So there is something I can do, besides scream like a woman?

Wesley ,'Chosen'


Fan Fiction II: Great story! Where's the sequel?

This thread is for fanfic recs, links, and discussion, but not for actual posting of fanfic.


Fay - Jun 24, 2006 3:46:48 am PDT #2340 of 10434
"Fuck Western ideologically-motivated gender identification!" Sulu gasped, and came.

Well, I'm very firmly of the opinion that Snape is still Dumbledore's man, and that he has been ever since he heard the news of the Potters' deaths back in the day. My reason for believing this is, I'll grant you, rather romantic - I think he was in love with Lily Potter. I think this because despite all the bile he heaped upon James (and with reason, having seen the flashbacks to what a little shit James Potter was), he's never disparaged Lily, other than the insult he flung at her whilst he was being physically abused and humiliated by the Marauders and she (mortifying him still further) tried to intercede on his behalf. So I do believe that he was sincerely appalled when he discovered that he was culpable in her death. Harry doesn't buy guilt over the Potters' deaths as a reason for Snape to turn over a new leaf, but I do, because I think it's LILY, not James, who Snape feels terrible about. HBP showed us that Lily Evans was a potions whizz, which just solidified my belief that Snape's view of her was quite different from his view of James Potter. I think that they were friends, of a sort, and that he may well have been in love with her too.

I think Snape is a dreadful teacher, and should never have become a teacher. I wouldn't be surprised to know he's only been doing it for the sake of the Order, actually, but that's neither here nor there. I felt quite certain that Snape was lying to Narcissa and Bellatrix in Chapter Two of HBP, and my interpretation of the rest of the text was in that light. I think that Pettigrew was living with Snape because Voldemort suspected him of being a double agent. I think that Snape had to make the oath to Narcissa because he was totally backed into a corner, and I think that he then TOLD Dumbledore that he'd done so. And I think that Dumbledore told him he had to go ahead with it. I think this because Hagrid overheard a conversation between Dumbledore and Snape which he relayed to the kids, and which the kids took to be indicative of Snape's guilt - but Snape was actually saying things like 'it's too much to ask...you can push a person too far' etc etc. Which is pretty much what I'd be saying if I was told I had to murder my mentor in cold blood. JKR has a history of showing us part of the truth, but showing us it in such a way that we, or at least Harry & co, misinterpret it entirely. So I think Dumbledore, whose shrivelled hand is a constant reminder that he's not enjoying great health - knows he has to die, perhaps IS dying slowly anyway, and is cool with it. And he's willing to have Snape kill him in order to cement Snape's position in Voldemort's camp - and, simultaneously, prevent Draco from having blood on his hands. The language that JKR uses when she describes Snape's face in the Dumbledore Death scene mirrors the language she uses when Harry has to 'poison' Dumbledore with the liquid a few scenes earlier - when Harry feels like he might be killing Dumbledore, and is wracked with guilt and self-hatred and all that. I don't think that this is accidental.

After Dumbledore dies, and Harry tries to fight Snape, Snape makes no attempt to kill Harry. He reacts furiously to the suggestion that he's a coward, but even as they're duelling he seems to be trying to teach Harry to be a better duellist, rather than trying to actually kill him or curse him.

I think that Snape's going to die in the last book. I think Draco might possibly be redeemed, but I think Snape's going to die. Quite possibly going to be killed by Harry, but more likely (because I don't think JKR wants Harry to have innocent blood on his hands) that he's going to die protecting Harry, or protecting somebody else who hates his guts. Because I think he's a bad tempered, rather unpleasant good guy, not a villain - and I think that Harry will realise this too late; will realise that there's a difference between being nice and being good.

I even think it's conceivable that Harry will die in the last book, but I don't think it's likely. After HBP, (continued...)


Fay - Jun 24, 2006 3:46:54 am PDT #2341 of 10434
"Fuck Western ideologically-motivated gender identification!" Sulu gasped, and came.

( continues...) though, I *could* actually imagine JKR doing that.

Now, I might be wrong. If I'm wrong, though, that makes for a much less interesting story arc, imho.


Anne W. - Jun 24, 2006 3:59:26 am PDT #2342 of 10434
The lost sheep grow teeth, forsake their lambs, and lie with the lions.

Fay, I'm sitting here nodding like a bobblehead at everything you just said. In fact, I would be highly disappointed and surprised if JKR went with the straightforward "Snape is a baddie" notion. I think your take on Lily being his motivation is a brilliant one, and it works. I'm not sure that JKR is subtle enough of a writer to delve into that to any decent degree, but I do think we're going to hear more about Snape-and-Lily in the last book.


sumi - Jun 24, 2006 7:39:46 am PDT #2343 of 10434
Art Crawl!!!

Fay! Absolutely -- your interpretation is mine only you have the ability to write it clearly and in a way that makes sense.


Consuela - Jun 24, 2006 9:30:30 am PDT #2344 of 10434
We are Buffistas. This isn't our first apocalypse. -- Pix

Fay, I would be positively shocked if your theory were not true.


Atropa - Jun 24, 2006 9:39:53 am PDT #2345 of 10434
The artist formerly associated with cupcakes.

Fay's theory is mine; in fact, IIRC, since she was able to finish the book before me (I'd had a very busy weekend and had no time to pick it up), she made comments in LJ about how I HAD to finish it so we could discuss it and flail and generally prop each other's theories up.

... which of course, brings me back to part of the reason I read HP fic; I want more stories about the previous generation. I want back-story. 


Anne W. - Jun 24, 2006 9:54:28 am PDT #2346 of 10434
The lost sheep grow teeth, forsake their lambs, and lie with the lions.

I want more stories about the previous generation. I want back-story.

Oh, hell yes.


Ailleann - Jun 24, 2006 5:33:34 pm PDT #2347 of 10434
vanguard of the socialist Hollywood liberal homosexualist agenda

Fay, and everyone else, is me. And I'm glad, as I hoped I wasn't the only one. I've also wondered about whether she has any plan to have Sirius return in any way . I don't think I want her to, but it's a possibility.

I am also a huuuge backstory ho. ::runs off to check Shoebox again::


Connie Neil - Jun 24, 2006 9:35:25 pm PDT #2348 of 10434
brillig

I think it would be well within previous twists to have Snape turn out to be a crucial part in the victory over Voldemort. I've love the twist that Snape is a good guy and still hates the hero of the piece--and he has reason, though not quite good enough reason. Rowling's showing of the moral ambiguity is very refreshing in "kid's books." I wonder if it will be matched by one of the good guys showing serious feet of clay--I haven't like Ron's mindset at all for the last couple of books. He wouldn't support Voldemort, but I really do see him pulling a "Willow says kill him" kind of thing if it came to Draco or Snape.

I think Snape was doing what Dumbledore wanted. I almost wish this had happened one book ago, so that there'd be more room to play with the revelation of Draco's moral crisis.

Or, in other words, what Fay said.


Topic!Cindy - Jun 25, 2006 4:03:32 am PDT #2349 of 10434
What is even happening?

Fay, I'm right with you, except for being half a series behind.

* Harry has always seen Snape as bad, and it's always turned out that he was working on the right side. I can't see Snape going all muahahahaha at this point. *