A Long Vernal Season
MMADfan1,058 Reviews | 1,058 Ratings, 0 Likes, 88 Favorites )
Severus Snape had believed that, for him, life after the Dark Lord was an impossibility, that his death was not merely justice, but necessity. He has survived, though, and now he must learn to live his new, unexpected life, and to find something beyond the narrow existence to which he was once bound. A Snape-centric post-war fic.
A Death’s Dominion sequel, but may stand alone. Not DH-compliant. DH-disregarded. Rated M for overall content. Much of it is "T," but the ratings rise to MA later for a reason, hence the switch to an M-rating for the earlier chapters. Watch the individual chapter summaries and author’s notes for ratings, warnings, and the characters appearing in that chapter.
Part One finds Severus dealing with some very immediate and dangerous consequences of his final confrontation with the Dark Lord more than three months before.
Chapters (118)
About MMADfan
Author
MMADfan
41 Stories | Favorited by 312 | 127 Reviews Written | 4,741 Review Responses
Note 10 December 2015: I've been unable to write fanfic the last couple years, but I haven't abandoned my works-in-progress!
Many of my completed fics are available for download in ebook format through my blog and LJ.
Perfect Imagination accredited beta. PI:7311261659.
More about me here. 
Reviews for A Long Vernal Season
I think this chapter by far is my favorite so far. Love the title of the chapter, very fitting. 
This was definitely what Severus needed. He had a lot of fun even if he won't admit it. Bumper cars are always fun and you can bump into people that annoy you so much and not get into trouble for doing it. 
I wish I was part of Gareth's family. It must be nice to have a bunch of amusement parks and resorts as part of the family business. You get to go to them when ever you want and not have to pay to get in. 
Well, onto the next chapter. Bye! 
Response from MMADfan (Author of A Long Vernal Season)
Oh, yeah, that would be a nice perk, wouldn't it? Not bad at all!Severus really did enjoy himself, though he'd hate to admit it to anyone, and he had a good time getting his frustrations out on the bumper cars.I'm glad you enjoyed this chapter! Thanks for the review!
Oh more complications! FUN!
Response from MMADfan (Author of A Long Vernal Season)
Another element added to the mix! Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for the review. :-)
Response from mimmom (Reviewer)
I think it has the potential to add to Severus' confusion which I find quite delicious. Poor thing is always so confused. Now if I could somehow live inside the plot and help him with all that confusion...
Response from MMADfan (Author of A Long Vernal Season)
Knowing Severus, that would only confuse the poor boy more! LOL!
Response from mimmom (Reviewer)
LOL. No doubt. He doesn't need MORE women in his life. There's a thing in physics, probably a Newtonian law. For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction...that's how it is in physics. In social interactions for every action there is a variable and infinite set of reactions. It could vary from person to person or vary in a particular person from one second to the next. Some very large actions can have fairly predictable results but mostly there's just no way to tell. Is it any wonder that people who lack social skills often end up in science?
This was a fun chapter to read! Poor Poppy's got it really bad for Severus. Even in her daydreams, he's the star and then having to tell Minerva a little white lie ... yeah that won't end well. lolI think, and I could be really wrong, that Minerva would like to see Severus and Poppy together. She didn't seem too happy with the idea of Quin and Poppy together. And, I know that Minerva is too much in love with Albus to be bothered by the idea of Poppy and Quin together. This part had me cracking up:“Ah. I see. And last night was Scotch, straight up?” Minerva blushed at her unintended double entendre, but Poppy laughed.“It was more like Irish, straight up. A very stiff drink in a tall glass,” Poppy said with a whisper and a blush.And this part was very sad b/c I know it was just as Minerva said ... a few games ... SIGH:“It was either finish the work last night or have it waiting for me this morning. I’d rather have more free time over the weekend. Albus wants me to help him in his little garden this morning.” Minerva grinned. “If he makes it out of bed before noon, that is.”Poppy laughed. “So you did have a good time last night, then. Wore him out?”“We just played a few games,” Minerva said innocently.lOOKING FORWARD TO MORE!!!
