HP Fanfic: On the Mend

[mrstater]

Title: On the Mend
Author: MrsTater
Fandom: Harry Potter
Characters & Pairings: Remus Lupin, Severus Snape, Harry Potter, Teddy Lupin; inferred Remus/Tonks, Snape/Lily
Rating & Warnings: PG-13 for language
Format & Word Count: one-shot, 4315 words
Summary: Having survived the final battle, Remus Lupin and Severus Snape need healing from more than just

Comments

[shimotsuki]

This is wonderful. I have very similar thoughts about Snape, that it would have been so interesting to see him, post-war, trying to deal with life and the Order and not being caught in a double trap any more. (And I have a secret addiction to Snape-lives AU stories.)

I really like the approach you've taken here, with Remus acknowledging his past faults and making an overture. It's really believable that Snape would have had a very hard time responding -- but what a wonderful response he finally makes. And that speech of his is the perfect way to begin the first post-war year at Hogwarts.

[mrstater]

I have a secret addiction to Snape-lives AU stories.

I'm developing an affinity for these, as well! (The couple I've read have been Snape/Hermione AU, which is not a pairing I'm absolutely in love with, but the stories have been fantastic.) Do you have any particular favorites? I really don't know where to begin with HP fic outside R/T! The fandom is enormous, lol.

Thank you so much for your review, not least of all because I can breathe again. :) I've been waiting here breathlessly since I posted thinking, What the hell am I doing, writing gen-fic? About Snape? I'm a shipper, and I've had Snape cameos in like two stories out of nearly one hundred. So I'm extremely relieved you think I've managed to pull this off

[shimotsuki]

(The couple I've read have been Snape/Hermione AU, which is not a pairing I'm absolutely in love with, but the stories have been fantastic.)

Yeah, I find that interesting. I don't "believe" in Snape/Hermione, if that makes sense, but some of the stories (especially ones that make use of movie!Snape) really work -- that pairing is sort of a classic romance-novel scenario. And I like good Snape snark.

Almost all the non-R/T HP I read is stuff I see recommended at crack_broom. A couple of Snape/Hermione recs I read and enjoyed were The New Man (PG-13) and Love, Carefully Folded ("Mature" -- probably R).

[mrstater]

I don't "believe" in Snape/Hermione, if that makes sense, but some of the stories (especially ones that make use of movie!Snape) really work -- that pairing is sort of a classic romance-novel scenario. And I like good Snape snark.

No, that totally makes sense and is how I feel about it. I don't completely buy into it like I do R/T, but well-written makes for an entertaining read. Yesterday I read fanfic all day on my iPod while I cleaned house (and consequently got a sore neck and not much housework done, lol).

I have just accidentally discovered this Snape/Lily AU gem at fanfiction.net: The Apprentice. Do you know it? It involves going back to the Marauder-era, and it's delightfully snarky! I'm threeish chapters in and foresee myself staying up far too late night reading it!

Thanks for the recs! Any gen or different pairing ones you love?

The two I read this week were Of Muggles and Magic (which is set in the Regency era) and The Caretaker. They're both rather bodice rippery, though I know you don't mind that. ;)

Review Part I

[anywhere_but_nj]

Oh yay! HP fic! :)

This is confusing, because the last thing Remus remembers is looking up at the enchanted ceiling and seeing stars.

Hey, that he can remember that is amazing.

barely registering that the message is delivered by Harry and that this means Harry is alive, which means they won, because what does that matter if Dora is…

Hey now, just because Harry’s alive doesn’t mean Dora’s death doesn’t matter. :(
Or injury.
Oh good, I love you. Of COURSE you had her live too.

This is surprising, because the last thing Severus remembers is gazing into a pair of green eyes with the certainty that on the other side, if there was one, would be only darkness.

Heh, and I’m certain that even though he knew those were Harry’s eyes, he was thinking of Lily.

Only in Heaven could this be possible.

Is it weird if I say “aw” to not only the fact that he’s smiling and believes he’s in Heaven, but that he’s smiling because of a baby’s voice?

He does wonder whether Lupin knows what an unsatisfactory end Wormtail came to for his

Re: Review Part II

[anywhere_but_nj]

For reasons beyond my comprehension, the Board of Governors have deemed it prudent to renew my tenure as Headmaster of the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

For reasons even further beyond my comprehension, I have deemed it prudent to accept.

My first duty, of course, is to fill the gaps left in the faculty by staff who have been offered irresistible residencies at Azkaban. The Defence Against the Dark Arts position, in keeping with its long standing tradition, is open. As I obviously cannot appoint myself to the post--or so the Deputy-Headmistress tells me--it is you, Lupin, to whom I must turn as the next most qualified wizard for the job.

Hahahaha WOW. Complete surprise for the first part.
The second part…well, at least he’s honest about who’s best qualified for the job :)

That really made me laugh though.

"Time does not heal all wounds. Therefore, we must do our utmost to heal them ourselves."

