A Painful Choice
folder
Harry Potter › Slash - Male/Male › Harry/Snape
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
10
Views:
21,852
Reviews:
55
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Category:
Harry Potter › Slash - Male/Male › Harry/Snape
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
10
Views:
21,852
Reviews:
55
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Disclaimer:
I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.
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Title: A Painful Choice
Author: Grittie
Summary: Harry discovers the true extent of Dumbledore’s Manipulation HBP Spoilers
Rating: NC-17
Feedback: desired.
Disclaimer: I do not own anything in the Harry Potter universe I am not getting any compensation for playing with characters. This disclaimer applies to this and all future chapters.
Chapter One
Harry read through the letter again, letting the tears slide untended down his cheeks. So it had all been one final manipulation. He had always known that he was a pawn in a war that had started long before he was born. He had come to grips with the fact that he would have to find a way to kill one of the most powerful wizards that the world had ever known. He had used the information that Dumbledore had given him prior to his death to find and destroy the Horcruxes that were keeping Voldemort alive. He had used his intense anger at his mentors murder to fuel his rage and allow him to kill the bastard that had taken so much from him. His anger at Snape for his betrayal and his anger at Tom Riddle for having ordered it, had created the weapon that he was always supposed to be.
The final battle was just a wash of red in his memory. He had killed or maimed anything that crossed his path in death eater robes. The cries of agony filled the air from the wounded and dying from both sides, but the boy who lived spared them not even a glance as he made his way across the battlefield to find his destiny. He personally killed most of the inner circle, taking out Bellatrix Lestrange and Lucius Malfoy with one well aimed curse and fighting past the others in his way. The look on Riddle’s face would have been comical under different circumstances as he watched helplessly as Harry ducked and repelled all of the curses sent his direction. Had he been able, there was little doubt that the self proclaimed Dark Lord would have fled.
The wards that the order had placed right after the battle began were holding, and no one from either side was able to Disapparate away. This was to be the end of the conflict one way or the other, and none of the combatants would leave until it was over. Harry had been a terrifying sight with his wand in one hand and the bloody sword of Gryffindor in the other. He let his intense training and anger take over his conscious thought and became the warrior that he was destined to be. He wasted no breath on responding to Riddle’s taunts, he knew that they were designed to make him angry and cause a mistake. He simply dealt swiftly with the hexes and curses sent at him while he made his way closer. In the end Voldemort fell over the body of one of his faithful and was decapitated by the sword of Gryffindor as he tried to stand. Harry felt the influx of raw power at the dark wizards demise, but didn’t stop to analyze what it meant. He turned the remains to ash and then continued the battle until there was no more resistance. When the dust cleared there were very few death eaters to send to Azkaban.
Now holding the last correspondence from Dumbledore in his hands he wondered how history would judge both himself and the man he had come to view as his grandfather.
Harry closed his eyes wearily as he listened to the remaining members of the order argue about the role they should play in rebuilding the ministry that had been gutted by the war and the large number of death eaters that formerly held positions of power. He startled when he felt a gentle hand land on his shoulder. He looked up to see Minerva McGonagall standing next to his chair. She smile wanly down at him before raising her voice to be heard over the other voices in the room.
“We are not here to decide what is to become of the ministry, that will be decided when a new Minister is elected. We are here to discuss what is to be done about Severus Snape.”
The stunned silence that met her statement lasted for several heartbeats before everyone seemed to speak at once. Finally Alastor Moody stamped his wooden leg on the floor and growled “Are you trying to tell us that the traitor has been found, Minerva?”
“I am not sure what you are referring to when you call him a traitor Alastor. You saw the Pensieve that Albus left just the same as I did. You also know that the information that he sent through young Mr. Malfoy proved to be invaluable in the war effort and saved many lives.” She paused just long enough for Moody to growl out an acknowledgement before she continued. “He will be receive his Merlin with the rest, at the ceremony to welcome the new Minister of Magic in two weeks, until that time we have to keep him safe from ‘well meaning ' witches and wizards who do not know the truth. I suggested that he come to Hogwarts, but he does not want to return to the castle until his role in the war is accepted. Does anyone have any other suggestions?”
The front parlor at number twelve Grimmauld Place erupted again as everyone seemed to have an idea of exactly where the potions master should spend his time, many of them very uncharitable. Harry stood and spoke without raising his voice, not caring if he was hear above the din, he spoke directly to McGonagall. “He will stay here.”
Minerva looked at him with what could only be termed gratitude. “Thank you Harry, I know that you don’t care for him. I am sure that he will appreciate that you can rise above the past.”
