Most Recent NetFic Reviews

This contains the 40 most recent reviews, for those who want to see what's new. They are listed in reverse date order (though the oldest date section may not contain all the reviews which were done on that date).

3rd December 2012

Seven Brides For Seven Snapes (Harry Potter)

By Dick Gloucester
Reviewed by Kathryn A (1)
Tags: Novella, SSHG, Romance, Humour, EWE, Post-Voldemort, House Elves
Characters: Hermione Granger, Severus Snape
(96K, 35164 words)

Summary: Severus Snape has decided he needs a wife, and Hermione is the lucky woman he picks for the job. But he hasn't told her everything she needs to know...

This is amusing, chaotic, angsty, quirky. Angsty because of the mis-steps that happen between Severus and Hermione, because he's still a stubborn, smug, sneaky git; yet Hermione does love him anyway.

All Snape's brothers are amusingly sketched; similar yet different. It's really rather unbelievable how the other romances worked out; as unbelievable as any musical... and one goes along with it for the same reasons that one goes along with a musical.

I also have to mention the House Elves; I love how Hermione gets them onside.

Incarnate (Harry Potter/Sandman)

By FayJay
Reviewed by Kathryn A (2)
Tags: Short Story, Crossover, AU Divergent Timeline, Post-Voldemort, GOF-compatible
Characters: Severus Snape, Death
(15K, 6544 words)

Summary: In which Severus Snape summons Death, and endeavours to bend her to his will.

Like so many good Sandman crossovers, this is light and dark, deep and quirky. Also, hanky warning!

I'm not going to tell you how this ends. Read it and find out.

Liason (1) Liaison (Harry Potter)

By Nadagio
Reviewed by Kathryn A (3)
Tags: Short Story, World Building, Post-Voldemort, EWE, SSHG
Characters: Hermione Granger, Severus Snape
(13K, 4639 words)

Summary: Hermione has a new job and runs into some difficulty. Some information from Snape changes everything and nothing.

An interesting bit of world-building in the nature of the HP universe; an intriguing but sad idea which indeed changes everything, and nothing.

4th October 2012

Felix Infelicis (Harry Potter)

By Juniperus
Reviewed by Kathryn A (1)
Tags: Novelette, EWE, Post-Voldemort, DH-compatible, Hurt-Comfort, Potion, Manipulative Dumbledore, Angst, Illustrated, SSHG, SSHG2011
Characters: Hermione Granger, Severus Snape
(35K, 12502 words)

Summary: It is said that angels are bright still, though the brightest fell, but we know what the road to Hell is paved with...

Hermione isn't quite a fallen angel, but her road is certainly paved with good intentions. The most interesting aspect of this story is that it subverts the trope of "super-Hermione nurses Snape back to health and he's eternally grateful". Not that I dislike that trope, but this took a much more realistic approach, first addressing the foolishness of trying to do such a thing without help, and second, that such gratitude is not enough for more than a "Hello".

Beware, if you like Dumbledore, the Dumbledore here is not just manipulative, but cold. He's on the edge of what I would think is a "possible" Dumbledore, if you take Dumbledore's reaction in canon when Snape begged Dumbledore to save Lily, and assume that Dumbledore always had contempt for Snape. Because what Dumbledore does here is despicable. As I said, on the edge, but it doesn't quite fall over. Otherwise I would be angry at the author, rather than the character. If you don't like your Dumbledore dark, don't read it. If you do, this is a good example of the genre.

The Power of Suggestion (Harry Potter)

By Leandra713
Reviewed by Kathryn A (2)
Tags: Novelette, EWE, Post-Voldemort, DH-compatible, Romance, Amnesia, SSHG, SSHG2011
Characters: Hermione Granger, Severus Snape
(24K, 9056 words)

Summary: Hermione suffers an accident and Severus must come to her rescue.

Amnesia with a twist. Hermione wakes up in St. Mungos after an accident, but not everything is as it appears. This had very good characterisation of both Snape and Hermione. I really liked how plausibly this was constructed, and how the consequences worked out.

