Two
Chapter 2 of 14
Agnus CastusAlbus Dumbledore had a plan to protect Severus Snape after the fateful night on the Astronomy Tower. During his final year as Headmaster, Snape has a chance to come to terms with his past and find peace, before his life draws to its inevitable close. Canon-compliant. TPP Featured Story May/June 2010.
ReviewedSquirrel’s Leap
Cassiopeia twinkled brightly in the night sky above Squirrel’s Leap cottage.
Out in the countryside the constellation was surrounded by the dusty outline of the Milky Way and thousands of other stars not visible in the light-polluted skies of London.
It was for this reason that Contessa Marchbanks lived alone in her tiny, isolated stone cottage rather than closer to her employment at the Ministry of Magic. In the dark depths of the countryside, the sky hung like a black velvet blanket sparkling with millions of glimmering stars and celestial objects.
The clear and moonless night had been perfect for her quest to map distant galaxies. Now, in the early hours of the morning, the sun crept towards the horizon, bringing dawn and heralding the end of her astronomy observations.
The fainter stars were slowly blotting out as Contessa packed up her telescope and levitated it back towards the cottage. Bats swooped around her head as she made her way carefully through the apple orchard by the light of her wand.
Opening the front door, she entered into the cosy living area. With a flick of her wand, she lit enough candles to allow her to safely stow away her telescope. After spending hours looking at the black night sky, the candlelight hurt her eyes.
Squinting, she returned her books to their proper place on the bookshelves. When all of the astronomy equipment was stored away, she extinguished all but one candle. Passing the Headmaster’s portrait without looking, she padded softly through the darkness into the kitchen.
Feeling tired and ready for some rest, Contessa used magic to heat up a mug of milk. She stirred in some chocolate powder by hand and sighed. Another day at the Ministry beckoned as the twilight waned; she needed to get some sleep.
Taking a sip of hot chocolate, she turned to leave the kitchen and make her way upstairs. However, a crackling flash of flame lit up the living room, and she leapt backwards, dropping the mug and drawing her wand in one swift movement.
Silently Contessa approached the kitchen door, heart pounding in her chest and blood surging in her ears. She thought she heard a ruffling of feathers, or was it a cloak? Whoever or whatever it was had arrived without invitation.
She mentally planned a non-verbal spell before peering through the doorway. Nothing could have prepared her for what she saw.
Standing in her living room, silhouetted against the candlelight, was the unmistakable figure of her former Potions master.
Professor Snape stood looking slightly dishevelled, struggling to adapt to the darkness. As Contessa took in his torn robes and his blood-stained shirt she felt even more nervous. Why was he here?
She stepped into the room with her wand raised, pointed directly at his chest.
Snape caught sight of her movement and turned to face her, eyeing her wand intently. His hand twitched as he realised his own wand was out of reach. Contessa felt a rush of momentary advantage and moved closer, staying in the shadows, until she was face to face with the towering bat-like form.
She could smell the scent of burning wood on his robes as she stood, wondering if it would be prudent to cast the Body-Bind Curse. He was wandless, but Contessa knew he wasn’t completely defenceless. Then, out of the corner of her eye, she noticed movement behind him. With a jerk of her head, she beckoned Snape out of the way.
As he moved sideways, Snape revealed a beautiful red and gold and rather battered-looking phoenix. Comprehension flooded her mind as she gasped at the sight of Fawkes, perched precariously on the telescope.
Lowering her wand, Contessa looked back towards the Potions master in shock. “Professor Snape…” she croaked.
He stepped forward a little in the dim light of the room, searching the features of the woman who stood before him. Snape’s eyes widened as he recognised her, and he appeared briefly discomposed.
Recovering from the recognition of his former student almost instantaneously, the sallow face hardened, and his black eyes glittered coldly in the candlelight.
