Pinned
Spoiler to chapter 49 and beyond of Ink & Alchemy ahead. Commissioned artwork from @safelia for this stunning scene with Remus. They did such a beautiful job I could seriously cry 💕
Sharing my composite render of my version of Severus Snape (as seen in my fic Ink & Alchemy). This is a labor of love—a little Alan Rickman, a little Adam Driver, my husband’s nose (used with permission), and a few random guys from Getty Images for the hair and stubble. I might have obsessed over the skin texture a bit. About 8-9 hours in Procreate, maybe 15 min in Lightroom for post-processing. More to come!
This is my “I don’t know what the fuck I’m doing” attempt at “artwork”. I can do digital compositing (and do it super well, I even used to get paid for it once upon a time) but draw something? I mean I drew a really nice eye once. Like, a decade ago. But hey, gotta start somewhere, right? Not that I’m starting anything I ever plan to finish. I just wanted to draw man-bun Snape, that’s all. And I did. And it doesn’t look like a total dumpster fire so I guess there’s that. Now I get to share my extremely amateur art with all of you while I tell myself I should really stick to writing.
Medium: a piece of notepad paper and a cheap little papermate mechanical pencil I found in a random drawer at work.
We often talk about The Prince’s Tale as the final reveal of Severus Snape’s true loyalties—but there’s a moment in that chapter that gets overshadowed by the big memories, the Patronus, the “Always.” And yet it might be the most damning and revealing line in the entire series.
It’s this:
“And my soul, Dumbledore? Mine?”
Let’s sit with that for a second.
Snape is being asked to kill. Not for power, not for punishment, not for vengeance—but out of mercy. Dumbledore is dying. The end is already written. All he’s asking for is dignity.
And Snape balks.
He doesn’t recoil at the strategic risk. He doesn’t flinch at the morality of sparing Dumbledore’s life.
He flinches because of the possibility that this will damage his soul.
This isn’t the voice of a killer.
That one line unearths so much about who Snape is beneath the persona—beneath the spy, the double agent, the snarling teacher. It reveals that he has not taken a life before.
Because if he had? This would be a non-issue. He wouldn’t need to ask. The damage would already be done. The soul, already torn.
But instead, he stops and asks:
Will this be the thing that breaks me?
That’s the cry of a man standing on a line he hasn’t crossed.
And the fact that he still believes in the soul at all is deeply significant.
Let’s compare him to real killers in the series:
• Voldemort doesn’t flinch at murder—he does it for power, to fracture his soul on purpose.
• Bellatrix (and many other Death Eaters) kills for sport.
But Draco, when faced with the same choice, cannot do it. Harry, even in war, casts Expelliarmus.
And Snape—the supposed villain of the early books, the morally ambiguous double agent—asks if his soul will survive it.
He’s not worried about punishment. He’s worried about what killing will do to him.
That is not the thought process of a man with blood on his hands.
Dumbledore’s response is everything:
“You alone know whether it will harm your soul.”
Not “Your soul’s already lost.”
Not “It won’t make a difference.”
Not even “You have no choice.”
Dumbledore leaves it to him.
That means he believes Snape still has something to lose.
He wouldn’t ask this of someone whose soul was already fractured. He asks it of Snape because he knows this will be his first and only kill.
The implication is enormous.
This is a man who has done horrific things. He’s served Voldemort. He’s used dark magic. He’s endangered children.
But he has never killed. Not once.
And when he finally does, it’s to:
• Honour a dying man’s wishes.
• Spare a child’s soul (Draco’s).
• End suffering, not prolong it.
And even then, it tears at him.
So what does that make him?
A villain? An anti-hero? A deeply damaged man trying to atone? Maybe all of the above.
But not a murderer.
Not by choice. Not by pattern.
Just once. And it nearly breaks him.
To add to this, just a short while later, we have this exchange:
Dumbledore opened his eyes. Snape looked horrified. ‘You have kept him alive so that he can die at the right moment?’ ‘Don’t be shocked, Severus. How many men and women have you watched die?’
Not, "How many have you killed?", not even, "How many deaths have you been responsible for?" (which is, of course, not entirely zero). How many has he watched die - because Dumbledore knows that, while party to death, Snape is not and never has been a cold-blooded killer.
Ah but don’t forget the very next line!
“Lately, only those whom I could not save.”
Doesn’t sound like someone who routinely murders people.
No, while he is an accomplished duelist (by necessity), he was never brought into Voldemort’s ranks to be a soldier. He was there as Potions Master first and a spy second (or so Voldemort believed). It’s like a muggle scientist. No one puts them on the front lines expecting them to fight. For as unhinged as Voldemort was, his circle still had structure and clear roles.
What better way to welcome in summer than a Beltane Fest?
