An Introduction to Snape/Granger...
Without going into a huge dissertation as to why I'm endlesssly fascinated with Snape as a character, or the pairing of Severus and Hermione, I have, nonetheless, wanted to brainwash persuade some of my f-list that it is a viable, rewarding 'ship to read. Not wanting to proselytize too loudly or too wildly, the following is a quick encapsulation and a variety (seven only) of fic recs for Snape/Granger beginners.
I suppose I should first explain (concisely) what I like in the dynamic. Where Draco/Hermione are volatile, passionate, and equal, Snape/Hermione are equally passionate, intensely loyal (I maintain this after HBP,) highly intelligent and share a ruthless quality when necessary. I think Snape and Hermione also share the distinction of being somewhat ostracized by their peers, and deeply sensitive. Their age/experience makes it a slightly unequal dynamic, but calls into question the age-old 'possessive, protective, primitive' need women sometimes loathe to admit they have. In many of the earlier 'ship stories, Hermione is Snape's redemption, or his reward for his self-negation all these years. I don't usually cling to that idea, but it's intriguing. If you read 'Soul Searching' or 'A Terrible Temptation' (which is a body-switch fic, and heartbreakingly wonderful,) you'll see what I mean.
Out of the hundreds of SS/HG stories I've read, and I have a number of favorites, I shall nonetheless confine myself to the following few 'ship representatives: a one-shot to set up his character (it's entirely non-hot, but shows the plausiblity of the pairing,) another one-shot in which I quite like the 'coupling,' (it's written by one of my favorite authors,) a shortish, multi-chaptered fic which is just terribly clever, another which is set after HBP, a one-shot PWPish, post-HBP (which I confess is my own,) and then two long, multi-chaptered stories, both of which are classics in the genre, (if you get that far,) and, finally, an AU piece which I'll beg you to read at least one chapter of, if only for subvers's delightful universe and Regency setting.
That said, behind the cut is the list (all of which, unless noted, are complete.)
One-Shot (All Ages, Written Pre-HBP)
How That Led to This by Isobel L
One-Shot (Mature, Written Pre-HBP)
Picking Up the Pieces by Simply Scribbling
One-Shot (Mature, Written Post-HBP)
The Spoils of War by Bambu
Multi-Chaptered (Mature, Written Pre-HBP)
Great Plans by LariLee
Multi-Chaptered (Mature, Post-HBP)
Survivors by Dyce
Multi-Chaptered Classics (Mature, Written Pre-HBP)
Soul Searching by Quillusion
A Terrible Temptation by FriendlyQuark
Multi-Chaptered AU, WIP (All Ages)
His Draught of Delicate Poison by Subversa
I suppose I should first explain (concisely) what I like in the dynamic. Where Draco/Hermione are volatile, passionate, and equal, Snape/Hermione are equally passionate, intensely loyal (I maintain this after HBP,) highly intelligent and share a ruthless quality when necessary. I think Snape and Hermione also share the distinction of being somewhat ostracized by their peers, and deeply sensitive. Their age/experience makes it a slightly unequal dynamic, but calls into question the age-old 'possessive, protective, primitive' need women sometimes loathe to admit they have. In many of the earlier 'ship stories, Hermione is Snape's redemption, or his reward for his self-negation all these years. I don't usually cling to that idea, but it's intriguing. If you read 'Soul Searching' or 'A Terrible Temptation' (which is a body-switch fic, and heartbreakingly wonderful,) you'll see what I mean.
Out of the hundreds of SS/HG stories I've read, and I have a number of favorites, I shall nonetheless confine myself to the following few 'ship representatives: a one-shot to set up his character (it's entirely non-hot, but shows the plausiblity of the pairing,) another one-shot in which I quite like the 'coupling,' (it's written by one of my favorite authors,) a shortish, multi-chaptered fic which is just terribly clever, another which is set after HBP, a one-shot PWPish, post-HBP (which I confess is my own,) and then two long, multi-chaptered stories, both of which are classics in the genre, (if you get that far,) and, finally, an AU piece which I'll beg you to read at least one chapter of, if only for subvers's delightful universe and Regency setting.
That said, behind the cut is the list (all of which, unless noted, are complete.)
One-Shot (All Ages, Written Pre-HBP)
How That Led to This by Isobel L
One-Shot (Mature, Written Pre-HBP)
Picking Up the Pieces by Simply Scribbling
One-Shot (Mature, Written Post-HBP)
The Spoils of War by Bambu
Multi-Chaptered (Mature, Written Pre-HBP)
Great Plans by LariLee
Multi-Chaptered (Mature, Post-HBP)
Survivors by Dyce
Multi-Chaptered Classics (Mature, Written Pre-HBP)
Soul Searching by Quillusion
A Terrible Temptation by FriendlyQuark
Multi-Chaptered AU, WIP (All Ages)
His Draught of Delicate Poison by Subversa