December 11th, 2007

11:08 pm
Rec: "Old Times' Sake," by anon (Snape/Lupin)

I get the temptation to simply ignore Book 7. That's a siren song for many of us.

But if you ignored DH, you wouldn't get gorgeous fics like this one:

Title: Old Times' Sake
Rating: NC-17
Pairing: Snape/Lupin (Lupin/Tonks in the background)
Warnings: adultery, dub-con, wall!sex, rimming, prostitution (in a sense), questionable lubrication ;), a little breathplay, suicidal thoughts (Merry Christmas! ;))


Summary: When Remus turns to Severus for his potion even after everything Severus has done, Remus isn't sure what he trusts, or wants, Severus to do more - help him or kill him. He just never expected Severus would ask for the payment he does.

Remus needs Wolfsbane. From Severus, as it turns out. And Severus will still brew it even after Dumbledore's death. For a price.

Ah. Yes. Here is completed! canon Remus, in all his complexity and compromised values. This story doesn't shy back from what DH told us about Remus, but rather applies it brilliantly in a tour de force of edgy kink. Remus is so good at self-deception here, and at backing himself into a corner. The characterization here is among the finest I've ever read, for Lupin. And Snape's done just as well: an opportunist who knows where he stands and what his own goals are. And what he wants.

Gorgeous and sharp as a knife. If you can take it a little less fluffy, don't miss this one. It knocked me flat.