Harry didn’t bother to respond to her platitudes. “Send him here as soon as you can Professor, I will be expecting him.” Without so much as a glance at the others he left the parlor.
Harry called for Dobby on his way into the kitchen. With a pop the little elf was standing before him. “What is the great Harry Potter needing?”
“Dobby, please make up a room for Severus Snape and make sure that the Floo is open for him. Once he had arrived please provide him with anything that he might require.”
“Dobby is making the professor feel welcome Harry Potter.”
Once Dobby disappeared, Harry fixed himself a light meal before heading up the stairs to his room. He could still hear voices from the parlor, but knew that he would not be disturbed. Falling asleep was a long time coming, and when it did it brought with it the dreams. The wards woke him at midnight announcing the presence of Severus Snape. Harry didn’t get up, he just waited until he could sense the man entering the room that had been prepared for him before falling back into a fitful sleep.
He woke at 4:30 in the morning, just as he had for the last three years since Dumbledore’s death. He left his room in nothing but his sleep pants and went to the back parlor that he had turned into a training room. He went through his meditation and warm up before undertaking the intense physical workout that he had developed with the help of several different masters during his training. He no longer had to think about the routine, his body took over and he flowed through the movements with ease. Sweat covered his body in a thin sheen from head to toe by the time he had finished and headed for the shower.
Having complete his morning routine he headed to the kitchen to start tea and breakfast. When he felt that Snape was on his way down, he set the table and poured them each a cup of tea adding the half lump of sugar that Snape liked just as the man entered the kitchen. “Good Morning, Professor Snape.” He greeted the man civilly as he sat down at the table.
“Potter.” The look on Snape’s face was neutral as he returned the greeting with a nod of his head. “You should probably choose another form of address for me, I am no longer a professor. I am sure that you can come up with several other more colorful and creative suggestions.”
He hid it well, but Harry could feel the nervous tension radiating from the man. He studied the man for a moment, taking in the appearance of the man who had been second only to Voldemort on his most hated human beings list for three years. He looked haggard and even more pale and thin than he had in the past. His hair falling limply around his sharp face. He could tell that the man was perplexed by his offer of sanctuary and unsure as to the motive behind it. “Perhaps Potions Master Snape would be appropriate for now?”
A look of confusion briefly crossed Snape’s face before the mask was back in place. Rather than answering he took a sip of the tea in front of him. A sharp look up accompanied the realization that this was his favorite tea sweetened exactly as he preferred it. Feeling the silence grow heavy he finally asked the question that was at the forefront of his mind. “Why did you offer to take me into your home, Mr. Potter?”
Harry chuckled darkly at the phrasing of the question. “This is not my home, Potions Master Snape. This is a convenient meeting and hiding place that I happen to have inherited from Sirius. As to why I have allowed you into it, you can blame it on my...” Harry appeared to contemplate his next words carefully. “Oh yes. My hero complex as you so delightfully called it. I also know that this will be my only opportunity to question you on your part in the charade that is my life.” Snape visibly relaxed a bit at the self interest evident in Harry’s statement.
“I suppose that you would like to know why I agreed to kill Albus.” It was a statement not a question.
“On the contrary, I know why you agreed. I want to know if you knew that I was to see it. I want to know if you were aware of his intention to use that scene to succeed where the Dursley’s and Voldemort’s continued abuses had failed, in creating the monster that he needed to end the war.” The shocked surprise emanating from the man was answer enough, but Harry wanted to hear his reply.
“That can’t be true. I am sure that you are simply being melodramatic as usual, Mr. Potter. Albus would never have done that to you on purpose. In spite of your belief that everything is about you, there were compelling reasons for the headmaster’s choices that had nothing to do with The-Boy-That-Lived.” The familiar sneer had finally resurfaced on Snape’s face and Harry felt something akin to relief at finally seeing it.
“I assure you that I am well aware of the reasons behind Dumbledore’s choices. I got it straight from the horse’s mouth so to speak.” Harry started counting them off with his fingers. “He was already dying when you made that promise to Narcissa, It would put you above suspicion among the Death Eaters and Voldemort allowing you to provide timely information to the order, it would allow you to save Draco should he show himself to be salvageable, it would prevent you from sacrificing yourself as you originally intended when you made that promise, it would provide a powerful martyr to the cause, and it would turn the love I had for the old man into intense hatred that could be molded by the right people into a powerful weapon.” Harry stood grabbing a pastry from his otherwise untouched breakfast. “I will be busy most of the day, please make yourself at home and call Dobby should you need anything.” He left the stunned potions master staring at his tea as if it were a lifeline.
