Fic: Snape's Choice

[daylyn]

Written for jamie2109 and nocturnali's AWDT Birthday/Anniversary fic exchange. Dedicated to sugareey, who wanted “anything involving Snape.” Hope you like it.


Title: Snape’s Choice
Pairing: None – Gen fic
Rating: PG
Length: 631 words
Warnings: None
Disclaimer: So not mine.
Summary: One year after Dumbledore’s death, Severus Snape faces another life and death choice.


Snape’s Choice

I think that only Albus Dumbledore could have found amusement in my predicament. For today, on the anniversary his death, I am faced with yet another life and death choice.

I feel the burden of Albus’ trust weighing heavily upon me as I face my current decision. I remember how one year ago he begged me through Occulmency to make the right choice. He always believed in me, believed that I would choose what was right over what was easy. I will never know if he would agree with my choice. I simply know that I did what I thought had to be done.

I wonder if Albus really believed that his Gryffindor Golden Boy would defeat the Dark Lord? If so, he was so very wrong. Potter stands bound before all the Death Eaters now, easily captured when he attempted to kill his nemesis.

Thus, my current dilemma. Kill Potter, as the Dark Lord commands me to do. Or kill the Dark Lord instead.

There are consequences no matter what I decide. To kill Potter is to allow the Dark Lord to win, to allow terror and fear to take hold. We all know that Potter’s death would mark the end of the fight; no one else would dare stand up against the Dark Lord once the Chosen One was destroyed.

Yet killing Potter means killing an innocent, for somehow, even through all his fighting, his soul remains pure. He has never been tainted by an Unforgivable. I helped make sure of that.

He looks up at me with James Potter’s face and Lily Evan’s eyes. Those eyes stare at me with such hatred, yet there is defiance there as well. Even as he faces certain death, he refuses to succumb. While I would never admit it aloud, I feel a grudging respect toward the boy.

To kill Potter is to kill James Potter’s son – to kill the son of one of my most hated tormentors. Yet it is also to kill Lily Evans’ son, the son she herself died for. And as much as I hated Potter, I respected and, to a small extent, cared about, Lily. Does her son deserve this fate? Should I instead kill Lily’s murderer?

And yes, it would be easy to kill the Dark Lord now. Potter must have destroyed the remaining Horcruxes, since he is here, seeking to destroy the last remaining bit of the Dark Lord. While that foolish Prophecy they both believe states that one must die at the other’s hand, that simply is not the case. With the rest of his soul destroyed, the Dark Lord will die like any other mortal man. The death blow does not have to come from Potter; anyone, including myself, could claim the Dark Lord’s life.

And of the two, he is the one who truly deserves to die.

But to kill the Dark Lord is to doom myself to death. For I am, after all, the murderer of Albus Dumbledore, the most powerful wizard of our age. There can be no forgiveness for that act. No explanation, however rational, that will save me from my punishment. If the Dark Lord is dead, there is no protection for me. I too will quickly follow his fate. And I’m sure that my death will be horrible, painful, and slow. There will be no mercy for me in the end.

I sigh. It all comes back to you, Albus, and your belief in my choices.

The Dark Lord grows impatient, and orders me to kill Potter one more time. Potter just glares at me, his hate-filled eyes determined, awaiting his fate.

One of these men will die by my hand. I look at them both, one last time. I raise my wand.

I make my choice.

Comments

[indigocat.livejournal.com]

I'm voting for Snape killing the Dark Lord. I think he will save Harry for Albus.

[indigocat.livejournal.com]

And I forgot it to add that it was a very well written story. I can see Snape thinking that during the final battle.

[daylyn.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I really do forsee Snape facing an interesting decision during the final battle (but I too believe that he would protect Harry).

[ex-ms-katoni171.livejournal.com]

Oh, how could you leave us hanging? *pouts*

It is very well-written though, very believable. You've really nailed Snape there.

I like to think he'll kill Voldemort. I think he'll do it for Albus's sake. I hope so anyway.

[daylyn.livejournal.com]

I think he'll do it for Albus's sake. I hope so anyway.

So do I. But I wanted to leave it ambigious enough that it could go either way. Glad you liked it.