On the Other Side of Hate (Harry Potter)

By Lin Lawless
Reviewed by Kathryn A (3)
Tags: Novel, EWE, Post-Voldemort, DH-compatible, Drama, Romance, SSHG, SSHG2011, Headmaster-Snape, Teacher-Hermione
Characters: Hermione Granger, Severus Snape, Lucius Malfoy
(142K, 50779 words)

Summary: Severus has spent three years making Hermione's life as difficult as possible, in hopes that she'll resign her post and leave Hogwarts. When she does, however, he discovers that it's not in his best interest if she leaves, after all.

Here we have a vicious Snape who makes us wonder what on earth Hermione could have done to make him hate her so much. And a Hermione who has been incredibly long-suffering but has been worn down in the end. How could such a pair go from hatred to love? Read the story and find out. It manages to make the characterisation plausible and the reasons make sense, which is rather impressive given the starting premise.

An honourable mention to the portrayal of Lucius here; he's cunning and observant and well-intentioned and can't help plotting like breathing.

3rd October 2012

Detectives, Adventurers and Girls Who Don't Wait Around: The Paradox of Amelia J. Williams (Doctor Who)

By LizBee
Reviewed by Kathryn A (1)
Tags: Short Story, Post Episode
Characters: Amy Pond
(9KK, 2215 words)

Summary: Between her debut in 1938 and her death in 1993, Amelia Williams probably wrote over five hundred novels, short stories and articles.

This story is the perfect coda to the episode "The Angels Take Manhattan". But it isn't just Amy (Amelia Williams) that it celebrates, but children's literature and old-skool Who companions of various eras. All brought together with a verisimilitude and spot-on illustrations. It made me feel sad and happy and gleeful and delighted. Read it.

In Shining Armour (Harry Potter)

By CoffeeOnThePatio
Reviewed by Kathryn A (2)
Tags: Long Novel, Romance, Drama, Post-Voldemort, DH-compatible, EWE, House Elves
Characters: Severus Snape, OFC, Minerva McGonagall
(243KK, 102304 words)

Summary: Snape's only saving the unborn child of a strange woman. He never signed up for having his house invaded and a stranger and her child caring for him after the snake bite. Rated M for language only.

The title of this story is wonderfully ironic... at first. Because neither of the rescuers has shining armour; their armour is very tarnished. But they certainly do have armour. Very thick emotional armour. None of this Gryffindorish nobility or gratitude for Snape and Christine, it's all anger and self-defence... at first.

This author again demonstrates that she is the mistress of the slow build, taking two characters that are almost hostile and bringing them together. The characterisation of Minerva is a foil for that of Christine; because Christine had grown up in the same destitute working-class neighbourhood as Snape, she understands him in ways that Minerva doesn't; while as a contrast, Minerva represents snooty middle-class morality and prejudice. That is something that hadn't occurred to me but is obvious once it's pointed out: Hogwarts is very middle-class, and Minerva oozes middle-class privilege. No, Minerva isn't being character-bashed, it's just a weakness that Minerva isn't aware of. She means well. She wants to make it up to Snape, and sometimes she succeeds, and sometimes her meddling makes things worse.

As ever with this author, there is the occasional grammar mistake because English is a second language. But it is worth the stumbles to stick with the story.

Absolutely Elsewhere (Harry Potter)

By Wallyflower
Reviewed by Kathryn A (3)
Tags: Novelette, EWE, Post-Voldemort, Mystery, Friendship, Romance, World Building, SSHG, SSHG2011, Unspeakable-Snape, Auror-Hermione, Time Travel, DH-compatible
Characters: Hermione Granger, Severus Snape, Draco Malfoy
(38KK, 14009 words)

Summary: Over the course of a week, Severus Snape solves a small mystery.

First, this is a cracking good mystery. Then there is good characterisation, not just of Severus and Hermione, but a supporting role from Draco too, with insights into all of them. Friendship and attraction creeps up on Severus and Hermione, with enough caring that each is more interested in the happiness of the other than of themselves. Add to this a tablespoonful of snappy dialogue and a sprinkling of pleasing turns of phrase, and you have yourself a treat.

