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crack_van2011-02-24 08:26 pm
perverse-idyll.livejournal.com) wrote in crack_van2011-02-24 08:26 pm
Entry tags:
Penultimate Acts by Pasi (PG)
Fandom: HARRY POTTER
Pairing: Gen
Length: ~ 6,000
Author on LJ:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
pasi
Author Website: None that I could find
Why this must be read:
Here's another character study, this time of Severus during that missing year, the year he was a truer headmaster than anyone other than Dumbledore knew, grimly alone and playing the all-or-nothing game with every ounce of skill at his disposal. The tantrums are gone and only sardonic purpose remains, his every step calculated, every jibe delivered with an end in mind, every cruelty weighed and accepted as a weapon in the war. He is supremely isolated and outwardly inflexible, although in the privacy of his thoughts he makes comments and passes judgments that would startle his detractors. His sense of humor still operates, much like a scalpel and generally at someone's expense. He's not unfeeling, but he is unswerving and will sacrifice whoever and whatever is necessary. He doesn't scruple to alienate his colleagues. He has no choice; the game he's playing is deadlier than they realize.
The narrative pushes him gently off this singleminded track once or twice, allowing him a fleeting chance to see the world as the innocent see it, to remember that more exists than this tightrope-walk toward obliteration. The viewpoint is clever and stringent and sharply aware, scattered with surprising small truths and shadows of regret.
Neither author nor character asks for sympathy, but my heart goes out to Snape nonetheless. Although the narrative follows canon's preordained path, it has the grace to stop short while Snape is still alive. Our own knowledge of what's to come ripples outward from the ending like rings on a moonlit lake, disappearing out of sight into darkness.
~*~
They stood beside a bed in the ward of the hospital wing, looking at the patient. "I'd have transferred him to St Mungo's instead of calling you, if your lot hadn't taken over there too," said Madam Pomfrey.
Severus didn't look up from Neville Longbottom, convulsing gently on the bed, his eyes rolled back in his head. "Only the Board of Trustees, really. There aren't many Healers who are Death Eaters. What happened to Longbottom?"
Madam Pomfrey seemed to have difficulty answering. "He refused to cast the--Cruciatus Curse on Megan Jones in Defense Against the Dark Arts. So Carrow did it to her instead. And then he did--he did it to Neville."
"How is Miss Jones?"
"Fine. She was just shocked, that's all. She's in the girls' ward, sleeping. But you.... I didn't really think you could stand by and let Carrow...even though you killed Dumbledore...Carrow...Snape, he enjoys torturing children!"
When her voice broke, Severus looked up. She'd squeezed her eyes tightly shut, crumpling her face into furrows of grief. A tear trembled at the edge of each lid.
"You were in the staff meeting at start of term, Madam. I said then that things were going to be different from now on."
She opened her eyes. There were no new tears in them. "You'll regret this."
Severus had rarely heard hatred expressed so quietly. He didn't rise to it. He knew what it was to find your Headmaster intolerable. He drew his wand and, taking light from the Dark, found the counter-curse that would soothe the disarray of Longbottom's nervous system. Murmuring, he passed his wand over Longbottom's body. Longbottom's limbs stilled, his eyes closed, and he breathed easily.
Madame Pomfrey went still too. After a moment, she said, "Teach me how to do that."
Severus met her eyes. They were as clear as spring water in sunlight. "You don't have it in you to learn it."
She blanched, spun on her heel, strode into her office and slammed the door. She'd taken Severus's comment as an insult. He hadn't yet decided whether she was wrong to do so when Longbottom shifted and opened his eyes.
Penultimate Acts
Pairing: Gen
Length: ~ 6,000
Author on LJ:
pasiAuthor Website: None that I could find
Why this must be read:
Here's another character study, this time of Severus during that missing year, the year he was a truer headmaster than anyone other than Dumbledore knew, grimly alone and playing the all-or-nothing game with every ounce of skill at his disposal. The tantrums are gone and only sardonic purpose remains, his every step calculated, every jibe delivered with an end in mind, every cruelty weighed and accepted as a weapon in the war. He is supremely isolated and outwardly inflexible, although in the privacy of his thoughts he makes comments and passes judgments that would startle his detractors. His sense of humor still operates, much like a scalpel and generally at someone's expense. He's not unfeeling, but he is unswerving and will sacrifice whoever and whatever is necessary. He doesn't scruple to alienate his colleagues. He has no choice; the game he's playing is deadlier than they realize.
The narrative pushes him gently off this singleminded track once or twice, allowing him a fleeting chance to see the world as the innocent see it, to remember that more exists than this tightrope-walk toward obliteration. The viewpoint is clever and stringent and sharply aware, scattered with surprising small truths and shadows of regret.
Neither author nor character asks for sympathy, but my heart goes out to Snape nonetheless. Although the narrative follows canon's preordained path, it has the grace to stop short while Snape is still alive. Our own knowledge of what's to come ripples outward from the ending like rings on a moonlit lake, disappearing out of sight into darkness.
They stood beside a bed in the ward of the hospital wing, looking at the patient. "I'd have transferred him to St Mungo's instead of calling you, if your lot hadn't taken over there too," said Madam Pomfrey.
Severus didn't look up from Neville Longbottom, convulsing gently on the bed, his eyes rolled back in his head. "Only the Board of Trustees, really. There aren't many Healers who are Death Eaters. What happened to Longbottom?"
Madam Pomfrey seemed to have difficulty answering. "He refused to cast the--Cruciatus Curse on Megan Jones in Defense Against the Dark Arts. So Carrow did it to her instead. And then he did--he did it to Neville."
"How is Miss Jones?"
"Fine. She was just shocked, that's all. She's in the girls' ward, sleeping. But you.... I didn't really think you could stand by and let Carrow...even though you killed Dumbledore...Carrow...Snape, he enjoys torturing children!"
When her voice broke, Severus looked up. She'd squeezed her eyes tightly shut, crumpling her face into furrows of grief. A tear trembled at the edge of each lid.
"You were in the staff meeting at start of term, Madam. I said then that things were going to be different from now on."
She opened her eyes. There were no new tears in them. "You'll regret this."
Severus had rarely heard hatred expressed so quietly. He didn't rise to it. He knew what it was to find your Headmaster intolerable. He drew his wand and, taking light from the Dark, found the counter-curse that would soothe the disarray of Longbottom's nervous system. Murmuring, he passed his wand over Longbottom's body. Longbottom's limbs stilled, his eyes closed, and he breathed easily.
Madame Pomfrey went still too. After a moment, she said, "Teach me how to do that."
Severus met her eyes. They were as clear as spring water in sunlight. "You don't have it in you to learn it."
She blanched, spun on her heel, strode into her office and slammed the door. She'd taken Severus's comment as an insult. He hadn't yet decided whether she was wrong to do so when Longbottom shifted and opened his eyes.
Penultimate Acts