- Pronouns
- They/Them
That isn't his dad; more likely his grandfather.
Path to Victory – A Severus Snape Story (Worm/HP)
- Thread starter Sir Rabby
- Start date
Oh I am slain!
Wynaut?
- Location
- Tatooine
Ooh nice. It was a good time to introduce Lord Prince, for the strong, emotional, and off-path response he elicited.
I wonder if Moody & others are going to consider alias's Felix Felicis theory. The earlier seer rumours might be helpful though.
Bakkasama
There is always a greater fool
- Location
- Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Pronouns
- He/his
His mother is the Prince, not his father. This is likely the guy that disinherited her andthrew her out of the family.
Welcome back, Sev! Long time no see.
She really should have considered the consequences before rutting with a muggle. [/Pureblood]
Lealope
Not yet invincible
- Pronouns
- She/Her
I think this is what highlights the difference between Contessa and Snape. In the end, they are two very different people.
Contessa got the path when she was a child, with an immediate, longterm goal given to her i.e. killing the Entities
Snape, on the other hand, is a teenager, thus has his own wants, desires and ambitions. There's no real, long term goal for him to work towards other than "become good enough for Lily."
Contessa got the path when she was a child, with an immediate, longterm goal given to her i.e. killing the Entities
Snape, on the other hand, is a teenager, thus has his own wants, desires and ambitions. There's no real, long term goal for him to work towards other than "become good enough for Lily."
Chapter 1.14
Chapter 1.14
Professor Slughorn was astute enough to not bother me until we'd reached his private study. Once we arrived there the man simply retrieved a bottle of Ogden's Finest, popped the cork, and poured the both of us a glass. Even then he waited until I'd finished mine before he spoke up, "I won't ask if you're doing well, Severus, but please know that I'm here for you if you want someone to talk to."
I still hadn't pulled my 'Better Wizard' path back up. It was there in the background but I wasn't thinking, not really. My mind was a reeling and chaotic mess. I heard Slughorn, I really did, but I couldn't find it within myself to choke the bitter tasting ash down.
Sure, the man was 'here for me'. Now...
What about the countless times I cried myself to sleep? What about the casual defacement of my school supplies by my 'class mates'? Where was he then when I truly needed him? When everyone in this school was so blind to my suffering?
Much like the elderly Lord Prince he was only notable for his absence.
Who did I really have to talk to? The fifth year Slytherins who suddenly seem to be more friendly to me? Albus fucking Dumbledore perhaps?
I didn't feel like burdening Lucius with this even if I know he'd come get me if I sent him a note. It just didn't feel right. Maybe I just didn't want to look fragile in front of my sole friend in the world. I didn't want to sully my relationship with him. It was one of the precious few lights I had left.
Lily was completely out of the picture and I could barely think of the monstrously large path it would take to force her to like me again. Because that is what my path is. Pure and unadulterated overwhelming force.
The path was still running somewhere deep in recesses of my mind but would I enjoy the results? If I followed them faithfully I knew it could deliver Lily. But that's the thing. The path would have delivered her to me. She would have been forced off of whatever path that led her away from me and I would always know that.
Could I live with it?
Knowing that every moment I spent with her was merely a consequence of my mind-voice? Merely a symptom of her inability to combat my path? Would I feel even more hollow inside?
I made my excuses to Slughorn and started wandering the halls of Hogwarts. I found myself an empty alcove with a window that looked over the lake, conjured myself up a comfortable couch, and simply sat down.
I could do anything I set my mind to. Despite my troubles I felt a small smile bubbling up. I really could do anything, anything at all, but what was worthwhile? What did I truly want?
I certainly enjoyed the fame that came with the discoveries and I could spend a lifetime furthering magic. I would go down in the history books as one of the greatest minds of our generation. I could turn to politics and usher in a new day of optimism. A dawn of a brighter tomorrow would be my legacy then.
I could emulate my greatest hero, Salazar Slytherin himself, and become a teacher. I could spend my time molding the minds of future generations to come and make my mark on society that way.
The possibilities were endless but none of these truly appealed to me.
I conjured up a piece of paper and started scrawling off a letter to my mother. She wasn't well but what ailed her wasn't a disease. Shame rocked my very being and I burned up the letter I started. It just wouldn't do. I'd go see her.
I asked my path for the easiest route to my mother and followed the directions. Step one was jumping out of the window, step two a feather light charm to slow down my fall, step three was to glide with conjured wings strapped to my back to what I presumed were the edges of Hogwart's wards.
When I crossed over them step four presented itself and I felt the telltale tugging of apparation take me to my childhood home. As expected my father was sprawled out on the sofa, dead asleep in front of the television, and I could smell the stench of alcohol from where I stood. I firmly ignored the man and made way for my mothers bedroom.