“Miss Marchbanks,” his low voice glided across the room, laced with disdain and condescension. Contessa shuddered at the sound of his speech, the distant memory of Potions lessons brought sharply and hideously back into focus.
Animosity swelled inside her as she looked at his pale face and dark eyes, framed by the usual curtains of greasy black hair. Snape’s appearance had not altered at all in the fifteen years since she had left Hogwarts. He had aged, that much was clear from the lines around his eyes, which seemed puffy in the half-light.
“You were not expecting me?” His voice was derisive, cutting through her like a knife.
What had Dumbledore been thinking? Of all the people in the Order of the Phoenix, why did it have to be Professor Snape? Was Dumbledore out of his mind?
“I was expecting someone,” she managed, “but I didn’t know whom.” Contessa wished she’d asked Dumbledore to be more specific when she accepted the mission. He had intimated that the task she had been given would not be easy, but had she known…
“A pleasant surprise for us both, then,” Snape sneered.
She returned his sarcasm with a flash of loathing as she slumped into an armchair.
How in Merlin’s name could she keep her promise to Dumbledore? Helping Snape would be difficult enough knowing their history, but giving him her unconditional acceptance… that would surely be impossible.
“Well, well, the Ravenclaw Revolutionary at a loss for words,” he mocked as she wilted in submission. “Will wonders ever cease?”
Her insides churned at the sound of the old nickname; Snape remembered everything… how could he not?
Contessa looked up at him through narrowed eyes, but her retort died on her lips.
Behind Snape, the portrait of Albus Dumbledore was gently snoring.
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Latest 25 Reviews for The Unconditional Vow
61 Reviews | 4.23/10 Average
Wow. What an amazing journey. I laughed, cried, raged with anger, smiled with joy and love and in the end cried some more. Your story was truly one of the best I have ever read. You are a talented author and I loved this. Great job!!!
Response from Agnus Castus (Author of The Unconditional Vow)
Thank you so much for leaving a final review; it's been lovely to get feedback from a reader eight years since the story was completed. Emotional responses were exactly what I'd hoped for, so I'm glad you experienced a full range of feelings and enjoyed the journey too. Thanks for reading and reviewing 
Beautiful, moving story. You created an amazing original character in Tess. Nice, very nice, job.Thanks for a great read
Response from Agnus Castus (Author of The Unconditional Vow)
And thank you for leaving a review; it's nice to know that people are still discovering this story and enjoying my work 
Response from Agnus Castus (Author of The Unconditional Vow)
And thank you for leaving a review; it's nice to know that people are still discovering this story and enjoying my work
beautiful! Now to read the sequel! YAY!
Response from Agnus Castus (Author of The Unconditional Vow)
Thanks for reading again! Hope you enjoy the sequel
Response from Agnus Castus (Author of The Unconditional Vow)
Thanks for reading again! Hope you enjoy the sequel
so excellent. I remember why I decided to read this one now. It's because there's a sequel. I swear I have the worst memory ever. I'll be reading the sequel after this but didn't want to start reading it until I was pretty sure I knew what happened in this story.
Response from Agnus Castus (Author of The Unconditional Vow)
Thanks,
Response from Agnus Castus (Author of The Unconditional Vow)
, and I look forward to hearing what you think about the sequel!
Response from Agnus Castus (Author of The Unconditional Vow)
Thanks,
Response from Agnus Castus (Author of The Unconditional Vow)
, and I look forward to hearing what you think about the sequel!
Oh dear, Poor things. Severus jumping to wrong conclusions and Tess not knowing what is bothering him. I hope they get it worked out soon! I love this story!
Response from Agnus Castus (Author of The Unconditional Vow)
Back again for a second read? So glad you're enjoying the story all over again
Response from mimmom (Reviewer)
I think I'm catching up. There are some chapters I haven't read and it looked like maybe I skipped one somewhere along the way. Either that or I forgot to mark it as read. Great stories require second readings, too! It's really nice to read one that doesn't involve Hermione. There seem to be so many of those! I probably wrote nearly the same review as last time. DOH. I've done that before without remembering I'd done it. Not the best memory ever but it means I get to read a story I've read before almost like it's the first time. LOL!
