The Seven Heavenly Virtues

Summary: Sin and virtue: can one exist without the other? And to what end do they determine our final outcome? Severus ponders these very questions as he tries to determine exactly where he's ended up. Is love really the answer?

Disclaimer: The characters, settings, etc. of the Harry Potter series are not mine; they belong to J.K. Rowling and Co. I promise to return them when I am through. Well, most of them anyway.

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Sin and Virtue by Pearle

Chapter Three: The Seven Heavenly Virtues

Lunch turned out to be a fairly elaborate affair in an open-air solarium off the main hallway. The room was lined with flowerbeds over-flowing with brilliantly coloured flowers, both rare and exotic in nature, growing in the same space. A small waterfall in the far corner emptied into a pond stocked with Koi.

A large, round, elaborately carved wooden table, capable of setting at least twenty or more, stood in the middle of the lush garden. Sunlight from the overhead skylight glinted off crystal goblets gracing the two table settings on the table.

Al poured himself wine from a richly carved carafe. "Would you like wine with your meal, Severus?"

"Yes, thank you." Severus felt totally out of his element in the opulent surroundings of the solarium. "It would seem you're used to entertaining quite a few more people than just one."

"Not really. I'm not normally in the habit of entertaining guests in my home. This table is an... artifact, if you will, from a bygone era." Distractedly, Al stroked the gleaming tabletop before continuing. "Everyone equal. It was an interesting theory, doomed to failure from the beginning when you consider he didn't take into account human nature and the inability of humans to put others before themselves. Still, a noble undertaking and probably one of the best arguments for free will since it was solely Arthur's idea and not one of my original concepts."

Severus stared at Al in confusion. Who was equal? Arthur? Arthur who? He looked around the table lest he missed something. Around the table. A round table. His eyes widened as the connection hit him. "King Arthur's round table? I thought that was purely fiction."

"So are wizards and magic if you ask a Muggle," Al said smiling.

Katherine appeared, bearing a large silver tray laden with mouthwatering delights. Behind her was a young woman carrying a second tray. The feast they lay before him was fit for a king.

Carefully, Severus filled his plate from the serving platters, the rich aroma of epicurean delights making his mouth water. Never good at small talk, he was lost as to what to say to a man he suspected to be a deity.

"I must thank you for the interruption. While your spirit refusing to accept the inevitable has certainly put an unusual slant on normal procedures, the circumstances have reminded me why humans are so admirable in the first place. This morning has proved to be most interesting. I think we did a remarkable job cataloguing your sins, don't you?"

Right. So much for small talk. "So, what happens now?"

Al topped off their wine glasses. "We still have your virtues to review, and then... well, we'll have to see what transpires. By all rights you should have moved on already."

"Why haven't I?" He had no desire to "shuffle off this mortal coil" as the great Bard so aptly put it, but he was aware he couldn't stay here forever. Once again, he wondered how long he'd actually been wherever "here" was, only partially conscious of the uneven passage of time in this place.

"As I said before, your spirit refuses to cooperate."

"And you can't just override it?"

Al sighed. "You're not the only one involved."

"I beg your pardon? I don't see anyone else here. What are you talking about?"

"Another person. Her spirit is... dying without your presence. Her light is fading, even as we speak. She's integral to the fabric of future unfolding events. While I could shift circumstances to exclude her, she refuses to accept your passing, something about regrets and lost chances." Al shook his head; this wasn't supposed to happen. "I have to tell you that the fates have never conspired against destiny like this before."

"She who?"

"Are you finished? Would you like dessert?"

"She who?"

Al eyed the angry man. "We'll get to that eventually. But before we discuss any possible outcomes, we really should review your virtues. If you're finished?"

Severus stood, momentarily towering over the strange man. "Fine. Let's get this over with. I can be in Hell by dinner time."

Al chuckled, his odd eyes twinkling. "I believe Hell closes at five. You may have to suffer through dinner with me instead. Come. Shall we review the rest of your file?"

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Once again Severus settled himself in the chair in front of the massive desk, wishing he could be anywhere but here. He watched as Al retrieved a thick folder from the top of a stack to his left. This folder was label much as the other had been: "SNAPE, Severus – Case #09011959-4-878-697-007." He watched Al scan the first page before handing it to him.

