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This is a very, very well written glimpse into Snape’s youth. He’s 9, and has been left at home by his family to clean up a mess he made. The ‘mess’ in question is the remains of a house elf- victim of a spell gone wrong.
lizbee [Added: 05/25/04 | Snape Harry ]This is a fairly short, slightly future fic, veering from canon post-GOF. It begins with Snape already captured by Voldemort’s forces and paying the price of being a spy- a genre that’s a personal kink of mine! It’s not a very plotty tale, but I enjoy the very tight Snape pov and the characterization it creates. The story has a lot of style and is well worth the read for those who enjoy a bit of Snape-torture. Grant you, OotP probably pushed this fic a bit further from canon than was originally intended, but that’s to be expected when playing with an evolving canon.
Oh, I very much like this entry in the ‘Severus Snape Fuh-Q Fest’ (the link takes you to the main page- skim to ‘N’ in the ‘titles’ to find the story). This is a nice, long tale set well after the fall of Voldemort. The ‘kids’ are now 26 and all members of the Hogwarts staff. Snape is still potions master, but ‘peace’ provides him with little comfort. With Dumbledore dead and no mission to give him purpose, he feels alone and adrift and completely incapable of doing anything to improve his circumstances. After a surprisingly pleasant night debating magical theory with Ron, Hermione and Harry, he feels the loss of his old friend even more acutely. With such thoughts weighing heavily on his mind, he goes to sleep with his wand under his pillow and wakes up to a different world.
There is so much I love in this story. I loved the beginning, and the Snape characterization we are given. I like how Snape’s unwillingness to connect with us has turned into an inability to do so- and how this ties to his childhood. I enjoyed the parallels drawn between Snape’s childhood and Harry’s. The use of magic, the portrayal of Dumbledore, and the way the story ultimately leaves the cause of the changes to Harry and Snape open to interpretation also appealed. Ultimately I loved this story for the characterizations- Ron and Hermione really shone in this story. The whole thing is just really sweet. Manipulative as all hell, but highly effective, even as you know your emotions are being played. This one tugs at your heartstrings, blatantly and without apology- and it does so in such an effective way, I didn’t mind! Great stuff- particularly for those of us who want the potions master to find some peace!
vulgarweed [Added: 05/29/04 | Snape ]There is a land that lies beyond space and time, a crossroads where worlds collide and realities blend. At the very heart of the void there is a shop. Not just any shop. Bram’s of Carpathia- serving ‘The Very Finest in Sinister Menswear’. Well. where else did you think Snape goes to buy all of those neo-Victorian swoopy clothes? Dolt. So, anyways, Snape is shopping for some new duds for his evil self, when a tall dark stranger dressed in black (like pretty much everyone in the store) comes up to him and asks the age old question “Hhhhave you ssssseeen Bagginsssss?” At which point, they shag like monkeys. Hee!
This is clever and short and smutty- and very, very amusing. I really liked the distant pov that kicks it off, and I thought the Snape characterization was quite good- particularly given the humorous and AU nature of the fic. Bonus points because I actually chuckled aloud a couple of times. This fic is like a Hershey’s bar with almonds- not particularly substantial, but enjoyable and satisfying all the same. Also, a little nutty.
It’s the summer before Harry’s final year, and he’s suffering through yet another miserable ‘vacation’ with the Dursleys. When Dudley chases off an owl carrying a missive from Dumbledore, Snape is sent to deliver the message. Snape, though no fan of the ‘boy who lived’, turns out to be even less of a fan of the Dursleys. Since Harry’s birthday is just a day away, he decides to give the boy a present. He kidnaps him! Harry doesn’t much mind, and ends up inside Snape’s mountain hideaway. And by inside, I mean inside. Snape has carved a home out of the very rock itself, using his magic to create his home. Once there, Snape decides it’s time for Harry to stop pissing about and start preparing for his final battle with Voldemort. What follows is a really interesting exploration of magic, one of the nicest I’ve read in the fandom. You’ll also get appealing versions of Harry and Snape (sarcastic Snape, though a bit nicer than I generally prefer), quite a bit of Snape history (note- breaks from canon), and upon return to Hogwarts, good characterizations of Ron and Hermione plus a big dollop of action. All of it’s good stuff!
auctasinistra [Added: 05/30/04 | Snape Harry ]Hee! This is just sweet! It’s set after Voldemort’s fall, and Harry has retired to the country. In an effort to get away from it all, he bought an old manor house, ‘Beech Hall’. Unfortunately, the old place doesn’t like him very much. On the plus side, Hermione, Ron and two OC’s are around to help him try and tame ‘the bitch’, as the house is affectionately known. However, it appears the war is not quite as over as Harry had hoped. Lucius Malfoy is attempting to gather the remaining death eaters and raise the dark lord once again. When Snape goes under cover to stop him, he discovers the drastic lengths Malfoy is willing to go to, and breaks cover in an effort to foil his plans. Now, Dumbledore must find someplace safe for the potions master to hide. Hm.... Wonder where?!