Response from Agnus Castus (Author of The Unconditional Vow)
I'm just happy that you wanted to read this story again! 
Response from Agnus Castus (Author of The Unconditional Vow)
Back again for a second read? So glad you're enjoying the story all over again
Response from mimmom (Reviewer)
I think I'm catching up. There are some chapters I haven't read and it looked like maybe I skipped one somewhere along the way. Either that or I forgot to mark it as read. Great stories require second readings, too! It's really nice to read one that doesn't involve Hermione. There seem to be so many of those! I probably wrote nearly the same review as last time. DOH. I've done that before without remembering I'd done it. Not the best memory ever but it means I get to read a story I've read before almost like it's the first time. LOL!
Response from Agnus Castus (Author of The Unconditional Vow)
I'm just happy that you wanted to read this story again!
I apologize for not reviewing each chapter, but I was so engrossed in the story, I didn't want to take the time to stop and review. I just wanted to keep reading. I was quite put out when I had to stop so I could make dinner 
. First let me congratulate you for writing an excellent Snape/OC story. Not too many of those around and not too many worth reading. I've read a lot of SS/HG and it's okay, I enjoy a lot of them, but I have to say, I think they're an odd pairing. So SS/OC is definitely my favorite romantic pairing for him, provided the female complements him well. You did an excellent job of keeping Snape in character. For him to build a new relationship (of any kind) would be no easy task for him. Thus, one of friendship and eventually romance would be especially difficult and practically impossible. Keeping all that in mind, I thought you wrote a convincing tale of how it could have been possible for him to build a genuine, reciprocal friendship with another person and how that relationship could have turned romantic. I thought you did a wonderful job depicting how he worked through his feelings for Lily and how he was able to finally let her go and make room in his heart for Tess.I really enjoyed Tess' feisty character. Snape is very domineering but she did not capitulate easily to him. She resisted at every turn until she began to realize she could trust him. She didn't let him scare her into submission. Any woman in a relationship with him would have to be able to stand her ground. One of my favorite aspects of the story was the angst. Both characters believing the other could never love them and yet they do but they're both too afraid to say anything. It's a typical scenario, but I love it. In fiction (perhaps not so much in RL), angst is a wonderful device for stoking the fires of passion. You used it well in this story.The ending was good even if it was ambivalent. I enjoy happy endings as much as sad ones. Yours was in the middle and I think it worked well for this story. The only thing I would've like to have seen more of was romantic moments between them. It wouldn't have fit in with the story, I know, but I could have gone for more kissing .Overall, an excellent story that I have happily added to my favorites.
Response from Agnus Castus (Author of The Unconditional Vow)
I apologise for not replying sooner; I've been away on holiday. How lovely to return to your kind and generous review! You seem to have noticed and appreciated many of the things which I set out to achieve, and that is immensely gratifying for me as a writer, so thank you for taking time to leave a detailed review. I'm glad that you experienced the story as authentic, keeping Snape in-character yet working through some of his feelings in a canon-compliant way. One of the things I enjoyed most about writing The Unconditional Vow (which was completed some two years ago) was the gradual thawing and the building of trust between the two characters. I found the unhurried development of their relationship a joy to write, and you're quite right: angst is a wonderful device which I revelled in, much to some readers' chagrin.You'd have liked more kissing, eh? Can't blame you for that! But I know you know that the kiss was reserved for just the right moment so it would have just the right effect at just the right time. I agonised over that scene, wanting to make the moment worth the wait.I'm chuffed that you've enjoyed an SS/OC story enough to add it to your favourites. Thank you. 
Beautiful story... 'to have his soul released into the ether', to give up his state of nirvana, or not... Thank you for leaving us with him forgiving himself and experiencing some eternal peace. And, unconditional, hope, for us all.
