Fire & Ice: War Games

Bridge Ahead: Under Construction

‘When you meet your antagonist, do everything in a mild and agreeable manner. Let your courage be as keen, but at the same time as polished, as your sword.’
Richard Brimsley Sheridan (1751-1816)

A new day dawned above the wizarding community residing within the castle, bring with it fresh ambitions to be attained before its fall. With the continued absence of two of his favorite least favorite Gryffindors and the blissful knowledge of their continued, albeit temporary, confinement, Severus almost allowed his mask to fall and smile contently. Almost. As he walked into the Great Hall for breakfast, he was uncomfortably aware of the headmaster’s continuous gaze resting on him and him alone.

Schooling his features, the Slytherin casually allowed for their eyes to meet across the length of the hall. Cold, emotionless eyes greeted those filled with sadness and pain. Cutting a sausage link with his fork, Severus’ eyes narrowed dangerously as the older wizard refused to sever contact. Never wavering, the boy calmly ate his meal under the wizard’s probing stare. He sneered openly at the headmaster as the wizard gently probed his mind. Severus smirked evilly as a flicker of surprise flashed briefly in Dumbledore’s blue eyes.

Before their death, the boy’s parents had procured the finest tutors that money could possibly buy in the subjects both that he would eventually learn at the magical school and those theyughtught suitablr hir him. When suitable tutors could not be found, the boy had received instruction by his parents, much to their mutual inconvenience had had always been an independent, yet eager student and preferred the soothing teachings of the books he found in the family library to the irritable styles of his displeased parents.

By the time he had arrived at Hogwarts in his first year, Severus surpassed the knowledge of most seventh year students in Defense Against the Dark Arts and charms. The Slytherin was well passed the knowledge of the school’s potion’s professor to his own bitter disappoent.ent. Occlumency had been high on his father’s list of priority achievements before allowing his son to attend a ‘public’ school. The headmaster was now catching a glimpse of the cache of knowledge Julius Snape had insisted upon bestowing his only child with before allowing said child to leave the walls of his home. One couldn’t really call the man paranoid, people had really after him after all.

Professor Minerva McGonagall smiled inwardly at the scowling Slytherin as she watched the exchange silently from her seat next to the headmaster. Her eyes twinkled warmly as the Slytherin rewarded her with a smile of his own and a curious glance from Dumbledore. As much as the witch hated to admit it, even to herself, she had grown fond of the sallowed skinned boy despite a lifetime of active prejudice against his house and those coming from it. She often found herself looking foward to their short, after class discussions.

While the boy seemed pleased to discuss the latest developments on any subject or over a recently read literacy work with an intelligent partner, the Slytherin was jealously guarded on two subjects; Slytherins and his personal life. While the first held no appeal to the older witch, the other oddly enough did. The few occasions she had inquired, the boy had responded with blunt, calculated answers. Wary of the fragile friendship forged, McGonagall had allowed their discussions to be easily swayed to safer topics. As her curiosity simmered, she hoped one day to be entrusted with what had been deemed forbidden through an unspoken agreement.

“Minerva?”

Turning slightly to face the wizard seated to her right, she raised an inquiring eyebrow. “Yes, Albus?”

“Do you think I’ve failed the Slytherins?” The old wizard asked softly so that only she could hear. Thech ich in turn rolled her inwardly accompanied by a heavy, tired sigh. Ever since his latest confrontations with the Snape boy, the headmaster had used every opportunity to seek reassurance of past actions brought against the serpent house from his deputy headmistress. “How many will turn away and be lost in this war because of how they perceive me? I know I’ve already lost Severus Snape to Riddle, I can see it in his eyes.”

“Albus, not even you can predict the future or even save everyone around you. You’re not God, Albus, even though you like to play the role often enough as it is. How can you be so certain that you’ve lost Mr. Snape?”

“I feel it my heart, Minerva. It wasn’t just the words he said last time, it was how he said it. The look in his eyes was like cold water in my face. I’ve seen hate directed at me before in another’s eyes, but his....” The wizard trailed off hopelessly as he searched for the right words. Dropping his fork, he sighed in defeat. “I don’t know the words to adequately described what I saw.” Rubbing his face warily, “and from one so young too! Minerva what am I going to do? I don’t want to lose him to Riddle, I won’t!” The wizard’s fist slammed suddenly down on the table earning startled, curious looks from those in the hall, all but one.

