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snapelyhols_mod (snapelyhols_mod) wrote in snapelyholidays,
@ 2009-12-20 01:46:00

Entry tags:

2009_fic, fic4:shiv5468, intercrural, snape/lucius, snape/lucius/hermione, wanking

fic for shiv5468 'An Exchange Of Hostages' (SS/LM & SS/LM/HG)
shiv5468_snapely09
Fic for: shiv5468
Title: An Exchange of Hostages
Author: leela_cat

Pairing: Severus/Lucius, Severus/Lucius/Hermione
Rating: NC-17
Warnings/Content Info: highlight between brackets if you prefer story warnings:
[None]
Summary: For a Parselmouth, the Dark Mark is far more than a tattoo. For four former Death Eaters sentenced to life imprisonment, it's a chance at freedom and a future outside of Gravesend Prison.
Disclaimer: The world of HP and its characters belongs to Rowling. The author of this fic has borrowed them for the purposes of storytelling. No profit was or will be made.
Word count: ~16,260
Author Notes: Happy Holidays, shiv5468. You mentioned Post war, coming to terms with their new lives, meaningful glances and coded conversations, and Hermione comes to see them; and my imagination created this story. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it for you.
Many thanks to my betas: E, F, and M.

An Exchange of Hostages

x-posted to DreamWidth & LiveJournal

(Post a new comment)

	gingertart50 2009-12-20 12:37 pm UTC (link)
	Mmm, that was very enjoyable indeed. I loved the magic, and the interactions were excellent. Well done! (Reply to this) (Thread)

	Re: An Exchange of Hostages leela_cat 2010-01-18 12:26 am UTC (link)
	Thank you. I'm so very happy you enjoyed the story. (Reply to this) (Parent)

eeyore9990
2009-12-20 06:06 pm UTC (link)

God, I LOVE the plot of this fic. It's such a compelling story, all wound through with magic and ritual and is so very much a huge part of the reason that I fell in love with HP fandom in the first place. I adored the interaction between Severus and Lucius... and then Severus and Lucius and Hermione. I really loved the quandary you had them in toward the end, and the acknowledgment that they might have to do something about it *doesn't say more for fear of spoiling future readers*. I really just found this fic utterly fantastic and the writing sharp and perfect. Excellent work, mystery author!

(Reply to this) (Thread)

	Re: An Exchange of Hostages leela_cat 2010-01-18 12:28 am UTC (link)
	glee I'm so incredibly happy that the plot and the magic and the ritual worked for you, especially that little conundrum at the end. And thank you so much for your help and encouragement. I'd have crashed, burned, and abandoned it without your encouragement. (Reply to this) (Parent)

	inamac 2009-12-21 05:21 pm UTC (link)
	Wow. That was intense. Oddly the thing I liked most was the understanding of the Wizarding World and the ingenuity of the magic - and little things like the use of the phrase "Krup and Kneazle show" which makes it so easy to immerse onself in the story. And Hermione is right - Severus and Lucius kissing is never not going to be HOT. (Reply to this) (Thread)

	Re: An Exchange of Hostages leela_cat 2010-01-18 12:28 am UTC (link)
	beams Thank you. I'm so happy that all of the details drew you in and kept you in the story. (Reply to this) (Parent)

alisanne
2009-12-21 06:07 pm UTC (link)

Oh yes. This was fantastically done, mystery author. You wove your compelling plot masterfully, and I loved all the details in this. Also? This makes so much sense as a reason to explain Severus and Lucius' inexplicable (to me at least) actions in canon. *G* Far better than "they are Slytherins" which seems to be JK's explanation. *eyeroll*
Fabulous work! I really enjoyed that.
And I have to tell you, the bit where Lucius proves to Severus just how much intelligence turns Severus on? Guh!

