New Chapter for Second Life
Second Life
Lariope3,012 Reviews | 7.46/10 (3,012 Ratings, 0 Likes, 1,268 Favorites )
Hermione is forced to lead a double life when she agrees to Dumbledore's plan to protect Professor Snape. Inspired by the Marriage Law. Warning for student/teacher relationship, though Hermione is of age.
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About Lariope
Author
Lariope
Member Since 2007 | 9 Stories | Favorited by 616 | 122 Reviews Written | 5,388 Review Responses
Grape Forever!
Reviews for Second Life
Again a brilliant chapter, I am on the egde of my chair here, your story is so captivating!!!! I love it and I am so looking forward for more:-))
Response from Lariope (Author of Second Life)
Thank you,
Response from Lariope (Author of Second Life)
! More very soon...
Response from Lariope (Author of Second Life)
Thank you,
Response from Lariope (Author of Second Life)
! More very soon...
OMG.It's here. You're writing it. Your fixing it so that it will happen the right way this time. We're counting on you (no pressure). We're really counting on you (okay, some pressure). We're really, really counting on you (alright, a whole lot of pressure from us squeeing fangirls).I felt so awful for Severus, sitting up there alone. Honestly, you made me want to hold the guy's hand.Thank you for everything you've put into this. I shall be waiting breathlessly for the battle.
Response from Lariope (Author of Second Life)
The pressure!!! :)No, I'm kidding. If I had more time this week, I'd have already finished it; that's how jazzed I am to write this scene. I've been planning it for SIX MONTHS now. heh.And I'm glad you felt Sev's isolation. Thank you!!
Response from Lariope (Author of Second Life)
The pressure!!! :)No, I'm kidding. If I had more time this week, I'd have already finished it; that's how jazzed I am to write this scene. I've been planning it for SIX MONTHS now. heh.And I'm glad you felt Sev's isolation. Thank you!!
Ahg, cliffy! I was getting well into that then. I like the way you fleshed out the students' tale a bit, I know JK had other things going on, but I always felt like she was glossing over them a bit, nice to see them get a moment. Hope you can update soon, things are hotting up nicely!
Response from Lariope (Author of Second Life)
Thank you! I'm going to try to keep to my regular Tuesday/Wednesday schedule, despite the fact that I'm teaching summer school right now and generally losing my mind. I'm really glad you liked the student's part--I felt bad to make it so dark, but... I don't know. It seemed darker to me than she told it. I'm glad you're anticipating the next... more soon, and thanks for reviewing!
Response from helshez (Reviewer)
Let's see, a bunch of adolescent wizards, futigives, bivouaced in the RoR, fighting a group with no scruples about hurting or even killing them, with nothing they can do that will alleviate their situation. Even if they got rid of the Carrows, the replacements sent would be much worse (Greyback to keep the kids in line?) They were by definition in a hopeless situation over which they had little control struggling to survive and making a stand because that's all they could do. How dark do you want it? I filled in the gaps JK left when I first read DH, and I had all sorts of unpleasant things imagined. It seems dark coz it is dark, but JK didn't want to warp the younger readers, I assume.
Response from Lariope (Author of Second Life)
Thank you! I'm going to try to keep to my regular Tuesday/Wednesday schedule, despite the fact that I'm teaching summer school right now and generally losing my mind. I'm really glad you liked the student's part--I felt bad to make it so dark, but... I don't know. It seemed darker to me than she told it. I'm glad you're anticipating the next... more soon, and thanks for reviewing!
Response from helshez (Reviewer)
Let's see, a bunch of adolescent wizards, futigives, bivouaced in the RoR, fighting a group with no scruples about hurting or even killing them, with nothing they can do that will alleviate their situation. Even if they got rid of the Carrows, the replacements sent would be much worse (Greyback to keep the kids in line?) They were by definition in a hopeless situation over which they had little control struggling to survive and making a stand because that's all they could do. How dark do you want it? I filled in the gaps JK left when I first read DH, and I had all sorts of unpleasant things imagined. It seems dark coz it is dark, but JK didn't want to warp the younger readers, I assume.
Wow, edge of the seat reading! But that ending... Get ye back to writing!!!
