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So, talkstosocks suggested this long, post-war future fic by Josan. I’ll admit, I’d read it back when I first started on HP fic- I think I read every Snape story Josan had written at the time. I hadn’t gone back to re-read once I got ‘Media-cow’ up and running, mostly because I remembered having some quibbles with the story, and so it didn’t leap out to me as one I wanted to rec. I re-read it in order to write this up, and I still have some quibbles with the story. Of course, before I get into them, let’s get into the spoilery overview.... [READ MORE]
The story kicks off just after the war against Voldemort has ended. Snape is tired. With Dumbledore now dead and his duties to the man at an end, he removes himself from Hogwarts and from the wizarding world. Fast forward 12 years, and Severus has forged an existence for himself in a seedier section of muggle Liverpool. Though his magical abilities are concealed from his muggle neighbors, he still researches potions under a pseudonym, though otherwise has cut himself off from the wizarding world. He doesn’t have much contact with the muggle world either, though he does allow the lower level of his loft to be used by a local foodbank, run by Miss Jones- a woman who is eerily reminiscent of Minerva. The story really gets going when Miss Jones reveals herself to be a relative of Minerva’s who, though little more than a squib, had sensed enough of Snape’s aura to know he was a wizard. Thus it is to Snape she goes when she needs help to protect a young man with magical abilities who has fallen on hard times. The young man? Ron Weasley.
The first half of the story is a kind of mystery/action adventure bit where Snape tries to discover who has been systematically abusing Ron, and then muddling his memories of the events. Snape also works on a potion to counteract the effects of a war time curse that has left Ron with a debilitating inability to control his muscles. Well, it turns out a new group of Death Eaters is on the rise, and with help from Harry, Hermione and the Aurors, Snape and Ron bring them down. Of course, during this period, a relationship between the two men also forms, one which is consummated once the threat is gone and Ron’s curse reduced to a manageable level.
The second half of the story follows Ron’s struggles with his family- mainly Molly and Ginny- who don’t approve of Snape and fear he is attempting to control Ron. Bill, Charlie and their wives have no such reservations, and are happy to welcome the couple when they drop in during a site-seeing trip around Europe. And in the end, Snape finally gets a Weasley jumper and they all live happily ever after.
Whew- told you, it’s a fairly long fic! Anyway, I did very much enjoy the read, even the second time around. Mostly I liked it because it’s well written and plotty. However, I had quibbles. I think the main reason the story didn’t ping my buttons was due to the Snape characterization. Don’t get me wrong- I liked this version of Snape. And that’s the problem. This Snape was just not the snarky git I’m used to. Now, I do tend to grant a lot of leeway, particularly in a fic set 12 years post-war. However, it just didn’t quite ring true for me- it was all too easy for Snape to allow someone into his home- and more importantly, his life. Also, I just plain prefer my Snape snarky.
As to the other characters, Ron worked for me well enough, but I’m just not that opinionated when it comes to him. The secondary characters (including OCs) worked very well. That’s one of the things I like about Josan’s fics- good, fully-fleshed minor characters who help bring the story to life. I was less thrilled with Molly’s characterization, though again, she’s not someone I have strong opinions on. Still, for a little bit there, it almost read like ‘bash’ fic- which it really is not. Josan does a good job during a discussion between Snape and Author of portraying Molly’s view, and in the end, does right by Molly in the story. However, while reading it, there were parts that felt heavy-handy when it came to Molly’s smothering need to control Ron’s life.
As to the story, I liked the first half. It didn’t keep me on the edge of my seat or anything, but it was a nice mix of relationship/mystery/action. The second half seemed to drag for me, despite the bits where Snape finally gets recognized for his competence and his contributions. I do love that sort of thing, but the story still seemed to drag. I think it felt like the big climax was reached after the DE part of the story, and the second half was an epilogue that went on too long. Like I say, I liked it, it just didn’t have a huge emotional impact. [HIDE]
So- overall? This is a good read. It was interesting and well written and the world had a ‘realness’ to it. However, this Snape was just a little too willing to open his home to Ron and dedicate himself to the young man’s protection. I can believe that Severus would do such a thing, but I’d imagine him bitching about it the whole way. Finally, the mix of action/adventure/mystery with the more domestic second half left me feeling the pacing was off, or that the emotional intensity of the story was blunted. Oh- and bits of the story have since been Jossed, but not in any way that bothered me. So, an interesting, feel-good read, but not really the kind of Snape story I prefer.
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