Oh, so Snape. Of course he'd feel nothing but guilt.

Like the Carly Simon song says, nobody does it better, Lariope!

Just before death, it is said that one's whole life passes before them.  I always thought it would be a recalling of one's sins, but only that, nothing more.  But I have just been persuaded that is much more than that.  That it is a catharsis, a healing of one's soul, and a promise of a better existence.  Somewhere in the future.  It is freedom.  Longed for and frantically sought freedom.  It is over.This series of drabbles has been delightful and thought provoking to read.  Thank you for posting them here.*many squishy hugs*  Beth

You've just written the perfect description of a man who is so tired and depressed that he cannot act.  Counting cabbage roses and Father Christmas gnomes is the only occupation he can undertake at the moment.  He cannot move the armoire to count the roses behind it, and the gnomes won't stop dancing long enough to be counted.  But once he can move the furniture and still the gnomes, he will be able to get out of his bed and take the Malfoy boy to tell the Dark Lord what they have done... what he, Severus Snape, has done... killed his friend out of love.  But the Dark Lord must never know that last bit.  It would never do.  Too dangerous, that.Sloth has its uses.  If it weren't for his sloth, perhaps he would find the energy to do away with himself.  And that wouldn't do either.  Better to practice sloth.Well done once again, Lariope!  Damn, you're good!Beth

"You take a great deal for granted Dumbledore!  Perhaps I have changed my mind!"Perhaps Severus did change his mind about his promise to Dumbledore, but he would not break his promise.  I had never thought of his casting the Killing Curse as an act of love, but it makes perfect sense.  In fact it's brilliant.  Of all the things that Severus Snape had done for all these years, to think that it would be the killing a friend out of love for his well being... well, I don't know what I'm trying to say.  It's just that this act of love is what cleansed Severus of the worst, most stained part of his soul was not something I had ever pondered.  But it does make.You've given me a new pair of glasses!Beth

Again you've broken my heart.  The only thing that Severus wants is the only thing he cannot garner for himself.  Sparkling silver, the finest cloth, a beautiful home, none of it holds his interest.  He only wants what he cannot seem to gain: the loving gaze of a woman who adores him.Damn this is sad.Beth

The sixth is to allow him to feel the guilty joy of knowing that James Fucking Potter is dead... without remembering that Lily Potter is also dead... only nothing seems to stop him remembering that...Sometimes gluttony is the same as regret.Beth

What a profound disappointment Severus must have felt when he saw that the child of his precious Lily is not the spitting image of her.  Instead he will have to protect and die for this image of James Potter.Your description of what Severus felt when he had to smother his desire to beat the defiant look from this boy's face – feeling its arid path through his body, crisping his skin, turning his blood sluggish and heavy – made me think that this is what it must feel like to read your own obituary.Well done.Beth

This scene is chilling.  How filled with hurt and anger this young wizard must be to make himself stand alone in the dark, among the markers of the already dead, and wait for the bestowing of a mark that he will live to regret just so that he can make another man sorry.  It is so sad that he has come to this.  Potter will never feel a tenth of the sorrow that Severus will know.Beth

My heart breaks for him knowing that he has seen a cartoonish drawing of himself in someone's notebook –  his beautiful nose drawn in exaggerated form for the sole purpose to ridicule him, to make him feel "less than."I think his drive to perfection in potions and spells, his need to humiliate those who humiliate him, is a natural if unfortunate outgrowth of being treated so poorly at home and at Hogwarts.  Severus will never show his magnum opus to another soul, but this property of the Half-Blood Prince will be seen and studied by another... by someone whom Severus could not have imagined as he was writing his master work.  The future has a way of mocking us all.  And you have a great gift for exposing the soul of your characters.Beth

*pats you on the back*  This chapter is fabulous!  And no, it will never be enough.  I think Lily is the greediest person in Severus' young world.Beth

This is just how I think young Severus Snape would feel after having given into his lust at the sight of Miss Marchbanks bending to retrieve her dropped quill.  It was interesting that his lust was initiated by the sight of Miss Marchbanks, but only reached completion when he thought of Lily.His reaction to his thoughts about this other girl instead of his adoration of Lily Evans would make him feel very guilty.  I'm not sure Lily deserves such loyalty, but Severus is loyal and he will feel the guilt.  And nothing was erased.Well done!Beth

This was a wonderful series of drabbles. Dark, perfectly attuned to each sin, and pretty much perfect.

I could almost feel his lust. Wonderful work.

I've never seen this scene put quite this way. We were all thinking it, but no one seems to have captured it in words... until now. Rather poignant. Three words to describe Snape's life... Love, Honor, & Duty. 

The Avada cast out of love? The way you wrote it makes perfect sense.Your writing makes me feel as if I am inside Snape's head. Not just that I know what he is thinking, but I feel what he is feeling. It's hard to describe. It is almost as if I am living his emotions. Heartbreaking, gutwrenching, as in some of the previous chapters. This is one of the reasons I love your writing so much. You pull me in completely.Great job.

There is a reason you are on of my favorite writers. You write with tenderness and power, a combination that is devastating when done right-as you do.Awesome. It would be a tremendous thing if you could write a compantion set of drabbles for Severus AFTER the war, finding all the things he wanted so much all his life, the seven ANTI-sins, maybe?But I love this as it is.Superb.Brava!Fizzabella

Oh this is... beyond words. Exquisite. Perfect. So in-character with Severus Snape, at least in my mind. The guilt, the punishment, the loss of control... Amazing.

Continued perfection!

*releases breath* I cannot wait until the next 'sin'!

These are all outstanding! Beautifully written and in character as well.
Inspiring.

This series just hollowed me out and filled me up all at once. Amazing writing! Just breathtaking the way you investigate and explain the emotions. My favorite was Origins (Wrath) because it never occurred to me how he might have expected Harry to look and that he had so much hope left still in his heart. WOW. Thanks!