birdsofshore | THE HARRY POTTER CHARACTER LOVE FEST

I hereby pronounce the Love Fest OPEN! ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

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capitu

BANNERS – We'd love you to promote the fest on your journal! Please pick up your banners HERE.

ALPHABETICAL MASTERLIST OF CHARACTERS

I've started you off with 40 or so of the requested characters, and I might add more as the urge takes me. If your character is not here, start your own comment thread and I'll link to it here!

ALBUS DUMBLEDORE'S thread
ALBUS SEVERUS' thread
ARTHUR'S thread
BELLATRIX'S thread
BILL'S thread
BLAISE'S thread
CEDRIC'S thread and more CEDRIC here
CHARLIE'S thread
CORMAC'S thread
CROOKSHANKS' thread
DOBBY'S thread
DRACO'S thread
DUDLEY'S thread
FRED'S thread
GEORGE'S thread
HARRY'S thread
HEDWIG'S thread
HERMIONE'S thread
GINNY'S thread
HORACE SLUGHORN'S thread
JAMES SIRIUS' thread
KINGSLEY'S thread
KREACHER'S thread
LUCIUS' thread
LUNA'S thread
MADAM POMFREY'S thread
MINERVA MCGONAGALL'S thread
MOLLY'S thread
NARCISSA'S thread
NEVILLE'S thread
PANSY'S thread
PROFESSOR SPROUT'S thread
PROFESSOR TRELAWNEY'S thread
REGULUS BLACK'S thread
REMUS LUPIN'S thread
RODOLPHUS AND / OR RABASTAN LESTRANGE'S thread
ROMILDA'S thread
RON'S thread
RUBEUS HAGRID'S thread
TEDDY LUPIN'S thread
SCORPIUS' thread
SEVERUS SNAPE'S thread
SIRIUS BLACK'S thread
TONKS' (NYMPHADORA TONKS) thread
VOLDEMORT'S thread

MASTERLIST OF FANWORKS Updated as regularly as I can!

FEST INFO:

When is the fest running?
We're here all week, from Feb 7th to Feb 14th. Please drop in regularly to leave love and see what else has been left.

How do I leave love for a character?
It's entirely up to you, but here are some examples, for your inspiration. So, for instance, if you're feeling a lot of love for Ron this week, go to his thread HERE and leave your contribution as a comment.

You could post explaining that you've always liked a man with a freckly arse. You could draw a sketch of Ron doing his bad-ass Auror thing. You could write a drabble featuring Ron just being Ron, a kinky PWP, or a 100k Gen rated kid!fic. You could cosplay as Ron and post a photo. Sculpt your interpretation of Ron's face in mashed potato. Or eat a bacon sandwich in his honour and then compose a haiku about how delicious it was. What about some Ron-centric recs? Ron icons, favourite quotes connected to Ron, a Ron fanmix, Ron's name written in fairy lights – if you can think of it, then DO IT.

Leave a description of your contribution in the subject line. Eg, RON: FANMIX, RON: HAIKU, or RON: DRABBLE or just RON: LOVE if it's just general love.

Commenting on other people's contributions, and general chit-chat, is firmly encouraged. Will this mean the threads get a little crazy? WHO KNOWS. :D

What is and isn't allowed?
You can write any pairing, or gen, any length, any genre, any rating. Please use warnings appropriately. Content does not have to be fluffy by any means, but character bashing would not be appropriate at this fest. If you have any doubts, just ask me or

capitu.

I've written a 20k fic for the fest, is that OK?
:DDD OF COURSE. If there's anything that you want to host on your own journal, just leave the link in the comment thread.

I can't find a thread for Aunt Marge / Griphook / Trevor! Are only certain characters eligible for love?
Please check the masterlist first, HERE. I'll try to keep the masterlist updated as much as possible, but I do have to sleep and stuff, so please skim through the latest comment threads as well, to see if someone else has begun one for your character. If Aunt Marge or whoever has been cruelly neglected so far, please start your own thread, putting their name in the subject line.

