I almost didn't read this, even after I saw two enthusiastic recs on my flist. I mean . . . the pairing. But I'm glad I did.
Because this? Is perfectly crafted. And incredibly persuasive.
Title: Yond Snape
Author: Unknown, at present. But my God, can s/he write.
Pairing Snape/Slughorn
Rating: NC 17
Warnings: Well, rimming.
Summary: Slughorn pursues Snape, against the backdrop of the events of HBP.
One of the recs I read warned for dub con in this story. No, not really. The author doesn't include that warning, and I don't think that there is any dub con here. They're both adults, and this Snape is in full possession of his faculties. Rather, this is what I will call "Slytherin con."
Please, I'm begging: don't be put off by the pairing. Because this is, hands down, the most persuasive, compelling characterization of Slughorn that I've ever read. He's painted in lovely shades of gray here. And he adores Snape. Wants him. And Snape? Has his own vulnerabilities.
The relationship that develops here is compelling, nuanced, and (and I can't believe I'm writing this, of a story that includes Slughorn) erotic. The ending is just note perfect. Yes. This is how it had to end.
This story is a very impressive accomplishment. Don't miss it.
June 30th, 2007
10:23 am
Rec: "Yond Snape," by anonymous
08:03 pm
Rec: "The Ridiculousness of the Situation Cannot Be Overlooked" by Anon (Snape/Harry)
My. Two recs in one day. I can't remember the last time that happened. But Reversathon yielded a second fine story today. In the best flavor of all.
Title: The Ridiculousness of the Situation Cannot Be Overlooked
Author: Unknown
Pairing: Snape/Harry
Rating: R
Summary: Severus is aware of the difference between despair and realism.
Or does he really grasp that difference?
This is a clever, clever story. It acknowledges something that most stories in this pairing gloss over: that a man in his 40s is going to feel a bit ridiculous, on occasion, if he's involved with someone twenty years younger. And he might occasionally have cause for jealousy.
Someone of Snape's disposition and thin-skinned nature is certainly going to be jealous occasionally, regardless of whether there are rational grounds for insecurity. This story plays with those aspects of Snape's personality, in a tale that kept me guessing all the way through. Should Snape be jealous? And in the process, you get a marvelous character study of Snape.
This isn't heart-filling, no, although the ending is . . . hopeful, in an understated fashion. But it's really intelligently done, and offers wry insights into Snape's thinking. And in the process, I found it very entertaining.
Title: The Ridiculousness of the Situation Cannot Be Overlooked
Author: Unknown
Pairing: Snape/Harry
Rating: R
Summary: Severus is aware of the difference between despair and realism.
Or does he really grasp that difference?
This is a clever, clever story. It acknowledges something that most stories in this pairing gloss over: that a man in his 40s is going to feel a bit ridiculous, on occasion, if he's involved with someone twenty years younger. And he might occasionally have cause for jealousy.
Someone of Snape's disposition and thin-skinned nature is certainly going to be jealous occasionally, regardless of whether there are rational grounds for insecurity. This story plays with those aspects of Snape's personality, in a tale that kept me guessing all the way through. Should Snape be jealous? And in the process, you get a marvelous character study of Snape.
This isn't heart-filling, no, although the ending is . . . hopeful, in an understated fashion. But it's really intelligently done, and offers wry insights into Snape's thinking. And in the process, I found it very entertaining.