Back to Help Menu

Potions and Snitches is an archive dedicated to hosting good quality fanfiction that deals with Severus Snape and Harry Potter in a non slash relationship.

We have a few basic submission rules:

1. Stories must focus primarily on the relationship between Severus Snape and Harry Potter. You must post enough of your story at first to show that.
   
   
2. No SS/HP (slash) is allowed. Their relationship must be platonic.
   
   
3. No mature ratings are allowed (no NC-17 or MA scenes). Sexual scenes and graphic imagery must not be acted out. The rating must be correct for the content in the story. For ratings guidelines go here.
   
   
4. No plagiarism is allowed.
   
   
5. All original fictional characters must be well developed. (No Canon Sues or Mary Sues allowed.)
   
   
6. No crossovers. (Special permission may be granted if a well-written crossover predominantly features Snape and Harry's relationship.)
   
   
7. No bad crackfic please (a type of fanfiction that is intentionally unbelievable and insane).
   
   
8. Stories must have correct grammar, punctuation, and spelling. Poor gramma, spelling, or punctuation will be rejected. Double quotation marks (" ") are the preferred style for dialogue on this archive.
   
   
9. All classifications must be correct (warnings, genres, characters, ect.).
   
   
10. For chaptered stories, please aim for chapter length between 4 and 18 pages. The maximum number of words per chapter is 40,000.
    
    
11. Author notes are only allowed in the Story notes and Author notes boxes. If they are in the story text area they will be deleted. If story notes are used, then chapter notes should be avoided for the first chapter.
    
    
12. Please check the formatting of each chapter before and after you submit. Make sure that there are line breaks and spaces between paragraphs. Do not indent your chapters with spaces, because paragraphs will end up being indented halfway across the page. Do not justify your paragraphs except for special print-like sections. For formatting help, go here.
    
    
13. Do not make strings of symbols longer than 15 characters. For example, "Ahhhhhhhhhhh!" is 15 characters without any spaces. This rule includes dashes ------- or ________, use horizontal rules instead which will grow or shrink to match the width of the page. Any strings of characters longer than 15 will be shortened by site administrators to prevent horizontal scrolling of the page.
    Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhahahahahahahhaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa! This is why we don't allow such long words and lines... can you actually read this without scrolling from side to side? Imagine if the entire chapter was like this... It would be terrible, huh? Yeah, it would. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------__________________ThisIsn'tAHorizontalRule_______________________

Go to Top

A prologue is an introduction, usually shorter than a chapter. Prologues should be added onto the beginning of chapter one if possible. You may also add it in the story notes area if it is short enough.

If your prologue is too long for it and chapter one be accepted together then you can publish the prologue as its own chapter, however prologues should not be added as their own chapter unless they are as long as a chapter. Be aware that a prologue on its own will be given the number 1 as its chapter number, and it will mess up your chapter number order for the entire story in the table of contents and in chapter jump menus. The real chapter one will be listed as "2. Chapter One," and chapter two will be "3. Chapter Two."

Go to Top

Story notes can be added when you add or edit a story. They show up on the story index page (table of contents) as well as the beginning of chapter one, before the chapter title. When using story notes, you should NOT add author notes for chapter one, they BOTH will show up at the start of chapter one and fulfill the same purpose. Author's notes for the first chapter should be included in the story notes.

We ask that authors use story author notes responsibly and only post important things for the whole story that will be pertinent forever. Some good uses for story notes are: very short prolouges, more detailed summaries, disclaimers, inspiration of the story, how often you plan to update, warnings for content, credit for any betas, ect.

Go to Top

Author notes can be added to the beginning and end of every chapter. The notes added in the beginning of every chapter may also show up on the story index page under the respective chapter link. Make sure that your author notes are placed in the author's notes boxes (there are two of them, above and below the "story text" box) and not in the actual story text box. If added there, they will be deleted. Do not bold, italicize or underline your entire author's note. We ask that authors use author notes responsibly and only post important things for each individual chapter that will be pertinent forever.

Go to Top

One-shots are allowed. Make sure that you mark the story as completed.

For the title of the chapter, list the title of the story. Chapter titles show up automatically on all skins, so if you don't change this then your one-shot will be proceeded by "Chapter One."

Go to Top

Chapter Titles show up at the top of each chapter automatically on all skins of the archive. Do not list your chapter title, chapter number, or other information in the body text of your story. It will end up duplicated. Place the chapter title in the chapter title spot.

The story name, author's name, and chapter title all automatically show up on every chapter. Do not add them in your story's text or they will be deleted.

