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For switchknife’s Death Challenge, checked it out on a rec from ntamara. Hm, so Vernon dies and Harry has two weeks left before he can leave the house and they’re running out of food. So, he has to get Dudley to let him out of the house to buy food. And when he goes to ask, he catches Dudley wanking. That’s about it. Well written story- I actually quite like the style and use of details. But, I just didn’t much see the point of it. It was like a ‘grocery shopping pwp’ or something.
Heh- hot and smutty Harry/Snape. It’s summer, and Harry is staying at Hogwarts (16). He finds Snape a less irritating host than he would have imagined- and actually, the first part of this short pwp was my favorite part- where Harry is going on about the various professors and how well he got on with them. The smutty part comes in when Harry finds Snape asleep in bed- naked. Sometimes a boy just can’t help himself! I liked this fic, I liked the writing. But man, I’m really in the mood for some good HP gen fic!
From a ntamara rec. A very short gen. drabble, based on the fairytale ‘Sleeping Beauty’. Harry plays ‘Beauty’ while Snape is the evil witch who casts the curse. It was cute/clever and I particularly liked the last lines. Interesting how it could fit into canon. I’d rec it if I were remotely into drabbles. But I’m not.
I was torn on this fic. On the one hand, the core story is a kind of ‘kink’ of mine (not a sexual one, but I can’t think of a better term) and I think the story has a lot of heart. On the other hand, part of the premise is one I just freaking HATE. Seriously. I’ve read exactly one story that uses the premise that didn’t make me barf. In addition, the writing didn’t quite do it for me. Not bad, but it could use some polish- pov tends to slip, and it’s definitely a bit heavy handed and ‘expositiony’. I will say I dug the start, which kicks off post-GoF with Severus badly wounded and in the hospital. He’s in need of a transfusion, and only Harry can help. I liked Snape and I liked Harry in this mid-sized story. Like I say, it has a sweet heart. I’ll be watching the author, because I think their instincts are good. This story didn’t quite do it for me, but it did hold my interest. [lj-cut]
Now, the spoilery bits so I can remember what the hell happened in this story! Note- the author does a nice job of drawing things out, and though I kinda guessed where things were going, that’s definitely one of the draws for this tale. The ‘kink’ part was Harry as Severus’ son. I admit, that tends to set up a situation I enjoy. HOWEVER, Harry is Severus and James’ son. Yea. MPRG. God, I hate that. I mean, it’s well enough handled here and I didn’t have to actually read about the pregnancy, but still. I hate that shit. If the other elements had been stronger, I might have rec’ed it anyway (and big bonus points for ‘suffering Snape’), but overall it just didn’t quite do it for me. [/lj-cut]
Sequel to ‘Fine Lines’- haven’t read.
Post-OotP and the kids are back at school. Harry is in a deep, deep funk and Snape insists he snap out of it. What follows is an odd/inderesting mix of action/adventure, magic and sex. It’s not bad- I rather liked the beginning, though both Snape and Harry were a bit too nice for this stage in canon. But the story reads kind of schizo and has a kind of WTF premise. Seems Voldemort wants Snape to have sex with Harry for no reason anyone can figure out. Including me. Dumbledore supports this, mostly to protect Snape and his cover. When Snape fears he’s falling for Harry, they let the story leak to the Ministry in order to have a legitimate reason to stop. When the ministry investigates, Snape basically tells them it won’t happen again, and they go along with it. About this time, Harry’s falling for Ginny. Like I said- WTF? I mean, it’s not bad, but I had to swallow too many plot points and it seemed like about three different stories all woven together in a way that was less than cohesive. Hell, I really don’t even know how to classify it, though I’m going to stick it in ‘slash’.
This is an interesting fic, found in my wanderings through FFN. Set post-OotP, it appeals to my love of Snape torture and the writing is solid. Basically, Snape gets his ass kicked by Voldemort one time too many and just seriously starts to lose it. Dumbledore sends him off on vacation with Remus along to make sure he doesn’t do himself harm. It’s actually an interesting read, and if Snape cries a time or two, I thought it worked pretty well given the story is all about how Snape is trying to hold it together and not being completely successful. I enjoyed the story. There’s not quite enough story, and I’m not a huge fan of Snape/Remus, but it was a good read. Really needs a sequel or something to pull it all together and I might rec it. As it stands- a decent read.
Wandering through FFN and found this. I liked the idea- Snape gets hit by a potion gone awry and is de-aged to 15. He ends up playing the part of student, being sorted into Gryffindor, hooking up with Hermione, etc. Lots of action/adventure (more a gen story than a romance), which I dig. The story could use a massive edit, more for size than writing, which was okay. It was just slow- which really doesn’t work for action/adventure. Also, I wasn’t so sure about the characterizations (Ron really got screwed over and this Snape was pretty far from canon). Anyway, neat ideas but the execution didn’t thrill me.
