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snapelyhols_mod (snapelyhols_mod) wrote in snapelyholidays,
@ 2010-12-11 00:24:00

Entry tags:

2010_fic, fic4:chaos_rose, ust, voyeurism, wanking

Gift fic for chaos_rose, Right Nor Wrong, adult
Recipient: chaos_rose

Author: kelly_chambliss

Title: Right nor Wrong

Characters: Severus Snape, Argus Filch, Minerva McGonagall, Dolores Umbridge, Mrs Norris

Rating: Adult

Content Info: *Voyeurism, masturbation*

Summary: In Greek mythology, Argus the guardian of Io is sometimes said to have a hundred eyes. In the wizarding world, Argus the caretaker of Hogwarts has only two eyes, but he sees a great deal all the same.

Disclaimer: The world of HP and its characters belongs to Rowling.

Word count: ~11,800

Author Notes: Such a great prompt, chaos_rose. I was sorely tempted by the notion of Severus and Minerva as Holmes and Watson, but that was before Argus shoved his oar in and demanded to be part of it all. I thought about transfiguring him into Mrs Hudson, but he didn't like the idea. So here is the story he wanted told. If the kink level is too low, please blame him.

If this story is worth reading, it's because I have a BBE (best beta ever). Thank you! And thank you, mods.

( Right nor Wrong )

(Post a new comment)

	countesszero 2010-12-11 11:02 am UTC (link)
	i would never dare to tell a tale from filch's or hagrid's perspective - alone the dialect - their vocabulary - it's so difficult - and yet you did it so perfectly! i admire you for keeping filch in canon, and incorporating his memories of his childhood and youth. and i loved how you described umbridge's questioning him! that was lovely! (Reply to this) (Thread)

Re: "Right Nor Wrong" -

kelly_chambliss, 2011-01-25 07:53 pm UTC

tetleythesecond
2010-12-11 01:36 pm UTC (link)

I am so grateful for Argus to have shoved his oar in and demanded to be part of this! His voice and POV are delightful; I love his consistent handling of grammatical number, and how you explain his preference for the purely visual in such a way that one really can't scoff at him for watching (especially given what ~~you let~~ he lets us participate in).

Then there's your great characterisation – tongue-flicking Dolores the Toad, Argus who even likes to keep a clean castle while masturbating, mysterious Severus and not-so-surprisingly sexy Minerva (as well as the believable, spot-on dynamics between them). Hogwarts as a female supportive character who allows Argus into her Room of Requirement (and who knows when to end the last peep show) is a sweet touch. And I marvel at your way with names. Alma the mater and Panoptes the Watcher – indeed.

--They tormented Mrs Norris every chance they got. -- This is great. Such a simple addition that shows that his exasperation with the pranksters isn't all that unjustified.
--just the sight of her, and Minerva McGonagall crackled with so much angry magic that Argus kept expecting to see scorch marks on her chairs. -- What an image!
--Fudge generally acted like Argus were one o' them heathen servants in the old movies his aunt used to watch on telly, the kind what wore turbans and was always made to salaam their so-called betters. -- I like the classism/racism parallel here!
--he tucked himself back under his nightshirt so fast it were like he wanted to pretend he didn't really have a willy. -- *snickers*

Not to forget that wonderful, enticing summary.

A wonderful read! Once more, I can't thank Argus Panoptus enough for insisting that you tell this story.

(Reply to this) (Thread)

Re: "Right Nor Wrong" -

kelly_chambliss, 2011-01-25 08:01 pm UTC

cardigrl
2010-12-11 05:18 pm UTC (link)

What a wonderful story! The characterizations were spot-on, as were Filch's observations. His point of view is very believable and sympathetic, but not over-done (thinking of his description of his background and comments like the ones about Mrs Norris). Love the little details, from how long it took Dumbledore to use his first name, to what a bad sign it was when Snape's voice became smooth, to being uncomfortable with all the cat pictures in Umbridge's office.