8th July 2012

Neither the Laurel Nor the Rose (Harry Potter)

By Darned Child
Reviewed by Kathryn A (1)
Tags: Novelette, EWE, Post-Voldemort, DH-compatible, Friendship, Romance, Epistolary, SSHG, SSHG2011, Teacher-Snape, Teacher-Hermione
Characters: Hermione Granger, Severus Snape, Draco Malfoy
(40K, 15773 words)

Summary: The Malfoy family expects to receive the finest service possible, no matter what the task. When Draco seeks the affections of Hermione Granger, he enlists the aid of a careful wordsmith - one Severus Snape.

We have clueless Draco, clueful Hermione, and angsty Snape. There is wit, banter, friendship, gossip, bargains struck, letters written, pangs of the heart, and true love.

A Prince's Tale (Harry Potter)

By Shairi11
Reviewed by Kathryn A (2)
Tags: Novel, EWE, Post-Voldemort, DH-compatible, Mystery, SSHG, SSHG2011
Characters: Hermione Granger, Severus Snape
(145K, 60704 words)

Summary: Seven years after the war, a Prince asks Hermione to find Severus Snape's body.

First of all, I think this would have been much improved if it hadn't had the framing story. It really put me off at the start, and pulled me down out of the beautiful ending.

But apart from that, the story gets better and better as it goes along. I love how it all comes together in a mythic fairytale way in the end. It's as if there are two stories, and the "inside" story is the good one.

SSESSTINA (Harry Potter)

By Duniazade
Reviewed by Kathryn A (3)
Tags: Novelette, EWE, Post-Voldemort, DH-compatible, Humour, Romance, Poetry, SSHG, SSHG2011, Headmaster-Snape, Teacher-Hermione
Characters: Hermione Granger, Severus Snape, Sorting Hat
(39K, 14333 words)

Summary: Not a ssingle word of this sstory is true.

The Sorting Hat has a huge crush on Headmaster Snape...

This is mad, clever, silly, profound, erudite, hilarious, inventive, poetic.

5th July 2012

Babble On (Harry Potter)

By Aurette
Reviewed by Kathryn A (1)
Tags: Short Story, Romance, Humour, SSHG, EWE, Post-Voldemort
Characters: Severus Snape, Hermione Granger
(13K, 4976 words)

Summary: One person's nervous tic, is another's nervous joy.

That was lovely. Hermione here babbles on as a post-war nervous tic... and then we discover why Severus keeps on meeting her in the library...

Fourteen Fathoms (Harry Potter)

By Vain
Reviewed by Kathryn A (2)
Tags: Short Story, AU Divergent Timeline, Abusive Dursleys, First Year
Characters: Harry Potter, Severus Snape
(10K, 3292 words)

Summary: Snape discovers something disturbing about Harry and acts... like Snape.

This is an "abusive Dursleys" story. There's a lot of them about. So what makes this one different? The way it is told. Not just that it is second-person present tense, but the way it holds your attention, the expressive and vivid language. No melodrama here: Snape is very Snape-ish, still plotting and taking off points even as he helps Harry.

The Case of the Unwelcome Owl (Sherlock/Harry Potter)

By FayJay
Reviewed by Kathryn A (3)
Tags: Novelette, Crossover, Post-Voldemort, Unexpected Relatives
Characters: Sherlock Holmes, John Watson, Luna Lovegood
(44K, 14649 words)

Summary: 'So,' said John, feeling out of his depth once again. 'An owl.' It was the same mild, politely curious tone of voice with which he had previously found himself uttering such things as: 'So -- three bags of frozen AB negative,' and 'So -- a selection of human ears.' Goodness, John, with deductive prowess like that you'll soon be putting me in the shade,' Sherlock said tartly. 'Can't sneak anything past you, can we?'

This is delightful! A perfect meshing of both worlds. Wonderfully in character.