Response from MMADfan (Author of A Long Vernal Season)
Well, I'm sure that Albus enjoyed their "games" -- hence needing to sleep in in the morning! haha! I don't know when Severus will recover from seeing Albus in Minerva's robe. Yep, a few "games." LOLI think that Minerva was worrying that she'd given Severus the wrong advice the night before and that she'd set him up to be hurt. She really hadn't thought that Quin & Poppy would become that "involved" in their date, so to speak.Poore Severus! Albus & Minerva had their playtime, Poppy & Quin had theirs, and he walked away from the opportunity to seduce a gorgeous international Quidditch star. His evening was rather a contrast to theirs . . .Thanks for the review! (You'll just have to imagine more than a "few" games for ADMM, if rereading their playtime chapter doesn't suffice! LOL!)
Response from MMADfan (Author of A Long Vernal Season)
(I also think that if they'd played any more "games" that night, Albus never would have made it through the night! Minerva would have exhausted him so completely, I don't think he could have managed it -- and I couldn't have, either! Haha! So let him sleep in, then if you need more lemons and more playtime, maybe reread a few of your favorites from other fics! 
)
Response from HogwartsDuo (Reviewer)
Ah, see, I took you literally. When you had Minerva saying they played a few games, I took that to mean they'd played some sort of game (chess, cards, etc) not sexual games ... as in staying up late at night to play a board or card game vs sexual games. Guess I took Minerva in the wrong way.
Response from MMADfan (Author of A Long Vernal Season)
You were privy to those games, my dear! Ah, how quickly they forget! *sigh* That's why Severus was still in shock when he and Minerva were meeting in her sitting room -- he'd just seen Albus in his "deshabille," so to speak. Albus was exhausted from it, unlike poor Severus, who merely stayed up late writing the memo for Minerva, as he'd promised in their meeting. So A & M had a good & active night, as did P & Q! Remember now? (Why else would Minerva have said it "innocently"? LOL!)Since you've forgotten it already, you could go back and enjoy it all over again! It might be even better the second time around! haha!
yeah sure, she doesn't miss him^^I know you don't give spoilers but perhaps you can slip a little word wether this story will change to HG/SS or stay PP/SS...I personally hope it will stay but that's up to you;)
Response from MMADfan (Author of A Long Vernal Season)
Spoilers, spoilers, spoilers . . . *sigh!*Nope, no spoilers in a review response! (However, you may have noted the category the fic is in and gathered a few other clues from the general weight of the content up to this point! ;D)If someone emails me/PMs me wanting spoilers, on the other hand, I might give out tiny ones. :-)Yeah, I'd say she doesn't have a chance of convincing herself -- maybe she'll have better luck with Minerva? LOL!Thanks for the review!
Poor Poppy : ( Severus has his work cut out for him.I wonder what Hermione has to say??????
Response from MMADfan (Author of A Long Vernal Season)
You won't have to wait long to see what Severus and Hermione have to say to each other! Stay tuned for the next chapter!I'm glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for the review!
This was an interesting chapter. It was interesting that Severus just met Estelle McGonagall in this chapter; I would have thought both of them would have met before now. It was nice of Murdoch to give Severus a tour of the new laboratories and work areas at the apothecary. It was funny that Severus got on Gareth for flirting with Miss Turpin; he should be happy that Gareth wasn't flirting with Hermione and making him feel jealous. It was strange to have a descripion of Lucius looking so Muggle like and still so sickly, and that Narcissa is working for a living. It must have made Severus feel like he fell into an epsiode of the Twilight Show. Now onto the next chapter and find out what Lucius wants. Bye!
Response from MMADfan (Author of A Long Vernal Season)
They just never happened to meet, and Severus hasn't been the most sociable of fellows! ;-)Severus certainly did feel like he fell into the Twilight Zone there, or into Alice's Wonderland! Very strange for him, indeed!I'm glad you liked the chapter! Thanks for reviewing. :-)
Well, I feel so sorry for Severus. 
He gets hit with another blow when he is already feeling lost and depressed at the moment. It's like being told you have cancer or a chronic illness. 
