In the Eyes
Chapter 13 of 40
AuretteThe next generation fo Death Eaters confront some harsh truths.
ReviewedThank you to astopperindeath for the beta.
The second generation of Death Eaters had been electrified by the events of that night. It showed in their almost reluctance to leave the room. Those that did take a girl and go off often came back in record time to rejoin the never-ending conversation. None of them sprang for the extra Galleons to purchase the Princess for a tryst, so I was relegated to serving drinks. The conversation never diverted from the events of the evening.
Frustrated, these five years, with being left out of important matters and with being relegated to an existence only one step above the lackeys that swarmed the Ministry, they were ripe for change. That change came in the form of a figure that was both an outsider and an insider at the same time, who was tailor made for their restlessness.
I had no idea that Severus had become such a romantic figure to them in the weeks since he had appeared. It would seem they were eager to gloss over the reality of the utterly diminished Snape, angry, confused, and helpless, while surrounded by the smiling hatred of his fellow Elders. They chose to interpret his actions as simply another case of just how above it all he was, that he had not deigned to respond. They discounted the truth that Rookwood had chanced upon him in an apothecary shop and literally had not allow him to decline the invitation to that night’s events. The idea that he had been dragged, unwillingly, back into the fold didn’t mesh with what they needed, and so they decided instead to believe he had just chosen his timing for dramatic effect, waiting for the time to be right.
Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle were especially feted that night as the lucky dogs who got to wear their masks and participate in the floor show. They were repeatedly asked for more behind-the-scenes details and insider information, and they lapped up the attention.
“He asked for us; I got word around noon to appear at the Ministry atrium immediately and to bring my mask. When I got there, Greg was already there.”
“Aye. I got the same message,” said Goyle.
“So we were standing there, not knowing what was up, when suddenly Snape was there.”
“Vin called him Headmaster, and he got this queer look on his face and came over all angry suddenly.”
“Yeah, call him Snape, if you know what's good for ya. He don’t seem to like his old titles at all.”
“Anyway he just made us follow him,” continued Crabbe. “When we got to the corridor leading to the Dark Lord’s chambers, he stopped and made us put on our masks. His mask is really cool, much better than the ones they gave us.”
“Ain’t that the truth. I wonder if we can ask him for better ones?”
There were excited nods. It seemed the boys just wanted shinier toys and missed the symbolism completely.
“So, we follow him up to the door, and he tells us to mind our manners and do whatever we’re told without question,” Crabbe said.
“I felt a bit like a first-year. Kind of resented that for a bit, but it turned out to be good advice didn’t it?” Goyle said.
“Yeah, so, we all go in and, well, there’s the Dark Lord himself. We fell to our knees, but he just waved us up and then ignored us. He was pretty worked up, so when Snape told us to go stand against the wall, I was pretty pleased to go be a part of the wall.”
“Yeah.”
“The Dark Lord didn’t even pay us no mind. He just continued to pace, and Snape stood to the side still as a post. When the hour struck one, he just waved his hand, and Snape went over to another door and opened it. In walks Antonin Dolohov and four of his Junior Ministers all business-like and holding all these reports. Dolohov made a quick bow and started talking about something, you remember what he said, Greg?”
“No.”
“Anyway, our Lord just lost it. He just flew into a rage and hexed Dolohov. Just like that. His lackeys just fell to the floor bowing and scraping but Dolohov did something really stupid.”
“What?” asked Nott.
“He tried to shield himself,” answered Goyle. There were gasps all around the room.
“Maybe it was instinct?” asked Vaisey.
“Doesn’t make a difference, does it?” Nott said. “If our Lord wants you hexed, you want to be hexed, don’t you?” He turned back to Goyle. “So, then what happened?”
“Well, Snape was right behind him. I don’t think Dolohov even saw him when he came in, but Snape had been right behind him the whole time and so he was inside Dolohov’s shield spell. He dropped him with a stunner and disarmed him.”
“Fast work, too. I didn’t really see it happen.”
“Then what happened?”
