Dark Arts LDWS - I Think I'm Very Happy!!

[teddy_radiator]

Of course, I want to share this with my friends. Please excuse me for taking up so much space, but if anyone will indulge me, it will be you, so thank you, in advance. This one, I wasn't so sure of. I'm truly humbled and grateful.

Title: Knave of Wands
Word Count: 450
Rating: G
Warnings: Character Death

Are we gods? Do we create new worlds with every blink of our jaded eyes? Or are we merely men of worth, who delve in matters of arcane wizardry to illicit love from those we covet?

Severus wants to ask the Wand these questions. They are spinning through Severus’ mind as he watches the Elder Wand, rolling between Lord Voldemort’s long fingers; coaxing it to do His bidding.

The Wand of Destiny; Severus believes its destiny and his have always been entwined, that this evening must have been imprinted on his brain the night he was born.

Severus once loved his Master as much as he hated Him, and hated Him as much as he feared Him. Now it is no longer a matter of what is Light, who is Dark, what will triumph, who will fail. Severus watches the Wand; that is the only thing that matters. It has summoned him to his death.

Severus has come here tonight to die. He stopped blaming others for his misfortunes. He has stopped wishing on the moon that is Lily. He no longer wishes he had not killed his only true friend. He no longer despises the boy Potter, destined to die with him.

Severus knows he was used by everyone, just like this beautiful Elder Wand: a scepter to bear homage to the new leader; a weapon to smite the enemy, a treasure to be desired. Severus, too, has been all those things.

Tonight, like Severus, the Wand is also a murderer.

Lying on the floor of the Shrieking Shack, Severus feels shriven, satisfied. The agony is over; he had been so frightened, but he is no longer afraid. The beautiful Elder Wand of Destiny, that Sword of Gideon, has enabled Severus to meet Death. He feels the gentle brush of angel’s wings that signal forgiveness; he is no longer alone.

Severus feels purified by his death. He barely remembers purity. They had never shared more than a passing acquaintance. But death feels clean, and within that death he sees his mother, dark-haired and smiling, washing him tenderly. He sees Lily, bathing him with her tears. Finally, Albus, holding him aloft. Severus, the acceptable lamb. All welcome him.

It is fitting. He deposed the King and took Excalibur; it is only right that the same weapon grant Severus the death he wanted so badly. Love, acceptance, happiness, beauty. These belong to him now, and they welcome him with a sound like a benediction.

His useless body is taken away. He sees genuine tears shed for him. In that soft light of forever, Severus faintly hears the words used to describe him now; brave, strong, dutiful, redeemed. Like the Elder Wand.

Comments

[mimimanderly.livejournal.com]

As I told you this morning, I no sooner read this one, when bells went off: ding ding ding! We have a winner!

A well-deserved win, love!

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

thank you, Mimi darling, but I will say it again: Yours was stunning and I loved it.

[justpinkpastel.livejournal.com]

Oh my goodness! This is beautiful!

It is so sad, but happy at the same time. It's sad that he had to live that hard life, living with the choices and mistakes that he had made.

But he dies and is lovingly greeted, even by those he had wronged. He is finally accepted, and he accepts it willingly.

Wonderful, but I have come to expect no less from you.

[justpinkpastel.livejournal.com]

Oh, and congratulations on winning the round!

I got so caught up in the story that I forgot to mention that. Whoops!

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

thank you, sweetie! I was a little surprised, to say the least! I wrote it very quickly, told Trev it was crap, left it for two days, then came back to it. I was glad I did in the end, and after all was said and done, I ended up be happier with it than I would have ever imagined.

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

Oh, thank you so much! Coming from you, this means so much to me. You are such a stunning writer; I appreciate your encouragement more than I can say.

[droxy.livejournal.com]

This is lovely.

Who shall redeem the unredeemable?
No one, it is something we must do ourselves.

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

Thank you, Droxy dear. I hope I conveyed your words adequately in this little story.

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

Sempra love, your words are manna to me, baby. I write because the Muse dictates, but he loves you and Mimi so much, and he always has you both in mind when I write. It makes me so happy that you have enjoyed it.

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

By the way, when I wrote:

Severus feels purified by his death. He barely remembers purity. They had never shared more than a passing acquaintance. But death feels clean, and within that death he sees his mother, dark-haired and smiling, washing him tenderly. He sees Lily, bathing him with her tears. Finally, Albus, holding him aloft. Severus, the acceptable lamb. All welcome him.

I was looking at this:

http://sempraseverus.deviantart.com/gallery/?offset=600#/d2ha4of

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

I remember us discussing that drawing many months ago, and it haunted me. It still haunts me.

You are the one rockin', girl. I am inspired by you and your Muse through you...all one big happy family, baby!

[madeleone]

Congrats, dearie, so totally deserved. It was a very hard choice voting in this round, but I'm pleased to see that my choice was your drabble. Fabulous job!

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much, madeleone. I thought the other drabbles were stratospherically good. I was shocked and thrilled to have won.

This has been an education, and they get harder every week - I'm not looking forward to this one - and I'm past the skips - I gotta go forward!

[bulletimescully.livejournal.com]

Oh, Teddy... how beautiful! I'm so glad you won... it's very deserved! I had to make myself read this slowly, to savor every word, instead of rushing through it. Justly won, my dear. :)

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

Oh wow, Bullet, thank you! Your words of praise mean so much to me - so many of those people I admire have written such lovely and encouraging words about this. I am just blown away by it all!

[dickgloucester.livejournal.com]

Congratulations! Well deserved.

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much - I was well chuffed.

[reg-flint.livejournal.com]

Congrats on your win. It was a close race but you came out on top of the heap. I'm pleased for you. ;) I can't wait to see what you do with this week's prompt. It's difficult on purpose. Much more difficult than the finals.

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

I'm still stunned I won this round - I thought the others were stunning. I am sitting here staring into space wondering about this week's. You're right - it is a stinker!

[reg-flint.livejournal.com]

That's the second grumbling I've heard. The mod is not insensitive. I will post a note saying that should the author wish, they can use a prompt/person I will announce.

...sound like a plan to you?

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

Babe, I will go with the majority. I appreciate these challenges are here to stretch us, and I'll happily comply with whatever the mods wish for us. I don't mean to grumble - hey, I've won two weeks of challenges - I got no room to question anyone, you know what I mean? lol

[reg-flint.livejournal.com]

Too late. I posted an alternate of Bellatrix and Hufflepuff's Cup. It should be a little more interesting. People can use either prompt. If you're up to razzing a Ravenclaw, go for it. As I say on my post "whatever suits your needs." ;)

[beffeysue.livejournal.com]

All of them were wonderful, and I really had a hard time choosing. As it turns out, yours is the one I voted for.

Congratulations, dearie!

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

First of all, thanks so much for taking the time to read all the entries and vote. I thought the other two entries were phenomenal, and I was sure that Mimi's was going to be the hands-down winner.

I was blown away to win. They have given us a choice with the next one - either Helena Ravenclaw and the Diadem, or Bella and the Hufflepuff cup. I haven't a clue what the heck I'm going to do yet!

[kellychambliss.livejournal.com]

I'm enjoying this contest a lot; I had a hard time voting this week. Congratulations!

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

I thought the other two were sure-fire winners - no one was more surprised to win than me! I'm thrilled, of course, but I really hate that Mimi was eliminated. I personally loved hers the most, but I ended up being happy with this one, after I left it alone for a few days to stew.