Opportunism
Chapter 10 of 26
HechiceraA witch from the Andean altiplano arrives at Hogwarts to teach DADA. Culture clash, conflict, and smut ensue.
ReviewedA/N:
My usual thanks to RedSkyAtNight, of whom I am patently unworthy.
The three of them were waiting for her in Dumbledore’s office. Dumbledore himself was smiling broadly, while Snape wore his usual opaque expression. Harry looked apprehensive, but not nearly as tense as he had before.
She turned to Dumbledore and asked, “Albus, do you have some kind of . . . aguardiente?” Even after the potion that Snape had given her, her mouth still felt vile. Dumbledore fetched her a glass of what smelled like grappa; she dipped two fingers into it and rubbed them across her lips. Then she took the rest of the liquid into her mouth, swished it around, and spat it back into the glass. “Thank you,” she said, handing it back to him.
“Ready?” she said to Harry, sitting down next to him.
He nodded.
She took a deep breath. “Listen, Harry,” she began. “I need to prepare you. This experience, this receiving of part of someone’s soul—yours or anyone else’s—can be very . . . intense. It will surprise you, but it is important that it not confuse you. Do you understand?”
He had begun to look a little more apprehensive. “I think so,” he said.
She smiled. “Do not worry. It is not unpleasant. Just very strong.”
He nodded, and she took his hands in hers.
“All right?” He nodded again, and over his shoulder she saw something—a little twitch of distaste—pass across Snape’s face.
She leaned forward. “Te devuelvo lo tuyo,” she said, closing her eyes, and placed her lips gently against his.
She hardly needed to push at all. Home, she told it, que te vaya bien, and felt it separate itself and leave, passing out of her like a sigh. She could feel the tremor pass through Harry’s body as he received it, and then she sat back and opened her eyes.
He was staring at her, wide-eyed. “Fucking hell!” he said.
Snape opened his mouth to say something, but Dumbledore restrained him with a gesture.
“Yes,” she agreed. “You see what I mean? It is important you not misunderstand it.”
“Right,” he said, looking a bit dazed.
She looked up at Dumbledore. “It is done, then,” she said with satisfaction. “All good. He is whole again, I think.”
This seemed to nudge Harry out of his shock. “I—thank you.”
She smiled wearily. “No hay de que.”
Dumbledore laid a hand on Harry’s shoulder. “Come on, Harry, I’ll walk you back to your dormitory, and we’ll find you something to eat. Can’t have you getting into trouble with Filch for being out after hours. Rawa, Severus, my profound thanks. Well done.”
She nodded briefly, then rose to go herself. Snape stood as well, and said, “I’ll come with you.”
She raised her eyebrows; this seemed uncharacteristically chivalrous of him. They walked a few paces in silence, and then he said, “What was that you were explaining to Potter, about the exchange?”
“That it is intense?”
“Yes.”
She thought for a moment. “It is like a powerful drug. Or really good sex.”
The expression that flitted across his face was unmistakably anger, and something else which she found a bit puzzling. “So what you said to Potter, about not misunderstanding, that would apply to the Dark Lord as well.”
“Just so,” she said. “He will not have understood what was happening, only that the effect was powerful, and pleasurable.”
“He will think it can be repeated.”
“Yes. But I hope I was able to buy some time.”
They walked on in silence for a while, Rawa remembering the evening’s events through a kind of haze. Suddenly she stopped. “Snape!”
“Yes?”
“When you carried me back here . . . your hand, did you put it . . . ?”
He did not reply, but the smallest of smiles tugged at the corner of his mouth. She punched him on the arm. “¡Atrevido aprovechado! !Oportunista!”
It was a full-blown smirk now, but he still said nothing.
“I can walk the rest of the way by myself, thank you,” she said. “And—” she glared at him “—do not think that my door will continue to admit you.”
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Latest 25 Reviews for Soroche
75 Reviews | 5.52/10 Average
Definitely one of the more unusual stories I've read, but i liked it very much, particularly them telling sirius that they were married lol. Glad it had a happy ending also!
"You should have told me."
Told him what? That she was pregnant, or that by doing the mental-link magic she'd be flung into this dreamworld, almost not getting out of it? Or did Snape really only killed Voldemort at the cost of his own life?
Lovely story.
Beautiful story. I'm. Not usually a reader of Snape paired with and OC but Rawa was a fascinating and believable character.