“Well,” Goyle looked to Crabbe who looked at the floor. “Well, our Lord went a little mad after that.” He hesitated and looked to Crabbe again but no help was forthcoming. “He killed the others. Just went mad and started butchering them; I never seen nothing like it. He’s a lot more powerful than anything I ever laid eyes on.”
“Anyone we knew?” asked someone from the back of the room. You could see they were disturbed by this news. None of them had seen any violence since the war, and most in this room never had.
“Pansy,” said Crabbe quietly. “Didn’t know the other three; they were all older than us.”
“What did Snape do?” rasped out Nott.
“Nothing. After he trussed up Dolohov, he just stood back and watched the Dark Lord tear the others to pieces. When it was over, he snapped his fingers and told us to take the bodies down to the morgue and come right back.”
“When we got back, they had Dolohov stuck against the wall, arms and legs spread out and hovering about a foot up. His wand was on the ground, broken. Snape pointed to the wall on the other side of the room, and we went and took up position there.”
“Yeah, not much more to say after that; Snape put up a silencing spell. Couldn’t hear nothing.”
“But we did see it. Our Lord did the physical damage; he was raving at him and torturing him. Dolohov was answering, but I don’t know what. Our Lord broke both of his legs and cut off his fingers with a slicing spell and hit him with Crucio every three minutes.”
“I think somehow Snape was even more disturbing though.” Crabbe said. “It was when Snape would walk up and look into his eyes that Dolohov really lost it. He started to cry and thrash about even in the pain he was in. It was horrible.”
“What do you mean, looked at him?” asked Warrington.
“Just looked at him. Right in the eyes.”
“Well did he say something?”
“I already said we couldn’t hear, didn’t I?” Crabbe shouted.
“Well did you see his lips move? Did he wave his wand?” Warrington shouted back.
“I don’t remember. I think so.”
“Yeah, I think he waved his wand, I don’t know, it was all so confusing.”
“Well,” said Nott, “that just proves it doesn’t it?”
“Proves what?” asked Warrington.
“Proves that Dolohov was guilty. Snape wouldn’t have done whatever he did if he wasn’t, would he have?”
I watched as this thought bounced around the room. You could see these young men were desperate for a justification of the violence and wanted a way to separate their new-found hero from the apparent madness. Strange, that a bunch of bullies, so eager to take their place in a world conquered through terror and violence, seemed to shy away from the thought.
“I think you’re right, Nott,” said Warrington. The others agreed, and the tone of the room lightened as they fell to wondering who would be the next Minister of Magical Law Enforcement.
I continued my rounds with my ever present tray of drinks, until Maisy came up and lightly touched my arm.
“You have been requested,” she murmured and took the tray from me. I nodded and, with a quick glance to make sure my corset was adjusted and the seams of my silk stockings were straight, I headed out to the lobby to see who wanted the Princess next.
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Latest 25 Reviews for The Princess of Gryffindor
597 Reviews | 6.94/10 Average
I agree with Mick42 in the sense that I don't like the Voldemort won/everyone's dead/Hermione's a whore stories. I avoid them like the plague. I decided to give this one a go based on the reviews. I was very, very skeptical. There were aspects to the writing that I didn't like, such as it being written in first person, but the memorial scene alone made it well worth the read. I may have shed a tear (or 10).
Wow...just wow. Now I know why all of these other reviewers have shed a tear. I am a mess. Still smiling tho'! Captivating read. Kudos!
Yay, all finished. It's been a while since I've read this, so I had forgotten a lot of the details in the ending chapters, but I still love it as much as I did the first time I read it. You have my in tears reading the end couple of chapters now, but that's terribly easy to do to a pregnant woman, so don't worry too much lol.
I just love Snape, have I ever mentioned that? I do. And it's stuff like this in stories- him vowing to protect Hermione- that make me love him even more..
This is one I've read before, on ffnet I think, but I have to read it here too, it just seems impossible not to reread your favorite stories when you come across them somewhere. The bonus is that you already know you love the story, even if you can't remember all the details between point A and A.D.
