Tweak

InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "It's a samsquanch!"

snarrymod (snarrymod) wrote in snarry_games,
@ 2008-05-20 19:12:00

Entry tags:

entry, perverse_idyll, team phoenix

TEAM PHOENIX ENTRY: Perverse Idyll "When the Rose and the Fire Are One"
Title: When the Rose and the Fire Are One
Author: perverse_idyll
Team: Phoenix!
Genre(s): Alternate Universe *Hover/Click for Games Definition of Alternate Universe*
Prompt(s): Flesh Memory, Spilling Fire
Rating/Warnings/Kinks: *(HBP but not DH-compliant) Violence, rough sex, character death (not Snape or Harry)*
Word Count: 81,000+
Summary: Harry's haunted by guilt. Snape's warded by roses. Each must free the other in order to free himself.
A/N: First, thank you to the mods for creating the Games in the first place and for having the patience of saints. leela_cat did a phenomenal job with this in a ridiculously short time. Whatever coherence the fic has is due to her heroic efforts and hand-holding. Also thanks to Team Phoenix for putting up with my fumbling captaincy and for helping to make this an enjoyable ride. Lastly, many thanks to my beloved rinsbane for talking me through to the images I needed. I wish this were a better first offering, my dear.

*With gratitude to leela_cat and apologies to T. S. Eliot.

"When the Rose and the Fire Are One by Perverse Idyll"

Don't forget to review!

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

Mod note: If you rec this story, please link to this POST, not the story itself, or the author/team will not get their proper vote tally or feedback. Thank you.

Mod note: Due to the length of this story, we will not be posting another until tomorrow evening. Thank you!

Page 1 of 4
<<	[1] [2] [3] [4]	>>

(Post a new comment)

	dracofiend 2008-05-21 03:34 am UTC (link)
	Ahhhhh first comment!!!! massivehugsrunstoread ♥!!! (Reply to this) (Thread)

perverse_idyll, 2008-05-21 03:54 am UTC

dracofiend, 2008-05-22 02:54 pm UTC

perverse_idyll, 2008-05-24 02:12 am UTC

dracofiend, 2008-05-22 06:27 pm UTC

perverse_idyll, 2008-05-24 05:22 am UTC

dracofiend, 2008-05-27 02:30 pm UTC

	loupgarou1750 2008-05-21 06:12 am UTC (link)
	oh yikes! I can't read this until probably this weekend, when I have time to take my time and savor, but you know how much I'm looking forward to it and that I'll be rooting for you, even though you're on the wrong team!. I'm drooling with anticipation. (Reply to this) (Thread)

perverse_idyll, 2008-05-21 06:48 am UTC

effie_chan, 2008-05-21 11:07 am UTC

perverse_idyll, 2008-05-22 02:42 am UTC

windtossed
2008-05-21 07:02 am UTC (link)

this was so unbelievably excellent, i don't think i'm really capable of enumerating the many things i loved about it, but here's a partial list nonetheless. that first time harry thinks i love you and then immediately burying it. snape and his sacrifices, and the final one which allows harry to free him, utterly beautiful. the scenes which you painted in the mind's eye which stick with the reader -- specifically, i refer to harry and snape both clasping the wand as the house burns down around them, and both of them looking at the house covered with roses. snape leaving, but still, there is hope that harry will get up in the morning and follow the string to its end, to wherever snape is.

there's more. the more peripheral characters were well portrayed. i particularly felt the tragedy of ron's situation. spinner's end almost took on a personality of its own, because of eileen prince's roses and the stairs and all those details without which the atmosphere could not have been created.

really, again, an excellent job, and not a fic i will be forgetting soon.

(Reply to this) (Thread)

perverse_idyll, 2008-05-21 09:09 am UTC

mac_tunes
2008-05-21 08:17 am UTC (link)

*cries* *cries* *cries* You tore my heart out and crushed it! Oh lords! *moans* This story is amazing! Somewhat dark in nature and it makes it so endearing. And it ends quite poignant. Would Harry go and search for Severus? Would he? Won't he? Aw... *sniffs* *sniffs* *sniffs* sometimes I hate open-ended... but this... this story deserves this kind of ending which is not an ending... or is it? Darn it, you got me blubbering and I'm not even sure what I'm sayin!!!

Thank you!

