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snarrymod (snarrymod) wrote in snarry_games,
@ 2008-04-19 20:20:00

Entry tags:

entry, meri_oddities, team dragon

TEAM DRAGON ENTRY: Meri Oddities "Escaping The Paradox"
Title: Escaping the Paradox
Author: meri_oddities
Team: Dragon
Genre(s): Alternate Universe (*Hover/Click for Games Definition of Alternate Universe*) and Romance
Prompt(s): Learning to Dance
Rating/Warnings/Kinks: NC-17; *Adult content*
Word Count: 35,706
Summary: After Harry is thrown back in time to 1971, he has several choices to make.
A/N: For a specific scene in Snape's 5th year, a lot of the dialogue is taken directly (or paraphrased) from The Order of the Phoenix, Chapter Twenty-Eight: Snape's Worst Memory. The description of Tom Riddle when Harry first meets him is taken directly from The Half-Blood Prince, Chapter Twenty: Lord Voldemort's Request.

Many thanks to my betas: Regan_V, Bethbethbeth, Joanwilder, and Snakeling. Any mistakes after all their hard work are all my own.

"Escaping The Paradox by Meri"

Don't forget to review!

Mod note: POLLS ARE NOW CLOSED. THANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATING IN THE SNARRY GAMES.

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(Post a new comment)

	(Anonymous) 2008-04-20 04:27 am UTC (link)
	ack! I have been craving, positively craving something time travel-y or de-age-y and this was exactly what I've been looking for, I just didn't know it! (Reply to this) (Thread)

meri_oddities, 2008-04-20 02:21 pm UTC

	wichie 2008-04-20 04:30 am UTC (link)
	Huzzah! Huzzah! Huzzah! Lovely to read this, because it could have been horrible (for the characters) but you managed a happy end that felt real, not cloyingly saccharine. (Reply to this) (Thread)

meri_oddities, 2008-04-20 02:22 pm UTC

torino10154
2008-04-20 04:37 am UTC (link)

There are so many things I love in this fic-time travel, Harry at Hogwarts with his parents and Severus, Harry mentoring Severus, worry over the paradox. I really think you explained that well at the end, about how time just seemed to change to reflect the reality Harry had created. The scene when Severus kisses Harry for the first time is just incredible-I feel for him so much that he was brave enough to go for it, even though Harry pushed him away (for the time being). Wonderful fic to open the Games!

(Reply to this) (Thread)

meri_oddities, 2008-04-20 02:24 pm UTC

(Anonymous)
2008-04-20 04:38 am UTC (link)

Okay, I feel like if I'm the first reviewer I need to say something more coherent.

I was thrilled when I saw the summary, because this is what I've been wanting to read, but I really enjoyed watching the way the paradox played out. It's always interesting in time travel fics to see the navigation between missing the old life and integrating into the new one, plus how the time traveler deals with trying not to disrupt the time continuum. The biggest strength to this story, IMO, was keeping it romantic and still realistic. Severus still has hormones and is still pragmatic, Harry isn't all moony or anything. I liked the build, and I liked Severus' quick thinking in the library.

I will say the one weakness (not that I minded this at all) was the frame, because I didn't really feel like Harry was all that torn up about losing his old life. It's as if Harry is researching it but disassociated. I just re-read No Way Back the other day (not lying about being on the time-travel kick!) and I think the pull of the old life was much stronger and more realistic in terms of Harry's coming to terms. Of course, this story was told over a longer period of time.

Anyway, sweet!Severus was great, and this really hit the spot.

(Reply to this) (Thread)

meri_oddities, 2008-04-20 02:30 pm UTC

(no subject) - (Anonymous), 2008-04-20 05:07 pm UTC

meri_oddities, 2008-04-20 05:12 pm UTC

orions_stars, 2008-04-22 11:37 pm UTC

meri_oddities, 2008-04-22 11:55 pm UTC

orions_stars, 2008-04-23 12:49 am UTC

meri_oddities, 2008-04-23 01:08 am UTC

joanwilder
2008-04-20 04:50 am UTC (link)

As excellent the second time as it was the first, Meri. The paradox was genius, and I held my breath at so many places in the story, waiting for 'worlds' to collide. My favorite parts were watching certain characters grow up, through Harry's eyes (don't want to give too much away here), the mentor relationship, the unfurling of your shining example of how differently life can turn out if only a few things are altered, if just one person cares. And I especially loved Harry and Albus' relationship in this one--it made me wish, more than once, that Harry'd had that kind of openness with him in his 'first' exposure. I also appreciate the idea that there is more than one 'reality', more than one set of 'circumstances' in which any of us can find happiness, the idea that life, love and fulfillment aren't a blade of grass, but field of it. Harry could've been happy in either dimension, I'm sure. It was nice that he didn't feel 'stuck' in a lesser place, where he could never be as happy.

