Severus Snape

( Writing )


( Art )


( Gifts from Others )

first posted to my dreamwidth account.

Should anyone wish to send Severus an owl, this is where it will arrive and he will attend to it very shortly.


Contact information:

email is murduck at gmail dot com
AIM is mirorthauma
MSN is miror_thauma
Yahoo is miror_thauma
Twitter is Slytherenclaw
my journal World of Wonders
Severus' live journalVerus Janus
my live journalWorld of Wonders

Gift for: verus_janus

From: magnetic_pole

Title: Us. Here. Now.
Pairing: Severus Snape/Evan Rosier
Rating: G
Summary: On Halloween, you can move between worlds.
Notes: For Verus_Janus, a Death Eater Halloween coming out story. Enjoy the festivities, V!



Evan Rosier appeared in the Floo while Severus was washing up. Evan, who hadn’t
owled since leaving school. Not once.

“Hullo,” Evan muttered. “You, er, said you’d show me. The Muggles? Halloween?”

Four months ago, they were friends. Now Severus wasn’t sure.

“Never mind--”

“Don’t go!” Severus exclaimed. “You...can’t wear that. That’s missing the point.” Upstairs,
he rummaged for an extra set of robes quietly, so Mum wouldn’t hear.

They walked to the crowded high street where bonfires burned. Severus loved Halloween. Like the spirits, he could slip between two worlds.

When the Dark Lord came to power, every day might be Halloween.

It was hard to explain the holiday’s pull, now that the Dark Lord had shown him another
way. “When I was young,” Severus said, “It was the only time I didn’t need to pretend.”

“I don’t like pretending, either,” Evan said.

Severus was confused. Evan had never lived with Muggles.

“I like being with you,” Evan said. “Us. Here. Now.”

The pieces fell into place. The awkward silences. The unexpected return. Mum always
said magic was strong on Halloween. Anything could happen.

“Yeah?” Severus feigned nonchalance.

Evan grinned. “Halloween’s fine, too. But, yeah.”

In the distance, the bells chimed midnight, ushering in a new season.

first posted to my dreamwidth account.

Title: Close Encounter (Rabastan)
Author: Janus
Character: Rabastan
Rating: G
Wordcount: 1059
Warnings: none
Summary: Rabastan meets a magical creature.
Gift: This is for Draco.

( Close Encounter (Rabastan) )

first posted to my dreamwidth account.

Title: Second Son
Author/Artist: Janus
Character(s): Rabastan, Rodolphus, other young Death Eaters
Rating: G
Wordcount/Media: 2600
Warnings (if any): none
Summary: Rabastan is the younger of the Lestrange brothers, and this fact allows him to come into his own life.
Author's/Artist’s Notes (if any): with thanks to a friend for discussing the heart of Rabastan's particular magic.

( Second Son )

first posted to my dreamwidth account.

Title: There but for Fortune: Gellert's Legacy and the Soldiers of the Dark Lord
Author: Janus
Word Count: 4377
Rating: M
Summary: My intent in this presentation is to demonstrate the idealistic roots of the so-called Dark side of the Wizarding Wars and to show that the war is not comprised of angels and demons, but of humans who believe in ideals, despite the sacrifice of honor that war demands as people kill and people die. The honor and sacrifice of those who have lost a war remains with its children, and does not die simply because their ideals were warped to make them seem despicable. Gellert Grindelwald lost a war of ideals and was reviled, but his followers and heirs lived on, and naturally rose again as Death Eaters under the burden of the revulsion of Wizarding society, and perhaps their own to some degree, for they too named themselves 'Dark.'
Warnings: controversial
Author's notes: none

( There but for Fortune )

first posted to my dreamwidth account.

Title: Dark Halo
Author: Janus
Word Count: 275
Rating: M
Summary: Draco and the Hand of Glory
Warnings: darkness
Author's notes: none

Draco wanted the Hand of Glory the moment he saw it. It wasn't just that it was dark and magical. It wasn't only that it was a tool, a light in the darkness which would shine around him and him only, a potential halo as his world produced obscuring clouds of gloom, smoke and night. It intrigued him, mading him think perhaps it was company, a ghost to accompany him, a spirit who knew the darkness in which he increasingly walked. Surely even he could find kinship in a dead man, a man hanged, and surely a wizard, surely one who had known darkness, who had set his hand, this hand, to deeds outside... outside not just the law but everything that people lived. A man hanged, his fat rendered into... candles. Dark stuff, that. And yet, surely, surely he retained some portion of spirit that would know Draco, would light his world, just his world, just for him.