(Reply to this) (Thread)

perverse_idyll, 2008-05-22 02:58 am UTC

	red_day_dawning 2008-05-21 09:06 am UTC (link)
	I can't comment - I don't know what to say - I've been wrenched & torn & broken open. Extraordinary. And so wonderful, I don't have the words. (Reply to this) (Thread)

perverse_idyll, 2008-05-22 03:11 am UTC

rakina
2008-05-21 09:12 am UTC (link)

I've not read this yet, but I will, and I'm fascinated by the length of it! I though my entry was big enough (c. 71k) but yours is 10k bigger! It's an achievement to write so much in the allotted time, because if you're like me you probably edited it to death before you finally submitted it.
You've made me feel a bit less embarrassed anyway, hehe, though mine's not posted yet. *waits (im)patiently*
I reckon you'll get the medal for the longest entry though, so well done!

(Reply to this) (Thread)

perverse_idyll, 2008-05-22 03:21 am UTC

perverse_idyll, 2008-05-22 03:24 am UTC

rakina, 2008-05-22 08:05 am UTC

eriador117
2008-05-21 12:04 pm UTC (link)

I started reading this this morning and it drew me in, my eyes ache a bit from staring at the screen, LOL!

It was a compelling story, but I have to admit that I skimmed over the one part where Snape was bottom ;), although it did pertain to the plot and Snape's spell. That just isn't my cup of tea, but that was only a small part of the fic and the rest certainly made up for it.

It was so imaginative and original and I loved it.

take care,
Annette

(Reply to this) (Thread)

perverse_idyll, 2008-05-22 04:03 am UTC

eriador117, 2008-05-22 08:31 am UTC

	paperbacked 2008-05-21 03:28 pm UTC (link)
	Wow. Oh, wow. I've just read this in one, greedy, delicious, heartbreaking sitting. Just breathtaking perfection. You actually made me cry. Thank you, thank you, thank you for this wonderful piece of writing! (Reply to this) (Thread)

perverse_idyll, 2008-05-22 04:11 am UTC

	(Anonymous) 2008-05-21 08:51 pm UTC (link)
	Best. Story. Ever. You are a genius. I feel guilty for reading this free. Brilliance. (Sue from LJ) (Reply to this) (Thread)

perverse_idyll, 2008-05-22 04:20 am UTC

	josan 2008-05-21 08:55 pm UTC (link)
	Sigh. Have yet another stack of marking to do. Will get back to you by the weekend...I hope. (Reply to this) (Thread)

perverse_idyll, 2008-05-22 04:24 am UTC

josan, 2008-05-23 11:28 am UTC

perverse_idyll, 2008-05-24 06:38 am UTC

	gifted_goofball 2008-05-21 10:12 pm UTC (link)
	I'm only halfway through it and have to stop before my head crashes on the keyboard.... What a creepy, sad and intense tale shudder it pulls you right in... More when I'm done. (Reply to this) (Thread)

perverse_idyll, 2008-05-22 04:55 am UTC

gifted_goofball, 2008-05-22 10:27 am UTC

perverse_idyll, 2008-05-25 07:12 am UTC

gifted_goofball, 2008-05-22 10:43 am UTC

perverse_idyll, 2008-05-25 07:15 am UTC

1taintedsoul
2008-05-21 10:30 pm UTC (link)

Wow!
Well, I thnk that wins the award for the most bitter-sweet ending ever.

So glad,after all they went through that Snape says 'Find me'.

It was so well planned out and thought provoking.I can't imagine the time,effort and mental power that went into writing an epic like this. That input itself is amazing.Coupled with a fantastic plot and believable characters, this is quite wonderful.

(Reply to this) (Thread)

perverse_idyll, 2008-05-22 05:32 am UTC

viverras
2008-05-21 10:49 pm UTC (link)

I was late to work for this, and it was totally worth it. Brilliant, brilliant characterizations. I particularly like how Harry was always on the edge of (or over the edge of) hurting Severus, especially at first; it seems to me that, ghosts or no, he would probably behave that way, after having hated him for so long. I also truly appreciated the series of ways that Harry learned to let go, and that you didn't just let him get away with being passive about it. OH!! And your OC was fantastic as well! God, I really did enjoy this. Thank you!

