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| duj |
Author has written 27 stories for Harry Potter. I'm a Snape-aholic stay-at-home mother of six who has been writing fanfic in my head for decades but only started writing it down this century. In general, my stories are an N/S3 zone, ie, no slash, no swearing, no sex, but there is an occasional kiss and "Dreams" glances obliquely at the marriage bed. I do explore parental-guidance issues like self-harm, guilt and shame, and occasionally find it necessary to lightly touch on violence. Writing derivative fiction is as much an art as writing for publication, but like my other field of interest, quilting, it is an art of the community rather than the elitist. As such, the quality of work produced may range from masterwork to dross. I am committed to aiming for excellence. Quilts made from pre-printed fabrics are not valued less than those using the maker's own hand-dyes; neither should writing be valued less for being made of pre-printed characters and/or situations. (Shakespeare's isn't.) It's what you do with your materials that counts. My aim in writing fan-fiction is twofold: to offer new (true) insights into canon and to create stories that are complete in themselves. All of my stories were bookcanon-compliant at time of starting, however canon may have subsequently deviated, and I usually explain in A/Ns where I have extended or extrapolated further than the source-text. Nevertheless, I can enjoy any well-constructed story that doesn't trip my baloney-sensors. For me, canon (or designated portion thereof) defines the parameters of fanfiction just as much as reality defines the parameters of general fiction. I find non-compliant details and interpretations in a semi-compliant story as jarring as green double-suns in a biography, and I prefer a complete AU to one that deviates slightly without consistency, because even small changes can have a huge impact and even huger blow-back. The smaller the change, the less likely authors are to consider its implications for their story - and the more likely readers are to incorporate the wrongness in their personal canon, and subsequently retransmit the error. (The neurotypical brain is geared to finding patterns and framing narratives.In o-fic, fantasy needs to have a point of reference for where it differs from the real world, so that there is both internal consistency and - to the point of change - real-world consistency, because we are still reading from a real-world perspective, using our real-world understanding. We understand that, if the suns are green and double, then colours will change, day and night will follow a different pattern, and many words and phrases will lose their meanings. Art, physiology, agriculture, business, the daily conduct of life will change too. Likewise, derivative fiction needs to have consistency with both itself and - up till the point of change - with the work it derives from. The point of difference doesn't have to be explained or identified to the reader, but the writer has to know it and understand how it changes what follows, or the AU storyverse gets more and more cracky. Nothing wrong with that if crack-fic is what you *want* to be writing or reading. It can be a pleasant diversion, but it's unlikely to engage the reader's heart or brain or soul.) When canon itself trips my baloney-sensors, I prefer Watsonian (in-universe) explanation to Doylist (out-of-universe explanations, such as authorial convenience or stupidity), because it better preserves that coherence and internal consistency on which my readerly suspension of disbelief rests. Characters are the sum of their actions and attitudes. What they do and think and say (their "choices", as Dumbledore might say) shows what they truly are. Attributing anomalies to plot necessity or authorial fiat turns the protagonists from characters to puppets and destroys the integrity of the canonverse. I've noticed that my favourite fandom