Slytherin!
Thanks to James' sacrifice, Lord Voldemort is defeated. Lily barely survives and is rescued by Severus. Years later Harry struggles to live side by side with his hateful and unforgiving stepfather in a very troubled household. Unbeknownst to both much greater challenges lie ahead.
Takes Place: 0 - Before Harry is born, 0 - Pre Hogwarts (before Harry is 11), 1st summer before Hogwarts, 1st Year
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Snape flavour: Snape is Angry, Snape Comforts, Snape is Controlling, Snape is Cruel, Snape is Depressed, Snape is Mean, Snape is Stern
Tags: Alternate Universe, Amnesia, Child fic
Categories: Teacher Snape > Professor Snape, Parental Snape > Stepfather Snape
Membership status: Member
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Reviews by teriwright
Rated: T
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Warnings: Character Death, Physical Punishment Spanking, Neglect, Profanity, Romance/Het, Violence
Chapters: 13 - Completed: Yes - Updated: 03 May 2017 / 11 Sep 2016
Series: None - Challenges: None
Chapters: 13 - Completed: Yes - Updated: 03 May 2017 / 11 Sep 2016
Series: None - Challenges: None
| Title: Chapter 11: The Battle Of Life | 18 Apr 2017 |
| Reviewer: teriwright (Signed) |
- I'm always so excited when I see an update to this story. It's just so fantastic! Nuanced. You capture the conflict and uncertainty in harry so well, as well as exploring his justifiable anger. So many stories just gloss over that because the writer wants the characters to race to be where he/she wants them to be. Which leaves a lot to be desired and shortchanges harry.
Not so in your story. Harry has a lot of grievances and anger towards Snape. He did so much wrong towards harry on purpose. He was and is cruel and malicious. He took his time and thought about the best ways to hurt an innocent just to get back at a dead man. His chicken's are coming home to roost. I really hope we see some repentance and atonement from Snape. Not just a ceasing of his vitriol, but actual actions towards fixing what he broke.
As a reader, I just can't summon up even a smidge of sympathy for Snape at this time. I have much contempt for him and am very interested to see if he can be redeemed. Can't wait to see where you take this character and story.
I'm still insanely curious as to the results of the investigation. Will we get some details?
As always, I love this story. It's one of my favorites.
I offer my best wishes to you and your recovery. Being ill sucks balls when it goes on longer than a few days. Hang in there!
| Title: Chapter 12: Our Mutual Love | 27 Apr 2017 |
| Reviewer: teriwright (Signed) |
- Gah!! What a cruel cliffhanger!
And what a cruel thing for Harry. His mother, that he was kept from his entire life, is now gone. I feel Harry's grief and rage and bitterness. And his loss. Its just such a tragedy.
What on earth is Aoife still doing there? Didn't the investigation reveal her crimes towards Harry? Wasn't the entire point of the investigation to find out how Harry was cursed? Did they just ignore that or give up when the answer wasn't immediately available?
What made Harry go to McG's office?
Please, I'm begging here. What did the investigation consist of and what was found?
Surely Harry can't remain in Snape's dubious care without the link of Lily? Right?
What the heck is going on!!?? *wails* I'm so confused! LOL
Author's Response: Hi! I can understand you might be confused. There has at this point in been no investigation - that was what McG wanted to do. She wanted to report it to the Ministry so they could start a legal investigation but Dumbledore hushed her up by letting her interrogate Snape and seeing that it was not him. What she did see what Snape did do and so she began a plan on her own and while Harry did notice it has not yet been revealed. The adults still don't suspect Aoife
| Title: Chapter 13: A Christmas Carol | 03 May 2017 |
| Reviewer: teriwright (Signed) |
- Whew!!! What an emotional roller coaster. I like that the ending wasn't neatly tied up with a bow and that Snape and Harry didn't suddenly have a complete 180 in personality and their relationship.
I can feel harry's confusion, frustration and apathy. Poor kid.
