Author's Note: Written for Round 13 of the QLFC 6 — Trick or Treat

Team: Pride of Portree

Position: Chaser 1

Prompt: Ashwinder (trick): write about someone who seeks revenge and its consequences

Add'l Prompts Used:

6 (weather) rainy

8 (word) morose

9 (phrase) drop of a hat

Word Count (excluding Author's Note): 1761

A/N: AU

There was a lot a discussion and debate about the circumstances and timing of Severus Snape taking up his position at Hogwarts — and his motivation for it. I enlisted almost the whole team in this effort since we all had different perceptions and remembrances of how, when and where it was all decided. Ultimately, I think that I came to understand that my initial perception might have been the closest to reality — it was all left rather unsaid and unspecific. Which gives me room to play.

There is nothing in the canon strictly stating when Snape starts his position at Hogwarts and no follow-up on when Slughorn specifically leaves. It is all agreed that it is in 1981 and beyond that, there is little specificity. It is also unclear that when Snape agrees to do "anything" to protect Lily and her family that he is immediately employed to teach. If anything about that memory stands out upon re-read, it is that Dumbledore doesn't seem to expect Snape at all, much less has a plan for using him. I believe that Snape's usefulness to Dumbledore and as a part of the resistance is only a concept that develops over time once it is clear that Snape is not a true loyalist. Here I may be insinuating a theory that Slughorn leaves mid-year, instead of during a summer holiday when it might be expected — and for some, that will seem like it diverges from cannon.

However, the bigger conundrum for us all seemed to be who knew what, and when did they know it?

Because we all know how the books end, we come into these stories knowing how everything turns out eventually. That makes setting things in the past difficult, because sometimes we have to pretend we don't know things we know we do — unless we believe that some people knew all along. And that is certainly my implication here. I have never for, one moment, thought that Dumbledore believed that Voldemort was finished when he was "defeated" by a baby . Yet he spends quite a bit of time pretending the opposite — at least when it comes to interacting with Harry. It seems incongruous to me that he would not have confided these suspicions to, at least, a small, trusted number of confidants so that, when the time came, they would be prepared for Tom's return; it is what they seem to be preparing for all along.

Suffice it to say, I believe that Dumbledore would have confided in Snape almost immediately. It was an act of trust that Dumbledore was clearly showing and investing in Snape at a time when Snape was vulnerable and exposed, and it would have equalized their footing and made a partnership possible instead of Snape being more of a hostage to his circumstances. It is hard for me to imagine that Snape would have stayed in his position through all those years when Voldemort was "dormant" if he was only ever afraid of being exposed by Dumbledore; there had to be more to it and I believe it comes down to trust and respect.

As for whether or not Snape finally signs on to take on the role of double-agent before or after Lily and James' deaths, the verdict still seems to be out. The HP Wiki page has a direct quote that is linked back to the Deathly Hallows, which is also how I believed I had read it, stating that Snape does not become a double-agent until after the attack in Godric's Hollow. But I have received serious pushback from others who have indicated that they thought that Snape's commitment was only fortified by Lily's demise and that it had been his intention from the moment he offered "anything" to Dumbledore to take on his lifelong duty as agent to both sides. Certainly, many readers have strong feelings about Snape and about his intentions; for that reason I am marking this AU in the interest of allowing for differing views on the character and his intentions, implied and otherwise.

One final note on possible divergence from cannon: it was suggested that Voldemort might have pushed Snape to teach at Hogwarts, although I struggled to find the reference myself. Here I suggest that Dumbledore is pushing for it, and I am not beyond the suggestion that "great minds think alike" only that I am not presenting any suggestion that Snape is aware of Voldemort's desire for him or anyone to be installed at Hogwarts at this particular moment in time.

A few additional, non-character notes:

I have used morose as a feeling here as much as a word.

With much love and thanks to my husband for being such a big fan of the Counting Crows, who inspired my title.

Beta Love: Story, Please, crochetaway,Ebenbild, and Sehanine — and truly, all of Pride for their input and and support during this round.