4th July 2012

The Quest for the Magical MacGuffin (Harry Potter)

By Annie Talbot
Reviewed by Kathryn A (1)
Tags: Novelette, EWE, Post-Voldemort, DH-compatible, World Building, Drama, Humour, Romance, SSHG, SSHG2011
Characters: Hermione Granger, Severus Snape
(53K, 17525 words)

Summary: There's nothing like a quest to promote romance. Valkyries help, too.

The original prompt for this story gives us "Snape, despite his bad temper and acid tongue, has turned into one of the Wizarding world's most eligible bachelors and is enjoying the benefits, whatever he perceives the benefits to be. To his own dismay, he ends up attracted to Hermione - the one witch who doesn't seem to be interested in him, and is neither gorgeous nor willing to fall easily into his bed."

I like this story; it's like champagne and dark unsweetened chocolate, delightful fun with an underlying note of seriousness.

Split (Harry Potter)

By Windwings Writes
Reviewed by Kathryn A (2)
Tags: Novella, EWE, Post-Voldemort, World Building, Mystery, Romance, SSHG, SSHG2011
Characters: Hermione Granger, Severus Snape
(92K, 32065 words)

Summary: One fine day, Severus Snape makes a disturbing discovery. Who is messing with his life? And why?

Vivid descriptions, fantastic world-building, good characterisation, intriguing mystery, slowly developing attraction, heart-wrenching angst, sacrifice and love.

Practically Perfect (Doctor Who/Mary Poppins)

By Bethan-B-Bad
Reviewed by Kathryn A (3)
Tags: Short Story, Crossover
Characters: Mary Poppins
(11K, 3315 words)

Summary: Silents in the nursery do not bode well for the future of Earth; luckily, however, there is at least one Time Lady who is willing to do what must be done. To tidy matters up.

Beautiful. This makes Mary Poppins as a Time Lord work, and still keeps her in character. Rather than being frivolous, there is depth and breadth and context. Good stuff.

Note: this has spoilers for Season Six of New Who.

4th March 2012

Familiar (Harry Potter)

By Sita Z
Reviewed by Kathryn A (1)
Tags: Short Story, AU, Dialogue, Humour, First Year AU
Characters: Harry Potter, Severus Snape
(11K, 3249 words)

Summary: What if Harry came across Slytherin's monster before the diary incident... and asked it to help him deal with his least favorite teacher?

Short, amusing, dialogue-only alternative universe story. It will give you a chuckle, and a smile, and a warm feeling.

Pot Luck (Harry Potter)

By Sita Z
Reviewed by Kathryn A (2)
Tags: Short Story, AU, Abusive Dursleys, First Year AU
Characters: Harry Potter, Severus Snape, Dudley Dursley, Hedwig, Petunia Dursley, Ron Weasley, Vernon Dursley
(18K, 6695 words)

Summary: Raised to despise magic, eleven-year-old Harry Potter isn't sure being a wizard is a good thing... although a certain snarky Potions Master might just change his mind.

This gives a good point-of-view of wee!Harry, the influence the Dursleys have on him, both positive and negative. It's intriguing to see how this Harry interprets things differently, and fun to read between the lines of Snape's reactions.

Root of the Matter (Harry Potter)

By Noxiaa
Reviewed by Kathryn A (3)
Tags: Novel, AU, Post-Voldemort, Drama, World Building, Hurt-Comfort, Romance, Creature, SSHG, SSHG2011
Characters: Hermione Granger, Severus Snape
(135K, 54059 words)

Summary: Hermione Granger thought she knew exactly who, or what, she was, but an unexpected run-in with a former Death Eater reveals a part of her that she could never have dreamed existed.

This is good. This is very good. It has: (a) inventive creative masterful world-building, (b) a mystery with twists and turns (and clues), (c) emotional depths and heights, from horror and torment to true love, (d) good characterisation of Hermione and Snape, (e) good characterisation of Mrs. Figg, (f) a creepy original character, the Wizarding equivalent of a Mad Scientist, (g) friendship and love and self-sacrifice, (h) foolishness and desperation and the things we do for love.

