Yeah, I could have used a chapter like that before the epilogue of DH, or better yet, instead of it. I've read several other stories of this ilk -- one last chat with our favorite Potions Master -- and they tend to be overly maudlin, but not yours.
As Snape would say, "It was well done." Thank you for sharing.
This is a very beautiful piece of writing. To me, it seems to have an understated power; there's such quiet simplicity in the meeting between Harry and Snape. I guess because they can both be at peace now.
I liked how you portrayed Snape after death--how he can be more relaxed, more open than he could in life. I truly love fanfics where he can heal all his inner wounds, let go of bitterness, and form some healthy relationships, but I'm not sure it would have worked in canon. So I hoped that Snape could find peace in the afterlife.
The conversation between the two was perfect, and it's good to see the closure.
| Title: One More Such Victory
| 15 Sep 2007 6:51 am
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| Reviewer: Amaruk Wolfheart (Anonymous)
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Well done indeed. And thank you.
| Title: One More Such Victory
| 15 Sep 2007 6:06 am
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| Reviewer: Terri (Anonymous)
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Thanks for moving it over here! I found it by accident on your log the first time and then couldn't find it to reread it--spent 18 hours searching & finally got it back by searching for the "perfect detachment" line. This is the single most healing Snape story out here!
| Title: One More Such Victory
| 15 Sep 2007 6:03 am
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| Reviewer: madbrad (Anonymous)
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Very good! I like the idea of Snape 'resting peacefully' in particular. I'm not a big fan of Snape, but it was easy to forget his nasty side and go with the intent of your story here.
One thing from DH escapes me:
"I'm hiding the Resurrection Stone," Harry says. "So nobody can try to unite all the Hallows again."
Who cares if someone unites the Hallows? I know we were told that one would be the 'Master of Death' if one had all three, but nowhere in the book are we told what that actually *means*. The folk tale clearly tells us what powers each of the three artifacts has, but nothing about any extra abilities that one may acquire should one procure all of them. As far as I could tell from the book it's just a label for 'someone who has all three Hallows'. And - on its own or with the other objects - the Stone is fairly harmless, yes?
So I think Harry's burying the stone here, to preclude the possibility of someone gaining 'all three', is a non sequitur.
Thanks for the story!
This is EXACTLY the conversation I would want Harry to have with Snape. Branwyn always makes me have to reach for my tissues (I'm such a crier at this kind of stuff!) that now I'm in desperate need of a run to Costco to replenish my stash.
"Perfect detachment was—not possible."
(The sentence that started me reaching for the darn Kleenixes in the first place!) Them both wishing they'd tried harder at a better understanding of each other...because I'd wished that too when reading the books.
Other favorite lines:
"You were there, in the end. It was...enough."
"And you, Potter. Make a life for yourself. You are...overdue for one."
I'm glad Harry wanted Snape's tomb to be in a place for all to see. Snape may not have wanted it, but he deserves as much honor as Dumbledore for his sacrifices.
Thanks again, Branwyn, for another fantastic piece of writing!
I like this. There are so many things I'm glad you *didn't* do. No bleak afterlife. No Lily. For good or ill, I'm just not sure which she'd really be for Snape after death, so I'm glad you don't actually show him confronting her. She doesn't some across as a convincing friend to me in life (even before the Worst Memory scene), so I'm not sure what she'd be in death. I'm glad there wasn't a great deal of angsty stuff between Snape and Harry. It is all very straightforward with acceptance. No Dumbledore and Snape. Once again, there's an aspect of tension there between the two, and I like this being relatively free of that sort of tension. Besides, this was Harry's meeting with Snape, and it was good to see them meet alone with each other.
Thanks for sharing this.
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