But I Still Believe This Lie Will Set Me Free / Itll Be, As I Dreamed, The Truth, You Will See (that

but i still believe this lie will set me free / it’ll be, as i dreamed, the truth, you will see (that is my belief) | PJO x Batman Fic

There was one thing he’d been denied for most of his life. A living, breathing, and happy family. But for once he’d been acknowledged by the gods, like Percy had once been. A wish. ..He wished for his family. His old family. His adoptive family. He wished to turn back time, to live in peace. So with a flick of a hand, he was sent to the past. -- OR, Nico di Angelo is Tim Drake, who went missing mysteriously.

Severus Snape (A bad Character Analysis Essay)

When we first meet Severus Snape in class, potions professor at Hogwarts, he quizzes Potter on his knowledge. Such as,

"Tell me, what would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?"

It might seem like a throwaway comment, something we won’t ever think about again. And you wouldn’t be wrong not to, it isn’t that hard to dislike the character.

But it has quite an interesting meaning in truth, one that I think would help you see him in a different light. A different side of him, to say, that we never really get to see with our own eyes as Harry Potter.

I believe that Severus Snape can properly show the theme of which, ‘trying to fit in and conform to a person’s beliefs can lead to consequences’.

I cannot say I can truly explain why and how Snape is, but what I can do is show you a part of him that we don’t get to see often in the books, in which, I will assume you have read the series, as the following will contain major spoilers, many from the installments later down in the line.

My main source of course, will be the fandom wiki for Harry Potter, for I do not own the books myself, and therefore cannot quote word-for-word. When referencing something else, it’ll be mentioned explicitly.

I will also be noting blood status of mentioned characters, and using the fanmade term ‘wixen’ as a gender-neutral word for both witches and wizards. I’ll also be using first names and last names interchangeably.

To start with, we must look at the man’s past.

Severus Snape was born to Tobias Snape (a muggle, otherwise known as a no-maj in the universe’s America, or non-magical) and Eileen Prince (a pureblood witch) as a halfblood.

His father was abusive (likely what would later nudge him to the muggle-hating purebloods), and he grew up in Spinner’s End, where he would meet a Lily Evans (a muggleborn, or a wixen born from muggles), alongside her family.

Snape would notice that she had magic, and would lead to a friendship and a growing crush that would follow them to Hogwarts.

Of course, one James Potter (a pureblood wizard) would fall in love with Evans at first sight, and disapproving of Snape’s friendship with the female, not to mention awful first impression on the train to Hogwarts, would antagonize him and act as a huge bully under the guise of a troublemaking pranker (not that anyone would notice, considering Snape was in Slytherin, with its infamous reputation of a dark wixen ‘breeding ground’. It’s likely James didn’t even realize he was being so cruel).

Since the two were in separate houses, Gryffindor and Slytherin respectfully, they ended up in different friend groups. Snape, in his desire to fit in despite his halfblood status, started following their example, albeit reluctantly.

This would come to a head when one day, Potter would pull an awful ‘prank’, “turning him upside-down to reveal his underwear in front of many students, including Lily.”

Lily would come to Snape’s defense, but as he was horribly humiliated and absolutely furious at James, would lead to him calling Lily a mudblood (an offensive term against muggleborns).

Snape would regret it immediately of course, apologizing profusely, but Evans wouldn’t accept it, and it would cause a drift in their friendship, and they would fall into their own friend circles.

(It also may not help that due to a nearly lethal prank by Sirius Black, a pureblood wizard, in which he was saved by Potter, thus owed a life debt to him.)

Lily would end up befriending the Marauders (James and his friends), and later in a relationship with James Potter, while Snape would be proving his worth to the Death Eaters (followers of Voldemort, a muggle-hating and muggle-killing dark lord), later becoming one himself.

Now that we’re mainly caught up, we’re now out of Hogwarts, and headfirst into the First Wizarding War, where Voldemort (a halfblood wizard, not that anyone besides his old and deceased classmates knew of his status) is at his peak.

Snape, as a follower of Voldemort after his subsequent falling out with Evans, had overheard a part of a prophecy from Sybill Trelawney (a halfblood witch), in which she was at an interview for the position of Divination Professor for Hogwarts, supervised by Headmaster Dumbledore (a halfblood wizard).

"The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches… Born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies…." (Rowling. I cannot be sure which book it was, but I believe it to be Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.)

Regardless, Snape would tell Voldemort of his findings, although it couldn’t have been known who was meant for the prophecy until later on.

When it’d been narrowed down to either Harry Potter or Neville Longbottom, Voldemort would choose the former, and Snape would feel immense regret (but the Death Eaters were a ‘join or die’ group, a life commitment so to say), even going so far as to beg Voldemort to spare her, who would agree.

Snape would then turn right back around, unable to trust the dark lord who could switch moods at the turn of a dime, Snape would turn traitor and ask Dumbledore to protect Lily.

Lily and James would be hidden under the Fidelius charm (meaning they couldn’t be found, and no one could say where they lived either unless they were let in on the ‘secret’, in which the secret keeper, someone other than them, would be able to control who knew, but it could not be forced), and in exchange, “Dumbledore agreed but insisted that Severus serve him as a spy”.

Regardless, the Potters (excluding Harry) would die, as the secret keeper, Peter Pettigrew would sell them out to Voldemort.

Snape would be devastated, and firmly now against the dark side, as if rose-tinted glasses had shattered at their deaths (although he wouldn’t know that technically the dark lord did do as he asked, giving Lily a chance to let him kill Harry instead, not that Lily would let him, and she would die anyway).