(Reply to this) (Thread)

perverse_idyll, 2008-05-22 06:56 am UTC

	themostepotente 2008-05-21 10:54 pm UTC (link)
	I'm dying to read this, but fair warning, it's going to take me some time. G (Reply to this) (Thread)

perverse_idyll, 2008-05-22 07:01 am UTC

	aguella 2008-05-21 10:58 pm UTC (link)
	Beautiful and complex; a truly wonderful work. (Reply to this) (Thread)

perverse_idyll, 2008-05-22 07:08 am UTC

aguella, 2008-05-22 07:19 am UTC

torino10154
2008-05-22 01:47 am UTC (link)

I am nearly speechless with love for this tale you've woven. I could not possibly do this fic justice in a comment. Your writing style is gorgeous-the attention to detail is just stunning. The saliva between Harry's fingers, the flames-the scent of fire seeming to burn in my nose as I read, when Severus holds the roses like a baby.

And the dialog was no less perfect . . .

Snape caught him by the wrists. "You are such a little pervert."

Harry rotated his hips under Snape and said, “You’re not exactly an advertisement for safe sex and the missionary position yourself.”

"That was a compliment, you idiot," Snape growled.

and

"Are you a cocksucker, Potter?" Snape asked

Nnnggh! Imagining that coming out of Snape's mouth-wow so hot!

The supporting cast Pipecleaner, Odile, and Adrian Hailstork as well as George, Hermione, and the rest of the family were all wonderfully incorporated.

The end, oh the end, Severus freeing Harry, Harry freeing Severus. Happy, happy sigh. Wonderful fic.

(Reply to this) (Thread)

perverse_idyll, 2008-05-23 03:22 am UTC

telwyrd
2008-05-22 02:22 am UTC (link)

Gut-wrenching. Utterly gut-wrenching. What a dark, twisted tale. Harry with his ghosts and his guilt was cruel and unforgiving. Snape – poor, poor Snape – suffered so much and so terribly again and again. Everything was bleak and grim. Yet it was also riveting, in a macabre way.

Now he’s shunted away - this is about Professor Snape, I take it? Trapped like a basilisk by the Ministry of Magic, for," her head jerked, and a dazzle of rainbow flamed her cheek, "the crime of unexpected heroism. Had the gall to pull their bleedin’ stones out of the fire still sporting Voldemort’s Mark, the stupid git."

Very well said! I loved Senior Class Warden Odile Lalique. She was a wonderful original character full of vim and vigor, contrasting nicely with the somber atmosphere of the story. It was good to see at least one person who actually cared about Snape in his solitary prison.

It was frustrating to read about Harry and Snape’s encounters. Harry was such a git, with his need to blame Snape for all that was wrong in his life. And poor Snape, having abuse after abuse heaped on him and compelled constantly to explain things to dunderhead!Harry. Yet he somehow maintained a semblance of sanity through it all, which attests to his strength of character.

"I'm not surprised that you can’t change it. But if you," Snape took a breath, "if you can’t, no one can. No one alive." The sun struggled through the overcast sky, and in a rush of pale gold and glimmered blue and the jewel-like clarity of broken edges the window suddenly sparkled. Snape scanned the walls with drugged-looking eyes. His next words were so soft that Harry felt it was more like lip-reading than actual sound: "So it’s up to me. I can’t do this for much longer."

The ending was exciting, heart-stopping, and mesmerizing. I was on the edge of my seat, biting my nails, wondering fearfully how it would all turn out. So much happened so quickly: Snape’s revelations, Harry’s loss of control, Spinner’s End in flames, no escape for Snape, almost-dead Snape, their entwined powers consuming the fire, the hawt aftermath, "Redde mihi sanguinibus," "Redde mihi peccatis tuas," Harry finally releasing Snape, and last, but not least, Snape’s "Then find me".

::whew!::

It was an intense, mind-blowing conclusion.

The Severus roses, the Warding, and the collar were all such novel concepts, very well-conceived.

Beautifully well-written! Outstanding story! Brava!

(Reply to this) (Thread)

perverse_idyll, 2008-05-23 03:50 am UTC

gaycrow
2008-05-22 04:36 am UTC (link)

Well, I feel wrung out now ... I'm exhausted! What an amazing story.

It's so chock full of intellectual thoughts and complicated magic that any comment I make won't do it justice. I prefer lighter, less angsty stories, and this really is an intense reading experience. But compulsive! I had to read all the way through - I couldn't give up, hoping things would come out all right at the end. Which they did, I think. I'd like to believe so anyway.

