Chapter Twelve
Chapter 12 of 15
_Levicorpus_Severus visits Healer McCormick and reflects on Dumbledore's absence.
ReviewedChapter Twelve
“Professor,” the Healer said as Severus entered his office. The man was the leader of the wing, hence left all bumbling and inadequacy at the door.
“Healer,” Severus greeted, shaking his hand firmly.
“So,” he began, looking at his chart while Severus’s eyes wandered over the doctor’s various framed special program degrees. “It seems that you’ll be taking heavier doses of the current potion and adding in a few more.”
“What’s wrong with me exactly?” Severus asked, furrowing his brow against a creeping sense of vulnerability.
The Healer took a breath then exhaled heavily. He tapped his fingers on his desk. “It’s always hard to deliver news like this.”
“Hit me,” Severus said, utterly dead-pan.
“The infection has spread to your stomach and has started to eat away at some muscle tissue.” He paused, grimaced, and continued, “We’re really just staving off death now.”
Severus raised his eyebrows, but the tension from his grimace hadn’t yet subsided from his features. “That’s what they said last time.”
“I’m truly sorry for any lapses in the system, Professor—”
Severus held up a hand. He had been dealing with Healers too long to sit through the spiel. “I didn’t expect to live forever.”
The man opened his mouth as if he were about to speak, but thought better of it and offered a bland smile instead. “Well, the good news is that you can continue to teach. But the bad news is that Headmistress McGonagall may soon have difficulty keeping you employed if the disease continues to get worse.”
“What is it I have again?” he asked. “Some ridiculous acronym to be sure…”
“Well, yes,” the Healer said, ashamed. “We call it Lethal Curse Survivor’s Disorientation. We saw a lot of it after You-Know-Who fell—lots of grazes with death that year.” He chuckled nervously, his hands jumping as he said the word ‘death.’ He averted his eyes.
People didn’t seem to know how to act around Snape anymore. Pity mixed with fear, awe with respect, so that people were left with a jumble of emotions that no one could make sense of. Maybe this new situation made life more convenient. Maybe it made it just a little harder.
He left the man’s office with a residual feeling of gloom, but not much more. He had faced his own mortality long ago. But every time he reassured himself that he didn’t care, Hermione’s face popped into mind; her plumped lips had formed the words ‘I love you,’ despite their oddly casual fling. Just thinking about it was dizzying.
He was summoned by McGonagall’s Patronus to her office as soon as he set foot on campus. He rolled his eyes, but walked to his favorite set of gargoyles regardless of his stronger inclination to put a pot of tea on the stove and read a few articles in the most recent Potions Weekly. He stepped onto the revolving spiral staircase, and his thoughts turned to the late Professor Dumbledore.
He hadn’t thought about him since the summer away from school. Snape had spent the summer immersed in Dumbledore’s library at his vacation home. Severus was surprised that he had been summoned to the reading of Dumbledore’s will, and was even more surprised when he received Dumbledore’s lake house rather than a worthless trinket. But over that summer, thoughts of his mentor were passing and rarely penetrated his hours of peaceful solitude.
Now, it was a persistent buzzing that made him wish that he would find his old mentor at the top of these stairs rather than McGonagall. Dumbledore surely had more insight into slowly deteriorating until one was on the brink of death. Karma had an odd sense of humor.
“Enter,” Minerva called.
“Good evening, Headmistress,” Snape greeted as he sat down. She nodded, her lips set in a severe line.
“How did it go?”
He laughed in the face of her concern. It was childish of him, and he should have known better, but in that moment he needed something to break the tension. “I’m slowly dying. But who isn’t?”
“That’s not funny.” The paintings above them scoffed with her.
“Minerva,” he said, “I can’t afford to get myself worked up over this. I have a job to take care of. I have errands to see to. We have a school to run, here.”
“You’ve always been so stoic,” she responded accusatorily.
“True to form, Headmistress,” he said, catching a glimpse of Dumbledore snoozing against the side of his frame. He would have changed the subject. Severus thought bitterly. He would have understood.
“You are dismissed,” she said wearily, exasperated with him. He nodded his appreciation and descended into the dungeons.