The Rain King

Revenge. It had always been with him, for as long as he could remember; even now. And while those he wanted his revenge against had changed, it always felt the same; the gnawing in his belly of raw hate. He stood, soaked to the skin, waiting in a deluge — a man grown yet still answering to the whims and whimsy of others — his life forfeit. There was almost no more thought to it ever being different. Only revenge burned cold and glowing in his heart, like a frozen ball of gas in space or the silvery light of the moon spilling across a marble floor. Icy.

Many choices had been made for him; long before he had a say in his life. Yet even when the opportunity for him to make his own choices came his way, he only knew how to muck them up. It was all he had ever seen; all he'd even known.

So, it was no surprise that Severus Snape found himself waiting in the pouring rain on the corner of Knockturn Alley, drenched to the skin and brooding. He never bothered to cover his head; he wasn't even sure why anymore. There was just a part of him that felt as if he'd earned the discomfort of being cold and wet and miserable. Especially now. Nothing mattered, now.

"Stop pouting." A deep voice broke into his thoughts. Rabastan Lestrange approached like a long, dark shadow from down the narrow gap between Moribund's and Noggin and Bonce. Even Severus could appreciate the cleverness of the disguise. The two of them, walking together, could easily have passed for twins when seen from behind; brothers from the front. They were more alike than Severus felt comfortable admitting.

"Dare I ask how you managed this one?" he drawled, his voice betraying none of the anxiety he felt.

"Have I taught you nothing?" Rabastan's face contorted in disapproval. He grabbed Severus by his arm, twisting him bodily so that they were side-by-side, and pressed him down into the narrowest of lanes, just off The Spiny Serpent. They were close; so close that even a whisper was easily heard. "What are you thinking? Any hint — any NOTION of deception could cost us both before this venture even gets off the ground!"

Severus stopped, abruptly. He was done being led around by the nose. "It's going to cost me far more than it's going to cost you, Albus."

"Fool that you are," his companion hissed back, "it already has. You think you'd learn when to keep your mouth shut."

Only the incessant patter of the rain could be heard as they stood in silence. Severus felt his hands clenching, involuntarily. He wasn't sure how long he'd be able to hold back his basest instincts. There was only so much one man could take…

"Just keep in mind, Severus, I'm under no obligation here. To you or anyone. You came to me."

"For her. I needed to be sure she would be protected!"

"And she is." His face — inches from Severus' own — twisted in fear and despair, betraying to clearly a lack of confidence the statement just made.

His expression— not his face. Severus thought, correcting himself.

"You said you'd do anything. Time to prove it." Severus lost hold of the last thread of his composure, but their tight quarters almost completely precluded any wand motions. Dumbledore had chosen wisely, as he was apt to do. Severus was left with only his hands. He wrapped them around the other man's throat, pressing him back into the brick behind him. The solid 'thunk' of his head against the wall was satisfying.

"Take your hatred out on someone who deserves it, Severus. Like yourself." Dumbledore's derision could not be hidden beneath Rabastan's visage. It was a punch in the gut. Severus pushed once more, only this time he withdrew his hands. His need for retribution was still a burning hot coal in his gut; it was much too soon to serve it. Loath as he was, he would need to play to win the long game. He shoved his hands deep into his pockets as if that could keep them from involuntarily resuming their murderous bent. And the rain streamed down, plastering his hair to his face, running down his nose, dripping and pooling around his feet.

"You can't just change things at the drop of hat, A—" Severus caught himself short before he uttered the name again.

"It hasn't changed," his companion growled. The glamoured form re-initiated his walk down the alley. Severus had no choice but to follow. Dumbledore might be the only person on earth left he could trust, and he only had himself to blame for that, too. "But it is time to flesh out the details, and quickly."

"I can only give you information if I have it," Severus snarled back, "and, at the moment, I lack anything of use. I'm just another foot soldier. A nobody."

"Your usefulness to me, and to the whole of the resistance, is limited where you are now."

"I can only push so hard. The Dark Lord does not suffer—"

"You can offer something to Tom that no one else can. Something that even he couldn't get, but desperately wanted." Rabastan's face twisted itself into a smile worthy of a true Lestrange. "If I'm not mistaken, it is something he still wants."

Severus was certain he wasn't going to like where this was headed. "And what, pray tell, would that be?"