And when the Hand of Glory was his, when he held it in his hands and when he lit it that first time, it was as if he had another hand in his own, its spirit curling around them both. And they were encircled in light, even as that hand, those candles, irreplaceable, rendered and moulded perhaps in mourning... even as those candles were consumed. And Draco, eyes open, stood straight and true, consuming himself for the Dark Lord whether he willed it or not, for his father who faced such degradation unearned, against his fellow classmates who walked randomly and blindly. They stood together, the living and the dead, both lost, in the halo of the light of darkness.

first posted to my dreamwidth account.

Author: janus
Title: Just in Case
Prompt: A badly wounded Evan shows up at Severus’ place in the middle of the night…
Characters/Pairings: Severus, Evan, Rabastan, Regulus
Rating: PG
Warnings: none
Word Count: 3900
Summary: In increasingly dark and dangerous days, young Death Eaters do their best to save their lives. But Regulus disappears, and then Evan is injured.
Notes: for Alley Skywalker

( Just in Case )

first posted to my dreamwidth account.

7spells HP Fanfiction Challenge Author: Janus Characters: Severus, Rabastan, Abraxas, Regulus, Antonin, Gellert, Evan, Lucius, The Dark Lord, Rodolphus, Bartemius, Draco

1. candle in the window story photo art

2. to the last syllable of recorded time story photo art

3. tomorrow is something we remember story photo art

4. the only adventure story photo art

5. anvil story photo art

6. the highway kind story photo art

7. above the thunder story photo art

Progress: 0/21

I am not signed up for this. I thought to do it with Rabastan, but he was taken. I am thus choosing my favourite people. The prompts are really splendid, though. I recommend them! Oh, such prompts!

first posted to my dreamwidth account.

first posted to my dreamwidth account.

Title: A Hand and a Heart and a Brain
Author: Janus
Word Count: 500
Rating: M
Summary: Dolohov helps Rabastan demonstrate to himself that he possesses the necessary tools to be a Death Eater.
Warnings: violence and dark ideas
Author's notes: none

"Can you kill your brother?"

Rabastan's eyes slid past Dolohov's. He was here to protect Rodolphus.

"If he were a traitor, could you kill him?" The older man persisted, leaning forward intently. "Until you know, you won't be able to act reliably. This is war, but it isn't easy. These are not battles of masses. Our missions are strategic, precise, and acts of scalpels rather than fireworks. Reality is keen when you must kill where you have been smiling, where your targets may be misguided schoolmates. And if one of you is turned, he must be killed as well, perhaps by the one closest to him, lest you all be lost."

Rabastan's eyes slid to the others: to serious little Regulus, wide-eyed with learning; to determined Severus, already eradicating feeling; to Evan, steeling himself to be worthy of this adventure for the world; to dangerous, scornful Bella; to Roddy himself, wanting nothing more than to please her. To protect Rabastan, they would do what they had to do. If Rabastan could not do the same for them, he was nothing. He would not be able to save them - all he wanted to do - and he would not be worthy of their company.

He nodded at Dolohov, who held his eyes until they matched the movement of his head.

"You will be paired with Rodolphus for this exercise." 'This exercise' was not Avada Kedavra, but another unforgivable: the Cruciatis curse. "If you were to actually kill one another at this stage, it would only be counter-productive."

There was nervous laughter at this. It was not funny. But it was funny because it was true. Clearly their teacher was trying to relieve the tension without doing so. Did that make it funny, or uncomfortable?

"Focus and do not hesitate, or you would be helpless against a real target, standing foolishly while their hands were not thus stayed."

Rabastan faced Rodolphus. He took a slightly shaky breath and cast. "Crucio!"

"Crucio!" Rodolphus.

"Crucio!" Rabastan.

"Crucio!" Rodolphus.