~
Valentine’s Day arrived with disconcerting swiftness. It was not his least favorite time of year simply because he had to break up so many couples, nor due to the pink confetti blasted at him by Peeves. No, he hated Valentine’s Day because he suffered umpteen slights on his frigidity. First it was Sprout with a borderline lewd comment on his cold bed, and then it was Draco with several tasteless jokes about his nether regions. He smirked and bore it, satisfied by the fact that none of them knew that each night he seduced the castle’s resident butterfly into the darkness and could make her cry out in ecstasy with an effortless flex of his long, elegant fingers.
Author's Note: Hello, everyone! I know, it has been absolutely forever since I last updated this story. I have been totally consumed by a new writing project that requires a lot of attention.
If you're curious about what's taking up my attention outside of the fan fiction world, come visit my blog: inviteluxury.com
Aside from that, I am so happy to be back on track with this story and the whole fan fiction world! I've missed you all and hope to hear a bit from you in the comments.
-Lev
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Latest 25 Reviews for Captivation and Obsession
255 Reviews | 6.53/10 Average
Wow....what a disappointing ending..............Ron and Hermione makes me sick. Well written though. God speed in your future efforts.
I liked this story, in spite of Hermione's lame ass explanation there at the end. I guess it's a way to keep almost strictly DH compliant, anyway. Not many will try to incorporate the epilogue so faithfully in a SS/HG fic. Thanks!
Response from _Levicorpus_ (Author of Captivation and Obsession)
Thanks for respecting the effort
Response from _Levicorpus_ (Author of Captivation and Obsession)
Thanks for respecting the effort
there is nothing quite as cathartic as reading a truely sad story - i love it poor bless the snarky bastard
Response from _Levicorpus_ (Author of Captivation and Obsession)
What a releif! I saw that I had a review for this story and was gearing up to hear another person say that hate it! I'm glad you enjyed it despite the sad ending. Thanks for your review :)
Response from _Levicorpus_ (Author of Captivation and Obsession)
What a releif! I saw that I had a review for this story and was gearing up to hear another person say that hate it! I'm glad you enjyed it despite the sad ending. Thanks for your review :)
Good writing, but it was the worst ending I've read yet on this website. I absolutely hated it. I wish I had never read it, because it made me so sad that I fucking cried. D:<
I don't think your writing is shoddy and I don't think the story is bad. I'm bummed by the ending, sure, but, you know, Hermione didn't really get to grow up because of the war, so I think she's entitled to a little bit of confusion and flippancy.At least Severus is happy in the end even if he is still alone.
Response from _Levicorpus_ (Author of Captivation and Obsession)
That was the problem about adhering to canon! I keep wondering if I should write a post-epilogue but I think it's time to move on.
Please don't discount your writing. Sure, it doesn't have the happy ending that we all are looking for, and yes, I have wanted a good time for Severus and Hermione for more years than I can count...but look. You started this three years ago, you were different, we have all changed. this story tells yet another twist in the characters personalities that could have been a progression to a logical conclusion.
Response from _Levicorpus_ (Author of Captivation and Obsession)
I LOVE YOU! :) Hey, though, I'm seriously psyched about this new story! I hope you check it out!
Response from maridesalyn (Reviewer)
I am looking forward to it!!!
Don't take this the wrong way, but I think a lot of people will be really really dissapointed in the last few chapters of this story and the way it turned out. It really wasn't a "Happily Ever After" story about Severus and Hermione staying together despite the odds like we are all used to. Don't be suprised if you don't get the reviews for the ending, either. It left me feeling quite lousy too, and I seriously thought of not reviewing, but then I thought, what would that prove? That I just walk away from stories I don't like the ending to? Yeah, I've done that more times than I care to admit, but you're such a great author that I don't believe you deserve that. I think this Hermione is very immature. I find her fickle and unsure of exactly what love is. No, she didn't "love" Severus. She liked him enough to find potential in him, but she didn't have the emotional maturity to stay exclusive with either Draco or Severus. And to flip flop to safe old Ron after playing with both of them is really odd. Draco as well, wasn't thinking with his upper brain. To bounce between Camille and Hermione and lead Severus to believe there might still be hope for him...then to go shagging with Hermione to me shows relationship immaturity as well. And where does that lead Severus? Let down again, by another woman he loved. Why did he have to get the short stick again? It really wasn't fair to him. No, life doesn't always have a happy ending, but I'd rather at least have sad endings be because someone was a prick and not because they were led on again.