The adults are really assholes aren't they? Every single one of them. They can't even spare 5 min to let harry know what's going on and where he's going to go? Even while spouting that Harry's the focus? Psh...they are all wrapped up in their own agenda's. Every one of them. Harry is just the tool they use to enact their machinations.
The one thing I would have loved to read is Snape's perspective on his actions both before and after all this drama. Does he still think he was in the right in his treatment and guardianship of Harry? That it wasn't abuse? Will he ever admit his treatment was wrong and the different levels of abuse? If so, how long will it take? Realistically, it's too soon for that right now IMHO. Someone should give him a psychology book on child abuse and challenge him to acknowledge every way he abused harry.
I wonder how Snape will treat Harry while at Hogwarts now? I sort of suspect with even more vitriol but it's also a great opportunity for redemption for Snape and forging a new, better relationship with harry. That is, if he even wants to. That's also in question.
Though sad, I honestly don't think there is a basis for a relationship between the two of them. Both of them loving Lily just isn't enough I don't think. Especially since Harry just loved an idea since Snape kept him away from her and blamed Harry for her condition. Lots of bad blood.
Hopefully a family that isn't connected to any of the players in this drama nor death eaters will provide a good home for Harry and help him overcome the abuse.
You've left a possibility for a sequel but it's just fine the way it is.
I love the story and will definitely read it again from beginning to end.
Author's Response: Thank you! I'm glad you liked it!In many ways I wanted the adults in here to kinda relfect my impression of the adults in HP when it was read to me as a small child and later when I read it myself - my impression that is. To me, with very few exceptions (Hagrid for one)most adult who did care for Harry did so while simultanious having an agenda and something they wanted to keep from him. As an adult I can understand them in some cases as Harry was a kid but as a child I hated them for it. I kind of took that, sprinkled some darknbess on there and ran with it! Thank you so much for reading! You reviews have been a delight to read!
| Title: Chapter 5: The Old Curious Shop | 30 Sep 2016 |
| Reviewer: teriwright (Signed) |
- This chapter really illustrated for me the disconnect between Lily and Harry. Snape and Lizette have done a remarkably effective job in driving a wedge between mother and son and preventing any sort of bonding or relationship. They are essentially strangers to each other.
I think I would feel an immense sense of betrayal and anger towards Snape and Lily for not telling me my own story. Having to find out from strangers just a few weeks before school starts has got to hurt. He must feel so unimportant and neglected. And angry most likely.
I know I said last chapter that kids can more easily forget and forgive bad parents. They can actually create a better relationship if the parent decides to try. But damn...after this, I just don't know how that is possible. It just keeps getting worse and worse. He might even want to go to hogwarts now just to get away from them.
| Title: Chapter 4: A Tale Of Two Wizards | 27 Sep 2016 |
| Reviewer: teriwright (Signed) |
- Snape really is the quintessential bastard of a step father. He's doing everything wrong...on purpose I think. He's got to know how unfair, biased and borderline abusive he is. He's probably getting quite a bit of enjoyment out of it. Unless he's lying to himself.
I just don't know how you are going to get these two on the road to a better relationship. Sure, Snape might finally wake up and honesty examine is actions, but it doesn't take away the hurt and damage done to Harry. How Harry could ever trust him is something I'm quite curious about.
But in fairness, kids are better able to forgive abuse than adults.
Author's Response: That's very true indeed!
| Title: Chapter 3: Hard Times | 19 Sep 2016 |
| Reviewer: teriwright (Signed) |
- An interesting start. It's canon, but so not canon. Harry has many of the same abuses as he did at the Dursley's.
There isn't much hope for the relationship between Snape and Harry. With this kind of toxic soil, nothing can really sprout. Kudos on creating quite the challenge to overcome. Once a kid gives up on trying to gain approval of a parent or guardian, they really have no reason to behave.
| Title: Chapter 6: Pictures from Ireland | 28 Oct 2016 |
| Reviewer: teriwright (Signed) |
- I think I really hate this Snape. I honestly see no redeming qualities. Blaming Harry for Lily's condition was so far over the line that there is no coming back. Combined that with his deplorable treatment of harry that could be classified as emotional and mental abuse, I just want Harry to get away from him forever. I, by turns can't wait to see how you resolve this and hope to hell that Harry draws on his pride and rejects this asshole for the rest of his life. I'm just so angry at Snape!