1. Fan fictions must be Harry Potter centric.
2. Any pairing or no pairing is eligible.
3. All fan fictions must center around Beltane or the themes of Beltane.
4. No necrophelia, beastality, incest or pedophilia.
5. All ratings accepted with use of appropriate tags.
6. Use appropriate tags. Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings is not accepted.
We often talk about The Prince’s Tale as the final reveal of Severus Snape’s true loyalties—but there’s a moment in that chapter that gets overshadowed by the big memories, the Patronus, the “Always.” And yet it might be the most damning and revealing line in the entire series.
It’s this:
“And my soul, Dumbledore? Mine?”
Let’s sit with that for a second.
Snape is being asked to kill. Not for power, not for punishment, not for vengeance—but out of mercy. Dumbledore is dying. The end is already written. All he’s asking for is dignity.
And Snape balks.
He doesn’t recoil at the strategic risk. He doesn’t flinch at the morality of sparing Dumbledore’s life.
He flinches because of the possibility that this will damage his soul.
This isn’t the voice of a killer.
That one line unearths so much about who Snape is beneath the persona—beneath the spy, the double agent, the snarling teacher. It reveals that he has not taken a life before.
Because if he had? This would be a non-issue. He wouldn’t need to ask. The damage would already be done. The soul, already torn.
But instead, he stops and asks:
Will this be the thing that breaks me?
That’s the cry of a man standing on a line he hasn’t crossed.
And the fact that he still believes in the soul at all is deeply significant.
Let’s compare him to real killers in the series:
• Voldemort doesn’t flinch at murder—he does it for power, to fracture his soul on purpose.
• Bellatrix (and many other Death Eaters) kills for sport.
But Draco, when faced with the same choice, cannot do it. Harry, even in war, casts Expelliarmus.
And Snape—the supposed villain of the early books, the morally ambiguous double agent—asks if his soul will survive it.
He’s not worried about punishment. He’s worried about what killing will do to him.
That is not the thought process of a man with blood on his hands.
Dumbledore’s response is everything:
“You alone know whether it will harm your soul.”
Not “Your soul’s already lost.”
Not “It won’t make a difference.”
Not even “You have no choice.”
Dumbledore leaves it to him.
That means he believes Snape still has something to lose.
He wouldn’t ask this of someone whose soul was already fractured. He asks it of Snape because he knows this will be his first and only kill.
The implication is enormous.
This is a man who has done horrific things. He’s served Voldemort. He’s used dark magic. He’s endangered children.
But he has never killed. Not once.
And when he finally does, it’s to:
• Honour a dying man’s wishes.
• Spare a child’s soul (Draco’s).
• End suffering, not prolong it.
And even then, it tears at him.
So what does that make him?
A villain? An anti-hero? A deeply damaged man trying to atone? Maybe all of the above.
But not a murderer.
Not by choice. Not by pattern.
Just once. And it nearly breaks him.
You dare use my own spells against me, Potter? Yes. I’m the Half-Blood Prince.
It’s so intense! I love it! 🖤🥹
This might be my favorite Severus art EVER.
Legit gave me chills.
I have a LOT of Dwemer gears, does that count??
Hermione Granger is willing to do whatever it takes to keep Severus Snape alive. Lie. Manipulate. Take fate into her own hands.
He doesn’t want saving.
She doesn’t care.
————————
My new one-shot, inspired by malfoyesque’s Proof. This is Dark, Manipulative Hermione. Read at your own risk and mind the tags and warnings, please.
Hi Moony lovers!
We have two very exciting things for you today!!!
You can also keep up with the fest on Twitter if you'd like!
Here to answer any questions,
Your Tumblr Mods
And Twitter Mods
Can’t wait!
Yeah, what war were you learning about when you heard the term Antebellum? Who have you ever heard use that word in the United States that wasn't using it to refer to the time before the civil war being good, which directly refers to slavery being a positive thing. I don't care what your personal definition of it is, because by that logic I could change my username to faggot13 and it's just mindless bullying when someone calls me out on my bullshit. since faggot only means a bundle of sticks and it's not my problem if the marginalized people of that community find trouble with that use, because I didn't mean it like that. It's a really bad look when a white woman doubles down when called out for a problematic thing they did
You absolute coward.
You sit behind an anonymous mask, spewing self-righteous drivel, contorting language to fit your flimsy argument, and yet, for all your moral grandstanding, you lack the spine to attach your own name to your accusations. You want to call me out? Then stand in the light and do it with your chest.
You compare antebellum—a neutral Latin word that existed centuries before the Civil War—to an actual slur, as if those two things are even in the same universe. You think you’re making some grand intellectual point, but all you’re doing is exposing your utter lack of historical literacy and critical thought. I did not invent the word. I did not redefine the word. I did not twist the word to suit a hateful agenda. I used a term as it was taught to me—long before you even knew it existed—and I will not be held responsible for how your narrow little mind chooses to perceive it.
You don’t care about facts. You don’t care about intent. You don’t even care about actual justice. You just want the thrill of ‘catching’ someone, of forcing an apology where none is needed, of planting your flag atop a nonexistent moral high ground. And when I don’t grovel at your feet, you double down, grasping at weaker and weaker comparisons, hoping something sticks. It won’t.
