rate_review Reviews

Beautifully written - very atmospheric - thank you so much for posting! :)

This is the first time I've read an HGSS story with "pedophilia" as the stated theme, and not been squicked by it. As always Ruth, you are a master. And I totally wish you'd write HGSS as prolifically as you used to. Or maybe just something a couple times a year? Current crossover story non-withstanding, of course.

Very good. It's slightly disturbing, but entirely plausible. I loved every second of it and wished for it to be longer. I can easily imagine this sensitive relationship being drawn out magnificently.

Such positive responses. I can't help but wonder what it is that makes this so acceptable? Possibly we "know" his motivations and "understand' his attraction? Maybe we perceive there's something more than sexual here. But still, Snape says things that are basically unacceptable. He practically says he would have bedded her as young as 12 in another time. Yes, he would have been kind and patient . . . but still . . . he would have had sex with a twelve year old. Would it have been all right then? Perhaps, since it was the common custom. But now it isn't, yet he still longs for her, and is only withholding himself because . . . he says 'convention' but could he mean he doesn't want to go to Azkaban? Hmmm. I wrote this to see how I could make it "presentable" in this day and age. Snape is perceived as noble, his attraction . . . honest. It makes one wonder. Not in the case of children who are not sexually mature, but in the case of underage young women who are still of childbearing age, what goes through the mind of older men who are attracted to them? Is it always the sex. taking advantage of their inexperience? Or could it be more? Again, I'm not condoning pedophilia, but I have to wonder is every case the same? Just being a devil's advocate I guess. It's just how my mind works when I write something, that little subtext in the back of my mind. I'm just wondering if this story were to continue, which it won't, if it did . . . would small shows of affection toward Hermione be . . . acceptable, a stern talking to at 14, perhaps a hesitant kiss on the lips at 15, a caress and a warning at 16? Non-sexual embraces of affection while sitting alone before the fire, waiting for her to "mature?" Hmmm. Makes me think.

Very interesting story, I can't wait to see how this develops. Well done and no I don't condone Pedophile either.

i hope this means that you will continue this.

Also interesting is the differences in the age of consent in different countries. In Spain the AOC is 13, I believe. There, this story could happen in real life and not be illegal, but in a lot of other countries you wouldn't even allowed to read about it! I personally think 13 is way too young, but would that be different if I lived in Spain?

I don't know what to say about this. I really like it, which makes me wonder. Perhaps it is that the story was written tastefully. This is a VERY different scenario. Anyway... is that all there is?

TenderQuaintWitch: Yes, that's all there is to it. I'm glad it made you wonder, because my wondering is what made me write it in the first place. I guess I managed to pass it on. ***

Very well written and intriguing. I like how you pull up history and how interesting it is on how our minds change with what is "appropriate".