>VERBOSE

A set of birthdays-through-the-years illustrated fics:

Seven, Thirteen, Twenty-Two, Thirty-Eight, and Fifty by grooot and mywitch
Or all together as Happy Birthday on AO3 (not all chapters posted yet, as of this edit)
Fandom: Harry Potter
Pairing/Characters: Severus, Tobias, Eileen, Lily, Sirius, James, Lucius, Draco, Narcissa, Dumbledore, Portrait Dumbledore, one unspecified character
Rating: Creators rated them all G, but the last one shades into PG IMO. Art is all worksafe.
Words: 1800, 2400, 1800, 1600, 1280

Author's summary: Today is Severus Snape's [X-th] birthday. Will it be a good day?

-----

Flight Plan by sigune
Fandom: Harry Potter
Pairing/Characters: Severus
Rating: G
Words: (Art)

Author's summary: "No spell yet devised enables wizards to fly unaided in human form" (Kennilworthy Whisp, Quidditch through the Ages).

My comment: "Ooh, this is lovely. At first I thought it was just a very nice "success!" kind of thing but I was not prepared for the impact of the second to last panel as I scrolled down!"

-----

By the Book by delphipsmith
Fandom: Harry Potter
Pairing/Characters: Snape, Minerva, cameos by one or two canon characters (can't tell you who or it will spoil it!), plus a few original ones
Rating: G
Words: 7824

Author's summary: Severus loses a bet, expands his horizons, and learns a thing or two.
Author's notes: Gen. This is set in the summer of 1984 or 1985. Plot-light, but I had great fun putting Sev in this particular situation and sprinkling in a few links to canon.

Quote:
"Dragons don't live in dungeons," Severus objected.

"Not Dungeons with Dragons," Vetiver corrected him patiently. "Dungeons and dragons. And all sort of other things, from what I hear."

"Hmph," Severus said, feeling rather foolish at his overreaction. "Silly sort of game, if you ask me. Exploring my dungeon would take all of six and a half minutes. And that's including the supply closet."

[untitled] by deathdaydungeon
Pairing/Characters: Gen; Severus, Albus; flashback appearances from Tobias, Eileen, Lily, Marauders, and Lucius
Rating: PG to PG-13 I'd say
Words: 4827
Prompt: "Some headcanons or a story about how Lily ISN'T Snape's happy memory when he casts a patronus."
Warnings: Canon-like scenes of bullying; some strong language.
Quote:
It was impossible. Everything was tainted.

His happiest memories contained Lily, but the dementor seemed to be aware of this. It seemed to be revelling in his darker memories, gleefully drawing them to the surface and forcing Snape to re-live every second of his ex-best friend’s hatred, destroying the happy moments he was trying to focus on.

Wormwood and Gall by delphipsmith (in snapecase)
Severus Snape, Albus Dumbledore, cameo by Lucius Malfoy; G, 3785 words
Author's summary: When Severus is offered the job of Potions Master at Hogwarts, he thinks that perhaps life might not be as desolate as it looked. Whether or not this is correct remains to be seen.
Author's warnings: Angst.

My comment: Great "missing years" piece.

Quote:
"Are you well, Severus?" Albus Dumbledore said solicitously.

"Oh yes," Severus Snape said through numb lips. "Being nearly condemned to Azkaban is such an...energizing pastime."

-----

Grey in the Dark by potionpen
Eileen, Severus, OMC; AO3 rated "general audiences", 4082 words
Author's summary: It's a chocolate-scented August in the Sherwood, and there's a stormcrow at the door.

(this is about Severus buying his first wand, but not from Ollivander.)

Quote:
"And he's a Ministry toady," the woman added, scowling. "The Trace on every bleeding wand he sells."

"Southern milquetoast," Dickon agrees, making a face. "No one'd stand for that nonsense north of Kent. Now, lad, do you want your mam to stay?"

-----

(Love is a) Battlefield by veridari (in severus_sighs)
Severus/Harry, Neville, Teeny Nagini, Minerva, Draco and BAMF!Trevor; G
Author's summary: It is the annual Staff Valentine's Day Party, where lines are drawn in the sand, enemies are made and Cupid is nowhere to be found. Or is he? Yes, just your typical holiday at Hogwarts.

