Forging Ahead
Title: Forging Ahead
Rating: PG
Pairing/Characters: Severus Snape
Genre: Gen, Drama
Word Count: 450
Summary: In the aftermath of Dumbledore's death, Severus must decide how he intends to move forward.
A/N: Thanks to shiiki for helping me get this into shape.
Written for Round 1, Week 8 of genhp_ldws. Prompts= vengeance, magical portrait, tomorrow.
*~*
Hatred burned in his veins. The boy was exactly like his father, arrogant and sneering.
A coward… If he only knew.
Severus clutched at the anger, held it close. He wanted vengeance, wanted to inflict pain. Anything would be better than the crushing grief lurking beneath the surface.
Silently, he led Draco through the cobbled streets until they reached his dilapidated house. They entered, and Severus locked the door behind them.
"We're supposed to meet-"
Severus raised a hand. "We will wait for the Dark Lord to summon us."
"But-"
"Do as I say, Draco."
Severus sat down. He needed to master himself before the Dark Lord's summons. He pushed down his impulses to seek revenge, to grieve. He had to focus, had to finish what he had started.
His first step would be to get into Dumbledore's office as soon as possible to speak with his portrait.
*~*
Severus carefully made his way up the marble staircase, his wand held tightly in his fist. His Disillusionment Charm wasn't nearly as good as Dumbledore's, but that wouldn't matter. The castle was dark and empty. With the students gone, Filch no longer spent his time patrolling the corridors for wrongdoers, and Severus had information that McGonagall would be away from the castle until morning. With her gone, he could accomplish his task without obstruction.
"Dumbledore," he said to the gargoyle stationed outside the late Headmaster's office.
It promptly moved aside, and Severus took the spiral staircase up. When he opened the door, he was met with a cacophony of angry shouts from the magical portraits on the wall. No doubt they had already heard Potter's version of Dumbledore's demise.
"Silence!" the portrait of Dumbledore shouted.
The room fell quiet.
"Severus," Dumbledore said, his eyes twinkling. "I knew you would come."
*~*
The creaks and groans of the old house seemed to be conspiring with Severus's overactive mind to keep him awake. Tomorrow the Order would be moving Potter to a safe house. Due to the Death Eaters' infiltration of the Ministry, the Order would have to move him in the open. He cursed Dumbledore for creating a plan where so many things could go wrong.
The Dark Lord had allowed him to join the group intercepting Potter. Even though it put him in a dangerous position, Severus hoped he might be able to do something of value.
"Be sure to act your part convincingly," Dumbledore had said.
He had no choice. Everything he had worked for over the past sixteen years hinged on tomorrow. Severus thought of Lily, the reason he risked so much, and of Dumbledore, who believed in him when no one else did.
He would not sleep tonight.
Rating: PG
Pairing/Characters: Severus Snape
Genre: Gen, Drama
Word Count: 450
Summary: In the aftermath of Dumbledore's death, Severus must decide how he intends to move forward.
A/N: Thanks to shiiki for helping me get this into shape.
Written for Round 1, Week 8 of genhp_ldws. Prompts= vengeance, magical portrait, tomorrow.
*~*
Hatred burned in his veins. The boy was exactly like his father, arrogant and sneering.
A coward… If he only knew.
Severus clutched at the anger, held it close. He wanted vengeance, wanted to inflict pain. Anything would be better than the crushing grief lurking beneath the surface.
Silently, he led Draco through the cobbled streets until they reached his dilapidated house. They entered, and Severus locked the door behind them.
"We're supposed to meet-"
Severus raised a hand. "We will wait for the Dark Lord to summon us."
"But-"
"Do as I say, Draco."
Severus sat down. He needed to master himself before the Dark Lord's summons. He pushed down his impulses to seek revenge, to grieve. He had to focus, had to finish what he had started.
His first step would be to get into Dumbledore's office as soon as possible to speak with his portrait.
*~*
Severus carefully made his way up the marble staircase, his wand held tightly in his fist. His Disillusionment Charm wasn't nearly as good as Dumbledore's, but that wouldn't matter. The castle was dark and empty. With the students gone, Filch no longer spent his time patrolling the corridors for wrongdoers, and Severus had information that McGonagall would be away from the castle until morning. With her gone, he could accomplish his task without obstruction.
"Dumbledore," he said to the gargoyle stationed outside the late Headmaster's office.
It promptly moved aside, and Severus took the spiral staircase up. When he opened the door, he was met with a cacophony of angry shouts from the magical portraits on the wall. No doubt they had already heard Potter's version of Dumbledore's demise.
"Silence!" the portrait of Dumbledore shouted.
The room fell quiet.
"Severus," Dumbledore said, his eyes twinkling. "I knew you would come."
*~*
The creaks and groans of the old house seemed to be conspiring with Severus's overactive mind to keep him awake. Tomorrow the Order would be moving Potter to a safe house. Due to the Death Eaters' infiltration of the Ministry, the Order would have to move him in the open. He cursed Dumbledore for creating a plan where so many things could go wrong.
The Dark Lord had allowed him to join the group intercepting Potter. Even though it put him in a dangerous position, Severus hoped he might be able to do something of value.
"Be sure to act your part convincingly," Dumbledore had said.
He had no choice. Everything he had worked for over the past sixteen years hinged on tomorrow. Severus thought of Lily, the reason he risked so much, and of Dumbledore, who believed in him when no one else did.
He would not sleep tonight.