Dumbledore regarded the amused gleaming in the onyx eyes from the Slytherin table. “He’s the only child that the the courage, the down right audacity, to strike out in the open. The only one who’s ever gone out of his way to ensure my life becomes a suffocating web of second guesses. A child brought down one of the most powerful wizards of our day and reduced him to this mess you see here.”

“He’s seventeen, Albus. Hardly a child anymore.” The witch said softly rubbing the back of his shoulder.

“And yet not a man, Minerva.” The wizard sighed softly, “I am beginning to fear the day he does become a man. Severus Snape will no doubt be a force to reckon with, no matter which side wins his allegiance.” The ominous words hung between them, cloaked in their silence as the watched the raven haired boy across the hall.



The transfiguration mistress quietly excused herself from the Sunday breakfast table and exited through the staff door. Walking quickly, the witch soon found herself trailing behind her quarry. As she followed his twisting and winding path through the castle, McGonagall replayed the conversation with the headmaster. An unlikely thought kept pushing its way to the front of her mind, shadowing over all others. Perhaps the headmaster was right and they were teaching a future recruit for the Dark Lord after all. As she trailed the raven haired boy, McGonagall didn’t stop and scold herself. After all, how many witches and wizards had passed through the school’s doors in the last thousand years had become dark? How many of these were taught despite the fact their professors knew they would turn out dark in the end? Her thoughts didn’t stray from the Slytherin as she quietly followed him into the library. Distracted as she was, McGonagall didn’t notice the boy slip into a aisle until she’d passed passed it and he spoke behind her.

“Its hazardous to one’s health to follow a Slytherin around distracted as you are. Especially to those of the golden house of Gryffindor, Professor.” The boy’s silky voice hissed dangerously low.

Goose bumps shot up her spine as his voice purred into her ears. The witch turned in a sudden whirl of robes and came face to face with the impassive mask of her student. The icy exterior surrounding his body was mirrored in his fathomless eyes. A sudden feeling of fear struck her heart causing her to instinctively to step backwards as her fingers sought her wand within the fabric of her robes. “Severus,” the witch whispered unaware of saying the word.

A small, cold smile spread across his face as he raised a single eyebrow and cocked his head, seemingly encouraging her. “Yes, Professor.”

She gasped softly, sharply as the unforgiving bit of the book shelves dug into her back. The witch fumbled in her robe frantically searching for her wand as the Slytherin calmly advanced on her. A hoarse, whispered cry escaped her lips, “Severus.”
tho thought all Gryffindors were in possession of that obnoxious bravado you all are so bloody famous for. Perhaps I was misinformed and its really the Huffelpuffs who are the foolishly brave. Though to tell you the truth,” Severus paused as though searching for the right words. He looked the witch in the eye as he spoke, “I never thought I’d see the day a Gryffindor was afraid of a lowly Slytherin such as myself.” The raven haired Slytherin stopped a foot away from the witch and watched her through hooded eyes.

“Why are you doing this? I don’t understand.” McGonagall whispered as she searched his face for a hint of emotion beneath the icy surface of his mask.

“You don’t know me, Professor. You don’t know exactly what I am capable of. I strongly suggest you follow the examples of your house and avoid contact with me as much as possible.” Severus watched as realization dawned in her eyes before turning to leave, the burning beneath his sleeve reawakening his need to escape her scrutinizing gaze.

“I want to, Mr. Snape. I realize you’ve depended on solely yourself for the last six years and that your uncle has been anything but what you crave.” She held her breath as the Slytherin stopped and turned to face her. “I want to help you, you’re my student and contrary to belief, I do care about all my students. I promise If you let me, we’ll go at your own pace and not a step faster. I’d like to think that we’ve managed the impossible feat, a Gryffindor and a Slytherin who can carry on a civil conversations on virtually any topic at hand without petty house rivalries to interfere.”

“Fire and ice, Professor.”

“I’m not sure I understand.”

Severus sighed, “fire eats you alive, consuming everything. Ice slowly kills your soul until nothing but the ice exists anymore. And I am the embodiment of Ice.”

“Please consider it, Mr. Snape. I’ll still be around should you wish to talk.\"

“Perhaps, I’ll keep that in mind.” Severus bowed his head slightly before slipping from the room.



A/N

Please R& R, author thanks you.