28th February 2012

In a Glass, Darkly (Harry Potter)

By Tales Of Snape
Reviewed by Kathryn A (1)
Tags: Novelette, AU, Post-Voldemort, Drama, Angst, Friendship, SSHG, SSHG2011, Magic Mirror, Manipulative Dumbledore
Characters: Hermione Granger, Severus Snape
(32K, 12161 words)

Summary: Mirror, mirror on the wall, who's the fairest of them all? Not Severus Snape, that's for sure...

The original prompt for this story was: Post Hogwarts, Hermione acquires a magical mirror for her personal use (why? how? when?). Just one of those things that bugs you in the bathroom in the morning about your looks and all. But hers is not your regular magical mirror. Somehow, what is supposed to look like her reflection, looks like Severus Snape, talks like Severus Snape and acts like one, too.

The author took a prompt that could have been pure comedy, and turned it into something that had me figuratively biting my nails with fear and hope. Very good.

Through a Glass Darkly (Harry Potter)

By Lookfar
Reviewed by Kathryn A (2)
Tags: Novelette, EWE, Post-Voldemort, World Building, Romance, SSHG, SSHG2011, Teacher-Hermione, Divorced Hermione, Magic Mirror
Characters: Hermione Granger, Severus Snape
(34K, 12552 words)

Summary: Professor Hermione Granger hoped that returning to Hogwarts as a teacher would provide a balanced and peaceful life after her divorce. She hardly expected to be called on to rescue someone from her past.

Haunting and mysterious, black eyes look out of a mirror. Is it a ghost? Is it something else? Here we have Hermione, who looks at a puzzle to be solved like it's a Christmas present. And her daughter Rose, who is a sensible teenager with silly romantic notions. Intriguing world-building, emotionally layered words, a love which is a necessity. Well worth reading.

The Mirror Crack'd (Harry Potter)

By Hannah 1888
Reviewed by Kathryn A (3)
Tags: Novella, EWE, Post-Voldemort, Angst, Romance, SSHG, SSHG2011, Magic Mirror
Characters: Hermione Granger, Severus Snape
(59K, 20555 words)

Summary: Severus wants to move on, but the Mirror of Erised is both a help and a hindrance.

The characterisation in this story is excellent. First we have Severus, whose obsession with Lily won't let him go, even though he wants it to. Then we have Hermione, whose curiosity turns to obsession, and that obsession makes her miserable. What really impressed me was the end, because the author did NOT take the easy way out, the expected ending, but one which was harder and more realistic.

19th February 2012

Bitch's Brew (Harry Potter)

By Death ofme
Reviewed by Kathryn A (1)
Tags: Novelette, EWE, Post-Voldemort, Mystery, Horror, Angst, Friendship, Cross-dressing, SSHG, SSHG2011
Characters: Hermione Granger, Severus Snape, Bellatrix Lestrange
(45K, 15288 words)

Summary: Re-telling of "Fitcher's Bird". Investigating the disappearances of several young wizards, Hermione finds the trail leading to a dead woman: Bellatrix Lestrange. What lies in the lost Black estate? What dark secrets does the last room hold?

Be prepared, if you read this, for role reversal, gruesome sights, compelling characterisation, angst and horror and hope and despair, unexpected sympathy, poignant madness. Hermione, even in the midst of the horror and seeming helplessness, manages to keep her wits about her. Severus is ruthlessly practical. And the end is both happy and sad. If you can't cope with written horror, avoid this - I did say "gruesome" - but otherwise, this is definitely worth reading.

The Ethernet Chronicles (Harry Potter)

By Pythia Delphi
Reviewed by Kathryn A (2)
Tags: Novella, AU, Post-Voldemort, Epistolary, Illustrated, Humour, Friendship, Romance, SSHG, SSHG2011
Characters: Hermione Granger, Severus Snape, Ron Weasley, Harry Potter, Draco Malfoy, Luna Lovegood
(71K, 21502 words)

Summary: Post Vold-War II, the Wizarding World has adopted a new-fangled notion: blogging!