Response from Agnus Castus (Author of The Unconditional Vow)
Thank you for your commitment and for always leaving a review, it's very much appreciated
Really love the exploration/observation of their relationship - the varied levels of enhanced meaning and trust; yeah... she is his, and he is hers: not much escapes Voldy, which can't be a good thing... the calm before the storm - reading on!
Response from Agnus Castus (Author of The Unconditional Vow)
Thank you,
Response from Agnus Castus (Author of The Unconditional Vow)
, it's wonderful to know that these layers come across to the reader. I'm honoured that you've made it this far into their journey, and I hope the ending gives you something to hold on to.
What an intense journey of emotions, perceptions and expectations Severus and Contessa have taken... unconditional love: that is the dilemma - I feel Contessa knows and understands what this truly is, but Severus... and the ability to receive and give... acceptance of this condition. Reading on!
Response from Agnus Castus (Author of The Unconditional Vow)
I would agree; Contessa knows and understands unconditional love, but when Severus glimpses the possibility, he's scared by the terror of losing something so precious.
Again, powerful contrasting dynamics from scene to scene; the Memory/Imperio scene both fundamentally painful and liberating... and the scene 'for appearance's sake' - such an opening of honest yearning being acknowledged; again, contrasting the hectic atmosphere of the goings-on in the school. Poor Contessa, feeling abandoned and left to fend for herself?
Response from Agnus Castus (Author of The Unconditional Vow)
Lots happens emotionally for the characters in this section; Severus starts to loosen and acknowledge his feelings, and then retreats at the first sign of pain. Contessa only has so much insight into his process and becomes a sitting duck. Thanks for your review!
That was powerful, purging... so painfully intimate. Enjoyed so much in the previous material leading up to this moment, as the chapters are long, full of detailed information/diversely action packed, it's all contrasted so keenly leading up to this brutally honest final scene
Response from Agnus Castus (Author of The Unconditional Vow)
Thank you!
The graveyard scene is so poignantly lovely; enjoy the building physical 'false' intimacy and tension growing between Contessa and Severus due to the Carrows skulking around stronger than ever, and the forgivable Unforgivable by the ingenious Ravenclaw rebel; everything is escalating, poor Luna's abduction adding on to the foreboding elements.
Response from Agnus Castus (Author of The Unconditional Vow)
The graveyard scene was a cathartic scene to write; I'm glad you felt its poignancy. The tension is indeed growing; you have to wonder how much longer Severus's self-denial can last. "The forgivable Unforgivable" 
Love it!
Response from nagandsev (Reviewer)
Well... he,he! After all, it is Contessa doing a 'for-the-greater-good' type of thing for a worthy cause... and Severus seems to have actually 'enjoyed' or been impressed by her, even more so, having done it... if he's pardon her actions, then...
Response from Agnus Castus (Author of The Unconditional Vow)
I think you might be attributing more nobility to Contessa than is truly her due; she cast the Unforgivable to prove a point, rather than for any altrusitic purpose. But at least she had the decency to rein herself in and not embarrass Severus too much. You'll have wait and see if he pardons her actions, or if he chooses to enact his revenge...Thanks again for leaving your thoughts on this journey - it is lovely to know that readers are still enjoying my story, long after its completion.
Enjoy the slow but smooth rapport that's being established between them, coinciding with the events/Dumbledore's funeral, and the jolting reminder of Sev's other master calling (had gotten lured into Contessa's and Sev's moments, and forgotten about the outside world).
