Snarry-a-Thon18: FIC: Grim Title: Grim Author:ac1d Other pairings/threesome: None Rating: Explicit Word count: ~17,000 Content/Warning(s): dogs, dust, a dose of deathly danger, and Severus Snape in his natural habitat. Prompt: 11) After his death, Sirius has to atone for his sins. He can't move on until he has helped Severus get the thing he wants the most: Harry. Summary: After the war, the house on Spinner's End is a shelter, but not a home. Then Snape lets in a pair of strays. A/N: Thank you to A. for proofreading, which is actually a great understatement, as she saw the potential of the draft with only a glimpse of the story structure to it, taught me the importance of a midpoint, and prompted the overhaul of the disconnected patchwork of scenes until they fit together in proper order, encouraging me to grow the story a quarter longer than before. To summarise, she is the reason that this tale grew beyond its initial form of first half, something readable, and second half, resolution. Thank you, also and always, to S. for teaching me who Snape is, beyond the usual facade, the billowing cloak, and the sarcastic remarks.
This is for all the dogs I've met that would make a great wizard, for all the humans who aren't really dog people, and for anyone brave enough to risk a change, be it tackling house-cleaning as therapy or sharing childhood traumas.