As to who's eligible: EVERYONE. If they feature in the Harry Potter series, they qualify for the fest.

My fanwork deals with more than one character, where shall I put it?
GOOD QUESTION. Did you feel inspired with love for one of the characters more than the others, perhaps? If not... if it's a pairing fic, say Neville / Luna, you could post it on Neville's thread, and leave a link to it on Luna's thread. If it's, say a drawing of the Lestranges, start a thread titled “The Lestrange family” and put it on there. If you still don't know where to put it, just ask me or

capitu, or just do something different entirely, if you like; we won't shout at you.

Am I only meant to leave love for my favourite character?
No! Leave love for as many people as you like! You have the whole week to shower as many HP characters as you wish with love. You could even challenge yourself and try to appreciate a character you haven't really given much thought to before.

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

LET THE LOVE BEGIN! ♥

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

perverse-idyll.livejournal.com

I get asked that a lot.

How can I resist sputtering on once again about my favorite character? I tried to keep this short, and I didn't touch on any of the fanfic I love, which almost feels like a crime because there are so many amazing variations on Snape to choose from.

(Warning: this is going to break comment boxes because links take up a lot of hidden characters!)

I see Snape a little differently than

writcraft earlier in this thread – not the Byronic (anti)hero, but the fuck-up who paid the ultimate price for his mistakes, the boy who didn't belong anywhere and couldn't hide it (http://firefly-wp.deviantart.com/art/Bye-113783027). He's both horrible and heartbreaking, and he dies just at the point where he finally acquires the pieces that were missing in him as a child, empathy and a sense of moral imperative, the things he lacked and that disfigured him as a human being; the things that, had he lived, might have forced the wizarding world to respect him despite the terrible acts he had committed and the eternal shadow on his soul.

He was a half-Muggle who for reasons never explained in the text was willing to believe that purebloods were better; a working-class child from a loveless home (http://e-c-h.deviantart.com/art/Childhood-149746938), untended, unsupervised, dressed in hand-me-downs, isolated, funny-looking, small for his age (conditions he shared in some respects with Harry, although temperamentally they were very different (http://asylums.insanejournal.com/snarry_games/220290.html). He cared little for his appearance save for his clothes, and the second he was able to switch to wizarding robes, it appears he never wore anything else. His magic inclined toward darkness, and he seemed to believe that the Dark Arts would give him power. But then, magic was supposed to be his ticket out, his escape from poverty and hopelessness. It appears that no one in his childhood instilled in him a sense of right and wrong, nor did it come naturally; there are moments in canon when he seems genuinely confused by other people's (Lily's, Dumbledore's) reactions to his abhorrent behavior. He was all about survival, about climbing out of the gutter.

And he had a single friend who was as magical as he was, but who was clean and pretty and beloved and kind; in other words, everything he was not. She was his proof of another world, another way of life. She was perhaps the symbol of everything he longed for during his greedy, solitary, deprived youth. (http://irisclaymore.deviantart.com/art/The-Choices-We-Make-128009170)

Snape's experiences in school didn't improve him (http://www.deviantart.com/art/Snape-again-309619569) (yes, I know he's too attractive here – in fact, he looks remarkably like Loki. Do I care? No). I'd argue that what happened to him at Hogwarts propelled him straight into Voldemort's arms. Becoming a branded member of a terrorist group is horrific in itself. But in his eagerness to please his new master (http://deeply-horrible.livejournal.com/11879.html), he committed the sin that would destroy the friend who clearly meant more to him than all his dreams of success. By reporting the prophecy, Snape poisoned his soul, crashed his future into a dead-end street, and imprisoned himself for the rest of his life in a debt of grief, hatred, self-loathing, and bitter redemption. All by the time he was 21. Another student portrait that's too pretty, but hey, I can deal with it. (http://www.deviantart.com/art/Severus-Snape-149996364)

I sometimes wonder how he felt about Hogwarts. In a day-to-day sense, it was his home for longer than any other place he ever lived. But he must have hated it sometimes (http://ancatdubh.deviantart.com/art/What-the-hell-am-I-doing-here-160221589), just as he hated teaching, and himself, and Harry.

