewards his faithful. So, I have decided that when we take over Hogwarts, you shall lead the school."
Severus felt a small smile cross his face as he bowed. "You are most generous, my Lord!"
"You deserve it, my friend. However," he said silkily, making the room go silent again. Severus stiffened slightly, wondering what the Dark Lord had in store. "You have given me much, over the years, from socializing with people you would rather not, to following distasteful orders the old man gave to keep your position. I am most pleased with the results. Tell me, Severus, what you want, and I will grant it to you."
Snape's first thought was for Voldemort's head on a platter, but he instantly pushed that fantasy away, although not without the faintest glimmer of emotion marring his expression. Voldemort's lips curled up in speculation.
"There is something you wish for, isn't there?" Voldemort mused. "And yet you are reluctant. Why is this so?"
Severus hung his head, as much to hide his racing thoughts as to show deference. "I am ashamed, my Lord."
"Come, Severus. Tell me what it is that I can give you." Voldemort's voice was losing the playfulness and taking on an impatient edge. Severus braced himself, then looked up into Voldemort's eyes. The Dark wizard delved into his mind and saw a maelstrom of thoughts swirling about, but almost all of them centered on a pretty, bushy-haired girl.
Voldemort withdrew with a quizzical look. "What is there to be ashamed about that, Severus?"
Snape felt the edge of panic descend on him like a razor blade. What had he done? "She was a student of mine."
Voldemort laughed. "You've been teaching quite a few years now, my friend. I imagine a fair few witches have been your students."
The crowd snickered appreciatively, setting Snape's teeth on edge. "She was a sixth year last term."
Voldemort's brow creased, though, if anything, he looked even more amused. "We all have our particular tastes, Severus. What is her name?"
Severus bowed his head, took a steadying breath and cursed the situation he was getting himself and the wizarding world into. "Hermione Granger."
The room went still, and Voldemort's amusement faded into something speculative once more. "The Mudblood?"
Snape swallowed. "Yes, my Lord."
"Potter's friend."
"Yes."
Snape kept his head bowed and his eyes fixed on the floor. The room had taken on the eerie silence that usually preceded a torture session. He waited and braced himself for what would happen next. He was surprised, therefore, when Voldemort laughed. It was a slow, malicious laugh, but there was no mistaking the humor in it.
Severus dared to look up and found that Voldemort was grinning at him sharkishly. "Some spots never change, do they?" he cackled. Snape flinched, making Voldemort's smile broaden, but his laughter dim. He approached Snape and put his hand on Snape's shoulder in a brotherly fashion. "As I said before. We all have our peculiar tastes. If Hermione Granger is what you want to play with, then Hermione Granger is what you shall have."
He turned to face the rest of the room and said in a quiet voice that carried nonetheless, "I hereby declare Hermione Granger to be the property of Severus Snape, and as such, she is to be treated with care until she is delivered into Severus' deserving hands."
The room murmured their assent, and soon after the meeting broke up. Severus took his leave and quickly made his way to his room, though sleep was now the furthest thing from his mind.
He prayed fervently that Granger would remain safely in Potter's company till well after the Dark Lord fell.
I am quite motivated to finish this fic as I still need to write Ayerf the ficlet she won in the TPP auction last fall. (Don't question my priorities; I don't understand them well enough to explain.) And then the exchange will start, so... I hope to be finished writing this before the exchange prompts are sent out.
Thank yous go out to Septentrion for the alpha read and Ayerf for the beta. Any mistakes you see belong to me.
Title: Shelter
Rating: PG-13/R for language and mature themes
Prompt: 2007 Prompt 2: Partly DH compliant. What if Voldemort granted Severus a personal reward, in addition to becoming Headmaster: Hermione Granger to do with as he wished. Alternate version of the Malfoy Manor chapter. Bellatrix may still torture Hermione (particularly if she's jealous of Voldemort favouring Severus), but Severus comes to claim his prize. With him there, does Harry escape before Voldemort arrives? Only restriction is that Hermione's only way out is with Severus.
Summary: AU. Fatigued, Snape makes a mistake that could cost the wizarding world everything.
One doesn't know, till one is a bit at odds with the world, how much one's friends who believe in one rather generously, mean to one. ~D.H. Lawrence
Snape was tired. He couldn't remember ever being this tired before. He was so tired that he could feel even his smallest toes protesting in exhaustion, and that was over the aches and pains the rest of his body was screaming at him.