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SNAPE, Severus – Case #09011959-4-878-697-007

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ VIRTUES ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Severus Snape's virtues are not as easily catalogued as his sins. While as numerous in count, they are at times an unshakeable feeling or belief rather than a direct action and are not as easily stated. Too, virtues may be combined in thought and action with each other, thereby making them more difficult to catalogue properly.

It should be noted that as Snape embraced each virtue, they remained strong and constant, never wavering within his spirit, until his demise. The surge in virtues exhibited and embraced by Severus Snape is directly tied to his epiphany regarding his membership in the group "Death Eaters" and his confession to Headmaster Albus Dumbledore as well as his joining the group "the Order of the Phoenix."

Faith

09-01-1959 to the present

Severus Snape did not fully embrace the virtue of Faith until agreeing to help Headmaster Albus Dumbledore just before his twentieth birthday. His hard fast belief that aiding a group named "the Order of the Phoenix" (hereafter referred to as "the Order" for brevity's sake) would bring about the end of a megalomaniac known as Lord Voldemort, A.K.A. Tom Riddle, continued unbridled until his death at the hands of said psychotic when his work for "the side of the light" was revealed, and continues to this time.

Case in point: While Snape believes he may not have been treated fairly during his student years, he was still willing to confess to Headmaster Dumbledore the horrors he knows would transpire in the belief that Dumbledore could stop the deaths of the Potters (See multiple mentions of said individuals in the Sins folder, most notably those set forth in the section marked Anger) without thought of redemption for himself with only the hope that right would triumph.

Case in point: Severus Snape's faith is routinely put to the test during the twenty years he spied on the group known as "Death Eaters," knowing it would be easier to side with their cause than fight against them.

Case in point: Snape believes unquestioningly in Headmaster Albus Dumbledore's ability to end Lord Voldemort's evil reign, insomuch as he agrees to act as a spy for "the Order" to bring about this action.

(Additional case points are located in Snape Sec. DS11, page 173.)

Hope

09-01-1959 to the present

Severus Snape has exhibited the virtue of Hope continuously and without doubt from the time he renounced the group known as "Death Eaters" through to the present without thought for his own future. While this virtue is felt more keenly as an emotion, it can be expressed as an action in existential situations.

Case in point: Severus Snape's attempt to mentor the students placed in his care (i.e. as head of a division of the school where he taught) whose parents were part of Voldemort's following.

Case in point: Snape's attendance at meetings of the group "the Order" to relay information regarding Death Eater activities in the hope that he can prevent these events (i.e. – raids, deaths of innocents, attacks on Muggles [See subsection Severus Sec. DS21 a complete explanation of this term as it relates to wizards], and other violent acts).

Case in point: The mere fact that Snape returns to Hogwarts, year after year, knowing that he will have to continue spying, an action that carries a death sentence if discovered, alludes to the hope he must have to believe what he is doing is right and that good will out.

(Additional case points are located in Snape Sec. DS21, page 384.)

Charity

09-01-1959 to the present

The virtue of true Charity lies not in financial remuneration, but in giving freely of yourself though the act of helping others, as evidenced by Severus Snape's actions. Throughout his tenure as a professor, and more specifically his interactions with Harry Potter (only surviving child of his childhood nemesis James Potter and friend Lily Evans) whom, in an act of true Charity, he has sworn to protect. Snape's actions have been at cross points to his words. While belittling and berating Potter and his friends time and time again, Snape has moved to save their lives continuously when the child and his friends were under his care, a direct contradiction to his words.

Case in point: Snape went to Headmaster Albus Dumbledore when he learned that James and Lily Potter were marked for death in the hope that he could prevent the event.

Case in point: Snape attempted numerous times to stop the Death Eaters from raids against various Muggles by alerting "the Order" of their activities.

Case in point: Severus Snape makes a difficult potion, even though it is extremely time consuming, for a fellow "Order" member and colleague on a monthly basis without thought to personal gain.