Response from Severus49 (Reviewer)
I just realized I spelled disappointed wrong! My bad.
Response from _Levicorpus_ (Author of Captivation and Obsession)
I completely agree. I'll be honest, I have a hard time standing by this work since it was done so long ago. I am working on a new one, which is in the queue right now, that I hope will make up for the incredible suckitude of this shotty piece of work. Here's the 1st paragraph of the 1st chapter:"The ruins of Hogwarts were bathed in the scant light of a crescent moon. And gliding through the darkness below was the imprint of a lost hero. The spirit flexed its growing permanence, feeling the unnerving sensation of swallowing boulders with its newfound form. It, or rather he—he had been a ‘he’ at one point—moved through the dewy, body-strewn grass tense with the memory of the extraordinary choice he’d been given."
I’ll be working with what JK left in order to create a much more solid, formed love story. The love story all of you fans deserve. I am so sorry that this one was put together so poorly. I hope I can make it up to you.
I kind of feel let down by the ending, but at the same time it makes sense.
Poor Severus getting the completely rotten end of the stick. But, I thought he was supposed to be dying? I kind of expected to find Hermione mourning and lamenting at his graveside for her shoddy treatment of him.
Oh well, thanks for sharing!
I followed this story hoping for a happy ending and THAT's what you give me? So bummed right now. yuck. I hate Ron and Hermione about as much as I hate Draco and Hermione so boo. Well written but very disappointed. That should not be listed under Sev/Mione without a warning on the first page that they don't end up together!
Response from _Levicorpus_ (Author of Captivation and Obsession)
I think I would have a lot more energy to argue if I hadn't finished writing this 3 years ago! I actually agree with you. Shotty writing, shotty ending, cheap cop out. I was so struck with guilt that I wrote a new chaptered fic, which somewhat follows Canon, will give readers a more real Sev and Hermione relationship--one that is actually worth reading. Here's the summary preview:"The ruins of Hogwarts were bathed in the scant light of a crescent moon. And gliding through the darkness below was the imprint of a lost hero. The spirit flexed its growing permanence, feeling the unnerving sensation of swallowing boulders with its newfound form. It, or rather he—he had been a ‘he’ at one point—moved through the dewy, body-strewn grass tense with the memory of the extraordinary choice he’d been given."
So the story will deal with the idea that Severus has died, but Ghost Severus and living Hermione will fall in love. This will be interspersed with flashbacks, dreams, et cetera so it won’t all be depressing. The challenge here was to take all of book 7 into account (except maybe the epilogue) and still find romance for Sev and Hermione despite the book’s bleak end.
So I hope you haven’t given up on me!
EXCELLENT!!!!!!
Response from _Levicorpus_ (Author of Captivation and Obsession)
I'm so glad you liked it! I was worried that the semi-Canon ending was too depressing! And please, please, please read this new Sev/Herm fic I have in the pipes--I am super excited about this project! It's coming from a place of understanding canon in a way that creates obstacles to their love, and then conquering the obstacles in order to make a really unique love story. It's all I think about! How strange to get a second wind for fan fic after several years away!
i'm lovin' severus in this great story!!
love the plot, so far!!!!
I've just caught up reading this incredible story! I hope you don't wait very long to update again. There aren't many readers who will journey four years through a story, let alone inspiration that will let someone continue while life goes on. Severus is dying. Draco is flitting around with everyone. Severus hasn't confronted Hermione about the tryst with Draco - even though they're well past the 'how do you do' stage themselves. So, what is going on with her? Is she seeing Draco on the side? Does she know about Severus' health issues, but is trying to act like she doesn't know and it's bothering her? Things need clarified, and I hope it doesn't take two more years to find out!
Response from _Levicorpus_ (Author of Captivation and Obsession)
Bless your heart,
Response from _Levicorpus_ (Author of Captivation and Obsession)
! This chapter took forever to make it through the queue. I will post the next chapter (and stick two chapters together so you'll get a little more out of it.. or maybe three... I'll see what I can get away with) tonight. The problem is that I did write this so long ago, and my style has changed so much... I did write a Bellamort recently, maybe I'll post that as well... Thank you so much for your perserverence! I hope to reward it!
I started this because I was intrigued, and saw that it had been recently updated. Keep going! It's proceded uniquely, and I'm curious as to how it will pan out. Who came to Hermione that night? Is Severus really going to die? Please, please, more!
