How Should I Save You?

Snape x You

I wrote this after revisiting Harry Potter following a recent trip to Orlando. My family has had a complete set of hardcover books since I was in elementary school, and I've watched the movies over and over. I don't know why, but I've loved Professor Snape ever since the beginning. I loved him even before I saw the ending and learned that his identity as a spy had been cleared. Every time I think about how he can never have a happy ending in that world, it breaks my heart.

I titled this "How Can I Save You?" because I truly don't know how to save our dear Snape. His feelings are complicated. He's sensitive and insecure, but also resolute and brave. He loves someone deeply, but that love goes unanswered. He has so many regrets, and I want to make up for every one of them in my story. But sometimes I feel that no matter what I write, I can't make up for them. How can I save you, after all?

Zoe's background is similar to Professor Snape's, so they will rely on each other at first. Snape will also instinctively protect a child who had an equally unhappy childhood.

All right, enough rambling. Let me tell you the story outline.

In my version, Snape won't fall in love with Zoe in the original timeline. He will favor her and show her special consideration, and perhaps feel a little something for her, though I won't focus on it. Zoe is still a minor at this point, in the same year as Harry. I also think that he loved Lily all his life and couldn't possibly let go of that love after just a few years together. Zoe and Snape's relationship will mostly take place during her school years. If Snape were to develop improper feelings for his student in such a short time, he wouldn't be the Snape I know.

So I'll keep Snape's characterization as close to the original as possible in the early part of the story. I have to respect Snape himself, and his undying love for Lily.

I won't say much more about Zoe's story here, since that would give too much away. But overall, she is a brave, righteous, and kind girl. How bad can someone be if the Sorting Hat asked whether she wanted to go to Hufflepuff?

A few more important details:

The author loves Snape and also likes Alan, but feels the same way about both of them. I often imagine how I would love him if I could transmigrate into his life. But I don't think love has to mean possession. Of course, that doesn't mean never being together either, but the other person's wishes must come first. With Snape, for example, I would never criticize Lily or take away what she means to him.

The later part of the story will involve time travel, so it will definitely diverge from canon! But I will keep the characters true to their original personalities. For example, Snape won't suddenly become a sunny, cheerful young man. He won't be out of character.

He has so many regrets that I want to make up for them one by one. I want to give him a perfect ending that makes up for his childhood insecurity, his guilt over Lily, and everything else. But Snape is so complicated. I can't simply change his life or force a different personality on him. If I did, then even if I gave him what seemed like a perfect ending, it wouldn't really be him who got that ending.

The early part will follow the original story, so Snape's story will have a tragic ending at first! If you can't handle tragic endings, you can skip the earlier final chapter. I promise things will be made right later, because the author is the one who can't stand tragic endings the most, sob sob.

Theme: Redemption