Title: Peripheral Vision
Author: Alexandra Dane
Category: Snarry
Rating: PG-13
Summary: As Severus had so often reminded him, the simple fact of both being unattached gay wizards who through no fault of their own happened to be sharing a very small living space and developing a kind of mutual dependency did not automatically make them either compatible or attractive to one another.

I shall attempt to overcome my speechlessness about this story and give a decent review.  First off, I cannot conceive why this story isn't far better known than it is.  It's absolutely lovely. This story takes place after the war with Voldemort ended with magic vanishing from everyone and blinding many wizards.  Much of that part is not explained and it is immaterial to the story and soon one gets so caught up in the dialogue that one forgets any confusion about what went on before this all began.  Both Harry and Severus are blind and end up sharing a room at a facility for the blinded wizards and witches.  The wizarding world is trying to pick up the pieces and integrate into the muggle world by establishing a school. A certain river in Egypt comes to mind while reading this, but not so much being in denial as being outwardly in denial. The progression of the story and the relationship between the two ties into this denial and is fantastic. There are all these little things that make it delightful.  One thing that struck me about it is the absolute lack of visual descriptions as both men are blind.  It was an excellent bit of writing as it forced the reader to imagine things the way that Harry and Severus experienced them.  Another thing is the thought of EnglishProfessor!Snape, which is positively stunning to me. In all, an excellent read.
-Nessi

This story has got everything I'm dedicated to in Snarry fics: it's post-Hogwarts, the magic is gone, Snape is of the "non-wizarding teacher" quality and there is no sunshine and roses even though the war is over. Furthermore, Harry and Severus are in a relationship of my favourite kind: as two unlikely allies, learning to cope with new developments and with each other. And when I thought the story could not get any better, the author puts W.H. Auden’s „Lullaby” in Snape’s mouth, thus earning my ultimate devotion. A beautiful, beautiful fic.
Morrighan

guest-starring: ac1d6urn

It's been awhile since I read Peripheral Vision but I remember well how beautiful and well-written and strange this story is. So strange that it can easily be an original work but nonetheless I am thankful that it's an HP/SS fanfic. It's detailed, and peaceful, and seems so ordinary and yet shocking at the same time. It made me think, it made me smile, it made me worry and want a happy ending for these two. It drew me in and I was thrilled to witness these two find a bit of happiness together.

Title: Learning To Spell
Author: Nattish
Category: Guardian
Rating: PG
Summary: Harry is very young and has been sent to live with Snape. He finds it easier to make friends with the forest creatures than the mean old man.

This is a sweet little AU story that I fell in love with from the first few sentences.  It's told from the point of view of Harry as a rather young child (about 5 or 6) and there are these lovely little moments and sentences that show that, such as measuring distance in the amount of hops away something is or Harry's habit of naming the plants in Snape's garden with his own unique little names when he doesn't know the proper one.  Harry's innocent, yet intelligent observations are a delight to read and his reactions to Snape are wonderful and well characterized.  While there is a moment in which I think Snape aquiesces a little too quickly, it is otherwise an excellent story and the ending is wonderful.

Nessi


I liked this little story as well. Nattish has a wonderful way of portraying a yound child. I think I never read a story where I could see so much of how a child's mind works. A refreshing change!

Maryx

Title: Nights Nothings  (or link to chapter index)
Authors: atrata (Harry) and switchknife (Severus)
Category: Snarry
Rating: NC17
Summary: It's Harry's third Christmas at Hogwarts, and Sirius Black is on the loose. But is he the only enemy Hogwarts may be hiding? Harry pins his suspicions on Snape, but soon discovers that he's got a lot to learn...

I have this weird impression that if said "Look who is writing this piece" and finished my post, people would still run off to read it. And boy, wasn't I tempted to do so! However, for the sake of those poor souls who might have spent some years on a deserted island I'll say this:

When Atrata's Harry is glaring at Snape (the real one or the ink one) I am shaking with laughter and choking on my drinks.

