Scribbles In Charcoal
by
Rating: R, check warnings if you need to know more details than simply "sexual content" is present in this fic.
Pairing: Snape & Millicent
Word Count: 2,154

Summary: Snape finds Azkaban less onerous when one of his former students becomes a pen-pal.

Warnings: highlight between brackets if you prefer story warnings: [contains: angst, wanking, very mild UST if you wear UST-goggles]

Disclaimer: All the characters are Rowling's. All the smutty scenarios are mine.


Snape roused from fitful sleep to the clattering of metal on metal and the jangling of keys. He'd barely lifted his head when an envelope was thrown into his cell, which was then locked and warded again.

He looked at the broken seal, pursed his lips, then sighed and opened it. Dear Professor Snape,

It's Millicent Bulstrode. The school was re-opened and without Pansy around, Professor Slughorn made me Head Girl. He wasn't my Head of House, though, until this year. You were. So I'm writing to you.

The First Years are absolutely hopeless. I don't see how they will shape up and do our house proud. They skulk about, afraid. That is not the Slytherin way, but they don't listen to me. No matter what the press says about us, I am proud to be Slytherin. I know you were, too. Professor Slughorn tells us we have to ignore the comments and bide our time, but if I hear one more person talking about scheming Slytherins and the house of assassins one more time I'm going to commit an Unforgivable.

That wouldn't be so bad. I might get the cell next to yours. At least that way, we could both talk. I wish you were allowed visitors. We miss you, sir.

I hope you are eating well and are being treated properly. If you can write back, let me know if there is anything I can do or if there is anything you need I am allowed to send. Please do write back.

Respectfully yours,

Millicent

~(*)~


The Head Girl was sipping her morning pumpkin juice and scowling at the Hufflepuff table when the morning owls arrived. One dropped a pathetic bit of rolled up parchment on her plate of eggs.

She ignored this to open her missive. Dear Miss Bulstrode,

Your letter finds me quite well, thank you for inquiring as to my health.

My jailers inform me that I must request you send parchment if you wish a response. As you can see, I had to write you on the back of your own missive. As you no doubt can also see, I am allowed only a hard cake of charcoal with which to write. I was informed a self-inking quill is allowed me, but I am afraid I cannot afford one, so please bear with my messy scribbles.

Please allow me to offer my congratulations on your becoming Head Girl. Please keep in mind that there is only one Head Girl and Head Boy named each year. The fact a Slytherin was given such an honour despite our House's shabby reputation is heartening. Never forget this. Do not allow the younger students to forget it, either.

Out of curiousity, may I inquire as to who was given the mantle of Head Boy? Not that it matters, but I must admit to continuing consideration about Hogwarts and its doings. There is nothing for it as I am idle most of the day. There is little in the way of intellectual stimulation.

I had it in mind to thank you for your kind offer, but decline. However, my current circumstances require honesty. If it were possible, I would ask only for reading material. Anything. Even the Prophet.

Your letter is the first thing I have been allowed to read since my incarceration. If it is the only thing allowed me, then consider me a grateful recipient and thankful House head emeritus. Emeritus is the key word - please do not address me as your professor. I no longer hold that title, although I was proud so to do.

Please do not speak lightly of committing crimes, either, Miss Bulstrode. I know you intend humour, but there is nothing funny about Azkaban.

Be well, and I hope my letter finds you comporting yourself with the dignity befitting the Slytherin Head Girl.

Yours sincerely,

S.S.

~(*)~


The next letter came with his regular morning tray of weak tea, porridge and hard bread. He ignored his food, for a change, to read. Dear Sir,

I confess I do not know how else to address you. Mr seems improper, and I could never address you by your first name. Although, in my opinion, your first name is quite pleasant-sounding. It is strong, masculine and very magical, as a wizard's name should be.

I was so glad to hear back from you. I am sorry to hear you have nothing to do. I will keep writing, I promise. Enclosed please find a sheaf of parchment. I will be sure to send more.

I also subscribed to the Prophet for you, but my subscription hasn't started yet. They say two weeks for processing, whatever processing is.

Thank you for congratulating me. I was never expecting it, to be sure. Even my mother was surprised, although I know she has wanted it for me since I was old enough to walk.

Yes, sir, I will certainly tell the younger students what you said. I already have, and I heard one point it out to an annoying Hufflepuff the other day in the hall. It made me quite proud and I gave him 2 points for Slytherin. I took 5 from Hufflepuff for 'lacking amity toward a fellow house.' Professor Sprout looked a bit sour about it, but couldn't disagree.

To answer your question, Dean Thomas of Gryffindor was made Head Boy. He's not a bad sort, a bit quiet, but talented at something besides Quidditch, which is a nice change of pace for Gryffindor House. He draws, did you know, sir? His art is rather nice. Tame, but nice.

I have to get to first class now - Transfiguration. I am studying to become an animagus, sir. Several Slytherins are, actually, since your surprise form during the Final Battle was so effective. I hope I can change into something large or poisonous. It would be so helpful.

Be well, too, sir.

Respectfully yours,

Millicent

~(*)~


Dear Miss Bulstrode,

Your letter finds me well, as I hope you are, also.

