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naatz at sevenmesTeam: Wartime
Genre(s): AU
Prompt: Chain of Command
Rating: PG-13
Warnings, drag mouse over space if you wish to know: * Slavery, humiliation *
Length: ~18,000 words
Pairing: SS/HP
A/N: To me, this fic is very cheesy. It's sticky, it's smelly, but I'm still unreasonably fond of it. It also came very close to getting the title 'Snarry for Beginners'. Dedicated to acid3, for offering a figurative shoulder, much amusement, lots of help, and writing advice I would never forget.
Disc.: Harry Potter belongs to whom it belongs, and that 'whom' is not me.
Betas: sazzlette, eeyore9990, medawyn, unrequitedangst, joanwilder, perfica and acid3. Thank you all.
Summary: How can you rush to the rescue when it's your loved ones who stand in the way?
Don't forget to vote and review!
Voting is now closed. Thank you for participating in the Snarry Games!
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April 27 2007, 08:24:38 UTC 5 years ago
April 27 2007, 12:48:59 UTC 5 years ago
|Meduza|
April 27 2007, 09:25:15 UTC 5 years ago
April 27 2007, 09:26:20 UTC 5 years ago
And Harry loves them, but is increasingly torn because of their appallingly abusive personalities ... So Harry wasn't a delight to see in this story, either. Except ... the poll made me figure it out. After I finished reading, I came to do the poll, and on the question, "how well did this entry fit the PROMPT?" I sighed a bit, as I have been with most of the stories so far, because so often the prompt is only a minor prop - in the story but not essential to it. The Chain is on Snape, but it never changes over the course of the story, becoming a clue to him or the plot, or the device that changes him or others.
But ah... just by contemplating that I thought about how Chain of Command was cleverly reinterpreted for this AU, since it would usually mean a military chain, in which one obeys one's superior all the way up the line. And OMG it hit me! Harry, like all the others we meet, is caught in these wartime Chains of Command, only in his case his commanders - James & Sirius - are unworthy and unethical. Harry is the one that needs to break the chains. Not just Snape's, but his own. In fact, his own are far more exigent, being laid on him by love and reinforced by habit. This makes the story's ending an extremely hopeful one now, because Harry has begun removing his own chains now, and will not stop.
So - great story. GOOD use of prompt! And good for the mods having the poll, which prompted me, to think about the story! (I feel like my students now, "nudged" along to "discover" things.)
...goes back to read again...
April 27 2007, 09:36:15 UTC 5 years ago
James and Sirius so horrid, and Harry such a wimp -- my response to the story didn't kick up a notch to the next level, though, till I came back to do the poll, and came to "how well did this entry fit the PROMPT?" With a sigh, I thought how most of these stories only have the prompt in them, not really using them as part of the plot. Sure the Chain of Command is holding Snape prisoner, but often the prompts are just incidental props, not crucial to the plot or to character development or transformation...
Although C of C was clever, I reflected, considering that C o C means military obedience to the one up above you. AHA. That lit up the answer (perhaps if it weren't 2 a.m. I would've been quicker). For Harry, the Chain is even heavier, forged with love and habit. For everyone in this story, it seems there's a Chain upon them, and they mistreat each other as a result while not even rejecting mistreatment to themselves.
Harry not only frees Snape from his Chain, he begins to break his own chains. Good, because I love a happy ending *and* this James and Sirius need a comeuppance!
Funny to think that the "prompt" poll question prompted me -- to think about a detail that turned out to unpack a good chunk of meaning. (I feel like my students. Good thing they are swifter than me :-)
Now, off to read again...
April 27 2007, 15:11:47 UTC 5 years ago
My response to everything you said about James will be this: What would you do to the 'most loyal servant' of Voldemort, who had killed your beloved spouse, is hunting down your only son, and with whom you'd been at war with?
And about Sirius: Would you let your best friend carry it all by yourself?
James and Sirius are people -- and no, people aren't always a happy sight.
Thank you, again!
|Meduza|
April 27 2007, 10:46:59 UTC 5 years ago
April 27 2007, 12:47:27 UTC 5 years ago
|Meduza|
April 27 2007, 12:02:35 UTC 5 years ago
*sits with you, holding your hand*
It's a wonderful, wonderful fic, babe! Absolutely gorgeous, but you know I love it, so I will just be quiet now and watch.
April 27 2007, 12:46:43 UTC 5 years ago
ilu, Donkey.
|Meduza|
April 27 2007, 12:17:34 UTC 5 years ago
April 27 2007, 12:52:32 UTC 5 years ago
|Meduza|
April 27 2007, 12:40:00 UTC 5 years ago
April 27 2007, 12:46:17 UTC 5 years ago
|Meduza|
April 27 2007, 13:14:09 UTC 5 years ago
Fantastic fic!
April 27 2007, 14:23:10 UTC 5 years ago
|Meduza|
April 27 2007, 15:39:20 UTC 5 years ago
April 27 2007, 20:23:23 UTC 5 years ago
Glad you liked it!
|Meduza|
April 27 2007, 16:26:57 UTC 5 years ago
April 27 2007, 20:25:08 UTC 5 years ago
|Meduza|
April 27 2007, 16:53:41 UTC 5 years ago
April 27 2007, 20:27:09 UTC 5 years ago
|Meduza|
April 27 2007, 17:52:24 UTC 5 years ago
When Harry was appalled at discovering Severus's prisoner/maid status, I was relieved. But I shared Harry's uncertainty about freeing him, too, because I couldn't tell for sure which side this Severus was fighting for.