Thoroughly enjoyable, and beautifully done!

(Reply to this) (Thread)

cardigrl, 2010-12-19 04:50 pm UTC

Re: "Right Nor Wrong" -

kelly_chambliss, 2011-01-25 08:03 pm UTC

	gingertart50 2010-12-11 07:55 pm UTC (link)
	I realy enjoyed this! The characters were spot-on and Argus was excellent, human and flawed and sympathetically described. Excellent! (Reply to this) (Thread)

Re: "Right Nor Wrong" -

kelly_chambliss, 2011-01-25 08:07 pm UTC

	torino10154 2010-12-11 10:20 pm UTC (link)
	Oh that was excellent. Filch's POV and voice are just brilliant. I loved him deciding that he was more of a watcher than someone that wanted to be touched, the way the castle helped him, just how Severus is--his marking, reading, whatever he was up to, his relationship with Minerva and Filch's final decision not to tell Umbridge a damn thing. Loved it. Well done. (Reply to this) (Thread)

Re: "Right Nor Wrong" -

kelly_chambliss, 2011-01-25 08:08 pm UTC

therealsnape
2010-12-12 01:21 pm UTC (link)

I'm so glad Argus Panoptes insisted that this, and this alone, was the only story worth telling.

A tale with My Lady Hogwarts who rewards her Faithful Knight. A man willing to wield a mop is a darned sight more useful on a day-to-day relationship basis than one who's off all the time wielding swords, so Lady Hogwarts would hand out largesse for that.

Stands to reason.

Fudge generally acted like Argus were one o' them heathen servants in the old movies his aunt used to watch on telly, the kind what wore turbans and was always made to salaam their so-called betters. Fudge down to a tee.

Mr Pumblechook If (Merlin Forbid) anything happens to Mrs N., I vote for Miss Havisham.

"You take care of the Castle, Argus, and the Castle, she'll take care of you." Oh, yes.

Argus had often heard the professors complain about the tedium of marking, and if it were tedious to do, it turned out to be beyond boring to watch. Had to remind me, of course. Couldn't let me enjoy an afternoon of laziness ...

Such a wonderful story. I love your Argus. In a respectful, non-touchy way.

(Reply to this) (Thread)

Re: "Right Nor Wrong" -

kelly_chambliss, 2011-01-25 08:10 pm UTC

featherxquill
2010-12-12 02:41 pm UTC (link)

This is absolutely fantabulous, Mystery Author! Your Filch voice is so, so amazing, you've fleshed him out into a funny, insightful, still-snarky and multi-layered character. I love all the little details about him - not liking to be touched, his relationship with Pringle and his impressions of Umbridge (who is also absolutely spot on, omg), MR PUMBLECHOOK (seriously omg that is the best cat name in the history of ever). I especially love the way you used language to create his character - the working-class speech and the wonderful use of slang (she had a pair of thrups on her like he wouldn't never of expected, definitely a favourite)

And Snape! Oh, Snape. You paint him so beautifully through Argus' eyes - capturing his realistic body and unattractiveness but also his powerful magnetism. And his attitude and facial expressions and every little thing Filch observes about him - even though we don't get much dialogue from him until near the end, his character comes through beautifully.

I love your McGonagall, too, and everything about her from the glimpses we get of her through Filch's changing attitude, to the arguments and the bare feet on the couch and the pins in her hair. You depict their relationship so beautifully in all those little images.

So much love for this story, omg ♥. Will be reccing this one like whoah.