This is a nice chunk of story, and it’s a lot of fun. Snape is at his snarky best, but this is definitely a ‘good guy’ version of the character. Harry is fun too, though a far cry from the angry young man from OotP. Still, it’s always easy for me to imagine Snape and Harry drawn together after the war, and this story does a nice job of showing Harry’s attraction to Snape and Snape’s unwillingness to believe that anything good could come of it. The secondary characters, and indeed the house itself, are well realized and make effective sounding boards for both the guys. Add in a nice dollop of action, and you’ve got yourself a very enjoyable little story.
(Note- the formating of the story is a bit buggered up. I suggest downloading it to your computer and closing the ‘center’ tag- it makes it much more readable!)
auctasinistra [Added: 05/30/04 | Snape Harry ]I find myself liking this author rather a lot, and this story is a nice example of why. It’s a rather long fic, set post-OotP, that begins with Harry staying at Hogwarts for the summer vacation. The plot is familiar- Harry wants Snape to teach him the dark arts. Snape obliges, fights his feelings for his student, and it all builds up to the ultimate confrontation with Voldemort. Actually, this is a plot I tend to enjoy when done right, but what distinguishes this one from the pack are the characterizations and the nice, easy writing style. I particularly like this version of Snape- I can’t really see Snape snogging a student, but this story moves the relationship forward very, very slowly with a clear understanding of the possible consequences of such a coupling. It’s a good strong Snape voice and one of the more convincing Snarry pairings set while Harry is a student. There’s also just enough action and suspense to keep the story going for those who want more than just a relationship study. Finally- bonus points for the cat. I have a soft spot for Snape with a cat! One caveat I should mention- this version of Harry is pretty far from the angry boy we saw in the book, and even in the beginning, his relationship with Snape is a WHOLE lot more friendly than canon portrays. Given that I really like the characterizations, I was happy to overlook that and take the story for what it is.
Oh, this is very subtle and very good. Set after the fall of Voldemort, Snape has done something that Albus simply can’t forgive. As a form of penance before he leaves Hogwarts, Snape decides to help a despondent Harry Potter come to terms with the ghosts that haunt him. Not a long fic, but very carefully constructed to achieve maximum effect. Bittersweet stuff, and a very, very clever tale. It’s one you’ll want to read twice, just to catch all of the nuances. Highly recommended!
pauraque [Added: 05/31/04 | Remus Snape Harry ]This is a cartoon. A not particularly well drawn, fairly stupid cartoon. A not particularly well drawn, fairly stupid cartoon that seriously cracks my shit up!! Hee! And the ‘stupid’ is cool, because it’s an entry in the Summary Suckathon challenge. The ‘sucky summary’ that inspired the fic: Snaip wants a baby. He wants it wit Hairy but Loopen haves the hips. SLASH, MPREG. R&R,PLS! K, THX. Hee, again!
What’s odd about this cartoon- I like it because it has a lot of heart. I actually dig this Snape characterization quite a lot. I also enjoy the hints of meta behind both the challenge and the execution of the cartoon. Harry’s response to Snape’s request was brilliant! Also- that buggy-eyed blinking thing that Harry did, I dug that too. Just really fun and creative- well worth a look!
kalinalea [Added: 06/05/04 | Harry Snape Hermione ]Damn, this is good fic! Very long, and very ‘plotty’, it begins just after Voldemort’s defeat (end of the 6th year). However, Harry feels little cause for celebration, given the fact that Ron was a casualty of the final battle. He goes home to his godfather Sirius to heal, but just as he starts to pull his life together, Snape shows up and dispels the hope of lasting happiness. Seems there are still those out to use the most powerful boy in the wizarding world. So Harry, with Hermione tagging along for company, returns to Hogwarts while Snape, Sirius and Remus set out to discover who is plotting against the ‘boy who lived’. Harry is not happy to be left in the dark again, and when tragedy befalls yet another of his small group of friends, he reaches his limit and sets of on his own. The story follows Snape and Hermione as they try to find Harry before it’s too late.
If you like plot and intrigue, you’ve hit the jackpot with this story. My summary doesn’t do it justice. There is a LOT going on here, and the characters develop nicely in response to events. Harry’s hurt and anger- and the possible ramifications of said anger- are understandable; Hermione’s growing respect for Snape works, and I like the portrayal of ‘smart and loyal’ Hermione; I particularly enjoyed Snape- though this is a fairly nice version of the git, but I’m good with that and I always enjoy seeing him in ‘action/spy’ mode. The author also does a nice job with magic- I enjoyed the exploration of wandless magic and a lot of the little magical details she used (Dumledore’s ‘vacation home’ was very neat!). I did have a few quibbles with exposition in spots and think the story could have been tightened up to move a bit more quickly, but that really is a quibble. If you want a meaty read with strong characterizations and lots of action and magic, you can’t go wrong with this story.