[annephoenix.livejournal.com]

Nifty little ficlet... I'm going with Snape killing Harry. He's thought about the consequences of killing Voldemort too much, and he's too self-serving. Perhaps he feels loyalty to Dumbledore, but never has he shown loyalty to Harry... It makes sense for Snape to save himself... Then again - who knows?

[daylyn.livejournal.com]

He's thought about the consequences of killing Voldemort too much, and he's too self-serving.

That's very true. And that's one of the reasons I left it open-ended. As much as I want to believe that Snape will help Harry in the end, I'm really not sure.

[cmwinters.livejournal.com]

"never has he shown loyalty to Harry."

Not verbally.

[littlecup.livejournal.com]

Oh mercy! Pins and needles much? This is very well done. I'm seriously biting my nails over here.

[daylyn.livejournal.com]

Woo hoo. Unresolved cliffhangers lead to nail biting. (I wonder if Snape has a potion to cure that...)

Thank you.

[sugareey.livejournal.com]

i really like how controvesial this fic is. i can seriously picture snape thinking in this way. i feel like he would protect harry no matter how much he despises him. ho hum.

[daylyn.livejournal.com]

Glad you like it, since it was written for you for the AWDT fic exchange. I too feel that Snape will protect Harry in the end, but I wanted to make it ambigious since I'm not so sure that Snape knows what he's actually going to do.

[sugareey.livejournal.com]

of course! always skeptical! thank you soo much! ieee! exactly the way snape is. perfect. =D

[asphodeline.livejournal.com]

Beautifully done and so plausible. Poor Snape is more than likely to end up with such a decision. He'll do the right thing!!

[daylyn.livejournal.com]

He'll do the right thing!!

I certainly hope so, or I'll be throwing the last book out a window. But I can totally see Snape being put into a position like this.

Glad that you liked it.

[magic-helmet.livejournal.com]

The optimist in me says Snape kills the Dark Lord.

The realist in me says the self-serving Slytherin raises his want to Harry.

Good fic.

[daylyn.livejournal.com]

It is quite the dilemma, isn't it? Glad you enjoyed it.

[dizilla.livejournal.com]

Oh wow, that was fantastically written. Of course I'm in the camp that Snape kills Voldemort. A probable excuse is that Harry in would have a Life Debt to him.

I love ambiguous endings. =D Nicely done here. ^_^

[daylyn.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I'm a Snape supporter, so I definitely want to see him redeemed in the last book. And I like the idea of Harry having a life debt to him... hmmm... plot bunnies.

[tayefeth.livejournal.com]

See, I think Snape's already redeemed, so I vote for him offing Voldie.

[daylyn.livejournal.com]

I think he'd choose Harry over Voldie too.

[rhiannonmr.livejournal.com]

Hmm would like to say he offs Voldie, but it could go either way. Depends on what's in it for him. Ah well a very well done story and I HOPE Snape never has to face that choice myself. Either answer is not gonna be good for him. I don't think he'd like to be the one who has to make that choice.

[daylyn.livejournal.com]

You're probably right that Snape won't have to make the final choice, but I still think that Snape will have to make a choice in the next book. I'm sure that his part in this tale is nowhere near done.

Glad you liked it.

[vampiresetsuna.livejournal.com]

Snape's all for himself. He should jump ship and let Harry and Voldie do their battles. ;) Then he should set up camp on a tropical island and spend his days in tropical swim shorts with a drink with a paper umbrella in hand. :) Course, that wouldn't be very intersting. ;) Cute fic, food for thought!

[daylyn.livejournal.com]

I can see it now:

Voldemort: "Kill the boy, Severus!"

Harry: *hate-filled glare*

Severus: "Oops. Gotta go now. My portkey to Fiji is activating. Tell you what though -- I'll have a drink in your memory. Ta ta."

Voldemort: "You can't leave. I order you to stay and do my bidding."

Harry: *hate-filled glare*

Severus: "Sorry. I've taken up with a cabana boy. You two will have to work this out by yourself." *disappears*

Voldemort: "The nerve."

Harry: *hate-filled glare*


OK, I think it's time for me to go to be now. But I'm glad you liked the fic.

[daylyn.livejournal.com]

*sigh* I meant, "Go to BED now."

Yes, I definitely should take that advice.