Response from Agnus Castus (Author of The Unconditional Vow)
If only we didn't have the pesky Dark Lord to deal with! I enjoyed writing the building rapport between Tess and Severus, little by little, slowly but surely. Thanks for your comments
The power of those portraits! The power/manipulation lingering on, strong as ever - it's scarey to think of Dumbledore's reach and efect on others if he'd wish to do them real harm, if he ever would have ever been Minister, with his uncanny ability for selecting individuals who'll take/honour their vows to the death & beyond; Contessa was perfect for him being a Ministry personnel and a member of the Order? Reading on to find out:)
Response from Agnus Castus (Author of The Unconditional Vow)
Yes, I agree about Dumbledore, and I think he scared himself in canon, which is why he didn't go for Minister of Magic. He certainly has an uncanny ability to read people and understand what makes them tick, which allows him to manipulate for the "greater good".
A very profound, lovely chapter, capturing the immediate, tense interim and actions of Severus after Dumbledore's death and that painfully lonely search at Grimmauld Place... good old Fawkes, so sad.
Response from Agnus Castus (Author of The Unconditional Vow)
Thanks very much,
Response from Agnus Castus (Author of The Unconditional Vow)
. I remember writing this chapter, and it was like therapy for me after Deathly Hallows.
Beautiful descriptions/details of the celetstial heavens and surroundings. Completely intrigued with Contessa and her memories of her Potions professor - and a Ravenclaw Revolutionary - watch out Professor Snape
!
Response from Agnus Castus (Author of The Unconditional Vow)
Yeah, I don't think either of them were too chuffed to be reunited! Thanks for reading and reviewing.
At least Severus got a DIGNIFIED and HAPPY ending!
Response from Agnus Castus (Author of The Unconditional Vow)
I'm glad you found his ending to be dignified and happy.
Brilliant ending. Just enough hope they will have a happy ending. :)
Response from Agnus Castus (Author of The Unconditional Vow)
I'm delighted that you liked the ending! Thanks for reading and reviewing :)
omg, will there be an epilogue?! Excellent story. Leaves me wishing for more, though!
Response from Agnus Castus (Author of The Unconditional Vow)
Actually, I did write an epilogue, but it never made it past my beta-readers. It was deemed to be surplus. I'm chuffed that you are left wishing for more - I do see that as a good thing :) Thank you for reading and reviewing!
Response from mimmom (Reviewer)
Yes, I see it as a positive, too. It's impossible to end a story in a way that suits everyone. Left wishing for more, is probably the best one can hope for because if you take it one more step and one more step, eventually it goes on too long and loses sight of the initial goal of the story.
Response from Agnus Castus (Author of The Unconditional Vow)
Absolutely. This story ended here because it had achieved its goal and completed its arc. If there were to be more from these two, it would have to be in a separate story. I'm so pleased you've enjoyed reading :)
OMG! Can't wait for the next chapter. Things are getting exciting now. Stupid moldywart! Vile creature.
Response from Agnus Castus (Author of The Unconditional Vow)
The next chapter is the last one, and is working its way through the queue. Thanks for reviewing!
Nate has appalling timing! :)
Response from Agnus Castus (Author of The Unconditional Vow)
As does Dumbledore ;)
Such an intense chapter. Excellent. Amazing.
Response from Agnus Castus (Author of The Unconditional Vow)
Thank you so much! Expect more intensity in the next chapter...
Excellent!
Response from Agnus Castus (Author of The Unconditional Vow)
Thank you. I'm glad you liked it!
HA! Dumbledore is still manipulating from the grave. So she made an unbreakable vow? I'm wondering why she agreed to such an undertaking, it seems a very rash thing to do for a reasoned Ravenclaw. Perhaps Dumbledore gave her more information than we are privvy to yet? Intriguing.
Response from Agnus Castus (Author of The Unconditional Vow)
Yes, Dumbledore is most certainly up to his old tricks. I encourage you to hold onto that thought about the Unbreakable Vow... There's more to come, in time. Thanks for your review!
Love the set up - things are going to get very interesting, I think.
Response from Agnus Castus (Author of The Unconditional Vow)
Hehe, well, interesting is one word for it. Thanks for leaving another review!