Thank you very kindly for the parchment. I appreciate your attentiveness and will try not to hope that the Prophet is allowed me. It is good for you to have a subscription even if it proves fruitless for me. One should always know what the general public perception is, otherwise one cannot find counters to it, should it prove false.

Your mother is right to be proud. If it is not too bold, I must admit that it made me quite proud, as well. It is always heartening to learn ones' students are comporting themselves well.

I extend my congratulations to Mr. Thomas, as well. I had no idea he, or indeed any Gryffindor, had anything besides talent for sport. It is refreshing to consider. I am pleased you do not find it troubling to be paired, Head Girl to his Head Boy. I am sure there will be teasing on that score, if there has not already been, but I am also confident you will handle it with aplomb.

Regarding your studies, Millicent, please, do not study hard for my sake, but for your own. I am pleased you and other Slytherins are taking NEWT level Transfigurations, but again, do so because of what benefit you will gain. Do not aspire to follow my path; look where it lead me. There are many careers in which Transfiguration can be a great tool. Look to the future, always.

In that vein, I do hope you are not too indiscriminate in taking points from other Houses. If the miscreants deserve it, by all means! However, it is best to be mindful of our reputation and always attempt to rise above it.

There is a Muggle saying which I have found to be true: every once in a while, be kind to your enemy - it confuses them at worst, and seduces them into a false sense of laxity at best.

Not all things Muggle are to be avoided. Please insure the younger students understand this.

Be well.

Yours sincerely,

S.S.

~(*)~


Dear Sir,

I so hope that you are allowed to get the Prophet! I will be sure to read it first, as you feel it will be useful.

I'm so pleased to know you are proud of me. That means so much more than anyone else saying the same. I was am proud of having you as Head of my House, too, sir. No matter what anyone else says.

Enclosed I hope you find the drawing Dean made of me. I passed along your congratulations to him. We started talking and before I knew it, he had drawn me on his sketchbook. He copied it to a parchment for me. I don't think I look quite like that, but it was nice of him.

I am studying hard like you said. I'm making sure the younger students are, too. Oh, Merlin, there's an explosion in the 2nd year dorm. I must go see. Sorry this is short.

Millicent

~(*)~


Dear Millicent,

Thank you very much indeed for enclosing your portrait.

Aside from the guards, the same two men I see every single day and night, I have not seen another's face in far too long.

Forgive me for stating that I find Mr. Thomas quite talented. He did capture you quite well. You are a hale and handsome girl. Take pride in this. I am especially pleased to see he included your badge as Head of House. I confess I deeply miss seeing the emblem of my House.

Please do not apologize for brevity. I am well aware of what the younger years can manage without proper supervision. Do not stint in handing out punishment. How else will they learn?

I await your next missive with anticipation.

Yours most sincerely,

S.S.

~(*)~


The next morning, his morning jailer, who gave him his breakfast tray, along with a small stack of envelopes, all pre-opened, glared at Severus.

He sifted through them, a bit startled to see they were from Minerva, Filius and Hagrid, until he found the blunt, if neat, thick black writing that was Millicent's.

Dear Sir,

You're very welcome! That is too sad to hear you don't see anyone but the guards. I cried when I read that. Right at the breakfast table. Gilda Griswold thought someone had died in my family. I couldn't tell her I was crying so hard.

I had to finally tell the Headmistress what was wrong. She was surprised to hear we were corresponding. I was afraid she might tell me to stop, but she didn't. She gave me fifty points for Slytherin! Then she cried, too. I was kind of surprised. I didn't know the old cat had it in her.

I asked Dean to draw me some things. I kind of like his drawings. I enclosed the ones I liked best. My favourite is one of the mermaid and merman from the Head Girl's bath. Don't tell anyone, but I snuck him in there to draw it. They are so beautiful. They should be drawn.

Classes are going well, sir. I thought you might like to know I am progressing well in Transfiguration. I can make myself smaller and larger now. Still no change to any other form, but Professor Tonks says it's a start.

I hope you are doing well, and that the weather change hasn't affected your health. My mother told me to tell you if you need anything knitted, socks or smalls, or even a blanket, you've only to mention it. She's a very good knitter, very fast. I've wanted her to teach me since 2nd year, but she keeps telling me I'm bound for bigger things. Still, I think it would be nice sometimes, to be able to knit my own jumpers.

Well, Gilda has just asked me to help her study for Potions. I wish you were here, sir. Your knowledge of Potions was so much better than old Slughorn's.

Missing you,

Millicent

~(*)~


Snape gasped himself to another shattering climax that night before bed, black eyes fixed on the stunningly well-captured drawing of the bare-breasted mermaid and her heavily muscled escort.

He held the drawing in one hand and stroked his heavy, aching cock with the other, directing the resultant spatters to the tiny metal privy in the corner of his cell.

Replete, he stumbled to his cot and slipped under the thin blanket.

He had nearly lost all interest in such activities. There had been no time during the years of the war, and no impetus since his incarceration. It felt good to find himself feeling desire again, even if it could only be self-directed... at least for the next nine years and eight months.

He had yet to open his other letters, but was saving them as a special treat for the morrow.

Sighing deeply and contentedly, Severus made himself a mental note to request a bit more parchment from Millicent.

~ FIN ~

Posted: 13 December 2006

HP Menu - Tales Menu - Home