My dear Aurette,I have spent half of yesterday and all of today re-reading this unbelievable story. Half of the time, I've been a sobbing, sopping mess - when S&H were gathering forces and found people who were still alive, the whole Harry and Ron speaking to Hermione from the great beyond, the memorial scene (holy crap, talk about sobbing!), reuniting with Minerva's ghost, and the list goes on. I love the plot of the story. I love your numerous OCs. I love how the young DEs revolt. I love how forces from all sides join together to fight the Dark Lord. I love the romance between S&H. I love how utterly vulnerable he is to her, and she to him. I love how wizarding society hero-worships Snape in the end. I love So Many Things about this story. If my heart could take it, I'd start it all over again, but I really wasn't exaggerating when I said I was sobbing half the time I was reading. This might sound odd, but reading this today, US Memorial Day, just makes it seem even more poignant. But I do think it's honoring to RL sacrifices by reading about fictional ones. Thank you so much for this absolutely wonderful story, and for giving me such an enjoyable (if teary and snotty) way to spend my day off.Love,Christev
Response from Aurette (Author of The Princess of Gryffindor)
{{{hugs}}}What a beautiful thing to say. I am deeply touched and honored. Thank you, Christev.
Response from Aurette (Author of The Princess of Gryffindor)
{{{hugs}}}What a beautiful thing to say. I am deeply touched and honored. Thank you, Christev.
Heartbreaking and wonderful and worth rereading. Thank you for sharing this.
Response from Aurette (Author of The Princess of Gryffindor)
I'm so glad you enjoyed. ;-)
Just re-read this and had to mention: Best Epilogue Ever. Why couldn't you have given JK a few pointers? ;-p
Response from Aurette (Author of The Princess of Gryffindor)
LOL! She never asked... Thank you!
I've just flown through the last several chapters, held in thrall to this story! This is just genius, you know, starting at a place of total desolation - this terrible post-war dystopia - and taking all the elements from DH (the prophecy from Severus, the Hallows, even walking beside the dead and moving with them before returning to earth - thanks particularly for including Draco with the others), using them as they were meant to be used, finding another way of stopping Voldemort and reenvisioning a new world in the aftermath.
And I love seeing Snape marked as the Man Who Lived! And a father! And the Minister! (And that proposal? Mmm-hmm... clearly, he has caught on to everything Hermione's been teaching him!)
You strike such a great balance between comedy and high drama. It's such a pleasure to read.
Oh, Goyle. Goyles will be Goyles, I suppose!"I think you have just been metaphorically peed on." Oh, I love this line... particularly since Severus' possessiveness towards Hermione is such a strong part of his character (which is why his reluctant willingness to 'share' Hermione rather than lose her was SO terribly shocking).
Response from Aurette (Author of The Princess of Gryffindor)
Thank you! And I think, by his behavior in this chapter, you can see he tacitly took those words... back.
Response from ofankoma (Reviewer)
Oh, absolutely! That's what's so marvelous to see in this Snape. He acts impulsively so often, and then immediately knows that it's not what he really wanted, and is slowly learning to keep it all in check as he accepts the fact that she really loves him and that he's truly safe with her.
Response from Aurette (Author of The Princess of Gryffindor)
Hannah and Neville! Woo-hoo! (You can just feel the little triumphs along the way - things are getting brighter all the time!) And the lack of trust between all parties involved... yes, that feels completely, completely believable.(Also,I don't know that I've ever met an original character that I've liked, but Peaches is fantastic. Just fantastic. You make me change my mind on a lot of things, I think...)
Response from Aurette (Author of The Princess of Gryffindor)
I intentionally started this tale as dark as I could make it, and then slowly let the light in. Neville and Hannah were such a beacon of hope...
Ah, the trust between the two as they examine the girls! And her red robes... yes, I imagine Severus doesn't want Hermione in anything less than a high-necked robe in front of her old beau.
Response from Aurette (Author of The Princess of Gryffindor)
Trust is something they thought they had, but as you can see, they are both too emotionally unsophisticated to not end up with issues.