[zeroambi.livejournal.com]

Cool ficlet. Tough decision. Personally I think Severus should just kill them both and become the new Dark Lord himself. ;D

[daylyn.livejournal.com]

*snort*

And with the Death Eaters already there, he'd have his minions in place. Hmmm... not a bad idea.

All Hail Severus Snape, The NEW Dark Lord!

Glad you liked the fic.

[kabal42.livejournal.com]

You wrote something both captivating and thought-provoking here, that was quite the accomplishment. The first two adjectives particularly come into play because of Snape's very plausible situation: the choice between Harry and Voldemort. I am sure a situation where this choice is played out will feature in the last book.
Thanks for a very good read!

[daylyn.livejournal.com]

*blushes*

Wow. Thank you. And I agree that Snape will be forced to make a similar choice in the last book. He definitely still has a part to play in the tale.

[kabal42.livejournal.com]

*nods* And that part is probably going to be very deciding for the outcome of the story. It's going to be interesting to follow.

[drusillas-rain.livejournal.com]

great fic - very effective place to end

[daylyn.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I'm glad you liked the ambigious ending.

[jamie2109.livejournal.com]

Really well written piece, setting out perfectly the dilemma that Snape might well face in canon. But, we know (ok, canon-wise - we assume) Albus trusted him to do what was right, rather than what was easy, and so, I tend to think he will make the right choice again. And, perhaps the fact that he did the right thing in the end will be enough to save him. Terrific job hon, thank you so much. *hugs*

[daylyn.livejournal.com]

Thank you! Well, you know I'm a Snape fan, so I definitely think (hope) that he will make the right choice.

*big hugs* Miss you so much!

[jamie2109.livejournal.com]

Miss you too *hugs* Once I'm finished with this semester, I'll catch up with you.

Shameless Plug!! and comment!

[vejgeta9.livejournal.com]

I so love when you write! It makes me love to hate to love Snape even more!! Hope you continue it - the fic needs more chapters!!

~Vejgeta9

P.S. I am plugging my new journal vejgeta92k here, as well as everywhere I can think of. It will be the home of all my slash to come. So far, only one chapter is posted, but I think all that love LOTR slash will like this one! So check it out!! vejgeta92k. Go and check it out!!

Re: Shameless Plug!! and comment!

[daylyn.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I am such a Snape fangirl! But I think that this fic is done as it is... ambigious ending and all.

I'll definitely check out and friend your new LJ though. Although I haven't read any LOTR slash in a while, it's still one of my favorite fandoms.

[nocturnali.livejournal.com]

I have no idea who Snape will kill, there are too many whys and wherefores for both of them.
Maybe the Dark Lord will be wishing that he'd done it after all instead of making someone else do it for him.

Wonderfully written and a good read.

Thank you.

[daylyn.livejournal.com]

Maybe the Dark Lord will be wishing that he'd done it after all instead of making someone else do it for him.

Thus proving the old adage: "If you want something done right, you have to do it yourself."

So glad that you liked it.

[lusiology.livejournal.com]

What a terrific way to end this excellent fic. Ever the optimist, I think Snape killed the Dark Lord. If he does, as I suspect, turn out to be Dumbledore's man then he has more strength of character than anyone else. A true hero.

[daylyn.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I'm a total Snape fangirl, so I'm in complete agreement with you. Glad you liked the fic.

[finduille.livejournal.com]

Ohhh, I absolutely love Snape!! I think Snape killed Voldemort. He is no loyal to Harry, but to Dumbledore, the only person who truly believed in Severus. Excellent fic.

[daylyn.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I too think that Snape is still loyal to Dumbledore, and will help to destroy Voldemort.

[endora-taylor.livejournal.com]

this was great. the decision!!

see, this is how i can see the seventh book ending: severus will sacrifice his own life to save harry's. he will step between voldemort and harry at the last possible second and take the avada kedavra curse for him. i can see this as a definite possibility.

and this fic just seems to make me understand severus so much more. this is truly a horribly painful decision. and you leave the ending wide open. it is my belief that he turns his wand on the dark lord and stands beside harry. great work.

[daylyn.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much for your kind words!

I also think that Snape is somehow going to sacrifice himself for Harry and that action will be his redemption, so to speak. I agree with you that it is a definite possibility.

I think that Snape's choice will be hard for him -- but I also think that he will end up doing what is "right" over what is "easy" in the end.