spireasalix

[spireasalix]

The Difference Between Snape and Dumbledore

Can be summarized by the following exchanges:

“You have kept him alive so that he can die at the right moment?”

 “Don’t be shocked, Severus. How many men and women have you watched die?”

 “Lately, only those whom I could not save,”

And

“But this is touching, Severus. Have you grown to care for the boy, after all?”

“For him? Expecto patronum”

“After all this time?”

“Always”

Dumbledore loves freely and openly, cannot shut up about the power of love, and acts like a wise and genial Grandfather to almost everyone. Snape’s a harsh, abrasive dick to most people, generally doesn’t care much about anyone’s feelings, and has a few empathy issues. But Dumbledore is the one who’s accomplished in screwing people over to take advantage of them (like sending Harry to the Dursleys, the way he used Snape), sacrifice them for the greater good, and be disturbingly cold about it. Snape isn’t.

“Don’t be shocked, Severus.” Why shouldn’t he be shocked at this revelation? Instead of saying something like “Yes, this is awful, but it must be done to defeat Voldemort”, Dumbledore is kinda trivialising it. In fairness, Dumbledore might have thought that given Snape’s overall character (cold, aloof) this was the best way to break the news to him.

“How many men and women have you watched die?” Meaning that Snape shouldn’t be shocked at Dumbledore deliberately raising another person to be killed, since he’s seen so many others die? Meaning that Snape shouldn’t be horrified at seeing people killed in general? And he’s referring specifically to the people that Snape sees killed as a Death Eater, implicitly bringing up that Snape’s a Death Eater, something to shame him.

And “Lately, only those whom I could not save”. As it happens, Snape is ashamed of being a Death Eater. He is horrified at seeing people killed. So much that he’s willing to risk his cover to try to save them, and he cares about saving them. What happens if he blew his cover, and Voldemort found out? Well, he’d be tortured both as punishment and to get information on the Order, and then killed. The Order would lose its spy, so there goes their MAIN source of intelligence as well their buffer against the Death Eaters (remember, it was Snape who worked out the DoM plot and he’s the one who sends the warnings). Basically, the Order loses one of its most critical members and a fair bit of their secrets. So Snape’s not just risking his life, but essentially the war effort by saving complete strangers who have nothing to do him, with Lily, or with the war effort.

He’s under no obligation to, he’s already risking so much by spying against a mind-reading psychopath, and his only job is spying and keeping his cover. If his Occlumency slipped, if he left tracks behind, if another Death Eater saw him or ratted him out (Bellatrix wasn’t the only one who suspected him, there were several who “carried  false tales of his treachery”) or if Voldy was just feeling a tad too paranoid that day, Snape would have met an agonizing death.  But he’s obviously disturbed by seeing people die and saves them if he can, putting himself (and by extension, the war effort) at an even greater risk. He probably doesn’t even think it through, he just feels compelled to do so. Dumbledore was the one who reminded Snape to “play his part” over Little Winging, and what does Snape do? Risk his cover to try to save Lupin. If Snape had been discovered as a spy then, his death would mean that he couldn’t protect the students as Headmaster, and he couldn’t deliver the message of Harry needing to die. Basically, if he had been found and killed then, Voldemort would have won since Horcrux-Harry would still be around.

The line “For him?” in response to “Have you grown to care for the boy, after all?“ is used to demonize Snape, saying that Snape never cared for Harry for his own sake. But Dumbledore is the one who cares for people on a personal level while still being able to use them and sacrifice them. Snape hardly cares for anyone personally, but he’ll risk so much to save people, and he’s horrified by how Dumbledore raised Harry to be killed. Not caring for someone personally is worlds different from caring if they die, especially since Snape’s been saving complete strangers.

Snape checked up on Sirius to make sure he wasn’t captured at the ministry. Would he ever admit to “caring” about Sirius? Ahahaha, no. He risked his cover trying to save Lupin at a time when keeping his cover was THE most important thing he could do. Would he ever admit to “caring” about Lupin? No. He brought Ron and Hermione as well back to the Hospital Wing from across the grounds in PoA (despite his head wound), saved Katie Bell’s life when she got cursed, and when he heard that a student had been taken to the Chamber he “gripped the back of a chair very hard”. He spent most of DH trying to protect the students from the Carrows whenever he could, like how he sent Neville, Ginny and Luna to Hagrid for detention (after they tried to steal the sword) to protect them from the Carrows. Would he ever admit to “caring” about Ron, Hermione, Neville, Ginny, Luna, Katie or any of the students? No.

Unlike Dumbledore (or most people) Snape’s extremely selective about people who he loves or personally cares about. This is partially because of his natural personality, but largely due to the way he’d been abused and bullied. That we can be reasonably sure of, the people he personally cared for (long term, at least) were Lily, Dumbledore, his mother (most likely), Narcissa, Lucius, and Draco. That’s only six people over 38 years of his life, and most of these relationships were dysfunctional on some level (and given the circumstances for each of them, that mostly isn’t his fault). That also helps explain the “Always”. Snape did truly love Lily, but it was a broken, painful love, based on the fact that she was one of the few people who showed him kindness when he’d been rejected and abandoned by almost everyone else. He clung to it because it was one of the few good things he ever had, and yes, it was unhealthy. He can’t get over Lily, and this is tied to how damaged he is because he never recovered from the way he was severely abused, neglected and bullied, with hardly any help and no support system.