"You have to mean it," Bella interrupted. Her tone was just short of dismissive.

Severus' curse had finally managed to catch Regulus, and immediately he lurched towards him with a broken-hearted sound.

Rabastan filled with horror. He had to be able to protect his loved ones, no matter what he had to do. If someday Severus meant this, Rabastan would have to kill him.

"Crucio!" Somehow Rabastan had now succeeded against Rodolphus. And it was his turn to run weeping to cradle his brother's dazed and tortured head. He had done this.

"Yes," said Dolohov. "You must also love one another. You must trust one another. The other part of this lesson is that without that bond, without knowing your heart through brutal experience, you are more likely to be turned. You must have hands to kill and hearts to keep you. Well done."

Rabastan stroked Roddy's hair back from his face as his brother came back to himself. Bella knelt beside them, proud of him for once in a way.

first posted to my dreamwidth account.

Title: Welcome Back
Author: janus
Characters: Severus Snape, Antonin Dolohov, Rabastan Lestrange
Rating: G
Challenge: prompt #373: "Snape's Kiss"
Word Count: 200
Warnings: None

Severus was at Hogwarts when the prisoners were liberated. He had neither broken nor named names like Karkaroff. But he had allowed himself to be saved. Though his acts had never been less than the others', he had been free.

He wanted to be at the Manor, which had still been his adoptive home when they had been taken. He wanted to see them. But he had a tricky job to do and subterfuge to maintain.

And he was afraid his guilt would utterly consume him like a fire.

Eventually he was finally able to leave his post. He dressed carefully, though not ostentatiously. He wanted to be... gentle. And humble before those who had endured what he should have shared.

He had left Rabastan drained and shrunken on the cold stone bench of a hard icy cell. Rabastan had always been a reassuring bulwark against whatever ills had befallen Severus' boyhood. How could he look into his eyes without shame?

But Antonin met him first, carrying an unruly owl. "Our young comrade." Taking Severus' hand, he turned it and kissed it delicately. "With odeur d'aconit."

It would be all right. He could help them now. And here came Rabastan.

first posted to my dreamwidth account.

Title: The Subtle Things
Recipient: a_shadow_there
Author: janus
Rating: NC-17 for dark ideas. no sex. no violence. strictly gen.
Characters: Regulus Black, Barty Crouch Jr., The Dark Lord,
Summary: Regulus undertakes a mission for the Dark Lord.
Warning: Systematic manipulation. This is the darkest piece I have ever written, though this is disputed. It is cold and brutal, though there is diligence, loyalty and warmth. Please heed the warning, dear friends' list, if you do not want to read such a piece. I can say at least that Regulus is sincere and believes this is the best he can do.
Word Count: 2,409
Author's Notes: With kind thanks to slytherinlaurel, my beta. She is inspired and thorough. I can't say enough good things about her work.

( The Subtle Things )

first posted to my dreamwidth account.

Title: Poker Faces
Author: Janus
Rating: G
Characters: Phineas Nigellus Black, Severus Snape, Alecto Carrow, Amycus Carrow
Word Count: 170
Warning(s): none
Summary: A pureblood portrait finds a reason to play poker.

Phineas Nigellus Black was sympathetic. The young man – possibly the youngest headmaster the school had ever seen – certainly had a challenging staff, with its worthy members openly antagonistic to him, and his 'allies' vicious dullards.

How witty of Severus to have chosen to draw them in with poker in his study. His prizes attracted the Carrow twins. Bids represented the students' disobediences. The prizes represented their punishments.

Phineas Nigellus had irreproachable lineage and he was welcomed as a fourth. But he and Severus prepared all the deceits, signals and distractions of an American river-boat dandy of a century before. The Carrows were completely taken in every time.

Phineas Nigellus risked winking and grimacing when they both looked away, entertaining himself by mimicking their stolid suspicious squints. The young headmaster sat quietly, giving away exactly what he wished, maintaining his tense nervous demeanour and reflecting nothing.

Between them, they protected the children, and Phineas Nigellus was able to offer nightly relief for the rigid isolation his successor took upon himself.

first posted to my dreamwidth account.

