Application for Somarium

Jul 24, 2011 21:48

[Player name] Erin
[Age] 22
[Personal Journal] neko142001
[Other characters currently played]
Hatori Sohma // Fruits Basket // doctor_tatsu27
Mille Feuille // Sorcerer Hunters // prettyhazknight
Aya (Ran) Fujimiya // Weiss Kreuz // beyondweiss
Jace Lightwood // The Mortal Instruments // ischarming
Kazuo Kiriyama // Battle Royale // bewareboy6

[Character name] Severus Snape
[Age] 38
[Canon] Harry Potter
[Point in time taken from canon] Post Death

[Background] General Harry Potter series link, first Snape link, and second Snape link

[Personality] On the outside one can find this man to be cold, calculating, calm, collected, and cynical. He is not someone that people tend to like instantly (unless they are in Slytherin). In fact, if he dislikes someone then he can make their life a living hell. He especially dislikes those that are in the Gryffindor house since he finds that they can be attention-seekers and arrogant. The fact that one Harry Potter is in this house clearly just puts another point on the list of things Snape dislikes about him. He is one to direct snide comments towards those he has a distaste for. Also, he can be rather unfair about things, treating those he favors well and even letting them get away with rule-breaking or docking points from students for doing nothing wrong at all.

He is very strict and does not tolerate foolishness. Some would even describe him as humorless. However, it's clear that the teachers and even Filch respect him. He's extremely intelligent and observant. There's very little that passes by him. Plus, he tends to be someone who notices things that others do not. Of course he is not one to go and announce this. Instead, he tries to clear up problems himself. On top of that he was a teacher who expected the best out of his students. Though he would dock them points often, his teaching methods did inspire many students to succeed in his classes.

But, this is just the surface of him.

Beneath all of this is a man who once was a Death Eater. He was loyal to Voldemort until he heard that the Dark Lord was going after Lily's son. It is here where we learn more about him.

In school Snape really only had one friend. Lily Evans, the mother of Harry Potter. Wanting to impress her, he did very well in school and even started to pick up the Dark Arts has a hobby. But he was never very emotional even then. He'd learned early on from an apparently abusive father that emotions were a sign of weakness. So he was very private and only trusted Lily. However a mistake cost him friendship with her and she fell in love with someone who had bullied him in school, James Potter.

For the rest of his life he hated James Potter and even transferred this hatred to Harry. There is one important thing to be noted about his treatment of Harry though. Because of his love for Lily, he goes out of his way to protect Harry. In fact, this harsh man is actually kinder than he appears and protects many of his students without them fully realizing it. One way this is obvious is when he becomes Headmaster and though the two Death Eaters at the school are harsh things could have been worse. That is due to Snape's presence. Another is when he works to keep Draco Malfoy safe and even swears and Unbreakable Vow to do so.

Then there is the fact that Snape is loyal to good. Why is this? He swore he would be so that Dumbledore would protect Lily and her family. Of course this failed but his intent all along was for them to live. But he hasn't changed sides since then. He kept his word. In fact, when Dumbledore asked him to kill him when the time was right, he did just that. He also lied to the Dark Lord for years though this could have gotten him killed if the lies were discovered. This makes him as brave and filled with great strength of character as any Gryffindor and Dumbledore has suggested that when Snape was Sorted as a child that perhaps it was too soon.

Though Snape can seem so cruel to his students and even looks on muggles with disdain, he's not evil. Under all that is actually a good but private man. He's made decisions he regrets deeply but changing the past just isn't possible. He has a dislike for muggles due to his muggle father who "hated everything". However, his love for Lily is what keeps him from truly being evil. Even after they stopped being friends he wanted to protect her even if it meant protecting James and Harry as well. She would have probably wanted him to keep the students at Hogwarts safe as well so he did that too.

He isn't someone who can really come out into the open about these feelings. They're things he bottles up deep inside. So, all anyone sees is a cold, cynical man with a wicked tongue. Humorless to many who cannot appreciate a darker sense of humor that is clearly sarcastic. He can hold a grudge though. That much is clear by how he treats Harry poorly in school because Harry's father used to bully him. People won't really realize just how good and brave a man he really is because he refuses to show this to anyone. Yes, he has a nasty temper but emotions are a sign of weakness so he bottles them away. This allows him to be a stronger wizard.

Snape is a very proud man who becomes furious if his weaknesses are revealed. Or if his creations are used against him. But it should be noted that while he has the power to really punish someone now for angering him he doesn't. He can restrain himself from using his great powers for his personal gain. But stay away from things that belong to him or private to him. He also is very confident in his abilities. Though he may not reveal them he knows he can do them and can do them well. Even perfectly. It's the only way he will do things. If it can't be done perfectly he really doesn't intend to do it at all.