But the day was finally done. He made his way up the hill to the ostentatious manor with the thought that he would finally be able to lie down again and rest. To sleep. And with the Dreamless Sleep, there was no chance of dreams...
That, more than anything, was what made Snape smile. It had been a long day, following a long month, but it was all done for now. The Dark Lord was most pleased with him, and he would be even more pleased with the progress he had made. The information was falling into place, and that would make the Dark Lord very happy, indeed.
Severus always preferred it when the Dark Lord was happy. It was so much easier to hide everything.
The doors opened before him, and he staggered in. He didn't care whether the others were here and if they saw him or not. They knew better than to mock him now. Especially where the Dark Lord might hear them. Snape smirked slightly. There were benefits to being the Dark Lord's most trusted servant. He could see why Bella was so eager to regain the position. Granted being obsessed with her "master" helped that ambition, but the perks were quite nice enough to encourage even the laziest among them. Snape knew he would enjoy them even more if he didn't have a conscience, but there was nothing to help with that anymore. Lily had done that job too thoroughly.
He reached his room and started undressing the moment he closed the door, leaving a trail of shoes and clothes as he made his way to the massive bed. There was nothing he wanted more at that moment than to sink into the soft down and embrace oblivion; he knew he would be asleep the moment his head hit the pillow.
He sat down on the edge of the bed with a sigh. Even that was an immediate relief. He undid his trousers' buttons and sighed again before he closed his eyes and reviewed what he would be telling the Dark Lord after his nap, and what he needed to bury deep, deep inside. Albus' portrait needn't have reminded him of the importance of sharing Potter's true departure date; he knew that very well. However, he thought it best to keep the departure of Tuney's family a secret. There was no need to risk her worthless, scrawny neck any more than it already was.
He sighed again, rubbing his burning eyes. Getting through the protective wards at Hogwarts was much more exhausting than he had anticipated. He half hoped the Dark Lord overthrew the Ministry as soon as planned, as it would make talking with Dumbledore's portrait much easier. Although he would have to be careful not to rouse the suspicions of the new headmaster. He hoped the Dark Lord would grant him the position, but he knew better than to count on it. The Dark Lord had a perverse sense of humor. He hoped that would work in his favor, this time.
Snape rubbed his face again, trying to concentrate some more. Organizing his mind was the first priority. He could sleep after that.
Potter... It all came down to Potter. Well, really it all came down to Potter, Weasley and Granger. Without Granger, the Boy Wonder would be lost. Probably wouldn't be able to find his own arse if it weren't for Granger's organizational and research skills. Not to mention that Granger's casting abilities were not trivial. She could probably even make most of the Death Eaters sweat a little before Potter's overwhelming good luck kicked in and swept them off to safety.
Safety being a relative term, of course.
Snape cursed Albus and his nefarious plotting once more. He wondered whether Albus really knew how cold-hearted and vile his actions were. He suspected that the old man did, which made it even less excusable.
Snape shook his head, trying to get back on track. His feelings about Albus could wait. Those were the fun ones to feed the Dark Lord.
As long as Potter got away from Privet Drive safely, the boy would be protected. His friends were already at the Burrow, so they would be safe until the Ministry fell. He hoped Granger and Weasley were prepared to run. He suspected that Potter only had the barest glimmer of what it would really be like on the run. To be fair, Granger probably only had the faintest glimmer of what it would really be like, but she would at least be a fast learner.
And, with her along, he could at least be sure that Potter's personal wards would be adequate, if not superb.
A knock on the door interrupted his thoughts. The door opened silently, admitting the spitting image of his tall, fair-haired host.
"The Dark Lord would like a moment of your time, Professor."
Snape bowed his head, both in acknowledgment and despair. He had hoped to get rest first.
He was surprised when Draco didn't move. He wearily lifted his head to see the boy looking around the room with an uneasy frown. When his face returned to Severus, Draco frowned further and made a nervous gesture.
"Professor..." His voice was rough, so he stopped and cleared his throat. His eyes started darting around the room once more, as if searching for an escape, but he reined in the nervous tic and looked at Severus again. "He wants to leave soon, sir, so don't delay."
He then left the room. Severus frowned, not knowing what to think about Draco's behavior. He knew that the Dark Lord had taken to using the boy as his personal stress ball, but Severus was surprised that Draco would break so quickly.
He got up, pondering the small mystery, wondering what Draco had wanted to say. He summoned his clothes and pulled them on distractedly as he made his way down to the meeting room.