TBC
Author: Grittie
Summary: Harry discovers the true extent of Dumbledore’s Manipulation HBP Spoilers
Rating: NC-17
Feedback: desired.
Disclaimer: I do not own anything in the Harry Potter universe I am not getting any compensation for playing with characters. This disclaimer applies to this and all future chapters.
Chapter One
Harry read through the letter again, letting the tears slide untended down his cheeks. So it had all been one final manipulation. He had always known that he was a pawn in a war that had started long before he was born. He had come to grips with the fact that he would have to find a way to kill one of the most powerful wizards that the world had ever known. He had used the information that Dumbledore had given him prior to his death to find and destroy the Horcruxes that were keeping Voldemort alive. He had used his intense anger at his mentors murder to fuel his rage and allow him to kill the bastard that had taken so much from him. His anger at Snape for his betrayal and his anger at Tom Riddle for having ordered it, had created the weapon that he was always supposed to be.
The final battle was just a wash of red in his memory. He had killed or maimed anything that crossed his path in death eater robes. The cries of agony filled the air from the wounded and dying from both sides, but the boy who lived spared them not even a glance as he made his way across the battlefield to find his destiny. He personally killed most of the inner circle, taking out Bellatrix Lestrange and Lucius Malfoy with one well aimed curse and fighting past the others in his way. The look on Riddle’s face would have been comical under different circumstances as he watched helplessly as Harry ducked and repelled all of the curses sent his direction. Had he been able, there was little doubt that the self proclaimed Dark Lord would have fled.
The wards that the order had placed right after the battle began were holding, and no one from either side was able to Disapparate away. This was to be the end of the conflict one way or the other, and none of the combatants would leave until it was over. Harry had been a terrifying sight with his wand in one hand and the bloody sword of Gryffindor in the other. He let his intense training and anger take over his conscious thought and became the warrior that he was destined to be. He wasted no breath on responding to Riddle’s taunts, he knew that they were designed to make him angry and cause a mistake. He simply dealt swiftly with the hexes and curses sent at him while he made his way closer. In the end Voldemort fell over the body of one of his faithful and was decapitated by the sword of Gryffindor as he tried to stand. Harry felt the influx of raw power at the dark wizards demise, but didn’t stop to analyze what it meant. He turned the remains to ash and then continued the battle until there was no more resistance. When the dust cleared there were very few death eaters to send to Azkaban.
Now holding the last correspondence from Dumbledore in his hands he wondered how history would judge both himself and the man he had come to view as his grandfather.
Harry closed his eyes wearily as he listened to the remaining members of the order argue about the role they should play in rebuilding the ministry that had been gutted by the war and the large number of death eaters that formerly held positions of power. He startled when he felt a gentle hand land on his shoulder. He looked up to see Minerva McGonagall standing next to his chair. She smile wanly down at him before raising her voice to be heard over the other voices in the room.
“We are not here to decide what is to become of the ministry, that will be decided when a new Minister is elected. We are here to discuss what is to be done about Severus Snape.”
The stunned silence that met her statement lasted for several heartbeats before everyone seemed to speak at once. Finally Alastor Moody stamped his wooden leg on the floor and growled “Are you trying to tell us that the traitor has been found, Minerva?”
“I am not sure what you are referring to when you call him a traitor Alastor. You saw the Pensieve that Albus left just the same as I did. You also know that the information that he sent through young Mr. Malfoy proved to be invaluable in the war effort and saved many lives.” She paused just long enough for Moody to growl out an acknowledgement before she continued. “He will be receive his Merlin with the rest, at the ceremony to welcome the new Minister of Magic in two weeks, until that time we have to keep him safe from ‘well meaning ' witches and wizards who do not know the truth. I suggested that he come to Hogwarts, but he does not want to return to the castle until his role in the war is accepted. Does anyone have any other suggestions?”
The front parlor at number twelve Grimmauld Place erupted again as everyone seemed to have an idea of exactly where the potions master should spend his time, many of them very uncharitable. Harry stood and spoke without raising his voice, not caring if he was hear above the din, he spoke directly to McGonagall. “He will stay here.”
Minerva looked at him with what could only be termed gratitude. “Thank you Harry, I know that you don’t care for him. I am sure that he will appreciate that you can rise above the past.”
Harry didn’t bother to respond to her platitudes. “Send him here as soon as you can Professor, I will be expecting him.” Without so much as a glance at the others he left the parlor.
