gwendolyngrace: (KlingonSnape)
gwendolyngrace ([personal profile] gwendolyngrace) wrote2005-08-08 01:39 pm
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Various...

Wah, Peter Jennings!

Truly a loss for television journalism.


Okay, thanks to both of you who gave me feedback about the whole AU question. But of course, just as I was bravely going to go ahead and post, I was bitten by a drabble bunny for a canonical Snape story. (See, my brain's been working overtime to figure this whole thing out, and that's what I get for it.)

Here's a taste:


I.
Bugger Beltaine, Tobias thought. And everything to do with it.

It had been Midsummer’s afore Eileen knew for certain, and then Lammastide afore she told him. Married quickly, in time for Samhain. Then it were a busy Yule season, with the baby coming only three days past twelfth night. Born in a blizzard, to boot. Eileen had wrapped two cloaks around herself to keep them both warm on the way home.

Two bloody weeks twixt Christmas and the boy’s birthday! Tobias scowled, knowing where his holiday bonus were bound to go each year. Fatherhood was bloody going to kill him.


II.
It happened first when he were four. Mam was out, Da had worked overnight and was asleep in their big bed, and he was thirsty. He went to the kitchen, pulled open the icebox door with both hands and peered inside, but the milk jug was empty. The only other drinks were the tall glass bottles, but they were for Da only. He shut the door. He couldn’t reach the water pump by himself, and he oughtn’t wake Da. He returned to the icebox. Gingerly, he picked up a bottle. It were cold to the touch. As he brought it out, the glass frosted. He peered at the golden liquid inside. Juice, mayhap? He frowned at the bottle, unsure how to open it. The cap popped off and clattered to the floor. Severus gasped. It smelled like sour apples. He tipped it up carefully for a taste. Then he drank the whole thing down.

He cowered in the corner while they rowed. What angered Da more than anything, apparently, was that all the bottles now held apple juice, when they hadn’t before. What pleased Mam, though she wouldn’t say it where Da could hear, was that Severus had done magic.


III.
Books were safe, to ask for. Books from mam’s side even had moving pictures in. Gran Snape always sent a jumper for Christmas, and trousers or summat else for birthday, so there were no point expecting anything else. Three year ago, he had asked for a broom, but the look on his mam’s face told him he wouldn’t get one.

But this year, he would be eight, so mayhap. He waited until she asked. But the look returned.

‘Not … not with anything else,’ he added quickly. ‘Mayhap … just that. For both?’

She sank onto the edge of his little bed. ‘Severus … isn’t there anything else you want?’

He shrugged.

‘I’ll have to ask your father,’ she said softly.

‘Won’t understand,’ Severus muttered almost before he thought the words fully. He regretted it instantly. She just shook her head.

‘He will. It’s just … brooms are expensive, love. And … nowhere ‘round here’s safe to fly it.’

He nodded like he’d known this already. She tucked his covers around him nervously and affected a smile. ‘We’ll see,’ she told him, kissing him goodnight.

They gave him a bicycle. His da thought he’d cried happy tears. He didn’t argue.


I'm up to about 13 or 14 at home. And yes, these are all either drabbles or double-drabbles. I'm going to see how far I can get with this style. Anyone have suggestions for drabble communities where I can post this? String enough of them together and I can even put it on FictionAlley.
ext_45936: (Default)

[identity profile] thirteen-ravens.livejournal.com 2005-08-08 08:25 pm (UTC)(link)
*nods* I DO like these. They're wonderful. :o)

I daren't attempt more Northern accents in my fics, seeing as I'm from Oxfordshire and "posh sounding" and all that. Though Nan's from Nottingham, so I may have picked up a twang on a few words - and sometimes I call mum "mam."

I don't know of any good drabble communities - but if I find one I will let you know. But yes - definitely collect together some more drabbles and post them on FAP. :o)

[identity profile] adred.livejournal.com 2005-08-08 08:28 pm (UTC)(link)
Lovely insight into Snape's background. The collusion with his mother, the alienation of his father, the stresses that there must be within the family.
I never saw him as a Mummy's Boy, but it fits. He is very polite to Minerva, after all. Uncharacteristically.

His da thought he’d cried happy tears.
Aw. Sad.

Your style is spot-on.


Adred