From:

perverse-idyll.livejournal.com

As I read the books, my fascination with this spiteful, soft-voiced, strangely charismatic misfit grew. He's surprisingly intense (http://www.deviantart.com/art/Snape-Just-Snape-210125804), by far the most passionate character in the entire series, the most ambiguous (although by the end Dumbledore may have nicked that title), the most damaged. Sarcasm and scorn are his primary language. As the story unfolds, we see him write riddles in poetry, conduct a formal duel, counter unknown hexes during a Quidditch match in a desperate bid to save Harry's life. He's adept at potions, a tyrant in the classroom, a lurker in the corridors after curfew (http://zwerg-.deviantart.com/art/After-curfew-121664652). His eyes are piercing, yet dead and cold, which we eventually learn is due to the practice of Occlumency, although it doubles as a metaphor for the state of his soul. He's a Legilimens, the only one we know of apart from Dumbledore and Voldemort. He's infamous for his love of the Dark Arts, and Harry discovers that as a precocious teenager he used to entertain himself by creating new spells, the only character we ever see doing that. He has enough skill as a healer to keep Dumbledore alive after the headmaster puts Gaunt's ring on his finger (http://www.deviantart.com/art/Healing-Deathly-Hallows-63260444). And he can fly without a broom. He can fucking fly. (http://www.deviantart.com/art/And-now-ride-me-up-Testudina-Maxima-276942917)

Also, lest I forget, he loves books. (http://www.deviantart.com/art/Reading-by-candlelight-22200528) How am I supposed to resist a tormented loner who loves books? (http://www.deviantart.com/art/Winter-Reading-252206063)

Amidst these flashes of brilliance and cruelty – for Snape is an unreconstructed arsehole to most people, especially students – is evidence that the house divisions mean sod-all, because Snape is a hot mess of all four combined: he has the sharp mind of a Ravenclaw, the deathless loyalty of a Hufflepuff, and the ambition that got him sorted into Slytherin in the first place – not to mention that Dumbledore, the kindly old backstabber, casually remarks that perhaps he ought to have ended up in Gryffindor after all.

Then there's love. Snape doesn't know how to, yet love he does. He loves and grieves in a way that's obviously unhealthy and obsessive, deep and soul-sucking. He keeps himself going after Lily's death primarily by means of anger and servitude, the bitterness that eats at him, his desire to defeat Voldemort. He agrees to protect Harry only as a form of self-punishment that he suffers, shall we say, ungraciously. However twisted the altruism, Snape yearns to atone. Killing himself would in some ways have been easier, but living until Voldemort rises again affords him vengeance, even if it means that Dumbledore more or less becomes his second master.

Since Snape chooses to live, he gets the chance – belatedly, seeing that it takes him until almost the very end – the chance to grow up, to learn that other people matter; to learn that yes, he will do whatever he can to save them; that he will protect the children in his care, and will sacrifice his life, no matter how stupid the reason or how culpable Dumbledore is for not warning him about the Elder Wand; and he'll manage, even with his throat torn out, to convey the heart-rending message on which their victory depends. He'll ask Harry to look down at him with his mother's eyes, and even if he's looking for Lily, it will be Harry that Snape sees as he dies (http://www.deviantart.com/art/Deathly-Hallows-memories-60878353).

There would be no brave new epilogue without that bastard Severus Snape (http://patilda.deviantart.com/art/Long-Cold-Winter-94819216), just as there would be no Boy Who Lived without Snape's heartless betrayal.

