I never expected myself to write fanfiction in the Potterverse, because I always took canon at face value - there's a reason it was called canon, I supposed.
Another reason, I supposed, was deeming myself not worthy.
Then Severus Snape happened to me. In many ways, more than I could possibly understand at the time.
Now there's one fic posted and several at various stages, and all I can say is - he just keeps happening. For which I am grateful. And the more I walk, or rather, stumble through the tangled web that is his mind, I keep getting more questions than answers. Needless to say, I do not tire of professing my love of him because of that. That man is a writer's dream.
At the risk of being accused of conceit (one tends to become very mindful of that after spending time in Severus' company), I must say that I am rather proud of having my first fic finished and completely posted. The only thing that can make me happier still is learning other authors' and readers' opinions on it.
Oh, and if you've read it, please drop by my corner now and then, as there will be updates in the form of one-shots, and a new chaptered fic (not a sequel, though) is coming along nicely (or at least, as nicely as anything that involves our dearest Professor can be).
Severus Snape has ambitions to rise above his humble beginnings. Eris Greyback has a family debt to repay. Their romance is a more complicated brew than the trickiest of potions. SSEG, LEJP. The sequel, The Potions Master's Apprentice, is also complete.
*Winner of the 2007 QSQ Award for Best Marauder Era Story*
The story was completely and utterly brilliant. Having read some of your R/T stories (back in the days of yore when Moonlight and Shadows was not finished yet), I was justifiably expecting a lot from this piece. Naturally, all and any expectations of mine were exceeded immesurably! I love this entire piece, as you (with Severus and Eris) have made me laugh and cry and hold my breath hoping that they would make the right choices. You are truly marvellous in everything - your attention to detail, original characters (brilliant take on the Greyback family) and characterization of the canon ones. You do not idealize or demonize anyone - you make everyone human and therefore utterly believable, someone the reader can relate to, sympatize with and simply love. *deep bow*
Author's Response: Funny how plain text on a gray screen can shimmer and sparkle with color when the words are as wonderfully expressive as yours! Thank you so much for reading and for the gift of a review that reminds me of why I write.
I don\'t pull out my Ralph Waldo Emerson quote for just anyone, ^_^, but it definitely applies to you!
\"‘Tis the good reader that makes the good book; a good head cannot read amiss: in every book he finds passages which seem confidences or asides hidden from all else and unmistakably meant for his ear.\"
Merry Christmas!
This is the third piece I've read from your Severus in Profile series (other two being Happy Birthday, Lily Evans and A Flash of Scarlet), and I am feeling more compelled than ever to finally sit myself down and read everything from the beginning.
Please forgive me if the above sounded disrespectful. I love the way you portray Snape - it may be the only portrayal that fits my image of him and the canon image.
I utterly adore the line about Lily's eyes looking through James Potter's spectacles. The 'letters' to Lily broke my heart into pieces.
Brilliant. Startingly brilliant.
Re-reading this piece yet again, this time after having read all the In Profile series...
It remains just as boundlessly heartbreaking as before - just as all things that are so infinitely beautiful that you cry because they are not true.
I also picked up a notion upon re-reading: the 'being pushed' part in Lily's eyes. The 'dressing up the dolly', expectations, anticipation, excitement from everyone around, the friends, the family, the fiancee... On one side. And on the other - the quiet Severus and his twenty-two reasons... that become their twenty-two reasons...
Thank you for making me cry over this story yet again - and that's a heartfelt thanks.
The simplest way to describe the feelings spurred by this story would be - deeply touched. By the humanity of it all. By the feeling of 'realness' (as remarked in other reviews). By the lack of perfection and gloss.
Warm, but not sugary. Emotional, yet economic. Real. Humane. Reaching for the very heart. Believable on every level.
Worthy of praise higher than my lacking words can tell.
I cannot help but wonder about the true nature of Snape's feelings for Lily as depicted in your story. While the fic author ultimately reserves the right to present their own view on the characters and their relations, I do wonder whether 'your' Snape (1) truly loved Lily; (2) simply wanted her for his own (*cough* as certain characters claimed close to the end of DH *cough*); or (3) wanted to at least stop her from being with Potter (i.e. 'if not mine, then at least not his').
The reason I wonder this is because true love comes with certain attributes (even at the age of 17-18). And it seems to me that Severus would not insult Lily again, regardless of his reasons. Actually, the 'Mudblood' incident could be attributed to complete loss of self-control because of being humiliated - and humiliated in front of her, which makes it hundreds times worse, so naturally he lashed out. We can note, however, that he has become extremely sensitive to the word 'Mudblood' as he snaps at the portrait of Phineas Nigellus in DH, 'do not use that word!'.
Not to mention that 'shallow slut' seems to be a worse offense, because a Mudblood is a deregorative term for a Muggle-born, which Lily IS, while she's done very little to earn 'shallow' (although dating Potter can vaguely qualify, especially from Snape's POV) and very definitely NOT 'slut'. Furthermore, to insult her not because of losing temper, but purposefully, to provoke Potter... *shakes head* Just doesn't fit in the framework of 'love'.
If he did not truly love her, then, what gave him the strength to protect the child he had eveyr reason to utterly loathe? Sense of duty? Guilt? Would those feelings be enough to last all those years?
Pardon the over-long rant and feel free to delete it if you find it offending. The issue I described, however, seemed like an internal inconsistency. Just my two Knuts' worth.
(Incidentally, I'm NOT a Lily/Sev shipper, unless purposefully AU, but a self-proclaimed hopeless idealist, so that would explain some of the above...)
Author's Response: I don\'t find it offensive at all; I appreciate the honest review. You make a good point, and I can see where you\'re coming from with the curse word. I also understand how you may have interrupted the \"if not mine, at least not his either\", however, I intended this to show more my idea that his hatred of her love for Potter made him realize his own love, and the ending was supposed to show that he would keep on loving her, even if he didn\'t want to. I do completely understand what you\'re saying, though; I think this story might have been slightly off-balance as it was partly a response to all those Lily/Severus ships that sprang up after the seventh book. Thanks for the honest review.
The story is very powerful so far. One of the things I really enjoy about it are the view of Severus through others' eyes (your Minerva is simply wonderful).
One particularly heart-rending moment for me were Orestes' words: “You were right: she is there. — She is — always there, isn’t she?”
I do agree with Dumbledore on the issue that if anything can save Snape, it's his love for Lily. I never cease to be astounded at the paramount importance of her in his life, and the depth that love for her gave him...
Needless to say (after the above), I love Severus Snape deeply. I was also happy to find that you enjoyed VV's stories. Also, 37 chapters sounds great (especially chapters of this length! love long chapters), and I can't wait till you post more!
Um. I would also be extremely flattered if you dropped by my corner when you have a moment, to glance at a fic currently in the process of posting with an eye of a fellow Snape writer. Apologies for the shameless self-promotion. *blush*
I really like your descriptive style. The way you write makes the reader feel so in tune with Severus' thoughts and emotions - somehow, as I was reading, I could feel myself there, in that cold snowy morning.
"With the first rays of sunlight on the horizon came expectations, and pretences; false smiles and friends and confidences." - there is pure magic in this line, and so much feeling. There is something utterly heartbreaking about it.
I will be eagerly awaiting the continuation.
~El
Author's Response: *blushes* Wow...I\'m so flattered, because I\'m a huge fan of yours! :D Thanks tons, El!\r\nP.S. Haha--I\'m glad you liked that line...that paragraph was my single least favourite in the entire story! XD