(Reply to this) (Thread)

Re: "Right Nor Wrong" -

kelly_chambliss, 2011-01-25 08:15 pm UTC

	irena_candy 2010-12-12 03:36 pm UTC (link)
	Wonderful piece! Brilliantly conceived and beautifully executed. Congratulations on a great piece of prose. (Reply to this) (Thread)

Re: "Right Nor Wrong" -

kelly_chambliss, 2011-01-25 08:17 pm UTC

	beatrice_otter 2010-12-12 08:35 pm UTC (link)
	Very nice, I love how you make Argus a believable, three-dimensional character. (Reply to this) (Thread)

Re: "Right Nor Wrong" -

kelly_chambliss, 2011-01-25 08:18 pm UTC

	fanficforensics 2010-12-12 09:35 pm UTC (link)
	This was such a great read. Your Filch just leaps off the page, and his relationship with/feelings about the other characters in the story, from Snape and McGonagall to Umbridge, are wonderfully nuanced and believable. Truly excellent. (Reply to this) (Thread)

Re: "Right Nor Wrong" -

kelly_chambliss, 2011-01-25 08:23 pm UTC

lookfar
2010-12-14 12:06 am UTC (link)

Absolutely fantastic! Rather a fave kink of mine, and adding the extra layer of Delores Umbridge's pressure on Filch - Panoptes, indeed, and what better a voyeur - was brill. I was on the edge of my seat to see what would happen. And then to add Minerva to the mix, and give Snape a loving relationship - without taking the snark out of him ! - well, just fantastic. So well done, mystery writer; I completely enjoyed myself.

(Reply to this) (Thread)

Re: "Right Nor Wrong" -

kelly_chambliss, 2011-01-25 08:30 pm UTC

albalark
2010-12-14 05:39 am UTC (link)

Wow. Not too coherent right now, but I had to tell you that is an amazing feat of characterization, and I am just bowled over by it. This is probably the most authentic Filch voice I've ever heard - not just the dialect, the the thoughts 'spoken' in it. They conjured the Hogwarts caretaker up completely for me, as real as could be.

The page I'm commenting on doesn't have your text in front of me, but there are many passages which struck me, and which I can remember without having to look back (but I'm not guarantee-ing that I'll quote them perfectly ;-) ):
--The bit about Argus's Uncle Stan not 'holding with implements' but that wizards were harder and meaner;
--Severus's voice being ultra smooth when talking with Umbridge, and Argus knowing that is a danger sign;
-- Argus being a wee bit freaked out by the cutesy kitten plates;
-- that Fudge treated him as if he were a servant who 'wore turbans and had to salaam to his 'betters' ', and that he thought it 'unseemly' for Umbridge to act the flirty girl around Fudge;
-- that what magic Argus has shows up as natural Legilimency;
-- Argus's discovery of why the kids call her 'The Toad' (omg, tongue-flicking, eeeew!);
-- the manacles Pringle gave him, and equating them with magic and magic with power and control;
-- that he understood Umbridge wanted Severus because 'Severus were a man who made people feel strong, dark and needy things' and that Umbridge wasn't 'the first person to want him. To want to understand him or save him or join in his righteous darkness. To want to share the power of him. To have him want them.' (*This*)
-- your description of Filch's fantasy of Severus in his potions lab - eep! It wasn't just Filch who saw it before his eyes. (Oh, and Mr. Pumblechook is a *fabulous* name for his cat ::g::)
-- the comparison of orgasm with being jinxed, and not 'holding with bodily fluids';
-- how he understands his voyeurism in terms of the way one of his aunt's cats behaved and that touches are 'like little fires' and 'too much';
-- the Castle making mini Rooms of Requirement for Filch when needed, whatever those needs might be;
-- Filch going from hot to not while sharing the crushing boredom of marking papers (teach, do you? ::g::);
-- Severus's distaste at giving in to his own needs, and Filch's excitement and desire to stay quiet so that he wouldn't miss any of the sounds Severus was making;
-- how Argus finds doesn't mind finding Severus with someone, because, since it's not a man, he can remain emotionally removed, - then nearly being 'killed straight dead' at the sight of Minerva McGonagall in Severus's bed;
-- His sentiments concerning McGonagall have such a ring of truth - this *is* how he would view her - and his reaction to Severus kissing her, watching his tenderness through Argus's eyes . . . I love how you expressed it as watching a mask peel from his face and being able to see the real Severus underneath for the first time;
-- that incredibly lovely scene of the Minerva and Severus with The Daily Prophet!! Loved that whole thing, and the hot make-up sex scene, too;
-- the poignancy of Argus's last look, with Severus's insecurity and paranoia on full display, and Minerva's (mostly) successful attempt at assuagement, and how Severus signals his acceptance of it by touch - tenderly removing the pins from her hair (and Argus recognizing that the pins are there solely for Severus's benefit);
-- Argus calling Umbridge 'High Inquisitor', rather than 'Headmistress' - he's made up his mind where his loyalties lie.

