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kerravonsenTitle: In Shining Armour
Universe: Harry Potter
Author: CoffeeOnThePatio
Size: 243KK 102304 words
Tags: Long Novel, Romance, Drama, Post-Voldemort, DH-compatible, EWE, House Elves
Characters: Severus Snape, OFC, Minerva McGonagall
Ranking: Good
Review: http://www.katspace.org/reviews/netfic/Author/CoffeeOnThePatio#Title_InShiningArmour
Summary: Snape's only saving the unborn child of a strange woman. He never signed up for having his house invaded and a stranger and her child caring for him after the snake bite. Rated M for language only.
The title of this story is wonderfully ironic... at first. Because neither of the rescuers has shining armour; their armour is very tarnished. But they certainly do have armour. Very thick emotional armour. None of this Gryffindorish nobility or gratitude for Snape and Christine, it's all anger and self-defence... at first.
This author again demonstrates that she is the mistress of the slow build, taking two characters that are almost hostile and bringing them together. The characterisation of Minerva is a foil for that of Christine; because Christine had grown up in the same destitute working-class neighbourhood as Snape, she understands him in ways that Minerva doesn't; while as a contrast, Minerva represents snooty middle-class morality and prejudice. That is something that hadn't occurred to me but is obvious once it's pointed out: Hogwarts is very middle-class, and Minerva oozes middle-class privilege. No, Minerva isn't being character-bashed, it's just a weakness that Minerva isn't aware of. She means well. She wants to make it up to Snape, and sometimes she succeeds, and sometimes her meddling makes things worse.
As ever with this author, there is the occasional grammar mistake because English is a second language. But it is worth the stumbles to stick with the story.
So... what do you think?
Universe: Harry Potter
Author: CoffeeOnThePatio
Size: 243KK 102304 words
Tags: Long Novel, Romance, Drama, Post-Voldemort, DH-compatible, EWE, House Elves
Characters: Severus Snape, OFC, Minerva McGonagall
Ranking: Good
Review: http://www.katspace.org/reviews/netfic/Author/CoffeeOnThePatio#Title_InShiningArmour
Summary: Snape's only saving the unborn child of a strange woman. He never signed up for having his house invaded and a stranger and her child caring for him after the snake bite. Rated M for language only.
The title of this story is wonderfully ironic... at first. Because neither of the rescuers has shining armour; their armour is very tarnished. But they certainly do have armour. Very thick emotional armour. None of this Gryffindorish nobility or gratitude for Snape and Christine, it's all anger and self-defence... at first.
This author again demonstrates that she is the mistress of the slow build, taking two characters that are almost hostile and bringing them together. The characterisation of Minerva is a foil for that of Christine; because Christine had grown up in the same destitute working-class neighbourhood as Snape, she understands him in ways that Minerva doesn't; while as a contrast, Minerva represents snooty middle-class morality and prejudice. That is something that hadn't occurred to me but is obvious once it's pointed out: Hogwarts is very middle-class, and Minerva oozes middle-class privilege. No, Minerva isn't being character-bashed, it's just a weakness that Minerva isn't aware of. She means well. She wants to make it up to Snape, and sometimes she succeeds, and sometimes her meddling makes things worse.
As ever with this author, there is the occasional grammar mistake because English is a second language. But it is worth the stumbles to stick with the story.
So... what do you think?