Case in point: During Harry Potter's first year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Snape rushes to the assistance of Potter and his friends when a troll is discovered loose in the school. Snape prevented another instructor, possessed by the being Voldemort, from killing the child during a Quidditch match when he hexed the broom Potter was flying (*Note: See Appendix B at the end of Snape Sec. DS31 for rules and information regarding Quidditch). He insisted on refereeing a later match to reduce the distance between himself and his charge. Snape helped set up a difficult riddle to prevent theft of a magical object in addition to setting and strengthening wards on the object.

This pattern of aiding Potter and his friends, as well as his colleagues and other students, prevails throughout the rest of Snape's life, right up to the present time. These incidents are too numerous to mention here, but are detailed in Snape Sec. DS31 pages 447 through 525 (including Appendix A).

(Additional case points are located in Snape Sec. DS31, page 420.)

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Severus sat back in his chair. He never would have considered any of his actions toward Potter or his friends as an act of virtue. He had merely acted upon the life debt he owed the boy's father and his own vow to Albus to watch over him, tiresome as that proved to be. His actions had not been those of a virtuous man; they had been the actions of a man desperate for redemption.

"Even a man truly sorry for his actions cannot embrace the good within him if it did not exist in the first place."

Al's quiet comment cut through Severus' thoughts. "Yes, but you present these actions as if it had been my intention to care for Potter in the first place," he said crossly.

"Wasn't that the case?"

"No, I only did what I had to do. Nothing more."

"What you had to do to save the child and prevent the further existence of evil sounds like selfless acts if you ask me," Al said with a smile.

Severus scowled and reached for the next piece of paper. The sooner he went through his file the sooner he could... Well, he didn't know what would happen, but reading about his so called "virtuous side" was making his teeth ache.

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Fortitude

09-01-1959 to the present

Severus Snape embraced the virtue of Fortitude from the time he sought redemption to the present. Each time he was "hexed" and injured while spying, Snape continued to return to the group known as "Death Eaters" to gather further intelligence, regardless of continued injury to his person and the constant threat of death upon discovery.

Again, the list of Snape's acts of fortitude (an estimated one hundred and twelve incidents) are too numerous to mention here but are detailed in Snape Sec. DS41 . Most relate to Death Eater meetings and continued "punishments" meted out by Lord Voldemort.

Case in point: After acting on orders from Headmaster Dumbledore (which included the man's own death) that labeled him a traitor, Severus Snape did continue, at great personal risk, to pass information on to Minerva McGonagall regarding Death Eater activities and the locations of magical objects known as Horcruxes.

Case in point: After being secretly cleared of charges against him, Snape braved possible personal injury by returning to "the Order" to work out a final plan of attack against the megalomaniac Lord Voldemort (*Note: This action also embraces the virtues faith, hope, and charity ).

(Additional case points are located in Snape Sec. DS41, page 581.)

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Severus pinched the bridge of his nose, a headache threatening to make the afternoon that much more enjoyable. He remembered the last incident well; sure that Potter and company would have hexed him to Hell and back if Minerva and Granger had not intervened.

Minerva had been Albus' Secret-Keeper. After months of spying for "the Order," even after being labeled a traitor, Minerva had been able to convince the others that the Unbreakable Vow he'd been forced to take, not once but twice, had forced him into his actions. The first vow with Narcissa protected Draco; the second at the Headmaster's insistence to spur Potter into action.

He fully expected Potter to Avada him on sight when he Apparated to number twelve, Grimmauld Place, regardless of his so called "innocence." And while Potter didn't disappoint him, it was Granger who'd truly surprised him. It had been Granger who cast a Full-Body bind on the lad, angry with Potter for not accepting Minerva's explanation and the facts laid out before them. The rest of "the Order" begrudgingly accepted him back into their ranks after witnessing a Pensieve Dumbledore had left detailing the events leading up to his death, but it had been Granger who had offered to work with him when he broached the idea of a potion that would fortify Potter's powers, drawing directly off of Voldemort's, in an effort to weaken the Dark Lord.

He suspected that might have been the start of his feelings for the young woman. In any event, it was just as well that she would never know to what degree she had earned his respect, or his heart, if he still had one. In the end, her friendship had been enough. With a heavy sigh, Severus returned to the stack of papers in front of him.