Note how Dumbledore got teary eyed at the “Always”, but he didn’t comment on the “Lately, only those whom I could not save”, elaborate on asking Snape to protect the school, or even acknowledge all that much on what Snape did as a spy. I’m not entirely sure what to make of this. But earlier, Dumbledore trusted Snape to protect the students as much as he can, so he recognizes that Snape is wholly on the Order’s side, and that he’s not just doing it for Lily. The “After all this time?”, and Dumbledore’s honest surprise at Snape still loving Lily suggests that Snape and Dumbledore barely discussed Lily after she died. Dumbledore was deeply touched at Snape’s love for Lily, but all his comments on Snape spying, seeing people die, sending Harry to his death, and protecting people proceed as business as usual.

And Snape was horrified at sending Harry to his death. “I have spied for you and lied for you, put myself in mortal danger for you. Everything was supposed to be to keep Lily Potter’s son safe. Now you tell me you have been raising him like a pig for slaughter”. Now Snape knows that his commitment to Lily is rendered null and void, that he has to send Harry to his death. He does, when he gave Harry his memories.  And knowing this, he still followed through on the most difficult stages in the plan, being killing Dumbledore, trying to protect the students as Headmaster (while still spying and being in complete isolation from the Order and his colleagues), likely forfeiting any chance of his own future, and dying as a Pariah. When Snape had to choose between his commitment to Lily (along with his tendency to save people despite endangering the war effort), and ridding the world of Voldemort, he chose to rid the world of Voldemort. He’d already been fighting for the greater good by spying and saving people while spying, but when the “greater good” ran contrary to his commitment to Lily, he chose the “greater good”, a painful as it was.

Unlike Dumbledore, he was sincerely and openly disgusted by what had to be done, and he didn’t treat sending Harry to his death or watching people die as coldly as Dumbledore did.

Bottom line is, Dumbledore’s a manipulative asshole who does legitimately care for a lot of people, but that doesn’t stop him from using them as pawns and he’s scarily cold about it. Snape’s an honest asshole who personally cares for very few people, but he’s far less cold than Dumbledore about seeing people die, tries to save them if he can, and he isn’t an easy utilitarian. 

[spireasalix]

Harry's Intuition

I talk a lot about Harry on here (cause he's my favorite 😍), and I talked about his intelligence already, but now I wanna talk about his intuition. Because that boy's intuition is on another level. Whether it be about a person, or about magic, Harry's intuition is almost never wrong. And he makes some leaps in logic that are proven right.

So... maybe he does have an eye for divination after all...

Like, I want to note first how Harry thinks when under the effects of Felix Felicies:

Why he knew that going to Hagrid’s was the right thing to do, he had no idea. It was as though the potion was illuminating a few steps of the path at a time: He could not see the final destination, he could not see where Slughorn came in, but he knew that he was going the right way to get that memory. When he reached the entrance hall he saw that Filch had forgotten to lock the front door. Beaming, Harry threw it open and breathed in the smell of clean air and grass for a moment before walking down the steps into the dusk.

(HBP, 478-479)

He doesn't know why he's doing what he's doing, he just knows it's what he needs to do to get what he wants. Felix Felicies just kinda cranks his intuition up to eleven... but then even without the potion, Harry has very similar intuitive thoughts and leaps that are more often than not proven to be correct.

Here are some examples, though this is in no way a comprehensive list:

Harry opened his trunk again and pushed the contents aside, looking for the Invisibility Cloak — but before he had found it, he straightened up suddenly, looking around him once more. A funny prickling on the back of his neck had made Harry feel he was being watched, but the street appeared to be deserted, and no lights shone from any of the large square houses.

(PoA, 32)

He sees the street is deserted, but he feels Sirius watching him from the bushes all the way back in PoA.

And then he heard Mad-Eye Moody’s voice, echoing in some distant chamber of his empty brain: Jump onto the desk . . . jump onto the desk. . . . Harry bent his knees obediently, preparing to spring. Jump onto the desk. . . . Why, though? Another voice had awoken in the back of his brain. Stupid thing to do, really, said the voice. Jump onto the desk. . . . No, I don’t think I will, thanks, said the other voice, a little more firmly . . . no, I don’t really want to. . . . Jump! NOW!

(GoF, 231)

The way Harry interacts with the Imperius was always really interesting to me. This too, is an example of Harry instinctively understanding magic and just acting on instinct in general in a way most won't.

He was riding on the back of an eagle owl, soaring through the clear blue sky toward an old, ivy-covered house set high on a hillside. Lower and lower they flew, the wind blowing pleasantly in Harry’s face, until they reached a dark and broken window in the upper story of the house and entered. Now they were flying along a gloomy passageway, to a room at the very end . . . through the door they went, into a dark room whose windows were boarded up. . . . Harry had left the owl’s back . . . he was watching, now, as it fluttered across the room, into a chair with its back to him. . . . There were two dark shapes on the floor beside the chair . . . both of them were stirring. . . . One was a huge snake . . . the other was a man . . . a short, balding man, a man with watery eyes and a pointed nose . . . he was wheezing and sobbing on the hearth rug. . . .

(GoF, 576)

This above dream shows Voldemort is different from the dreams Harry usually gets through the Horcrux connection. Usually, with the Horcrux, he'll see what Voldemort is doing through Voldy's eyes. He'd be inside Voldemort's head. Here, in GoF, not only is he not in Voldy's head, he starts out outside the building altogether. This above dream doesn't behave like other Horcrux dreams, but it is truly happening.

