Thank you everyone for sending in prompts! We received an overwhelming amount of submissions and in the end decided to go with 30 prompts in total to split between the Writing & Drawing categories as to not have an overwhelming amount of prompts to choose from. So, if you don’t see your prompt included please note that we couldn’t include everything but appreciate your submission.
The 2018 Severus Snape Writing & Drawing Fest will start on Sunday, August 12th and will run until the 31st of August. During that time you can submit a piece for a prompt whenever you want. You can also choose to do multiple prompts or do multiple submissions for a single prompt.
Ground rules: In order for us to reblog your submissions your work must include the following!
Title (this goes for both writing & drawing)
Word-count (if it’s a fic)
Content Warnings (if it’s a drawing that could be triggering please put it under a read-more)
Must be Snape-centric
Your submission must be written or drawn. We will not accept other types of content for this fest.
Must include a #snapeloveposts tag in the first 5 tags OR have @snapeloveposts in the caption, otherwise we will not see the posts.
We will also accept submissions that are sent to us through the submit feature.
If you have any questions feel free to send us an ask!
The Prompts:
Writing Prompts:
Snape lives and has to work out how to fit into life post-war
Snape reacts to Death Eaters torturing/ killing someone he likes OR Snape prevents the torture/killing of said person.
One student looks into her potion masters eyes and finds she can read his thoughts, he finds out.
Severus’ feelings about/emotional response to the deaths of Dumbledore and Charity Burbage.
The dark arts are addictive. Snape is an addict.
Snape can’t get a job post-Hogwarts graduation (no recommendation from Slughorn, anti-Slytherin bias, Marauders got him blacklisted, or some other reason).
Snape leaves the Death Eaters for a reason other than saving the Potters, but hides this fact from Dumbledore.
Snape was blind, mute, and deaf after the war (due to Nagini’s venom). He stayed in the special ward of the St. Mungo’s and not many people had accessed to the place. His only visitor was a healer who did not bother to interact with him at all. Then, a young volunteer who participated in the new program of St. Mungo’s came. She was interested in his case and tried to interact with the man.
Spell creation is a rare skill. Someone finds out Severus can do it.
Dumbledore takes Severus’s side after the Shrieking Shack “prank.”
Snape actually is a vampire. No one knows.
AU where Harry does something awful to Snape in retaliation for killing Dumbledore, and then has to deal with the later realization that Snape was on his side (Snape can be alive or dead at that point). Preferably not with a “warm and fuzzy / was only being nasty as part of his cover” Snape.
Snape takes on a lover to relieve stress during his brief time as headmaster. Perhaps he had resigned himself to likely dying in the war ahead, but after a period of time with this person he realizes he may actually want to live. He fights harder/learns to love someone besides Lily/makes greater sacrifices/etc.
Severus and Lily are next door neighbors and meet at a much earlier age than canon
Professor Snape gives private tuition to students from 4 different Houses who struggles with Potions
Drawing Prompts:
Severitus: Severus holding Harry as a baby with Lily hugging him looking adoringly up at him.
Snape at quidditch.
Snape’s workstation with things he might leave around
Young Severus Snape, modeled after actor, Adam Driver.
Snape’s hands reaching/ entwined
Cat ear snape. Flattened ears. Puffed hair in stress. Hissing lots of cuteness.
Snape has to look after a deaged Albus.
Severus and his glittering smokey eyes.
Young severus teaches himself how to ride a bicycle.
Snape + Phantom of the Opera.
Snape either as a student or adult practicing Wiccan Magick .
Snape’s wife coming home late and crawling into bed next to him exhausted and he makes sure that she’s ok has eaten and not hurt and helps her fall asleep. Spooning ensues.
Severus mentors Ron.
Severus and Petunia start dating secretly at the age of 15 and 17.
Prompt: Snape lives and has to work out how to fit into life post-war.
Content Warnings: mentions of depression/self-harm/alcoholism.
