Potter flashfic
15 May 2021 02:47 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
igenlodeEven without access to fanfiction.net, apparently I haven't lost the urge to rewrite other people's mangled fic...
(Unfortunately the beginning of this is just as bad as the point at which I started the rewrite, so if I do decide to post it as an 'epilogue' scene in its own right I'll have to find some other introduction. The canon's a bit dodgy, as Snape's portrait ought to be in the Headmaster's office, not that of the teacher of Defence Against the Dark Arts, but I suppose they might have moved it in the course of twenty years :-p)
https://m.facebook.com/FantasticBeastsIMO/photos/a.119923721984057/805427063433716/
"So you failed to hold down your position as Auror, Mr Potter? I suppose you are under the impression that impressing Defence Against the Dark Arts into the minds of disrespectful children will be in some way a more rewarding task?"
Harry looked up and met the portrait's gaze, facing down the sneer.
"I think you'll find it's Professor Potter now." He waited a moment, letting the pause lend an edge to what might have been taken as courtesy. "Sir."
"My congratulations... Professor." Snape's lip had curled in response. "Doubtless your appointment was based on your outstanding performance in setting out to train your fellow students in self-defence before you had attained any qualifications at all?"
"Yes," Harry said quietly, "I believe it was."
Those days with "Dumbledore's Army" had been the first time he'd begun to understand where his real talents lay; it had taken him this long to realise once and for all what he wanted to do with the rest of his life. Not just to protect others, but to help others learn how to protect themselves. Not to hoard knowledge as Snape had done, doling it out in scornful snippets, but to use his experience to teach everything he knew.
Most of the current members of the Board of Governors at Hogwarts had been in Dumbledore's Army, or knew someone who had, and the remaining old guard listened to the tales of nephews, cousins and even grandchildren. He was pretty sure it was his early achievements with the DA that had tipped the balance in helping him get the job.
Snape snorted, sending a puff of dust drifting from the portrait's frame. "In that case my good wishes would appear to be entirely superfluous."
"Entirely," Harry agreed, taking off his glasses for a moment to rub at weary eyes. He looked back at the portrait, seeing it as no more than a blurred patch whose shapes would not resolve, and decided he preferred Snape that way.
For a halting instant, though he was not certain, he thought he heard the other man catch his breath.
"All the same," Snape said, the words seemingly dragged out of him as if by hot irons, "for what it is worth, you have them. My good wishes... for a new beginning. Hogwarts has offered new beginnings before -- to those who have lost their way."
And for a moment there was another ghost of memory in the office between them.
Harry wiped his glasses and put them back on, pushing them firmly up his nose. He began to unpack his books again without looking up.
"I know it has. And I'm glad of it."
The portrait said nothing. Harry used his wand to conjure a large crystal ball from its packaging, and floated it to a position on the far side of the room. He could still feel Snape's eyes on him, but there was an odd warmth to the sensation.
"I've every intention of doing justice to the task I've taken on, sir," he added, and heard a sudden snort of dry laughter.
"Oh, I'm sure you'll be the finest teacher this subject has ever had."
Harry grinned. "Well, I'll have a good go at it, anyway."
When he glanced up again, the portrait's frame was empty, save for the whisk of a dark cloak out of one corner. Silence reigned, save for the comfortable mutter of the fire, and the distant sound of young voices from outside. But it was a companionable silence, and he could feel the aura of the room settling around him like a cloak.
(Unfortunately the beginning of this is just as bad as the point at which I started the rewrite, so if I do decide to post it as an 'epilogue' scene in its own right I'll have to find some other introduction. The canon's a bit dodgy, as Snape's portrait ought to be in the Headmaster's office, not that of the teacher of Defence Against the Dark Arts, but I suppose they might have moved it in the course of twenty years :-p)
https://m.facebook.com/FantasticBeastsIMO/photos/a.119923721984057/805427063433716/
Nineteen years later, Harry walked once more through the gates of his home of seven years. Except now he was Professor Harry Potter, Order of Merlin, First Class.
He walked into his office and began to unpack. As he did, he felt the piercing gaze of the portrait of a sallow-faced, greasy-haired man. "I hear Hogwarts has a new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher?" Severus Snape spoke.
Harry started. It was funny how being around Professor Snape still made him so nervous. "G...good morning, professor. I... I didn't realize..."
"That a dead man can talk?" There was a hint of amusement in Snape's voice.
"N...not really, Sir. I..."
"All the very best for this new beginning, Professor Potter. And congratulations on your addition to Hogwarts' illustrious faculty. I'm sure you will emerge as the finest teacher this subject has ever had."
Tears of joy sparkled in Harry's eyes. "I'll... I'll try my best, sir." He choked.
"There is no need to call me 'Sir, Professor." Snape smiled and the two burst into laughter.
"So you failed to hold down your position as Auror, Mr Potter? I suppose you are under the impression that impressing Defence Against the Dark Arts into the minds of disrespectful children will be in some way a more rewarding task?"
Harry looked up and met the portrait's gaze, facing down the sneer.
"I think you'll find it's Professor Potter now." He waited a moment, letting the pause lend an edge to what might have been taken as courtesy. "Sir."
"My congratulations... Professor." Snape's lip had curled in response. "Doubtless your appointment was based on your outstanding performance in setting out to train your fellow students in self-defence before you had attained any qualifications at all?"
"Yes," Harry said quietly, "I believe it was."
Those days with "Dumbledore's Army" had been the first time he'd begun to understand where his real talents lay; it had taken him this long to realise once and for all what he wanted to do with the rest of his life. Not just to protect others, but to help others learn how to protect themselves. Not to hoard knowledge as Snape had done, doling it out in scornful snippets, but to use his experience to teach everything he knew.
Most of the current members of the Board of Governors at Hogwarts had been in Dumbledore's Army, or knew someone who had, and the remaining old guard listened to the tales of nephews, cousins and even grandchildren. He was pretty sure it was his early achievements with the DA that had tipped the balance in helping him get the job.
Snape snorted, sending a puff of dust drifting from the portrait's frame. "In that case my good wishes would appear to be entirely superfluous."
"Entirely," Harry agreed, taking off his glasses for a moment to rub at weary eyes. He looked back at the portrait, seeing it as no more than a blurred patch whose shapes would not resolve, and decided he preferred Snape that way.
For a halting instant, though he was not certain, he thought he heard the other man catch his breath.
"All the same," Snape said, the words seemingly dragged out of him as if by hot irons, "for what it is worth, you have them. My good wishes... for a new beginning. Hogwarts has offered new beginnings before -- to those who have lost their way."
And for a moment there was another ghost of memory in the office between them.
Harry wiped his glasses and put them back on, pushing them firmly up his nose. He began to unpack his books again without looking up.
"I know it has. And I'm glad of it."
The portrait said nothing. Harry used his wand to conjure a large crystal ball from its packaging, and floated it to a position on the far side of the room. He could still feel Snape's eyes on him, but there was an odd warmth to the sensation.
"I've every intention of doing justice to the task I've taken on, sir," he added, and heard a sudden snort of dry laughter.
"Oh, I'm sure you'll be the finest teacher this subject has ever had."
Harry grinned. "Well, I'll have a good go at it, anyway."
When he glanced up again, the portrait's frame was empty, save for the whisk of a dark cloak out of one corner. Silence reigned, save for the comfortable mutter of the fire, and the distant sound of young voices from outside. But it was a companionable silence, and he could feel the aura of the room settling around him like a cloak.
