UnBroken

Unbroken

By Odd Doll

I conceived this story, and began writing it, a long time ago, and am now finally finished. Because it started its life at the time of Goblet of Fire and Order of the Phoenix, you can consider it completely Alternate Universe. I tried, where I could, to mesh with canon, but I couldn't completely alter the story without ruining it. Please take it as it is -- a story about Harry Potter characters we love.

Trigger warnings: there are two instances of graphic sex in this story, one with BDSM. There is a third instance of BDSM that does not include sex. It really is quite tame considering the length, the rating, and the heroine's occupation.

Odd Doll

August 1996

Severus Snape found Dumbledore at his door early that morning, unusually subdued in a plain dark blue robe and a hat whose pointed tip sagged downward. In one hand he held his wand and in the other an ancient carpet bag.

Snape quickly scanned his sitting room as Dumbledore entered, but found it to be clean. Nothing could be done about the shabby furnishings, from the drab leather sofa and chairs, the lusterless side tables, to the faded green carpet, so he shrugged a little. "Please, take a seat. I had just put the kettle on. Tea?"

"That would be very nice."

Moving to the window, he drew the thin curtains, plunging the room into a twilight dimness. On the way to the kitchen he lit a few lamps. Their warm glow made the room look more cozy than plain. Snape wondered why it mattered, but Dumbledore's visits were rare enough that it still made him uncomfortable to have him in his home.

The kettle hissed as he entered the kitchen, and he soon returned to the sitting room with the teapot in one hand and a plate in the other with cups, sugar, and milk balanced on it. He had no tea tray.

When they had finished with the pouring, Snape asked, "To what do I owe this visit?"

Dumbledore set his teacup down on the table before him before answering. "I've found a solution to the Harry problem."

"Are you certain of it?"

"Quite. I'm traveling today. I must resolve this. The longer the populace believes our story, the more they will lose hope."

"And you would like me to go with you? We would be back before the start of the term, wouldn't we?"

"I expect to be back well before September, but I will be going alone."

He stared for a moment. "That's rather foolish."

"I can handle a boat. I'm sure it'll be fine."

"But can you handle the Sidhe?"

"The Sidhe won't be a problem."

"I don't trust them."

"Nor should you." Dumbledore reached for his tea. "But they are oN our side."

"They're on nobody's side but their own."

Dumbledore shook his head, making his long white beard tremble slightly. "In this our goals are aligned. At the very least they've given their word to aid us, and I trust them to keep it."

Snape took a sip of his tea and then set it on the table while he pondered the wisdom of trying to persuade Dumbledore to let him accompany him. Deciding it was futile, he said, "How can I help then?"

Dumbledore leaned down and opened the latch of his carpet bag. He withdrew a sheaf of parchment. "These are the spells. All of them. And maps." He held the papers out to Snape with a small smile. "While I believe I can manage this, I do realize there is risk. You are my failsafe, Severus."

Snape took the documents and shuffled through them, quickly scanning page after page of Dumbledore's neat, elegant hand. "I'll have to find a good hiding place."

"Do that. I'm sure you'll think of something. Also, I've spoken with Minerva about this and told her that should I not return, you are to take my place running the resistance."

Snape looked up from the parchments, an expression of utter shock on his face. "You're joking. No one will follow me. They hate me."

"They don't have to love you, Severus. They just have to believe your decisions will be sound. And they will, of that I'm sure."

"They don't trust me."

Dumbledore seemed unconcerned. "No, Severus, maybe they won't at first, but I know you will rise to the challenge. Leadership is about being willing to make choices that no one else can. This will get very ugly before it's all over, and the choices I, or my successor, will have to make will be difficult ones. Minerva is strong, but she will hesitate to fight dirty. You won't."

Snape rose from his chair and paced to the opposite side of the room. He stood there, arms crossed over his chest, his expression hard. "Is that what you think of me?"

Dumbledore looked down for a moment, his sigh something more felt than heard. "You understand how they think, Severus. And you're clever. Whatever I think of you, you are what we need. More importantly, I trust you to take up this obligation and give everything you have to the cause. Do I have your agreement?"

He was a tool in Dumbledore's arsenal, that's all, but Snape found himself nodding. "I agree."