Hayseed

Author at http://www.obscurusbooks.org/html/Hayseed/.

Getting the Hang of Thursdays (Harry Potter)

Reviewed by Kathryn A on 9th August 2009 (2)
Tags: Novel, AU, Time Loop, SSHG, Friendship
Characters: Hermione Granger, Severus Snape
(516K)

Summary: A good day goes bad and then gets far worse than Severus could ever have imagined. Again and again and again. Inspired by the WIKTT Time-Loop Challenge.

This story has two endings, a sad ending (the original one) and a happy ending, which the author wrote by popular demand. Originally, I didn't realize that there was a sad ending, because the link on the page goes to the happy ending. But since the file was given the name "22b", I wondered if there was a "22a", and, indeed, there was. The sad ending is a total downer, very bleak, a horror story, an unhappy ghost story. I'm glad I read the happy ending first, and I wish I hadn't read the sad ending at all.

I can understand that the author feels that it is more "realistic", but if I had only read the sad ending, I would have utterly loathed the story. It may be wrong of me, but stories that unexpectedly end in despair leave me feeling betrayed. So don't make the mistake I did; don't read the unhappy ending.

However, with the "happy" ending, I love this story. It isn't a happy ending so much as a hopeful ending, but I like hopeful endings. It's amazing what a difference it makes. So, why do I love this story?

It's a time loop story. I really like time loop stories. It's a time loop story that is more plausible than Groundhog Day; there are reasons for the loop, and, even more interesting, there are plausible physical consequences. The author mentions physics equations in the end-notes, and I'm glad that the author took that much care; it shows.

The characterisation is very good. Not just that the relationship between Snape and Hermione develops very gradually, but their reaction to the horrible situation they are in is very human, swinging from denial, determination, despair, apathy, anger, loss, and back again. The feelings run deep in this; it isn't just a little puzzle, a funny game; there are points of gut-wrenching sadness and tremulous hope; guilt-ridden self-loathing and honourable integrity.

I would like to see what happened next, but given that the author probably wrote the happy ending under protest, that is extremely unlikely.