Response from Lariope (Author of Second Life)
this icon has got to be my favorite ever. That little wagging finger!!!!!! I am shamed back into my computer chair ...I'm writing, I swear! :)
Response from Lariope (Author of Second Life)
this icon has got to be my favorite ever. That little wagging finger!!!!!! I am shamed back into my computer chair ...I'm writing, I swear! :)
That was so intense. You brought the "Great Gringotts Getaway" to life in a heart-pounding, breath-taking way that was totally absent in the original work.Still loving this so much I can hardly stand it!
Response from Lariope (Author of Second Life)
Thank you so much! I hated Gringotts in canon, to be honest, and I wanted to write an escape I could have gotten behind. I'm so glad that it felt exciting to you!
Response from Lariope (Author of Second Life)
Thank you so much! I hated Gringotts in canon, to be honest, and I wanted to write an escape I could have gotten behind. I'm so glad that it felt exciting to you!
I can't believe you are already at this chapter... That feeling of preparing yourself for your death... that's horrible, I can not and do no even want to imagine that. My heart breaks for him... and that last part of when she was crying at the end... I'm glad to see some emotion from her like that because you can't hold it in all the time.:)
Response from Lariope (Author of Second Life)
Me neither. I also can't believe that we sat in the car together discussing this chapter when you were here. :)I'm glad you liked her tears at the end. To be honest, that's when I was really sobbing in earnest.... all those people... and home, Hogwarts, which we have missed for so long.... Thank you for reviewing, my dearest.
Response from Lariope (Author of Second Life)
Me neither. I also can't believe that we sat in the car together discussing this chapter when you were here. :)I'm glad you liked her tears at the end. To be honest, that's when I was really sobbing in earnest.... all those people... and home, Hogwarts, which we have missed for so long.... Thank you for reviewing, my dearest.
Oh, my ... I could so feel Severus's despair as he 'prepared' himself for the end.He deserves so much more than he's been allowed by his creator -- I'm glad you've given him a second chance. (Just as I suspect, you will be giving him a Second Life.)Your story is amazing.
Response from Lariope (Author of Second Life)
;) I'm glad you could share Snape's emotions here. Thank you so much!
Response from Lariope (Author of Second Life)
;) I'm glad you could share Snape's emotions here. Thank you so much!
Oh, Luna definitely marches to the beat of her own drummer, doesn't she? I think she is one of the most under-appreciated (or at least under-utilized) characters that JKR created. She's smart, and perceptive; she's forthright, but knows the value of discretion; she's loyal and mature beyond her years. I don't 'know' the wizard that JKR had her marrying in that EWE, but she'd have been a perfect foil for Neville, or even for Ron. (I say that, because she's nearly as smart as Hermione, but would probably be more willing to put up with Ron's shite!)Anyway, another fabulous chapter.I'm almost caught up now, and soon I'll be relegated to the ranks of all the other fangirls, just drooling while waiting for updates!Love this story so much!
Response from Lariope (Author of Second Life)
Yes, I adore Luna. (I guess that's obvious!) Sorry if my responses are coming through all weird--we're having a storm here and my internet is being wonky.I agree, in my mind, I put her with Ron or Neville. I think JKR thought that would be too 'neat,' to have all of the DA marry each other. :)Thank you so much for your reviews, my dear. They mean the world to me. oxox
Response from Lariope (Author of Second Life)
Yes, I adore Luna. (I guess that's obvious!) Sorry if my responses are coming through all weird--we're having a storm here and my internet is being wonky.I agree, in my mind, I put her with Ron or Neville. I think JKR thought that would be too 'neat,' to have all of the DA marry each other. :)Thank you so much for your reviews, my dear. They mean the world to me. oxox
Anonymous
How wonderful -- since Ron left them so long ago during "that camping thing that we shan't speak of again," he has really grown. I was amazed at how you didn't even describe him physically, and yet, suddenly I saw this tall, broad-chested... red-headed man.
No more joshing between the three. They worked as a team, and they were adult, and they're thinking logically, leaving emotion out of the equation as much as they can.
Even though I love the times you are "in" Snape, it was Hermione's perspective that was simply heart-wrenching. Most of all, her feeling of helplessness, watching others run and do things. Not knowing exactly where Snape was, and not getting enough from Minerva about what had happened.
