Mar. 16th, 2010

lunabee34: (reading by thelastgoodname)
Okay, so here's the thing. I've been reading Harry/Snape lately, and while there are some good stories out there, I think it's very very very difficult to find a Harry/Snape fic that is canon compliant and that characterizes Harry and Snape *both* as they are characterized in canon. In other words, one of the problems I have with Snarry is the same problem I find myself having with a lot of Spander. Canonically, Harry and Snape hate each other--true bone deep overwhelming dislike (more so than Spike and Xander even dreamed of entertaining, I'd wager). In addition to that, Snape is described in the books as being unerringly cruel to children, especially Harry, and his behavior towards Harry is pretty much beyond inappropriate for an adult to display towards a child. Granted, the narrator is Harry and he's an unreliable narrator and his sphere of focus is so very small that I have absolutely no problem believing that Snape isn't quite as horrible as he is made out to be from Harry's POV. And there's definitely more than a little wiggle room for Harry to simply not be privy to crucial information about Snape. But there's the little issue of everyone except Dumbledore seeming to agree with Harry's assessment of Snape's character. And the way that everyone describes him as this horrifically unattractive and essentially unloveable person. There are some huge ass hurdles to overcome for a ship, y'all.

Harry/Snape seems to me to be one of the two most popular pairings in fandom (after Harry/Draco, or perhaps alongside), and I have to wonder how much of that popularity is due to casting Alan Rickman in the movies. Because let's face it--nothing Alan Rickman can ever do will make him unattractive. My panties are coded to the register of his voice. The man is hot. Really, really hot. I wonder if they'd cast a man as Snape who actually looks and sounds and moves the way JKR describes him in the novels if Snarry would enjoy the popularity that it does. But I digress.

What usually happens in a Snarry fic is some combination of the following:
1. Snape's character is softened, sometimes to a degree that he bears little relationship to his canonical self
2. Lip service is paid to Snape's canon characterization but it is very quickly replaced with a personality much more amenable to having a relationship with Harry
3. Snape reveals that he never hated Harry at all and it was a Big Lie and can't they shag now, please?
4. Harry has always been in love with Snape
5. Lip service is paid to Harry's canon characterization but it is very quickly replaced with a Harry who thinks Snape is his soulmate

As you might suspect, none of these story trajectories are very satisfying to me as a reader. Well, fear not, for I have found the perfect Snarry story that solves all these characterization conundrums. I think this is my favorite story I have read in fandom ever ever.

ExpandSPOILERS FOR THE STORY, NATCH, BUT I'LL TRY TO LIMIT THEM SO YOU CAN STILL ENJOY THE FIC )

Who knew I had this much to say about Snape? LOL Guys, I cannot stress how fine I believe these stories to be. Shoo! Go read.

*Except [livejournal.com profile] drsquidlove's Giles Thing which uses a different kind of de-aging plot altogether and is the picture of perfection

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lunabee34

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