Basically, maybe Trwalany is right:

“Of course he isn’t!” said Professor Trelawney, looking thoroughly excited. Her great eyes loomed over Harry, gazing at him. “What was it, Potter? A premonition? An apparition? What did you see?” “Nothing,” Harry lied. He sat up. He could feel himself shaking. He couldn’t stop himself from looking around, into the shadows behind him; Voldemort’s voice had sounded so close. . . .

(GoF, 577)

These next two scenes are about Harry's magic which I talked about more here and here:

“Disillusionment Charm,” said Moody, raising his wand. “Lupin says you’ve got an Invisibility Cloak, but it won’t stay on while we’re flying; this’ll disguise you better. Here you go —” He rapped Harry hard on the top of the head and Harry felt a curious sensation as though Moody had just smashed an egg there; cold trickles seemed to be running down his body from the point the wand had struck.

(OotP, 54)

As Dumbledore spoke, Harry heard a rustle behind him and rather thought Kingsley whispered something. He could have sworn too that he felt something brush against his side, a gentle something like a draft or bird wings, but looking down he saw nothing there. [...] “Just nod or shake your head, dear,” Umbridge said coaxingly to Marietta. “Come on, now, that won’t activate the jinx further. . . .” Everyone in the room was gazing at the top of Marietta’s face. Only her eyes were visible between the pulled up robes and her curly fringe. Perhaps it was a trick of the firelight, but her eyes looked oddly blank. And then — to Harry’s utter amazement — Marietta shook her head.

(OotP, 615-616)

But I wanted to note that Harry intuitively feels magic in a way others don't. So it's not just regarding events. He's just, so very intuitive and I feel that Harry's insane intuition, both about events and about magic isn't explored enough.

Harry had an unpleasant sensation in his chest. He didn't want to say goodbye to Sirius. He had a bad feeling about this parting. He didn't know when they would see each other.

(OotP, 523)

Harry's intuition literally foretold Sirius was about to die. Harry felt it. His intuition, somehow, knew it was the last proper goodbye they'd ever have.

Harry broke off, his eyes fixed on the window behind Hermione, his mouth open. A startling thought had just occurred to him. “Harry?” said Hermione in an anxious voice. “What’s wrong?” “Your scar’s not hurting again, is it?” asked Ron nervously. “He’s a Death Eater,” said Harry slowly. “He’s replaced his father as a Death Eater!” There was a silence; then Ron erupted in laughter. “Malfoy? He’s sixteen, Harry! You think You-Know-Who would let Malfoy join?”

(HBP, 130)

Harry makes the leap of logic of Draco being a Death Eater. He has some evidence, but this is one of Harry's realizations that is a result of intuition along with some minimal evidence. It's why Rona and Hermione are doubtful, there isn't much in the way of evidence, but Harry didn't reach this conclusion based on evidence — he reached it based on intuition. And he was right.

Dumbledore was standing in the middle of the cave, his wand held high as he turned slowly on the spot, examining the walls and ceiling. “Yes, this is the place,” said Dumbledore. “How can you tell?” Harry spoke in a whisper. “It has known magic,” said Dumbledore simply. Harry could not tell whether the shivers he was experiencing were due to his spine-deep coldness or to the same awareness of enchantments. He watched as Dumbledore continued to revolve on the spot, evidently concentrating on things Harry could not see.

(HBP, 557-558)

I already mentioned this scene in a previous post, but I really like how it illustrates the difference between how Harry intuitively sees magic and how Dumbledore studied magic as a very scientific pursuit. Harry is a person of intuition and his understanding of magic and his problem-solving methods are a lot of time based on his intuition and gut feeling. And, it's not a bad thing — his intuition is fucking amazing!

In Deathly Hallows Harry has so many of these moments of intuition and I tried to compile the big ones I noticed.

Harry stared at the creature, filled with wonder, not at her strangeness, but at her inexplicable familiarity. He felt that he had been waiting for her to come, but that he had forgotten, until that moment, that they had arranged to meet. His impulse to shout for Hermione, which had been so strong a moment ago, had gone. He knew, he would have staked his life on it, that she had come for him, and him alone. [...] When Ron offered the sword, however, Harry shook his head. “No, you should do it.” “Me?” said Ron, looking shocked. “Why?” “Because you got the sword out of the pool. I think it’s supposed to be you.” He was not being kind or generous. As certainly as he had known that the doe was benign, he knew that Ron had to be the one to wield the sword. Dumbledore had at least taught Harry something about certain kinds of magic, of the incalculable power of certain acts.

(DH, 366, 373)

I mentioned this scene already, but like, it's insane Harry's intuition just tells him to follow the doe and that same intuition tells him that Ron should use the sword. I mean read the passage about how Harry feels about following the doe and how he feels about going to Hagrid under the effects of Felix Felicies — it's so similar it's kind of insane.

“Homenum revelio,” said the voice at the foot of the stairs. Harry heard Hermione gasp, and he had the odd sensation that something was swooping low over him, immersing his body in its shadow.

