[Harry Potter] The Outsider (Original Title: How to Save Your Soul)

Original title: How to Save Your Soul

Severus Snape x Alexandra Carister

[The Marauders' Era] [Snape's Perspective]

Snape is certain that he has fallen in love with Alexandra.

Yet people mostly love the idealized image of their beloved, not the person as they truly are. So no matter how much two people love each other, after walking side by side for a while, they are bound to discover that the other is nothing like the person they imagined. Before long, they can barely stand the sight of each other, followed by distance, resentment, arguments, and hatred. Former lovers become the worst people in each other's lives, and finally part on bitter terms. That is why love so often begins beautifully and ends in sorrow.

As for him and Alexandra, they never even had the so-called beautiful beginning. Their relationship began with a sordid assault, kidnapping, and escape, and was held together by ugly secrets, deception, and exploitation. He cannot believe such a twisted relationship could lead to a happy ending, much less bring himself to confess his love with any hope in his heart.

Before you read:

1. The female lead is eight years older than Snape.

2. There are quite a few original interpretations.

3. The female lead has killed someone, and her shattered soul will exact a price.

4. I apologize in advance if anyone is out of character.

If you enjoy this story, I hope you'll leave a comment. Readers' comments are my greatest motivation!

P.S. After much deliberation, I've changed the title back to its original one. Young Severus and Alexandra are both recluses. They avoid and distrust people, yet both ardently long to carve out a place for themselves in society. They are willing to abandon their morals to achieve their goals and become willing tools of the powerful, yet each still has a line they will not cross and strives to keep their soul whole.

Theme: For those with broken souls, conscience pushes them into the fires of hell