Scratch your name into the fabric of this world

Hello and welcome to today's issue of snapenews. Thank you all for your continuing support and useful links! Feel free to comment (either below or at snapenews@gmail.com) and let us know how we're doing!

NEWSLETTER/ARCHIVE UPDATES
• hgss_digest Saturday update
• sshp_prophet January 31-February 6 update

CHALLENGES/CONTESTS
• snape100 Challenge #320: "The Cardinal Directions: South"
• grangersnape100 Week 6 Challenge: Playing Cyrano

TODAY IN ART

Slash
• Snape/Sirius art by glockgal (Snape/Sirius, G)

TODAY IN FIC

Gen
• The Best Birthday Present Severus Never Knew About by Anonymous (McGonagall, Snape, Dumbledore, G)
• No Room for the Weak by Anonymous (Eileen, Harry, Severus, PG)

DISCLAIMERS
The warnings listed here are those given by the artist/author/poet. Please pay attention to all ratings and warnings when following links.

We aim to bring you the latest Snape-centric items in the fandom but some might slip through the net! You can help to ensure this doesn't happen by sending us links via e-mail to snapenews@gmail.com). There are submission guidelines in the snapenews user profile, but for the 'Today in' sections we just require the basic title/creator/rating/warnings/link info.

camelotsolstice reveals were posted quite a while ago. cherrybina wrote my fabulous fic, Everywhere We Touch. I've long been a fan of her writing, so I consider myself very lucky indeed. I should have known with Bina's love of rimming that it was hers. ;-)

I wrote a Gwen/Morgana fic for plumora. I enjoyed writing it for the infusion of emotion and the bit of meta regarding Series Two. I'm quite pleased with it, really. Let me know what you think if you read it. ♥

Title: Piecing Together the Cracks
Author: bewarethesmirk
Pairing(s)/Character(s): Gwen/Morgana, hints of Morgana/Morgause, Arthur/Merlin and Arthur/Gwen
Warnings: Implied infidelity, angst with a hopeful ending
Spoilers: All of Series One and Two
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: ~2,000
Summary: Gwen tosses and tumbles night after night, clutching for someone who isn't there.
Author's Note: Written for plumora in camelotsolstice based upon the prompt of 'leaving.' Thank you very much to glass_icarus for betaing. ♥

( Piecing Together the Cracks )

My camelotsolstice fic was posted yesterday, and I have an inkling of a feeling of who might have written it. ;-) It's utterly fantastic - Merlin/Arthur, with bondage and magic!sex and rimming. There's a wonderful tenderness - a heavy sense of possession and we-belong-together without being too fluffy. Merlin is having his way here - he's strong-willed and so hot, but it's not overdone and Arthur seems to enjoy it. There's still the challenge between them - they seem comfortable enough with one another and genuinely tender and loving, while still casually bantering. It's such a great dynamic and makes me so giddy. Go read!

Everywhere We Touch by Anon (Merlin/Arthur, NC-17, magic!sex, light bondage, ~1800 words)
Summary: Arthur returns to Camelot after a long journey away.

Eventually, I hope to work my way through some of the hd_holidays fics. I read The World Thy Gaol by novembersnow earlier, and highly recommend you all do the same. :D Snow writes in such a seamless prose with strong verbs and great uses of language, sharp dialogue and clever flashes of humor. Nothing is too overdone and for it, the overall effect is so much better. She's a star of a writer, I swear. The fic explores Harry and Draco's life postwar - especially Draco's - but what they have in common really helps the pairing click for me. There's the very real antagonism I miss in a lot of H/D fic nowadays and the tension. The fic is hot as hell, too, because of the tension. This is a less-than-perfect Harry, which I appreciate. Draco is given a lot of agency and I'm able to really empathize with him here. The ending leaves enough open but is satisfying. Go read - it's clever, solid, hot, funny, and creative.

The World Thy Gaol by novembersnow (Harry/Draco, R, 18300 words)
Summary: In the post-war world, nothing seemed to fit quite right anymore.

Title: Slick n’ Easy
Author: bewarethesmirk
Pairings: Harry/Draco, Draco/Astoria, Astoria/other, and Ron/Hermione, with fleeting mentions of past Harry/Ginny
Summary: When Astoria Malfoy is investigated for opening an underground lubricant business targeted at Muggles (to painful effect), an irate Draco comes to Harry, though Harry doesn't quite know why. What Harry does know is that he’s noticing very odd things about Malfoy. (Who knew Malfoy had such long eyelashes?)
Rating: NC-17
Warning(s): Infidelity but not between canon pairing and not very explicit, dark and inappropriate humour, arsehole!Zacharias. Oh, and dirty sex. EWE.
Word Count: ~12,600
Author's Notes: Written for the 2009 round of hd_holidays for celandineb. My proverbial hat is off to the mods for their patience with me and making this a great round. Much love and many thanks to lavillanueva, who always supports my writing, challenges me and listens. ♥ Thanks to lavillanueva, melusinahp and marguerite_26 for the speedy betaing and hand-holding. Thanks also to misscake for betaing, as well, and at superhuman speed! Any remaining mistakes are, of course, my own.

