I kept reading straight through till the very end! Your exposition of Snape's background was so detailed, especially concerning his thought processes and emotions as both a boy and an adult. We can clearly see the parallels between his abused life and Harry's, and the frustration Snape feels with Dumbledore (regarding the Headmaster's conviction that Snape is the ideal person to deal with Harry's acting out) is EVENTUALLY laid to rest, but not before you've treated us to several rounds of engrossing angst! Harry, too, finally comes to terms with his own life, and that hug at the end felt wonderful, as unexpected as it was. 😊
My highest praise focuses on your exceptionally-detailed history of how Severus got involved with Voldemort in the first place. I've never seen anyone else handle his "indoctrination" into the Death Eaters with such subtlety as you have -- this rings soooo true to life: people getting in over their heads before they realize quite how or why it happened, and regretting their actions and the consequences which they can never undo. Well done!!!!!
I liked the back stories you created for Severus and Sirius.
Nicely written interaction between Albus and Severus. I like how Harry only slowly comes around to telling the truth.
Nicely written interaction between Albus and Severus. I like how Harry only slowly comes around to telling the truth.
I loved this different pacing and style of writing. It felt like a superbly-done deep dive into the minds and motivations of all the key characters we know and love. Your unique spin on some of these histories was also very interesting and believable.
I love that Snape keeps trying, and has offered practical advice in the form of coping strategies. It has me reflecting on how I need to develop more of those myself.
This piece of writing is brilliant. I’m sitting here stunned by the depths to which I’ve been immersed. Feeling the transformation of Severus’s dislike into hatred, seeing how saving Severus ultimately gained James everything Severus desired, seeing the other shoe drop. Then feeling the burn of Harry’s anger masking the vulnerability of his lived experience, feeling Severus’s certainty that Harry was merely fighting, feeling his curiosity and observations narrowing in on the truth, feeling a raw vulnerability in them both at the end. There was so much to feel, a veritable tidal wave. This was utterly brilliant.
In my mind, Harry got hella pissed Umbridge got Snape sacked and led a riot, complete and utter chaos. Slytherins included, because Slytherins stick together and this Bitch fired their head of house. Can you imagine Harry and Draco coming together into one explosive duo. Hogwarts probably ended up on fire by the end of it, but Umbridge was sacked, surpassing even Snape and McGonagall in Shortest Tenure at Hogwarts Ever.
Author's Response: Best ending to that story ever!
| Title: Two Stories Are One
| 27 May 2021 2:18 pm
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| Reviewer: Anzaze (Signed)
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There are a lot of things to love about this story! Snape’s background and the narrative of how he got mixed up with death eaters in the first place felt clever and like a natural progression of someone who got into something that’s over their head.
I thought the writing was good, but sometimes things didn’t strike me as very immanent and it pulled me from the immersion a little. And the ending gave me mixed feelings; I like what the author has written, but it felt more like a chapter ending than a story ending, and I’m left a little unsatisfied. I think another chapter, maybe with Harry and Snape reuniting, would have concluded things nicely.
| Title: Two Stories Are One
| 15 May 2021 2:42 pm
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| Reviewer: dex (Signed)
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I really adore this. It's such an interesting take on Severus's relationship with the Marauders! I enjoyed the back and forth in time a lot, it brought so much perspective to Snape's actions. Wonderful job capturing Harry's snark and feelings of hopelessness and anger as well. The end was very sweet and I may or may not have cried a little bit lol!
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