Due to the previously mentioned life debt owed to James Potter, due to his death, it would then be owed to his heir, Harry Potter, not that Harry would know of this, in which he would make sure the child was ‘safe’, although the fact that Harry looked so similar to James sparked an anger within him that would make him increasingly petty and antagonistic towards Harry.

We’re all caught up now. So let’s turn back around and finally take a look at that quote.

"Tell me, what would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?" (Rowling, Chapter 8, Philosopher's Stone)

First off, according to the Wizarding World website, the asphodel is a member of the lily family, and means “remembered beyond the tomb”, or “my regrets follow you to the grave”.

Following that, the definition of wormwood is regret, or bitterness.

So, what do you get when you infuse asphodel with wormwood?

A lily, remembered beyond the tomb, infused with regret and bitterness.

Otherwise along the lines of what could be seen as, “I regret”, or “I apologize — for Lily’s death”, or any other mix of regretting and being bitter about Lily’s death, and how he remembers her. It could be ‘translated’ into so many different words that would ultimately mean the same thing.

Therefore, it was believed by fans that the first thing Snape had said to Harry was an apology for Lily’s death, ultimately until it would actually be confirmed, not that Harry would notice, or likely even remember the exact words.

And that is the exact reason why I believe that Severus and his story embodies the idea that attempting to fit in and conform to a person’s belief you don’t believe in, can lead to consequences, of the following would be regret and pain. ..Or wormwood (which, hey, you can come out of this learning a new word, hurray).

Because he wanted to fit in with the Slytherin crowd, which would eventually all be for naught as his friendship with Evans would ultimately shatter due to his muggle-hating company, and she would die before they could ever make up.

The quote’s meaning outright shows another side of him, a regretful side of him when he first speaks to Harry.

..Don’t get me wrong though, he was still rude with his cold exterior compared to a softer yet bitter inside.

Okay. So unless my eyes have failed me somehow, Martyn (i swear i feel like ive forgotten like half their names after i like left the fandom briefly. InTheLIttleWood) was the winner Zero clue who he was paired up with overall, but I know at the end he was kinda partnered with Scott (well, i watched Grian POV, part of Etho POV, until then i was sent off to Scott's lmfao) And with how I predicted based off of winners and who they were paired with in the series, I guess it technically counts, but to be fair, I wouldn't really know how else to predict or something lol anyways, i do wonder if there will be a next one and what the concept will be for that. It's definitely hard to try to imagine new gimmicks and ideas while centering around the life system of green, yellow, and red.

anyway funniest death imo? Grian lmfao. The perma death. To be fair though I haven't watched any other POVs so I couldn't say for sure, but mann. I guess continuing on, if there is another, I still submit my idea of Scar winning. Or if you consider previous winners and their teammates, I think it was BigB who was with Pearl as the nosy neighbors, there are the bad boys with Jimmy (or is it Timmy? ive completely forgotten) and I think Joel? But if we go back back in.. Last Life? I forgot the name but there was that partnership there, and not to mention a later partnership of Grian and Joel when they were like reds that I'm only remembering now anyway yeah, uhh. Also no way Jimmy's first to die (or like.. actual permadeath first to die) again. No way lmfao

Next Life Series Hopes and Kinda thoughts?

Honestly? I hope Scar wins the next life series, and while others could probably win too, I think it just kinda makes sense in a way?

The first one with Desert Duo, Grian won.

2nd had Scott winning, and the 3rd had Pearl, in which those two were a pair this season, and this season too Grian and Scar were a pair again, meaning out of those two pairs Scar still needs a win.

Also kinda hope Jimmy isn't the first to die though? It would be funny, but like, it can only go so long until it's tiring to both parties.

I wouldn't mind someone else winning though, but Scar does a lot, he's not completely oblivious, and he has potential, and I think I'd like it if he could show it and finally win, even if it were him and Grian teamed again [though I doubt it] and Grian was mainly seen as the one who helped him get there, because Scar still would've had to do something to get there, and I think he really needs that.

technically jimmy was the first one out again i take back what i said its so fucking funny even if it was probably infuriating (also rip bad boys) anyway zero clue who wins, ive only been keeping eyes on grians pov ngl but if he dies ill go switch to whose alive and see what happens there hurray

Next Life Series Hopes and Kinda thoughts?

Honestly? I hope Scar wins the next life series, and while others could probably win too, I think it just kinda makes sense in a way?

The first one with Desert Duo, Grian won.

2nd had Scott winning, and the 3rd had Pearl, in which those two were a pair this season, and this season too Grian and Scar were a pair again, meaning out of those two pairs Scar still needs a win.

Also kinda hope Jimmy isn't the first to die though? It would be funny, but like, it can only go so long until it's tiring to both parties.

I wouldn't mind someone else winning though, but Scar does a lot, he's not completely oblivious, and he has potential, and I think I'd like it if he could show it and finally win, even if it were him and Grian teamed again [though I doubt it] and Grian was mainly seen as the one who helped him get there, because Scar still would've had to do something to get there, and I think he really needs that.

writing prompt

imagine this random person: what's your number? *blatantly flirting* person who was a former lab experiment or something: [insert subject number]

companion: wow, you really just gave it to them huh?

former lab experiment: what?

companion: you gave em your number

former lab experiment: yeah. was i not supposed to?

companion: .. i think we're thinking of different things. what did you think they were asking for?

former lab experiment: ..my subject numebr?

companion: ..OH.

edge of the water | PJO Fic | Percy-centric

in which Percy is Chaos' kiddo