This Fest Keeps Getting Better and Better

As you know, I'm not one to write a sustainable bastard!Snape, but the folks over a deeply_horrible keep delivering fics that are stunning in their quality. Today's The Headmaster is just such a fic. Taking place during that last hideous year when Snape makes the choice to become The Headmaster, because that is the only way he can deal with the unspeakable life he has been forced to lead.

To say much more would be to give it away, but this is simply one of the best written character studies of what he was going through that awful year, and how he had to cope. He realises he is turning into a monster, and on some level there's a grim pleasure to it - because it is the only pleasure he can afford to take during this period of absolute misery. He simply becomes what Dumbledore has molded him to be, and the result is simply heartbreaking for everyone involved, especially Minerva, who knows what is going on, and suffers the consequences of it all.

I am still reeling from reading this story. It is simply brilliant, and the Mystery Author has created a masterpiece of hopeless, fear and desperation. Please go and read and show this author how much you appreciate a fantastic story.