Wow, that was incredibly deep coming from him.

Perhaps more so, from the students whose only concern is the feast

Re: Review Part II

[mrstater]

Oh yay, there are people on my f-list who want to read Remus and Snape genfic. :) As usual, your commentary makes me smile. Thanks so much for reading and taking the time to comment. I'm especially pleased you found some surprises along the way--I didn't want it to be predictable, as Snape is anything but!

Hey now, just because Harry’s alive doesn’t mean Dora’s death doesn’t matter. :( Or injury.
Oh good, I love you. Of COURSE you had her live too.

I think you might have misread the line before it. Remus was thinking that winning the war wouldn't matter to him if he'd lost Tonks. You know me, I'd never imply her death was meaningless!

I’m certain most of them are wary about the food, wondering how Snape could be in charge again, taking his words with a grain of salt.It's interesting, isn't it, to think how the wizarding world would regard Snape after the fact. There's no denying the truth of what he did, and I think Harry and the others would make damn sure everyone knew it. But there'd be suspicion, for sure, that someone could be

Re: Review Part II

[anywhere_but_nj]

The gen fic doesn't bother me at all! It's just great to see some HP fic from you again :D

Remus was thinking that winning the war wouldn't matter to him if he'd lost Tonks.

Ah, yes, I did interpret it wrong. No, you definitely would never imply her death was meaningless! Nor would Remus. I can blame it on being tired :P

Regarding Snape: There's a fanfic I read "Dumbledore's Army and the Year of Darkness." I'm quite into the fandom around that fic too. So we're quite distrusting of Snape.

Then I'm sure Remus will give them detention. ;)

And have a good joke about it behind doors :P

[sea_thoughts]

*jawdrop*

I really like this! You capture the awkwardness between the two very well. I particularly love Snape's "Oh GOD WHY" reaction after he sees Harry's face when he wakes up, because death would honestly have been preferable to him at that moment. I love how Remus is the one making the overtures, taking the risks because he IS a Gryffindor while Snape is still knotted up inside.

Snape's gesture of reconciliation was brilliant! I would love a sequel with Remus's second year of teaching DADA with a post that is no longer cursed!

[mrstater]

Thanks very much! I was more confident at having written the dynamic between them fairly in-character than I was about the story as a whole, so I'm pleased you felt it worked on both levels. Once the premise popped into my head, it wouldn't leave me alone! These two are interesting to write because you can explore the way bring out the good and bad in each other, and I suspect this won't be the last time I write them...

I particularly love Snape's "Oh GOD WHY" reaction after he sees Harry's face when he wakes up, because death would honestly have been preferable to him at that moment.

Perhaps I'm a little bit of a sadist, but that's maybe one of the more appealing things to me about the possibility of Snape living: he's always been a complete enigma, clinging to his privacy, and then everybody knows the things he's held closest to his chest. Talk about being forced to change!

I love how Remus is the one making the overtures, taking the risks because he IS a Gryffindor while Snape is still knotted up inside.I'm so glad that came

[sea_thoughts]

These two are interesting to write because you can explore the way bring out the good and bad in each other, and I suspect this won't be the last time I write them...

*claps hands in glee*

Perhaps I'm a little bit of a sadist, but that's maybe one of the more appealing things to me about the possibility of Snape living: he's always been a complete enigma, clinging to his privacy, and then everybody knows the things he's held closest to his chest.

If you're a sadist, then I am, too, because it makes me grin to myself at what he'd go through.

one of the ideas I was playing with is the idea of bravery and how Snape's bravery in playing the double agent all those years isn't quite the same as being brave enough to be emotionally vulnerable for the sake of good

Definitely not. Physical bravery and emotional bravery are two different things. Snape never cared about his physical safety that much but God knows he's always guarded his thoughts and feelings jealously. He is the best Occlumens in the world, after all.

Hee! I've got this

[mrstater]

If you're a sadist, then I am, too, because it makes me grin to myself at what he'd go through.

And he deserves it, really!

[chococoffeekiss]

I read through this late last night (I'll admit I was half-asleep at the time), but the general impression I got was that this is fantastic. Your Snape is so Snapey!!!

That said, I will be back later to leave a more thorough review. :)

[mrstater]

Aw, thanks! You're sweet, especially when you're so busy with your move! Glad you found time for a break and enjoyed it, though!

[tree_and_leaf]

I love this - it's a very interesting AU, and the slow pace of the conversations as Snape gropes his way towards a kind of healing works really well.

And I loved this:

"I don't know how to make a better world, Remus. But I'd like to live a better life."

"I'm no expert," says Remus after a moment, a little undone by the use of his Christian name, and the note of hesitance and uncertainty in Severus' voice, "but I believe that is precisely how better worlds are made."

Especially as it was followed by Snape's wry humour about the vulture hat...

[mrstater]

Thank you very much! I was just struck with the idea of Remus and Snape kind of drugged out in the hospital having a drawn-out, meaningful conversation, so I'm very pleased you liked it.