Too bad that Gareth, Hermione, or Minerva wasn't there with him when Melina told him what was happening to him. But then again, I don't think Severus would have wanted someone there with him to give him comfort and support. Look on how he is handling Gareth in the clinic with him after being told and how now he has to ask for help since he can't do magic now.I liked how you incorporated the Order of Merlin ‘Without Peer’ into Melina's speech to motivate Severus to keep fighting. Because it's true. If Severus can handle everything Voldemort handed out and live then he can handle this too and live. That's all I have to say for now. Bye!
Response from MMADfan (Author of A Long Vernal Season)
He is being hit with a lot, and it does seem just one more unfair blow in a miserable life. Fortunately, he is in good hands, and he does have people around him who care about him, whether he likes it or not! And as you can see, the story doesn't end very soon, so you can have hope for him!Glad you liked the incorporation of the Order of Merlin there. Thanks very much for your review! I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter! 
Anonymous
*grin* To choose between Scotch and Crème de Cassis... that's SO Albus! ;o)
I must confess I can't remember what your choice of Snape's preferred bevearge is, though for me, he's a single malt man. Islays, of course ;o).
I love the wooden screen you fitted Albus' room out with, and this line really made my day:
I’m having a bit of trouble with the front panel of my breeches,” Albus replied.
“Well, I’m not helping you with that.” Severus took another sip of the whisky.
The costume idea for Albus is simply perfect - and that's probably the first time I can imagine him at all as something "delicious and delightful", so thanks for that! He really would make a perfect Rokoko dandy.
I wondered for some time what costume exactly you would give Snape. Lawrence of Arabia is just perfect for him, too! And isn't it just SO Snape to be concerned about his costume figure's masochism and that the students may enquire about it? *g* It's very good, though, that the whole thing brings him thinking about the aspect of everybody being a hero and a villain and such, too.
This was the second phrase that made my day:
“I do not ‘swirl and swish,’” Severus grumbled. “I billow.
*roflol*
Author's Response: He's never been much of a drinker in the past, both because of his role as a spy and because of his memories of his father's drinking. He also just doesn't like losing control, so that aspect of drinking doesn't appeal to him.
I see him as a man who generally likes his drinks dry with a slightly bitter edge -- vodka and bitter lemon, perhaps, in a mixed drink, or a nice smooth blended Irish whiskey, 15 or 20 years old, at least, and neat. Gareth's drinking preferences will influence his, though, and he'll end up appreciating another brew, as well. :-)
I'm glad you enjoyed those bits -- I smiled a bit, myself, remembering them! "I billow." LOL! Yeah, and I can imagine him so NOT wanting to help w/ that particular piece of costuming! haha!
Thanks for the review!
Author's Response: Oh, and I forgot to say, I'm glad you thought that Albus would make a perfect dandy -- he thought so, too, and enjoyed the bit of self-mockery, both in the dandyism and in the particular dandy he chose. ;-) I thought it was a fun choice, and suited to him, to RaMverse!Albus, particularly. :-)
Another chapter read. Yah! I'm on a roll now. This was a very interesting chapter and I enjoyed the visit that Gareth had with Severus. It seems every time Severus sees Gareth Severus starts feeling more confortable with him. Soon. Very soon, they both will be great friends. It also seems that Severus is being more tolerent towards people that have annoyed him in the past, like Pomona. I was surprised that Severus didn't go off on her when all she wanted to do is keep talking to him. I guess he didn't really have the energy to blow her off. It was very nice of her to get the rest of his supplies for his classes. Maybe they could also become more than colleagues some day.Onto the next chapter. Bye for now.
Response from ArcticSeasons (Reviewer)
Oh yeah, I forgot to put this in my review. What is up with Lucius? I can't wait to find out what he wants from Severus.
Response from MMADfan (Author of A Long Vernal Season)
Oh, you will CERTAINLY find out what's up with Lucius! LOL!No, he didn't have the energy to blow her off, but he's also trying (when he does have the energy) to be a bit less abrasive in his new life, even though he hasn't a clue what his alternative mode of behavior should be! I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter. I hope you enjoy the growing relationship between Gareth and Severus.Thanks for the review!
Excellent. More confused Severus figuring out his emotions. Minerva's advice is very good. It makes so much sense and sounds so simple on the surface and yet, people in real life can't manage it, people with far fewer bad experiences than Snape. I'm happy to see him trying so hard to develop a different side of himself.