There is a box for story notes to be added for the entire story, and also boxes for beginning and ending authors notes for each chapter. Any story or author notes in the story text box will be either moved to the proper place or deleted.

It's important that all the stories are saved in the same way to keep the word counts right, to not have duplicated titles, ect.

Go to Top

The last chapter of every story automatically includes "The End" at the bottom if it is completed, or "To be continued..." if it is a work in progress. Do not include those things, or endings like them in your story text because they will be duplicated.

The ending author chapter notes will come after the "The End" part. (That won't happen if author end notes are part of the story text.)

Go to Top

All stories will have to be accepted by a moderator before they are added to the archive to make sure that the guidelines are followed. Make sure that enough of the story is posted at first to show a point where Snape and Harry either have some solid interaction or both have had some significant scene time; we won't be able to tell if the story belongs here otherwise. If a story breaks one of the submission rules then it will be rejected. Stories of poor quality may be rejected.

Stories should be checked within a week at the latest, but they are usually checked within days or hours. Some trusted authors have been given validation status, which means that they are cleared to upload new stories to the archive without a check by an administrator simply because the moderators know that they will respect and obey the submission guidelines; please do not misuse this privilege. If you have any questions please feel free to ask on the shoutbox, chat, forum or by email.

No. Just because your story didn't meet the guidelines doesn't mean that others won't. You are also welcome to improve the rejected story or change some content and try again.

Go to Top

We may step in and fix something if it comes to our attention, such as a chapter without paragraph breaks, incorrect story information, or anything that goes against the Submission Rules or Terms of Service. Often the author is contacted about major changes through e-mail or a review. We will not delete a story intentionally without cause, and that will likely be because it disobeys the archive guidelines or if there is a problem that comes to our attention with plagiarism. We are approachable and will explain any administrative decisions if you need us to.

Go to Top

When submitting a new story please pick the category that best fits. Please try to pick one category, or at most two or three categories. The category most appropriate should be the category that fits the majority of the story.

Big Brother Snape - Stories where Snape and Harry have the same parents, or one parent in common with each other. May be biological or adopted, officially or not.

Master Snape - Stories where Snape has absolute authority over Harry; consists of Apprentice Harry, Headmaster Snape, and Slave Harry.

Subcategories:  

Apprentice Harry - Stories where Harry is Snape's apprentice.

Headmaster Snape - Stories where Harry is in school as a student or professor, and Snape is the Headmaster.

Slave Harry - Stories where Harry is Snape's slave.

Teacher Snape - Snape teaches or instructs Harry, esp. In a profession or as an instructor. Contains Trusted Advisor Snape, Professor Snape, and Unofficially teaching Snape.

Subcategories: 

Trusted Advisor Snape - A nicer Snape than canon. Serving as a trusted counselor or teacher to another person, especially in occupational settings. Used to be Mentor category.

Professor Snape - Stern, canon version of Severus Snape as Harry's teacher. Used to be Teacher category.

Unofficially teaching Snape - Snape is not Harry's teacher in an official way, but still teaches him something.

Snape Equal Status to Harry - Snape and Harry have the same status and are equals in social power. Subcategories are Colleagues Snape and Harry, Foes Snape and Harry, and Comrades Snape and Harry.

Subcategories:

Colleague Snape and Harry - Snape and Harry are both Professors, or workers at the same institution, with the same status and power of social position. 

Foes Snape and Harry - Snape and Harry are adversaries or opponents on equal footing and status; Examples: both players on opposite sides in a Quidditch match, fighters on opposite sides of a war battling each other,, both duelests at a dueling competition outside of school.

Comrades Snape and Harry - Stories where Snape and Harry work together for a common cause, and are equal in social position and power. Examples: Both prisoners, both patients, both retired persons, both activists in a war. Comrade: A person who shares one's interests or activities; a friend or companion. 

Parental Snape - Snape exercises paternal care over Harry; to perform the tasks or duties of a parent or father. Subcategories include Biological Father Snape (Sevitis and Severitus stories), Stepfather Snape, and Guardian Snape.

Subcatgeories:

Biological Father Snape - (Sevitus) Biological father and son. Father: a man who exercises paternal care over other persons; To perform the tasks or duties of a male parent.

Severitus Challenge - Stories that answer all of the rules of the Severitus Challenge. The "Severitus Challenge" was first started in the early 2000's by the author Severitus (yes, that's a penname) in which: Severus Snape must be revealed to be Harry's father, Remus Lupin must have returned to Hogwarts for some reason or another, Harry must undergo some progressive physical change starting on his birthday, the story must be based mostly around Harry and Snape, and more rules...