From:

perverse-idyll.livejournal.com

Finally – and this isn't meant to imply that I've exhausted everything there is to say – Severus Snape, greedy (http://sarah-on-deviantart.deviantart.com/art/Spinner-s-End-111324048) child (http://vizen.deviantart.com/art/A-Little-Smile-84694366), ugly (http://expell-hun.deviantart.com/art/To-VIZEN-164158129) man (http://hapticmimesis.deviantart.com/art/Git-170249475), Slytherin swot (http://pikaf.deviantart.com/art/WIP-HogwartsLibrary-202145784), Death (http://whatistigerbalm.deviantart.com/art/Battlefield-194543474) Eater (http://expell-hun.deviantart.com/art/Kiriban-To-AnCatDubh-148555151), potions (http://www.deviantart.com/art/Lifelong-Burden-149745413) master (http://www.deviantart.com/art/snape-s-office-61326715), Half-Blood Prince (http://awkwardly-social.deviantart.com/art/school-days-halfblood-prince-127775528), bully (http://spinners--end.deviantart.com/art/Where-s-Snape-117674518), penitent (http://pojypojy.deviantart.com/art/DH-Love-Lily-62499573), spy (http://tomscribble.deviantart.com/art/The-Order-of-the-Phoenix-60208791), murderer (http://firefly-wp.deviantart.com/art/Flight-of-the-Prince-48896925), sacrificial (http://kykywka.deviantart.com/art/Death-of-Snape-original-150266080) pawn (http://tomscribble.deviantart.com/art/Look-At-Me-80691443) – is one of the loneliest of all lonely characters in the whole of children's literature and possibly beyond. And I keep coming back to him because of his flaws and his moral journey and his sarcastic ugliness and his seething complexity and his faithfulness unto death.

And when I do, I usually bring (http://twinners.org/lj/snarrygames08/1.html) Harry (http://www.thebejeweledgreenbottle.com/2008%20Summer%20Games/Dragon/littleblackbow.html) along (http://asylums.insanejournal.com/snarry_games/217108.html) with (http://ic.pics.livejournal.com/sinick/1005639/133962/133962_original.png) me (http://umino-aka-morskaya.deviantart.com/art/Snape-and-Harry-64573821).

SO MUCH FOR KEEPING IT SHORT.

♥

From:

birdsofshore

♥ Oh! Thank you so much for sharing this with us. What a labour of love this was. I read with great interest, but have only begun to scratch the surface of the wonderful art links. This is a post to come back to again and again. A fabulous resource for everything Snapey!

Thank you again.

From:

perverse-idyll.livejournal.com

I'm glad you enjoyed it! I've spouted off about Snape many times in the past, so I tried my best not to climb onto my usual soapbox here. Linking to some of the vast array of Snape art that exists helped open up the perspective, I think.

And this is only the iceberg's tip of a resource - there are infinite worlds of fanfic out there and not enough comment boxes to go around. If I'd tried to include fic, even just my favorites, I would have ended up posting a dissertation!

Thank you for giving us all the opportunity. This is a fabulous idea!

Re: Why Snape? - pt III

From:

citiesandsigns.livejournal.com - Date: 2014-02-13 10:11 am (UTC) - Expand

Re: Why Snape? - pt III

From:

perverse-idyll.livejournal.com - Date: 2014-02-14 05:21 am (UTC) - Expand

Re: Why Snape? - pt III

From:

citiesandsigns.livejournal.com - Date: 2014-02-14 03:37 pm (UTC) - Expand

From:

vaysh

This put tears in my eyes and made me realise (again) why I love HP canon even when it is fandom that made it worth (so much of) my time. Incredibly poignant and beautifully put. Thank you.

From:

perverse-idyll.livejournal.com

Thank you for entering into the spirit of my Snape-love. It's all there in canon, and I'm grateful that fandom has lavished so much attention on his story. Snape is tragic, and the fact that he brought it on himself only makes the irony more devastating.

And one of the many reasons I love fandom is that we keep finding ways to thwart fate and let him live.

From:

lijahlover.livejournal.com

That was stunningly well done. I agree with how you look at Snape, he is such a fascinating character.

From:

perverse-idyll.livejournal.com

I'm glad you enjoyed it! I'm something of a Snape-obsessive; I've been in fandom eight years mostly because of Snape, and I still haven't run out of things to say about him.

From:

notearchiver.livejournal.com

Somehow everything you write makes me cry. Thank you for such a wonderful elegy.