Response from MMADfan (Author of A Long Vernal Season)
I think we can all give ourselves the same advice over and over again throughout life on one of our more intransigent problems, and even then, it can be so hard to overcome some of our habits or personal flaws!Thanks for the review! I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter!
Hi! Sorry it took over a month to read this chapter. I've been trying to catch up on other stories that I've missed reading.Anyways, this chapter was interesting. I like how Severus is starting to have feeling other than friendship for Hermione, and how jealous and envious he is of Garath for having a friendship with Hermione, but at the same time considers both of them as friends. Severus seems so lost and suffering from depression. He acts like some of those soldiers that come back from Iraq and Afghanistan and are having a hard time adjusting being a normal civilian again. Hopefully having a normal life now Severus gets to live like he hasn't before. I enjoyed the conversation Severus had with Minerva. It's nice to know that Severus has no ill feelings for Minerva anymore and that all is forgiven between them.Now onto the next chapter. Bye for now.
Response from MMADfan (Author of A Long Vernal Season)
I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter. :-)Severus will find hope and will find new ways of relating to others and living his life, but it will take him a while, and some pain, to do so.Thanks for the review! (I was recently looking over DD for something, and happened to think of you, and was wondering if you were well! So it was good to hear from you!)
Part of me wants Poppy and Severus to work it out the other part is a SH fan lol. Right now all I can see is Severus is going to get hurt no matter what happens. Poor Potionsmaster.
Response from MMADfan (Author of A Long Vernal Season)
He certainly is not having an easy time of it, is he? Poor guy!SSHG was the first 'ship I primarily read when I first started reading fanfic ages ago (I don't even want to think how many years it's been) -- mainly because so many of the better fics (IMO at the time) were by writers who 'shipped SSHG. Don't have much time to read fanfic any longer . . . *sigh*Thanks for the review! I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter!
Goodness I feel warm. It must be a heatwave! Minerva must be wondering if she set Severus up for heartbreak. I hope she sees through Poppy's little lie. Foolish Poppy, thinking she can resist the Potions Master. He might be more stress and more work, but I'm thinking Poppy's done with easily controlled and disposable relationships.
Ha ha! I figured out how to review from my crackberry. Go me!
Response from Riposto (Reviewer)
I gloated too soon. :( I missed the little ratings box. Five stars anyway!
******
Response from MMADfan (Author of A Long Vernal Season)
Yay, you! I'm glad you have whipped your crackberry into submission! And don't worry about the stars: you warmed the cockles of my heart with your review and the virtual stars! (Isn't "cockles of my heart" one of the weirder expressions in the English language? I just love it, though! LOL!) Yes, Minerva is wondering about the advice she gave to Severus just mere hours before! She was more than a little stunned by Poppy's revelation. I do think that Minerva will end up seeing through the little white lie, though. As to whether Poppy can carry it off and act in accordance with her little white lie, we shall see!Thanks for the review! (And glad the chapter warmed you up a bit! ;-))
Response from Riposto (Reviewer)
Yes, very weird. I have no idea what cockles are, but I always picture an anatomic cutaway with chordae tendineae and valves flexing and the circulating blood all steamy and swirling. LOL.
Response from MMADfan (Author of A Long Vernal Season)
Okay, wasn't going to respond to your response, but I'm still chuckling, so here it is: LOL! Love it!This is probably not as funny as it seems right now, which is a sign it's been a long day and I should probably find my bed. Thanks for the good chuckle!
Wooooo can't wait for the next chapter!! Lovely as MM/AD and PP/Quinn's interludes were, I've definitely been missing Severus and his intriguing adventures!
Response from MMADfan (Author of A Long Vernal Season)
Their evenings were quite a contrast to Severus's evening, weren't they? LOL!Next chapter will PROBABLY be up on Sunday or Monday, but no guarantees!
Ooooh, things should get really interesting. Thanks for the lovely update.
Response from MMADfan (Author of A Long Vernal Season)
You're very welcome!The next chapter is the last in Part Six. In Part Seven, we see some transitional phases for the various characters. I hope you enjoy it! Thanks for the review!
What can I say? You left me speechless (in a good way).
