New Chapter for Because it is Bitter, and Because it is my Heart
Because it is Bitter, and Because it is my Heart
Squibstress59 Reviews | 59 Ratings, 0 Likes, 9 Favorites )
If war is hell, Severus Snape and Minerva McGonagall are in the Ninth Circle. During Snape's awful year as Headmaster, he and Professor McGonagall draw closer as they are forced into a desperate arrangement.
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About Squibstress
Author
Squibstress
Member Since 2010 | 36 Stories | Favorited by 103 | 43 Reviews Written | 528 Review Responses
I'm a middle-aged, professional writer of non-fiction and would-be professional writer of fiction who also writes Harry Potter fanfiction just for fun.
I’m a proud member of the Harry Potter Old Lady Smut Brigade, which means I’m most interested in the older female characters in the Harry Potter saga, particularly Minerva McGonagall.
If I had received my Hogwarts letter back in nineteen-mumble-mumble, I would most likely have been sorted into Ravenclaw, or so everyone tells me, probably because I’m a geeky data-freak (my Real Life™ requires me to read piles of medical journal articles.) I, however, think I’d feel right at home in Hufflepuff too, so I consider myself a Ravenpuff.
The fics I write may contain adult themes, and I will always warn for non-con, graphic violence, bestiality, incest, or underage sex. I don't warn for homosexual relationships or sex, or for threesomes/moresomes, unless they contain one of the aforementioned elements.
Disclaimers: Anything from the Harry Potter universe belongs solely to its creator, J.K. Rowling, and her licensees. Original plot, characters, dialog, etc. are mine.
My stories are available for use under a Creative Commons attribution, non-commercial, share-alike license (CC-BY-NC-SA).
I have a blog: http://squibstress.wordpress.com/.
I'm also on LiveJournal and Twitter (@Squibstress).
I maintain a master list of (mostly Minerva-centric) recs at Diigo.
I am a proud member of the Harry Potter Old Lady Smut Brigade.
Reviews for Because it is Bitter, and Because it is my Heart
What did Severus' father do to him? Was it physical abuse? Emotional? Sexual?
Lovely back story. The more I learn about Minerva, and the rest of the Hogwarts staff through your eyes, the more they become tangible to me. You have made me think about my own perceptions of others. Real, and fictional. Thank you.
Again, I thank you for sharing~Elou
Minerva's stoicism is likely to save the day. :)
What a horribly untenable situation. For Minerva, in most situations it is worse, because her body is getting no enjoyment out of it (where Snape's *body* is), but then Snape has to go before the Dark Lord and have the whole sordid thing replayed. I'm glad they've found some agreement with each other, and even some comfort. And Severus *is* trying to do the right thing...
Holy... Well, you know. I just couldn't fathom them coupling again. I knew it was coming, it was planned, and things were set in motion. I just couldn't believe it until my eyes were scanning the page.I feel for both characters. Both of them feeling a sense of loss or even betrayal I would think. But will it ever come to pass that it gets beyond it's mechanical necessity? In my mind it's hard to picture Minerva as a sexual being. She is always presented as much more than just a professor. She is at times very tender, and motherly. I hadn't until this fiction, seen her as a "woman" with sexual needs, or intimacies. That's odd. Thank you for making her more than 2D. Thank you once again for sharing~
Response from Squibstress (Author of Because it is Bitter, and Because it is my Heart)
Response from Squibstress (Author of Because it is Bitter, and Because it is my Heart)
Thanks for reading and reviewing.I don't find it odd that it can be hard to picture a character like Minerva as a sexual being; for one thing, we don't get many clues to her personality--other than as a stern taskmistress--in canon; for another, it is rare in any medium to see an older woman portrayed in a sexual context. Maybe it's because I am myself middle-aged, but I think it's time that changed.As for the story direction, next chapters are in the queue, so read on to see how the relationship between the two of them develops!
She must have realized she was going to have to see him sometime if they both remained in the castle. Best to get it over with. I love the speech she gave the Gryffindors. It was inspirational.
Response from Squibstress (Author of Because it is Bitter, and Because it is my Heart)
Yes, she has to see him. The plot depends on it!Glad you liked the speech; I was afraid it might be a bit mawkish.Thanks for reading!
Awesome chapter! ;-) They are too short for me (just because I'm impatient to wait for the next one! haha)
Response from Squibstress (Author of Because it is Bitter, and Because it is my Heart)
Thanks.Sorry for the brevity; sometimes the divisons just work better that way. The whole thing is written, and some of the future chaps are quite a bit longer.
Oh, so sad. She has truly picked herself up, and dusted herself off. Thank goodness for Neville & his squishiness. Caused quite the chain reaction, much needed at that.I can't imagine her first interactions with Severus. *gasp*Thank you for sharing~
Response from Squibstress (Author of Because it is Bitter, and Because it is my Heart)
Response from Squibstress (Author of Because it is Bitter, and Because it is my Heart)
Thanks for reading.Minerva is a tough cookie, and so is Neville in his own way.Cheers!
YAY NEVILLE! I love Neville. He's so made of awesome!
Response from Squibstress (Author of Because it is Bitter, and Because it is my Heart)
I just love Neville. Of all the charcaters in the novels, he seems to grow the most. I'd love to read a story or two about him after the war. Thanks for reading and commenting!