I knocked once and I could hear her stir.
A few seconds passed before the door opened, "Hi Mum."
Her eyes widened in shock and she took in the sight of me. I crossed the three feet distance between us and threw my arms around her. I felt her reciprocate my hug and returned it even tighter.
"Are you alright, Sev?"
No.
"Of course, Mum. I just wanted to see you."
She pulled me into her bedroom, sat down on the bed, and dragged me with her. We simply sat there for a good long moment.
"Don't lie to your mother, Sev. Tell me what's wrong."
I have more power than I know what to do with. I don't know what I want in life. I feel disoriented and despite being surrounded by people I'm lonely. Literally only two people in the world like me for being myself.
What came out was, "I saw your father."
That was what he was. Her father. Not my grandfather. He would never be my grandfather. It was far too late for that and I would never give him the time of day.
This world would burn before I let him claim me.
She pulled me in closer and almost wailed, "Oh my baby."
We sat in silence for a while longer before she spoke, "He is a complicated man, Sev. A prideful one too. Oh, so very prideful. I hoped, I truly hoped, that when I showed him my baby was magical, and clever. Oh so very clever, that he might move past his pride."
Her grip around me tightened when she whispered, "Whatever he said to you, Severus, pay him no mind! Do you hear me, sweetness? Pay him no mind at all!"
I smiled in her neck and said, "I didn't, Mum. I just walked past him." I fell silent for a moment before continuing, "It still hurts. Why weren't we good enough? How could he sit in his riches while you struggled?"
My voice was raised seemingly without a conscious thought on my part, "But I still got so angry! I almost did something, Mum. I don't know what I would have done but it was bad. I just had to leave!"
She whispered pretty things to me while I cried out my bitter tears. I was lost in her words when my father suddenly broke the peace I was finally feeling.
"What are you doing here, boy?"
Not now! Why does he always ruin everything! My mother is finally being herself!
I whipped out my wand and threw him clear across the room. He impacted on the far wall but I kept swishing away. He was bound, gagged and stuck to the wall. Utterly immovable.
"Mum. I have money, lots of it, please come with me!"
She was still in shock from the sudden violence and I just barreled through, "It's all legit, Mum, the Ministry bought my services, and paid me handsomely. Please, lets just go. You never have to worry about anything at all! Not him, not Lord fucking Prince, or anyone!"
Her gaze snapped to mine and I saw the telltale signs of fear flitting through her eyes. Sudden pain restricted my throat, my heart was breaking, as I knew what she would say.
"I-I can't, Severus. I'm sorry but..."
She devolved into bitter tears of her own and I couldn't make it better. I absolutely refused to reach for the path for a way out. I wouldn't force my mother. Not when everyone in her life has done nothing but. I silently begged her with my eyes to reconsider.
"I'm sorry! I'm so sorry, Sev, but don't let me hold you back. Enjoy your life, my baby. Life it well, for me."
I bitterly bit out, "Why? Is it him?" I pointed at the still trussed up drunk.
I turned back to her, "Please, just be my mother. Be like you were when I was a child! Not this..this..."
I petered out as I saw her violently flinch. Oh gods, now I'm hurting her. What's wrong with me?
She must have seen the expression set on my face because she didn't let me retreat from her embrace. She held on tighter and whispered, "It's alright, sweetness. Don't worry about me. Just promise me you'll live well!"
Why?!
I could buy her a house somewhere! I could just stop going to Hogwarts and churn out potions for us to life off of. She wouldn't have to be this... caricature of who I remember her to be. Of who she aught to be!
God damn it.
Why aren't I enough?
"Please, Mum?"
Before she finished shaking her head I asked the path to take me anywhere but here and apparated out.
Professor Slughorn was astute enough to not bother me until we'd reached his private study. Once we arrived there the man simply retrieved a bottle of Ogden's Finest, popped the cork, and poured the both of us a glass. Even then he waited until I'd finished mine before he spoke up, "I won't ask if you're doing well, Severus, but please know that I'm here for you if you want someone to talk to."
I still hadn't pulled my 'Better Wizard' path back up. It was there in the background but I wasn't thinking, not really. My mind was a reeling and chaotic mess. I heard Slughorn, I really did, but I couldn't find it within myself to choke the bitter tasting ash down.
Sure, the man was 'here for me'. Now...
What about the countless times I cried myself to sleep? What about the casual defacement of my school supplies by my 'class mates'? Where was he then when I truly needed him? When everyone in this school was so blind to my suffering?
Much like the elderly Lord Prince he was only notable for his absence.
Who did I really have to talk to? The fifth year Slytherins who suddenly seem to be more friendly to me? Albus fucking Dumbledore perhaps?
