It's the sign of the end times~

AU and headcanon of Snape trying to improve his mental health.

Snape getting a watch that has alarms set for meals.

Snape having a magical poster board hanging on his wall with reminders that eight hours sleep is medically preferred and to shower at least twice a week.

Snape writing down good things on the arm that doesn’t have the Dark Mark so he can pull back his sleeve and remind himself of them. His arm being covered in things like ‘Albus,’ ‘an article I wrote appeared in a magazine,’ ‘the new Defense master tripped on a trick stair,’ and ‘no students blew up their cauldrons this week.’

Snape making an effort to be more involved with the other staff at Hogwarts. He feels completely ridiculous interjecting into conversations, and at first he just thinks he’s intruding and he feels incredibly awkward. But eventually, it starts getting easier, and he finds he likes most of the staff members.

Snape making an effort to do better while teaching, he takes deep breaths to control his temper and tries very hard not to raise his voice and just explain mistakes and how to fix them. The students spend the day staring at him like he’s gone crazy and they all speculate that maybe he’s actually someone else polyjuiced to look like Snape.

It takes him a while to find a balance and be stern and firm without being irrational and yelling, but teaching becomes much more rewarding once he does.

He reads that trying new things can improve your mood. He tries out wearing the occasional color with his black clothes. It makes him feel like there’s a spotlight on him for awhile, but he decides that he likes dark purple.

Snape feeling good when he wakes up and still feeling good when he goes to bed that night. He can’t remember ever having one full day where he felt good, and he makes sure to write the accomplishment on his arm.

When he tells Dumbledore about all these things, the Headmaster tears up. He tells Snape that he’s proud of him and so pleased to hear that he’s getting better. He wraps Snape in a hug and the Professor is able to return the embrace, to feel proud of himself too.

Some days, he still can’t fight back the depression. Some weeks, he still struggles to take care of himself. But he’s getting better and that’s the main thing. When he feels like he’s failing, that’s what he tells himself, that’s what Albus reminds him. His problems don’t just go away, but he’s learning how to cope.

Your Attention Please!

It’s the greasy boi’s birthday. Let us all shower the Sneep with all the love and affection he was denied in canon.

Snappy Snirthday Severus Snape!

(I’m giving him a giant cauldron he can take naps in. Or drown himself in. Depends on his mood really.)

Auld Lang Syne

Dumbledore can forgive a few absences in Christmas but the staff are required to attend at least the New Year dinner held a few hours before midnight.

They were free to floo back to their families at roughly 9 to prepare but not many staff bother with it. 

“So what’s your new years resolution as a new head of house and professor, Severus?” Minerva asked her youngest colleague. The young slytherin was barely older than his NEWT and she had her doubts about him but Albus set her straight.

“I don’t believe in New Year’s Resolution, professor.” He scowled and took a swig of firewhiskey. “I believe change can occur in any day of the year and when it does it’s gradual. You don’t just get up in the morning, in this case, the new year and decide to change yourself.” 

“I couldn’t have said it better myself!” Albus joyously said and Minerva saw Snape wince into his glass. Albus was quick to refill the young man’s glass and Minerva felt like she missed something.

“Ah, but there is something else though, something I know will catch your interest, my boy.” Dumbledore smiled benignly, Severus narrowed his eyes at the Headmaster.

“What is it?” Minerva knew exactly what Albus was talking about and she raised her brow at him.

“You see, the staff has a bet going on. You say a New Year’s resolution, something silly, nothing too deep or profound, and do your best to uphold your resolution. The one who can reach the next new year without breaking their resolution wins!” 

“What will the winner get?” 

Filius weaseled his way into the conversation. “The betting pool changes yearly, you see, and nobody really knows how much you’ll win by now. We stopped counting years ago.

Severus gaped. “What?”

Flitwick chuckled at the young man, “You see, nobody has ever made it one year without breaking their resolution so the prize just keeps on getting higher. The longest one was with Pomona, she lasted eleven months.”

“The bet is a bit like the DADA post though it is far less…damaging, shall we say, to the individuals involved.” Albus said merrily.

Severus blinked at his former professors. They seem to be waiting for him to ask the question, he was tempted to let things be and deprive them of their joy but his curiosity was stronger. “What was her resolution?”

“Oh Pomona, what was your resolution the year you almost won our little bet?” Severus felt himself gape once again as he saw Flitwick shout and wave over Sprout who was talking with Hagrid. Her face changed so quickly.