Title: Forever Idyll
Author: Janus
Rating: G
Characters: Severus Snape, Regulus Black, Rabastan Lestrange, Evan Rosier, Abraxas Malfoy
Word Count: 3041
Warning(s): Canon character deaths
Summary: Severus sketches out his future, and that of several of his friends, assisted by a young Regulus Black.

( Forever Idyll )

first posted to my dreamwidth account.

Title: The Crystalline Cold of Christmas Air
Author: janus
Rating: G
Characters: The Dark Lord, Severus, Abraxas, Gellert, Regulus
Word Count: 2388
Warnings: Dark Ideas.
Summary: Here The Dark Lord appears as a boy under the shadow of another, as a man who has assumed his own pride of place, and as a lord bestowing a Christmas gift.
Gift: for alchemia in the snapelyholidays fest.
Prompt: A sympathetic Dark Lord/Severus Snape.

( The Crystalline Cold of Christmas Air )

first posted to my dreamwidth account.

A gift from Rosivan for me in the the livejournal com hp_halloween

Title: All Soul's Day
Author: Rosivan
Characters: Rabastan, Regulus
Rating: G
Warnings: None
Summary: Somehow, it was much more pleasant than chatting with portraiture.
Notes: Happy Halloween! I was pleased to get a chance to write for you! :3


[Unknown LJ tag]The two cousins shivered in the cool night air, Rabastan's fingers tight on Regulus's sleeve so they wouldn't lose each other in the fog. The path was wet, but it muffled their steps and the pair of them moved deeper into the night, two young, small shapes across school grounds.

At the edge of the trees, sheltered by its branches, they lit short sticks of incense. With small cakes and a bottle of (now only warm) tea, both boys settled in and waited for the minutes to creep past midnight.

"Now," Regulus said and tipped his pocket watch so Rabastan could see. They made a small fire in the dirt, one tiny flame shivering in a circle of rocks. A prick of their fingers, two drops of blood - it was enough to announce their presence on this particular night.

Slowly, as if detaching from the fog itself, figures started appearing. Ghostly men and women peered down at the boys, who smiled up at them in shy greeting, slightly unsure. Then, as if they were at a proper table, and not on the ground in the woods, their ancestors sat with them as they drank down their tea.

first posted to my dreamwidth account.

A gift from annescriblerian for me in the livejournal com snape_ldws

Title: The Wild Hunt
Author: annescriblerian
Characters: Severus Snape, Lucius Malfoy, Abraxas Malfoy, Rodolphus and Rabastan Lestrange, and Antonin Dolohov.
Rating: G
Summary: One shouldn't judge a book by its cover.
Notes: I don't usually write Gen. I am glad that your prompt gave me the chance to try something new. I hope that you enjoy it!


( The Wild Hunt )

first posted to my dreamwidth account.

Title: For Peace and Happiness
Author: janus
Rating: G
Characters: Severus, Tobias, Eileen
Word Count: 250
Warnings: none
Summary: Six-year-old Severus engages in School Crafts at his Muggle infant school.
Prompt: Severus' home life before or after Hogwarts.

( For Peace and Happiness )

first posted to my dreamwidth account.

Here is Little Sevvie today, with Reggie, of course, and his beautiful scarf from Severed Lies. He also has his Christmas lavender, his Christmas black-and-silver blanket and his shawl that Billy knit for him. He also has a new little badge with a sheep on it, to represent Reggie.

(edit: Little Sevvie was not happy with this picture description. He wants you to know that it does not really do justice to his beautiful new scarf, which looks black but has rich very dark green and grey as well and is knit in a lovely lace pattern. He is quite chuffed with it. He also wants to say his white shawl is knit with a fancy diagonal pattern on it. He says this as he snuggles warmly in both. It is cold here tonight.)


( Here is more picspam! )

This picture still gets to be visible. It is Little Sevvie with Markus in his advent robes. The little one had wanted this picture taken for quite some time. He adores Markus.


first posted to my dreamwidth account.

Title: Hand of Dream
Author: janus
Rating: PG
Characters: Severus, Remus, Sirius, James, Peter, Dumbledore, Regulus
Word Count: 5615
Warnings: bullying, small amount of profanity,
Summary: Severus dreams comfort, but eventually awakes.
Notes: I realise these events do not strictly follow cannon events in some respects, though they rewrite the Shrieking Shack Incident. Thank you so much for reading along.