Whoa, whoa, whoa... Elder Goyle and Ma are two revelations here, aren't they? As for the former, it really makes me wonder (again and again) what Voldemort's plan was 'when' he won. Why cheat Death if you have nothing to live for? For someone as hypothetically long-sighted as he was (looking to an eternity of power and control over the wizarding world), he's remarkably short-sighted here (what do you do now that you've won?). You raise all sorts of fascinating questions here. And Ma, with the Veritaserum? Grand.
Response from Aurette (Author of The Princess of Gryffindor)
Ma was intended to just be a stock vilain, but she elbowed her way toward three dimentional. I was very happy with the way she worked out.
The robes! Wonderful, wonderful, all around, from Hermione's comfort in them and the note exchange.Charlie and Viktor? You're really getting things moving here, aren't you? Momentum. You're really a master with creating a momentum that just pulls a reader through the story. I don't mean just here, but everything I've read up til now - it's so well paced and unfolds so naturally. In case I haven't said this in a chapter or two, thanks so much for sharing this.
Response from Aurette (Author of The Princess of Gryffindor)
I was very attuned to the pacing of this tale. It was my very first mult-chaptered fic and getting the pacing down right was one of my primary concerns. Thank you so much for reviewing it!
Hooray! I love what you've done with Theo Nott. The second guessing and the regret shows how easy it was for misguided, then-ambivalent people to latch on to Voldemort's coat tails. (Cloak tails?) Very like Severus at that age, no?You're also hilarious, but I suspect you know that. "Conjure myself some decent clothes?" FABULOUS.
Response from Aurette (Author of The Princess of Gryffindor)
Exactly! I saw Theo as not being wildly different from young Snape, just perhaps a bit more entitled. I am so glad you liked this.
Wow. There are so many things I love, love, love in this chapter. First off, the relationship between Severus and the Malfoys. (Ach, and the horror of their deaths!) Next, Dumbledore's attitude. I, for one, have a tendency to vilify the man. Reading the repentance he shows here makes me rethink a lot of things about him. (So thank you for challenging me!) But you're right - we have a lot of evidence in DH that there are many unspoken things in his past that explain his present actions. And, of course, it's just a relief to see that he finally has someone to tell all this to, someone who will care for him and stand by him through it all. This is just wonderful, and I'm completely loving your writing and this story!
Response from Aurette (Author of The Princess of Gryffindor)
I also have a tendancy to vilify Dumbledore, but I know that was never JKR's intention, so every so often I try and reset my thinking. Then I backslide. lol.
There are so many reasons I love this story... wonderful narrative flow, seamless incorporation of canon devices (Hallows! Can't wait to see them in action!), a fresh perspective on the nature of evil in the Voldemort regime, a place to see regrets worked out and atoned for.But the single greatest reason why this is so fabulous is your clear vision of your characters. What we know of them from JKR is fleshed out so beautifully here, and it's not a happy-go-lucky, cleaned up and sanitized version of the very broken people we know (and love), but a hard look at the mistakes they make and how they learn together to move on and forgive one another in a much deeper understanding of who the other really is.
Response from Aurette (Author of The Princess of Gryffindor)
This chapter was my impetus for writing the whole fic. I wanted to get to this scene. Of course, once I did, I then had a Ministry to over throw... lol.
Oh, now that's interesting... incorporating the Hallows? I think this means we'll get to see some action from the Elder Wand (killing Voldemort?), the Resurrection Stone (Harry and Ron?), and the Invisibility Cloak (I have no idea on this one... it's useful in so many ways). I can't wait to see where they lead!
Severus' thoughts on the ambition of Voldemort five years out are interesting... it certainly does make you wonder - what would Tom have done had he won? Did he have a plan in place? I mean, the fear of ignominious death aside, what was really motivating his actions? What did he envision for the Wizarding world?
There's much that I enjoy in this chapter... the way they recognize each other as being, really, the only people left on earth (that we know of so far) who can really see one another is fantastic. Antarctica banter with penguins! 'Whoever had broken this man deserved to burn in hell.'What I found myself wishing I had here was Hermione's musings on her own sexual history. Was she a virgin before she was enslaved here? I found I wanted this when she first talked about her position as a whore with Snape as well... I just want it sometime. (Maybe it's coming up later? We'll see!) There seems to be space for her to say that she's still a virgin (so to speak) with a great deal of this as well. And defend her innocence. Since she never kissed Ron in the final battle (AU breaks off earlier here, right?), has she even been kissed?