Very interesting and very AU, the story is based on the premise that Peter took Harry’s place just before he was taken to Hogwart’s by Hagrid. While ‘Peter in disguise’ lives the life that should have been Harry’s, Harry is left trapped in the Riddle mansion with only a diary for company. The story is an excellent AU, and MUCH changes as a result of Harry’s interactions with ‘Tom’. In fact, who the ‘heros’ are is very much open to debate. Tom/Voldemort is not redeemed, but neither is he the insane psychopath from the books. Likewise, while the Dumbledore of the books obviously tends to manipulate those around him, I doubt that he would prefer a Doppleganger for his hero. This is, clearly, a dark story and not for all tastes. Still, I found it fascinating, particularly the portrayal of Snape, who comes across as the best of them all. He is trapped between two harsh masters, yet dedicated to Harry and to giving Harry a choice in who he wants to be. I liked it and I liked the ending.
Hee. And ‘hee’ some more. This is a Buffy/Harry Potter x-over featuring my favorite Watcher. Nifty idea! It actually makes some sense that Giles is a wizard and went to Hogwarts. Well, it makes as much sense as the respective source materials do. This is set post-Buffy’s death (no ‘potentials’ storyline), and Giles has gone back to take over the DADA post. Like I said- nifty idea. This is really just a vignette, not a full blown story, but it lays out some interesting history and I liked the style. I cracked up at:
I’m not facing two hours of dinner conversation with Severus Snape by myself.”
“You’ve had years to work up to it. I’d think you’d be prepared by now.”
“Albus, I was on the Hellmouth, not in Hell. I am absolutely not prepared.”
On the negative side, not much story here and I just cannot, or will not, imagine Giles and Albus as a pairing (thank you baby Jesus there was no sex). Still, worth the read- I just had to scrub my brain out afterward.
Found this from an Isis rec, which are always a safe bet. It’s different and I very much like it. Just a short little story about Mr. Potter, who seems to be a very normal man living his very normal life. A boring life, really. Except for the owls, which keep flocking around his house, and the strange men who seem to lurk around corners or at the local market. Mr. Potter’s therapist wants to know how this makes him feel. It makes him feel as if he’s going mad.
Hee! This is a subversive little vignette. It’s best read ‘cold’, but knowing it’s a post-war fic defintely helps you piece things together. I like stories that make you fill in the blanks and this has a surreal edge to it that appealed. Not enough of a full blown story for me to actually rec, but I’d definitely say it’s a ‘must read’. Well written and interesting.
Good fic! This is a prequel to Resonant’s <a >Transfigurations</a>, though the two are loosely tied together and each stands very well on its own. I’ve only skimmed ‘Transfigurations’, using my usual highlighting of the words ‘Severus Snape’ approach. There wasn’t enough Snape for me to want to read it. However, I’ve heard it’s a good one if you are interested in magic and a strong focus on Draco and Harry. Anyway, back to ‘Heartsease’. Don’t let the pairing put you off. I’m not so into Neville and Snape/Neville strikes me as a real stretch, but this story works beautifully.
It’s not remotely a romance story, more an exploration of the final days of the war against Voldemort. The story has a very tight Neville pov, and I thought it worked well here. Neville and Snape are brought together in the first place because the potions master needs an herbologist and Neville is pretty much all they have left. The war is not going well, particularly since the Dementors have clearly joined up with the DE’s. Hence Snape, who is no longer of use as a spy, has been put to the task of developing some defense. Luckily, ‘heartsease’ is a plant that the dementors seem to avoid, so Snape uses that as a starting point. Neville is assigned to help with growing the plants.
This story has an almost claustophobic feel to it, as Snape and Neville must move from safehouse to safehouse, barely one step ahead of their enemies. I was completely sucked into the world created and I could actually identify with Neville, who has a real ‘every man’ feel to him in this story. As mentioned, it’s not exactly a romance, but the way in which Neville and Snape do eventually become paired worked very well for me. Snape is a survivor of more than one war, and I thought his ‘take comfort where you can find it’ attitude really worked. That first kiss.... I was as shocked as Neville- and Snape’s reaction to Neville’s reaction was perfect. Eh, I’m not expressing it well. Let me just say, the pairing worked when I wouldn’t in a million years have imagined that it could. Just a wonderful read, full of magic and well drawn characters. I almost cried at the end. Good fic!
OK, doing this one via a ‘Frenzy’ request. I had read it before, it’s what I’d classify as a ‘classic slash story’. Also note- the link takes you to the main site page, you’ll have to browse to the actual fic- which is marked as being a ‘beta’ version. No worries- the writing’s quite good, well above the norm. Anyway- on with the fic! This story starts just after 7th year and the fall of Voldemort. Harry wakes up in the hospital, wondering what happened. Turns out that Neville actually finished Voldmort off and Snape had to do some serious ‘old school magic’ to keep Harry alive. Yep- this is a magical bond fic, premised on the idea that Snape gave up part of his life force to Harry. However, for Harry to remain healthy, he has to stay in regular proximity to Snape- the closer the better. You see where this is going, don’t you?! I thought you might. [lj-cut]
The story is quite good- there’s a bit more magical theory than in many HP fics (something I’ll never understand) and I found Ollivander and his interactions with Snape and Harry interesting and creepy. I liked that vibe. I also thought the characterizations were good- and something I could easily imagine based on canon. Most of the story is told from Harry’s pov, and I thought the author did a nice job of balancing his temper and tendency toward self-involvement with the fact he really is a decent guy. Snape is also well drawn, and I thought Nym did an excellent job of ‘evolving’ Harry’s perspective on him. The ‘magical bond’ device really is a good one for forcing these two to be together, because these are not two men who I easily see hooking up. The dynamic between Snape and Sirius is a little nicer than I see it, but then again, Sirius is not dead in this story. There’s some slack there, and the fanfic doesn’t cross the line. However- the Sirius/Remus fans probably won’t be thrilled that their relationship is pretty much non-existent (I didn’t care and could easily see things working out as they did). Finally, I liked the end. It was happy but not sappy and it fit the story. All of that said, it’s not really a story I’d personally recommend because it just isn’t my type of story. It’s not plot intensive (though there is a plot- it’s just more ‘a year in the life’ sort of thing) and there’s little action/adventure. I probably would have been more interested in the story of how the war ended- which is where this story begins! [/lj-cut]
[**NOTE: The story has currently been pulled from the net for revision- the link will take you to Nym’s homepage, where we will hopefully hear when it has been reposted. Once it has been, I’ll relink. You might also check on http://hp.pfen.net/ for the story’s reappearance.]