Brief summary:
It’s two months after the Battle of Hogwarts and the Weasleys are hosting a victory meal for ex-members of the Order and DA. Harry insists Snape is invited, but he doesn’t initially show up due to becoming a recluse after the battle to escape press attention.
2nd July 1998
Delicious smells wafted through the Burrow as people rushed around to Mrs Weasley’s orders, preparing the evening meal. A table was being placed outside and draped with the Weasleys’ finest tablecloth while Mr Weasley counted chairs with reference to a list of invitees, then conjured a few more out of thin air so that they had enough. The table being mostly set, a convoy of roast beef, ham, chicken, and pork flew through the air on platters and gently settled themselves down at regular intervals down the table, followed by Hermione Granger, brandishing her wand at them, followed closely by Ron Weasley, who sent several plates piled high with roast potatoes and pigs in blankets to the table like Hermione had just done. As the couple moved over to help Mr Weasley and George set up some Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes fireworks at the end of the garden, Bill Weasley followed out of the kitchen with platters of new potatoes and vegetables.
With the table set up to Mrs Weasley’s approval (which required several slight rearrangements), it was time for the guests to start arriving. Members of the Order of the Phoenix and Dumbledore’s Army arrived at the Burrow over the next half an hour, greeting each other enthusiastically, the first two months of peace clearly having served them well. As it reached seven o’clock, Mrs Weasley moved to motion the many guests to sit down, when Harry Potter caught her by the elbow, gave her a pointed look, and said, “not everyone’s here yet, shouldn’t we give it a few minutes,” he looked around hoping the final guest would appear so they could start.
“We’re only missing one person, Harry, and he was always unlikely to show up anyway, the keep-warm charm I placed on the food won’t last forever, if he turns up later there’s nothing stopping him joining us late.” She gestured to a few guests to sit down, causing them to take their seats one at a time, but Harry spoke again before Mrs Weasley could take her own seat.
“Can’t you give him a few more minutes? If he arrives and sees we’re already sat eating he may turn around and go home– “
“Harry, he probably didn’t get the invite, no-one’s seen him since a week after the Battle, you’ve looked everywhere you think he might be and spoken to everyone who might have the slightest idea where he is and you still haven’t found him,” she placed a comforting hand on Harry’s shoulder as he was about to protest, “if he can disappear without trace like that, he clearly doesn’t want to be found and therefore isn’t likely to turn up to a dinner party with a group of people he’s never exactly got on well with.” Mrs Weasley turned and sat down before Harry could speak, and he dejectedly walked toward his own seat between Ginny and Ron, opposite the empty seat he had been sure to save for Severus Snape.
20th June 1998
It was another wet and windy day on the mostly deserted moors on the eastern Scottish border, giving the small, rather run-down cottage in the hollow another battering as the rain beat down on the thin windows and old roof like tiny fists trying to gain entry to the dwelling. It was just after dawn, and the heavy rain and whistling wind had woken the unwashed man lying on the old sofa surrounded by empty bottles of booze. He stirred groggily, tentatively sitting up and staggering toward a medicine cabinet in the small kitchen which adjoined the sitting room, where he took a small bottle containing a hangover cure which he downed in one gulp. It only took a few seconds for the potion to take effect, at which point Severus Snape straightened himself and observed his surroundings; the cottage, which he had bought after having to abandon his (hated) childhood home of Spinner’s End after one too many press invasions, was just as dull and dingy as it had been the night before, and (thankfully) just as isolated and free from prying eyes. In his present state, Severus matched the cottage well, having let go of the few standards he had ever had for his physical appearance, his greasier-than-ever hair, obvious stubble, and grubby grey shirt standing as testament to how his life had somehow managed to go even further downhill in the last month or so.