Oh, holy cow - I think I've just about quoted your whole fic back at you! ::facepalm:: But really, this is such a tour de force of characterization that I couldn't resist detailing everything which makes it so special. I am floored (and more than a little envious) at your ability to leap inside this character's head, and make Argus Filch a human being whom we can understand, and even sympathize with - no mean feat, that. Brava!

(Reply to this) (Thread)

Re: "Right Nor Wrong" -

kelly_chambliss, 2011-01-25 08:42 pm UTC

Endless Happy Squeeing!

chaos_rose
2010-12-14 01:59 pm UTC (link)

I'm cathouse_mary on LJ.

First: I'm sorry it took me so long to read and comment!

Secondly: I love my story!

It's not just a good story because you have the best beta ever, and it is better than worth reading. The first things that got me were Filch's voice and point of view. Wonderful, and it rings so true.

My favorite line made me laugh out loud, I could picture it so clearly:

"She had about as much chance of getting Severus into her drawers as Mrs Norris had of becoming Minister of Magic."

The hotness of Argus' voyeurism is the icing on the cake. You've fleshed it out and given it solidity. I LOVE backstory!

And I love the way Argus thinks of Severus and even of Minerva.

The way you portrayed them together is simply everything I could have wanted.

I'll be reccing this, dear Anonymous Author, because stories are the gifts that keep on giving, and I'll be coming back to this one often.

(Reply to this) (Thread)

Re: "Right Nor Wrong" -

kelly_chambliss, 2011-01-25 08:53 pm UTC

miss_morland
2010-12-14 10:45 pm UTC (link)

I adore this story, Mystery Author. Your Filch is wonderful -- perfectly in character, but very human and even likeable. His backstory is great and very believable, and I love how he isn't all over Umbridge just because she's (seemingly) reaching out to him. What we see of the Snape/McG relationship is lovely, too.

Thank you for this wonderful read!

(I'd still like to see a sequel where Umbridge tries to seduce Snape, though. *g*)

(Reply to this) (Thread)

Re: "Right Nor Wrong" -

kelly_chambliss, 2011-01-25 08:56 pm UTC

atdelphi
2010-12-15 07:26 pm UTC (link)

*flails* Okay, so there are these confections I love (bear with me) that are cake soaked in liqueur and dipped in chocolate. Three of my very favourite things, and magically, not only is the sum three times better than each individual part, but it's ten times better. I could eat a thousand of them.

This story is even more delicious. You've taken three of my very-favourite characters and two of my very-favourite pairings, dipped them all in a spot of voyeurism and a lot of cleverness, and made something that's positively scrumptious. I could read this story a thousand times and not stop grinning.

I cannot wait to find out who you are, Mystery Author!