characters, such as Snape and Percy and Neville, are all under-appreciated and male. Perhaps they symbolise my autistic sons, and society's tendency to dismiss disabled people as being worth less than "normal" people. What draws adults like myself to Snape is not "bad boy charm" (I find the very suggestion ludicrous, frankly, for he is neither bad nor boyish nor charming), but identification and/or hurt-comfort. We recognised early on that Snape was a profoundly unhappy man, trapped by duty and obligation into a dead-end job/life. "The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation" (Thoreau) - only for Snape, despair is perhaps equally present. As I wrote, back in 2004, in "Everything", ch 5: "Miserable. Yes, that was it, he was miserable. Under that cold, grim mask, he’d probably been grieving almost since before she was born, grieving in silence because who could a spy confide in? ... Ron wasn’t the only person who wouldn’t forgive him. She was sure he’d never forgiven himself." The books show him almost entirely through the eyes of Gryffindor students, and even the authorial voice is a Harry-echo - to the detriment of the series, in my opinion. To redress the balance, I tend to give a Snape-eyed view of events and characters. (This leads some readers to assume I'm fully in agreement with him, when all I'm really doing is presenting the opposing argument.) I've extended this to include SSHG romance and mentor-fics because they play well off each other and give me an opportunity to explore unresolved issues from canon or life. I'd like to acknowledge some particular influences: Dzeytoun, ReeratheRed and Whitehound, whose fics have strongly coloured some of my Snape-views, Lady Claudia's site, whysnape, for extracting and analysing all the Snape sections in JK's books, Harry Potter Lexicon, for its vast repository of information, Little Tigger, for persuading me to post, and Bellegeste, Cecelle and Lady Memory, my previewers, whose searching questions and criticisms greatly improve the finished product. I found the final book a profound disappointment on almost every level - even worse than my rather low expectations - and the author's apparent vision and morality abhorrent. Prejudice is confirmed and corruption entrenched, in and by the heroes. This was not a story about ethics, or good vs evil; it was merely a story about politics. (The under-story tells a better tale, but JK's interview comments show little awareness of its existence.) I still intend to finish my WIPs, but updates will be irregular and I don't promise to start any new stories. June 20, 2010 On this day my sweet gentle father passed away from this world: a scholar and a gentleman. Love you, Dad. | |||||||
1. Unexpected » reviewsSSHG, WIP, not HBP/DHcompatible. "It's Snape, isn't it? You're insane is all I can say, completely nutters."Harry Potter - Rated: K+ - English - Angst/Romance - Chapters: 44 - Words: 27,987 - Reviews: 1220 - Updated: 3-2-13 - Published: 3-20-07 - Severus S. & Hermione G.2. Crabbe's Poetry Book » reviewsHBP/DH spoilers. Crabbe writes poetry. Who knew? Seventh year, curses and Carrows and Crucio...Harry Potter - Rated: K+ - English - Poetry - Chapters: 4 - Words: 4,635 - Reviews: 96 - Updated: 5-30-12 - Published: 2-6-05 - Vincent C. & Gregory G.3. Into the Ether » reviewsWIP, SSHG, DH-compatible. "Dear Hermione..." Twenty years after the Battle of Hogwarts, she thought she'd received all the letters there were, and despaired. But there was still one letter to come...Harry Potter - Rated: K+ - English - Hurt/Comfort - Chapters: 11 - Words: 34,466 - Reviews: 320 - Updated: 11-19-09 - Published: 6-24-07 - Hermione G. & Severus S. - Complete4. Mother Ghoul's Nursery Rhymes reviewsMove over Beedle. Here comes Mother Ghoul... Some scholars believe the majority of these rhymes reference events in Potter's life, but this is generally considered to be merely popular myth.Harry Potter - Rated: K - English - Humor - Chapters: 1 - Words: 