As he flexed his left hand, he felt a sharp, stinging sensation on his forearm, which he inspected to find a collection of random, badly-healed cuts where his Dark Mark had once been. Although the mark itself had faded once the Dark Lord had been defeated, the brand had left its mark in an unevenness to the skin on his left forearm, which was all the reminder Severus needed of his youthful folly in joining the Death Eaters. Not wanting to remove the scars in favour of the Mark, he simply conjured bandages to cover his arm until they fully healed; he thought grimly that perhaps in a week or so his left arm may match the network of scars that covered his right.
The silence of the kitchen was broken by Severus’ stomach giving a loud grumble, begging for food, and yet he didn’t feel like eating. Instead, he took a half-empty bottle of firewhisky which he’d failed to finish the night before and started on that after moving back to the sofa in the little sitting room, where he sat, bottle in hand, and listened to the weather outside, which had a calming effect on him. Exactly how long he sat there he was unsure, but the whisky had long been finished when his silent contemplation was disturbed by a hardy owl which had somehow made it through the weather tapping on his window.
Severus wasn’t entirely sure how the owl had found him, having don’t everything he could think of to keep people from being able to contact him – which had worked so far – and he was reluctant to fetch the owl in at first, fearing what its letter may hold, but in the end the fact that it had not only managed to find him, but in such weather made him let it in. The owl stuck its leg out while Severus took the small scroll from its leg, then hopped around, looking for some sort of sustenance as reward for the arduous journey, only to find none.
Moving to an old yet comfortable leather armchair adjacent to the sofa, Severus began to unroll the scroll, which said:
Dear Professor Severus Snape,
We are writing to invite you to a celebratory meal on the 2nd July to celebrate two months since Voldemort’s defeat. Please arrive by 6:30 at the Burrow, Ottery St Catchpole, if you will be attending, and let us know if you won’t be there.
Hoping you are well
Mr and Mrs Arthur Weasley
P.S. I hope you can make it – Harry Potter.
Severus was unsure what to make of the invitation. Why would anyone invite him to any sort of event, surely disappearing for the last six weeks after having apparently being an enemy of families like the Weasleys for the last year was enough to get him off their invite lists? And anyway, it’s not like any of the Order had actually liked him when Dumbledore was alive anyway, why would they invite him now? ‘Hoping you are well,’ indeed, he snorted at that last line, he was surprised they didn’t hope him dead, although that’s not something one would normally put in writing. Although something about the invite seemed to rise a small smile deep inside him, particularly the curious P.S., and it caused Severus to send to owl away without a polite refusal of the invite, then to walk to the kitchen and eat a solid meal for the first time in the last few days.
2nd July 1998
The guests at the Burrow were sat down and about to tuck into the meal Mrs Weasley and any other member of the large, and steadily growing, extended Weasley family whose help she had been able to enlist had spent the afternoon preparing. But before them and their assortment of guests could tuck into the meal, there was a hesitant knock at the front door, unheard by most of the company.
“Was that the door, Molly?” asked the formidable Minerva McGonagall, who was sat next to Mrs Weasley and closest to the house to hear the door.
“Was it?” She replied, “I didn’t hear anything.” She got up anyway to make her way to the door, followed by Harry and Mr Weasley. Making their way through the kitchen to the back door, they could see a dark shape through the frosted glass to the side of the door, which was opened to reveal a very awkward looking Severus Snape holding a bottle of red wine, which he awkwardly handed to Mrs Weasley claiming he’d been unsure about whether he should bring something.
“I’m glad you could make it, Professor!” Said Harry, rushing forward to shake Severus’ hand, ending the awkward encounter with the Weasleys. He then proceeded to guide a still-uncomfortable Professor Snape out into the garden, where his appearance caused the quiet conversation to fade as all eyes focused on him, causing his pale complexion to turn a light pink as he attempted to smile. Severus Snape looked much the same as he always had as he appeared in the Weasleys’ garden, with his usual sweeping black robes, radiating his usual vibes that he was not a man to be messed with; however, one difference which was noted by most guests as Harry had him sit in the opposite seat to his own between Fleur and Andromeda Tonks was that he had, for once, washed his hair in preparation for the event.
Earlier that day.