(DH, 421)

Another scene of Harry feeling magic in a way others don't from DH.

and then the newly tapped spring of fabulous discoveries threw him another gift, and shock and wonder erupted inside him so that he shouted out. “IT’S IN HERE! He left me the ring—it’s in the Snitch!” “You—you reckon?” He could not understand why Ron looked taken aback. It was so obvious, so clear to Harry. [...] “This is it?” Harry said, trying to bring them inside the glow of his own astonished certainty, “This explains everything. The Deathly Hallows are real and I’ve got one—maybe two—“ He held up the Snitch. “—and You-Know-Who’s chasing the third, but he doesn’t realize. . . he just thinks it’s a powerful wand—“ “Harry,” said Hermione, moving across to him and handing him back Lily’s letter, “I’m sorry, but I think you’ve got this wrong, all wrong.” “But don’t you see? It all fits—“

(DH, 431, 433)

Again, Harry makes some intuitive leaps, and he is right about all of them. He is right the stone is in the snitch and that Dumbledore intends him to have all the Hallows. He's right Voldemort is after the Elder Wand — he's right about all of this, but how he gets to these conclusions is very much an intuitive leap.

He did not know why he was doing it, why he was approaching the dying man: he did not know what he felt as he saw Snape’s white face, and the fingers trying to staunch the bloody wound at his neck. Harry took off the invisibility cloak and looked down upon the man he hated, whose widening black eyes found Harry as he cried to speak. Harry bent over him, and Snape seized the front of his robes and pulled him close.

(DH, 657)

Again, Harry doesn't know why he's approaching Snpae, he just knows he needs to. Like, seriously, Harry spends a good chunk of book 7 acting like he's under the unluckiest version of Felix Felicies out there...

Though, as I mentioned, these intuitive moments happen even in the earlier books. I just think book 7 Harry trusts his instincts and intuition more than he did when he was younger and that's why we see more of it.

“Blimey, Harry, you nearly gave me heart failure!” Harry had pulled off the Cloak: The idea had come to him out of nowhere, born out of a desire to make absolutely sure. “Where are you going, alone?” Neville asked suspiciously. [...] “Just in case they’re — busy — and you get the chance — ” “Kill the snake?” “Kill the snake,” Harry repeated.

(DH, 695)

Again, he has an instinct to tell Neville to kill Nagini — an instinct that proves correct and crucial.

I don't know what's my conclusion from all of this... I mean, I know when I'm writing Harry I try to remember he has insane gut feelings that prove surprisingly accurate a lot of times. Like, I think a lot of why Harry comes off as impulsive at times is because of how intuitive he is and how much he trusts his instincts and intuition — that being said, he's kinda right to do so. It's another aspect of his character I find interesting and not nearly talked about enough.

[spireasalix]

Severus Snape.

Always.

[spireasalix]

Hermione said, “the Cloak,” Ron said, “the wand,” and Harry said, “the stone.”

Was thinking about the Deathly Hallows and each of the trio's choice of hallow, so I drew this real fast.

[spireasalix]

hi! how common do you think students having time turners actually was, as we're only given a handful of examples? and do you think there was an ulterior motive to hermione being given the time turner? i really value your insights and this is a question that's been annoying me for years.

hi!

I don't think it's common at all. I was always under the impression Hermione was literally the only student who ever received a time-turner. I believe it had to do with Sirius Black being on the loose and Hermione being friends with Harry and not just about her schedule.

Even though the time turner Hermione receives is very limited:

According to Professor Saul Croaker, who has spent his entire career in the Department of Mysteries studying time-magic: ‘As our investigations currently stand, the longest period that may be relived without the possibility of serious harm to the traveller or to time itself is around five hours. We have been able to encase single Hour-Reversal Charms, which are unstable and benefit from containment, in small, enchanted hour-glasses that may be worn around a witch or wizard’s neck and revolved according to the number of hours the user wishes to relive. ‘All attempts to travel back further than a few hours have resulted in catastrophic harm to the witch or wizard involved.

(From Pottermore)

It doesn't seem like a common procedure:

“It’s called a Time-Turner,” Hermione whispered, “and I got it from Professor McGonagall on our first day back. I’ve been using it all year to get to all my lessons. Professor McGonagall made me swear I wouldn’t tell anyone. She had to write all sorts of letters to the Ministry of Magic so I could have one. She had to tell them that I was a model student, and that I’d never, ever use it for anything except my studies. ... I’ve been turning it back so I could do hours over again, that’s how I’ve been doing several lessons at once, see? But ...

(PoA)

Considering how McGonagall had to send multiple letters back and forth and not just the one usual form for student time turners, it makes me believe Hermione was a special case.

JKR wrote her as a special case, according to her:

Secondly, I had Hermione give back the only Time-Turner ever to enter Hogwarts.

(From Pottermore)

Now, JKR basically wrote herself into a problem. The problem was why was Hermione the only student given a time turner and how could other students who achieved 12 NEWTs (Tom Riddle, Bill & Percy Weasley, and Barty Crouch Jr) could've done so without the use of time travel?

Let's start with the second question. How they could accomplish 12 NEWTs without a time turner? Honestly, it's kinda easy to explain. Like, I have sat over scheduling classes at Hogwarts for a while, knowing the amount of teachers and such. How classes seem to work is that between 1-5 years the students are divided into groups of two houses for different subjects.

For example, Potions & DADA are a joint class of Gryffindor and Slytherin, meaning that Hufflepuff & Ravenclaw take these classes together. Herbology is a joint class of Gryffindor & Ravenclaw (meaning Slytherin & Ravenclaw likely have Herbology together) and so on for other classes.

In the first 5 years, we see the elective subjects are similarly split. We see Gryffindor and Slytherin take their electives together (only Gryffindors in Divination and Malfoy and other Slytherins are at Care with the main characters). Later, in the NEWT classes in the final two years, many students seem to drop out and you have classes with all the students in the year for all 4 houses. (I might make a full post explaining all of this and the evidence for it in more detail, this is just an overview).