1,293 - Reviews: 36 - Published: 12-31-08 - Harry P. & Ron W. - Complete5. In Your Dreams » reviewsSSHG, WIP, not HBP or DH compatible. Complete. Circumventing a prophecy is not that easy...Harry Potter - Rated: T - English - Romance/Drama - Chapters: 32 - Words: 86,255 - Reviews: 1670 - Updated: 3-18-08 - Published: 2-25-07 - Hermione G. & Severus S. - Complete6. In the Light reviewsDHandHBP oneshot, character death. So much blood. It came out, gushing, from two small wounds in the white neck, and Hermione knew immediately that this was a much worse bite than Harry's had been – and that had been hard enough to heal...Harry Potter - Rated: K+ - English - Tragedy/Angst - Chapters: 1 - Words: 5,117 - Reviews: 69 - Published: 8-20-07 - Hermione G. & Severus S. - Complete7. The Percy Papers reviewsA set of nine 55word drabbles about Percy's journey, OotP to HBP. Hands still trembling, Percy packed his clothes and papers and other assorted possessions...Harry Potter - Rated: K - English - Chapters: 1 - Words: 559 - Reviews: 21 - Published: 7-19-07 - Percy W. & Albus D. - Complete8. Tell Naught But Lies » reviewsAlternative DH. They turned as one, suddenly aware that Harry had dropped out of the conversation and was staring again at the eaglehead of the key, studying its fierce eyes as if he could see into them. He didn't notice them noticing him...Harry Potter - Rated: T - English - Adventure/Drama - Chapters: 7 - Words: 29,386 - Reviews: 197 - Updated: 7-18-07 - Published: 1-4-07 - Hermione G. & Severus S.9. Turncoat reviewsTwo doubledrabbles, inspired by the DoM fight: Evil Lupin, Good Lucius... Someone had to do it. Lupinlovers, you have been warned. Enter at own risk.Harry Potter - Rated: K+ - English - Adventure/Horror - Chapters: 1 - Words: 733 - Reviews: 41 - Published: 7-16-07 - Lucius M. & Remus L. - Complete10. Betrayals » reviewsWIP, edited to be HBPcompatible. The Gryffindor gits came in then, followed closely by Slughorn, and the lesson started. They were preparing the base for Eckhart's Elixir today...Harry Potter - Rated: T - English - Drama/Angst - Chapters: 9 - Words: 13,170 - Reviews: 141 - Updated: 6-20-07 - Published: 10-5-04 - Severus S. & Albus D.11. The Brightness of Candles reviewsHBP Spoilers. Nitwit, blubber, oddment, tweak... You probably thought it didn't mean anything, just four words plucked at random ...Harry Potter - Rated: K+ - English - Mystery - Chapters: 1 - Words: 2,419 - Reviews: 83 - Published: 11-28-06 - Hermione G. & Severus S. - Complete12. Everything I've Ever Done: Reunion » reviewsSSHG sequel to Everything I've Ever Done, with new Percy arc. Epilogue: It was a very Weasley wedding...Harry Potter - Rated: K+ - English - Drama/Angst - Chapters: 9 - Words: 37,038 - Reviews: 192 - Updated: 11-15-06 - Published: 5-2-06 - Hermione G. & Severus S. - Complete13. Attribute:A Tribute reviewsCompanion poem to Borolin's Lost and Found, with apologies to Emily DickinsonHarry Potter - Rated: K - English - Poetry/Angst - Chapters: 1 - Words: 186 - Reviews: 10 - Published: 5-25-06 - Severus S. - Complete14. Risk » reviewsHBP Spoilers! Rita shook her QuickQuotes Quill. "Is it true that famed recluse and warhero, Severus Snape, head of fastgrowing Potions company, Snape Enterprises, is here under cover of Polyjuice?" Thanks to HermioneGranger91 for the inspiration.Harry Potter - Rated: K+ - English - Adventure - Chapters: 7 - Words: 3,145 - Reviews: 140 - Updated: 5-24-06 - Published: 11-8-05 - Severus S. & Hermione G. - Complete15. Who Lives in Disguise » reviewsHBPconcurrent and compatible, SPOILERS, COMPLETE! It was the longest, shortest trip back from Hogwarts ever. Nominated in Fifth MultifacetedsHarry Potter - Rated: K+ - English - Chapters: 16 - Words: 51,344 - Reviews: 516 - Updated: 5-4-06 - Published: 11-3-05 - Hermione G. & Severus S. - Complete16. Everything I've ever done » reviewsCOMPLETE! There were likely to be enough cross words when they finally met. For seven years of his