I almost can't decide if he knows about the way Aoife treats harry and she has his full approval or if he is so disinterested about the welfare of Harry that he knows nothing about it. I'm leaning towards him being perfectly aware and approving. And that he would be approving if he didn't know but later found out.
I hate him. And I'm usually a reader that can forgive Snape just about anything. Not this Snape though.
| Title: Chapter 7: Great Expectations | 05 Nov 2016 |
| Reviewer: teriwright (Signed) |
- *rolling my eyes* Of course Snape only concerns himself with how Harry's injuries affect him. Of course he thinks he's the center of Harry's universe and everything harry does is calculated to cause Snape the most grief.
The Headmaster and McG are idiots if they actually think an abused kid is going to tell them who the abuser is, especially when one of them is in a position of authority over him and the other is in a position of authority over his mother (not that they realize that). Abused kids don't tell for Christ's sake. Nothing good comes of it. They aren't trustworthy and won't actually do anything but make things worse. In fact, they already did.
For fucks sake, they allowed Harry alone with Snape when they have suspicions that he's the abuser. What did they think was going to happen? Just a friendly little chat? They either allowed Snape to talk his way out of it, or are just like most adults that think "well...family" and won't step in even when they see Harry being abused. Just goes to show that Harry was right not to trust them.
I think the best case scenario would be for Snape to be fired for child abuse - if that's even a fireable offense in that society (because even if he didn't do it himself, he allowed it to happen under his roof through his neglect and dismissive attitude towards Harry whom he was legally responsible for. He set the tone for the rest of the household and let them do what they will, never checking the conflicting stories. Even now he refuses to admit that anyone but Harry injured Harry) or at the very least, Harry taken from his custody. The Child Welfare services would probably work out some supervised visitation arrangement for Lily. It's not like Harry gets to spend time with her anyway.
Lily is compromised and sad to say, more on Snape's side than harry's. She has no relationship with Harry.
And WTF Hat? Do you want Harry killed or mentally broken for good? Because that's what would happen if harry sorted Slytherin when Snape announces to the house that TBWL is fair game and won't have his protection just by treating Harry the way he normally does. Harry was smart to avoid that fate. Permanent damage would have been done in just a few weeks - I'm convinced.
Whew! You certainly have got me emotionally engaged in this story :-) I still hate Snape. I know you are writing a reconciliation type story, but let me tell you....I'm hoping for permanent separation from this child abuser and I'm hoping Snape is actually legally punished in some way. He deserves it.
| Title: Chapter 8: The Chimes Of Two | 13 Nov 2016 |
| Reviewer: teriwright (Signed) |
- You have really captured the complexity of child abuse, the confusion and pressure put upon the abused child and how they withdraw into themselves even more. There is more going on than just the obvious. There is mental conditioning and blackmail and protection of others from the abuser. Abused kids can't trust adults because it's the adults that have hurt them. Kudos for capturing this so well.
I firmly believe that if Harry did actually tell the truth, he wouldn't be believed. Not by Snape and not by McKitty or DD. They might "investigate" but Aolife would deny and that would be that. They might "monitor" the situation but that doesn't help the kid when he's forced back. That's how it always happens in real life. Plus, the abuser will take care to hide further evidence and with magic, that's only too possible. Only after multiple reports and hospitalizations does anything happen. Nothing short of one of these people witnessing Harry being attacked would change anything. An adults word always has more weight than a child's word. Always. Most adults think that kids are liars anyway and tend to be dismissive.
Sorry: My real world experience is showing I know. Take my rant with a grain of salt. I realize this is just a story.
But, I will say that given the existence of Magic that there are ways to get to the truth without pressuring harry...it's just a matter of if they are used. My cynical side says: doubtful.