(Reply to this) (Thread)

atdelphi, 2011-01-22 02:05 am UTC

Re: "Right Nor Wrong" -

kelly_chambliss, 2011-01-25 09:00 pm UTC

	k8bnimble 2010-12-17 12:13 pm UTC (link)
	This was an amazing and unique tale. I loved using Filch as the stroytell and his voice is spot on perfect. It was a fascinating and believable view into his character. I also thoroughly enjoyed the relationship between Severus and Minvera. Well done! (Reply to this) (Thread)

Re: "Right Nor Wrong" -

kelly_chambliss, 2011-01-25 09:02 pm UTC

	(Anonymous) 2010-12-20 01:28 am UTC (link)
	This is great! Very well done. (Reply to this)

	bylby 2010-12-25 09:10 pm UTC (link)
	This was very enjoyable! (Reply to this) (Thread)

Re: "Right Nor Wrong" -

kelly_chambliss, 2011-01-25 09:02 pm UTC

perverse_idyll
2011-01-03 05:06 am UTC (link)

It's hard to get a handle on how to praise this fic because it's so all of a piece, and it's the flavor of Filch's voice that makes it so. You have a knack for casting his remarks and mullings-over in marvelous turns of phrase, compulsively interesting, partly because they come from such an outsider perspective. All of his observations are dry, wry, unvarnished, stinting, oddly scrupulous even when they're reprehensible, self-deprecating but gimlet-eyed, morally rigid and shrewd. Not to mention funny. He's excellent company, in his own misanthropic way.

His opinions of Fudge and of Umbridge's flutterings are spot-on. Then, the thought of Umbridge fancying Snape makes me shudder as much as it does Argus. Along the same lines, I love how the simple use of Severus' name makes it clear that Argus sets him apart, that his attitude toward him is personal, not professionally dismissive or deferential. I also like the sympathy you stir with Argus' reminiscence about the manacles and how he thinks of them as his 'talisman.' His obsession with them is suddenly understandable, given how they touch his magical heritage, which is also the source of his deprivation.

Actually the absorbing portrait of Argus is what lingers on after the fic ends. I love the portrayal of Severus and Minerva glimpsed through Argus' limited viewpoint. How enamored he is of Severus' body. How even his vitriolic descriptions of Minerva bring her crackling to life and only make me fangirl her more.

But it's Argus and his backstory that cast a spell, his memories of being sent to live with Muggle relatives who treated him as harshly as the Dursleys treated Harry, the sense of not being 'right,' of being looked down upon, of holding to an unspoken pride in how much he knows that the wizards around him don't even suspect, his fierce belief in how the world ought to be. It all fits: Argus as loner, an outcast on the fringes of a fabulous, special place into which he was born but to which he's denied true entry and full citizenship.

Which then makes perfect sense of his desire to watch and not be touched. He's always the one looking on; he's always lurking, the caretaker of many secrets, aware of hijinks and rendezvous unknown to his 'betters.' It makes his name a prescient one. And it adds to that sense of loneliness and punishing honor that, at the last, makes his prior loyalty to Severus, and even to McGonagall, mean more to him than being prized by the likes of Dolores Umbridge. (Well, loyalty and a healthy respect for his own skin.)

All right, I can't help it, I have to quote your story to you, thereby no doubt breaking the LJ character limit:

not with all them cats on the wall -- he preferred his cats alive, thank you kindly How can I not like this man? I want to follow him around, eavesdropping on his running interior monologue.

not wanting to hear his mam agree that he weren't right and that sending him away were. / No, it hadn't been bad. But Argus still didn't know if it had been right.

This is touching, even if he has found a way to live with it. But yes, it's the sort of thing that would knobble up someone's sense of self, like premature arthritis.

"Not everybody can make sense of word talk. But there inn't nobody don't understand pain talk." This is brilliant as the kernel of Argus' philosophy of life. Of course it's how he's been brought up. As he suffered and learned, so should others. I like the crustiness and the unreflective cruelty.

It were folk like him what most needed a world they could count on Sharp bit of character insight.

And now that he'd got the hang of ignoring them kittens on the wall Hee!

She had about as much chance of getting Severus into her drawers as Mrs Norris had of becoming Minister of Magic. This is witty, and delightfully matter-of-fact.