What a great start to the Games! Congrats on a beautifully done story, and you've made all of TEAM DRAGON proud.

(Reply to this) (Thread)

meri_oddities, 2008-04-20 02:33 pm UTC

	kabbers 2008-04-20 04:50 am UTC (link)
	WOW, I loved the whole story. What a great start to the Games. (Reply to this) (Thread)

meri_oddities, 2008-04-20 02:34 pm UTC

	aliciajd 2008-04-20 04:56 am UTC (link)
	Perfect. I held my breath all the way through. This makes so many hurts in canon turn out better. But, it is in no way fluffy. I love it. (Reply to this) (Thread)

meri_oddities, 2008-04-20 02:35 pm UTC

	ex_lilyseyes671 2008-04-20 05:03 am UTC (link)
	Absolutely brilliat! I loved the way you handled the paradox - Sarah Rose - just delightful! ROAR Dragons! (Reply to this) (Thread)

meri_oddities, 2008-04-20 02:35 pm UTC

	ivylady 2008-04-20 05:09 am UTC (link)
	Bravo! I loved it. The time travel, the role reversal...it was perfect. Severus was so aggressive toward Harry. It made me smile. :) I also like how, while those two changed, everyone else pretty much stayed the same. Great fic. (Reply to this) (Thread)

meri_oddities, 2008-04-20 02:37 pm UTC

medawyn
2008-04-20 05:13 am UTC (link)

I think what I appreciated most about this story was the elegant way you handled canon; we never had to fumble awkwardly over what to do with Ginny and a mostly-dead Snape. I even appreciated that I could grieve for what Harry lost in his original timeline and still look forward to the changes that were occurring in the story's timeline.

Snape's characterization in particular was fantastic. I very much appreciated that he was still recognizably Severus, even though many difficult moments of his school days were smoothed over. The contrast between who Snape is as a person and who he became because of circumstances was beautifully illustrated.

Bravo! Another fabulous fic and a wonderful start to this year's Games!

(Reply to this) (Thread)

meri_oddities, 2008-04-20 02:42 pm UTC

themadscriptor
2008-04-20 05:17 am UTC (link)

What a wonderful story. :)

I think my favourite thing about it was the relationships. The move from mentorship to a romantic relationship felt organic and nicely paced to me. (Severus climbing into Harry's lap and kissing him -- then getting rejected, of course -- twisted my heart a bit.) The Harry/Dumbledore interactions were also great -- loved that scene about the biography and Grindelwald.

Lovely job!

(Reply to this) (Thread)

meri_oddities, 2008-04-20 02:45 pm UTC

	fbowden 2008-04-20 05:38 am UTC (link)
	Wow, fantastic opening fic!! If only Snape had had someone to take care of him like that in the first place. Beautifully written and a lovely ending that I gave a long, contented, happy sigh for xx (Reply to this) (Thread)

meri_oddities, 2008-04-20 02:46 pm UTC

fbowden, 2008-04-20 02:51 pm UTC

meri_oddities, 2008-04-20 02:56 pm UTC

	telwyrd 2008-04-20 05:43 am UTC (link)
	Wonderful! Your deft interweaving of canon with the alternate universe was brilliant. It was nice to see a Severus Snape who, thanks to Harry, received the support and understanding he so clearly needed and so was able to become a normal, happy person instead of the bitter, misanthropic one devised by JKR. Great story! Well done! (Reply to this) (Thread)

meri_oddities, 2008-04-20 02:53 pm UTC

ziasudra
2008-04-20 05:45 am UTC (link)

*happy sighs*

Reading this made me realize just how much I've missed Snarry fics set in Hogwarts. And I always have a soft spot for time-travel-resulting-in-young!Snape fics. This is perfect -- I get to have my cake and eat it too :)

I especially like how you reversed the role of conventional Snape/Harry school stories, making Harry the Professor trying to hold out on Severus' advances. This sweeter, more sociable version of Severus is pure gold, and I love how you've kept him Snape-like even in a different timeline.