But most of all, let me say, you did it. The instinct to self-preservation is strong, and despite our conversations, I had my doubts... But I could not, from the first paragraph, not believe that he was ready. Waiting. Finished. I could not write this -- and maybe that's why I refused to believe before. But this was an exquisite look into the heart of a man who is ready for his to stop beating. Bravo, my dear.
Author's Response: I'm kind of loving Ron right now-- I'm glad that's coming through. :)
And I'm glad that it was Hermione that made you feel. When I was with her, I was near tears through the whole chapter.
But most of all, I'm very glad about your reading of Snape here--that you believe me. Thank you.
Thank you, thank you, thank you. :)
Thank you for leaving me breathless with suspense all over again -- it's as if I never read DH. The word-pictures in this chapter were so vivid -- I especially loved the image of Neville greeting them at the tunnel, and the beautiful imagery of the spells Minerva and Severus trade in their duel. For several chapters I've been wondering how Snape learned to fly, and how you would reimagine Minerva's final confrontation with Severus. Talk about an Exceeds Expectations -- I can't believe I'm impatient to see what happens in the Shrieking Shack, but there you go. The layering of awareness you put on DH with your intropsections and interpretations is something to anticipate with pleasure throughout this story!
Response from Lariope (Author of Second Life)
Thank you,
Response from Lariope (Author of Second Life)
! I'm so glad you liked it. And you named several of the parts that I most enjoyed writing, so that always feels good.Yes, we're almost in the Shrieking Shack. Hold my hand. I'm going to need it. :)
Response from Lariope (Author of Second Life)
Thank you,
Response from Lariope (Author of Second Life)
! I'm so glad you liked it. And you named several of the parts that I most enjoyed writing, so that always feels good.Yes, we're almost in the Shrieking Shack. Hold my hand. I'm going to need it. :)
This chapter was just wrenching and beautiful: Snape's farewell to his office; Harry, Ron and Hermione standing behind their decision to fight and perhaps die; Harry and Ginny's reunion; Snape's farewell flight and memories of his time at Hogwarts; the list of the students leaving and fighting; Harry and Ginny's last exchange before she leaves. I was crying by the end. Out of this list I especially loved Snape's farewell flight and Harry and Ginny's last conversation. Beautifully done, Lariope!
Response from Lariope (Author of Second Life)
Thank you so much! You've named several of my own favorite parts, which is so gratifying. :)xoxo
Response from Lariope (Author of Second Life)
Thank you so much! You've named several of my own favorite parts, which is so gratifying. :)xoxo
Augh! Once again with the cliffie! *loves it*
Response from Lariope (Author of Second Life)
I'm glad you're enjoying the torture! LOL
Response from Lariope (Author of Second Life)
I'm glad you're enjoying the torture! LOL
Coming down the home stetch now, and I mostly want to read quickly to see how you're going to pull a happy ending from the rubble of canon. I really like how you show Snape's learning to fly here ( and I hope that scene ends up being significant in some other way than plugging a canon plot hole-- what did Voldemort really slip into his soul? ) I love how you've reshaped the Snape/ Minerva relationship to something sane. And Aberforth's condemnation of Albus-- some of it is from canon, but what isn't is even more brutally true. I have to say, I read DH fast as well, but here it's nice to know that I can trust you to wrap things up, maybe not "happily ever after"-ly, but certainly sanely and honoring the basic truth of your themes and characters. Really well done, as always.
Response from Lariope (Author of Second Life)
I'm honored by your trust, Hobgoblinn. I hope I pull it off. Thank you so much for such a thoughtful and lovely review. xoxo
Response from Lariope (Author of Second Life)
I'm honored by your trust, Hobgoblinn. I hope I pull it off. Thank you so much for such a thoughtful and lovely review. xoxo
Ahh my dear we are soon coming to the end the turmoil is building and your writing is beautiful, as always. Please do not torture our couple too much. Irish
Response from Lariope (Author of Second Life)
Wait, you're asking me NOT to torture them? But that's what I do.... LOL. Thank you so much for reviewing, my dear. :)
Response from Lariope (Author of Second Life)
Wait, you're asking me NOT to torture them? But that's what I do.... LOL. Thank you so much for reviewing, my dear. :)
Wow. This was wonderful. I really liked how you crafted the action. I particularly liked the interactions between the characters. Voldimort showing Snape how to fly (but putting a bit of His Slitheriness in Snape so it was at a cost), the interactions between Snape and Dumbledore and Snape and McGonagall ... Aberforth and the Trio ... Ron's statement, Harry and Ginny ... it was just all so wonderful. It makes me look forward to what comes next in your universe. Wonderfully written and elegantly expressed, thank you!