I didn't feel like burdening Lucius with this even if I know he'd come get me if I sent him a note. It just didn't feel right. Maybe I just didn't want to look fragile in front of my sole friend in the world. I didn't want to sully my relationship with him. It was one of the precious few lights I had left.
Lily was completely out of the picture and I could barely think of the monstrously large path it would take to force her to like me again. Because that is what my path is. Pure and unadulterated overwhelming force.
The path was still running somewhere deep in recesses of my mind but would I enjoy the results? If I followed them faithfully I knew it could deliver Lily. But that's the thing. The path would have delivered her to me. She would have been forced off of whatever path that led her away from me and I would always know that.
Could I live with it?
Knowing that every moment I spent with her was merely a consequence of my mind-voice? Merely a symptom of her inability to combat my path? Would I feel even more hollow inside?
I made my excuses to Slughorn and started wandering the halls of Hogwarts. I found myself an empty alcove with a window that looked over the lake, conjured myself up a comfortable couch, and simply sat down.
I could do anything I set my mind to. Despite my troubles I felt a small smile bubbling up. I really could do anything, anything at all, but what was worthwhile? What did I truly want?
I certainly enjoyed the fame that came with the discoveries and I could spend a lifetime furthering magic. I would go down in the history books as one of the greatest minds of our generation. I could turn to politics and usher in a new day of optimism. A dawn of a brighter tomorrow would be my legacy then.
I could emulate my greatest hero, Salazar Slytherin himself, and become a teacher. I could spend my time molding the minds of future generations to come and make my mark on society that way.
The possibilities were endless but none of these truly appealed to me.
I conjured up a piece of paper and started scrawling off a letter to my mother. She wasn't well but what ailed her wasn't a disease. Shame rocked my very being and I burned up the letter I started. It just wouldn't do. I'd go see her.
I asked my path for the easiest route to my mother and followed the directions. Step one was jumping out of the window, step two a feather light charm to slow down my fall, step three was to glide with conjured wings strapped to my back to what I presumed were the edges of Hogwart's wards.
When I crossed over them step four presented itself and I felt the telltale tugging of apparation take me to my childhood home. As expected my father was sprawled out on the sofa, dead asleep in front of the television, and I could smell the stench of alcohol from where I stood. I firmly ignored the man and made way for my mothers bedroom.
I knocked once and I could hear her stir.
A few seconds passed before the door opened, "Hi Mum."
Her eyes widened in shock and she took in the sight of me. I crossed the three feet distance between us and threw my arms around her. I felt her reciprocate my hug and returned it even tighter.
"Are you alright, Sev?"
No.
"Of course, Mum. I just wanted to see you."
She pulled me into her bedroom, sat down on the bed, and dragged me with her. We simply sat there for a good long moment.
"Don't lie to your mother, Sev. Tell me what's wrong."
I have more power than I know what to do with. I don't know what I want in life. I feel disoriented and despite being surrounded by people I'm lonely. Literally only two people in the world like me for being myself.
What came out was, "I saw your father."
That was what he was. Her father. Not my grandfather. He would never be my grandfather. It was far too late for that and I would never give him the time of day.
This world would burn before I let him claim me.
She pulled me in closer and almost wailed, "Oh my baby."
We sat in silence for a while longer before she spoke, "He is a complicated man, Sev. A prideful one too. Oh, so very prideful. I hoped, I truly hoped, that when I showed him my baby was magical, and clever. Oh so very clever, that he might move past his pride."
Her grip around me tightened when she whispered, "Whatever he said to you, Severus, pay him no mind! Do you hear me, sweetness? Pay him no mind at all!"
I smiled in her neck and said, "I didn't, Mum. I just walked past him." I fell silent for a moment before continuing, "It still hurts. Why weren't we good enough? How could he sit in his riches while you struggled?"
My voice was raised seemingly without a conscious thought on my part, "But I still got so angry! I almost did something, Mum. I don't know what I would have done but it was bad. I just had to leave!"
She whispered pretty things to me while I cried out my bitter tears. I was lost in her words when my father suddenly broke the peace I was finally feeling.
"What are you doing here, boy?"
Not now! Why does he always ruin everything! My mother is finally being herself!
I whipped out my wand and threw him clear across the room. He impacted on the far wall but I kept swishing away. He was bound, gagged and stuck to the wall. Utterly immovable.
"Mum. I have money, lots of it, please come with me!"
She was still in shock from the sudden violence and I just barreled through, "It's all legit, Mum, the Ministry bought my services, and paid me handsomely. Please, lets just go. You never have to worry about anything at all! Not him, not Lord fucking Prince, or anyone!"