As unsubtle as he is about who he favors and how he treats students, he is just as subtle about handling things of a more serious nature. He will take people away from the eyes of others to talk to them and manages to warn the other members of the Order about what Harry thought he saw Voldemort doing without letting anyone know. He comes across as calm and collected which helps to keep anyone from really guessing what he might be thinking. In fact, it led Harry to thinking Snape was evil during his first year at Hogwarts without realizing that Snape was actually protecting him all along.

To this day Snape is devastated by the death of Lily. His greatest regret is telling Voldemort about the prophecy when he heard it. He blames himself for her death and always will. Dumbledore once asked him if he still loved Lily after all this time and his response was "Always." He will forever hate himself for what he did and now works to atone for that one mistake though it can be sure that he will never forgive himself for it no matter what. It's why he keeps memories of her to the day he dies. His most precious moments with her which he then gives to Harry so that Harry might understand why he did what he did. And to keep his last order from Dumbledore which was to tell Harry where the last Horcrux really was.

A very brave man who loves Lily always. Most may never know this though because he will bury it away so it can't be used against him. Maybe he's protecting himself or maybe he's protecting the very memory of Lily. That much isn't clear and perhaps only Dumbledore knows. Snape is a good man but mostly will only ever see how mean he can be, how sarcastic, how bitter... Most will never get to realize the full depth of this one man.

[Abilities] To begin with, Snape is very intelligent and observant to things around him. He is able to learn things quickly and is even creative enough to apply those skills to inventing things. Within his mind is a vast wealth of knowledge of a great many things. With this comes his lack of social skills but that's more of a side note than anything else.

But aside from being extremely intelligent, he is also a powerful wizard. He knows many spells and has a talent and passion for the Dark Arts. It is said that he knew more hexes and curses as a first year student than most seventh years did. He was able to learn many non-verbal spells as well as those that don't require the use of a wand. While he was still in school, he even began inventing his own spells to use including one called Sectumsepra. Not only did he invent it but he can also reverse the results of it. This extends to many serious curses used. He can either reverse or slow down the progression of them depending on how serious they are.

As far as normal spells go, Snape is outstanding in these as well. He has no problem taking on three of his fellow teachers at the same time and is the one responsible for teaching the students the disarming spell. It should also be noted that unlike other Death Eaters, he is able to conjure a full Patronus. A doe just like Lily Potter. However, his real specialty is potions. While he was in school he improved on his potions textbook so that the potions were actually successful. If anyone wants to learn how to make a potion he is truly the best teacher possible. He can also recognize various ingredients by smell or sight and can tell what a potion is with just a glance or a sniff in most cases. This takes a very practiced hand to accomplish.

Another gift he seems to possess is that of Legilimency and Occlumency. These both involve the mind. The first of these is something he has talent in but isn't perhaps a great master. With it, he can extract memories and feelings from a person. It is a magical form of "telepathy" though he says that mind reading does not cover what all it means. However, it does help a person to know when another is lying about something and Harry has described Snape as being something of a mind reader. (Of course this will mean writing up a permission post for him to be allowed to use this on others.)

Now, his real specialty of these two is Occlumency. This is the art keeping someone out of your mind. And for those who are masters at Legilimency, putting in false memories that appear real. This allows it to seem like he is telling the truth when someone enters his mind but really what is inside is nothing but a falsehood. He can feel when another enters and knows how to block them out. This method of planting false memories temporarily is an advanced form of the art but one that Snape can use practically without thinking. With it, he was able to lie to the Dark Lord for years without ever being discovered.

His magical abilities extend also into being able to fly without the use of a broom or another enchanted object. This is important because the only other wizard really known for doing this is Voldemort. However, he can also fly while using a broom as well and is able to duel while in mid-flight.

[Other important stuff] The most important thing is perhaps this: Snape will always be in love with Lily. There is no one else for him. Which makes the reality of the situation that he will never love another. Even his Patronus is a doe to remind him of Lily. He will literally do anything to protect her or her son. On a side note, it should be noted that he only protects Harry because he's Lily's son. That does not mean that he likes him. Aside from this, it should be noted that Snape is a very powerful wizard even if he doesn't tend to show off his skills for all to see. In fact, he keeps most of his greatest gifts to himself. Also, Dumbledore trusted Snape. In the end, I feel that says everything that needs to be said.

[Sample post]
[First Person]

[Snape looks on the survey option with the greatest disdain. But for whatever reason it won't shut off unless he does it. So, he sighs and finally answers the questions as his Dreamberry reads them out.]