Oh, this is a nifty story! It’s part of the HP Classic Challenge, and is one of the most creative fics I’ve read. The story uses quotes (modified where necessary) from Sherlock Holmes stories, combined with Sinick’s own writing, to tell a story that fits perfectly within the framework of ‘The Chamber of Secrets’. Cast Snape as Holmes and Filch as Watson and sit back and watch with glee as they attempt to solve the mystery of the stolen Boomslang skin! The story is a blast on a lot of levels. I was amazed at how well Snape fits the ‘Holmes’ role. Take this excerpt:
His very person and appearance were such as to strike the attention of the most casual observer. In height he was rather over six feet, and so excessively lean that he seemed to be considerably taller. His eyes were sharp and piercing, save during those intervals of torpor to which I have alluded; and his thin, hawk-like nose gave his whole expression an air of alertness and decision. His chin, too, had the prominence and squareness which mark the man of determination. His hands were invariably blotted with ink and stained with chemicals, yet he was possessed of extraordinary delicacy of touch, as I frequently had occasion to observe when I watched him manipulating his fragile philosophical instruments.
That’s a quote from Doyle’s ‘A Study in Scarlet’, but it sure sounds like the potions professor to me! I can’t imagine the amount of work and knowledge it took to draw the quotes from the original source, and I’m massively impressed with Sinick’s ability to write the original bits in a way that fits perfectly with Doyle’s style. (And you should check this version if you want to see what’s quoted, what’s modified, and the specific sources- kudos to Sinick for that.)
Not only is the integration of the Doyle’s style perfectly done, but the mystery itself is also a hoot. Sinick plays it out perfectly, and in the end I was left smacking myself for not seeing where things were going. It’s a stunningly sneaky way of making the whole story fit canon and yet still manage to surprise the reader (or at least, it surprised me). It’s like at the end of ‘The Usual Suspects’, when I was sitting there thinking- DAMN! I should have seen that! I need to go watch again in light of my new understanding! Ahem. In short, this fic kicks ass and gets major points for creativity! Go read!
Happy grin! Man, I loved this mid-sized read. It’s a ‘Snape is Harry’s father’ AU that begins when Harry is 5. Dumbledore sends Snape to check on the child, and Snape discovers a situation that’s pretty much the canon depiction (and I like the fact the author didn’t feel the need to pile on the angst- it’s angsty enough as is). Despite the fact Snape has no desire to claim the product of his ‘seed’, he ends up doing so- exactly as Dumbledore had hoped. Snape isn’t so sure he wants to be a father, or that he can be a good one, but he’s damn well certain that his boy won’t be raised by a pack of ignorant muggles.
This is a feel good story that still manages to present a recognizable Snape. I really enjoyed the multi-faceted characterization and I appreciate how well this AU fits the feel of canon. The author also has a nice style and there are some bits that had me laughing out loud. This is just a neat ‘what if’, nicely detailed, appealing characterizations, and an interesting foundation for further stories in this universe. Highly rec’ed for those who share my love of this particular plot line. (Note- there is a sequel.)
I really liked this fairly short fic. It begins on the night Lily and James were killed, opening on a distraught Snape and a determined McGonagall. Though short, the story runs all the way through to Harry’s graduation, the history of the wizarding world playing out in short scenes of Snape and McGonagall sharing tea. It’s a nifty way to tell a lot of story and the author has a deft hand, revealing just enough but not to much. There’s no overuse of exposition here, just the quiet interactions of two people who come to care for each other- yet through those interactions, an entire world is revealed. I also liked how this story so clearly reveals that Harry’s understanding of the events in his life is a limited one, and the ‘real world’ may be more complex than he knows. Finally, I really liked the characterizations. This is a pretty nice version of Snape, but in the context of this story, it really works. Oh- and the story definitely ends on a slashy note, but it reads more as ‘gen’, so that’s where I’m putting it! Good stuff for the Snape fans, I’d highly recommend the read!
This is a very interesting, fairly lengthy read. It begins during Harry’s 7th year, with Voldemort still an ever present threat. When DEs attack the school, Harry is caught up in a magical ‘glitch’ that sends him hurtling back in time to the days of the Marauders. Concerned that the presence of a visitor from the future may create a dangerous paradox, past-Albus has Harry pose as a student. Harry’s excitement over getting to spend time with his father, Sirius and Remus comes to an ugly end, however, as he is sorted into Slytherin and ends up forming a friendship with a young Severus Snape.