Her gaze snapped to mine and I saw the telltale signs of fear flitting through her eyes. Sudden pain restricted my throat, my heart was breaking, as I knew what she would say.
"I-I can't, Severus. I'm sorry but..."
She devolved into bitter tears of her own and I couldn't make it better. I absolutely refused to reach for the path for a way out. I wouldn't force my mother. Not when everyone in her life has done nothing but. I silently begged her with my eyes to reconsider.
"I'm sorry! I'm so sorry, Sev, but don't let me hold you back. Enjoy your life, my baby. Life it well, for me."
I bitterly bit out, "Why? Is it him?" I pointed at the still trussed up drunk.
I turned back to her, "Please, just be my mother. Be like you were when I was a child! Not this..this..."
I petered out as I saw her violently flinch. Oh gods, now I'm hurting her. What's wrong with me?
She must have seen the expression set on my face because she didn't let me retreat from her embrace. She held on tighter and whispered, "It's alright, sweetness. Don't worry about me. Just promise me you'll live well!"
Why?!
I could buy her a house somewhere! I could just stop going to Hogwarts and churn out potions for us to life off of. She wouldn't have to be this... caricature of who I remember her to be. Of who she aught to be!
God damn it.
Why aren't I enough?
"Please, Mum?"
Before she finished shaking her head I asked the path to take me anywhere but here and apparated out.
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- Location
- California
Isn't he still in her embrace?
This took a decidedly non-cracky, angst filled turn. o_o
And he splinched his mom, for maximum angst.
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Meh, Path Driven super control blah blah. Details!
@Khepri14
Long term victims of domestic abuse (plenty of hints in canon) don't just snap out of it.
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Galerians
I am Blissfully Insane
- Location
- Indonesia
Agreed.
Sometimes, people are just so broken that nothing can be done to pick up the pieces. Snape wants his old mom back, but she knows that person is long gone.
Thus, despite knowing how much it'd hurt him, she pushes him away. Because she prefers to see him fly free, rather than weighed down to her level.
JamesB
You needed worthy opponents.
- Location
- Kansas
Stockholm syndrome sucks.
With this, will Severus return "home" at the end of the school year, or will he find other accommodations? Staying with the Malfoys or Prof. Slughorn both seem possible at this point. Maybe staying with the Blacks would be funny with him having to watch himself around both Narcissa and Bellatrix.
With this, will Severus return "home" at the end of the school year, or will he find other accommodations? Staying with the Malfoys or Prof. Slughorn both seem possible at this point. Maybe staying with the Blacks would be funny with him having to watch himself around both Narcissa and Bellatrix.
- Location
- Utah
Will other characters get powers? As the story stands, Snape is pretty much a god among men.
An emotionally volatile god among men, but still. Proper opponents, that work around his power, or some obstacle that he can't solve with a snap of his fingers would be nice.
Actually... why the fuck is Lily so difficult? That makes no sense. Unless... she has powers too...
Dun dun duuunnnnn
An emotionally volatile god among men, but still. Proper opponents, that work around his power, or some obstacle that he can't solve with a snap of his fingers would be nice.
Actually... why the fuck is Lily so difficult? That makes no sense. Unless... she has powers too...
Dun dun duuunnnnn
daimahou
Hear... Feel... Think...
- Location
- 「 」
33,5344 percent chance that she has powers.
Ashaeron
Lurker in the Abyss
He feels like it's cheating. Forcing someone to his will, essentially. As a bullied teen, he's not exactly going to favour that method.
Oh I am slain!
Wynaut?
- Location
- Tatooine
I'm ambivalent about the direction of the Snape & mother scene, though it was written well. Hmm, would Snape have asked for a path to get his mother away & happy? I can imagine multiple reasons why he wouldn't, but the scene nevertheless leaves me slightly thinking it's a plot hole despite the plausibility.
I did quite like Snape's musings about 1. who he could talk to, and 2. what to do with his path powers. It's good that those points were brought up.
I did quite like Snape's musings about 1. who he could talk to, and 2. what to do with his path powers. It's good that those points were brought up.
*furthering?
And now we know why Snape became a teacher!
*Live
Dark Ness
Rises Where Silence Dies
- Location
- The Primordial Soup
Why isn't the path to Lilly?
1. Brew love potion
2. Give love potion
Ashaeron
Lurker in the Abyss
His request was phrased "How do I get her to like me as much as I like her?"
Love often has little to do with how much you like someone as a person. He also doesn't think of it as love, I suspect. Too dangerous for the emotionally unstable teenager.
tarrangar
Fat arctic chicken
I'm sure there are in theory a potion that could forcibly make Lily like Severus precisely as much as He likes her but even if the Path had suggested that Severus would have refused I'm quite sure.