It's obvious Harry want's to talk to someone about it but he can't trust anything would change for the better. Poor kid. I just want to smoosh him.
It's also interesting that Harry refers to Lily as Lily instead of "mum". He wrote a letter to Lily, not to his mother or to mum. My heart breaks to see yet another way Snape has hurt Harry by preventing a mother/son relationship between them.
We can see a glimmer of Snape questioning what he thinks he knows. I think it's more a blow to his pride that he wasn't aware of this than any sort of regret or acknowledgement that his perceptions and treatment of Harry are wrong. He's so not there yet. He still thinks of Harry as a burden, a menace and a no-good child that is a liar and worthless. He unfairly put the fault of Lily's condition on Harry when Harry was just a baby and everything grew from there. (oh how I wish if Harry says anything, it's that Snape told him that harry was a fault for lily being the way she is and that he doesn't actually know how that happened or anything about his father at all) Harry is always guilty, always lying and deserves punishment in snape's eyes, no matter what he does.
And Snape is very free with physical punishment as well isn't he? It's his immediate go to punishment. He's not blameless in hurting harry and dishes it out at every opportunity. He enjoys hurting harry IMHO even if he would deny that. I've always maintained Corporal Punishment is the province of lazy parents that don't really care. Ie: Snape. He really needs a parenting class, a child development class as well as anger management counseling and what constitutes child abuse. *snort* He needs reprogramming.
I keep thinking about Harry's placement in the household: his room is in the attic...away from the good and deserving people. I can't remember if Lily is aware of where her son sleeps. But it's such a big sign of Harry's place and how he is thought of in that house and by Snape. Again, heartbreaking.
I'm insanely curious if the mystery man is Remus Lupin. I have quite a few speculations on this and cant' wait to see what happens.
As always, a wonderful chapter that really pulls on these old heartstrings. You are treating this topic with the seriousness and complexity it deserves. Which is so very rare in HP fanfiction. I check for an update every day, I'm so that into this story. I just love it!
Also, apologies for the long winded reviews. I just can't seem to help myself with this story.
| Title: Chapter 9: The Mystery Of A Man | 28 Nov 2016 |
| Reviewer: teriwright (Signed) |
- Another great chapter! You capture the nuances of this issue wonderfully.
Though Minerva is jumping to conclusions before all the facts are in, I'm glad someone is looking out for Harry. She's correct to be suspicious of Severus but she's going about this all wrong. LOL, talk about burning bridges with both Severus and Harry.
I think I said it before, but I honestly believe that if Harry told the truth, he wouldn't be believed. He already lied and adults always view children as liars anyway. Couple that with Severus's obvious animosity and disdain towards Harry as well as being him primary caregiver (at least on paper), is it any wonder that he's the main suspect?
The adults are just going to have to figure this out on their own. Is that why Severus has been absent? It's a good thing that Severus is being asked to submit to questioning voluntarily. The school is taking Harry's abuse seriously and not hand waving it away.
Poor Harry. His depression is so heartbreaking. What an awful start to a school experience that should be a positive right of passage. Hermione is still an annoying, arrogant borderline bully though. *sigh* forgive me. I just can't stand her personality or character. I just don't respond well to that - to put it nicely - bossy type of personality that expresses itself by making others feel inferior. She should learn how to be bossy by lifting people up, not showing them up.
I'm glad that you included Harry's - most valid and accurate - opinion that the state of his relationship with Severus is Severus's fault entirely. He is cruel and depending on who's classifying it, abusive. Kids do try to be someone their adults can be proud of. They forgive and try and forgive and try over and over again before they finally give up. More than any adult would. I think I just about gagged when Severus claimed Harry as his 'son'. I felt like I needed to gargle with Listerine. Though I know why they were play acting, I just wanted Harry to negate that statement with his entire being. Severus doesn't deserve to claim Harry as his son.
As always, I can't wait for more. My mind is going off on a dozen different speculative tangents, wondering what will happen next.