rate_review Reviews

Wonderful story. Love the Fae realm and, of course, Severus.

This is the kind of story that leaves me wanting more... I do hope you update soon. I'm anxious to see what happens next.

Intriguing start! That's an interesting universe Severus landed himself in. And at least there, for the probably first time sadly, he is valued for himself - without ulterior motives and snags.

One thing horrified me though: all this exceptional knowledge and power offered - and the ultimate goal after aquiring these awesome magic is to go *back to Hogwarts to teach DADA*?! Seriously? The same mostly disinterested bunch he despaired off all these years; where he was trapped, undervalued and even humiliated by students, colleagues and superiors alike; mirred in prejudice and loathing? Embroiled in stupid House politics and teaching 11 to 18 year olds, who are forced to attend for 5 years at least, no matter their aptitude or willingness? Relating to teenagers for most of his time he clearly doesn't like? With colleagues who were awfully ready to believe the worst of him despite knowing him for 2/3 of his life, even trying to kill him? Under the thumb of yet another Headmaster/mistress and the ministry for syllabus? That's depressing. And like winning an Oscar and then go playing amateur theatre in some backwater village. Wasted talent. Are his spirits, creativity and ambitions so trampled by life that he can't imagine any career or satisfaction outside a freaking boarding school? Ouch.
I could understand taking apprentices who *chose* this path AFTER their NEWTs with interest and talent for this particular field, Severus working independently on individual projects or in a higher academic setting among interested adults. But returning to Hogwarts seems more like a punishment and forcibly keeping his horizont and maturity curbed than some grand reward....

chapter 4: The teaching has a very monkish or far eastern feeling. The shaving and uniform clothing, the physical labor etc. The idea of people able to indiscriminately look into his head must be horrifying to Severus! I wouldn't like it and I thankfully have less of a tortured past, he was remarkebly sanguine about it. He seems content though with the variety of activities and skills taught. He was probably starved for academic discourse and learning new skills from being buried at Hogwarts and for most of his adult life and with little time between teaching, spying, Order-business, stocking the infirmary, Head of House-duties etc for own inventions and research he's so gifted at. Though the insinuation that Hermione of all people, who certainly hasn't been particularly talented at combat or combat magic in canon, would be doing "quite as well" as Severus at these hand-tp-hand lessons with his decades more experience and much more practical application is pretty insulting. If that were true I'd wonder and be completely mortified in Snape's shoes....

Hmm, speaking of - Hermione I guess would have quite a few problems in this setting. Starting with not being athletic or especially gifted at DADA, requisite having quick reflexes for the combat-part to her pronounced preference for book-learning and her lack of creativity. She's great at memorizing and good at adapting existing knowledge gained from external sources. But she clearly lacks own creativity and a deeper insight gained from the learned material (take her disapointing preformance in Potions 6th year: if she had actually *understood* the prinicples taught so far - in contrast to just memorizing them - she should have come to alternative solutions and to the answers in Slughorn's class as the HBP did and Harry while cheating with the Prince's notes. However she couldn't: she failed whenever it required more than just following directions) which should hamper her in such an unusual non-established non-book-learned material and environment. Her success in following directions for the wandless spell I could believe though, especially if she has already learned that this would be a requirement/part of the syllabus.

But I wonder at the wisdom of teaching Severus with Granger of all people. At least at such an early stage. She's an ex-student, making the sudden shift in blance as fellow novices weird enough, even if they had a better relationship before. Which they hadn't and Severus has quite a few legitimate reasons to dislike her. She never apologized for any of the harm she has done him over the years, let alone reimbursed him: starting with setting him on fire when he tried to keep Harry safe from Quirrel!Mort (she learned that at the end of year but never apologized for her misconception), over stealing from his private stores to attacking him magically! Adding her constant infractions of rules and cheating in class (not for her own benefit but helping others during single assignments or letting them copying homework is cheating just as much) In addition she now knows more about him than many people would be comfortable with and is known for being self-righteous and judgemental.
It seems insensitive and counterproductive to pair him with Hermione just yet. Perhaps at a later time when the wounds have somewhat healed and with a bit more distance to the events at Hogwarts for both....

Forgot to say: the climax with Severus incinerating all his abusers or creditors, magical or emotional was very impressive and showing his emotional anguish and unresolved hurts. Very well-written! And what a good - and novel - thing that afterwards there was actually someone there for him. Someone he liked and in this new environment trusted most.

Well, that was quite an ordeal! And yet, much points to hope and healing, and finally and for the first time love and acceptance in sight. Vision!Lily had more self-awareness and depth than the real one seemed to have in life and her acknowledgement of her own mistakes and shortcomings in regards to being a friend should help Severus heal at last. And the actual love, in contrast to his perception of Lily as flawless idol and icon instead of a person with strengths and faults, who sees and values all of him is apparently at his side already. Good for him!

Ah, so it'll be the classic Aragorn/Arwen romantic conundrum: give up mortalitiy and a life in a paradiselike environment for love respectively condemn your love to death and illness for sharing your life with you.... Tough choice and never one to make alone.

But at least the confrontation with Severus' romantic nemesis has shown how much he has matured and healed, showing his understanding and acceptance of his beloved as a person with her own rights and choices rather than a possession and trophy. Good for him!

Having reached the temporary end now I'll hope you will update this story again someday. The fact that so far there were apparently huge gaps between updating makes me hope you'll kepp at it still. Looking forward to reading more!

How cruel! But then, Snape's never had an easy time finding love, has he? I hope he wins the girl this time, or rather, that she'll chose him. He deserves great happiness. Otherwise, why would Lily show him in his vision a possible future with having children who bear Lasair's eyes?

I'm enjoying the story! Update again soon, please!

Fanimegrl: glad you're still enjoying the story. We'll have to see what happens!

Carlita, thanks. Glad you like it thus far!