“Don’t you go corrupting Severus with your lies, Filius.” Sprout stomped over to them and Severus wondered if his firewhiskey was spiked by some hallucinogenic drug. Albus continued twinkling.

“Pomona, said that she wo-” There was a hand silencing Flitwick.

Minerva chuckled at her colleagues, “You see Severus, Pomona bet Filius that she wouldn’t use one of her favorite-” Minerva suddenly had a hand on he mouth as well. 

Dumbledore chuckled and pulled Severus to him and whispered to his ear. Just when Pomona thought she had the situation handled-

“Professor Sprout uses that word!?” All his years at Cokeworth and he thought he heard it all. Who knew the Head of Hufflepuff had such a filthy mouth.

“And many others!” Flitwick laughed.

“Becuase your resolutions are so clean, Filius-”

Severus put down his glass and decided he had enough to drink for the night. This was surely a hallucination, please make it so-

Before anything could escalate, Dumbledore grabbed everyone and began to sing.

Should old acquaintance be forgot, 

and never brought to mind? 

Should old acquaintance be forgot, 

and old lang syne?

After the mess with the ministry, the Dark Lord has become more harsher to his Death Eaters. Severus was brooding yet again in the New Year’s dinner and Albus approached him. 

“Enjoy the festivities Severus, it’s not everyday you get to celebrate new beginnings.” The damned twinkle was in Albus’ eyes and he wanted to scream.

Severus was still stinging with all the secrets Albus kept from him and he was no mood to humor the old man so he rolled his eyes and took another sip of his firewhiskey.

Albus, seeing that he was getting no where with Severus, changed tactics.

“So, what will your New Year’s Resolution be this year then, Severus?”

Snape scowled and downed the remaining alcohol in his glass before giving Albus his harshest glare.

“I promise not to kill your meddlesome self, Headmaster.”

And surely you’ll buy your pint cup! 

and surely I’ll buy mine! 

And we’ll take a cup o’ kindness yet,

 for auld lang syne.

Being Headmaster of Hogwarts was tiring, doubly so when he needs to make sure the Carrows don’t  suspect him and his true allegiances.

His hands were shaking as they lifted the glass to his mouth.

“You can’t continue to ignore me, Severus.”

Even as a damn portrait, Albus is still his meddling self. There were no betting pools, no staff grapevines, no chats in the staff room. Not since he returned to Hogwarts to claim the position of Headmaster. 

New beginnings his ass.

He can sense the disapproval from the many frames behind him but he just can’t bring himself to care. Not now.

Who knew he’d feel this sentimental? So much for the cold and soulless Death Eater image he maintained.

“Severus, please.” Albus pleaded and Severus had enough. The reminder of the Headmaster’s final words to him was too much. He slammed his glass down and turned around to face the portrait.

“You put me here, in this position. The least you can do is allow me break once in awhile in the safety of this office.” Severus sighed and tried to get himself together. “Your spy will be fine in a few minutes, I just need to be alone for awhile.”

As he stood up, Snape paused. He grabbed a piece of parchment and scribbled while Albus did his best to read what he’d written. He placed the the parchment on the warded desk and placed several galleons on top of it. Albus was torn as he contemplated Severus’ resolution for this year.

“I promise to make sure Voldemort is truly vanquished this year or die trying.” 

We two have run about the slopes,

 and picked the daisies fine; 

But we’ve wandered many a weary foot, 

since auld lang syne.

Hogwarts has been repaired and Minerva has just returned to her office after the staff party. It was quiet and she missed the old days where all of them can be silly and drunk in the privacy of the staff room and privacy charms.

She took out the parchment she showed the others during the party. 

“We’ve concluded that you’ve won the bet, Severus.” She said at the portrait.

“I didn’t last a year. In more ways than one.” He drawled.

Minerva looked at him scoldingly. It was too soon to be reminded of that. It would always be too soon. “But you did fulfill it.”

“I am still wondering why we are discussing this, as you can see, I am a portrait and have no use for the prize no matter how big it is.” The portrait rolled his eyes and Minerva smirked.

“You see, the staff and I were just discussing that and we figured out what to do with all that galleons.”

“I’m waiting with baited breath.”

