Title: In Principia
Author: Vasaris, the Fuzzy Dragon
Category: Pre-slash.
Rating: probably R for „Darkness, death and damnation.”
Summary: What cost, fate? 

A delicious, pardon the expression, mindfuck. A story you have to read to the last word in order to be able to form any opinion about. Dark and pessimistic, with a surprising touch of humour: Snape’s “Counterproductive in the extreme, my boy . [...] Sherbet lemon?” or Hermione’s “Pleased to meet you, Mr. Riddle” truly cracked me up (yes please, feel free to question my sanity - this is a dark fic after all). With its interesting concepts, a nice built-up of suspense, well shaped characters and good language „In Principia” manages to be different, original, remarkable. Just have a look.
Morrighan

Title: A Question of Etiquette Series
In the following order:
Examination
A Fine Understanding
A Fond Farewell
A Moment of Privacy
An Entertaining Start 
Continuing As We've Begun 
Exploration and Revelation
A Temporary Arrangement
Two for Joy
Rites of Passage
Author:Amy
Category: Snarry
Rating: PG to NC-17

Being gay is not easy, especially when you are a hero of the wizarding world and all eyes are on you, especially especially when there is a certain code to follow when you do not want to disgrace yourself publicly - a gay etiquette.

Who would be better to teach these rules to our young Harry than the only other gay person at the school - Severus Snape?

The gay etiquette is a wonderful invention for us readers for it leads to wonderfully worded conversation full of double meanings and innuendos, conversations that have several levels at once. It is very amusing to watch Harry trying to adapt to this kind of language, the way he often translates everything in his head to understand what's been said and the way he sometimes slips into 'crude' muggle language when things are important for him.

I loved the PG and R rated bits of the series for their humour and their wonderful Snape-Harry interaction. I did not enjoy the majority of the NC-17 parts. It's the twins' fault! Whenever they appear the refinded conversations and the sophisticated story drop to unfortunate level of vulgarity. The main characters fall out of their roles and the smutty bits are not sexy, but boring and tasteless in their presentation. My view ot the things might me coloured here, I openly admit that twincest and a menage à quatre (you can't really call it a foursome) is a bit too much for prudish me. But still. Strangely enough, evey time the twins left, the quality of the story rose, perhaps not to the level of the first four parts, but it rose none the less.

You may ask yourself why I review a story I have so many negative things to say about. I really loved the world Amy's story is set in. I loved these conversations between Snape and Harry, the double meanings, the way Snape speaks, I loved the characterisations, I loved the taste of tea and lemon.
I think in the later parts Amy became unfaithful to her own story, she tell a different tale with a different Harry and a different Snape in a very different tone. But perhaps you are of a different opinion here, perhaps I was too squicked to see the writing in an impartial way.

I'd like to ask those who have not yet read A question of Etiquette to go and read the story and to tell me what you think.

Maryx


guest-starring: aliciamasters

A Question of Etiquette is one of the stories for which I would take a sick day in order to read a new installment. I agree that the Snape/Harry moments are the defining moments of the fic, and each interaction between them is infused with such longing, that it redefines the story again and again. The escapades with the Twins, which would normally bother me, just reinforce the frustration and temptation that Harry and Snape feel with the constant presence of each other. They are simply pacifiers until the moment of real satisfaction.

My one worry is that Amy will get so frustrated with the length of the story that she will never reach the penultimate moment between Harry and Snape. Perhaps she should've set this in the middle of 7th year!


guest-starring: Nightjunkie

While I'd never read anything of Amy's before "A Question of Etiquette", I can definitely say that I'll be awaiting her updates from here on out.

Her stories draw me in because she somehow manages to beautifully mix a canon snarky Snape with a more tortured quiet figure who provides the background for many of Snapes....well, snarks.

As for the Twins, I love them. I'll admit, I'm not easily squicked. However, the scenes with them provide an understandable plot device on why in the world Snape would be willing to be so very, very patient.

Go now. Read. Bookmark.

Why, thank you! I am already enjoying my new DVD immensely, now I’m going to enjoy it far too much!
I really liked this little fic. Apart from being rather fond of those stories where wizards try to grasp the workings of particular Muggle devices, I greatly appreciate a piece of lighter reading from time to time, when I can sit back, relax and be sure that nothing dark and angsty will jump at me from around the corner. Fics of this kind are like pills for broodiness.
Morrighan

I was so afraid of reading this fic. I often find it difficult to lose myself in a first person point of view and I had serious doubts about the sheer heaviness of the story at the beginning. As it turned out, all my fears were completely unfounded. What I received from the author was an original idea, wonderful language, lost joy, forgotten happiness, life full of despair, hatred and love so closely interwoven, and the bittersweet relationship between enemies/allies. An incredible read. Yet another proof that HBP was just a beginning.
Morrighan

Finding no sense in repeating what Maryx has already said, I'll just add that 'The Challenge' is one of those few quality stories which can both amaze me with their plot, writing style and action and make me fall from my chair laughing. Definitely my favourite of Cybele's one-shots.
Morrighan

Title: Lucid
Author: Sinope
Rating: PG-13
Category: Snarry
Summary:  Snape finds that Occlumency leaves its traces in his mind and in his dreams.

Let me be short this time: ‘Lucid’ is an original take on Occlumency and Snape/Harry in general. No cuddling, no love, no sex and definitely no fluff. Instead, the fic offers a brilliant insight into Snape's mind and it's definitely not a colourful field full of flowers you see there. Find out for yourself.
Morrighan

I loved the way the author managed to describe the atmosphere in this fic: the boredom at the beginning, so heavy that I could actually see Harry, Hermione and Ron sitting at the top of the stairs; then Snape, and panic, and blood; then the quiet of the night; Snape's damage, his rasping voice and Harry's "Thank you" in the end. But could I expect anything else? It's Dianann after all.
Morrighan

Title: Testing the Waters
Author: Captain James
Rating: R
Category: Snarry
Summary: Snape decides to test seventh years, making them identify potions. Harry’s test, though, goes different from everyone else’s.
"Something was definitely wrong. He couldn’t quite put his finger on it, but something was not right, he could feel it."

I used to shy away from UST fics (Unresolved Sexual Tension), as I often found them lacking something crucial, leaving an impression that the work is somehow unfinished. And then… Well, then I’ve read Testing the Waters, a little treasure which made my lungs hurt from holding my breath without even realizing it. This one-shot has it all: excellent language, surprising touch of humour, and sheer intensity. Its every sentence hits you like a thunder (“On the table”!) and what you basically want to tell the author once you finish reading is: “James, you are a horrible, teasing, evil, evil thing!”  
Morrighan