But basically, it means that for OWLs at least, it's very possible to take electives at another time with the other half of your year. Also, considering the number of students, over 5 years split in 2 plus 2 less split apart years and 11 teachers, each student is likely to have a few free blocks in their schedule due to there being only one teacher per subject. This would allow to schedule subjects so a student could take 12 NEWTs without any scheduling issues.

Now why Hermione's case was special. I think it's a combination of multiple things happening together.

First, It's very likely that with the complicated scheduling at Hogwarts Hermione fell on a year where her schedule really was impossible. We know Ancient Runes doesn't happen at the same time as Care or Arithmancy as she keeps taking it so it's possible they had a real scheduling problem that specific year for electives.

Second, I mentioned in the past I believe Dumbledore was aware Sirius was innocent and he was the one who told Harry and Hermione to use the time turner to help him and Buckbeek. When they go back in time, the past Dumbledore (who shouldn't know they went back in time yet) actively helps them with the plan to release Buckbeek:

They were still ten feet away from the forest, in plain view of Hagrid’s back door. “One moment, please, Macnair,” came Dumbledore’s voice. “You need to sign too.” The footsteps stopped.

[...]

“Where is it?” said the reedy voice of the Committee member. “Where is the beast?” “It was tied here!” said the executioner furiously. “I saw it! Just here!” “How extraordinary,” said Dumbledore. There was a note of amusement in his voice.

(PoA, 401-402)

I don't think Dumbledore knew exactly what the circumstances would be at the end of the year, but I think he and McGonagall agreed Hermione's scheduling issue was a good excuse to get someone near Harry with a time turner that just might save his life if the worst came to it. Or, at least something along these lines.

So, basically, a schedule that was unluckily impossible that year added to Harry's unique circumstances and I think it explains why Dumbledore and McGonagall would go out of their way to make her an exception. Or at least the best explanation I could come up with.

[spireasalix]

snapetober 2024!

Hi everyone! I don't know if anyone had plans to make a Snapetober this year, but I've literally been looking forward to this since the last one ended (I'm a sucker for a themed daily challenge), so... given that I enjoyed @momo-t-daye's unofficial Snapetober so much in 2023, I decided to put together a list of prompts for this year!

Based on the rules of Snapetobers of yesteryear – feel free to participate in any way you want, however much you want. That means art, fics, moodboards, metas, headcanons, playlists, etc., any type of thing is welcome as long as you created it and it is Snape-related. There's also no pressure to participate for all prompts – you're welcome to jump in any time, complete any number of prompts in any time frame, combine prompts, go out of order, whatever you can and/or want to do. Really, the whole point of this is just to provide some inspiration (and mild structure) for creators in the Snapedom and to see and share everyone's beautiful work.

Now onto the list! I went a little conceptual with these prompts – I tried to pick things that could be interpreted in a variety of ways. There is also some more literal autumn-related stuff in there, too, so hopefully it's a good balance. Happy creating!

Warmth

Garden

Haunt

Torn

Pillow

Roots

Flame

Cozy

Morning

Dream

Buried

Victory

Journey

Trick

Treat

Tangle

Mirror

Hush

Discovery

Fantasy

Play

Youth

Watched

Shadow

Doorway

Balance

Master

Time

Rotten

Midnight

Spooky

[spireasalix]

Severus Snape the type of guy to not even be in an omegaverse and still end up being an omega somehow

[spireasalix]

Shirt

Day 12 of Snapetober is a peek inside Snape's Sanctuary as he puts on the bare essentials below his frock and robes. I like to think he's not much of a morning person and he dresses on autopilot half asleep.

And for today's Hogwarts Kinktober chapter the theme is "Legilimency/Occlumency" and so while there's been hints of it in earlier chapters this one is a smidge different. Enjoy!

💚 SEVERUS'S EVERY FLAVOR OF SMUTS 💚

[spireasalix]

I love soulmates but also this-

[spireasalix]

Happy birthday, Harry!

This week is very intense at work, but I'm happy. Very happy, to be honest. And drained of energy at the same time.

[spireasalix]

Did you write about the Dark Mark already? I have to think how it actually works, and why no one knows about it if they can just like search the bodies of dead Death Eaters

Anonymous asked:

why didn't dumbledore tell ministry about dark mark as a tattoo? bc he not want to send snape to azkaban of it? i guess dark mark is a very big secter and only for small inner circle, the best of the best, 'friends', and when snape tells minister about it they don't understand neither sirius when harry tells him about karkaroff and how many people have dark mark? is regulus have it or not? (i rereading the cemetery scene in 4th book and can't normally count the de's, or maybe it is a plot hole by jkr) peter probably get it after 3rd book, after he's proof self 🤔

Okay, so I haven't really written anything detailed. I just mentioned here and there some elements of my thoughts here and there sprinkled throughout other theories.

So, let's talk about the dark mark and how/why it was such a secret

First, as always, we start from what we know:

1. The dark mark is shaped like a skull with a snake coming out of its mouth. It is placed on the left forearm of a Death Eater.

Voldemort bent down and pulled out Wormtail’s left arm; he forced the sleeve of Wormtail’s robes up past his elbow, and Harry saw something upon the skin there, something like a vivid red tattoo — a skull with a snake protruding from its mouth — the image that had appeared in the sky at the Quidditch World Cup: the Dark Mark. Voldemort examined it carefully, ignoring Wormtail’s uncontrollable weeping.