“We’ve finally found your will. Someone should not have put so many wards and hexes in his belongings.” She mocked glared at him, “We found your will and I am glad to say that your vaults will be used by Hogwarts to help the students who are less fortunate, the books you’ve written will now be used as the standard potions text now that you’re a celebrated war hero royalties from that including your patented potions will go directly to the scholarship program. All anonymous as you wished it. Your winnings will be added to that and the staff and I agreed that in a few years we can maybe support a couple of gifted students for their potion masteries. That one will not be anonymous.”

Severus blinked and opened his mouth to protest but Albus was suddenly in his frame and hugging him.

“Oh Severus. New beginnings are so beautiful, aren’t they?”

“Unhand me, old man!”

And there’s a hand, my trusty fiere!

 and gie’s a hand o’ thine! 

And we’ll tak’ a right gude-willie waught,

 for auld lang syne.

Minerva shook her head at the portraits.

It’s a new year and a new beginning once more. Change can occur gradually and it doesn’t need any special occasions as she wisely heard before. But special occasions can push someone to be their best and she was going to make sure that students from this new era will experience a better life than those before them.

“Unhand me, old man!”😂😂😂

Beautiful story ❤️❤️❤️

It bothers me when people try to argue that Snape wasn’t a hero because he “did one good thing at the end.” They’re entirely overlooking or just ignoring a fundamental plot point of the narrative. He wasn’t loyal to Voldemort the whole time and then decide to save Harry from drowning or something at the last minute. He was doing good THE ENTIRE TIME. From the moment he switched sides after Lily died. From the moment Harry entered Hogwarts, Snape secretly worked to protect him and all the other students. That is the POINT of JKR including the revelation that Snape was trying to save Harry during the quidditch match in PS. That this POINT of JKR showing Snape lie about the veritaserum. That is the POINT of JKR showing Snape send students to detention with Hagrid instead of the Carrows. In each of these incidents, Harry and co believe Snape is trying to hurt them, when he is actually trying to save them. JKR didn’t include these incidents for no reason - they’re meant to foreshadow that Snape has been secretly helping everyone throughout the duration of the story. Snape didn’t “do one good thing in the end;” in the end it is revealed that he was doing good all along. In light of this revelation, both the characters and the readers are able to look back on Snape’s previous actions in from a new perspective. This is, objectively, Snape’s plotline. It is canon. It is not subject to interpretation. If you really think otherwise, you might as well be arguing that Harry’s real name was John, or that Ginny had blonde hair. Of all the valid debates to be had about Snape, this is not debatable. It’s part of the the plot of the series. (For the record, you know who DID do one good thing in the end? Narcissa. Draco. Dudley.)

Just one thing to ad: he switched sides before Lily died. He didn't change sides because she died but because her life was in mortal danger and after her death he stayed on the light side.

Snape is such a good character because he’s so messy and he’s got. So many layers. The fact people are fighting about him is honestly a good sign.

bringing this back because they both have layers

And they both make me cry

James Sirius Potter

I’v seen some post about Albus Severus Potter hating his name eventually when he goes to Hogwarts and here’s my counter to that post:

- James Sirius Potter inherited his namesakes’ penchant for mischief. Loki-reborn as Headmistress Minerva McGonagall would call him in the future.

- James Sirius liked tales of heroic adventure. His dad was a hero, so James wanted to be one as well. 

- He learned about his grandfather James Potter who fought for the Order and died to save his dad. He heard stories of Sirius Black and how he spent 12 years in Azkaban and was still capable of love and kindness and died fighting for the light.

- He hear tales of the marauders and how they ruled Hogwarts and he suddenly can’t wait to get there and leave his own mark.

- He loved his brother, realy hie does. Al was a bit different but James loved him.

- When Al was sorted into Slytherin, of course he was shocked. He teased him mercilessly and there were times when it got a bit much.

- And Al had the gall to befriend a Malfoy! He felt like Al was doing precisely what their dad would NOT do. 

- Al was named after Albus Dumbledore and James wasn’t really jelous at that. Sure Dumbledore was a great wizard but he was a bit…odd. Al’s second name though, James overheard his dad saying that Severus Snape was the bravest man he ever knew.

- James asked his dad about that. Shouldn’t the bravest be one of the marauders? Then he learned about the spy and somehow his teasing of Al got a bit harsher.

- Severus Snape was a hated professor- James has herd many unflattering things about the man that served as foundation for his teasing- and yet he was capable of such brave things. Stories always had a way with him and the story of Severus Snape, about how he turned from the dark and served the light fascinated James.