Yea, this is an idea I’ve seen before, but this is a well done version of it and the author does a nice job of conveying the story. I also liked the fact that Harry cannot be sent back to his future/present time, and thus ends up going off to wait until the time of the accident to reappear. It’s a nice way to get Harry and Snape together, and it’s an interesting dynamic to have Harry show back up being the same age as Snape. Anyway, good solid storytelling and an interesting read. However, it’s not quite to my taste, largely because it’s more Harry-centric than I prefer. In addition, I like my Snape ‘large and in charge’, even when he’s getting his ass totally kicked. That’s just not how this story goes. Back in the past, Harry really is something of a prodigy. That made sense, and it wasn’t over done. Hell, canon Harry is built that way too, so I really can’t complain. Still, it pretty much results in Harry being ‘alpha dog’ during the parts of the story set in the past, and once he returns to the present as a full adult and a peer to Snape.... Well, yea, he’s going to be alpha dog again. In short, this is pretty good Harry/Snape, but it’s not so great Snape. Me- I’m all about the Snape!
I swear I’ve already rec’ed this. Ages ago. Really. Argh- I need to keep better track of my reading. Anyhoo, this is a very fun, fairly short fic set right at the end of Harry’s 7th year. Voldemort has long since been dispatched and now the ‘Boy Who Lived’ is mostly concerned with passing his classes and figuring out what he wants to do with the rest of his life. Oh yea, he’s also REAL concerned about the fact he had to turn his potions journal in to Snape. Seems young Harry had been using the journal to jot down his most secret desires- many of which involved Snape and nakedness, feathered quills and leather whips- and really, Harry didn’t KNOW the journal was going to be turned in! Hee!
There’s much to love about this fanfic. I liked the premise right off the bat- it sets up a nice screwball comedy vibe. The characterizations also crackle. This Harry is a bit, well, depraved. In fact, he tends to get turned on by Snape’s insults. Obviously, Harry gets turned on a lot in this story! The writing is also a big leap above most of the stuff you’ll find in fanfic- and that skill is part of what makes the characters so appealing. Take this example:
As the bell rang, Snape began speaking again. “Pick up your Potions journals on the way out. The majority of them were filled with rubbish. You might take that as your cue and dispose of them properly. Those of you who showed the capacity for critical thought may wish to save the journal as a memento of what you were like before you became a mindless drone in our society. I congratulate you on having completed the best years of your life. Do try to not destroy the world while I am still a part of it. Class dismissed.”
DIES! I love the Snape voice in this story. Cybele just gives him a wonderfully dry and biting sense of humor. He’s about as far from ‘fluffy’ as you can get, but he doesn’t go around kicking puppies in his spare time either. Finally, I LOVED the ending of this story. For once, I’m not going to spoil it here in the ‘Frenzy’ section. Let’s just say that if you want to know whether Harry gets what he’s been asking for, you’ll have to read the story!
(Note- there’s a sequel Quill and Ink, that gets much more explicit. I actually prefer ‘Something to Write On’ as a stand alone, but I’m probably in the minority on that one. If you want hot Snape/Harry, you should check it out.)
A Daily_snitch rec, and I did like it. It picks up toward the end of OotP and has a very tight Severus pov. We get to see Severus’ view of the Occlumency lessons and his thoughts on Harry’s invasion of the Pensieve. The story follows the bickering duo all the way to Voldemort’s defeat and Harry’s graduation- at which point, the slashy vibes start to kick in. Seems that over the course of the story, Snape and Harry have begun to tolerate each others company. Actually, Snape may even miss the boy when he’s not around. In what I thought was one of the nicer touches in this story, Snape and Harry keep up a correspondence via owl after graduation, and it slowly becomes clear to both the reader and to Snape that ‘the Boy Who Lived’ has a stronger attachment to the potions master than anyone might have imagined. [lj-cut]
Hm- there’s a lot I do like about this mid-sized read. I think the tight focus on Snape’s pov works well. Because we know very little about what Snape actually thinks about Harry, I’m very willing to buy a portrayal in which Snape ultimately has Harry’s best interests at heart. This is not to say the author makes Snape ‘too nice’, because they don’t. Snape still carries a grudge, he’s still an insulting git. However, he’s not an evil insulting git. Because the focus is on Snape’s perspective, Harry’s change of heart is demonstrated largely through his actions and through Snape’s interpretations. Again, I thought this worked pretty well. Harry’s feelings undergo a radical change from the hatred portrayed at the end of OotP, and while the reader isn’t privy to Harry’s inner thoughts, I still ‘bought’ the change. In short, I found the characters generally appealing. I also really liked the action- Snape’s role as a spy, the final showdown with Voldemort, and particularly the bit of correspondence once Harry has left school (and there’s some nice smut at the end).
On the negative side, the story never really surprised me- it’s almost cliche fic. In addition, I felt really ‘distanced’ from the story, despite the tight pov, which was odd. The story didn’t move me, but I did find it enjoyable- if that makes the slightest bit of sense. Lastly, sometimes Snape’s ‘inner voice’ sounded a bit informal- a wee bit off from how I hear him in my head. [/lj-cut]
Overall, an enjoyable and entertaining read that actually hit some of my kinks. I thought the very slow build up between Harry and Snape worked particularly well, AND I got a dose of Snape torture, which I’m always a sucker for. I think this one’s a keeper, even if it didn’t seem to break new ground.