Response from Lariope (Author of Second Life)
Thank you so much! I'm so glad you liked it. *squees discreetly*
Response from Lariope (Author of Second Life)
Thank you so much! I'm so glad you liked it. *squees discreetly*
And so it begins. I'm anxious to see how the soldiers will fair in your version of events. Will Fred die? Will Remus? I know you can't tell me these things, I'm just wondering aloud. :) Can't wait to see the battle, the Shrieking Shack, oh... and I suppose that bit with Harry too. LOL
Response from Lariope (Author of Second Life)
Yes, the Shrieking Shack approacheth... :) And all will be revealed very soon. I'm glad you're wondering... :)Thanks for reviewing! xoxo
Response from Lariope (Author of Second Life)
Yes, the Shrieking Shack approacheth... :) And all will be revealed very soon. I'm glad you're wondering... :)Thanks for reviewing! xoxo
Hi Lariope,Like the other reviewers so far, I want to find out what happens. But on the other hand, I don't want your story to end, because I'm enjoying it so much. Maybe you could just keep going (visions of Lariope writing Chapter 3,478 about Hermione's great grandchildren at Hogwarts ... as she enjoys her new room at the nursing home). I loved Ron's speech! Thanks for giving him that chance. And Snape's erm, comments, to Dumbledore were terrific! We've all been waiting for that. I liked how you wrote it, very Snape like: concise, articulate and powerful. I've always loved the way Snape uses words. I also liked your explanation of how Severus learned to fly; your description of him flying made me feel it.I needed a break yesterday and started re-reading from the beginning. Seems to me your writing has gotten better over time. Hard to say that without sounding like it *needed* improvement; it didn't. But the chapters seemed to get progressively ... I don't have quite the word ... profound? ... not exactly. It's as if you got comfortable in the story and your descriptions of people, events, thoughts and places enlarged (not lengthwise, meaningwise) giving greater depth and nuance to the plot.Well, so much for trying to articulate that thought -- not sure it's coming across. RedRoo
Response from Lariope (Author of Second Life)
Dear RedRoo,I know just what you mean. The longer I write this, the more my style changes and develops. There is so much I love in the early chapters, but when I go back to reread them, I'm always like... wait, did I write that? That doesn't sound like Second Life...It's weird, because I go through periods of love and hate with all the chapters. It's like they can't be inducted into the whole until I've adored them and hated their guts for a while. I'm glad you liked this one. To be honest, this chapter in DH was my absolute favorite, so it was hard to think about it from someone else's point of view, and to try to capture what I felt was the beautiful bravery of all those people I had known and loved for so long... pouring into the RoR... making me cry. In the end, it was a hard chapter to write because of how many things I loved that could not be shown, and because you can't make that kind of magic twice, I think. Thank you for reviewing. Sorry I rambled on!! :)LoveLariope
Response from RedRoo45 (Reviewer)
"That doesn't sound like Second Life..." that was EXACTLY my reaction on reading the first five or so chapters yesterday! Again, it's not that they weren't good; quite the contrary. They just didn't have the cadence of the more recent chapters. Honestly, I think part of it may be that I forgot that you started with them getting married suddenly and then consumating the marriage (one of the reasons I went back was that I couldn't remember their marriage scene and you had alluded to it recently). The "forced marriage" plot has been used a lot and I had forgotten that this marvelous, creative story had started where so many other stories had started ... and then took off! (not criticizing your choice of where to start)
Response from Lariope (Author of Second Life)