Godfather Snape - Stories where Snape is Harry's godfather.  


Guardian Snape - One who is responsible for the care and management of the person or property of an incompetent or a minor. Not biological.

Stepfather Snape - Where Snape is married to Harry's biological mother, whether or not that is Lily. Snape is not Harry's biological father.  

Healer Snape - Stories where Snape heals Harry in some way. Healer - one that heals or attempts to heal. Healing: the process of recovery, repair, and restoration.

Reverse Roles - Harry Potter takes care of Severus Snape. Roles are opposite or contrary in position, direction, order, or character. Includes Big Brother Harry, Healer Harry, Master Harry, Parental Harry, Teacher Harry.

Subcategories:

Big Brother Harry - Stories where, as brothers, Harry is older or larger than Severus.

Healer Harry - Stories where Harry heals Snape is some way.

Master Harry - Stories where Snape is Harry's slave or apprentice.

Parental Harry - Stories where Harry is Severus' guardian or parent, biological or not.

Teacher Harry - Stories where Harry is Snape's teacher or professor. 

Misc - Stories that don't fall into any other categories, but still feature no slash interaction between Snape and Harry. 

Subcategories:

No category on the site fits - the story does not fit any of the categories on the site that organize the relationship between Harry and Snape.

All written in Snape's POV - Stories told all from Snape's point of view. 

Keepers of the Snitch - Someone other than the Dursley's or Snape is a guardian to Harry (Snape must still have regular interaction with Harry).

Strictly Canon Universe - Stories that obey the canon universe and storyline. Does not contradict events in the books at all and could fit in with JK Rowling's published writings.  

Fic Fests - Stories as responses to certain Fests are archived here! Usually some sort of challenge or prompt response stories.

 

Go to Top

This archive uses a rating system similar to the one used by FictionRatings.com and can be compared to the well known movie ratings of the Motion Picture Association of America. The ratings accepted on this archive are from K to 16+ (No mature, NC-17 type ratings allowed), and your work should be rated according to the content of the story.

Stories that a NC-17 or MA (Mature) rating could theoretically be applied to are not allowed. Rape scenes must not be graphic, or acted out.

The ratings:

K: (Kids) General Audience, content suitable for most ages.

K+: (Older Kids) Parental Guidance suggested, some content may not be suitable for all ages. Mild violence and such.

T: (Teens) Suitable for people 13 years of age and older. Some violence and such.

16+: (Older Teens) Suitable for more mature readers. Preferably people 16 years of age and older. Violence and such. If you must have rape content in your story, it must be non explicit (no direct actions shown) and this rating must be applied.

Go to Top

Main Characters, Genres, and Takes Place listed on your story must be correct. Administrators may edit your story to include the correct classifications at any time.

Main Characters - Characters listed should be main characters only. Do not list every character that makes an appearance in your story.

Genres - Please only include genres that apply to your story.

Takes Place (Timeline) - Should be used to show what period of time your story takes place during. The years and time periods are based off of Harry's age and what year of schooling at Hogwarts those years correspond to. Please only pick one, or two at most. There are summers and separate years, a time period before Harry's birth, and other time periods after Hogwarts of Harry's young and middle adulthood.

Go to Top

Snape Flavour is a new classification to show what each story's Snape is like towards Harry. Snape Flavours listed on your story must be correct. Administrators may edit your story to include the correct classifications at any time. Current flavors are:

Angry Snape

Canon Snape

Comforting Snape

Controlling Snape

Cruel Snape

Depressed Snape

Desperate Snape

Evil Snape

Kind Snape

Loving Snape

Mean Snape

Out of Character Snape

Overly-protective Snape

Secretive Snape

Stern Snape

Go to Top

Tags - are used as subclassification categories and must be correct. Administrators may edit your story to include the correct classifications at any time. . The Browse pages of the archive allow readers to actively seek out stories that list certain tags. Current tags are explained as follows:

Addicted!Harry - Harry is addicted to something

Addicted!Snape - Snape is addicted to something

Adoption - someone is adopted

Alternate Universe - different timeline or Harry Potter world than we are familiar with in the books.