So let me make this crystal fucking clear: I owe you nothing. Not a justification, not a rebranding, not an ounce of my time. My name has been mine for seventeen years, and no amount of performative outrage from some faceless, anonymous nobody is going to change that.
You want to keep barking from the shadows? Do it. But don’t mistake my refusal to entertain your stupidity for silence. I am done wasting my breath on people who mistake their own ignorance for a crusade.
Now run along and find a real cause to fight for—because this sure as hell isn’t it.
Except it's a fact that the term antebellum has racist connotations in the United States. You might have been ignorant as a teen to its deeper societal implications but there was no reason you had to keep it as an adult now, in a new fandom. Antebellum is a word used by pro slavery, pro confederation Americans and I'm not saying that's you but it's a bad look to stand so firmly behind it
“Antebellum” is a neutral word that literally means “before the war.” It is not inherently racist, and it was never exclusively used by pro-slavery, pro-Confederacy Americans. You’re the one assigning a singular, negative connotation to a word with a much broader meaning.
I chose this username in 2007 2008 (I found my old Twilighted account and I joined just after my 18th birthday) because I liked the way it sounded and appreciated its definition. I have never associated it with racism, and I’m not responsible for how other people have chosen to interpret it over the years. Changing it now, after 17 years, would suggest I have something to be ashamed of—which I don’t.
And as for your “new fandom” comment: I’ve been writing Harry Potter fanfiction since at least 2011. My username is right there on fanfiction.net if you need proof. I’m not suddenly bringing this name into a different space—I’ve been here longer than you realize. Maybe even longer than you have.
You claim you’re not accusing me of anything, yet you’re still acting like I need to justify my choices to you. I don’t. My values are clear, my track record speaks for itself, and I won’t waste my time proving myself to someone who refuses to even put their name behind their words. If you were actually here to have a conversation, you wouldn’t be hiding behind anonymity while making bad-faith insinuations. This discussion is over.
Hello Bangers!
It's finally time! Sign ups for the R/S Big Bang 2025 are OPEN!
You'll be hearing more from us in the coming days, but for now you can find all of our relevant info on our Tumblr (for easy access, here are links to our rules, schedule, and FAQ).
If you're not yet familiar with a Big Bang, here's a quick rundown: The goal is to bring authors, artists, and betas together to create content for a community and ship we love so much. First, authors will write fics (20-100k words in length) with the help of a beta reader (you may join the fest with a beta reader, or one will be assigned to you). Then, authors will be paired with artists, who will create two art pieces related to the fic. Since this is an R/S big bang, all pieces should feature end game Wolfstar (Remus Lupin x Sirius Black). As a quick note, you can sign up for the fest as an author and a beta, but not as a beta and artist, or as an author and artist. See deadlines below, and use the respective form to sign up!
We will have a Discord, but it may take up to a week to receive your Discord invitation!
I’ll be doing this as an author! I’ve already got an outline made up! ♥️♥️
is there a reason you chose a racist username?
‘Antebellum’ is a Latin-derived word that simply means ‘before the war.’ I’ve had this username since 2007 2008 when I was 17 18 and writing Twilight fanfiction on the old Twilighted platform, because I thought it was a beautiful word. I first encountered it in a high school history class, where it was used in the context of a time period, not as any sort of ideological statement. The assumption that my username has racist connotations is not only incorrect but also wildly unfair, especially coming from someone who chose to remain anonymous rather than ask in good faith.
For the record, I am an ally to people of all races, genders, and orientations, and I always have been. If your question was genuine, you have your answer. If you were just looking for something to be upset about, that’s on you.
This is The Line by Twenty One Pilots and I am SOBBING because this is fucking Remus every month under the full moon. His soul is screaming this song. My heart hurts for him so fucking much. This is why I had to fix it in my fic. So he never has to do it again. 💔
My body's on the line now
I can't fight this time now
I can feel the light shine on my face
Did I disappoint you?
Will they still let me over
If I cross the line?
Take a seat
But I'd rather you not be here for
What could be my final form
Stay your pretty eyes on course
Keep the memories of who I was before
So stay with me because
My body's on the line now
Pull the blanket tight now
I can feel the light shine on my face
Did I disappoint you?
Will they still let me over
If I cross the line?
Please don't let them see me
Sure there's nothing left to try
I can feel the light shine on my face
Did I disappoint you?
Will they still let me over
If I cross the line?
If I cross the line
If I cross the line
I can't help but wonder if you've deleted some of the rude comments I've seen you say people leave according to your author's notes. I'm sorry you're receiving them in the first place but please don't let that deter you out of the hundreds of fans of your works.
(not a native english speaker pls forgive me haha)
I haven’t! I try to respond to everyone politely and so it isn’t always obvious when it’s something rude. There’s fortunately only a small handful so out of thousands of comments right now, they’re mercifully hard to spot. And don’t worry! I am not deterred at all, I just think it’s important to people who read fanfiction in general to be aware that there are better ways to supply your opinions than coming out swinging. ♥️