Severus has no idea how to behave, does he?
Response from _Levicorpus_ (Author of Captivation and Obsession)
nope! :)
Long indeed! I had to go back and re-read the entire story because I couldn't remember what it was about.
Now this sad twist is my reward. How devestating. But Hermioine did fall in love with him, so he must believe in miracles, right?
Or will this be one of those "he lives on in his children" kind of fics?
Either way, I enjoy your writing and anxiously await the next installment. I just hope it doesn't take quite so long.
A lethal dose curse syndrome...with more than one victim? Hermione may well have received bad news herself. While wizarding HIPPA rules may be in force...a little exposure to research 'in the public eye' is only to be wished for.
The engagement of passion after a curse making things worse...the 'Dork' Lord's evil post mortum nastiness?
Your Snape characterization and his passion is finely drawn. Your foreshadowing subtle...till it isn't. I say, "Take your time with updates, if your story benefits." JF
"Lethal Curse Survivor’s Disorientation." This is terrible news. Surely there is something that can be done? A way to isolate the infection? Please tell me that there is a way.Perhaps Severus and Hermione can figure out just what is causing this infection and develop the magical equivalent of an anti-biotic. I know I'm grasping at straws, but it seems so unfair for this to happen just when he and Hermione have found love. I remember that when he was in St Mungo's just after the war part of his recovery was that he had been told that his passions had declined and he'd begun to read potions journals so he would be able to teach again: "The healers said that while in his coma, Snape’s passions had lessened. He believed them, since he had found an especial lackluster in all that he saw. He’d had to read potions journals for days on end while recuperating to be able to teach again. From what the Healer told him—“Well, the good news is that you can continue to teach. But the bad news is that Headmistress McGonagall may soon have difficulty keeping you employed if the disease continues to get worse.”—I can't help feeling that this Lethal Curse Survivor’s Disorientation will cause him to become confused and forgetful. Is this why Minerva might have trouble keeping him on the staff as the curse progresses? Now on top of everything that has happened it's Valentine's Day and he has to hear all of the snide remarks about his apparent lack of a love life. I'm glad that he and Hermione are still together and still in love, but it all seems so unfair.Please don't go so long with the next update. I love this story and want to find out how this resurgence of Severus' curse affects him and Hermione... and hopefully that they will be able to find a way to cure him. Please, please, please.Glad to see you back! I reread this story from the beginning so I could remember everything that had happened before.Beth
Response from _Levicorpus_ (Author of Captivation and Obsession)
First of all, the next chapter is in queue! Secondly, all I can tell you about the disease is that it won't be the forefront of most of the story, but a shade of Severus's character. I'm so glad you are enjoying the story! I will definitely keep updating.
Thank you for the update - good to have you back! :) Wow, what a twist. He seems so complacent and accepting of it. (Even though he's clearly not as unaffected as he wants to be.) Is he going to tell Hermione, or just carry on as if nothing's wrong? Do we have a time frame on his infection? Looking forward to seeing what happens next!
Response from _Levicorpus_ (Author of Captivation and Obsession)
It is always interesting to have someone so strong and stoic battling with a disease. It has been a really interesting way to write Severus.
First it's so good to have to have you back. And second how sad. I don't want him to die, I mean so soon. Surely like the great potions master that he is, and maybe with a bit of help there is a cure somewhere, well hidden that they can dig out?
Response from _Levicorpus_ (Author of Captivation and Obsession)
I'm glad to be back! And you'll just have to see what happens to our dear Severus... :)
okies loving this story
draco may have been her first choice but snape is the better one
i hope you arent planning on killing him off
and who the hell was hermiones visitor grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr i hate cliffe's
hugs and chocolate julie
facinating story! thanks muchly
wonderful update! so glad you were haunted. thanks muchly
You leave us wondering what's up with Hermione and then throw in what's up with Snape?? Is it going in two different directions or are the two related? Eagerly awaiting more!
Response from _Levicorpus_ (Author of Captivation and Obsession)
You'll see! And an update is in progress!
Something is definately up with Hermione. First avoiding Severus, then not wanting to kiss him. I hope she is not just using him. Can't wait to find out what is up with Severus either.
Response from _Levicorpus_ (Author of Captivation and Obsession)
You are such a perceptive reviewer! I love it!