It was late-afternoon when Severus Snape returned to his isolated cottage after a brief trip into the local village. The place was mostly inhabited by muggles, but he had managed to find a copy of the Daily Prophet from a few days ago in a wizarding family’s bin, which he had taken home with him along with his shopping, which consisted more of alcohol than food. Tossing the paper to the side for now, he sat in his armchair and opened a bottle of rum while he ate a pastry he’d bought at the local supermarket.
Once the edge had been taken off his hunger, Severus picked up the paper and flicked through it, knocking a small piece of paper off the table as he did so. As with every edition of the Prophet since the Dark Lord had been defeated, it was mostly filled with articles about Order members and those who’d fought in the Battle of Hogwarts and what they were doing now; today mostly featured Kingsley Shaklebolt, who had just been made Minister of Magic permanently (rather than just acting), and Minerva McGonagall, who had been confirmed as permanent Headmistress of Hogwarts – which Severus couldn’t find fault with.
What was more interesting for him was a short article about halfway through the paper entitled: Severus Snape: Dumbledore’s or Death Eater? Harry Potter Finally Speaks Out. Curious about what they’d written about him today, he began to read.
Just under two months ago, Harry Potter made the startling announcement that Severus Snape – a man who appeared to all the world a loyal Death Eater, and perhaps Lord Voldemort’s most trusted servant, and who Potter had accused of the cold-blooded murder of Professor Albus Dumbledore the year before – had actually been a spy dedicated to the cause of bringing down You Know Who. This announcement shocked the Wizarding World, and there has been no shortage of rumour and interest in the former Hogwarts Headmaster ever since, especially when he disappeared of the face of the earth six weeks ago. But the Prophet is proud to say that Potter has finally broken his silence on the man he once hated in an exclusive interview.
The article went on to have Potter describe Severus’ actions since the Dark Lord’s return three years ago in increasingly short and exasperated answers which made him think this may not have been the gracious, exclusive interview the Prophet pretended it was. Thankfully, he had neglected to mention certain more personal motivations behind his actions, and the article was by far the most positive thing which had been published about him since the war – Severus presumed that was why it was given so little space and was buried half-way through the paper. Either way, the positive way in which Potter had talked about him, no, defended him, shocked him a little and he put the newspaper aside again, causing him to notice the piece of paper he’d knocked on the floor as he picked up the newspaper. Turning it over, he saw it was the invitation to the dinner party at the Weasleys’, which he suddenly realised was that evening. Severus stared at the invite for a few seconds, particularly Potter’s curious P.S., which along with the article he’d just read made Severus’ attitude to the part change a little; perhaps he would give the world another go if not everyone hated his guts.
He looked up at the clock on the wall, the party started in just over an hour, as he turned to leave the sitting room for his bedroom he saw his reflection in the mirror and decided he had better wash and change first.
That evening.
With all the invited guests in attendance, the meal began, with the buzz of conversation returning as the guests compared stories of what they had done in the last few months and swapping general gossip. In all of this, one man seemed to feel left out as Severus Snape had no close friends to ask after and no interesting stories of the last two months to share. As he saw the warmness on everyone else’s faces as they so clearly liked and enjoyed each other’s company, Severus felt even more left out and would have regretted leaving his cottage had the food not been so nice, particularly after going hungry for several days.
To his right, Andromeda Tonks was in an animated discussion with Harry about Teddy Lupin’s progress and how he was managing to make some small alterations to his face, as well as change his hair colour, in the last few days. Diagonally to his left, Neville Longbottom enthusiastically told Ginny any Luna that he had been offered the chance to study Herbology in Brazil next year after Professor Sprout had given him a stellar reference.
“So ‘ow are you enjoying ze food, Professor,” came the voice of Fleur Delacour – no, Weasley, Severus reminded himself – from his immediate left, forcing him to break his silence.
“Erm, yes, yes, it’s erm, very nice,” he stuttered out, surprised by the question.