Damn, but this is a fascinating fic! Be prepared- it’s a full length novel, and it’s really only half a step from being original fiction. Also, there’s a giant assed coincidence toward the end that I thought was… well, a giant assed coincidence. That said- I was spell bound (pun intended) by this. Set in the future when the trio are in their early 30’s, it begins with Harry’s death. No, Voldemort had nothing to do with it- the dark lord was killed by Harry way back during his school days. Instead, Harry’s death, well, read to find out. At the funeral, Hermione shows up after an extended absence that, again, you’ll have to read to understand. The story largely focuses on her, as she readjusts to the new wizarding world, hangs out with Ron (no an Aurora), meets Harry’s wife and children, and discovers Snape, who- well, you’ll have to read to find out!
As you may have guessed from that rather vague summary, at the core of this story are a number of mysteries. How did Harry die, and why? Who is responsible? What has happened to Snape, and can Hermione look to him for help? What is Ron’s place, now that the sidekick has no hero to follow? The writer does an excellent job of laying the story out in such a way that you are immediately sucked in- intrigued by mysteries small and large. This is no doubt a magical world, but it’s a world for adults, where monsters don’t always wear masks and happy endings are not assured. As I said, it’s a pretty far cry from Rowling’s books, but the characters are recognizable, their differences understandable in light of their experiences, and the story milks the maximum suspense from each mystery that unfolds.
Schmoopy angsty smut. Smutty angsty schmoop? Heh- you get the idea. Reading this sequel to the lovely ‘A Nick in Time’ is like taking a long, slow wallow in a vat of maple syrup. With sex. Lots of sex, and a side order of angst. Honestly, it’s a little too sweet for my taste and there really isn’t the focus on plot and action that I normally prefer. However, it is a nice follow-up to ‘Nick in Time’ and I have to admit I enjoyed reading about how Severus re-adjusted to adult life after his experiences as a child. This Snape characterization is MUCH nicer than canon, but I actually bought it given the prequel. As in the prior story, I can’t help but feel for Snape as he tries to form bonds with others, fighting his own cynicism all the way. There are also some really nice touches concerning magic (the music sequence was very interesting) and you just can’t help rooting for all of the characters in this lengthy tale. But lordy- this story is so sweet it makes my teeth ache! Save it for when you’re in the mood to self-induldge.
bethbethbeth [Added: 06/13/04 | Dumbledore Snape]A fairly short tale, told in second person, that follows Severus Snape during the last few days of the war against Voldemort. The story offers a characterization of Snape I very much enjoyed. It’s a bleak portrayal, you can feel Snape’s weariness in your bones, but he doesn’t quit. He may act stupidly, but he never quits. I love that sort of thing. The author does a nice job of laying out a whole lot of story in relatively few words. I had a real sense of the war, Snape’s part in it, and the relationships between various members of the order- without the author having to spoon feed me the information. Lastly, I thought the author did a nice job of setting the mood. It’s not the most skillful use of second person pov I’ve read, and I’m not certain it was the best choice, but the author makes it work to generate a detached air that very much fits this worn to the bone version of Snape. Overall, a good read for any fan of Snape. It’s stylistically interesting and the ending really worked for me- it left me feeling hopeful. YMMV.
The first story in a trilogy, this is a retelling/reinterpretation of ‘Order of the Phoenix’ (as of this story, we only get to a point just after Harry’s trial for improper use of magic). It’s a long story, and I find the premise compelling. Many have noted that the books are told from Harry’s point of view, and thus we actually know very little about many of the other characters in the books. What we see through Harry’s eyes is skewed, and deliberately so. Given that Snape is my favorite character and I am insanely curious about just what it is he does for the Order, I really love this exploration of canon events from a more adult perspective. Here, we are given Snape and Kingsley Shacklebolt’s pov’s on what is happening during the summer before Harry’s 5th year. The authors’ take is one that hits on some personal kinks of mine. Snape has indeed gone back to work for Voldemort, who is less than happy with his wayward potions master. Snape stumbling back to OotP meetings after what amounts to torture at the hands of the DE’s? I so groove on that! I also like the history between Lucius and Snape and the exploration of magic.
