#i spent way waaaaaaay too much time on this for how unfinished it looks

[coatntails]

Snapetober 2020, Day 29: Alone

Snape ascended the steps to the Headmaster’s office, his footfalls loud in his own ears. The house elves had preceded him. His things had already been brought up from the dungeon and placed throughout the rooms, welcoming him with subtle touches of familiarity. His dark eyes sought them out, resting on each object he recognized, seeking the comfort they offered and finding none. 

When he reached the foot of the gallery steps, he paused. A multitude of portraits cluttered the stone walls above him. Snape had never felt so acutely aware of the paintings. For one fevered moment, he imagined them tumbling down from their perches, burying him before he dared to set foot inside the Headmaster’s chambers. But the moment passed, and they did not fall. His throat bobbed as he swallowed. Gathering his courage, he slowly lifted his eyes, prepared to meet the disdainful gazes of headmasters past - but none of them were looking at him. Each of the paintings’ subjects was nodding gently in sleep, serenely oblivious to the intruder in their midst. 

Snape’s black eyes raked over them. He searched for even one wakeful face, feeling sudden and bilious hatred towards them. There should be judgement, contempt, acknowledgement - not this indifference. It seemed so wrong. It wasn’t fair to him - Snape froze as his eyes caught on the edge of a completely unfamiliar frame. A new portrait. The latest addition to the gallery. 

Dread and hope coiled nauseatingly together in the pit of Snape’s stomach. He drew a single bracing breath, then forced himself to look ... Albus Dumbledore dozed as tranquilly as the rest in his painting, resting comfortably in his old chair, peacefully unaware of the eyes watching him.

There would be no words of comfort, no forgiveness, no advice. 

It was just a painting, after all.

That’s all that was left.

He was alone now. And what work there was left to do was his to do alone. 

Letting his eyes slide away from the painting, Snape mounted the steps, and new Headmaster of Hogwarts took his place behind the ancient desk.

#Snapetober #snapetober 2020 #Snape #Severus Snape #fanart #my art #day 29 #alone #pro snape #harry potter #i spent way waaaaaaay too much time on this for how unfinished it looks #the portraits were so fun to do