teaching, Hermione had had nothing but cross words from him... Life was a puzzle sometimes. SSHG, Nominated for 4th Multifaceteds and Moste Potente PassionsHarry Potter - Rated: T - English - Drama/Romance - Chapters: 20 - Words: 51,644 - Reviews: 886 - Updated: 4-27-06 - Published: 10-25-04 - Severus S. & Hermione G. - Complete17. Post mort » reviewsComplete, AU since HBP. How long Hermione lay there grieving she didn't know, nor did she notice when she first felt a heart thudding under her cheek and arms reaching to hold her... Then a familiar voice said the unthinkable. SSHG, character deathHarry Potter - Rated: T - English - Angst/Romance - Chapters: 12 - Words: 13,927 - Reviews: 367 - Updated: 10-9-05 - Published: 7-10-05 - Severus S. & Hermione G. - Complete18. How Dumb Were You? » reviewsWARNING, SPOILERS FOR HBP. Was Dumbledore dumb? Harry hasty? Hermione hokey? WonWon wanton? And what did Fred and George have to do with it? More: Sluggish Slughorn, halfhearted halfblood prince, delinquent Draco, repetitive Riddle, go getter GinnyHarry Potter - Rated: K+ - English - Poetry/Tragedy - Chapters: 10 - Words: 4,305 - Reviews: 292 - Updated: 8-30-05 - Published: 7-17-05 - Albus D. & Severus S.19. Dumbledore's Man reviewsHBP spoilers, Character death. Harry stood up slowly, shaking off the ashes of a dead dark lord... A few feet away a long blackclad body lay prone where it had fallen after shielding him from an organripping curse...Harry Potter - Rated: T - English - Angst/Drama - Chapters: 1 - Words: 2,936 - Reviews: 85 - Published: 8-9-05 - Severus S. & Harry P. - Complete20. Wrong » reviewsOneshot that grew. How thick do they think I am Peter's perspective after the pensieve incident...Harry Potter - Rated: K - English - Chapters: 2 - Words: 3,357 - Reviews: 60 - Updated: 1-26-05 - Published: 1-4-05 - Remus L. & Peter P. - Complete21. Fates and Fortunes reviewsA collection of ten fairly light-hearted 55-word drabbles that explore in chronological order the possible fates of some of our favourite characters.Harry Potter - Rated: K - English - Humor/Horror - Chapters: 1 - Words: 652 - Reviews: 64 - Published: 12-18-04 - Hermione G. & Severus S.22. Breaking point » reviewsWIP "The night would bring him neither rest nor comfort till he'd spoken to Albus so he might as well get it over with..."Harry Potter - Rated: K+ - English - Angst - Chapters: 2 - Words: 3,016 - Reviews: 51 - Updated: 11-15-04 - Published: 11-11-04 - Severus S. & Albus D.23. A Bludger to the Gut reviewsOne shot. Snape's thoughts on learning that Lupin has been employed as the DADA teacher. Some things can never be forgotten... the perpetual flinch of knowing they were waiting to hex me...Harry Potter - Rated: K+ - English - Chapters: 1 - Words: 1,053 - Reviews: 50 - Published: 10-17-04 - Severus S. & Remus L. - Complete24. Backbone reviewsOne shot. "Dangling upside down and wandless in front of that git Potter, Severus had only one weapon left. Time to use it then."Harry Potter - Rated: T - English - Drama - Chapters: 1 - Words: 933 - Reviews: 54 - Published: 10-14-04 - Severus S. & James P. - Complete25. The Old Anger reviewsOne shot. "Unfortunately Potter was called away before he could have the instructive opportunity of ingesting poison..." slight SSHG impliedHarry Potter - Rated: K+ - English - Chapters: 1 - Words: 1,114 - Reviews: 30 - Published: 10-12-04 - Severus S. & Hermione G. - Complete26. Levels of Stupidity reviewsOne-shot. A Snape-eye view of Harry's Sorting and first Potions lesson.Harry Potter - Rated: K+ - English - Chapters: 1 - Words: 2,039 - Reviews: 59 - Published: 10-11-04 - Severus S. & Harry P. - Complete27. Snape dialogues reviewsOne shot. Snape-eye view of events at Hogwarts from Harry's first year till after the final battle, told in 8 55-word snippets of dialogue.Harry Potter - Rated: K+ - English - Chapters: 1 - Words: 724 - Reviews: 64 - Published: 10-3-04 - Severus S. - Complete
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