(GoF, 645)

2. The mark isn't for everyone and is considered a great sign of honor. Most Death Eaters and their affiliates aren't marked.

“No,” snarled Greyback, “I haven’t got—they say he’s using the Malfoy’s place as a base. We’ll take the boy there.” Harry thought he knew why Greyback was not calling Voldemort. The werewolf might be allowed to wear Death Eater robes when they wanted to use him, but only Voldemort’s inner circle were branded with the Dark Mark: Greyback had not been granted this highest honor.

(DH, 389)

As for how many are marked, Harry counts them for us:

and what use would it be to deprive Voldemort of his wand, even if he could, when he was surrounded by Death Eaters, outnumbered by at least thirty to one?

(GoF, 660)

So we have about 30 Death Eaters in the graveyard + Baty Jr + Snape + Karkaroff + 10 more in Azkaban (Bellatrix, Rodolphus, Rabastan, Rookwood, Dolohov, Traverse, Gibbon, Jugson & another unnamed one I like to call Pyrites) + the dead ones from the first war (Regulus, Evan Rosier & Wilkes). This lands us at approximately 46 marked Death Eaters. So, while it is somewhat of a secret club, it's not that exclusive if you have about 50 members in a society of about 6,200 wizards as a whole.

3. The Dark Mark was kept incredibly secret during the first war and most of the Order (if not all of them) didn't know about it until the second war.

Even Sirius who was in Azkaban with almost exclusively marked Death Eaters, didn't know about the mark.

“He showed Snape something on his arm?” said Sirius, looking frankly bewildered. He ran his fingers distractedly through his filthy hair, then shrugged again. “Well, I’ve no idea what that’s about . . . but if Karkaroff’s genuinely worried, and he’s going to Snape for answers . . .”

(GoF, 532)

4. The Dark Mark allows Voldemort to know where his Death Eaters are and they can "call him" via the mark.

“And now,” she said in a voice that burst with triumph, “we call the Dark Lord!” And she pushed back her sleeve and touched her forefinger to the Dark Mark. At once, Harry’s scar felt as though it had split open again.

(DH, 404)

5. The mark allows Voldemort to call his Death Eaters to him.

He pressed his long white forefinger to the brand on Wormtail’s arm. The scar on Harry’s forehead seared with a sharp pain again, and Wormtail let out a fresh howl; Voldemort removed his fingers from Wormtail’s mark, and Harry saw that it had turned jet black. A look of cruel satisfaction on his face, Voldemort straightened up, threw back his head, and stared around at the dark graveyard. “How many will be brave enough to return when they feel it?” he whispered, his gleaming red eyes fixed upon the stars. “And how many will be foolish enough to stay away?”

(GoF, 645)

6. It likely is able to inform him when a Death Eater is dead. I mentioned in my post about Regulus how odd it is that the Death Eaters seem to know he died when really, he could've run away. But they all knew Voldemort killed him for being a traitor, meaning, Voldemort is the one who told them he died. How did he know? The Dark Mark.

7. And the mark clearly knows when Voldemort is dead.

It appears red when he's in weakened wraith/homunculus form, and then when he lives and activates it it becomes black:

He pressed his long white forefinger to the brand on Wormtail’s arm. The scar on Harry’s forehead seared with a sharp pain again, and Wormtail let out a fresh howl; Voldemort removed his fingers from Wormtail’s mark, and Harry saw that it had turned jet black.

(GoF, 645)

Becomes clearer when he's getting stronger:

“Severus, you cannot pretend this isn’t happening!” Karkaroff’s voice sounded anxious and hushed, as though keen not to be overheard. “It’s been getting clearer and clearer for months. I am becoming seriously concerned, I can’t deny it —” “Then flee,” said Snape’s voice curtly. “Flee — I will make your excuses. I, however, am remaining at Hogwarts.”

(GoF, 426)

And a faded scar once Voldemort was dead for good.

8. The Dark Mark can be used for the Death Eaters to communicate with each other:

“Really?” said Professor McGonagall. “And what gave you that impression?” Snape made a slight flexing movement of his left arm, where the Dark Mark was branded into his skin. “Oh, but naturally,” said Professor McGonagall. “You Death Eaters have you own private means of communication, I forgot.”

(DH, 506)

How the Dark Mark Works Magically

So, I mentioned it in the past, but I think there is some soul magic involved in the Dark Mark. Considering it is aware of whether its host (the Death Eater) is alive or dead and how they all connect to Voldemort, I feel it's pretty safe to say soul magic is part of it.

The fact Harry feels his scar whenever the mark is used to call Voldemort or used by Voldemort to call his Death Eaters (as illustrated in the above quotes) just strengthens the soul connection since Harry is, as we know, a Horcrux.

I don't think the Dark Mark uses a Protean Charm like the DA coins, but a different method. Mostly since a Protean Charm charm isn't needed. It's what caused the numbers on the coin to change, not what caused them to burn up.

A spell I do want to bring up is the one used to paint the Dark Mark in the sky: "Morsmordre"

(As an aside, that's like, the most evil-sounding spell in how it's pronounced in my opinion. It's all these 'R's)

The spell is most likely comprised of the Latin "mors" meaning "death" and "mordere" meaning "to bite". Literally translates to "To bite death" AKA Death Eater. And I think this spell is the same one used to make someone a Death Eater, or at least to mark them as one.