Hee! Ok, the full title of this little humor fic 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’. Did I mention- HEE! This is short and silly and the entire fic is comprised of a letter detailing the faults of the writer’s bed partner. I’ve no particular interest in Ron, less interest in Draco, absolutely no interest in reading about the two of them together, and I HIGHLY recommend the fic cause it’s funny as all hell.
In place of a heart, I had been born, instead, with a vast pit of emptiness and rage.
I was deadly, but unfocused. I was a well-honed blade without a knowing hand to wield it, until three powerful wizards conceived of a use for me: first Tom Riddle, and later Albus Dumbledore.
As for my involvement with Harry Potter...well, that tale and this one are, perhaps, synonymous.
Damn, but this is good fic (found it via an Isis rec)! It’s a long story that begins with the final battle, with Snape, Albus and Harry seeming to defeat Voldemort. Now, I’m getting into a bunch of spoiler stuff here that I WON’T get into when I add the recommendations, so go read now and then come back. [lj-cut]
OK- what’s up is that when Voldemort’s body is dispatched, his essence enters Dumbledore in the form of a fetus. Yea- it’s MPRG. Let me make this very clear- I HATE MPRG. Actually, I don’t give a shit about MPRG, I just generally hate stories about pregnancy, no matter who is pregnant. I simply don’t have any interest in reading about the joys (or pains) of being pregnant or giving birth. Fortunately, this story has very little to do with being pregnant. It’s all about the danger posed by Albus insisting on carrying the child to term and trying to give what is essentially Voldemort another chance. Harry and Snape are both vehemently opposed to the idea- and pretty much everyone else is kept out of the loop.
There is a ton to love about this very, very complex story. It has a brilliant characterization of Snape. I’m not a fan of first person pov (and interestingly, Isis points out that 1st person Snape has a real tendency to shade over into melodrama- and yea, that’s very true), but the author really makes it work in this tale. Snape comes across as brave, snarky, smart, scared shitless, protective and utterly appealing. This really is one of the nicest Snape voices I’ve read.
As mentioned, the story is massively complex. I don’t mean the plot- which is fairly straightforward (though no less interesting for that), but the way the story is laid out- it really is masterful. Snape at times tells the story in retrospect, and this allows for some really chilling asides that just ratchet up the tension. This is a scary freaking fic! There were a couple of times I could feel a shiver up my spine. It’s done subtly, but it’s good! Yet it’s not all doom and gloom- there is humor here that had me cracking up. Snape snarks like a MF’er (I did mention I loved his voice in this!), and Harry has his moments as well. Which I guess brings us to Snape and Harry. They worked for me in this story, perhaps because this is not remotely a romance. The tight Snape pov probably helped as well. It wasn’t necessary to see all of the inner workings of Harry’s mind as he falls for Snape. Hell, Snape was certainly caught off guard by it! But it works- and it works in part because there is a weariness and a desperation to the whole thing. [/lj-cut]
Anyway, I really could babble on. There is just a LOT to this story. For the Snape voice alone, I’d rec it. However, there is much more to the story than that. The very ideas behind the fic are interesting. Should the child be allowed to be born? Could a different outcome occur this time around? Is Albus immune to the effects of the child he carries, and could he be a danger? Can Snape protect Harry from actions that might push him over to the side of the dark? Shit- it’s just good stuff and it is brilliantly crafted to wring maximum effect. My only quibble was with the end. I’m still not sure about it. I didn’t dislike it or anything… I don’t know. It almost seemed anti-climactic. Or not. Sure as hell stuck with me, and about that, I have no complaints.
mecurtin pointed out some Snape/Lupin recs that were PG-ish and appropriate for a younger crew (’fade to black’ sex scenes), and while not a giant fan of the pairing, I thought this one sounded interesting. ‘Howdy’ refers to an original character, a young (5) boy who Snape meets in the hospital. Snape’s there because of a particularly nasty curse, thrown at him by none other than Draco, who responded very badly after finding out at the end of the war that Snape had been a traitor. Now, all of the action occurred prior to the start of the fic, but it’s important because the author does a nice job using Snape’s sense of failure where it comes to Draco as a bit of backstory for why he feels an uncharacteristic fondness for a little 5 year old urchin. Between the Draco guilt, the post-war let down, the lack of immanent death and the resulting realization that he doesn’t have much to live for, and the plain boredom that comes from being stuck on your back in a hospital bed- well, it all worked to do a fair job of convincing me that Snape was falling for the kid. (Not like that, you pervy slashers!) Of course, Snape’s luck is as shitty as ever, and about the time he gets on his feet and decides he wants to keep little Howdy, Remus Lupin turns out to have already adopted the kid! Poor Snape! Of course, that gives him a reason to spend more time with Remus and Howdy, and slowly but surely the two men begin to come together- and by story’s end, Snape may get the family he wanted.