My comment: LOL! I love all of this. I think my favorite part is either Trevor's less-than-impressed look at his costume, or Minerva's assured delight at pointing out the missed point in Severus's logic...

-----

Five Moments of Doubt by Bagheera
Severus, Minerva, Ginny, Neville, Luna, Pomona Sprout; AO3 rated "general audiences", 5911 words
Author's summary: Five times someone doubted Snape's allegiance while he was headmaster, five moments at Hogwarts during year seven.

Quote:
Ginny swallowed. Most portraits were feigning sleep, some empty, but Dumbledore was awake and present. He raised his silver eyebrows at her, then made a shooing motion with his hand, as if to remind her of her lines. Then he leaned back in the window frame and gazed down at Snape, calm and melancholy, as if he were seeing something quite different from his murderer.

-----

The Things Draco Carries by catsintheattic
Draco, Pansy, Severus, Vincent, Gregory, Blaise, Malfoys; AO3 rated "teen and up", 4875 words
Author's summary: Another pure-blood will recognise you by your blood and heritage, but any commoner will recognise you by your possessions. Seven years at Hogwarts. Seven insights into Draco’s schoolbag.

Quote:
There is a Potions essay in his bag that Professor Snape has marked in Draco’s first year. He has written not too bad under the text, followed by the energetic scribble that is his signature. Knowing Snape, Draco treats the parchment as if his Professor’s script were written in ink of gold.

-----

Last Day at the Mill by Squirrel Patronus
Tobias, Severus; rated Teen, 2016 words
Author's summary: The Mill in Cokeworth is shutting down. Tobias Snape and his son, Severus, have different ideas about the future of the city.

Quote:
He had meant to be friendly, conversational. His own son was a stranger to him. Severus smiled a ghastly grin at him. His black eyes continued to bore through his father.

7 Loves/7Lives (i called you brother seven times) by xylodemon
Sirius/Regulus, AO3 "Mature" rating, 7244 words
Author's summary: This is a thing that never should have started.
Author's warnings: I didn't tag this as necrophilia because it really isn't, but it's close. Also, Regulus and Sirius are possibly underage in parts of this.

Quote:
"Just once." Sirius closes his eyes, mumbles the words against his brother's mouth.

"It's always been just once," Regulus says, and Sirius thinks that's a lie.

Once became twice became thrice became too much. This should stop, but it never should have started, and Sirius' breath catches when Regulus presses him back against the wall.

-----

The Other Half by leela_cat in snapecase
Tobias, Eileen, Severus, PG, 2672 words
Author's summary: He's long and skinny, and his nose seems to be a combination of the worst of both Eileen's and mine. Poor little sod will never live that one down. His skin, though, is the softest I've ever felt. Brushing my stained, scarred finger over his cheek feels like a crime, but I can't stop myself.

My comment: "*applauds* as sionna_raven said, thank you for turning a cardboard cliche into this."

Quote:
It's not until later that night, when it's time to put Severus to bed, that I realise I have to talk to Eileen and tell her that her father is dead. She's tired, though, and has a headache. Tomorrow, I think, as I watch her carry Severus upstairs.

The lad's getting so big. His arms and legs are hanging over her arms. Still, even with his size, it's hard to believe he'll be starting school come the backend of the year. He's not showing signs of magic, either, despite Eileen letting him lark around with her wand.

He's still my son.

-----

Since Perhaps Forever by laventadorn in silverdoefest
Severus/Lily "pre-het", author rates M for language but I count just one swear word, 1233 words
Author's summary: AU. After the war is over, Lily and Severus reconnect.

My comment: "Very nice. I like the visuals of Severus: slinking from the shadows, 'as if hopeful that someone with a voice like could that teach them a proper song', and the dry humor in 'Trade secrets.'"

Quote:
Severus’ voice, slinking out of the shadows like a black cat, said, “Perhaps you should try for a tune you can carry.”

Lily was so startled she almost fell face-forward into the flowers. They had turned toward him, unfurling their petals wide, as if hopeful that someone with a voice like could that teach them a proper song. “Severus! Jesus, make noise, would you?”