( Slick n’ Easy - Part 2/2 )

The hd_holidays reveals were posted yesterday, and now I can thank silentauror for my fantastic fic, Portrait of a Headmaster. :D Thank you so much, hon! ♥ It was fantastic.

Congrats to tray_la_la who guessed my identity in the guessing poll, or had inside info. ;-) Either way, I'm happy to write you something. :D I already owe you Pansy/Ginny.

I wrote Slick n' Easy for celandineb, which was a very feel-good type fic. I had fun with the cracky premise.

I've not been following my flist that much lately because of crazy work hours. If anyone has recced this, please let me know so I can properly thank them!

Title: Slick n’ Easy
Author: bewarethesmirk
Pairings: Harry/Draco, Draco/Astoria, Astoria/other, and Ron/Hermione, with fleeting mentions of past Harry/Ginny
Summary: When Astoria Malfoy is investigated for opening an underground lubricant business targeted at Muggles (to painful effect), an irate Draco comes to Harry, though Harry doesn't quite know why. What Harry does know is that he’s noticing very odd things about Malfoy. (Who knew Malfoy had such long eyelashes?)
Rating: NC-17
Warning(s): Infidelity but not between canon pairing and not very explicit, dark and inappropriate humour, arsehole!Zacharias. Oh, and dirty sex. EWE.
Word Count: ~12,600
Author's Notes: Written for the 2009 round of hd_holidays for celandineb. My proverbial hat is off to the mods for their patience with me and making this a great round. Much love and many thanks to lavillanueva, who always supports my writing, challenges me and listens. ♥ Thanks to lavillanueva, melusinahp and marguerite_26 for the speedy betaing and hand-holding. Thanks also to misscake for betaing, as well, and at superhuman speed! Any remaining mistakes are, of course, my own.


( Slick n’ Easy - Part 1/2 )

Happy New Year, everyone!

Also: Happy birthday to the ever-wonderful lizardspots and the ever-adorable Colin Morgan!

The wonderful and lovely marguerite_26 was gifted with this absolutely wonderful bit of wonderfully written, viscerally hot and emotionally satisfying porn-with-a-bit-of-plot. It's an interesting take on how kink can become something not-necessarily-kinky for the individual and, within a relationship, be something else altogether, develop new meanings. The author uses this to explore Harry and Draco's relationship, the anxiety of "coming out" about personal needs with one's partner. It's such a creative, well-done and emotionally complex piece. Harry and Draco are wonderful; plus, there's great snark, which I usually put in the 'win' column. This Harry I love so much, and the ending makes me very happy indeed.

The title means "the one who knows how to tie you up" en francais. :D :D

It's thoughtful, well-written and alive with intelligent emotional nuance. Go read!

Celle Qui Sais Vous Garrotter by Anonymous in hd_holidays (Harry/Draco, NC-17, Warnings: Established relationship, self-bondage, bondage, barely-there d/s.)
Summary: “Two orgasms and Harry's hand resting tentatively on his hip and Draco still felt wound tight, aching somewhere too deep to rub away.”

IT'S MINE! IT'S ALL MINE! BWAHAHAHAHA!

*flails*

So, my hd_holidays gift!fic has been up for a couple of days, and I finished reading it really early this morning not that I actually went to sleep first. :D

GO READ IT YOU ALL. SO GOOD.

Portrait of a Headmaster by Someone Awesome (H/D, NC-17)
Summary: When Death Eaters find their way into the Hogwarts portrait collection, the Headmaster is forced to work with the Head Auror to find a way to protect the castle, including their own children.

It's a well-written, solid fic, with excellent characterisation and plotting. But even more than that? It's extremely original. Draco is the Headmaster of Hogwarts - which I'd never conceived of before this, but the author makes it work so well. Draco faces personal challenges, and both the plot and Harry serve to help him find new aspects of himself. The premise of the plot itself - Death Eaters infiltrating via potraits! - is so clever. It's an incredibly unique, enjoyable fic, with fluid writing, plenty of snark and emotion. ♥ And the sex? Hot, of course. Plus, it's ~20K, so if you really want something to sink your teeth into, here you are!

I'm so, so pleased with this gift. :D :D

I'm very behind in reading for hd_holidays and, well, every other fest in the world, but I thought I'd go ahead and post this. :) This time I've included brief comments for what I liked about everything.

( Get your recs! )

Hey everyone!

We're not in a dire need of pinch hitters, but I do need one fic written in the next week. If you can pull together something good and possibly porny in short time, email me at bewarethesmirk@gmail.com.

Merlin, Morgana/Nimueh, ~350 words, NC-17
Warnings: explicit rimming, straight-up PWP, nasty
Summary: There are many ways to be fucked.