1. Would you consider yourself a power hungry individual?
[He lifts a brow.] No.

2. You're asked to take someone out for a date. Do you agree? If so, describe what you would do. If not, tell why.
No.

3. Your country is in the middle of a war. What do you think of it? Do you support it or try to solve it yourself by going on an epic quest? Explain.
I believe my position on the matter is clear. An explanation is...unnecessary.

4. Murder. What is your opinion?
When I find the creator of this it will be discussed.

5. You discover someone stalking you. Do you call the police or deal with it yourself?
It will be dealt with.

6. You just got a challenge to fight from one of the strongest gang leaders around. Do you accept or reject? Why?
If by "strongest gang leader" you mean Potter then I see no reason to refuse. It would not hurt him to learn a few manners.

7. Someone comes to you to ask for the time. How would you respond?
Perhaps they should invest in a time piece. [He lifts a brow as and gives a look that says "Just a suggestion."] Obviously...

[Third Person]

It was hardly a surprise that the basement of this house was dedicated to the brewing of potions. Potions had always been something he was good at. Even when he was in school he had excelled, improving on his textbook when he realized there were errors. When it came to the magic that was involved in brewing potions, few would ever dare to deny that Severus Snape was quite possibly the best. Some would probably think that it was strange that he would spend his time in a basement that smelled of potion ingredients, stirring potions and bottling them.

However, it was comfortable for Snape. In his world, he'd died when the Dark Lord had believed him to be the keeper of the Elder Wand. In his last moments of life he'd been able to see the boy Harry Potter. The boy who looked so like his father but had the eyes of his mother. His last memory was that of those brilliant green eyes.

Lily's eyes.

Here in the darkness where he added a leaf to a ruby red concoction, he could remember why he'd done everything in his life. Including potion making. Lily had always loved how talented he was with it. He'd even helped her to pass classes when the potions were particularly difficult. Though he would never consider himself a sentimentalist, he continued the fine yet dangerous art with the memory in mind that she'd enjoyed it. Of course he would never admit this to anyone. They didn't need to know of such a private thing.

Closing his eyes, he recalled that horrible day when their friendship had ended. The look on her face. It was like his entire life came crashing down. He would have done anything to take that moment back but he knew that it was far too late for that. It would seem the worst memory he possessed but no. He had one far worse than that.

The day he told the Dark Lord about the prophecy and it ended up with him deciding to go after Lily and her family. Snape knew that he would never stop regretting that day. It would haunt him forever. Even into whatever afterlife this was.

A world of dreams. Only a world like that would send him somewhere that would have that boy in it. Harry Potter. The boy who lived. Lily's son.

Opening his eyes, he looked down at the potion that was now an emerald green. So like the eyes of the boy and his mother. Just knowing the boy was here...and the boy's father... It was as if he wouldn't be allowed to have his death in peace away from their constant arrogance and childish behavior. Thinking they were above it all. In fact, that was what this potion was for. To cure an ailment the Weasley boy had. Potter had asked for it and would be stopping by for it soon. The very idea of it put a bitter taste in his mouth.

So many times he'd saved the boy, protected him from danger. Lily would have wanted that. He was so sure of that much. It was why he'd done exactly that. Why he'd tried to impress her when he was younger. Why he still did potions.

Lily would have liked it.

In one brief moment of weakness, he pulled his wand out and conjured his Patronus. A silvery doe appeared and looked at him a moment before leaping around the room until it vanished completely. Lily had had a doe too...

Right then there was a knock on the door causing Snape to spin around, his wand slipping back into his robes.

"Come in," he snapped, not surprised when it was the Potter boy. Turning back to the cauldron, he took a vial and filled it with the liquid then put a stopper in it. Turning back to the boy, he crossed the room easily and held it out with his gaze cool. "He must drink all of it, Potter. Do not think that I will provide you with another favor. Your fame means nothing here."

It wasn't long before the boy was gone and he was left in the dark again. Left to dwell on his memories of the past. Of a beautiful girl with red hair, green eyes, and the most beautiful smile...

[Why do you want to play this character in Somarium?] I have always loved Snape. From the moment I first read the books until now. He intrigues me and I really feel like he could be an interesting fit at Som. Plus, I have so much love for the Harry Potter cast. I really can't tell you how much I adore them.
[Which rule was your favorite and why?] No Playercest. You guys should know this well since I answer it this way every time.
[Any questions?] I just want to confirm but I will need a permissions post for his Legilimency and Occlumency skills, right?

somarium, ooc, application

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