Response from Hechicera (Author of Soroche)
Oh wow, thank you so much! Lucky for me, I wrote this story before I was ever involved in the fandom or had read any fanfic at all. If I had, I'd have known how averse people are to reading SS/OFCs because of the prevalence of Mary Sues, and I'd probably have lost my nerve and/or second-guessed every line. As it was, I toiled on in blissful ignorance.
Response from Ljpjcg (Reviewer)
No, I think it was fantastic and I'm glad you shared this. She had many facets and her life was very interesting to read about.
Response from Hechicera (Author of Soroche)
Oh wow, thank you so much! Lucky for me, I wrote this story before I was ever involved in the fandom or had read any fanfic at all. If I had, I'd have known how averse people are to reading SS/OFCs because of the prevalence of Mary Sues, and I'd probably have lost my nerve and/or second-guessed every line. As it was, I toiled on in blissful ignorance.
Response from Ljpjcg (Reviewer)
No, I think it was fantastic and I'm glad you shared this. She had many facets and her life was very interesting to read about.
*snip*Dear Miss Akapana,I am writing to offer you the position of Professor of Defence Against the Dark Arts for the coming academic year, as word of your extraordinary talents has reached my ear.* It is rumoured, for example, that you possess the power to compel truthfulness; such a skill would likely prove quite valuable when dealing with the garden-variety magus adolescens. I would be remiss in my duties if I failed to advise you that we have had some difficulty in keeping this position filled during the past decade: more than one of your predecessors has unfortunately lasted less than a year. However, I feel certain that if your magical abilities are as your reputation has led me to believe, you will have an excellent chance of success.If you are agreed, I will send a conveyance for you at your earliest convenience.Sincerely yours,Albus DumbledoreHeadmaster*I cannot imagine why it has reached one ear and not the other, but there you have it. HAHAHAHAHA! That is AWESOME! LOVE IT! 
Response from Hechicera (Author of Soroche)
Why, thank you! I tried to make it appropriately Dumbledore-y.
Response from Fishy (Reviewer)
It IS! So perfect! Love that bearded wizard!
Response from Fishy (Reviewer)
Oh - and you're quite brave to introduce ayahuasca into your fic. I spent a summer in Peru and that vine is some NASTY stuff!
fascinating plan, I love how Rawa wants to believe in Snape, but no wonder she's concerned.
“Come with me, dear,” she said. “You and I need to have a talk with Dumbledore.” oh my, yes she does.
“When you sacrifice the losers on big stone pyramids,” she said. ROFL, she does have a point. Isn't there some question about whether it was the losers or the winners that were sacrificed?
Response from Hechicera (Author of Soroche)
Indeed there is--but I'm taking license to decide that Rawa has inside info.
Way to get Ron ferretboy behaving. Snicker
I thought I envied the magical folk for Reparo and Evanesco, but a mosquito repelling charm? Want.I love the interaction between Rawa and Sev, her pov on his nose is hysterical and good for her sniping back at him.
Response from Hechicera (Author of Soroche)
I can't tell you how pleased I am that Soroche is getting a read!
Poor Hagrid, he did ok in the mountains going to see the giants, but then he walked so there was time to adjust.
Response from Hechicera (Author of Soroche)
Well, also the Andes are much taller than any mountains anywhere in the UK. Cotopaxi--which is where the Yachay Wasi school is located--is 5000 metres high.Worst. Headache. Ever.
What a fascinating character your Rawa is, I'm sure she'll make quite the impression on Hogwarts.
Better. And try to remember that my name is Esnep. He's gotten to like it, hasn't he? that's so cute :o)
Response from Hechicera (Author of Soroche)
At least he's paying attention!
Brutally honest description of one approach to teaching - a female version of Snape. Given the view of professors in canon and film, Ron's observation seems dead on. Hence, establishment of authority by penalizing those who vocalize the obvious. Shades of Umbridge. This is assuming you wish to display a character defect of the protagonist. Cannot rate this chapter because it is not clear this is intended as a character defect.
Response from Hechicera (Author of Soroche)
Nope, not intended as a character defect at all. She's not punishing Ron for stating the obvious--she's punishing him for saying something disrespectful and inappropriate to the venue.When I was teaching high school, I would definitely have called a student out for remarking audibly that I was fuck-worthy.I don't see it as Umbridge-like at all.