( Hand of Dream )

first posted to my dreamwidth account.

Title: Lavender's Green
Author: janus
Rating: G
Characters: Severus, Tobias, Eileen
Word Count: 1181
Warnings: none
Summary: Severus goes to the market with his parents to help sell his mother's baking.
Notes: The first poem is from Market Square, by A. A. Milne. The second is revised from Lavender's Blue, traditional, 17th century or earlier.

( Lavender's Green )

first posted to my dreamwidth account.

Title: Wassailing
Author: Janus
Rating: G
Characters: Rabastan, Rodolphus, Bella, Bartemius
Word Count: 375
Warnings: A dark day — the darkest day of the year, and the darkest day of a life.
Summary: In the bleak midwinter, Rabastan prepares to go with his kith and kin to call on their schoolmates, the Longbottoms.
Author's notes: Originally posted to the com deatheaterdrabs. I have not posted it to my journal before, but do so now in an attempt to match the story number to the day, and because it is a story that takes place during the time of advent.

( Wassailing )

first posted to my dreamwidth account.

I apologise. I am one day behind. We had unexpected house guests. These are not stories prepared in advance - I am writing them each day, so there may be gaps. It is a busy season but a happy one.

Title: Christmas Presence, Christmas Promise
Author: janus
Rating: G
Characters: Abraxas, Gellert, Severus
Word Count: 580
Warnings: none
Summary: Abraxas considers another Christmas Eve and another mentor with his young protégé.
Notes: references Father Christmas, 1940

( Christmas Presence, Christmas Promise )

first posted to my dreamwidth account.

Title: Hoar Frost
Author: janus
Rating: G
Characters: Severus
Word Count: 500
Warnings: none
Summary: Severus encounters the silvery frosty world of deep winter.
Prompt: Hoar Frost

( Hoar Frost )

first posted to my dreamwidth account.

Here are the two dear Sevvies in silhouette with Reggie in front of our menorah on this the eighth and final day of Chanukah. Thank you for sharing these lights with us.

All photos taken in the dark with an iphone and a mirror.

first posted to my dreamwidth account.

Title: Slytherin Pride
Author: janus
Rating: G
Characters: Severus
Word Count: 465
Warnings: Slytherin's key quality is pride. But other Houses would have different key qualities. This does not make them less, just different. Sprout's title could read Hufflepuff Humanitarians. Flitwick's title could read Ravenclaw Wisdom. McGonnagal's title could read Gryffindor Heroes. These would be different stories, of different Houses with different needs, goals and aptitudes. Slytherin means a great deal to my Severus.
Summary: Severus considers what it should mean to be Head of Slytherin and formulates a program to develop character and feed the characteristics that placed his charges in his House.
Prompt: Severus' first year teaching

( Slytherin Pride )

first posted to my dreamwidth account.

Ah, how we love to look at the beautiful lights. Today is the seventh day of the Snapeys' and Reggie's and my menorah-gazing wonder. A few minutes after this photo was taken, Little Sevvie played Light One Candle on his harmonica.

first posted to my dreamwidth account.

Title: Egg Nog
Author: janus
Rating: G
Characters: Severus, Lucius, Abraxas
Word Count: 777
Warnings: none
Summary: Severus discovers an interesting new beverage and has a discussion with Abraxas about drinking
Prompt: egg nog

( Egg Nog )

first posted to my dreamwidth account.

Tonight we have red candles. It is big and little Snapey and Reggie with our menorah. They will have to be very careful the next two days! So many candles.

first posted to my dreamwidth account.

Title: Ghost of the Christmas Past
Author: janus
Rating: G
Characters: Severus, Rabastan, Abraxas
Word Count: 700
Warnings: none
Summary: Severus is haunted at Yuletide
Prompt: ghost

( Ghost of the Christmas Past )

first posted to my dreamwidth account.

Here are the Snapeys with Reggie on this, the Fifth day of Chanukah.

first posted to my dreamwidth account.