The hate sex was so gritty and realistic that it almost burnt the monitor. The description of the roses was beautiful. I loved young Severus, who showed all the makings of the man he was to become. I felt vertigo every time Harry climbed the stairs to Severus's room. Your story telling is profoundly effective.

Harry seems to be at peace with himself now, after being so consumed with hatred, and overwhelmed by the invading ghosts, at the beginning of the story. There is hope that he will meet up with Severus at some stage in the future. I'd like to think they both deserve a happy ending together after going through all that trauma in their lives.

(Reply to this) (Thread)

perverse_idyll, 2008-05-23 04:15 am UTC

	centaury_squill 2008-05-22 08:25 am UTC (link)
	Wow, what an intense, fucked-up relationship! But I like to think that Harry will find Snape again - wherever he is, however long it takes - and they'll find some kind of equilibrium together. (Reply to this) (Thread)

perverse_idyll, 2008-05-23 04:32 am UTC

	sookail 2008-05-22 08:42 am UTC (link)
	Um. This fic is incredibly beautiful, original and heartbreaking, and no review could even describe, how. Thank you so much for writing this. (Reply to this) (Thread)

perverse_idyll, 2008-05-23 04:35 am UTC

(Anonymous)
2008-05-22 09:19 am UTC (link)

I read this basically without stopping which has the disadvantage of lack of thinking through the imagery. But you write so vividly that your fic had a definite impact. The way grief and guilt as ghosts seperated Harry from nearly everyone else,the unexpected beauty of Severus' blood roses, the difficult stairway that makes you struggle to reach a goal that lies not where you anticipated it. I am not quite sure, I must admit, how to interpret the rose wards, but I was definitely able to picture them clearly in my mind. That is another strength of the story. You describe some tableaus so skillfully that I have a detailed picture of it in my head, like Severus sitting on his porch, motionless and covered in roses.

If I have one little point of criticism it is that the ending, for me, felt a little bit rushed. First there is all this apparating back and forth from one life threatening situation to another, followed by the need to completely confront and accept their emotions. Then Severus takes all of Harry's ghosts into himself, a sacrifice that increases in meaning when we realize that he knew exactly what he was dealing with. That was another punch in the gut, that Severus had to deal with the same plight as Harry for years and years. And lastly, we learn that for Severus this sacrifice was more an act of creation, which is on the one hand heart wrenching but on the other raises questions about the way he sees Harry (a person, a lover, all of his sins as he says in the end?). So we have a lot of psychological dynamite but nothing of it is really addressed, since Harry's cleansing makes everything else unimportant for him in that moment. This fundamental change in Harry left me a bit unsatisfied, since up to this point the development of Harry's emotions and opinions were executed so slowly, believably and in reaction to all the big and little things that happened around him. I missed that in the ending.

Regardless, I really enjoyed getting lost in your world. It is one of the few fics I read that manages to impart the feeling of a post-war world, where everyone still deals with the aftermath and needs their own time to move on.

Thank you for the wonderful read.
Best wishes,
Krabat

(Reply to this) (Thread)

perverse_idyll, 2008-05-23 06:36 am UTC

(no subject) - (Anonymous), 2008-05-23 01:34 pm UTC

(no subject) - (Anonymous), 2008-05-23 01:39 pm UTC

aestus
2008-05-22 02:44 pm UTC (link)

this is just. . . this is absolutely nothing short of staggering. the world you created is so thick and heavy and trapping with atmosphere, your writing was exquisite, absolutely exquisite. i felt at times like i was clawing my way through the reading of this, and at times i felt light and like i was treading through with extraordinary delicacy. i am so shellshocked right now that i fear that i cannot leave you a coherent review. this is hands down (for me) the preeminent story of these games, and possibly the best snarry i have ever read. (and there have been many hundreds, if not thousands) most of it has to do with the atmosphere you created, of harry's obsessiveness, of the incredible precision and craft of your language. your OC Odile was so incredibly delicious I wished it were possible to have her in all the scenes. The poignancy of Ron's storyline was beautiful and lovely. I am at a point in my Snarry consumption where I have read so many sex scenes that I tend to skim over them in favor of the plot, but the sex between Harry and Snape in this story was so intense it was almost overwhelming.

I need another read so I can go through more slowly and savor the words and enjoy the plot a bit more. My rush to finish this was fevered and frenetic and I wish that I could convey to you, without being a gushing mess, how I felt when reading this. This story is a fantastic gift to fandom. Thank you so much.