Animagus!Harry - Harry can turn into an animal at will

Animagus!Snape - Snape can turn into an animal at will

Azkaban Character - someone is in Azkaban other than canon characters who were there

Azkaban!Harry - Harry is in Azkaban

Azkaban!Snape - Snape is in Azkaban

Baby fic - stories centering around a character less than 2 years old

Child fic - stories centering around a character more than 2 years old but less than 13

Creature!fic - main character is, or turns into a mythical creature or animal other than vampire, werewolf, or elf.

Crossover - story joins with another fandom universe

Deaged!Harry - Harry is deaged

Deaged!Snape - Snape is deaged

Deaging - a main character is deaged. Should be used with either Baby or Child fic warnings unless an adult is deaged to a teenager.

Disguised!Harry - Harry's identity is disguised

Disguised!Snape - Snape's identity is disguised

Dragons - story heavily involves dragons

Elf!Harry - Harry is an elf

Elves - story heavily involves elves

Evil!Albus - Dumbledore is evil

Evil!Harry - Harry is evil

Evil!Snape - Snape is purely evil

Girl!Harry - Harry is a female, or turned into a female

Good!Voldemort - Voldemort is good

Hospitalization - centering around a character that is hospitalized

Incognito!Harry - Harry deliberately changes his identity to hide

Incognito!Snape - Snape deliberately changes his identity to hide

Injured!Harry - Harry is injured

Injured!Snape - Snape is injured

Kidnapped - someone is kidnapped

Kidnapped!Harry - Harry is kidnapped

Kidnapped!Snape - Snape is kidnapped

New Identity!Harry - Harry receives a new identity

Physical Impairment - main character has a physical impairment or disability, such as blindness.

Pregnancy - main character is pregnant

Ravenclaw!Harry - Harry is in Ravenclaw house at Hogwarts

Resorting - a main character is resorted into a different house; ie. Harry is sorted or resorted into another house besides Gryffindor. Snape sorted or resorted into a house other than Slytherin.

Royalty!Harry - Harry is a royal

Royalty!Snape - Snape is a royal

Runaway - a main character runs away

Sibling Addition - Either Harry or Snape have a sibling through birth or adoption (other than each other)

Slytherin!Harry - Harry is in Slytherin House at Hogwarts, or acts as a Slytherin

Snape-meets-Dursleys - Snape meets the Dursleys, the family Harry grew up with in the books.

Spying on Harry! Snape - Snape spies on Harry

Spying!Harry - Harry spies

SuperPower! Harry - Harry has another power other than canon powers

SuperPower! Snape - Snape has another power other than canon powersHarry has powers greater than shown in the books and movies.

Time Travel - main characters are involved in time travel; character either goes into the past or future.

Vampire!Snape - Snape is a Vampire

Vampires - story heavily involves vampires, or Vampiric themes.

Werewolf!Harry - Harry is a werewolf

Werewolf!Snape - Snape is a werewolf

Werewolves - story heavily involves werewolves

Go to Top

Warnings - must be used if they apply to your story and must be correct. Administrators may edit your story to include the correct classifications at any time. They are used as warnings as well as subclassification categories. The warnings we currently have are:

Abusive Dursleys - the Dursleys are more abusive then shown in the books.

Alcohol Use - alcohol is used, or characters are intoxicated.

Character Bashing - the story is hostile to a particular character, very critical.

Character Death - someone dies.

Corporal Punishment - physical punishment, as spanking, inflicted on a child by an adult in authority.

Drug use - use of dangerous, addictive substances.

Neglect - to be remiss in the care or treatment of a dependant being.

Out of character - character behaves very differently than normal

Profanity - bad language, curse words.

Rape - forced sexual intercourse.

Romance/Het - heterosexual romance is present.

Romance/Slash - homosexual romance is present.

Self harm - character injuring themself purposefully.

SuicideThemes - themes dealing with the intentional taking of one's own life.

Torture - the act of inflicting excruciating pain, as punishment or revenge, as a means of getting a confession or information, or for sheer cruelty.

Violence - story contains violent acts: Physical force exerted for the purpose of violating, damaging, or abusing.

Go to Top

Co-authors are allowed. One author should add the story and highlight/add another person's name (or more) in the co-author box. The story will be listed under both authors (or more) profiles but whoever uploads the actual chapter will have their name next to that chapter title on the story index.

Go to Top

A round robin is a story that is started by one person but each proceeding chapter is written by someone else. They are symbolized by a bird, or the words "Round Robin." Just as it is with co-authors, whoever adds/uploads a chapter will have their name listed as the author next to that chapter title.

Go to Top

<img src="the image url goes here ">

<img src="the image url goes here " align="left">

<img src="the image url goes here " align="right">