If the Wizarding World did discover blogging, this is what it would be like. This is spot-on in both the medium and the characterisation (apart from Molly, IMHO, who gets the short straw). It was delightful watching this story unfold; all the silliness and the wit and the snark, with occasional sprinkles of seriousness.

Archaeology (Stargate)

By Penknife
Reviewed by Kathryn A (3)
Tags: Short Story, Missing Scene, Character Study
Characters: Teal'c ?
(11K, 2984 words)

Summary: The Tau'ri seem not to mind having more questions than answers.

Just after "Enemy Within"; Teal'c in a brave new world, solemnly considering its people. This is just the kind of story I like, the familiar made strange by an outsider's eyes.

16th February 2012

Book Club (Harry Potter)

By M McGonagall 65
Reviewed by Kathryn A (1)
Tags: Novella, EWE, Post-Voldemort, Humour, Romance, SSHG, SSHG2011, Teacher-Hermione, Teacher-Snape, Books
Characters: Hermione Granger, Severus Snape, Minerva McGonagall, Pomona Sprout, Septima Vector
(84K, 32067 words)

Summary: Hermione attempts to bring Muggle appreciation to the staff at Hogwarts through Muggle literature.

Hogwarts staff discuss The Lord Of The Rings! That idea in itself is fun enough, but what makes this story stand out even more is the way that the discussions reveal just as much about the participants as they do the book itself; sometimes much more than they had intended.

Anyone who loves The Lord Of The Rings should get a kick out of this story, not only for the insights and comparisons between Middle Earth and the Wizarding World, but also for the sprinkling of little things throughout the story that reference back to LotR. It's fun!

It's also a Severus Snape/Hermione Granger story, and, yes, the book club brings them together, but not in a trite or sentimental way. Private things are confessed, and deep issues discussed along the way. And the path of true love does not run smooth, either. But they do get there in the end, and the wedding is delightful.

This is a must-read.

Every Librarian Has Her Day (Harry Potter)

By Mad Martha
Reviewed by Kathryn A (2)
Tags: Short Story, Missing Scene
Characters: Madam Pince
(19K, 1113 words)

Summary: What did Madam Pince do during the Battle of Hogwarts?

In a world where one can have books that bite, what kinds of defences would a library have? This is a cool missing scene, and makes me want to cheer for Madam Pince.

The Silver Doe (Harry Potter)

By Mundungus42
Reviewed by Kathryn A (3)
Tags: Vignette, Ballad, Angst, Romance, SSHG, SSHG2011
Characters: Hermione Granger, Severus Snape
(10K, 3204 words)

Summary: Unbeknownst to Harry, Hermione sees who casts the silver doe in the Forest of Dean, and she becomes even more determined to save Harry and Severus.

SS/HG in the style of The Highwayman? This intriguing premise lived up to its potential; angst and tragedy and hope, all with a rhythm that makes me want to read it aloud.

12th February 2012

Grim Dawn (Harry Potter)

By Robin4
Reviewed by Kathryn A (1)
Tags: Novella, AU, Alternate History, Sirius-finds-Harry, Third Year AU
Characters: Harry Potter, Sirius Black
(235K, 35567 words)

Summary: Prior to Harry's third year, he leaves the Dursleys, desperate to escape. But before the Knight Bus can stumble upon him, he encounters someone far different, and his world begins to change.

I've read other stories where Sirius manages to get to Harry first, but usually it was years earlier. This one is much closer to canon, and yet from one incident, history goes on a very different path.

This is really well written. The characterisations of Harry, Sirius and Remus in particular are very well done. But even Moody gets to be more well-rounded than he was in canon. This isn't fast-moving; instead, it is full of tension as people search and wait and snap at each other, and wonder what has gone wrong. Things aren't easy for anyone; but it is all worth it in the end.

Untitled Snow White Fanfic (Snow White)

By Singingrain5
Reviewed by Kathryn A (2)
Tags: Short Story, AU, Friendship
Characters: Snow White, Grumpy
(6K, 1755 words)

Summary: An AU fic in which the dwarfs did arrive in time to save Snow White, but were unable to capture the Queen. Grumpy and Snow deal with the aftermath.

