The Snupin people on my flist have surely read this one, by now. But this story is so outstanding that it transcends pairings, and I wanted to point the rest of you to it.

Title: The Blue Door
Author: snegurochka_lee
Pairing(s): Snape/Lupin, Lupin/Bill Weasley
Rating: NC 17
Warnings: Adultery

Summary: There is no situation, no opportunity, no sudden, aching desire that a werewolf can't control. Any man who says otherwise is just a man looking for an excuse.


Yes, infidelity is something I'm interested in, so I suppose I could be considered biased. But please humor me, eh? This story shows how (in the right hands) infidelity provides an entre into the characters, and a way to explore some really meaty themes.

snegurochka_lee is deservedly one of the best-known writers currently working in the Remus-centric end of the fandom. Her prose is always sharp-edged, and her stories are well-plotted and compelling. But here she simply transcends herself.

I never did buy a really fluffy Remus, to be honest. He's a werewolf, no? And has been since childhood; this has to have shaped his psychological development in profound ways. In canon, he tends to be low affect, keeping rather more emotional distance from Harry in PoA than you'd expect (given that James was a close friend). He's damaged, and cautious. I never did buy fanon Remus as an automatic father surrogate for Harry, or as the skilled "relationship builder" in the Snape/Lupin pairing that one often sees in fanfiction.

This story acknowledges the ways that Remus was damaged and shaped by the fact that werewolves are feared and loathed in the wizarding world. It uses this Remus to explore, cleverly and unflinchingly, the degree to which we can blame our choices on others. It has a lot to say about temptation and responsibility.

And in the process, the story offers a fresh, compelling perspective on both Snape and Lupin. This is master-class characterization. And although the story begins with a focus on Remus (and remains in his POV throughout), it doesn't shortchange Snape one bit. Oh, yes. This is how Snape would respond to an unfaithful lover.

This story knows that relationships are never happy, ever after. It acknowledges the complexities and nuanced textures of relationships that endure for decades. And in the end, it is peculiarly consoling, bringing true catharsis to the reader, just as it takes Remus himself through a learning curve.

Fanfic doesn't get any better than this. It just doesn't.