(Reply to this) (Thread)

	Re: An Exchange of Hostages leela_cat 2010-01-18 12:30 am UTC (link)
	Thank you so very much. I'm glad this explanation works for you. I mean, there had to be something, you know? And intelligence is totally sexy. Totally. (Reply to this) (Parent)

	torino10154 2009-12-23 03:51 am UTC (link)
	Incredible story. Such a clever and sophisticated plot and all the characters are really sharp. Very nicely done. (Reply to this) (Thread)

	Re: An Exchange of Hostages leela_cat 2010-01-18 12:34 am UTC (link)
	Thank you very much. I'm glad you enjoyed the story. (Reply to this) (Parent)

r_grayjoy
2009-12-23 11:55 pm UTC (link)

Your opening sequence is great. It made me want to know what was going on, and I could already tell there was going to be some interesting magical theory involved. Fabulous hook.

And the magical theory and the intricacies of the story really are fantastic, but it's the characterizations and subtle interactions between the characters that truly carry it. You've written totally believable, somewhat older and more mature Harry and Hermione; a confident, authoritative, and competent Kingsley; Severus and Lucius who've been forever affected by their experiences serving Voldemort; and a host of other characters with vivid personalities. Also, I'm dying over Goyle-who-should-have-been-a-Hufflepuff! I love the caring that develops between all of these characters over the course of this story. Very well orchestrated!

(Reply to this) (Thread)

	Re: An Exchange of Hostages leela_cat 2010-01-18 12:35 am UTC (link)
	Thank you. And, yes, Goyle totally should have been a Hufflepuff. He's just so loyal, you know. I'm very happy that you enjoyed the characters in this. I had an amazing amount of fun working out how they could grow and change and still be themselves. (Reply to this) (Parent)

kennahijja
2009-12-30 05:16 pm UTC (link)

Wow, that was excellent! I can't decide what I loved more - the wonderful descriptions of magic and magical theory and the spectacular plot, or the characterisation of *everybody* - especially the minor characters like Gregory or Pansy. And Kingsley really rocked! :)

The concept of Voldemort working the Dark Mark with Parseltongue and using it to control his followers against their will was inspired, and Harry's dilemma upon discovering that he can work it too, and *like* it, was awesome.

I loved the interplay between character discovery, magical theory and politics, in particular that the wizarding authorities might turn against Harry for fear of him becoming another Dark Lord. The binding spell on Harry's controlling power was another brilliant bit of plotting.

The Ron bashing made me growl a little, especially contrasted with the shiny characterisation throughout.

I loved that despite the pairing a lot of focus lay on Harry and on the interaction between characters as a whole. The Snape/Lucius felt like a very true, very old, and very strong bond formed over time, and the two together were hot both kissing and politicking :). Loved how their interest in Hermione was sparked by her strength of character and intellect, and the flirting was cute (especially the way Harry points it out to her, *g*).

Wonderful fic, mystery person!

(Reply to this) (Thread)

	Re: An Exchange of Hostages leela_cat 2010-01-18 12:56 am UTC (link)
	Thank you so much for taking the time to give me this wonderful and thoughtful comment. That all of the pieces of the story worked for you is an amazing compliment. I'm sorry that you thought I was "Ron bashing" with the plot point about his character. I had an entire backstory in my head about why he did what he did, but in the end, it didn't belong in this story. (Reply to this) (Parent)

joanwilder
2009-12-31 05:42 am UTC (link)

This was a great read! Had to read it straight through--no stopping! Loved the original, innovative magic. Sometimes an author makes that over-complicated, but it didn't bog down once; I never felt lost in the genius of it. And what a great idea--that obeisance of the Death Eaters, post-Mark, was coerced.

Your characterization was fascinating too: Pansy and Greg sort of joined at the hip (and Snape was right; how'd Goyle ever end up in Slytherin anyway?), Severus and Lucius together had a naturalness to it, the feel of mature respect and fondness; Hermione was a pleasant surprise--still the gal with the brains, but wonderfully human and pragmatic about her own attractions and fears. Most of all, I loved the plot point concerning Harry, and how they all worked towards a solution that would keep him safe, yet free themselves as well.

Really liked that last scene--the playfulness of it, the innuendo, and knowing that everything was finally right with their world. Great fic!