I also headcanon that only marked Death Eaters (+ Voldemort) could cast Morsmordre on the sky. Like, if some random cast the spell it wouldn't do shit. It makes the whole situation with Winky in GoF more heartbreaking. But also, I don't think anyone there really knew that the spell was limited use, as no one tried to cast it after the first war, probably. But I don't really have evidence for this.

Back to the Dark Mark brand:

The dark mark is mentioned to be burned on one's skin, beside creating a burning sensation when Voldemort calls:

“There,” said Snape harshly. “There. The Dark Mark. It is not as clear as it was an hour or so ago, when it burned black, but you can still see it. Every Death Eater had the sign burned into him by the Dark Lord.

(GoF, 709)

This makes me think the mark looks burned. Like if you used a hot piece of iron to burn the mark on someone's skin, like a brand.

Now, fire is an interesting element, and, alchemically, one of the elements that corresponds to the soul along with air. Air, though, is also part of the spirit, the fire is only part of the soul as the soul is the one carrying the spark, so to speak.

And I think the idea of them looking like a branding is accurate — because that is exactly what the dark mark is. It's a brand. It's a sign of possession. In various cultures in the past, slaves were branded in a similar way. A sign of ownership that you and your soul, in this case, aren't your own.

So, I think, to mark someone, Voldemort would cast Morsmordre on their arm. This will burn the mark on them, which I assume would feel like a brand being burned on (which is also how it looks, it does not look like a tattoo).

But what does this have to do with the name "Death Eater"?

Well, both the organization and the spell share this language. both meaning to eat death, and I wondered why. So, I looked up various folklore/myths that could refer to a "Death Eater" and I found some interesting ones.

In Ancient Greece and Rome, for example, apparently, Fava Beans were often treated as symbols of death and decay. Some even said the beans contained souls and that eating them was akin to cannibalism. I don't think it has anything to do with the Dark Mark, but I found it interesting.

Of course, there is the Greek myth of Persephone, who is trapped in the underworld by eating pomegranate seeds.

I also considered a connection to sin-eaters. Who were usually poor people invited to funerals and paid to ritualistically eat the sins of the deceased so they could move on to heaven in Ireland and Wales.

However, my favorite theory is one I'm not the first to pose. I don't remember where I read it, but I read a post from someone who mentioned the name 'Death Eaters' reminded them of 'beefeaters'. The term refers to the Yeomen Warders who guard the tower of London. Some etymologists believe the term 'beefeaters' originates from the old English: 'hláf-æta', literally meaning 'bread-eater' but was a word used to refer to a servant, while others argue it could originate from an old French term: 'buffetier' which also means servant.

That, to me, sounded perfect. It fits naturally in with everything.

'Death Eaters' then is then a play on an old English term meaning 'servent', except, the 'bread' from that word was replaced with death, both for Voldemrot's obsession with death and the connection to the life and soul I mentioned earlier.

I also would like to mention that the change of 'bread' to 'death' makes the term sound more permanent. Like they are to remain Voldemrot's servants until they eat death (until they die). It basically marks their soul forever. It brands them.

So, magically, the dark mark makes someone Voldemot's servant for life. It binds their soul to the network of marks that are all tied to Voldemrot's own soul.

This is where that sin-eater connection I mentioned earlier might be relevant. A sin-eater ritualistically eats a person's sins, a part of them in a way. So, I think, with the dark mark, it's something similar. Magically/symbolically, they eat Voldemrot's sins — a part of him.

So, to summarise this section:

The spell Morsmordre is likely used to mark a death eater. The mark is burned and acts as a weak soul tether between Voldemort and all his Death Eaters like a weird network. The mark is a branding, it looks burned and it brands them as Voldemort's servants. The spell 'Morsmordre' literally means to bite death or eat death and refers to the Death Eaters' name. A name that practically calls them Voldemort's servants until their death.

Why the Secrecy

Well, I think this one is pretty obvious. You'd rather the mark that basically broadcasts who's a trusted follower to the world not be common knowledge. Not only that but it's stated by many characters that during the first war, Death Eaters didn't really know who the other Death Eaters were. Everyone knew Voldemort, and only knew each other or about plans on a need-to-know basis.

At least, that's how they operated in the first wat. Death Eaters in the first war are closer to a cult than in the second one.

They operate in secrecy.

All the following and operations revolve around a single leader everyone knows and worships.

Most don't even know each other from how secret they are.

Their clothes — masks, robes, and hooded cloaks all fit in with this cult-like imagery.

In the second war, it was different though. I spoke in the past about how the second war is very different from the first one. How it ran, the number of casualties, the approach of Death Eaters towards the ministry, and vice versa.

In the first war, Voldemort was around, hushing up a lot of their involvement and creating this air of fear and mystery around his cult. In book 5, the DE are just as secretive and hushed up in their operations at the beginning of the first war, but during book 6 and into book 7, Voldemort isn't as present. So, they allow themselves more. They stop hiding because no one is telling them to.

So, in the second war, we see society as a whole is much more aware of the dark mark and the Death Eaters.

How Come No One Tells Fudge

First I want to talk about how they didn't see it on dead bodies of Death Eaters or on imprisoned ones, and, well, I have a guess.

Karkaroff and Snape mention how the dark mark darkened throughout year 4, becoming more and more red. It's possible, that right after Voldemort was defeated, when most Death Eaters were arrested and killed, the mark likely was incredibly faded and barely visible. It looked like an old scar and probably didn't garner much attention and was easy enough to conceal with magic for people like Lucius Malfoy.