Al watched as Severus seemed to stare off into space; lines of melancholy etched around the dark man's eyes. He could read the emotions the man felt, even if he hadn't known what was unfolding on the battlefield Severus had left.

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Justice

09-01-1959 to the present

Severus Snape has embraced the virtue of Justice with far less frequency than any of the other virtues. While attempting to mentor his house, he did not act fairly to others around him as part of a 'cover' he was forced to assume showing that was a 'faithful' follower of the psychotic known as Lord Voldemort and favoured the other Death Eater's children. While this action might be excused as stated, it should be noted that Snape performed this task with much zeal leading one to believe that the action might be embraced as true at some point.

Case in point: While Snape can be cruel to his most vulnerable students, he is respected by, and respects, his colleagues and their abilities.

Case in point: After returning to "the Order," Snape treats a young witch (i.e. – Hermione Granger) with fairness and equity when he is forced to accept her help in creating a potion.

Case in point: Begrudgingly treats former classmate Remus Lupin with respect due him as a member of "the Order" and one time colleague, regardless of past association that shows Lupin was less than fair with Snape by multiple acts of omission (See file LUPIN, Remus – Case #10031959-4-012-123-665 subsection Sloth for details).

(Additional case points are located in Snape Sec. DS51, page 796.)

Prudence

09-01-1959 to the present

Severus Snape has embraced the virtue of Prudence insomuch as he has not led an extravagant lifestyle beyond his means. He has shown himself, throughout his lifetime, to occasionally indulge in extravagance, but never to the point of decadence as evidenced by the substantial balance in his Gringotts bank account and thus continues to live in meager surroundings. No further examples of Snape's austerity are necessary at this time.

Temperance

09-01-1959 to the present

Severus Snape has practiced the virtue of Temperance during his tenure as Head of Slytherin at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He has refused offers of wealth and advancement, even when monies were spare, to remain loyal to Headmaster Dumbledore and "the Order," thus ensuring his act of redemption to be true.

Case in point: Refused repeated offers from Lucius Malfoy of a monetary nature to create potions that would give Malfoy ultimate control over others.

Case in point: Consistently limited any indulgences of intoxicants so that he might maintain full mental capacities if called into action.

Case in point: Limited the amount of indulgences of the flesh even though still desirous of such actions (See Sins subsection Lust). It should be noted that recent thoughts now center upon a single witch, rather than multiple individuals; however, said desire has never been acted upon, thus classifying it as true temperance.

(Additional case points are located in Snape Sec. DS61, page 842.)

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Severus sat back and closed his eyes. It's one thing to know the rights and wrongs you've committed in your lifetime, but it was entirely another matter to see them laid out in black and white on the written page. Had he really been that vile? If he were being honest with himself, and current events made any other actions moot, the answer would be 'yes.' He had been that bad to those around him. Never mind the knife's edge he walked daily for more than twenty years; he could have found time to temper his words and actions, if only just a bit.

"Well, it seems we have reached the end."

"What happens to me now?"

Al eyed Severus speculatively. "Yes, what to do with you, that seems to be the question all along. Tell me, Severus, what do you wish to happen?"

"What do I want? I'd rather not go to Hell, if I have any say in the matter. I imagine the Dark Lord has taken up residence there. He's someone I'd like to avoid, thank you. What do you... What is Heaven like?" he asked softly.

"You'd rather go to Heaven?"

"Well, I surely don't want to go to Hell. Why are you even asking me? Just get on with it. Do what you have to." Severus squared his shoulders, sitting taller in the chair. He was aware of the life he'd lived, regardless of whatever actions they'd deemed virtuous; he'd always known he'd end up in Hell. The mark on his arm had insured that.

But his Dark Mark was gone. Too tired to contemplate what that might mean, Severus waited for Al to decide his fate.

TBC

A/N: Only one more chapter to go as Severus' fate hangs in the balance. Chapter Four: What's Love Got To Do With It? – Is currently in my head and just has to make it onto the page (look for it early next week).

A grateful thank you to my beta, the wonderful Southern_Witch_69. The mistakes, however, are all mine.

Pearle