FIC: The Best of Him [DH Snape gen, Snape/Lily background] PG-13

[purpleygirl]

Title: The Best of Him
Author: purpleygirl
Length: 3700 words
Pairings: Gen, but Snape/Lily in a way
Warnings: Mention of thwarted suicide; minor (original) character torture and death.
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Phineas knows where Potter is. Now all Snape has to do is carry out his plan.
Notes: Written for the snape_after_dh fest, prompt the silver doe (believe it or not,

Comments

[talloakslady]

I like what you did with your story. You have given us a chance to see Snape's thoughts, fears, and hopes.

[purpleygirl]

Thanks! :) And thanks for your beta too!

[purpleygirl]

I love the essay too. I thought it highlighted probably the best part of DH -- and JKR probably didn't even notice it. :/

I'm glad you liked the story, and it's very kind of to think it stood up a little against that beautiful essay. I learned that writing a pure character study is no picnic -- I had to delete so much fluff you wouldn't believe it! *g*

[purpleygirl]

Oh! and btw, thanks for friending me back last week! :) I fully intend to comment on one of your wonderful snupin stories one of these days and write oodles of semi-humorous snupin to get out of all this deepness! *g*

[deeble]

The Dark Lord had merely looked on it as simple recompense for the prophecy. But Dumbledore made him feel unworthy of asking for a life, ashamed of doing so, and he demanded much more of him, as punishment.

This is what I hated most about Deathly Hallows. Rowling turned Dumbledore into the horrible character she always suggested Snape was, and yet -- unless I misunderstand her interviews -- she seems to honestly believe Dumbledore was the better person of the two.

Thanks for this glimpse.

[purpleygirl]

The scene on the hilltop really clinched for me how sleazy/creepy Dumbledore seemed to be toward Snape. From that alone, I can't see why he stood up in the Wizengamot and vouched for Snape other than to use him. Poor Snape, he thought he was trying to save Lily's life and he gets used for years because of it, his love played on. Downright sleazy, if you ask me. If that's what JKR was trying to get across re Dumbledore, she did a darn good job of it. :/

Thanks for reading. :)

[the_bitter_word]

This is a wonderful story, weaving together probable events with believable emotions and motivation. It's lovely.

[purpleygirl]

Thanks so much! :) I'm glad you liked it. It was a long time in the making, and I have more in its 'deleted' file than I have in the actual story! :P Note to self: pure character studies are not as easy as they might seem. :/

[rexluscus]

This is a lovely story! I love how Snape is trying to gird his loins using the meager resources at his disposal; you give a good feel for how stressful that last year at Hogwarts must have been for him. And I'm so tickled you wrote something based on my essay! I'm glad you agree with me that Snape underwent more moral growth than JKR or Dumbledore give him credit for. :)

[purpleygirl]

I'm so glad you didn't think it was a travesty! liked it! :) He really is thrown at the deep end time and time again, isn't he? But that's one of the things I like about him: his grim and steely determination.

Your essay brightened my days after DH (and for so many others too); I'm really glad to contribute in some small way and get more people to read it. It might sound totally sad, but it was like some kind of counselling session for me! *g*

Snape underwent more moral growth than JKR or Dumbledore give him credit for
The thing that struck me in DH (whether JKR intended it or was just character assassinating again) was how different Snape was in the past to the present -- he had to have changed, even though he might not have consciously realised it. He seemed much more distant and cut off from his emotions. Of course, being adept at hiding his emotions through Occlumency, perhaps he hid them from himself too and never wanted to analyse his motivations. I tried to make the story a little hopeful, as you achieved with the Lumos