Harry called for Dobby on his way into the kitchen. With a pop the little elf was standing before him. “What is the great Harry Potter needing?”
“Dobby, please make up a room for Severus Snape and make sure that the Floo is open for him. Once he had arrived please provide him with anything that he might require.”
“Dobby is making the professor feel welcome Harry Potter.”
Once Dobby disappeared, Harry fixed himself a light meal before heading up the stairs to his room. He could still hear voices from the parlor, but knew that he would not be disturbed. Falling asleep was a long time coming, and when it did it brought with it the dreams. The wards woke him at midnight announcing the presence of Severus Snape. Harry didn’t get up, he just waited until he could sense the man entering the room that had been prepared for him before falling back into a fitful sleep.
He woke at 4:30 in the morning, just as he had for the last three years since Dumbledore’s death. He left his room in nothing but his sleep pants and went to the back parlor that he had turned into a training room. He went through his meditation and warm up before undertaking the intense physical workout that he had developed with the help of several different masters during his training. He no longer had to think about the routine, his body took over and he flowed through the movements with ease. Sweat covered his body in a thin sheen from head to toe by the time he had finished and headed for the shower.
Having complete his morning routine he headed to the kitchen to start tea and breakfast. When he felt that Snape was on his way down, he set the table and poured them each a cup of tea adding the half lump of sugar that Snape liked just as the man entered the kitchen. “Good Morning, Professor Snape.” He greeted the man civilly as he sat down at the table.
“Potter.” The look on Snape’s face was neutral as he returned the greeting with a nod of his head. “You should probably choose another form of address for me, I am no longer a professor. I am sure that you can come up with several other more colorful and creative suggestions.”
He hid it well, but Harry could feel the nervous tension radiating from the man. He studied the man for a moment, taking in the appearance of the man who had been second only to Voldemort on his most hated human beings list for three years. He looked haggard and even more pale and thin than he had in the past. His hair falling limply around his sharp face. He could tell that the man was perplexed by his offer of sanctuary and unsure as to the motive behind it. “Perhaps Potions Master Snape would be appropriate for now?”
A look of confusion briefly crossed Snape’s face before the mask was back in place. Rather than answering he took a sip of the tea in front of him. A sharp look up accompanied the realization that this was his favorite tea sweetened exactly as he preferred it. Feeling the silence grow heavy he finally asked the question that was at the forefront of his mind. “Why did you offer to take me into your home, Mr. Potter?”
Harry chuckled darkly at the phrasing of the question. “This is not my home, Potions Master Snape. This is a convenient meeting and hiding place that I happen to have inherited from Sirius. As to why I have allowed you into it, you can blame it on my...” Harry appeared to contemplate his next words carefully. “Oh yes. My hero complex as you so delightfully called it. I also know that this will be my only opportunity to question you on your part in the charade that is my life.” Snape visibly relaxed a bit at the self interest evident in Harry’s statement.
“I suppose that you would like to know why I agreed to kill Albus.” It was a statement not a question.
“On the contrary, I know why you agreed. I want to know if you knew that I was to see it. I want to know if you were aware of his intention to use that scene to succeed where the Dursley’s and Voldemort’s continued abuses had failed, in creating the monster that he needed to end the war.” The shocked surprise emanating from the man was answer enough, but Harry wanted to hear his reply.
“That can’t be true. I am sure that you are simply being melodramatic as usual, Mr. Potter. Albus would never have done that to you on purpose. In spite of your belief that everything is about you, there were compelling reasons for the headmaster’s choices that had nothing to do with The-Boy-That-Lived.” The familiar sneer had finally resurfaced on Snape’s face and Harry felt something akin to relief at finally seeing it.
“I assure you that I am well aware of the reasons behind Dumbledore’s choices. I got it straight from the horse’s mouth so to speak.” Harry started counting them off with his fingers. “He was already dying when you made that promise to Narcissa, It would put you above suspicion among the Death Eaters and Voldemort allowing you to provide timely information to the order, it would allow you to save Draco should he show himself to be salvageable, it would prevent you from sacrificing yourself as you originally intended when you made that promise, it would provide a powerful martyr to the cause, and it would turn the love I had for the old man into intense hatred that could be molded by the right people into a powerful weapon.” Harry stood grabbing a pastry from his otherwise untouched breakfast. “I will be busy most of the day, please make yourself at home and call Dobby should you need anything.” He left the stunned potions master staring at his tea as if it were a lifeline.
TBC