- When he was a bit too harsh with Al, his brother finally snapped. That night he sent a letter home and asked his dad what Albus meant. Because surely, surely, his namesake’s were heroes. And James was aspiring to be just like them, and that was a good thing!

- When his dad explained what Albus meant, James was shocked. Surely his heroes weren’t bullies. Surely they didn’t hex people because they were just bored. But they did, and they all but chased Severus Snape to the dark. And James realized that he was slowly becoming like them. And he was suddenly afraid for Al and so, so, sorry.

- James slowly understood that there are always two sides to a story.

- The two of them shared apologies the next morning and all was well.

- People may think that Albus Severus Potter was a horrible name, that his brother somehow got saddled with two great names on the opposite sides of the spectrum of morality but James knew better. He knew now that heroes aren’t all pure and good. That there was both light and dark inside of them and it was the choices they make that matter. And James would not drive Al away.

Honestly, Cursed Child’s plot could have been better. I mean, I do love Scorpius and Albus’ relationship but maybe they could have focused on similar conflicts from the marauder era but this time the kids get along, almost like fixing bridges and making sure the past doesn’t repeat itself and nothing hurts and I don’t have to think about Voldemort and Bella doing the sex. Just my opinion tho.(I do live for the small screen-time of Severus, ever the hero, Snape)

Discussing Prisoner of Azkaban

“That awkward moment when the US Army shows more care for its charges than the Gryffindor head of house.” - Evan, my other half

Minerva McGonagall denied a terrified, inept, child access to a safe refuge at night with a convict on the loose because she was angry at him.

Minerva McGonagall bullied an entire house full of teenagers into isolating said terrified child at a time of heightened security when they should have been sticking together.

I mean, Dear Gods, Even the US Army makes its new recruits do the whole Battle Buddy thing and anyone who’s ever served or knows anyone who has knows that the Army doesn’t give a Flying Fuck about its soldiers.

But go on, tell me how Snape is the monster in that book for feeding a Toad shrinking solution that is easily identifiable by sight, smell and the fact that he knew the class Know-It-All had whispered the correct instructions into the incompetent child’s ear. I’ll Wait.

Headcanon: Severus and potions

-Eileen was not a potioneer in any sense and her charm work, especially household cleaning charms, were not much better. Why would they need to be? Any potion she truly needed was easily bought from the local apothecary and cleaning? why bother when you could have a house elf.

-Eileen did enjoy cooking. The family cook would let Eileen observe and talk her through what was going into the evening meal. These would often go into long tangents that would zig and zag between instruction on the proper way to hold a knife, to the ongoing implications of the Goblin rebellion on the price of cinnamon, to the use of blood and bone in the garden to help the rhubarb grow. 

-In her later life, Eileen wagered that maybe if she had spent more time on her potions and charm work, maybe she wouldn’t have found herself in an impoverished and loveless marriage with a child she could barely do right by. Then again, food spells only put food on the table if you have any food to begin with and more than once did Cookie’s lessons about spices, canning, and rationing get Eileen out of a, no pun intended, jam. 

-Magic is expensive, especially for a disowned pureblood witch who found herself yolked to a volatile man who was not much better off than she. Cauldrons, books, potion ingredients, robes, quills, scrolls, ink. Eileen never thought she would ever look at her life, her past, and think of how frivolous it all was.

- Eileen could make meals go further and still taste as fresh as they did the first day. More often, they would even taste better with age (especially the curries). Every ingredient selected for longevity and ability to be filling. Every ingredient sacred and thus measured out carefully - there was no silly wastage in this household.

-This was the knowledge Eileen shared with Severus: How to identify the best fruit and vege from the bargain bin; Flour to thicken; vinegar to sour; weigh ingredients depending on the season; know what your height is from sea level; baking soda to soften dried beans; Don’t slit the throat of a pomegranate; tie a wet strip of towel around a cake tin to help keep the cake level.

-When Severus sat down for the Welcoming Feast on his very first day of Hogwarts, he may have thought that the bitterness of Lily’s sorting could be overcome by what was clearly the most overwhelming and amazing looking feast in his entire life.

-The food was edible, simple, memorable only for how the meal deceived his eyes into thinking it was better than what it was. In his naivety, Severus did try to address the issue with the house elves but was so horrified by the mass self-flagellation that occurred in the kitchens that he quickly backtracked on his request and left the kitchen piled high with eclairs and cream puffs.

