Severus Snape POPs! Open RP.

[methleigh.livejournal.com]

The Unpopcorning of Severus Snape
approved by the mods, etc.

He was coiled small, his knees pressed to his forehead, his forearms pressed close to the outsides of his calves. It must be so. How else could he be so compact, so dense? It was dark. It was silent, and the only difference was an occasional disorienting tumbling when some small earthquake rolled him over and over down a very rocky hill. He didn't understand why he couldn't put out a hand or foot to stop himself on these occasions. And sometimes he detected from the force of gravity that he was upside-down and he wondered why the blood did not rush to his head.

It was always as if he had just curled up, but time must have passed because he noted events - the variations of sudden rolling, the occasional temperature changes. Could it be a petrification spell? But that would not have rendered him blind, or deaf. What was it? Sometimes he tried to puzzle it out, to count occasions of movement, but he lost track, conciousness, concentration. That was not like him at all, and he wondered at himself. It must be a curse, but there was no pain.

The temperature rose. Higher this time. He was surprised he wasn't sweating, his robe clinging to him, but he was able to detect no robe. Was he naked? No.... Merlin, it was hot. And he felt so... tight. Why couldn't he move? He expected his breath to arrest with the heat, his lungs to seize with the pressure. But he did not seem to be breathing. Pressure? He seemed to be... Was it infection, a swelling within him? No pain. No pain. He was confused.

Merlin. He felt... Why didn't he ache? Why didn't it hurt? Dark curses he could understand. He had invented enough, felt enough, but...

Then suddenly he was aware. It smelled like a fair... He had once been to a fair. He unclenched his arms from his legs, straightened his spine, curled around himself, lifted his head and...

BANG! There was an explosion beneath him, no through him, no... It was too sudden to analyse. Severus was launched into the air, his arms and legs thrown splayed, his hair flung up and spread wide, his mouth open in a wide O of almost shock, though it was not unpleasant, more startling. He crashed down into a pile of hard yellow kernals, bruising his skin , so tight over his bones. And now his black robes stuck wet to him, no, not wet...

He passed his hand through the hair soaking over his face, sticking and obscuring his vision, dripping into his eyes. Rich shining yellow drops flew behind him, almost beautiful. A door. There was a door. He waded over to it and was surprised to find it unlocked. It was the old stone corridor of Hogwarts. He wandered out disoriented, hoping to find the dungeons.

Comments

[woocha.livejournal.com]

On the other hand, Wishbone knew he was good. Also, the smell of popcorn always was a good thing. A new person.

Hi, Professor Snape!

[methleigh.livejournal.com]

Severus smiled freely at the dog and knelt to pet him, albeit awkwardly. He had not had the acquaintance of many friendly dogs, but here at least he knew where he was. He didn't know the dog personally, but he was glad for something simple and easy. Also, he was covered in butter and happy to be licked clean(er) and to offer popcorn fair-flavour if it was desired. "Good dog. There's a good dog."

[woocha.livejournal.com]

Wishbone laughed at Snape petting him. Sure, he gets petted often, but it feels a little weird when that hand was buttery! Wishbone couldn't help it, he stuck his tongue out, trying to catch Snape's hand to lick it.

[methleigh.livejournal.com]

He has been told how to meet a strange dog and belatedly holds his hand turned back out for Wishbone to smell, easy to lick. He seemed to Severus to be excited but friendly. He does not draw back at the dog-laugh, but ceases dripping butter in the white fur. That must be strange to him, Snape thinks.

[woocha.livejournal.com]

And probably a bitch to lick at too, which means in a bit Wishbone will find water to splash in. And an house elf will try to clean him with soap, and Wishbone will run away.

But I'm getting ahead of myself.

So... Wishbone asked in between licks. Why...did you...come back?

[methleigh.livejournal.com]

Severus crouches and offers his cupped hands to lick in lieu of pets. His bony knee meets the floor a little painfully, but it is worth it. The dog seems to speak. Severus seems to answer. I missed having a home. Albus is alive - my friend. He smiles along with his sub-vocal speech. When and why did you come here?

[woocha.livejournal.com]

I don't know! But people can hear me hear, so it's a lot better than home. But I still miss Joe.

[methleigh.livejournal.com]

It is important to be heard, to speak. Who is Joe - he is your... person from home? This is my home - Hogwarts. So, I came back.

[woocha.livejournal.com]

Yes, he is. It's good to have a place to come back to. Wishbone licked outside his mouth before resuming his attention on Snape's hand. I like to go to the library here.

[methleigh.livejournal.com]

The library! How greedily he had devoured it in his childhood - as if he had been starving. I used to like the library as well. If I am not teaching, perhaps I may do research. He smiles. One hand clean, he goes back to petting this friendly dog, scrunching his ears and scritching around them.

[woocha.livejournal.com]

Ooh, then I can see you there! Hey Professor? Do you think you can help me teach a couple of people to read better? It's a bit hard without thumbs.

[methleigh.livejournal.com]

Are they smart? Do they want to read? Severus is a little dubious. He has never been exactly patient or sympathetic with anyone less than fully committed and competent.

I would enjoy reading with you in the library.

[woocha.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure if they're smart. They both want to read, though! One's named Morfin, he's nice. He thinks books are cool. The other's a little girl named Pearl."

[methleigh.livejournal.com]

Morfin. He knows that name. Reading is important. When I go to the library, I will meet them and help you a little, if you wish. A little, for I really do wish to do some research. There, he has offered something, and perhaps he will learn as well. And then... he really does like the friendly dog and the company will be genuinely welcome.

[woocha.livejournal.com]

Okay then! Well, we both need to get cleaned! Wouldn't do to get butter on the books, now would it?

[methleigh.livejournal.com]

Please. That would be in italics, even if italics did not mean he was speaking in his mind. Please. His hair drips constellations on the floor around him. He stands to follow the dog to a bath.

[woocha.livejournal.com]

I don't know where Slytherin is though. I'm in Ravenclaw.

[methleigh.livejournal.com]

Severus looks dubious. Teaching reading. Of course you are in Ravenclaw. Awkward. He feels uncomfortable and embarrassed enough without leaving pools of floating grease in the another House's baths. Perhaps... I should meet you afterwards. He has no idea how to find Slytherin in this new but familiar Hogwarts, but he wants to be home.

[woocha.livejournal.com]

Okay then! See you soon, Professor! Wishbone ran off to splash around. But woe be to the house elf that brings soap.

[methleigh.livejournal.com]

Severus sighed inside and looked about, trying to think where the dungeons might be. He set off down a hallway, trying to look as if he knew where he was going.