Response from ofankoma (Reviewer)
(Because Severus very well may be right in trying to stop her... for her own peace of mind, certainly, and for the fact that she's been traumatised for years there. Another sexual experience now may not be helpful on the road to recovery, and he'd certainly be remiss if he didn't know the situation before letting her have her way with him...)
The harpsichord? That's hilarious. Does she tune it herself, as well? All the descriptions of this place add up to a bizarre, depressing, garish nightmare. It's like everyone tossed in their leftovers and out popped a brother, or several people's lives just vomited out all their extras on the (Voldemort-run) street.
Ah, Draco. I'm sad to hear he's lost. I have a soft spot for him as one of the people who gave Severus a will to go on in HBP and DH. I would have liked seeing your Snape deal with him.
That last long paragraph on the enigma of Snape? Spot on. It sums up why he's such a fascinating character in canon: powerful and powerless, beautiful and ugly, lauded and humiliated. The ambiguity of him is so rich, and not in the Dumbledore 'we sort too soon' sort of way, claiming that he's truly a Gryffindor at heart merely because he's on the side of good.
As to protection, well, that's another one of the strongest themes attached to him in canon, isn't it? He's constantly fighting to protect people - even people he despises -and he prepares them all to do the same. Your Hermione's a lucky girl...
Well done, you.
Hmm... "I, too, practice self-denial?" I think he might practice a few kinds of denial here, since he did just move to kiss her. (Of course, perhaps poor Severus doesn't know any better. He missed out on the 'What not to do whilst visiting a whorehouse' lesson in finishing school.) I greatly appreciate a post-DH Snape who doesn't know what to do with a woman... after all, when you poke around in canon, it seems fairly obvious that his social calendar was empty.
I also enjoy the dynamic you're setting up between Hermione and Peaches, the latter of whom is clearly in control of her own destiny in a way that Hermione just isn't... yet.
And...Harry and Ron? What?!?
Oh, gravy! Lime-green peignoirs and silver mules? This is a high class establishment poor Hermione's stuck in. (Although the lime-green clothing is oddly reminiscent of St. Mungo's...)
I love a phrase like "She floated in like a frigate in full sail." Really, the oppressing shabbiness of the place is overwhelming. I'm so very wary of new characters, so I'm really hoping I will like yours... Peaches, maybe yes? Ma, maybe no. Unless we do know Ma or Angel already and they're just under aliases like the Princess?
Drinking Cocoa enticed me back here to revisit this wonderful, deep, rich tale once again, when I should be doing my own writing and in other ways getting the heap of papers on my desk cleared and sorted (not to mention getting to bed at a decent hour). But, no, I had to swallow this beautiful work whole once again, rediscovering all its complexities and marvels, emotions and heatbreak, fascinations and intricacies. And it is now nearly 2am, and I can at last climb into my solitary little bed, wrapped in the warmth of some quite satisfying and delicious writing. Thank you.
Response from Aurette (Author of The Princess of Gryffindor)
I thank you, truly, for your revisiting this story. Nothing is more satisfying than knowing it is apreciated on a second reading as well. :-)
I give it five years before Brilliant figures out how to spell that journal open and gets the shock of her young life hahahaha.
Response from Aurette (Author of The Princess of Gryffindor)
LOL! Oh, that would be Brilliant! You need to write that fic!
Response from StarryEyedNoOne (Reviewer)
I haven't wrote HP fanfic since I was the age of a first year lol. I pray to any diety that's listening that NONE of it is still floating aroung out there. :-\
Response from Aurette (Author of The Princess of Gryffindor)
LOL! I understand. I once read that if you aren't embarrased by something you wrote a year ago, you are no longer growing as a writer. Hell, I get embarrassed over things I wrote last week...