(Reply to this) (Thread)

perverse_idyll, 2008-05-25 06:36 am UTC

ciraarana
2008-05-22 03:40 pm UTC (link)

Oh. Um. I'm sorry. Such a long, brilliant, marvellous fic deserves a long, detailed, loving comment. Only I'm a bit ... overwhelmed right now. Overwhelmed in a good way, though. But still at a loss for words for a coherent, long and detailed comment. And just saying "I loved it!" doesn't seem enough. Not after such intensity.

Not that I can think of anything else to say, really. I loved your original characters. Adrian was so adorable. And Odile funny. I wonder how far her manipulations went. And keeping Mrs Black's portrait for entertainment purpose! That one was a very original original character. All of them where very enjoyable, round characters, though, IMO. Kudos for that feat alone.

Also, I really liked your alternate end of the war. The last battle at the Ministry. How Snape pulled the last Horcrux out of Harry. And, yes, of course the relationship between Harry and Snape. I thought it very much in character for Harry that he was so angry with Snape and did all kinds of horrible things to him. He always does things like that, without thinking about them first, and afterwards being angry with himself for doing them in the first place.

Plus, I thought it fascinating to see how little Harry's emotions changed. I mean, how you described them. Whether hatred or love, they were just as intense and fierce. Although, I think I remember moments when Harry's ghosts seemed to reach out for Severus when the two of them were in contact. Sublte hints? Or is that me over-analysing things again? Anyway, I liked that.

And, phew, was the sex hot! *fans self* Harry wasn't the only one kept breathless and wanting.

The end ... how they defeated the fire and Harry surrendered so completely .. *sniffles* That was so heartbreakingly beautiful. Severus's sacrifice of taking Harry's ghosts from him as well. Gah, if that isn't typical of Severus, doing something so nice, for lack of better words, for someone else that only makes himself more miserable. Heh, and then go and snarl at Harry because Harry doesn't do what Severus wants him to do. Typical of them both.

And I kind of like the ending. I like to think that Harry will rebuilt his life and then, in a couple of years perhaps, go and find Severus. Who, by that time, has developed a brilliant potion for ending the ghosts' possession of his soul and body, has become a millionaire and lives in a rose-covered cottage by the sea. Or perhaps not. But me being a sappy romantic I'd like to think that Harry will go and find Severus.

Oh, look at that! I wasn't quite as at a loss for words as I thought ... But I still can't think of anything better to say than "I loved this fic!"

(Reply to this) (Thread)

perverse_idyll, 2008-05-23 08:02 am UTC

hogwartshoney
2008-05-22 07:16 pm UTC (link)

I don't know what to say, but I can't not say something about this fic. It was hugely descriptive, but not in an overdone way, I thought. I felt as though you wanted us to actually see the places, almost to feel the roses and their thorns and to actually experience the story at an almost visceral level. Ron <--- that gutted me. Gutted. I liked the complexity of the Arithmantic equations and the concept of rationalizing love and hate, and of course, enjoyed how over the moon Hermione would get over working it all out. Severus was bitter and damaged and scornful and angry and all the things that a good Potions Master should be, and I liked that Harry didn't pussy-foot around him either. The descriptions of Harry's ghosts were very well done, I thought, and I particularly liked that he couldn't stand to be touched because that's such an essential part of human relations, and to have even that taken away from him by the curse/ghosts... *shivers*

When Severus cast those spells, mid-coitus, I knew he'd done something huge, and damn, if you didn't just rip out my heart with it. I managed not to cry, but only juuuuuuust. Long fic, but worth it. SO worth it!

(Reply to this) (Thread)

perverse_idyll, 2008-05-23 08:22 am UTC

hogwartshoney, 2008-05-24 12:48 am UTC

	alisanne 2008-05-22 07:42 pm UTC (link)
	Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! I've finally finished this and OMG! I think you killed me! I will have a more coherent review later, but right now I am still just blown away and utterly stunned by the beauty of this. AWESOME story. Yay for our Captain! bounces (Reply to this) (Thread)

perverse_idyll, 2008-05-23 08:26 am UTC

alisanne, 2008-05-23 11:49 pm UTC

perverse_idyll, 2008-05-25 07:39 am UTC

Page 1 of 4
<<	[1] [2] [3] [4]	>>