Loved the ending! Heartbreaking, then hopeful. :) Thank you.
April 27 2007, 20:31:45 UTC 5 years ago
I'm glad to hear that the progress worked for you and that I kept you unsure. It means I did something right.
Thank you. :))))
|Meduza|
April 27 2007, 18:42:13 UTC 5 years ago
April 27 2007, 20:34:04 UTC 5 years ago
|Meduza|
April 27 2007, 18:57:59 UTC 5 years ago
I can totes imagine such immaturity and cruelty from both James and (especially) Sirius, even in their adult lives (well normally I reckon James had grown out of his mean kid streak, but given the circumstances with Lily, I can see him reverting back to his bullying ways in this universe).
I feel quite bad for Harry. He's so young and innocent and good, but it's like no one sees him and he can't even speak. I loved the development for his character from push-over and passive to finally standing up for what he believes is right, even if it means risking the relationship between himself and his father and godfather.
Overall this story was really interesting and intense to read. I think it was really awesome and the ending was both hopeful and almost sad (and a bit cruel if I say so myself, we must know what happens between the two afterwards! Like does Snape and Harry unite? Does James break Harry's neck after he finds out what he does? etc. etc.) Don't be surprised if you're bombarded with requests for a sequel ;) I know I wouldn't be opposed to it ♥
April 28 2007, 17:50:05 UTC 5 years ago
|Meduza|
April 27 2007, 20:04:45 UTC 5 years ago
April 28 2007, 17:50:46 UTC 5 years ago
|Meduza|
April 27 2007, 20:09:21 UTC 5 years ago
It is sad that even with his father and godfather alive, Harry still feels alone and left out. He's only a blip on the radar for James and Sirius, and he so desperately wants their approval and love that he's willing to allow them to mistreat and abuse someone.
I'm not surprised at the level of cruelty of either James or Sirius in this fic. James because he has an ego the size of Hogwarts and Sirius because of his family. I don't care that he was sorted into Gryffindor, Sirius came from a dark family and while he didn't share their pureblood beliefs, his darkness manifested itself in the pranks he pulled as a child at Hogwarts and his treatment of people (blatant hatred of Slytherins) as an adult. I felt you captured them dead on with how they could have been if they had lived and Lily had not.
I really enjoyed reading this story because until the very end I didn't know if Harry was going to release Severus. I could see the war within himself between doing what he knows is right and pleasing his father, and I really thought he was going to go with pleasing his father. Well, until James manhandled his son in a rage and all but hexed him to keep him out of the attic.
I'm glad that Snape is not going to kill Harry, at least. Can't say I would be too bothered if James and Sirius accidentally found themselves at the wrong end of his wand, though. ;-). I really would like to see where they go next, but the story is just as good as is.
April 28 2007, 17:55:55 UTC 5 years ago
of course, there was also this slight problem of Snape possibly killing Harry but we won't mention that. >.>
Also, remember that James and Sirius's cruely was narrated from Harry's POV, and Harry doesn't like James much at the moment. :) Harry's a true teenager in that regard.
As for sequel -- not promising anything. If I write one, I'll let fandom know. If I don't . . . better not raise hopes, eh? Thanks for the detailed review. Made {and will make} me all warm and happy for a long, long time.
|Meduza|
April 27 2007, 22:08:48 UTC 5 years ago
April 28 2007, 17:57:42 UTC 5 years ago
Wee! You liked the enviorment. My job here is done!
|Meduza|
April 27 2007, 23:37:11 UTC 5 years ago
April 28 2007, 17:58:29 UTC 5 years ago
Glad you enjoyed this. :)
|Meduza|
April 28 2007, 02:27:57 UTC 5 years ago
Absolutely wonderful, thank you.
April 28 2007, 18:21:27 UTC 5 years ago
|Meduza|
5 years ago
April 28 2007, 09:06:00 UTC 5 years ago
Loved the ambiguity of the ending. Hit me right in gut. I believe Snape when he promises not to kill Harry. This fic was really all about the difference between trust and distrust, wasn't it? Harry and Snape learn to trust each other. James couldn't trust Harry, out of desire to protect him from the War. And even though Snape's bound by that chain, James and Sirius don't trust Snape to hurt Harry, given a chance.
April 28 2007, 18:23:47 UTC 5 years ago
|Meduza|
April 28 2007, 15:34:18 UTC 5 years ago
April 28 2007, 18:24:40 UTC 5 years ago
|Meduza|
April 28 2007, 18:17:29 UTC 5 years ago
April 28 2007, 18:28:54 UTC 5 years ago
|Meduza|
April 28 2007, 22:33:20 UTC 5 years ago
Not that I would complain though. All in all, I found this to be an excellent story! ^_^ Thanks for sharing it with us!
April 29 2007, 20:02:44 UTC 5 years ago
Thank you thank you thank you! You made me so happy! *_*
|Meduza|
April 29 2007, 01:09:09 UTC 5 years ago
April 29 2007, 20:03:23 UTC 5 years ago
|Meduza|
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