From:

perverse-idyll.livejournal.com

*hugs* There's just something about Snape - he brings out all the feelings. I don't know if I've ever been this passionate about a character before.

Also, I'm thankful that in fandom we can write elegies one minute and in the next counter that with stories in which Snape lives to inflict himself on a disgruntled wizarding world.

From:

khalulu

Yes, yes, yes.

From:

perverse-idyll.livejournal.com

Yay! Glad you agree. :)

Re: Why Snape? - pt III

From:

khalulu - Date: 2014-02-13 05:49 am (UTC) - Expand

From:

raitala.livejournal.com

Gorgeous! Thanks for sharing these - really beautiful collection of images and heart wrenching too.

From:

perverse-idyll.livejournal.com

For all that Snape is responsible for a lot of his own misery and other peoples' deaths, he still breaks my heart (although I'm quite capable of writing him as a total bastard). One of the beauties of being a Snape fan is the overwhelming amount of extraordinary fic and art available to us and the sheer range of interpretation reflected in it. So many amazing Snapes!

From:

0idontknow0

Awe, I love this. Absolutely wonderful. I don't even think I can word how much I enjoyed that.

And who cares if it was long, it was so fascinating to read. I think I just fell in love with Severus a little bit more.

From:

perverse-idyll.livejournal.com

I'm delighted you enjoyed it! I'm all about spreading the Snape (and Snarry) love. And even though it ended up running longer than I originally intended, believe me, I could have rambled on for pages more. I never seem to tire of talking about Snape.

Also, my usual tendency is to concentrate on fic, so I thought I'd pay tribute this time to a few of the wonderful artists out there and the infinite variety of Snape portraiture.

From:

torino10154

Beautifully said, hon. Even though in fanfic sometimes we interpret him different as your art links have shown, ultimately this is a perfect canon picture you've painted. Brilliant.

From:

perverse-idyll.livejournal.com

Thank you, my dear. It really pleases me that you like this. I find that going back to the canon, reminding myself of where he came from, revitalizes my creative connection to Snape; but at that point fandom branches off and writes the next page of his life (or death), the story not told, the person he never got a chance to be. And canon itself isn't sacred. We can examine all the elements in the books and show new sides to them as well. The sheer volume of Snape-related fanworks is truly amazing - and glorious.

From:

akatnamedeaster.livejournal.com

Absolutely perfect, both as an essay on Snape and evidence of your love for the character. Really, nothing more need be said after this. Thank you for taking the time to share this with us. :)

Re: Why Snape? - pt III

From:

perverse-idyll.livejournal.com - Date: 2014-02-14 04:39 pm (UTC) - Expand

From:

sophie-french.livejournal.com

This is a great insight of the personality of this complex character. Thank you! :)

Re: Why Snape? - pt III

From:

perverse-idyll.livejournal.com - Date: 2014-02-14 05:04 pm (UTC) - Expand

Re: Why Snape? - pt III

From:

sophie-french.livejournal.com - Date: 2014-02-14 08:06 pm (UTC) - Expand

From:

smallbrownfrog.livejournal.com

Thank you so much for this. You've articulated so many things that I think and feel, but wasn't able to express. He's a difficult, stubborn thorn in my side, and he shifts as I look at him from different angles. But somehow you've captured a large part of who he is.

Re: Why Snape? - pt III

From:

perverse-idyll.livejournal.com - Date: 2014-02-18 06:02 am (UTC) - Expand

From:

writcraft

Absolutely wonderful! I wish I could tear my little piece up and start again. This is just perfect. <3

From:

perverse-idyll.livejournal.com

Aw, you're too kind, my dear. And don't you dare wish violence on your meta! Reading yours is what inspired me to write mine, and since you'd already addressed the sexually coded side of Snape (and Snarry), I didn't have to, so I focused on other qualities instead. The artwork was sort of a reward for anyone willing to read my opinions. Besides, sometimes a pretty picture will seduce a doubting reader faster than all the written tributes in the world. :)