Title: An Offering of Hirschtalg
Author: janus
Rating: G
Characters: Severus, Igor Karkaroff
Word Count: 368
Warnings: none
Summary: Severus is concerned about Igor's visit to Hogwarts.
Prompt: Tallow

( An Offering of Hirschtalg )

first posted to my dreamwidth account.

Here are the two Snapes and the one Reggie with our menorah on our fourth day of Chanukah.

first posted to my dreamwidth account.

Title: Christmas at Home
Author: janus
Rating: G
Characters: Severus
Word Count: 825
Warnings: none
Summary: Imaginings, fears and the reality of Severus' eleventh Christmas, as well as a special hope for one to come.
Prompt: Severus' first Christmas at School

( Christmas at Home )

first posted to my dreamwidth account.

Little Sevvie, Big Sevvie and Reggie with our menorah on the third day of Chanukah.

first posted to my dreamwidth account.

Title: Like Church Bells
Author: janus
Rating: G
Characters: Severus
Word Count: 625
Warnings: none
Summary: At midnight on Christmas Eve, the bells toll and Severus opens his little present.
Prompt: Church bells

( Church Bells )

first posted to my dreamwidth account.

first posted to my dreamwidth account.

Title: Snow Ball
Author: janus
Rating: G
Characters: Severus, Abraxas, Lucius, Narcissa, Rabastan
Word Count: 359
Warnings: none
Summary: Young Severus looks out over a holiday dance at Malfoy Manor.
Prompt: Image cast in the blown snow

( Snow Ball )

first posted to my dreamwidth account.

first posted to my dreamwidth account.

Title: Ice Writing
Author: janus
Rating: G
Characters: Severus, Evan
Word Count: 555
Warnings: none
Summary: An eleven year old Severus introduces Evan to an entertaining activity from Spinner's End.
Prompt: Icy Windows (or finger writing on frosted windows)

( Ice Writing )

This is the first door of my advent story calendar!
I am still looking for prompts. Prompts that are very simple will work best, for these will be short stories.

first posted to my dreamwidth account.

Title: God Give Them Peace
Author: janus
Rating: G
Characters: Severus
Word Count: 2261
Warnings: none
Summary: Severus celebrates Remembrance Day in communion with others through a particularly poignant hymn.
Author's Notes: This is my first songfic. The song is What Shall We Pray by Carnwadric Parish Church and John L Bell (as nearly as I can determine.)

( God Give Them Peace )

first posted to my dreamwidth account.

Title: The Lost and Loved
Gift For: severed_lies
Author: janus
Rating: G
Characters: Severus, Regulus, Eileen, Tobias, Evan, Lily, The Dark Lord, Rodolphus, Bellatrix, Barty, Antonin, Igor, Remus, Albus, Abraxas, Rabastan
Word Count: 1414
Request: Severus and anyone.
Warnings: none
Summary: Severus constructs a shrine for those he has loved and lost.
Author's Notes: Thank you to 00sevvie, my kind beta. severed_lies, you have been such an inspiration to me. Thank you for everything. I was so excited to receive your request!

( The Lost and Loved )

first posted to my dreamwidth account.

Originally posted by neo_prodigy at Spirit Day

first posted to my dreamwidth account.

Title: Knits and Scraps
Author: Janus
Word Count: 506
Rating: G
Summary: Severus learns knitting, then introduces Evan Rosier to its charms. The title is the name of a font I like, which was designed by John S. Ross.
Warnings: None.
Author's notes: The title is the name of a font I like, which was designed by John S. Ross. I have transported a relatively recent book to the seventies. Forgive me for the anachronism.

Severus was proud to be in Slytherin. And he was proud of his scarf. At first. But it was not quite... He looked at Lucius' scarf, at those of the others, and saw that they were not made in the same way. They moved differently. Eventually he surreptitiously sidled over next to the chair where Rabastan Lestrange sat, leaning back comfortably, Herbalism book propped on his knee. His scarf was hung over the back of the chair and Severus lifted it as if he were idly fingering it. He examined it carefully, even as he pretended to be merely leaning over to ask about the outré plant curling over the page. He could have just asked Rabastan, of course, but he didn't want to draw attention to his own scarf and its... difference.