-Severus was very popular in the Slytherin common room that day as it was Narcissa’s birthday and during that time, none of the students had figured out where the kitchens were.

-Severus’ first potions class occurred near to the end of the first week. It had been a horrible week with a nascent rivalry with those boisterous Gryffindors and a significant number of house points lost. Severus had a letter to his mother, begging to come home, waiting in his bag.

-Slughorn’s plan was mad. Not only were the students to make the potion, they were also supposed to drink it. Severus hoped that one of the Gryffindor’s would poison themselves., especially the one who was proclaiming loudly that his father was a famous potion inventor and this class should be a breeze.

-The only hints Slughorn gave for a successful potion was for it to taste like bitter almonds with a mouthfeel like molasses.

-Anxious though he was, Severus powered through. Applying everything he could remember from his mother, he made a more than passable product using fewer ingredients than set-out by the potions text. Slughorn marveled at how Severus achieved such a result. Without an iota of self-preservation, Severus spoke about his mother and how to cut and handle certain fruits so that you will have more juice for your dish than on your hands.

-The points awarded that day more than made up for the past week’s transgressions amongst the Slytherin’s but it also gained the ire of a certain Gryffindor who certainly did not inherit his father’s gift and melted not only his cauldron but burned a hole straight through his desk, the stone floor, and into the sub-basement.

-Severus discarded the letter and wrote a new one.

Books that are purely fantasy/fiction don’t really seem to be a thing in the wizarding world but I hope younger Severus picked up a book with a character like him and felt a little less alone and misunderstood. I hope he carried all the way with him to adulthood and whenever he read their scenes, the real world melted away and things felt alright.

I hope he felt as protected by that character as we do when we read his story.

new discourse

That’s right from the makers (+ @liminy-lemony) of the velcro/button discourse, the broccoli discourse and the hair discourse, comes yet another way to piss the fandom off.

And here it is, I believe that Severus never liked another human being. Not Lily, not Harry, not Dumbledore, not McGonagall. He hated every human being he met. Animals he was OK with. Hagrid was part giant so he was an exception but he had to be careful not to cross the line. Magical creatures were also fine but humans were the worst and he despised all of them.

Source: Tumblr

The stone cold truth is that Severus never liked a single animal.

Sure, he hated most humans, but he utterly despised animals.  It’s the real reason why he decided to poison Neville’s toad; his ‘bring your familiars to an inappropriate class so I have an excuse to kill them’ lesson was his favourite each year.

But most of all, he hated animagi - because it combined humans and animals in a neat package of the two things he detested the most.  He was not at all surprised when he found out that James, Sirius and Peter could all transform…  

He LOVED animals.  That’s why he was a vegetarian!  He wore a t-shirt under his robes that said, “LOVE ANIMALS DON’T EAT THEM.” 

I’m sorry, it’s canon.  I don’t make the rules.  I’m just here to tell THE TRUTH.

For that was the sort of man Severus Snape was: a hero so heroic that he would cast himself as the villain – as long as it meant doing the right thing.

- Pottermore, slaying Snape’s haters. 

https://www.pottermore.com/features/the-harry-potter-books-from-severus-snapes-perspective !!! Have yall seen this?

This is gold❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

And here goes one reason more to be Pro-Snape.

(And no, that message was more than a little insulting. The sender assumes we have no idea what Severus Snape is like. The tone of it denies the claim of not being hateful.)

AU where Lupin had a backbone

-ended up getting isolated by Sirius and James -defends Severus against Sirius and James (knows what it’s like to be immediately assumed evil because dark) -ends up translating Lily for Severus and Severus for Lily -ends up Harry Julian Snape’s favorite uncle

Or, following canon: -writes Snape a condolences letter after Lily is murdered (he knows she was missing him, worrying about him, that there were letters meant for him) -between the two of them, they figure out Petunia’s got him -he mildly shames Petunia into treating Harry decently -it’s still loveless, but at least he has his Uncle Remus and Professor Snape -becomes the father figure Harry needed -helps Snape process his hatred and resentment of James and so not project on Harry (though the relationship is always uncomfortable) -holds Sirius accountable -avoids getting entangled with Nymphadora Tonks -ends up with Sturgis Podmore, who’s a solid bloke, instead -and is the only British wizard (besides Draco) that Narcissa allows at Catherine Snape’s christening -like with Severus, he wore her down with ceaseless passive-aggressive kindness and her being in his debt