Oh, My Giddy Angst

[teddy_radiator]

If you haven't already read it, run, don't walk over to deeply_horrible's offering today, a tense, dystopian masterpiece called The Toil Of The Just. Snape is brutal in a way that only a man drowning in his own unfathomable sadness and world-weariness can be, Hermione is a fighter on the cusp of the last great fight of the war. It features an excellent supporting cast, as well as the most infuriating ending I've ever read. Brilliant and exhausting and so real you'd swear it was in this evening's paper.

Comments

[shiv5468.livejournal.com]

But is he dead at the end? I can't work it out

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

Jenidralph and I have been deep in discussion about this. I think it meant that she was willing to embrace that 'evil' in her to save him, so that she could love him. Especially since he'd really negated all that by sacrificing himself to get her locket back.

It's a very maddening ending, that's for sure.

[shiv5468.livejournal.com]

Deeply horrible in fact

[jenidralph.livejournal.com]

My mind wants to believe she did as he'd taught her (if not for this purpose) and saved him. She was still dwelling on his "Dumbledore was correct" comment and she DID care for him, against her better judgement. She was infusing his locket with her magic, so... yeah, I think she saved him.

If that's not the case, please allow me to exist in my fairy tale world. I like it here.

[madeleone]

I wondered the same thing as Shiv and, in my lust for a HEA for my OTP I also want to believe the outcome that you have described.

Severus really was deeply horrible in this fic, a true showcase for the fest, but still he was on their side in the end.

[jenidralph.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I'm with you all the way on this. I need the HEA. ;)

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

I think it's a tribute to the quality of the story that we're all eating our livers out, looking painstakingly through the last chapter, looking for clues. It was a masterful (albeit sadistic) way to end the piece, but it really allowed a lot of wiggle room for each individual interpretation.

I, too, want to believe that the clues point to her saving him. He was absolutely vile in this fic, and yet we're all still rooting for the bastard to live and have an HEA! LOL Great writing will do that.

Just finished reading based on your recommendation

[arwitchywoman.livejournal.com]

Awesome story - thanks for alerting us. The writing style was as harsh as Snape and set such a dark tone throughout. I'm with you - I think Hermione saved him using the evil within her.

[sarablade.livejournal.com]

Thank you so mu h! I,ve been away for a long time, but hopefully by Sunday i.ll have access to A real computer and ill be able to answer you all properly. Thanks again .
S