Lately, Only Those Whom I Could Not Save

"Jk Rowling isn't perfect" sure is a weird way to say "Jk rowling is a billionaire using her inconceivable wealth and social capital to fund and support openly white supremacist and anti-trans organisations."

"It's for the fans," except the antisemitic caricatures and storylines in the game (in the very least) excludes Jewish fans.

"It's supporting game Devs." game Devs are not paid by royalties. they're contracted, usually, to develop a game for a one off payment or salary. Game Devs rarely receive royalties or profit from sales., one of the many reasons the industry is experiencing one of the largest unionisation movements in history. Avalanche Software, the company behind Hogwarts Legacy, is currently not unionised which means the developers will not receive a cent made from sales of the game.

"the money isn't even going to her anyway". babe, copyright and licensing laws dictate that ANYTHING using official Harry Potter concepts on a mass scale for profit must pay a licensing fee to JK Rowling because she is the copyright holder. Unless you are buying hp related stuff second hand or fan made, you are putting money back into JKs pocket.

y'all know that actual real life ex neonazis and associated alt-bullshit don’t come out and say “no it was just the oppression and abuse that lead me to it and I never believed any of it”

the point is that when you’re radicalized you do believe those things. genuinely want them. that’s why it’s a big deal to come out of it, to genuinely discard that world view and the belief that everyone is out to get you and you have the only True Good Path To A Better World

the point I’m making, and this is important, is that saying that Snape was in the Death Eaters only because of peer approval is really reductive, and absolutely inaccurate.

hashtag controversial opinion but things like racial slurs don’t come out of your mouth when you’re feeling attacked if they aren’t part of your vocabulary

you can’t like, admire, be fascinated, be moved by his redemption arc and deny what the root of it all was in the first place

there’s no redemption if he was just a #victim (he absolutely was the victim of a shit system and pretty horrific neglect and abuse). game was rigged, choices were limited, he never stood a chance, etc; I’ve made this argument before and I believe it’s an important observation to make because it explains why then people go on to embrace (not just perform) these ideologies

Harry: Hagrid opened the chamber... oh.

Harry: Sirius Black is out to get me... oh.

Harry: Karkaroff put my name in the Goblet of Fire... oh.

Harry: Voldemort is torturing Sirius... oh.

For my own reference, and for anyone interested in good stories about our favorite Potions Master :). Enjoy!

Mentor/Teacher:

I Know Not, and I Cannot Know; Yet I Live and I Love by billowsandsmoke - I hesitate to call this an AU, as it doesn’t really change the canon story.  It is more like a look behind the scenes at a teacher/student relationship that is never a focus in canon.  It adds so much dimension to characters, and makes everything so much more beautiful and painful and meaningful.  I cannot recommend this story enough.  Bring tissues.

The TAB Series by paracosim - Harry is sent to Spinner’s End for a summer to learn Occlumency, right after his aunt lets slip a name that makes him question everything about Severus Snape.  This series has every good thing about a positive relationship between Severus and Harry - they argue and fight, they learn to listen to each other and respect each other, they build trust.  It is a hard-won relationship for them both.  The story also includes a Snupin story line, which I don’t particularly ship, and touches on some dark themes, but don’t let that put you off!  This series is a must-read!

Closing In by MourningElegance - Harry needs to learn the Patronus charm, but Lupin is unable to teach him.  The job falls to Severus Snape instead.  Look, I really love stories where Severus is a good teacher.  This one has a rough start between him and Harry (as usual), but the progression to a trusting relationship is really excellent.

Improbable Foundations by Imagination94 - It’s the new school year after the final defeat of Lord Voldemort, and twelve students have returned for their 8th year of education at Hogwarts.  Severus Snape, having survived Nagini’s attack and with his name cleared, is appointed as their Head of House.  Post war relationship building and healing is where it’s at, folks.  Harry is older and wiser, and more than willing to build something positive with Severus.  Severus only wants to help these children live free of the trauma they’ve been dealt.

Severitus/adoption:

Mine by Gillian Middleton - The first in a series of stories, this story has Severus Snape as Harry Potter’s father, technically.  He donated a bit of himself years ago for a spell, and Harry was the result.  Now six year-old Harry needs a new home, and Severus can’t quite admit that there are things missing from his life too.  A story about love, and finding home in unexpected ways.  I read this when I need something kind to read, and easier on my heart.

Carry That Weight series by PazithiGallifreya - Snape doesn’t die, Harry gets a few shocks, life goes on. Post-war life is hard for both Harry and Severus.  An unwelcome connection brings them into each other’s lives in new and unexpected ways.  I love the way this author writes Harry - his anger and love, his unrelenting will to help people, even the ones he is sure he hates.  And the author’s Snape is equally excellent - is there a place in the world for an ex Death Eater, an ex spy?  Is there any hope of a life worth living after one’s purpose has been achieved?  There is a line at the end of the first story that takes my breath away each time I read it, and I still have yet to recover.

Memories and Dreams series by Paganaidd - All is not exactly well in the future.  Harry is middle aged, a career auror, married to Ginny, with three children he loves deeply.  An unexpected run-in with his cousin Dudley opens the door to addressing some deeply buried issues from his childhood.  A terrible case with an abused young boy opens Harry to more memories, dreams, and, strangely enough, a deeper understanding of Snape.  This series doesn’t exactly fall into this category, but it begs to be included, as it is a story about family.  Healing is not always easy, or neat, or even a particularly linear process, and this series includes a lot of the built up hurts and horrors in the series that are never addressed in canon.

General Snape Fics:

Break, Break, Break by flibbertygigget - The only story of a sort-of friendship between James Potter and Severus Snape I have ever loved.  It is told through poems and snippy conversations, and is deeply tragic.  It’s sort of all the things that could have been, but were also absolutely impossible in the series.

Under Pressure by tofsla - Severus Snape has returned to Hogwarts after the end of the first war.  He is young and damaged and trying to adjust to new responsibilities and new relationships.  It’s a wonderful look at his early days as a professor.  I love how he teeters between almost trusting in people’s kindness, and believing their kindness to be a front for what they actually want from him. 

immortalists with points to prove by flibbertygigget - Severus the Spy, as seen by Alastor Moody.  A truly excellent contrast of characters who almost don’t hate each other by the end.  Also a fascinating look at Dumbledore as a spymaster, and the “justice” of the Ministry.

Things Left Unsaid by DelphiPsmith - Severus Snape is headmaster, and desperate to protect his students from the ravages of the Carrows and the Dark Lord.  He receives help from a surprising source.  Does a sentient Hogwarts make me incredibly happy? Yes!  Does this story bring me to tears whenever I read it?  Also yes!

The Other Half by Leela - A peek at Severus’s first few years, as told by his father, Tobias Snape. There is so little canon information about Severus’s family, it’s wonderful when authors choose to explore what they might have been like. This story really struck a chord in me, and it hits me again each time I read it.

“No!” roared Snape’s voice and the pain stopped as suddenly as it had started; Harry lay curled on the dark grass, clutching his wand and panting; somewhere overhead Snape was shouting, “Have you forgotten our orders? Potter belongs to the Dark Lord — we are to leave him! Go! Go!”

Adrian Pucey: But, Mom, we don’t smoke.

Snape: Cut the crap, Mr. Pucey! I am a professor! I know that one in five teenagers smoke. ONE, TWO, THREE–I’m not counting you, Mr. Flint, I don’t want to know what you’ve consumed to do that to yourself–you see where I’m going. Now, I’m going to close my eyes, and when I open them there had better be a cigarette between these two fingers!

[An arm in a Hufflepuff sweater sets a cigarette between his fingers.]