This is a lovely story. I'd never really thought about Grumpy before, but the author really brought him to life. And I love the portrayal of the friendship between Grumpy and Snow White. Another good thing about this story is that it brings a touch more realism to the story, because it highlights the seriousness and shockingness of the Witch's attempted murder of Snow White.

The Essence of Sunset (Harry Potter)

By Shefa
Reviewed by Kathryn A (3)
Tags: Novella, AU, World Building, Parallel Universe, Romance, Drama, Illustrated, SSHG, SSHG2011
Characters: Hermione Granger, Severus Snape
(340K, 48053 words)

Summary: My chambers are dark, lit only by the glow of the midnight moon. The castle creaks with rawness of stone and antiquity of magic, filled with the power welling up from beneath the mountain and the fire of intention fuelled by our four vibrant streams of magic, combined. It is nearly impossible to recognise this expanse of land from just six months ago: pristine grasses as far as the eye could see, cresting on a tidal wave of green, the shadow of grey stone a skeleton underneath. A spider's web holding together an enterprise that, tonight, feels like folly. I had expected to feel exultant.

I don't quite know what to say about this; creative, brilliant, beautiful, poignant, intriguing, magnificent...

The summary doesn't really tell you what this story is about; suffice to say, it weaves back and forth between the time of the founders, and between different versions of reality, of a Severus we know and a Hermione we don't.

This is a must-read.

11th February 2012

First Prophecy (1) The First Prophecy (Harry Potter)

By Loxodonta Magica
Reviewed by Kathryn A (1)
Tags: Novel, AU, Prophecy, Reconciliation, Mentor, Telepathy, Abusive Dursleys
Characters: Harry Potter, Severus Snape
(782K, 141436 words)

Summary: Snape finds out about another prophecy as he sets out to learn more about Muggles. Harry becomes more to him than just a Hogwarts student.

This has a slow and somewhat clunky start, but things start getting interesting soon enough. Snape is snarky and cantankerous and reluctant to do as Dumbledore asks, and even more reluctant to accept help with it. But once he gets past that... he's still snarky. And still a terror in the classroom, even when he's not at Hogwarts.

Harry and Hermione and Ron are fast friends at the start of this, but the major part of the story is about Harry and Snape. Harry gets put through the wringer, and then gets put through the wringer again. Snape doesn't see himself as a rescuer, but he keeps on doing it (except for when he doesn't).

There are two of my favourite things in this story: Snape as mentor, and mental connections. If there's a theme in this story, it is that two are better than one, and the sum of the whole is greater than the sum of the parts.

Boxing Day (Doctor Who)

By Lyricwritesprose
Reviewed by Kathryn A (2)
Tags: Short Story, Missing Scene
Characters: Eleventh Doctor, Wilfred Mott
(41K, 6880 words)

Summary: While trying to cope with grief and survivor guilt, Wilf meets the one person he never wanted to see.

Lovely. Wilf, and Eleven, and character insight and laying things to rest, and oddness, and humour and wonder.

Escape from Equestria (Harry Potter/My Little Pony)

By Voxangelus
Reviewed by Kathryn A (3)
Tags: Vignette, AU, Crossover, Crack, Humour, Illustrated, SSHG, SSHG2011
Characters: Hermione Granger, Severus Snape
(4K, 467 words)

Summary: All I want to do is get out of here.

Harry Potter and My Little Pony. Need I say more? The execution is adorably cracky. The only drawback is that it's a vignette, rather than a full story. But even a taste is a taste of fun.

5th February 2012

If This Be Error (Harry Potter)

By Dick Gloucester
Reviewed by Kathryn A (1)
Tags: Short Story, Drama, Angst, SSHG, SSHG2011, Post-Voldemort
Characters: Hermione Granger, Severus Snape
(11K, 3446 words)

Summary: Somewhere between life and death.

Severus Snape, on the edge of death after being bitten by Nagini.