However- despite my love of the premise and my admiration for the writing skills and level of detail in this story, I find some of the characterizations problematic. On the plus side, I really enjoyed Hooch and her friendship with Snape. I also thought the witches- McGonagall and Hooch in particular- were well drawn and fleshed out. Sirius is portrayed as a childish hot head and of little use to the order- and while that didn’t particularly bother me, it might be an issue for others. Harry so far is nearly non-existent, which makes sense given the sparse contanct both Snape and Shacklebolt had with him at this stage of OotP. As to the negatives, I disagree with this interpretation of Dumbledore. I think Albus is a pretty devious guy and I buy his willingness to sacrifice others for the greater cause. However, I didn’t quite buy the level of bias he shows in this story and I wasn’t too keen on how his relationship with Snape was portrayed. Shacklebolt was another character I found vaguely problematic. There is a definite whiff of ‘Mary Sue’ to him- he’s almost too competent, too central to the intrigues, too… too. I think some of my issues with Shacklebolt are related to the portrayal of Snape. Don’t get me wrong- there’s a LOT about this version of Snape that I like. However, I prefer Snape a bit more ‘alpha’ than he is shown here. I like the idea that Snape does have autonomy and that his actions are guided more by his choices rather than outside factors. The idea that Snape has been at Hogwarts all this time as a form of ‘parole’ doesn’t make a lot of sense to me AND it’s not consistent with the sort of characterization I prefer.
All in all, this story is definitely recommended and I look forward to seeing the series play out. It explores a lot of ideas brought up in GoF and is written with a great level of skill. This is a well crafted world, full of magic and intrigue. Whether or not it works for someone else will really depend on how willing you are to accept the characterizations. For me, the focus on Snape works well enough and the story sucked me in. For others, this may not be the case. (Note- link goes to the main page- you’ll need to skim the listings to find the story.)
marinarusalka [Added: 09/20/04 | Snape Sirius Remus James Peter Giles Ethan]I love clever fics- stories that are just smart, that keep me guessing. This would be an excellent example of a clever cross-over fanfic! It’s a long tale, set during the final months of the first war against Voldemort, and it manages to stay ‘in canon’ for both Buffy and Harry Potter, while bringing a young Giles and Ethan into the wizarding realm. When the two human magic dabblers spot a burning skull floating across the London sky, their investigations lead them smack dab into a type of wizardry they had never known existed. Dumbledore, the 4 Marauders, and a young Severus Snape see the potential use for ‘muggle magic’ in the war, while Giles is eager to investigate this new form of sorcery. Ethan? As always, expect him to be looking out for number 1!
This is a rousing story, full of interesting magic, suspense, and action. What I loved best about it, however, was the very clever way the two existing canons were woven together. This is the story of how the Marauders fell apart, the role of Snape in Voldemort’s first demise, and the setting of the stage for ‘the boy who lived’. The writing is excellent, pro level stuff, and the characterizations really appealed. While I’m not a big fan of MMWP, I liked them in this story and I loved both Snape and Giles. I’ve decided the world needs more stories where Snape and Ethan interact- those bits just gave me a big happy! While perhaps not as focused on my favs as I generally prefer, the tale itself completely held my interest, and there was plenty of good Snape- playing one of my favorite roles. Highly recommended reading!
weatherby [Added: 09/21/04 | Draco Ron]DIES! OK, the full title of this little ficlet is AN OPEN LETTER TO THE PERSON WITH WHOM I’VE BEEN ENGAGING IN VARIOUS SORDID ACTS, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO MUTUAL MASTURBATION, TERRIBLY SLOPPY ORAL SEX, AND ALSO THERE WAS THE TIME THAT WE ATTEMPTED ACTUAL INTERCOURSE ONLY TO DISCOVER IT WAS HORRIBLY AWKWARD, which, well, pretty much sums it up. The story is that letter. To Ron. From Draco. NOT with much love. Funny as all hell, and I’ve no particular interest in either Draco or Ron! Highly recommended way to spend 5 minutes of your time.
Although written for Wave VI of the HP/SS Fuh-Q Fest, this story seems more like gen than slash (there’s no romance or sex here, and no sexual tension to speak of), but the main characters are Snape, Lupin, and Potter. Told from Snape’s POV, we get a close look at the way he views life post-war and post-Hogwarts, and while Shiradine’s Snape not a nice man, neither is he devoid of human feelings. This Snape is rude, snobby, and chilly, but he’s human and consistent, and a real “survivor”. I liked the potions geek showing so clearly--Potions Master Snape loves his craft first and foremost.
I recommend this for the Snape characterization and the many details that flesh out Shiradine’s wizarding society and the characters’ lives. There’s not a lot of action, but I think the author hit on some emotional truths with the three characters, and at the end my first act was to bookmark the story for a later read. I would love to have more set in this universe, but what’s been written is juicy enough to savor. There’s a dinner party in which Snape and Harry argue viciously but totally in character, while Lupin cringes. The altercation’s never over the top, but it still made me wince in sympathy. In short, this story made me laugh at times as well as think, and it will be a pleasure to re-read it many times.
Also on http://www.kardasi.com/, but you’ll need a password to read it there.