The wool of Rabastan's scarf was finer, he saw, and there was silk mixed in with the wool, and it was knitted quite differently. Possibly his own was only a facsimile of a Hogwarts scarf. Rabastan's had been knit in a circle and the stitches were much smaller. It had double layers and every second stitch was... backwards? Severus replaced it regretfully, sad now about his own scarf.

There was a section on practical skills in the library. Severus had generally avoided it because it was next to the Muggle Studies section, but in this case, late at night he... nicked a book. Stitch 'n' Bitch Nation.

He unravelled his once-precious scarf. He learned and practiced all the charms necessary to transform its wool to a silk blend. He increased its amount and spun it into an even thin cord. He worked awkwardly at first, peering at the instructions and organising his fingers beneath the covers at night. But soon his fingers were flying, and he was able to reknit his scarf so it looked and felt just like Rabastan's. There was wool left. Perhaps... oh yes. Socks. Good Slytherin socks.

He knit socks. And they pleased him. He was secretly proud of himself and wanted more. They were so comfortable, new and clean, and he had made them himself! Soon he began raiding the lost-and-found, first of jumpers that had been left more than a year, then of those that had only entered it recently. Soon he was surrounded by his own fine hand-made socks.

"What are you doing?" Evan had noticed.

"..." Severus was defensive and for once had nothing to say.

"Knitting, hm?" Evan thumbed through the book, now dog-eared and worn. "Is this... It can't be..."

Severus opened his mouth, his cheeks red and embarrassed. But then Evan showed him the page, delighted and excited.

"Show me how to fix the wool. Show me how to knit!"

And soon, after plying his own needles for hours at night when he should have been sleeping, Evan produced his very own: Joey Ramone knit doll from page 234.

first posted to my dreamwidth account.

Title: Shelter from the Storm
Author: Janus
Word Count: 275
Rating: G
Summary: On a Scottish hillside, Severus remembers his friends.
Warnings: None.
Author's notes: None.

Severus stood on the hill, looking back at Hogwarts, the big tree behind him. The wind blew his cloak around him, the points flying and twitching out in front of him, while he stood warm behind the cloak's shelter. His back provided a windbreak. His hair whipped out before him, snapping, but again, it too protected his face. His skull provided a windbreak.

He turned into the wind. And the leaves, torn from the tree, whirled by him, tossed and lost, irretrievable. Regulus. Lily. Evan.

He spread his cloak, desperately trying to catch a few. He could catch them in his cloak and turn, protect them as well. Those in Azkaban had been torn from the tree. It was now winter - the winter of the year, the winter of his life. But his imprisoned friends were not yet lost, not yet dead. He could shelter them, protect them, save them. Rabastan. Antonin. Rodolphus. Barty. Igor.

He spun and danced, his expression determined, facing the wind that now stung his eyes and made them water, that dried and froze his face. Some few leaves caught. He folded them close against himself, wrapped in his cloak. Again he walked up the hill to Hogwarts, his windbreak, his shelter from the cruel wind of the ironic witch-hunts of the Ministry of Magic.

Back in his new rooms he pressed these few leaves safe in his old copy of Hogwarts: A History. And sometimes he opened it, to touch them tenderly, naming his friends, sending the protection of his love. They were not forgotten.

first posted to my dreamwidth account.

Author: janus
Title: Elemental
Fest: Death Eater Drabbles (Bella)
Rating: G
Pairings: None
Word Count: 330
Gift for: None
Summary: Bella hallucinates deadly fire in Azkaban.
Author's Notes: The prompt was: "Well-behaved women seldom make history."

( Elemental )

Author: janus
Title: Comforting the Past
Fest: genhpldws
Rating: G
Pairings: None
Word Count: 400
Summary: Severus and Luna talk about his Penseive
Author's/Artist's Notes: The challenge was to write a missing scene from HBP from Luna's point of view.

( Comforting the Past )

first posted to my dreamwidth account.

Author: janus
Title: The Sorting Hat Said Slytherin
Fest: genhpldws
Rating: G
Pairings: None
Word Count: 350
Summary: The Sorting Hat recommends Slytherin House to two different first-year students.
Author's/Artist's Notes: The challenge was to write from the point of view of the Sorting Hat.

( The Sorting Hat Said Slytherin )

first posted to my dreamwidth account.