Dear RedRoo,I know just what you mean. The longer I write this, the more my style changes and develops. There is so much I love in the early chapters, but when I go back to reread them, I'm always like... wait, did I write that? That doesn't sound like Second Life...It's weird, because I go through periods of love and hate with all the chapters. It's like they can't be inducted into the whole until I've adored them and hated their guts for a while. I'm glad you liked this one. To be honest, this chapter in DH was my absolute favorite, so it was hard to think about it from someone else's point of view, and to try to capture what I felt was the beautiful bravery of all those people I had known and loved for so long... pouring into the RoR... making me cry. In the end, it was a hard chapter to write because of how many things I loved that could not be shown, and because you can't make that kind of magic twice, I think. Thank you for reviewing. Sorry I rambled on!! :)LoveLariope
Response from RedRoo45 (Reviewer)
"That doesn't sound like Second Life..." that was EXACTLY my reaction on reading the first five or so chapters yesterday! Again, it's not that they weren't good; quite the contrary. They just didn't have the cadence of the more recent chapters. Honestly, I think part of it may be that I forgot that you started with them getting married suddenly and then consumating the marriage (one of the reasons I went back was that I couldn't remember their marriage scene and you had alluded to it recently). The "forced marriage" plot has been used a lot and I had forgotten that this marvelous, creative story had started where so many other stories had started ... and then took off! (not criticizing your choice of where to start)
This chapter was so fast paced and exciting, and as always tied into canon perfectly. The battle looms and the outcome yet to be decided. We are all waiting with bated breath! :)
Response from Lariope (Author of Second Life)
Thank you,
Response from Lariope (Author of Second Life)
! I'm glad you liked it. I'm very much looking forward to the next one as well... it's funny how some chapters seem to push everything forward at a relentless speed.... :)But we're very close now... Thank you for reviewing! xoxo
Response from Lariope (Author of Second Life)
Thank you,
Response from Lariope (Author of Second Life)
! I'm glad you liked it. I'm very much looking forward to the next one as well... it's funny how some chapters seem to push everything forward at a relentless speed.... :)But we're very close now... Thank you for reviewing! xoxo
adrenaline is still coursing through me...can you just...I don't know...speed things up??this chapter is as marvelous as the others, but I long to see 'the end' written on your last chapter...don't make me wait too much, will you???good work^__^
Response from Lariope (Author of Second Life)
Alexis... :) I wish I could speed things up for you. There's quite a bit to cover! But just so you know, there are two more until the end of DH, and then five more until SL is finished. So hang on until then! :) I both long for and dread the end. Thanks for reviewing!
Response from alexis (Reviewer)
OMG!!!!!PANT PANT...ANF (don't worry:I'M JUST HAVING A PANIC ATTACK!!!!) GASP!!!!!there are only 7 chapters left?!that's ...great!!!I don't know how I'll cope when this fic will be finished...you'll just have to come up with something new, after the proper mourning period, that is. I've writed my own share of fics, and believe me, it's never easy to let go of a story...but it gets better (moreover so if the story is as beautiful as this one :P)so...write again and write soon: I'll follow you^_^
Response from Lariope (Author of Second Life)
Alexis... :) I wish I could speed things up for you. There's quite a bit to cover! But just so you know, there are two more until the end of DH, and then five more until SL is finished. So hang on until then! :) I both long for and dread the end. Thanks for reviewing!
Response from alexis (Reviewer)
OMG!!!!!PANT PANT...ANF (don't worry:I'M JUST HAVING A PANIC ATTACK!!!!) GASP!!!!!there are only 7 chapters left?!that's ...great!!!I don't know how I'll cope when this fic will be finished...you'll just have to come up with something new, after the proper mourning period, that is. I've writed my own share of fics, and believe me, it's never easy to let go of a story...but it gets better (moreover so if the story is as beautiful as this one :P)so...write again and write soon: I'll follow you^_^
The flying was sinister and sublime. Snape kicking Dumbledore out of the office was stellar.
There's too much to itemize but--
And thank you for making Ron step up to the plate. Of course, I love Ron so love when he has his moments of heroism.
The clock is ticking....