Now, yea, the story is a little sappy, but I don’t mind the sap. It could also use a beta- there are some awkward turns of phrase that could be cleaned up. None of that particularly bothered me. However, this Snape version was just a little too wussy for my taste. I like my Snape angsty and broody, but this version comes across a bit too weak for my taste. There are definitely times when his inner-monologue broached on the pathetic. I think that same vibe tended to drag the story’s pacing down, and I sometimes found myself getting a little bored during this fairly long read. Overall, I am glad I read it because I do like the whole ‘Snape with a kid’ thing. But the Snape characterization just didn’t quite work for me and the story as a whole needed a bit of tightening up.
painless_j came through with some Snape-centric future fic recs, and this is an interesting one. It’s a mid-sized read, well written (though it could use one more edit), and starts 10 years after the defeat of Voldemort. Actually, it starts with Snape getting fired. Times have changed in the post-DE world, and the Ministry, Hogwarts and the new headmaster have all moved away from the more ‘traditional’ magic that Severus practices. So Snape retires to an old cottage willed to him by his grandfather and tries to figure out what to do with the rest of his life. Slowly but surely he acquires a ‘family’ of sorts- in the form of a displaced house elf and a couple of critters (a crup and a kneazle - think cat). As Snape begins to realize that he really hadn’t been happy as Hogwarts’ reviled potions master, he starts to enjoy the pure research that had always appealed to them. Though many in the British Isles may always see him as a form DE, the international wizarding world is much more open to both Snape and Snape’s ‘traditional’ approach to potions. Slowly but surely, he builds a life, and a reputation, as well as publishing a significant number of books. The Ministry is not pleased! Eventually, Severus moves to Japan, happily continuing to piss of the Ministry. All that he lacks is someone to share his life with. In the end, he finds even that.
This was an odd fic. Aside from the names and the magical/political aspects, it is only loosely tied to Harry Potter canon. I suppose that’s not so unexpected in a future fic, and I really didn’t mind, but it’s definitely not a story for canon junkies. The story never even delves into the final battle with Voldemort, nor the 10 years that passed before this story began. Further, Snape’s characterization is nicer than he seems in canon. Not sappy nice or anything, and actually it’s something I can quite imagine, but the snark was definitely lacking. I think part of that was the way the story was told- the pov is very, very distant. The story is ‘told’ more than it is ‘experienced’. Again, not really a complaint in this case- I think the stylistic choice was probably deliberate. Still, all in all, a bit odd. However, I’m rec’ing it because it was interesting, it did keep me wondering what would happen, and I really love the idea that in the end, Severus manages to stick it to the Ministry and gain a life the truly makes him happy. In short, this is a good one for the Snape fans who want their guy to come out on top.
Continuing on with my perusal of painless_j’s future fic recs, I have to say I quite liked this mid-sized read. It’s set far in the future, 60 some odd years, where Snape is headmaster and in an established relationship with Harry. Voldemort is but a distant memory, Dumbledore is a portrait on the wall, and if The Lucius Malfoy is dead, his descendants are still roaming the Hogwarts’ halls and leaving mischief in their wakes. What I liked about the story was the snark. I just thought this version of Snape was much fun. I enjoyed the quirky ‘thoughts’ the author makes us privy too, and I liked his relationship with Harry. Light banter and insults do little to disguise the fact that the two have formed a lasting bond. Given that the tale is set so far in the future, the question of just how such a bond could form is rather moot- though this explanation works rather well for me:
A life of constant running, hiding, spying and generally trying to save the world from imminent doom during the war created the clichéd but true excuse of ‘need’ for them to be together. The war ended and they were once again free men to do whatever they wanted, and still they chose to stay with one another. This time, their story was that it was better to stick to the devil you know.
Now, I’m not going to add this one to the recs, mostly because there isn’t a ton of plot. The story is a nice, slow meander through the twilight of these two men’s lives. The author does a nice job of mixing the individual moments that make up those lives with a more expositiony portrayal of the passing of the years. The story is a little sweet, a little funny and a little sad. Well worth the read, but it doesn’t quite nail the action or suspense I tend to prefer.
So I’m wandering around in genfic_hogwarts, which is always a good idea, and I spot this little fic I’d read ages ago. Hee! Who says Snape doesn’t have a sense of humor? I mean, yea, it’s a very nasty sense of humor, but it is a sense of humor! This little ficlet is about Snape taking a shower. Really, that’s about it. No, this is not my typical recommendation, but it made me smile and I truly love the ending! Set during CoS, Snape and the rest of the faculty are forced to use the communal showers due to a little ghost inspired plumbing problem. As Snape scrapes the critter guts out of his hair, he’s joined by Lockhart and his magic bubbles. Snape, as you might imagine, is less than thrilled.
Like I say, I enjoyed this one for the Snape portrayal and the vicious sense of humor. It also has some rather nice details to it, making it feel a bit more substantial than it is. Ultimately, though- it just plain left me grinning. Feeling a little bad about it, but grinning.
Cruising through some gen recs- which I’m always happy to see- and I ran across this fairly lengthy read. It’s Snape focused, set pre-OotP, and is a mystery story that reminds me a bit of ‘Chamber of Secrets’- without the focus on Harry. In brief, Hogwarts students are again being attacked, and the source of the danger seems to come from within.