Response from MMADfan (Author of A Long Vernal Season)
Thanks! :-)
Poor Severus, Albus must have been quite the sight. Too funny.
Response from MMADfan (Author of A Long Vernal Season)
I'm sure he was quite startled. LOL
OMG! I'm so excited about Poppy and Severus. (Never was much of a SS/HG fan but your writing is so amazing I'll read just about anything - as witnessed by my reading slasheyness which I don't enjoy though the spin you put on that was interesting and very believable for the Snape you've created. Also, the way you've evolved the HG/SS relationship over these three epic stories I can see the possibility. I really like the mature Hermione that you created and freeing her of Ron is always a bonus. I promise to be better about reviewing more individual chapters, I've just been so engrossed in reading I was unable to supress the urge to click the next chapter. I really lover your Poppy, next to Minerva she may be my favorite character in your stories. I cannot wait to see how things develop. You've created such a subtle evolution of the friendship between them. All she's done for him over the years and her unwillingness to put up with his attitude or be put off by his efforts to shove people away. Really amazing character development.
Response from MMADfan (Author of A Long Vernal Season)
Thank you! I'm very glad that you are enjoying the story and the character development!I understand about the slashyness -- I'd never written any and had read close to none, so I was unsure about whether I could write it, although it was intended to be a part of LVS from when I began writing it. In fact, I began the writing with many of the chapters in Parts Three and Four, since I wanted to explore two of the key relationships in Severus's life. Anyway, I was concerned about whether I could write anything slashy, but since the scenes were about Severus and Gareth's relationship, that drove the interactions and made it easier to write than I thought it would be. I'm glad you see the development of the SS/HG relationship over the course of the three stories as being believable, given the Snape and the Hermione that are in the RaMverse fics. In a sense, there is a strong SS/HG element to AAoL, and their friendship certainly had its roots there. How their relationship continues to develop as each of them moves beyond the war and beyond their roles as teacher and student will, I hope, be equally as natural and believable to you.Poppy is definitely one of my favorite female characters (from canon) in the RaMverse, so I'm glad you like her, as well!Thanks for the review! I hope you continue to enjoy the fic! (And don't miss "The Sorting of Suzie Sefton" -- it's different from LVS, but it gives us another perspective on Hogwarts and on the events of Part One in LVS.)Thanks again! 
I never finished RAM, so I guess most of the backstory that informs this chapter comes from there. But I could follow along enough to guess at the history. It seems that Poppy has the opportunity to resolve some unfinished business in her own past, and maybe to gain some perspective on her life as it is now?
Response from MMADfan (Author of A Long Vernal Season)
Their back-story is actually post-RaM, which ends in October 1957, several years before she and Quin tried dating after she and Murdoch broke up. (That was something that Poppy told Severus about -- the Murdoch part, not the Quin part -- back in one of the earlier chapters of LVS). It may someday become part of the RaM sequel, if that ever is written! I keep being side-tracked by these post-post-post RaM sequels! LOL! But if you read RaM through the Malcolm-meets-Gertrude chapter ("Tea Party on the Ceiling") you've gotten the essentials of Poppy meeting Quin and being much more charmed by Murdoch and his potions! haha!Yep, Poppy can gain some perspective on her life now . . . though her realizations about opportunities gone and opportunies present won't all hit her at once, as Severus's sudden realization did.Thanks for the review! Glad you enjoyed it.
Great Godric's Ghost! Steamy stuff for Poppy and Quin. They are very hot together and they both seemed to need the attention. I'd say they both had a very good time on the date. lolThe story of Poppy kissing Albus/Robbie was hysterical and I could imagine Quin having great difficulty not laughing. That made me giggle.Looking forward to seeing where this leaves Poppy and Severus!Update soon!
Response from MMADfan (Author of A Long Vernal Season)
Hey there! Glad I could give you a giggle! Yep, the two certainly heated things up, didn't they? Stay tuned to see where this leaves Poppy and Severus.Severus had a bit of a different sort of night than either Albus and Minerva or Poppy and Quin, I'd say . . .Thanks for the review! I hope to update by this weekend, depending on RL, etc.