(Reply to this) (Thread)

	Re: An Exchange of Hostages leela_cat 2010-01-18 12:59 am UTC (link)
	What a wonderful comment. Thank you so much for taking the time to write up your thoughts. I'm glad the magic and the ritual didn't bog down the story. That's always a fear of mine, when I'm working on something like this. And that the characterisation worked so well is dynamite. Thank you! (Reply to this) (Parent)

	Thank you catservant66 2010-01-01 04:08 am UTC (link)
	Wonderful story! (Reply to this) (Thread)

	Re: An Exchange of Hostages leela_cat 2010-01-18 12:33 am UTC (link)
	Thank you! (Reply to this) (Parent)

	fanficforensics 2010-01-02 11:17 am UTC (link)
	Excellent work! Every single one of the characters was wonderfully believable and human -it was great to see Pansy and Goyle get some depth. Great use of magical theory and ingenious plotting, too. This was a wonderful read. The idea of Lucius not having lied about being under Imperius is strangely compelling, for some reason... (Reply to this) (Thread)

	Re: An Exchange of Hostages leela_cat 2010-01-18 12:33 am UTC (link)
	Thank you. I've been interested with the idea that Lucius wasn't lying for a while. I'm glad that my thoughts on how that might be possible created a story that you enjoyed. (Reply to this) (Parent)

	chiralove 2010-01-03 12:44 am UTC (link)
	Oh, this is so creative and lovely! Wonderfully done! (Reply to this) (Thread)

	Re: An Exchange of Hostages leela_cat 2010-01-18 12:31 am UTC (link)
	Thank you so much. (Reply to this) (Parent)

	szefi 2010-01-10 07:09 am UTC (link)
	This was clever and intriguing, from start to end - I liked it! (Reply to this) (Thread)

	Re: An Exchange of Hostages leela_cat 2010-01-18 12:31 am UTC (link)
	Thank you so very much. I'm glad the story kept you intrigued. (Reply to this) (Parent)

	alienor77310 2010-01-13 11:04 am UTC (link)
	An excellent story! (Reply to this) (Thread)

	Re: An Exchange of Hostages leela_cat 2010-01-18 12:31 am UTC (link)
	Thank you! (Reply to this) (Parent)

magialuna
2010-03-27 09:00 pm UTC (link)

This was so incredibly HOT and so in character for everyone. I have always thought that Severus and Lucius make a lot of sense as a couple, even as an unwritten background in canon, and this story just made them really alive for me.

I do like Hermione with either Sev, Luc or both as well. The last person on earth she belongs with is Ron and you showed why oh SO well. That scene with Lucius seducing Severus by reciting how he invented a spell fit with Severus' character perfectly. It also felt totally right for Lucius to be that seductive however suited his partner best...

The idea of the Dark Mark as a type of Imperius spell is one I'd not read before and you made it truly believable and frightening - both for the loss of control involved and for Harry's reactions to using it. It felt so real I started wondering if that seductive effect of the power had to do with Riddle going from slightly bad, to horrible to Dark Lord with glowing red eyes...

Excellent fic, wonderfully wrought. Definitely one I will put in memories and read again.

Clare

(Reply to this) (Thread)

Re: An Exchange of Hostages

leela_cat
2010-04-02 06:52 pm UTC (link)

Oh... wow... this is just... thank you so much for this lovely comment.

I'm incredibly happy that the Dark Mark as Imperius worked so well. I've always thought there had to be more to it than Harry ever discovered. It's not as if he had any chance to find out what exactly a Dark Mark did in canon. And I'm sure that his kind of power would affect Riddle as well, just as it was affecting Harry.

(Reply to this) (Parent)

	An Exchange of Hostages terrible_tues 2010-08-29 09:43 pm UTC (link)
	Impressively creative plot and magic. Good characterizations, too. (Reply to this) (Thread)

	Re: An Exchange of Hostages leela_cat 2010-09-14 04:11 am UTC (link)
	Thank you so much. (Reply to this) (Parent)