Though at heart the story is a mystery, that’s not the main draw for me. I liked it because it really gets into Snape’s role as the head of Slytherin. I’m always interested in how he might interact with, and be viewed by, his own house as opposed to the view we get from Harry. I thought this story did a nice job of portraying his protectiveness as well as the difficulties unique to Slytherin. There were a couple of really nice OC’s in minor roles as students- and for once, I wouldn’t have minded seeing more of an original character. [lj-cut]
The story wasn’t flawless- there were a couple of scenes that seemed a bit OOC to me and I wouldn’t have minded more snark on Snape’s part. However, I did like the way events tied into Snape’s DE past, and I enjoyed Snape’s competence and his relationship with Minerva. I also found it interesting that Snape slapped Draco. I could see it happening, but I wonder what Hogwarts’ policy would be on that. Given all of the crap that’s gone on in canon, it might not be a big deal at all. Finally the mystery- well, I did pretty much guess what was going on, but I still thought the author did a nice job with it. It wasn’t the most compelling part of the story for me, but it made a good background for the exploration of the characters, and that’s really all I ask. [/lj-cut]
All in all, the story didn’t knock me dead, but it did keep me interested and it was a bit different than a lot of the HP stories I see. I liked it, and plan to check out the author’s other work in the future.
Isis writes really interesting stories. Hm. Let me rephrase that. Isis’ writing is really interesting. I find myself reading, and rec’ing’, stories that I would not normally be interested in. This would be a good case in point. It’s a Snape/Pince story. When I saw that, I had to sit there for a moment wondering ‘Who the hell is ‘Pince’. (The librarian. Come on. I can’t be the only one who didn’t recognize the name immediately. OK, probably I can be.)
Anyway, this is not my usual type of story, but it’s not a usual type of story, so I suppose that’s not so… unusual. And aren’t we all glad I didn’t write it! This is a short fic- 5-10 minute read at most, and it’s told from the pov.... Hm- go read it first. [lj-cut]
OK, it’s told from the pov of a book in the library- though it takes you a few paragraphs for that to come through. It’s a neat approach- rather like all of Isis’ stories. I like crafty storytelling, and that’s what this story has. The musty, detached, somewhat ageless life of a book and its peripheral awareness of the humans around it. In this case, the focus is on two particular humans- the librarian Pince and the boy who grows to be a man- Snape. The story of what happens between the two humans plays out in snippets, in the background- yet there are some interesting character insights that bleed through the pov. The story itself is sweet, and sad, and felt like it had a certain inevitableness to it that most good stories do. Highly different. Highly recommended. [/lj-cut]
Once I was staying at a B&B;and they had a lot of paperbacks you could borrow. One caught my eye- it was a cheesy romance, I think it even had Fabio on the cover (in leather pants, with a bigass sword and a half-naked chick at his feet). Now, anyone who is at all familiar with my recs has probably figured out that I don’t read ‘romance’ novels. I’m not much for romantic movies or the WB’s brand of teenangst romance or well, any of that crap. BUT- this book had space pirates! Swear to god. And it was set on a distant planet, and there were barbarians with swords and, and, .... Well, I dig sci-fi and I dig fantasy and so I figured what the heck and started reading the book. It probably comes as no surprise that it was absolute shite as either sci-fi or fantasy. That’s probably because it WASN’T a sci-fic/fantasy novel, it was a ROMANCE novel disguised as a sci-fi/fantasy. You’d think Fabio on the cover would have clued me in!
So, what’s that have to do with this story? Well, it’s actually one I’ve been looking forward to reading for a while- I just keep forgetting and new stories come along and well, I just now got around to reading it. This is a time travel fic set during the war. HEE!!! No it’s not. Actually, it’s a soapy/lightly-angsty romance story, hung on a sketched in framework of time travel. I think there’s a war going on, but it’s not all that important in the story. Also, there’s a lot of leather pants and daggers. If the story had a cover, Fabio would be on it. [lj-cut]
Eh. It wasn’t what I had expected it to be. But let’s start with a brief summary. The story kicks off strong, plopping us right in the middle of the intrigue. We kick off with Harry in his mid-20’s, in an established relationship with Snape (who mentored him on the battlefield and still plays his role as spy). We quickly discover that Harry is going to be sent back in time- to a period where Snape and MWPP were 6th years. While Harry has to take care not to change the future, he has to fulfill a role he seems to have already filled by translating a critical manuscript the Order had managed to get its hands on. As cover, Harry (aka Octavian Tyler) will take the job of DADA instructor. The story then cuts back and forth between the ‘past’ and the ‘future’- with the future bits filling us in on how Snape and Harry got together, how Draco and Harry became friends, etc. The ‘past’ events focus less on the manuscript, the Order and the war than they do on young Snape, his major crush on the new DADA instructor, and the rivalry between Snape and Draco vs. MWPP.
I think you can probably see where the story lost me. It’s really focused on the relationships, not on the time travel aspects, not on the war. It’s also got some quirks that didn’t work for me at all- heavy use of nicknames (Dray for Draco? WTF?); a tendency toward ‘the blond’ (which is marginally better than ‘Dray’, but only marginally); the fact that there seems to have been a LOT of emphasis on hand-to-hand combat in the training curriculum- Harry and Draco run around in leather pants with daggers strapped to their thighs and throwing stars and garrotes hidden about their persons- hell, I LIKE a grittier portrayal of the war, but this was just odd. Of course, for me, the Snape characterization is always of primary concern, and while ‘future’ Snape worked for me okay, ‘past’ Snape’s major focus was on getting the DADA instructor- because he was ‘in love’. Jeesh- he freaking joined the DE’s mostly to impress the guy. That’s just not a very interesting version of Snape. There were also some plot points that didn’t particularly work for me eitherl, but enough with the negatives.