When Switchknife's Snape thinks of something as an 'interesting develpment', my pulse is racing like crazy.

There are very few people in this fandom who can hold my full attention setting a story in a year which I thought I knew all about. And here, oh my poor heart, the two of them decided to work together. Switchknife and Atrata, who can make breathing sensual, for crying out loud! Ladies and gentlemen, the quest has just begun. I say we are all doomed.
Morrighan

PS: Make sure to read the authors’ comments. Yes, comments. *coughs*

 

Title: Price of Magic
Author: ac1d6urn
Rating: R
Category: future HP/SS
Summary: Haunted by ghost of a former student, an ex-wizard struggles to preserve magical knowledge for future generations.

Reading stories featuring Snape and/or Harry as devotedly as I do, I honestly didn't believe there was anything that could still surprise me. Until today.
The first thing that came to my mind when I read Acid's work is that it's so much like dark chocolate: sophisticated, rich and probably too 'heavy' for those who appreciate only the lighter kind. The story is masterfully written, filled with sarcasm, has perfect characterization and doesn't lack humour. Dark humour at that.
That alone would be enough for me to start worshipping the author. And here, it's not even a proper beginning:
There is Harry, so much in character considering the, well... circumstances; there are words which make me gasp (“I pulled you out of a nightmare.”); very disturbing images and thoughts; there is the astounding way in which Acid captures the true essence of the wizarding war:
"How naïve we all were to stick a wand in a seventeen-year-old hand and point out the enemy. Here is the bad man, go, kill, avenge your parents, be a hero. Did anyone truly believe in the success of that particular ‘brilliant’ military scheme?"
Indeed, did they?

Morrighan

Here is Acid's illustration to the story: Waterloo Bridge (Talk about talent...) But reccing her art is another matter entirely.

Title: Pride and Prejudice
Author: Cat Samwise
Rating: NC-17 (could be 'R')
Category: Snarry
Summary: Challenge: Combo challenge, scenarios: #78: "It is a fact generally acknowledged, that a young man in possession of a fortune must also be in search of a wife." (Jane Austen, Pride & Prejudice) The arrival of a young bachelor in the area of Hogsmeade sets all the unmarried men & women's hearts a-flutter. But it is the young man's friend, the proud Mr. Snape, who has caught Harry's attention. Will he be able to overcome prejudice to find happiness? (Diana); #150: Incorporate the quote "Cry havoc and let lose the dogs of war" into the fic. (KC); and #100: Snape's never had sex with a guy before. (Kira).
Also archived at Skyhawke and PSA.

A AU fic very loosely based on P&P with Snape as Mr. Darcy - proud and unapproachable! Unfortunately the writer couldn't resist making him very sexy as well.
The story is nicely written. The language of this fic could be great - touching - weren't it for some rough and unpolished sentences and the typos.
It is set in an unspecified time in the past and the author really tries to convey this feeling by the choice of words. Unfortunately the author sometimes destroys this feeling by using modern terms.
The ending of the story comes as a surprise, a surprise I liked very much, but some reviewers were rather disappointed.
There are some points in the story that need some improvement, but altogether it is well worth the read.
Maryx

I was one of those people Maryx mentioned in her review that was shocked and confused by the ending of Pride and Prejudice.  I suppose that since the story was so similar to Jane Austen's novel, that I was expecting a happy ending to match.  When I didn't get one I will admit that I felt a bit let down.

That said, I found Pride and Prejudice to be an extremely enjoyable read.  I liked how Cat Samwise developed the story of a non-magical 19th century English world, yet still maintaned the basic traits of each character.  Her Severus was a bit too debonair for my tastes (I find I rather like him with a large hooked nose, rather than an 'aristocratic' one), but he was kept a bit snarky, which worked well.  There were times in which I wished the side plots had been developed a bit more, especially the Lucius/Padma and Oliver/Padma parts and Harry's reaction to it all.  I liked the slow dance of Harry and Severus relationship and how uncomfortable Snape was with it. 

Overall, a good read, but be prepared for an odd ending.

Cheers! Nessime