Occasionally, I have a thing for cruelty, and this fic is certainly one of my darkest ones, so many thanks for reading and reviewing. Concerning Albus and how he turned into the man he became (the one who is manipulative and, sometime, cruel): I only read/found one story that goes slightly along this lines, and although it is a very short one-shot which leaves open a lot of questions, I'd like to rec it:The Orchardby tesharahttp://www.thepetulantpoetess.com/viewstory.php?sid=13087

Thanks for the story by teshara. You're right, it only slightly touches on the edges of the possibilities.

Thank you so very much. I get drawn to it myself, every now and then. I promise to write a sequel, though.

Thank you so very much. I get drawn to it myself, every now and then. I promise to write a sequel, though.

I must admit, I wrote the story before I read the prompts, then decided to make it a challenge entry, knowing that more people would read it. And the prompt fit. It is dark, though. Thanks for reviewing!

I must admit, I wrote the story before I read the prompts, then decided to make it a challenge entry, knowing that more people would read it. And the prompt fit. It is dark, though. Thanks for reviewing!

I truly hope you've found something nice and fluffy to cheer you up ;-) I am very grateful not only that you've reviewed this, but that you've read the story in the first place despite the warnings and although it is so disturbing. It is strange to get reviews - good reviews - for such a nasty piece of work, but I had to write it nevertheless. Again - thanks for taking the time to review!

I truly hope you've found something nice and fluffy to cheer you up ;-) I am very grateful not only that you've reviewed this, but that you've read the story in the first place despite the warnings and although it is so disturbing. It is strange to get reviews - good reviews - for such a nasty piece of work, but I had to write it nevertheless. Again - thanks for taking the time to review!

Thank you so very much! It just came out of my fingers; without the help of my betas, I might not have posted it at all.

Thank you so very much! It just came out of my fingers; without the help of my betas, I might not have posted it at all.

Thank you so very much. It was the first dark story I have written, and I am glad you liked it. If one can talk of liking such a bitter story, that is. Thanks a lot for reviewing!

Thank you so very much. It was the first dark story I have written, and I am glad you liked it. If one can talk of liking such a bitter story, that is. Thanks a lot for reviewing!

I have to write the sequel first, of course, and I won't begin before October, when the voting is over. This story is the darkest I have written so far and possibly the only one that bitter and painful. I know the sequel will be dark as well, but I tend to happy endings. Hope that helps.Thanks for reviewing!

I have to write the sequel first, of course, and I won't begin before October, when the voting is over. This story is the darkest I have written so far and possibly the only one that bitter and painful. I know the sequel will be dark as well, but I tend to happy endings. Hope that helps.Thanks for reviewing!

Hope you found some fluff, nice, wonderful fluff to forget the story I wrote...I know it's bad. It's so far the darkes story I have written, and although I usually prefer Snape and Dumbledore being friends, I hate the Headmaster here as well. He sacrifices someone else than himself, and that is not right.I will write a sequel for this - I have to, to solve things.And many, many thanks for being mad enough to read even the cruel challenge entries!

Hope you found some fluff, nice, wonderful fluff to forget the story I wrote...I know it's bad. It's so far the darkes story I have written, and although I usually prefer Snape and Dumbledore being friends, I hate the Headmaster here as well. He sacrifices someone else than himself, and that is not right.I will write a sequel for this - I have to, to solve things.And many, many thanks for being mad enough to read even the cruel challenge entries!

Thank you!

Thank you!

I guess most people expected a humerous answer to this prompt. However, I guess this is a horribly plausible explanation.Thanks for reading and reviewing!

I guess most people expected a humerous answer to this prompt. However, I guess this is a horribly plausible explanation.Thanks for reading and reviewing!

Usually, I prefer a nicer Dumbledore, and write him that way, too. But here - I agree. He is awful, maybe even more awful than Voldemort because he seems so friendly on occasions. Thanks a lot for reviewing!

Usually, I prefer a nicer Dumbledore, and write him that way, too. But here - I agree. He is awful, maybe even more awful than Voldemort because he seems so friendly on occasions. Thanks a lot for reviewing!

In other words, Snape's the victim on all levels. No surprise he not only looks nasty, but acts nasty towards his students as well. I didn't enjoy writing this, either, but I had to.Many thanks for reviewing!

My beta, whose story gave me the initial idea to this, described a rape scene in present tense, and it was really, really too much for me. So I decided that I would tell this bit in flashbacks. This way, I could avoid having to describe too many details. I think it is bad enough as it is.Dumbledore, in my opinion, is not cruel because he likes to, but because he has to. He accepts Snape's wishes wherever he can. Not that this would have a big effect for Snape, though.I haven't started the sequel yet, but will do soon - it's nagging ;-)And many thanks for reviewing!

