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Reviews For The Poor of God
I honestly never thought I would find myself so drawn to something as I find I am to this. I do believe you have captured quite accurately all of the subtle nuances the make up the truly unique character that is our beloved Professor. As for the things I loved about the chapter in particular: 1.) I've finally done it. I've finally fucked the whole thing good and proper—I've killed him... {I do believe that this has gone through Professor Snape's mind several times over the years when it came to Potter's Gryffindoric feats of stupidity which maybe known also as Dumbledore's infernal meddling. 2.)The subtle pride that Severus shows in regards to Potter not only brewing a potion correctly but also that it is one that is clearly beyond anything he should have been able to produce in this lifetime with his seeming incompetence with anything remotely resembling potions. 3.)I do adore that you are incorporating the well known but little acknowledged fact that Severus is also a survivor of a troubled childhood and that you have, without excessive dramatics or embarrassing recollections on behalf of our dear Professor made this fact clear to Potter. 4.)You have kept Potter from becoming the whiny little brat that is usually associated with works much like this one. 5.)Regardless of what you coax the characters into doing, Professor Snape never actually looses his exceptionally endearing snark. How I missed a story of this caliber until so late in it's publication, astounds me. I shall look forward to your next submissions. ~Charli a.k.a. Mindovermadenss P.S. I would be quite willing to donate my time in the name of empirical research as to whether Professor Snape wears boxers or briefs. Perhaps we could discuss the matter further over a lovely glass of Scotch?
But mostly, of course, this chapter is about Luna, and I love her, I really do, and I feel so *bad* for her. It’s almost worse, I think, that she, unlike Harry, *remembers* love and attention from her mother. There’s a sense about her that reminds me of the phantom limb phenomenon; it’s like she’s making a subconscious effort to ignore the pain of something she *knows* she’s lost, but still feels a truncated remnant of anyway. . . I’m not articulating this very well, but it’s just a subliminal sense of longing, so deeply buried she—who is usually so clear-sighted—doesn’t see it. And it’s so touching that she and Snape have this in common, and that the knowledge of it is clear in his voice ‘at once mocking, resigned, and somehow strangely kind’ when he promises to wake her if her father comes, which she is certain he won’t, so certain she doesn’t even wish for it. Except that she does. I like the way you make small details—the fact that she never leaves her bed-curtains open, the way that her sleeping hours are so irregular during the summer—tell large and important truths about her life—how her year mates no doubt tease her, how her father is so unaware of her presence he doesn’t make sure she goes to bed and gets up. It’s so painful—and so Luna—the way she tries to be indifferent to the fact that her father is most likely ‘too busy’ to visit her, while at the same time managing to be glad for Harry that Weasleys almost certainly *will* visit him. They’re all three so hurt in this story, and it’s interesting how they’re almost like three aspects of the same person: Harry all the brash action and spirit and physicality, the forthright courage and determination; Snape the intelligence, the analysis, the logic and rationality and ability to do what is required, whatever it costs; and Luna the feeling heart, that is open to everything, that takes in even harshness and unkindness and ignorance, and gives back understanding and love. And I think that when they—especially Snape, who has the best-developed barriers—let themselves recognize and touch each other they have so much potential to be better, stronger, *happier* than any of them can be alone. Your story makes me want them to have that. Quibbles/errors: Aren’t marshwiggles the frog-people from Narnia? Puddleglum and company in, um, The Silver Chair (I think; it’s been awhile since I read the series). Now obviously, you can have your own marshwiggles (I’m assuming something like tadpoles here), but since I’d assume a large portion of your audience is also familiar with Narnia a different name might be better. I do, however, love the sequence in which Luna thinks about how the Blood-Replenisher potion looks and then says exactly that, and Snape’s reply, “I’m afraid it will taste no better,” is perfect. I assume you mean ‘silence settles around her *like* snowfall’ (and I love that image) near the end. Other things I liked: Luna’s experimentation with the efficacy of saying ‘ow.’ The scene in which Snape explains what happened and tells her she did well, and she says only, “Harry is my friend.” Because that’s the only thing that matters here. In this, she is so much like Harry. The palpable watchfulness and care Snape displays for his charges—the way he is so clearly hovering outside the bathroom door while Luna bathes, the way he’s standing by her bed each time she wakes up after the first, how gently he touches her; the way he follows through on his threat to Harry *without* being nasty about it, as he might have only a few days before. Another fine installment, this, in a lovely, lovely story. I’m excited to see how you wrap it up—and I hope we get to see the postponed conversation about Harry’s letter to Vernon--but I know I’ll be sad to see it end. Thanks for writing. Sincerely, Annette |
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