Severus were a man who made people feel things -- strong things, dark things, needy things. The Headmistress weren't the first person to want him. To want to understand him or save him or join in his righteous darkness. I love what this reveals about both Severus and Argus. I especially like the reference to 'righteous darkness' and how you leave the meaning of that ambiguous.

(Reply to this) (Thread)

perverse_idyll, 2011-01-03 05:07 am UTC

Re: "Right Nor Wrong" -

kelly_chambliss, 2011-01-25 10:22 pm UTC

Re: "Right Nor Wrong" -

perverse_idyll, 2011-01-30 10:10 pm UTC

	ensnarryed 2011-01-08 04:59 pm UTC (link)
	This is very good Filch! (Reply to this) (Thread)

ensnarryed, 2011-01-10 11:29 am UTC

Re: Right Nor Wrong -

kelly_chambliss, 2011-01-25 09:04 pm UTC

alisanne
2011-01-14 07:31 pm UTC (link)

Wow! My goodness, you really NAILED Filch's voice here. I could practically HEAR him in my head, this was SO VERY him.
And Umbridge... *shudders* Not that I can fault her taste, but yuck.
The castle really does take care of her own.
And I love the small flashes of magic Filch had, it makes sense that even a Squib would get those since the occasional Muggle has flashes of intuition. ;)
You made Snape/Minerva totally plausible!
And the end was perfect.
Really well done!

(Reply to this) (Thread)

Re: "Right Nor Wrong" -

kelly_chambliss, 2011-01-25 09:06 pm UTC

	sealcat 2011-01-21 01:56 am UTC (link)
	Wonderful fic!! Argus really know what to see and keep them in secret. Very enjoy the whole story, thank you Mystery author! (Reply to this) (Thread)

Re: "Right Nor Wrong" -

kelly_chambliss, 2011-01-25 09:06 pm UTC

r_grayjoy
2011-01-21 05:09 am UTC (link)

Ooooh, now this is interesting and different and fantastic! Filch's voice feels so authentic, and you've turned him into such a three-dimensional character here. I've always wondered about Filch in canon -- what his family and upbringing were like, how he came to be caretaker at Hogwarts, why he chose to live around wizards rather than Muggles, what he does on a regular basis -- and you've done a brilliant job of tackling some of those questions. The details of his life and imaginative and entirely plausible, and do a great deal to explain his character.

I love that Filch is so perceptive here. He has such a vivid, different way of seeing and discerning things. His insights into Snape and later, the Snape/Minerva relationship, are fantastic. Through him, you've portrayed a very believable Snape and Minerva, and conveyed the nature of their relationship perfectly. Yay for Filch understanding so well.

I loved the idea that even a Squib might have some low level of magic within them that manifests unpredictably in certain ways. Filch's ability to know things about people is fascinating. (Although, one is left wondering whether it's really magic, or just great intuition and instincts that he wishes were magic!)

Very thought-provoking piece!

(Reply to this) (Thread)

Re: "Right Nor Wrong" -

kelly_chambliss, 2011-01-25 09:13 pm UTC

Weakly seconds perverse_idyll!

terri_testing
2011-06-23 01:15 am UTC (link)

S/he pretty much said everything. Your Filch's voice and POV were fantaxtic; you gave him a background that made sense of his fanboying manacles and whips without excusing or prettying it up.

I would have thought that hatred or pity were the only possible reactions to Filch as portrayed in canon, but your Argus is entirely canon-compliant and defies either reaction.

Thank you for making him into a real person, and one whose voice I enjoy listening to.

(Reply to this)

	And another thing terri_testing 2011-06-23 01:19 am UTC (link)
	Oh, and I have to comment on how perfect you make it that he's uneasy about Umbridge's "right ways of thinking." Yeah, he knows what that leads to. Common sense, however, is different. (Reply to this) (Thread)

Re: And another thing -

kelly_chambliss, 2012-06-05 01:06 am UTC