Voldemort was in the middle of the room, talking with the Carrows. Most of the Inner Circle were in the room, though the majority of them were happy to keep their distance from their lord and master. All except Bella, who hung back, but whose attention was riveted on the Dark Lord. The Carrows looked pleased about something, and just as Severus made his way into the throng, Voldemort looked up and spotted him.
"Severus!" he cried, looking rather happy. Severus took that as an invitation to approach and did so. "Thank you for meeting with me, Severus. I know how tired you must be, but I am off within the hour and I wanted to tell you of my decision before I left."
Severus bowed his head humbly but then looked up, curious. "What decision is that, my Lord?"
"Why of your reward! You have proven yourself to me most spectacularly, Severus, and Lord Voldemort always rewards his faithful. So, I have decided that when we take over Hogwarts, you shall lead the school."
Severus felt a small smile cross his face as he bowed. "You are most generous, my Lord!"
"You deserve it, my friend. However," he said silkily, making the room go silent again. Severus stiffened slightly, wondering what the Dark Lord had in store. "You have given me much, over the years, from socializing with people you would rather not, to following distasteful orders the old man gave to keep your position. I am most pleased with the results. Tell me, Severus, what you want, and I will grant it to you."
Snape's first thought was for Voldemort's head on a platter, but he instantly pushed that fantasy away, although not without the faintest glimmer of emotion marring his expression. Voldemort's lips curled up in speculation.
"There is something you wish for, isn't there?" Voldemort mused. "And yet you are reluctant. Why is this so?"
Severus hung his head, as much to hide his racing thoughts as to show deference. "I am ashamed, my Lord."
"Come, Severus. Tell me what it is that I can give you." Voldemort's voice was losing the playfulness and taking on an impatient edge. Severus braced himself, then looked up into Voldemort's eyes. The Dark wizard delved into his mind and saw a maelstrom of thoughts swirling about, but almost all of them centered on a pretty, bushy-haired girl.
Voldemort withdrew with a quizzical look. "What is there to be ashamed about that, Severus?"
Snape felt the edge of panic descend on him like a razor blade. What had he done? "She was a student of mine."
Voldemort laughed. "You've been teaching quite a few years now, my friend. I imagine a fair few witches have been your students."
The crowd snickered appreciatively, setting Snape's teeth on edge. "She was a sixth year last term."
Voldemort's brow creased, though, if anything, he looked even more amused. "We all have our particular tastes, Severus. What is her name?"
Severus bowed his head, took a steadying breath and cursed the situation he was getting himself and the wizarding world into. "Hermione Granger."
The room went still, and Voldemort's amusement faded into something speculative once more. "The Mudblood?"
Snape swallowed. "Yes, my Lord."
"Potter's friend."
"Yes."
Snape kept his head bowed and his eyes fixed on the floor. The room had taken on the eerie silence that usually preceded a torture session. He waited and braced himself for what would happen next. He was surprised, therefore, when Voldemort laughed. It was a slow, malicious laugh, but there was no mistaking the humor in it.
Severus dared to look up and found that Voldemort was grinning at him sharkishly. "Some spots never change, do they?" he cackled. Snape flinched, making Voldemort's smile broaden, but his laughter dim. He approached Snape and put his hand on Snape's shoulder in a brotherly fashion. "As I said before. We all have our peculiar tastes. If Hermione Granger is what you want to play with, then Hermione Granger is what you shall have."
He turned to face the rest of the room and said in a quiet voice that carried nonetheless, "I hereby declare Hermione Granger to be the property of Severus Snape, and as such, she is to be treated with care until she is delivered into Severus' deserving hands."
The room murmured their assent, and soon after the meeting broke up. Severus took his leave and quickly made his way to his room, though sleep was now the furthest thing from his mind.
He prayed fervently that Granger would remain safely in Potter's company till well after the Dark Lord fell.
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Severus, Severus, what have you done? Inadvertently, having so many thoughts of Hermione Granger has sealed her fate. Hope you update soon. :)
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And again: great start! Poor Severus, so exhausted it's both understandable and believable that he slips up.
I do like happy!Voldy. Well, maybe not like as such, but he's fun to read. I can certainly see that Severus would need that conscience of his to stay loyal to the greater good, when Voldy is the better master (when happy).
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Loves you, Sonia :)
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I can't wait to see what happens next!
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Of course, I'm now dying to know what Draco was up to.
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(Oh - may I friend you?)
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