Redefining Life

(1) The Definition of Home (Harry Potter)

By Oliver Snape
Reviewed by Kathryn A on 30th May 2011 (2)
Tags: Novel, Sixth Year, AU Divergent Timeline, Mentor, Adoption
Characters: Harry Potter, Severus Snape, Albus Dumbledore, Hermione Granger, Petunia Dursley, Ron Weasley, Vernon Dursley
(486K, 76618 words)

Summary: Harry runs into Snape while trying to find the definition of home, and finds himself drawn into Snape's summer Order task by the headmaster, looking for a location outside of London. Along the way, he and Snape learn a few new definitions themselves.

This AU story is set in the summer after OOTP, but unlike many others set during that time, it doesn't ignore Half-Blood Prince; instead it fills in gaps between OOTP and HPB. Events are altered due to Harry's presence, which, by the end of the story, has already set history for Harry and Snape on a different track, though everyone else is still heading the way they were in canon. This makes for a well thought out AU.

This also unusual for a "Snape adopts Harry" story in that the Dursleys are no more abusive than they were in canon; no violence, just verbal abuse and neglect.

The characterisation of Snape and Harry is very good; Snape is snarky, witty, stern and concerned; Harry is neither a prat nor a martyr, teetering between anger and silent self-control at the start, then growing into affection.

The descriptions of places are very vivid; I got the impression that the author had definitely visited or lived in the places shown.

While the story comes to a reasonable stopping place - just before the start of school - it isn't really finished; one wants to go on to the next story immediately.

(2) The Definition of Family (Harry Potter)

By Oliver Snape
Reviewed by Kathryn A on 30th May 2011 (3)
Tags: Novel, AU Divergent Timeline, Mentor, Adoption
Characters: Harry Potter, Severus Snape, Draco Malfoy, Albus Dumbledore, Hermione Granger, Minerva McGonagall, Ron Weasley, Voldemort
(562K, 87854 words)

Summary: Now back at Hogwarts, Harry balances school and his home life as he prepares to face Voldemort and learns to trust Snape's guidance. Along the way they both learn that family also means support.

I really like this story. Not only do we get good characterisations of Snape and Harry, but a number of things I hadn't thought of before, such as: (a) Dumbledore has as much craving for the dramatic as Voldemort does, while Snape's plans are less grandiose and more cunning; (b) What if the Horcrux had had more effect on Harry than just knowing Parseltongue - and what if he was affected by its removal?

These and other things mean that this story is more divergent from canon than the previous story; divergent in a thoughtful way.