As for why Dumbledore didn't tell Fudge in the second war, I think he did tell Fudge. Fudge likely knew about the dark mark and it didn't matter. The whole point of book 5 is that the ministry is corrupt. Fudge knows Voldemort is back, he believes it, he just doesn't want everyone else to think is. He is desperate to show competence and get reelected, Voldemort returning in his time is not a good look.

Basically, I don't think Fudge was ever a convincing problem, he knew Dumbledore and Harry were telling the truth — and he didn't care.

[spireasalix]

More notes from my Deathly Hallows reread about Harry's magic being super powerful and not working the way magic is supposed to work:

“Harry?” Ron’s voice echoed suddenly from the other side of the wall to Harry’s right. “Are you talking to someone?” With a whiplike movement, Crabbe pointed his wand at the fifty-foot mountain of old furniture, of broken trunks, of old books and robes and unidentifiable junk, and shouted, “Descendo,” The wall began to totter, then the top third crumbled into the aisle next door where Ron stood. “Ron!” Harry bellowed, as somewhere out of sight Hermione screamed, and Harry heard innumerable objects crashing to the floor on the other side of the destabilized wall: He pointed his wand at the rampart, cried, “Finite!” and it steadied.

(DH, 629)

Like, what Descendo does is make objects fall down. Like, the moment he cast it at the pile of junk, it started falling down, but Crabbe wasn't casting the spell anymore, he cast it once, for a short moment to make everything start toppling. To steady, the pile of junk, you'll need a spell to keep it steady since once it starts falling, a finite isn't going to help. A finite stops a spell that is in effect, but the descendo isn't actually in effect anymore, it gave the pile a nudge, and then gravity did the rest. At least in this case, since the items are described as falling down naturally and not shooting down by the magic of the spell.

But, apparently, when Harry Potter casts finite, it can work against gravity because he's Harry Potter.

[spireasalix]

2024 October Membership Drive: Preserving fan history

OTW's October Membership drive has begun!  Find out what we do to preserve fan history by reading more at: https://otw-news.org/5n8p54fc

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[spireasalix]

HP Darkfest 2011 : Masterlist of DRARRY fics

hp-darkfest || official masterpost || ∑= 38 fics + 1 art The Mods : literaryspell, snarkyscorp + Banner © : sun_chan (x)

1. Earning His Worship by blissed_bess [E, 11k]

No one worships Draco’s scars quite like Harry can.

2. Eden by gypsyflame [E, 3k]   *not on AO3

They never thought he’d go this far.

3. Finders Keepers by kujamoon [E, 4k]   *not on AO3

When Blaise crosses Harry Potter, Draco finds himself the unfortunate target of Potter’s interests.

4. Fridays at Seven by @secretsalex [E, 3k]

It was too late the moment you walked through the door.

5. Hold On To What We’ve Got by simeysgirl [M, 7k]

Harry doesn’t like anything, or anyone, to come between him and Draco.

6. In Grey Worsted by literaryspell [M, 2k]

Harry’s only chance at happiness is slipping away, one piece at a time. He isn’t about to give up, though.

7. Kill The Complex by kc404duh [E, 2k]   *not on AO3

Prompt: Based loosely on the song Wonderland by Kill The Complex. “No one was caring, as she was wearing her heart on her sleeve. I love a girl who’s not afraid to bleed, but now I wish she had cut me. She died alone that night.”

8. The Placebo Sequence by Snegurochka [E, 6k]

Harry Potter has only ever had two goals in life: to defeat Voldemort and to bring his followers to justice. One, he’s done. The other is in progress. It should be simple, except there’s one former Death Eater who doesn’t meet the right criteria.

9. Room Four by @captn-sara-holmes [E, 20k]

“Draco’s a ghost, so Harry doesn’t know what his problem is anyway.”

10. A Taste of Fear by hpstrangelove [E, 6k]   *not on AO3

Harry and Draco have been seeing each other for several years. Six months ago, Draco decided he needed an heir, so he and his father left to negotiate a marriage contract with the family of a prospective bride. Now a newly married Draco has returned to Malfoy Manor and wants to see Harry again.

11. Tear the Skies Asunder by joidianne4eva [M, 26k]   *not on AO3

What is love, if not obsession unchecked?

—

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[spireasalix]

Now I've drawn Harry

[spireasalix]

My kids and what’s in their bags!

[spireasalix]

HP Darkfest 2010 : Masterlist of DRARRY fics

hp-darkfest || official masterpost || ∑= 28 fics + 5 arts The Mods : @catzintheattic, snarkyscorp + Banner © : sepsku (x)

1. Close Enough to Love by rubytuesday5681 [E, 9k]   *not on AO3

“Harry rarely feels what he is supposed to feel anymore. His feelings are broken, and he gave up trying to fix them years ago.” “Harry can’t figure out why Draco is even here at all. He can’t understand how someone so beautiful can continue to stay here in this godforsaken place and continue to be so pretty and precious and fucking pristine despite everything that Harry has done to him.”

2. Damage by literaryspell [E, 3k]

Harry rises. Draco watches.

3. Squirm by @bounding-heart [M, 15k]   *not on AO3

In Hogwarts, people can hear you scream – but it won’t help.

4. When the Bough Breaks by kujamoon [M, 42k]   *not on AO3

In a world where things seem a little off and his life has fallen apart, Harry attempts to put all the pieces back together and finds a world of mystery shrouded in darkness. He doesn’t know who’s pulling the strings, but Draco was always a good place to start.

—

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