nattish

Title: The Sleeping Prince

Author: who_la_hoop

Pairing: Harry/Snape

Rating: R

Word-count: 41k

Summary: It's hard to ignore your past—and impossible to do so when you can't remember your future. But a meddlesome portrait, a dragon with an ancient grudge and true love's kiss teach an unlikely Prince that a regrettable past doesn't have to mean an unhappy ending.

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All righty, I haven’t been this excited about a fic in ages, much less a Harry/Snape fic! Before you avert your eyes—because I know my flist is primarily Harry/Draco—I’ll tell you what I told the author: If I didn’t already love Harry/Snape, this fic would have converted me. Plus, I haven’t been reading Harry/Snape of late and this fic made me remember what I find so appealing about the pairing: how utterly satisfying it is to see an unlikely couple of people find not only peace with one another but affection and love. And I don't think it gets more unlikely than Harry and Snape. SO SERIOUSLY GIVE IT A GO EVEN IF YOU’RE NOT A HARRY/SNAPE FAN. :D :D

All right! My bulletpoint blathering on why I liked loved this story:

• Snape’s characterization. Flawless. The author captured that awkwardness Snape apparently had, that insecurity that manifested as meanness, and practically made me feel as though I were reading canon.

• Harry’s characterization. That unique Harry humor, those little insecurities he has (less like Snape’s, more like is-my-hair-sticking up?, er-does-he-like-me?-no-that’s-stupid, omg-I-can-like-blokes? sort of insecurity). That cute, funny Harry thing. You know, you know. She does it, and does it well.

• Harry/Ron’s friendship. I won’t spoil it. You’ll see. But Ron, man. <3

• THE PROGRESSION OF HARRY’S CRUSH. Arguably the best part of this thing. Like, I don’t know how the author did it, but her grasp of teen love was out of this world relatable and enjoyable to read. And so funny and sad, too!

• Finally, all the work who_la_hoop clearly put into this. Word structure, imagery, story structure, formatting, attention to detail, attention to length, the build-up to the climax to the ending—all of it, just bravo. No flaws to mention. Seriously, y'all should read it.