Good job, Meri! And what a great start to the Snarry Games ~~even if you're on the other team~~! *g*

(Reply to this) (Thread)

meri_oddities, 2008-04-20 03:05 pm UTC

	kookoolaka 2008-04-20 05:52 am UTC (link)
	Lovely. Wonderful AU, I loved seeing the characters from a different perspective. Severus as a pushy bottom made me laugh. Great way to start the games!! (Reply to this) (Thread)

meri_oddities, 2008-04-20 03:06 pm UTC

	unbroken_halo 2008-04-20 05:58 am UTC (link)
	Well done! I really enjoyed the changes to canon and the time line. You weaved a wonderfully romantic story and kept them true to their personalities. What a great start to the Games! (Reply to this) (Thread)

meri_oddities, 2008-04-20 03:07 pm UTC

	gaycrow 2008-04-20 06:17 am UTC (link)
	Time travel stories always fascinate me, and it was good to see this new long story posted to start the Games. It was interesting to see the role reversals of Snape and Harry, with Harry trying to resist the temptation of student Severus. He was never going to succeed. :D (Reply to this) (Thread)

meri_oddities, 2008-04-20 03:08 pm UTC

klynie1
2008-04-20 06:22 am UTC (link)

I can't believe you wrote this in two weeks.

You handled the paradox beautifully, but I think what I loved even more was your characterization. The paradox impacted each person, making them a bit different from how we know them to be, yet still intrinsically the same. No one becomes noble, no one suddenly turn away from the paths they would have otherwise taken. Just lovely!

(Reply to this) (Thread)

meri_oddities, 2008-04-20 03:10 pm UTC

	belleamante 2008-04-20 06:26 am UTC (link)
	I'm really sleepy tonight, but I can't wait to read this in the morning! GO TEAM DRAGON!! (Reply to this) (Thread)

meri_oddities, 2008-04-20 03:11 pm UTC

	aeryun 2008-04-20 06:39 am UTC (link)
	OMG, I'm in love! Other than one brain scrubbing moment, (Prays never to have to think of Albus Dumbledore as a Dom ever again!), this story was absolutly perfect! What a way to kick off the games! is in awe Thank you so very much to the mods for holding the fest, and that you, Meri, for writing such a wonderful fic! hugs Aery (Reply to this) (Thread)

meri_oddities, 2008-04-20 03:13 pm UTC

iulia_linnea
2008-04-20 06:53 am UTC (link)

What an excellently plotted and paced fic! I devoured this story because I just had to know what was going to happen, and then I reread it again at once because it's so wonderfully rich. Thank goodness for a self-healing universe! I was so sure Harry was screwing up the time-line. *relieved* The relationships between the characters are natural, interesting, and real, here, and I love the way you address canon. (And there are so many things I'd point out if there were room to do it, so I'll just say that Harry's Grindelwald discussion with Dumbledore made me squee.) I love this world! I love a happy, natural ending. Gah, this is superior story-telling. :D

(Reply to this) (Thread)

meri_oddities, 2008-04-20 03:23 pm UTC

iulia_linnea, 2008-04-20 03:47 pm UTC

meri_oddities, 2008-04-20 04:06 pm UTC

	spiritwhite 2008-04-20 06:56 am UTC (link)
	Brilliant! (Reply to this) (Thread)

meri_oddities, 2008-04-20 03:23 pm UTC

leni_jess
2008-04-20 07:05 am UTC (link)

Thank you for a great read (which I shouldn't have, until tomorrow. Ah well). First and excellent! Here you've given us a good way of getting an acceptable age difference, and of giving Severus a better life, and of knocking Voldemort off without almost breaking the wizarding world.

I like your adult Harry – he still has impulses, but he manages to control most of them, and he thinks – and he's emotionally mature. Your young Severus is very believable. I'd love to see him as an adult, with experience of life, too.

(Reply to this) (Thread)

meri_oddities, 2008-04-20 03:26 pm UTC

	radiho 2008-04-20 07:15 am UTC (link)
	soooo much love for this fic!! (Reply to this) (Thread)

meri_oddities, 2008-04-20 03:26 pm UTC

lalaith_niniel
2008-04-20 07:22 am UTC (link)

I do love that they start the Games off with your stories!

A well-executed time-travel story is one of my guilty pleasures, and you managed to pull out a truly masterful one. The role reversals of student and teacher were really well done, as well as handling the paradox involved.

I adored the bit between Harry and Dumbledore about the mastering of wands, especially Dumbledore's red cheeks. It's good to know that there are some things that can shock the old man.

and he was flying, losing himself in the feeling of coming home.

And really, isn't that what it was all about anyway?

(Reply to this) (Thread)

meri_oddities, 2008-04-20 03:31 pm UTC

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