nar "Snape was taken aback by Genie's enthusiastic shout, but quickly recovered."
nar "He was happy for his friend's excitement, but puzzled."
sna "Haven't you ever thought of that before?" ("snape_05")
nar "Snape asked."
gen "Well, no..." ("base", xpos="far_left", ypos="head")
nar "Said Genie, and if ageless beings could blush, one would assume that's what Genie would be doing."
gen "It's not something that ever came up." ("base", xpos="far_left", ypos="head")
sna "No one suggested it to you?" ("snape_01")
nar "Snape asked, hoping to skip past Genie's discomfort."
gen "Surprisingly, when given three opportunities at your fondest dreams, helping others doesn't seem to come up very often." ("base", xpos="far_left", ypos="head")
nar "Genie said with a sarcastic edge that relieved Snape."
sna "Well, then..." ("snape_01")
nar "Snape said."
sna "After we find a way to get you back to your home, maybe I could come visit you and we could work something out." ("snape_28")
nar "Genie eyed him curiously and then, with a bit of his usual humour then asked."
gen "Are you sure you could resist the urge to use all three on yourself?" ("grin", xpos="far_left", ypos="head")
nar "Snape chuckled. He momentarily considered how rarely he chuckled."
nar "Not with humour, at least. He hadn't really done that since..."
sna "Yes." ("snape_28")
nar "Snape said with sudden certainty."
sna "There is really only one wish I would really want." ("snape_23")
nar "Genie raised an eyebrow at that, but let it stand."
gen "What would be your wish, my friend?" ("base", xpos="far_left", ypos="head")
nar "He asked Snape kindly."
sna "I wish I could go back and have wooed Lily for my own..." ("snape_23")
nar "Snape said dreamily. In his mind's eye, he remembered the flaming red hair that lit a fire in his own heart."
sna "I sometimes wonder if that would have made all the difference." ("snape_29")
nar "Snape mused."
sna "If I would have been a better, a kinder man than I am today." ("snape_06")
gen "But would you have been as popular?" ("grin", xpos="far_left", ypos="head")
nar "Genie asked."
gen "you were central in every book and movie. Everyone loves you." ("base", xpos="far_left", ypos="head")
sna "What?" ("snape_05")
nar "Snape snapped from his reverie. He looked at Genie in confusion."
gen "I mean, would you have been as powerful." ("base", xpos="far_left", ypos="head")
nar "Genie said hastily."
gen "Wasn't that rejection what drove you to your studies and your mastery?" ("base", xpos="far_left", ypos="head")
nar "Snape eyed Genie suspiciously, but let the matter pass."
sna "Yes, but I would sacrifice all that to be rid of this loneliness." ("snape_06")
nar "Snape returned to his imaginings."
gen "Well, even if you didn't stay together..." ("base", xpos="far_left", ypos="head")
nar "Genie said mischievously."
gen "you could at least have had a little fun with her. Maybe even take her on her wedding night." ("base", xpos="far_left", ypos="head")
nar "Snape's head snapped up angrily. How dare Genie sully the memory of Lily."
nar "But then, a wicked thought entered his head."
sna "*Hmm*... What if the boy wasn't really James' after all?" ("snape_02")
nar "Snape said, and the smile that formed on his face could have frozen the dancing fire beside them."
sna "Then, one day, I could reach out to that insipid boy, with his foolish fantasies about Potter and say, \"Harry, I am your father!\"" ("snape_28")
nar "Genie nodded."
gen "It could work. You've got the black robes already. You just need the helmet." ("grin", xpos="far_left", ypos="head")
nar "Snape cocked an eyebrow in confusion. The flames leapt and danced and Genie flickered once again."
gen "No mind pay you." ("grin", xpos="far_left", ypos="head")
nar "Genie said."
gen "Darkness that path, take you it will." ("grin", xpos="far_left", ypos="head")
sna "Um?" ("snape_29")
nar "Snape stammered."
gen "What?" ("base", xpos="far_left", ypos="head")
nar "Genie asked."
sna "For a moment there, I thought you..." ("snape_01")
nar "Snape trailed off, reluctant to go on."
gen "You thought {b}I{/b} what?" ("base", xpos="far_left", ypos="head")
nar "Genie prodded."
gen "Out with it man!" ("base", xpos="far_left", ypos="head")
sna "I thought you looked all shrunken, like a deformed house elf." ("snape_06")
nar "Snape finally managed to say."
nar "Genie laughed."
gen "Muppet?" ("base", xpos="far_left", ypos="head")
sna "No thanks, I'll just have the wine." ("snape_05")
nar "Snape replied."
gen "I'm afraid that's the last of it." ("base", xpos="far_left", ypos="head")
nar "Genie said, looking mournfully at the bottle."
nar "He eyed Snape through the red droppings of wine still remaining in his glass. It looked like Snape was bleeding."
nar "The image disturbed him and he put his glass down."
gen "So..." ("base", xpos="far_left", ypos="head")
nar "Genie coughed once, cleared his throat and continued."
gen "Did you mean it?" ("base", xpos="far_left", ypos="head")
sna "About the wishes?" ("snape_05")
nar "Snape asked."
gen "Yes." ("base", xpos="far_left", ypos="head")
nar "Genie said, unable to keep the excitement from his voice."
gen "Would you really come to my world and set me free with a wish." ("base", xpos="far_left", ypos="head")
sna "Why not?" ("snape_06")
nar "Snape said."
sna "Assuming we can find a way to send you back." ("snape_09")
gen "Right." ("base", xpos="far_left", ypos="head")
nar "Genie said, sobering up."
gen "There's that." ("base", xpos="far_left", ypos="head")
nar "Snape looked at his friend and sensed his growing gloom."
sna "Cheer up, Genie." ("snape_23")
nar "He said, clapping the image of his old wizard master on the shoulder."
sna "We just need to be careful. We don't want to make a mistake and send you somewhere crazy." ("snape_05")
gen "Like a space station?" ("base", xpos="far_left", ypos="head")
nar "Genie asked, his humour returning with his hope."
sna "Exactly." ("snape_28")
nar "Snape replied."
nar "Not sure what a ‘space station' was."
sna "We don't want you to end up far, far away." ("snape_24")
gen "In the final frontier?" ("base", xpos="far_left", ypos="head")
nar "Genie asked, with a wink that to Snape always meant some kind of inside joke Snape never understood."
nar "He decided to ignore it as he had many other times."
sna "Let me continue to research why your powers of transdimensional travel are muted here and we'll find a way to fix your problem." ("snape_05")
gen "Both our problems." ("base", xpos="far_left", ypos="head")
nar "Genie suggested and this time, both of them laughed together."
sna "You know, Genie, this could be the start of a beautiful friendship." ("snape_23")
nar "Snape said, standing to leave."
hide snape_main
with d3
gen "Well, you know what the game devs say." ("base", xpos="far_left", ypos="head")
nar "Genie replied, causing the dark man to pause and look back quizzically."
gen "Play it again, Snape." ("base", xpos="far_left", ypos="head")