In This Valley of Dying Stars by fiery_flamingo in hp_darkfest
Andromeda, Narcissa, various Blacks; PG-13, 2037 words
Author's summary: It seems like the Blacks only gather for their dead.
Author's warnings: Character death(s), angst

My comment: "...Whoa. That was powerful. Well done."

Quote:
In a flash of what she then believes is hubris, a twelve-year old Andromeda thinks that more than blood purity or honor this is what her family is: a collection of people obligated to stand over your grave when the time comes, no matter how repulsive or unloved you were in life. They care only by pact, a mutual treaty of mourning. They cry at each others' funerals because no one else will.

-----

These Are the Hells We Crave by mentalistecbm in hp_emofest
Regulus/Sirius, NC-17, ~1200 words
Author's summary: Toujours pur, and this is no place for outsiders so we’re fucking keeping this shit in the family.
Author's warnings: incest, but I’d wager that’s pretty obvious.

My comment:
"Toujours pur, and this is no place for outsiders so we’re fucking keeping this shit in the family.

I liked this line a lot. I can just see Regulus's face, grave and resolute.

When Severus almost dies and absolutely everyone knows that Sirius had something to do with it and Slytherin declares fucking war

Oooh, I so hope something like this happened, that Severus had some defenders in the matter at least. Although somehow I see Severus being humiliated by the whole thing and trying to keep it as hush-hush as possible. But yes, this would be lovely, a whole fic prompt in itself. And yet I also love how Regulus is a fierce defender of his own brother and nothing gets in the way of that. It's just how I see Reg - despite everything, brotherly bond wins out."

Quote:
He’s no idea why it started or where it happened, not really; he remembers that it was winter, which makes a strange bit of sense, and that Sirius had worn a black wool coat that evening, had stolen Regulus’ Slytherin scarf, and that he looked so fucking perfect, looked like those colours were where he belonged.

-----

Nowt to Be Afraid Of by odogoddess in snapelyholidays
Severus, Eileen, mentions of Lily & Harry & Albus; PG, 2840 words
Author's summary: If dreams can be nightmares, can nightmares be mere dreams?

My comment: "That was just delightful all around! Great voice and tone."

Quote:
He sat, grateful for a peaceful night's sleep for a change. He could hear muffled sounds from the kitchen and a nearly forgotten smell he thought of as home and what he'd missed most after he'd grown up and his mother...

Grown up? He studied his arm. It was thin and small. He looked down and noted the rest of his slender, bony body. He lifted the bedcovers and then his nightshirt, allowing the cold in to note his still hairless and lanky boy's body. His hands shook as he dropped his nightshirt and blanket back down.

But I died... didn't I?

Nine recs, a few slightly stale from holiday fests, others from snapecase which is still posting, although I could have sworn I saw the author of "Standing at the Fork in the Road" claiming it as hers somewhere O.o but I can't find that now. (Anyway, if any of these are yours and you're at liberty to reveal it, please do say - I may have missed some attributions since it seems not all fests go back and edit in author names after reveals.)

On the table here today we have Severus/Regulus, Severus/Sirius, two Severus/Harry, and a bunch of gen (or nearly gen).

( Read more... )

Speaking of fic recs, here's a bunch of stuff I've had simmering in my to-rec folder for a long time. Where my comments were fairly long I'm linking to them on the original post, rather than paste them here, but beware spoilers therein (I tend to pick out favorite lines and may talk about plot twists or the like). There's a good deal of Severus/Sirius in this batch, as well as some gen, dark, Severus/Harry, a little sort of Severus/Lily, and (unusually for me) two items with Severus/Minerva and Severus/Pomona respectively.

( 7 from various places, including hp_beholder, Snarry Games, hp_darkfest )

( 3 from daily_deviant )

( 4 from Severus Big Bang )

( 4 from Severus' Shorts )

Dudes! You should totally check out the awesome drawing venturous1 made for my drabble Family Obligations: Prince Family Portrait, 1975! She and I were paired up in the snapedom Summer Fest, but I wound up withdrawing due to an excess of suckitude. Still, she went ahead and did this anyway (which was posted as "gift to fest"). I am so taken with everyone's expressions. Severus is clearly not enjoying things (which was the point) and his uncle (Eileen's brother) looks like a serious piece of wizard. Even at this size the little details in his grandmother Prince's eyes are amazing.