oh, bugger. Reposted for html fail. *reminds self to sleep some time* Severus of the Sea: How did you read my mind like that? Truly amazing! It didn't make it into the final draft, but I had intended for them to journey North to the Sea once they had left the palace. If it had become the epic I had first endeavoured to write, we would have seen Severus reconnect with his people, and Harry's wide-eyed awe when he finally saw the vast expanse of water.
HA! I didn't read your mind, I read your story! Talk about author's intention being in the text: your physical description of Severus, his looks, his coloring, and above all his tall carriage and grace - coupled with his long hair and clear Otherness - put the Sea People *right* in mind. (I had a classical archaeology prof from Greece, an aristocratic woman who *totally* channeled the snake-priestess wall frescos. Although she was as snappish as Severus with anyone who was a dunderhead.)
So, I made the connection b/c you foreshadowed it. Now you definitely have to write it - it's already there in the story, just waiting to be typed out!
thank you for commenting on the original/canon-shadow characters. I fell in love with Theshen as the story progressed. I tried to give him Albus' compassion and wisdom, Ron's devotion and Hermione's ability to state the truth of the matter. Amun: Yes! In my head he was a combination of fudge and the darker side of Slughorn. He's such a scene-stealer! :)
AHHH!!! *SCREAMS WITH JOY IZ JUMPING UP AND DOWN* I IZ SO SMART READR. I got it! oooh. But, see, you clearly channeled Albus's compassion pretty perfectly there. I didn't think Ron/Hermione so much, because Theshen was so fatherly. But I was expecting to see more of Ipy and that slave girl...
And Amun: I *totally* thought "Slughorn" when he first appeared and started talking, but then when he advanced on Harry threatening him, I was all No, Sluggie is corpulent and could be coarse but would never be this crass: too Slytherin, too "gentleman's club." And basically, too nice. But Fudge LEAPED to mind. Which is amazing, because I don't exactly think about Fudge! Another result that has to purely chalked up to your fine portrayal.
DAMN you're a good writer. I don't "get" characters half the time when people are COSPLAYING them! At Azkatraz, I must have been a horrible encounter for some who were dressed their part, but didn't necessarily look, walk, or especially *sound*, IC. I cue off voices. You've written the voices of these characters so well! Most authors would just use the Hogwarts names and let the reader do the work of "making it fit" but you waltz them on looking like a totally different person, and let the reader go AHH HE IS SUCH AN ALBUS.
We need to indulge this Egypt kink. ♥ your next story. *g*
BTW, Josan's story is not Snarry; it's Snape/OMC in the past, and gen with Bill in the present! *woah, yes, no smex?!?* Ok, UST maybe. But it is very hot, with some awesome characters including terrific goblins running the Egypt digs. You will like. http://www.angelfire.com/zine2/josan/hp/egypt.html
Tell her so if you do - she once said there was a follow-up started, OUAT in China. (You'll see why.) It would be soooo nice to have. Many puppy eyes needed, though, I fear.