“Ah, yes, my mother-in-law is an excellent cook, she makes ze best Eenglish food I have eaten (better than that at ‘Ogwarts), but it has not quite the quality of French cooking!” Severus disagreed with the latter part of this and was thankfully able to avoid responding as Mrs Weasley was going down the table asking people if they wanted seconds.
“Perhaps some more roast potatoes, Professor Snape,” she inquired, “you look like you need a good meal, or perhaps you’d like some chicken? There’s lots going spare.”
“Yes, Severus, you do look even thinner than normal, I do hope you’re eating enough,” came the concerned voice of Minerva McGonagall from the end of the table, passing the chicken down giving Severus little option but to take it and claim that he was eating, although he didn’t quite meet either women’s eye.
As Mrs Weasley moved to offer Bill and Fleur more food, Harry finally took the opportunity to speak to the former Potions Master: “So have you got any plans now the war’s over?”
“No,” Severus responded shortly, then decided he might elaborate, “nothing solid… I might travel,” he was unsure whether he should have continued.
“Ah, well I know Professor McGonagall wants to offer you the Defence post again,” Harry responded.
“I know.”
“Are you going to take it?”
“No.” Severus was not enjoying being asked about his plans or feeling pressured to return to his previous life, so he tried to signal the end of the conversation with that statement, but Hermione Granger was not satisfied that the conversation was over.
“Have you thought of doing something academic, Professor,” she began hesitantly, “I mean I saw your edited potions recipes in your book which Harry got hold of last year, you could do some very valuable work in the field – “
“Give him a break, ‘Mione,” came Ron’s voice (despite a full mouth) from Hermione’s other side, “I’m sure Professor Snape didn’t come here for careers advice.” This interruption caused Ron to receive a brief glare, but before anything came of it, people started getting up, signalling that the meal was over as George walked over to the fireworks to set them off.
Everyone now gathered towards the spectacle except Severus, who felt just as wary of joining in as he had at the start. Instead, he retreated indoors, intending on making a quiet getaway, which would have worked perfectly had Harry not turned around at the exact moment he went inside and followed him.
“Hey, Professor,” he called once inside, causing Severus to turn around.
“What do you want, Potter,” he asked, thinking on the solitude of his cottage and wishing he was still there instead of here where people either ignored him or just wouldn’t leave him alone.
“I was hoping you might stay a bit longer – “
“Why,” he hadn’t intended to cut him across so sharply, but Severus was weary from spending the evening surrounded by people and just wanted to go home. Harry saw that the Professor was starting to tire of the evening and decided to come clean about why he’d wanted him to come so much.
“I was wondering if I could ask you about my mother,” Severus sighed and twitched as if to continue leaving, not yet ready to talk, but Harry went on, “you see, everyone always tells me about my father, but never my mother. I – I don’t know that much about her and I think you might be the only one of her friends left alive, a – at least that I know of.” The almost pleading tone made Severus stop in his tracks and sit down on the sofa in the Weasley’s sitting room, where Harry tentatively sat next to him.
They sat like this for a while, with Severus finding out that he was able to talk about Lily without breaking down, and Harry finding out about his mother’s favourite music, colour, pastimes, and many other points which made her seem that bit more real to him. He learnt that she had first encouraged Severus to experiment with potions and spells, and that she had even tried to adjust a few charms herself, but never with the same success Severus had. And by the end of their conversation, both Harry and Severus learnt a new respect for each other, so that when Severus finally did leave the Burrow, Harry found a folded piece of paper on the arm of the sofa they had sat on with a scribbled address on it in the Half-Blood Prince’s handwriting as permission to visit the potions master in the future.
9th July 1998
It was a week after the party that Harry first turned up at the isolated little cottage that Severus Snape had occupied since the war finished. He has intended on visiting alone, but Hermione had insisted on coming, which had made Ron insist on tagging along, which meant the conversation lasted long enough for Mrs Weasley to overhear and she had also insisted on joining Harry because Severus had looked awfully thin last week, and she wanted to make sure he was eating well. So, the four of them appeared on top of a nearby hill which looked down on the cottage in the hollow to make their way to see Severus, Harry rather anxious that he might see the large party and turn them away.