I rarely get reviews in such detail, and I hereby hug you for finding the time to write to me. This story jumped at me when I read the story of one of my betas. There was a nasty scene I couldn't get out of my head, and I had to write this in one go. My betas helped me to polish it up, and as I had no intention to make it a challenge entry, I can't blame them for recommending it ;-)I nearly never write dark fics - I don't like them. So I can understand how disturbing this one is. And yes, I consider Dumbledore mad in his own way. But on the other hand, what if he had been softer? Would Voldemort have won? Horrible thought as well.There will be a sequel to this story, I will post it after the voting. Thanks again for your review. Feel free to recommend it to others, but please don't reveal my identity.

I won't give you away---if you tell me how to vote on this, because I'd love to!(And I look forward to the sequel, as well!)

SouthernWitch will send out a link when it is time to vote, in October. And you can always have a look at the rules here at the Poetess *g*

After book seven, I think it is possible and not too much out of canon. D. is not as nice as he always seemed to be, and he did sacrifice Snape's life without thinking twice.Thanks so much for reviewing!

No no no, I'm saying I didn't like how Dumbledore was portrayed in canon, at least with how horrifically he behaved toward Snape.  He really ended up speaking for Jo and not himself in DH; desperate to prove Snape is disgusting and a "deeply horrible person", rather than speaking FOR DUMBLEDORE.There is no damned good reason for someone who experienced unrequited love to treat Snape's unrequited love so badly.  There is no good reason for someone who preaches house unity for seven years to say that Snape should have been sorted into Gryffindor.  That statement translates to "all Slytherins are bad, and all Gryffindors are good", and goes so far against what she previously put in her books that it boggles the mind.Ack, I need to stop.  I'll rave against this book for days if you let me.Anyway, my point was, I didn't like DH Dumbledore, but I like how you're writing him.

Let's unite against book seven! I considered it worth waiting for at first, then I disliked it, then I began to write my own stories. In most of them, Dumbledore is nicer, friendlier, more like he was in the early books. I never understood why Ms Rowling made the Slytherin students flee before the big fight. Well, there's a lot what I dislike, but most of all I dislike Snape sying such a useless, pitiful death.Argh. Have to stop as well. Will work at the sequel instead!

Hear hear!  The less said, probably the better, lest I monopolise your review page most rudely. :P

I've read too many stories where Snape gets tortured, but just stands up and shakes it off like a dog shakes off water from its fur. I always considered him human, despite his cool manners. And I wanted to provide a glimps behind the facade.Thanks for your review - it means a lot to me to read my readers' opinions.

Voldemort is mad and cruel, Dumbledore is completely sane, but cruel nevertheless. I don't know what to fear more. Snape is definitely torn apart between the two, even in the real books, where he dies at the end. Awful life indeed. That's why I dislike the ending of book seven.Thanks for reviewing!

I know it's not easy to read, so many thanks for doing it nevertheless, and for reviewing as well.

I can't even say it's my pleasure, because writing this was hard. I usually don't write dark fics, but this one wanted to get out.Thanks for giving it a chance. Thanks so much for reviewing!

Grim and sad - I had the urge to tell a story with a broken Snape, one who isn't the hero, one whitout a happy end. And yes, I think Dumbledore is, in his friendly, caring ways, as bad as mad Voldemort. Now how cruel is that?Thanks for reviewing!

Snape is a pawn on the chess board, and he gets kicked out of the game as soon as he isn't needed anymore - he'll die. And to be fair, Dumbledore sacrifices not only Snape, but himself as well to grant Harry the chance for killing Voldemort. Grim, sad, but nevertheless necessary.Still, I dislike D. massively here, altough it's my own story :-)Thanks so much for reviewing!

Thank you! I must admit, I wrote the story before I read the prompts, and adjusted it slightly afterwards. I think it is a bitter, but plausible explanation for Snape's looks. Thanks for reviewinig - and I'll leave I reckon in ;-)

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Oh, yes, it does. He simply doesn't care for himself, doesn't take showers, uses his nasty appearance to keep people away from him. He cannot have people touching him, so he - subconsciously - makes himself more ugly and nasty than he needs to be. Thanks for reviewing!

Ok, I wasn't reading between the lines. :D!  After a second reading, it was more obvious, of course. Thanks for responding!

Ah. All my betas are American - could you give me a wording that would fit?

suppose would be much more in character for Snape. Not too bad, I suppose. That is infinitely more British. 

Done. Thanks!