"Hogwarts. Or, at least, access to it," came the answer. Severus looked for any and every hint that Albus was joking but it was impossible to read through his assumed form.

"I don't understand."

"I'm not entirely sure I do, either," Dumbledore replied. "I know that he was adamant about staying at Hogwarts beyond his school years, though. Headmaster Dippet said he must have asked him a hundred times if he could remain and teach." Severus saw as the equally drenched form of his companion quickly checked his watch, his eyes drifting down the alley towards something. "He even threatened him."

"Threatened him? To stay at Hogwarts?"

"Mmm-hmm," Dumbledore nodded in agreement, picking up his pace. They crossed over a fast-running stream of rainwater that carried more than its fair share of loose garbage and fallen leaves. Severus crossed through it without even making an attempt at avoidance. The water that seeped into his shoes completed his misery — a morose statement on his lack of caring about anything anymore.

"And while I can't be sure of what it is, I would not hesitate to venture that it is important. At least to Tom." Dumbledore continued, oblivious to his co-conspirator's inner turmoil. "So, when I offer you placement on the faculty—"

"Wait, what?" Severus was jolted. "Placement at Hogwarts? You mean — to teach?" Severus could think of several thousand things he'd rather do — they included having his toenails ripped out manually with pliers, or Muggle-style dental work, or even telling the Dark Lord the truth about this meeting. None of those things, at the moment, seemed nearly as revolting as what Dumbledore was proposing. It was also an unhappy reminder that, no matter what he convinced himself in his darkest, private moments, he still had some semblance of a desire for survival floating around in what he had thought was an empty shell. Damn you, Albus. Damn you to hell.

"Horace has decided, rather abruptly, that he has run out of steam and desires retirement to a warmer clime. Rather immediately, I am afraid." The face of Rabastan Lestrange looked at Severus with the eyes of Albus Dumbledore. They were running out of time, in more ways than one. "I find myself in urgent need, and who better to come than yourself?"

"I don't see how he'll find that advantageous," Severus mumbled, feigning a disinterest he certainly didn't feel. Hadn't he wanted the worst? Hadn't he desired death so he could be reunited with Lily? Or at least be released of the grief every day without her was. Now, as Dumbledore dangled the carrot of life in front of him, he found himself lunging at it — it was just another betrayal. "How could it possibly benefit him if I end up at Hogwarts?"

"Information, for a start," Dumbledore replied, calmly, as if he weren't talking about treason. Severus could only stare at him blankly. "Every move will require sacrifice, Severus. From myself included." Dumbledore stopped and flexed his hands, his fingers clearly elongating as a few age spots reappeared. It was clear that the Polyjuice potion was wearing off. "I will have to feed you things to keep Tom's interest. Some of which may be costly to our fight." His eyes turned down and away from Severus. "It is not the position that I would wish for myself, or you, or anyone. But it might be the best chance we have."

"And me?" Severus asked. "What would you have of me?"

"Information in return. The same kind — just enough to help us continue to resist, but not so much to blow your cover."

"I— I can't, Albus," he whispered. "You don't understand how powerful he is!"

"I understand that he started off as a lost, lonely boy — much like yourself," Albus' clear, blue eyes sparkled beneath increasingly bushy eyebrows as he continued to lose his grip on his disguise. "He's just a man, Severus — just like you or I — and he can be defeated. I know he can." He reached in to grab Severus' arm, squeezing it tightly. Severus winced, his eyes immediately drawn to Albus' own, searching for some sort of comfort — for some confirmation that he wasn't asking him to do what he knew he was.

"Help me. You might be the best chance we have," he sighed, pulling up the hood on his cloak to hide his changing face. "Help us all."

"You know full well I can't say no if I want to survive," came the reply.

"I'm not sure you can survive either way, to be honest."

"I know."

"He has her eyes, you know. Harry does."

Severus stumbled back against a wall as if he had been physically hit. "You should go." It was all he could manage to say.

"Come back to Hogwarts," Dumbledore put in, making one last plea. "And maybe one day soon you will see them for yourself."

By the time Severus had picked his head up again, he was alone. As always.