Every word, every syllable, is heavy with thought. This paints a battle between Naming and Un-Naming. This story is a poem, albeit it is not verse.

Seven of Cups (Harry Potter)

By Drinking Cocoa
Reviewed by Kathryn A (2)
Tags: Short Story, Friendship, Illustrated, SSHG, SSHG2011
Characters: Hermione Granger, Severus Snape
(43K, 5799 words)

Summary: Tarot images illuminate the way Hermione and Snape connect in canon, tether one another to life, and witness each other's transformations.

A series of vignettes which show things behind the scenes, the thoughts that both Severus and Hermione have about each other.

If I had to use one word to describe this story, it would be "fitting"; if another, it would be "revealing"; revealing of the hidden messages, hidden motives and hidden depths.

Nobody Cared (Harry Potter)

By Etherian
Reviewed by Kathryn A (3)
Tags: Novel, AU, Alternate History, World Building, Abusive Dursleys, Manipulative Dumbledore, Slytherin Harry, Snape-meets-Dursleys, Friendly Draco, Friendly Lucius, Mentor, Adoption, First Year AU
Characters: Harry Potter, Severus Snape, Draco Malfoy
(1860K, 345592 words)

Summary: 11 yr old Harry misses the Hogwarts Express. Snape is sent to find out why. What he finds changes any preconceived notions he might have had about the Boy-Who-Lived. AU, manipulative!Dumbledore, DE's, Voldy, but no horcruxes.

Another first-year AU, another epic, another abusive!Dursleys story. Why do I keep reading them? Because I like Snape, I like seeing a Snape who meets Harry in different circumstances and loves Harry for the sake of his mother rather than hating Harry for the sake of his father. Such a theme never gets old for me, so long as the execution is good.

And here, the execution is good. Not perfect, mind you. There are some mistakes, some stumbles, some loose ends, and a few times when the author does a bit of an info-dump in the late part of the story about something that happened in an earlier part of the story, where I felt like saying "yes, I know this already, get on with it!" Also, the story suffers from one of the fanfiction.net scene-separator massacres, so one has to be careful in figuring out when there's been a change of scene. But the characterisation is good, the world-building is good, there is a mix of action and relationship-building, not just between Snape and Harry, but with other people too.

If I told you what happened, if I told you how it ended, you would justifiably scoff at how unbelievable it was; these characters would never behave like that! But I tend to give an author one "what-if" for free. What if the Dursleys were much more abusive than in canon? After all, that's the premise of a story such as this. But even if you give the Dursleys their free "what-if", you would still think the other characters such as the Malfoys, the Grangers, and Dumbledore, simply wouldn't behave like that. And yet the author convinces you because she allows it to creep up on you slowly. And she roots it in canon. That's why it works. What if Lucius really had been put under the Imperius curse when he was a Death Eater? What if Hermione's obsession with books had something deeper to it? What if the seemingly crazy actions of Dumbledore had reasons behind them?

Yes, I say "seemingly crazy actions" because when you look back on it from the perspective of the whole series, a lot of Dumbledore's actions did not make sense. Don't read this story if you didn't have at least one moment of "what was Dumbledore thinking?" when you were reading the Harry Potter series. If you can't bear a shades-of-grey Dumbledore, you won't like this story. If you're open to an interpretation of a possible Dumbledore who manipulates people for the sake of the Greater Good, then I think you'll be okay with it.

Another thing I like about this story is the themes: what it means to be a family; learning from your mistakes. Again, these themes don't just apply to Snape and Harry, but to other characters, in big and small ways.

A good story. Set aside a fair amount of time for it, because it is Epic.

2nd February 2012

Listen (Doctor Who/Buffy)

By Evilawyer
Reviewed by Kathryn A
Tags: Short Story, Crossover
Characters: Tenth Doctor, Drusilla
(8K, 1297 words)

Summary: The pixies say you save worlds, too, but that sometimes salvation and destruction wear the same gloves.

This makes me wish that Drusilla would travel with the Doctor; it gives me hope that with him, she would be no longer broken. That's a first.

The last line, ah, it cuts so bittersweet.