Hagrid rides a flying motorcycle, but gets soroche? Perhaps the Aviation Regulatory Agencies class him as General Aviation and restrict him to below 5000 feet. Good touch with the finches and Filch. And she has brought a lovely assortment of hallucinogens and poisons. Good frisson at the end.
Response from Hechicera (Author of Soroche)
I always figured Hagrid flew pretty low to the ground on the motorcycle--at any rate, nowhere near Cotopaxi's 19,000 feet.
A development chapter, but it still manages some drama. I take it the humor is that our heroine can understand American-style English.
Response from Hechicera (Author of Soroche)
Well, it's more that she can understand standard "textbook" versions of English, but not Hagrid's rather intense regional dialect. A bit like someone who had learned Spanish in school faced with someone speaking Argentine Lunfardo.
A powerful opening. Different.
Just found your story through Thanfiction-he drew a stunning picture from your story and I was fascinated and had to come see what it was about. This first chapter is amazing. While I am not very versed in South American lore, everything you have written so far has sounded right, has had the weight of a fully realized world and culture and is so different that what one normally finds in HP fanfiction. I love this line ____________________________________________________ What was a conveyance? she wondered. Another letter? Some kind of contract? Well, it hardly mattered—she had no intention of traveling half the world away to teach in a language that made her teeth hurt. _____________________________________________________ It made me laugh and it rings true.I love your discription of the condor, that he does not speak like a human would, that he is the voice in her head as well as his own powerful entity. And this sobered and warmed me at the same time___________________________________________________________________ Daughter, you know that no one is ever told when and where they are to die. __________________________________________________________________ Finally, I love that it costs something to use magic, to reach the spirit realm. It sounds weird that the high point of this chapter for me was her vomiting in the snow but, there you go. Wonderful chapter and I am heading on to the next with high hopes!
Response from Hechicera (Author of Soroche)
Woot! I was so thrilled to get to the top of the commission queue and get that picture, but it honestly never occurred to me that it would result in more people reading my fic! Because it's an OC fic, it doesn't get a whole lot of exposure. Serendipity!I'm so glad you liked it, and thanks for the details. I researched this fic for several years before starting to write it, and the cultural and linguistic informatin is as accurate as I can possibly make it.
Lovely ending! Lovely! Original work? Plz?
Response from Hechicera (Author of Soroche)
Thank you so much!Not sure I know what you're asking there?
Response from Pyttan (Reviewer)
Sorry about that; I blame my swedishness. I'm not always clear on all the english stuff. Have you got a story hidden somewhere here, that is all your own? You know, whithout borrowing the characters from the divine Rowlings? I absolutly think you are good enough, you see, and since I like your stuff I would like to read it. Yes I am shamelessly flattering you, so I can get to more of your stuff.
Response from Hechicera (Author of Soroche)
Ooh, flattery, my favorite. More, please!Thank you so much! I don't, at the moment, have anything finished. But I'm working on it. Are you in LJ?
Response from Pyttan (Reviewer)
LJ? No. I have no idea what that might be?
Response from Hechicera (Author of Soroche)
LiveJournal. Get thee thither.
Response from Pyttan (Reviewer)
I'm now thither, what to do now I wonder?
Response from Hechicera (Author of Soroche)
Friend up. See you over there :-)
Great finish. Simple and understated, but perfect. :)
Response from Hechicera (Author of Soroche)
Thank you.It's hard to let them go.
I think of the line from that song as it applies to Rowlings Severus Snape ...A man gets tied up to the ground, He gives the world its saddest sound, its saddest sound...mmmm.Lovely love story!
Response from Hechicera (Author of Soroche)
Thank you so much--I'm glad you enjoyed it.
Aha! More is explained...so that's why Severus deviated from his usual custom by asking to use the pool when he requested the services of Malavi at The Wayward Wand. He was trying to recreate the scene of Rawa in the bath as closely as possible so that he could act out what he had wanted to do at the time...although it's not quite clear why he chose a cold pool instead of a hot bath. As I already noted when I left a review for The Wayward Wand, he must have chosen Malavi because she of all the women probably looks most like Rawa with olive skin and straight black hair.
Response from Hechicera (Author of Soroche)
Well, the bath at Hogwarts was more like a pool in size, if not in temperature. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
Scary! Hope he gets back in time! :)
Response from Hechicera (Author of Soroche)
Do you doubt him for a single moment?