Hey, I needed a break from writing fest fics. And b_hallward seems to like this pairing. *g*

( Like This )

Here, have some recs! :D I'm in the process of reading several hd_holidays fics at once (current mission is to finish Savage), so if there's not a fic here, it's just because I'm behind. This is more a reflection of what I've had time to read and liked. ♥

Also, remember to check out the postings at snarry_holidays and comment, if you can!

Sorry if you saw this earlier - I posted on LJ first and now crossposting to IJ and DW.

( Merlin RPS )

( HP Non-Holiday Recs )

( HP Holiday Recs - numerous fests, pairings, etc. )

There's a an enjoyable short piece over at snarry_holidays, posted tonight. It's a crossover, but don't let that scare you away. ;-) Bouncd and Chained (To You) (PG) has great writing, it's cute and Snape is wonderfully snarky.

As some of you know, I'm a co-mod for snarry_holidays (an exclusive Snape/Harry holiday exchange) and posting starts tonight at 9pm EST. :) Here are details re: the fest.

Please go enjoy and leave feedback, if possible. :D We're posting on IJ, DW, and LJ.

A few days ago I filled out the shippy meme and one of the questions asked who'd I'd like to see on a double date. Well, clearly the answer is Gwen & Morgana and Merlin & Arthur.

Well, the awesome fitzette wrote an epically fabulous AU with just that set-up: the OT4 on a double date. It's Merlin/Arthur which culminates in angry sex and it's so delicious. fitzette has these really gorgeous way of writing - concise and clear, tight pacing, well-placed humour and pitch perfect characterisation. Everything is spot-on, just the way I like it. ;-)

Go read Double Date here (Merlin/Arthur, NC-17, 3700 words)
"It's a good idea," Merlin interrupted, and it was. A double date was exactly what he needed to take his mind off the really inappropriate thoughts he was starting to have about his best mate. Continuing to have. Whatever, it was a good idea.

( And now for a couple of multi-ship Merlin recs )

{Merlin, Gwen/Morgana, 500 words. R for a bit of sex. For puckling, who is unbearably kind and sweet (sorry if I'm ruining your reputation *eg*). ♥ ♥ I hope you enjoy this, hon! Unbetaed, so feel free to point out mistakes, anyone. I seem to be writing a lot of drabble sequences...}

I'm waiting to watch 2x04 tonight with an Awesome Person, and I'm dying with suspense! This doesn't contain any spoilers for 2x04, though. Not unless there's a sudden, explicit f/f sex scene, in which case, lmk, 'kay?

( Puzzle Pieces )

A Mercy Sword by bewarethesmirk [Merlin/Morgana, PG, 1000 words]

Summary: It is not a matter of whether he will tell her but when.

Spoilers: Major ones for 2x03.

Thanks so much to sophinisba for betaing! ♥ The title is stolen borrowed from the Bat for Lashes' song, "Trophy."

( A Mercy Sword )

For those of you that don't know, I'm a co-mod of snarry_holidays, an exclusive Snape/Harry holiday fest. We're currently looking for beta volunteers and pinch-hitters (artists and writers). Please consider helping out, especially to beta - you can control how much work you want to take and when. ;-)

To sign up for betaing: go here.

To sign up for pinch-hitting: go here.

Thanks, folks! If you have any questions, you can email me privately at bewarethesmirk [at] gmail [dot] com.

A Fragile Edge by bewarethesmirk
{Merlin, Morgana/Nimueh, NC-17, ~2000 words, warnings: object penetration, mild bit of arseplay, mild D/s}
Notes: Thanks so much to neptuneskisses and woldy for betaing. Any remaining mistakes are, of course, my own. This is for the endlessly fabulous b_hallward. I hope the rest of you enjoy! I do believe this is the filthiest f/f I've ever written. *toasts*

( A Fragile Edge )

hp_sas just unveiled the masterlist for the fest. :) I wrote Scorpius Malfoy, Slut Schemer Extraordinaire for snarkyscorp. And my delightful fic, The Little Boy Complex (Harry/Scorpius, NC-17), was written by drippingcherry.

Reposting this now!

Title: Scorpius Malfoy, Slut Schemer Extraordinaire
Author: bewarethesmirk
Rating: NC-17
Pairing(s): Draco/Scorpius
Age Disparity: (42/16)
Summary: “Close the door, Father. You wouldn’t want the house-elves to get the wrong idea, would you?”
Disclaimer: This is a work of fanfiction set in the Harry Potter universe – all recognisable characters and settings are the property of J. K. Rowling and her associates. No copyright infringement is intended. No profit is made from this work. Please observe your local laws with regards to the age-limit and content of this work
Warning(s): Incest, underage, coercion of a sort (some might see it as dub-con), cheap plot device, spanking, and a dirty in-your-face blow job.
Word Count: ~2,700
Author's Notes: Minimal plot, considerable filth. Written for snarkyscorp in this year's round of hp_sas. Thanks so much to Lindsay (lavillanueva) for the support and the beta, and to joanwilder for also betaing.

( Scorpius Malfoy, Schemer Extraordinaire )