I will note some positives- I did read the whole thing, and it is a long story, so at least it did an adequate job of holding my attention. Yea, there were stretches where I got bored, but there were also some really nice chapters. Like I say, I thought the story started out strong, and it really had me wondering what would happen. There were also some nice bits of Harry trying to deal with the Slytherin/Griff rivalry- the ‘bonding’ chapter was a hoot! The last chapters, which explore a bit of the paradox created by Harry’s journey to the past was also interesting- though if you’ve watched ‘Terminator’, you’ve probably already hashed through most of the ideas. Still, I liked the details of how lives were changed by Harry’s actions. I think probably the strongest thing the story had going for it, aside from solid and very readable writing, was the weaving of the ‘past’ with the ‘future’ and how it all carries through to get us back to the place (and time) we started. That served to make the story read in a much more interesting way than I think it would in a linear presentation- and the time travel aspects, which I think were largely ignored as a plot and/or dramatic device, DID give the reader a reason to buy into such an approach. [/lj-cut]
Overall, just not my type of story, but interesting enough for what it was. I think my expectations lead me to be more disappointed than I would have been if I hadn’t heard so much about this story before reading it.
Oh, this is a very nice ‘relationship’ piece. It’s fairly short, post-war future fic that begins with an established relationship Snape/Harry. Harry wants Severus to go to a party with him, which Snape had promised to do. Not for the first time, Snape breaks the promise. It’s an introspective, rather melancholy story told in first person from Harry’s pov. Not my usual thing, but I really liked it for a couple of reasons. First, it weaves an interesting backstory of the war and how Snape and Harry came to be a couple. Though a tad bit expositiony in a spot, it’s definitely an approach to story telling that I like. I also like the style, it reads nicely and does a good job with mood. Finally, I thought the characters and how they are slowly revealed was well done. At first, you kind of wonder why the hell Harry stays with Snape, and I was thinking he might end up leaving him. However, by the end, things make sense and they really fit with a characterization of Snape I like- guarded, protective, an utter bastard on the surface, yet capable of deep caring and self-sacrifice. Not really enough plot for me to want to rec it, but and excellent vignette and a good story for those who are curious about the appeal of ‘Snarry’ fic (and boy, do I hate that pairing name!).
For like the 8 billionth time, I saw this fic highly rec’ed by someone whose opinion I trust. Now, don’t get me wrong- I have read the story, many moons ago when I first started reading Harry Potter fanfic. I probably read it then based on a recommendation. And every time I see it rec’ed, I always think ‘Huh? That’s the one where Harry’s a frog, right? He says ‘Quidditch’ a lot.” Which, in all honesty, is pretty much the only thing I remembered about the story. Hm- wish I’d been keeping a bloody reading list all along. Anyway, while the story did not make a first impression beyond ‘That’s the frog fic,’, I figured I’d really like to read it over again, because there must be more too it. And, interestingly enough, there is. [lj-cut]
To sum- this is the fic where Harry turns into a frog. Once he’s no longer a frog, he and Snape hook up. Um, that’s about it, plot wise, which is probably why it didn’t make a tremendous impression on me the first go round. It’s a mid-sized read, set post-war, and it’s very, very low key with an understated sense of humor and a slow build to the relationship bits. With Harry/Snape, I do believe a slow build is best! This is a good fic, particularly for the style, the subtlety, the humor, and the really nice characterizations.
“So, Harry, what was it like being a frog?” Granger said hesitantly. “Was it awful?”
“Not at all,” Potter said. “It was lovely. Lots of time to think.”
“What did you think about?”
Potter smiled dreamily. “Flies, mostly,” he said.
LOL! I enjoy the way Harry’s transformation worked as therapy for him, and one of the few ways I can imagine Snape warming up to Harry is if Harry, well, isn’t Harry.
Overall, this fic is one you read more for how it’s told, rather than what is told. The beginning of the ‘relationship’ actually starts when Harry is still a frog, and we see Snape ever so slowly begin to warm to his amphibian roommate. Not that Snape would ever admit to it, but it’s seen in the little things, like gathering river rocks, and accio’ing flies. Even the way the Snape/frog conversations evolve over time give us hints to the underlying emotions- subtle shifts in the dynamic that suggest Snape isn’t as adverse to a little company as he makes out. The sort of ‘taken for granted’ nature of the relationship continues once Harry is human again, and the eventual consummation of the ‘romantic’ relationship flows naturally, without words, yet without surprise. It really is a nice bit of writing. To be certain, the story is not nearly as plotty as I prefer, and it’s low on the action. I honestly wish I’d written a response to it before knowing how highly regarded it tends to be- I’m not sure I’d have rec’ed it, not because it isn’t good, but because it isn’t generally my ‘type’ of fic. Still, given my current HP perspective, this one’s a keeper. [/lj-cut]