*poke*
Okay, I know that I haven't been keeping up with my reviews in the last few chapters, I apologize. But where did you go???????? I promise I will review the next chapter in a timely manner, if you'll please, please pretty please post it soon. And, yes, I realize that I am extremely spoiled if I am whining after only one week. Have I told you how awesome you are???????? And that sweater looks lovely with your eyes.
Response from MMADfan (Author of A Long Vernal Season)
Why thank you! It's one of my favorite sweaters, but it's just an old thing . . .LOL!I really haven't vanished -- I've just been busy in RL and a little . . . how to put this . . . needing-a-break from LVS.And as much as I would LOVE to hear from you regularly, I have to confess that I plan to post the next chapter today if I can give it its final polish. In fact, that's why I sat down at the computer just now and happened to receive the alert for your review. So although I do love hearing from you (and the little worshipy icon fellow is kinda cute), I need to be honest and say that it's merely coincidental if a chapter appears shortly after you begged (very sweetly!) for an update.(And yes, I've spoiled you, I'd say! LOL!)Thank you,
Response from MMADfan (Author of A Long Vernal Season)
! I'm glad to know that there are people who are looking forward to the next update!To whet your appetite and thank you for your prodding, the first line of the next chapter is:“Thanks very much, Quin. I had a lovely evening. I certainly hadn’t expected to have dinner in Paris this evening!” Poppy looked up at Quin and smiled.
AHHHHH! Thank you for another FABULOUS chapter. Love Quin! He seems to be the perfect specimen of manhood. Why can't I find a sweet caring and hot man like him? It would be so much easier on Poppy (I must be jealous, I keep typing Poopy) if she and Quin did have that whatever "IT" is that makes for a long term relationship. Or maybe he could tutor Severus on how to treat a woman. Lets get Severus a WWQD bracelet. LOL!
Response from MMADfan (Author of A Long Vernal Season)
Haha! Poopy! Hee! You must be jealous, indeed!I love the idea of a WWQD bracelet for Severus. I doubt he'd wear it, though. Unless, perhaps, it was in black. Thanks! I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter!
Quin may be the perfect man. Very nice chapter.
Response from MMADfan (Author of A Long Vernal Season)
Perhaps "Quin" should stand for "Qintessential" rather than "Quinlivan"! LOL!Thanks -- glad you liked the chapter!
Love the story. Can't believe I'm thinking I've had more than enough sex scenes now to last a while. LOL. OF course it's damn near impossible to read anything LIKE that now with the kids off from school.
Response from MMADfan (Author of A Long Vernal Season)
It will be a while before the next one, so you have a breather! LOL!And no, you definitely don't want to be reading that sort of thing with one of the kids possibly looking over your shoulder. Eeep! Or even when you might just be called away in the middle of it!I'm glad you're enjoying it! I hope you're having a great time with your kids and wonderful holidays. Happy New Year!
Severus sure is nasty to Albus a lot of the time. I understand that Albus can be rather annoying at times, but it seems Snape has more sharp words for Albus than nice ones. That's one thing that irks me so about Severus. People love to portray him as a loving, reformed Death Eater but he still has a lot of anger and resentment built up inside of him and he loves to take it out on Albus, most of the time. And then Albus gets slightly neglected by Minerva, Poor chap, though I know he deserves some of it based on how he neglected her when he was Headmaster. Can you tell I'm feeling Albus's pain this morning? I can see him growing restless and then that turning into a melancholy feeling b/c he's "not feeling the love."Oh well, I'm sure it will all work out in the end!Thanks for the update!
Response from MMADfan (Author of A Long Vernal Season)
Yeah, Severus has a lot of sharp edges, that's for sure. Albus wasn't perturbed, however. In fact, his reaction confirmed something -- and rather than discouraging his meddling, Severus inadvertantly has encouraged him! LOL! But he was too acid with Albus, that's for sure. After all, it's not Albus's fault that the topic of Poppy is a sore one for him! I think that his chess game with Minerva will make up for it all -- and now that he's got more plans for his "new project," he'll be quite happy! He does love to try to engineer a happy ending . . . lol!Thanks for the review! I'm on my way out of town (well, in a few minutes), so it was fun to see the review alerts before I logged off. Have a happy New Year!