Harry knocked on the door briskly when he got there, and it was answered about a minute later by Severus Snape, who appeared as he normally had before and during the war, that is to say, wearing his usual black robes with his hair almost back to its normal greasy state (although he had washed it more regularly since the party). Although apprehensive at the large party at the door to meet him, he allowed them to enter, and upon doing so, Mrs Weasley took it upon herself to clean up, starting with the empty booze bottles, which she thought it better to make no comment on.
This first trip to Severus’ house was awkward and consisted mostly of Ron and Severus being as awkward as each other, Mrs Weasley cleaning up after Severus’ last seven weeks of alcoholism and generally caring very little about himself, while Hermione marvelled about his book collection and Harry attempted to get him to talk once again. But over time, these trips became a weekly thing, and on most Thursday afternoons, Severus’ small cottage would become fuller than usual as Harry visited with Ron and Hermione to check up on him and ask him for help on a certain part of Harry and Ron’s Auror training (and Severus was more happy to teach them now they were more respectful), or Hermione found him to be reasonably knowledgeable about wizarding law and would ask tiresome questions to help her take SPEW more seriously – although just as many afternoons ended up with Ron playing chess against Severus. Other times, Mrs Weasley would drop in to ensure he was eating well, which over time he started to do of his own accord, which pleased both her and Madam Pomfrey – who would often visit with Minerva to keep him up to date with the goings-on at Hogwarts – very much.
In the months and years after this first encounter, Severus found that he was perhaps more able to go outside and after some therapy sessions at St Mungo’s that Hermione had found out about he even found he was able to speak publicly about his role in the war. He also found that he became a kinder person – yet still as unapologetic, sarcastic and sometimes tiresome as he had always been, but less bitter – now that kindness had been shown to him and he no longer felt the need to hate the world quite so much. Finally, after all these years, he was taking steps in the right direction, albeit baby steps.
Hey everyone! We’ll be running a Snape Writing & Drawing Fest this August and we’re looking for prompts, the prompts can be related to anything but must be focused around Severus Snape.
If you’re interested in submitting prompts please do so by replying to this post or by sending us a message.
*If a prompt is specifically for writing or drawing please be sure to specify.
Once prompts have been collected we’ll create a masterpost of prompts for you all to choose from. Thank you! And please reblog this post :D
Hey everyone, today is the last official day of the 2018 Severus Snape Writing & Drawing Fest! Thank you to everyone who submitted work, it was amazing to see what you all came up with and we hope you enjoyed it!
If you missed the event or still want to participate you can still submit! We’ll be reblogging any late submissions we get. Just be sure to @ us or tag #snapeloveposts in the first five tags of your post.
Is there a length limit for the fics? Can we send multi-chapters fic as long as every chapter is posted by the end of the fest?
There’s no limit to how much you can write, so you’re more than welcome to do a multiple chapter fic!And so long as a submission is related to the prompts we gave we’ll always reblog late submissions. So, if you’re doing something that happens to run over the deadline it’s not a big deal.
Hi, I just want to make sure I have the write idea. Snape-centric focuses mainly on Snape right? Does it have to be from his point of view as well? Thank you.
Yes, so whatever you’re doing Snape should be the main focus. But it doesn’t have to be through his point-of-view, you could do it through the eyes of another character if you wanted.
Hello to you! Just to be clear: does every fest entry *have to be* based on one of the prompts? Or is it possible to join the fest with non-prompt-based Snapey stuff? Also, is it okay to draw for a prompt that is listed under Writing? (...Comics artist here. The Drawing prompts are a bit static to my taste :P.) Thank you!
For this fest we would prefer everyone to stick to the prompts as most of our other fests are ‘free-for-alls+prompts if you want them’. But you’re more than welcome to draw a writing prompt if you want!