Response from Lariope (Author of Second Life)
Thank you, Mia. I'm so glad you liked it--and I've been waiting for almost 20 chapters to let Snape kick DD out of the office--so I'm very happy that you liked that, too.Yes, the clock ticks. I don't know whether to laugh/cry/scream... but I know you know what I mean. Thank you for reviewing. Much love. oxoxox
Response from Lariope (Author of Second Life)
Thank you, Mia. I'm so glad you liked it--and I've been waiting for almost 20 chapters to let Snape kick DD out of the office--so I'm very happy that you liked that, too.Yes, the clock ticks. I don't know whether to laugh/cry/scream... but I know you know what I mean. Thank you for reviewing. Much love. oxoxox
Perfect. There are no words except...that this chapter has given me hope:) All is not lost, there might be a faint glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel. I just need to believe the light is NOT the headlights of an oncoming train:)You're doing marvelous work, and I salute you:){{hugs}} and thank you,Fizzabella
Response from Lariope (Author of Second Life)
Wonderful! I'm so happy to hear that this felt hopeful! More as fast as I can manage it. I can hardly believe that I'm writing the Shrieking Shack now. Thank you for reviewing, my dear, Fizzabella. xoxox
Response from Lariope (Author of Second Life)
Wonderful! I'm so happy to hear that this felt hopeful! More as fast as I can manage it. I can hardly believe that I'm writing the Shrieking Shack now. Thank you for reviewing, my dear, Fizzabella. xoxox
Once again you have managed to weave your story seamlessly with the canon version -- except yours makes a lot more sense!I can almost feel the agony that both Hermione and Severus went through -- Hermione's was physical, and Severus's was mental and emotional as he watched.Wonderfully done!
Response from Lariope (Author of Second Life)
Thank you,
Response from Lariope (Author of Second Life)
! I'm glad you liked Malfoy Manor. You're almost all caught up!And yes, I do think it would be nearly as bad as the physical torture for poor Snape. Thank you for reviewing!
Response from Lariope (Author of Second Life)
Thank you,
Response from Lariope (Author of Second Life)
! I'm glad you liked Malfoy Manor. You're almost all caught up!And yes, I do think it would be nearly as bad as the physical torture for poor Snape. Thank you for reviewing!
This was a very powerful chapter. You captured perfectly Snape's descent into near-madness -- and really, who could blame him for feeling the need to escape? Hermione's method of bringing him 'back' seemed perfectly natural. He needed that connection -- to know that SOMEONE cared.Beauriful, just beautiful.
Response from Lariope (Author of Second Life)
I often think about when this moment might have occurred in canon--when Snape realized that Dumbledore had essentially slated him to die, and sadly, I think it happened in the Shrieking Shack, which breaks my heart--that he might have been feeling these things as he died. I'm very glad (isn't that silly! I wrote the story) that Hermione was there and that she followed her instincts. Thank you so much for reviewing!
Response from Lariope (Author of Second Life)
I often think about when this moment might have occurred in canon--when Snape realized that Dumbledore had essentially slated him to die, and sadly, I think it happened in the Shrieking Shack, which breaks my heart--that he might have been feeling these things as he died. I'm very glad (isn't that silly! I wrote the story) that Hermione was there and that she followed her instincts. Thank you so much for reviewing!
Snape's interactions with both Luna and Ollivander were wonderfully done.I ached for Severus when he realised that Dumbledore has basically consigned him to death. He now knows that nothing -- NOTHING -- he has done has redeemed him in Dumbledore's eyes. The last line gave me chills.
Response from Lariope (Author of Second Life)
I'm glad you liked Luna and Ollivander. They were some of my favorite minor characters to work with. I love to write Luna, even though it's frustrating. Do you think Dumbledore even thought about it in those terms? I don't think he considered Snape's life, either in the corporeal sense, or his emotional life or needs as he made his plans...Thank you for reviewing!
Response from StormySkize (Reviewer)
You're right, of course, about Dumbledore not even thinking about anything other than his own plans. Snape's life, his emotions, his mental health -- none of that meant anything. To me, this makes Snape's loss even more poignant and frustrating. He can't even console himself with the thought that his death would serve a purpose -- a real purpose beyond Dumbledore's machinations.
Response from Lariope (Author of Second Life)
I'm glad you liked Luna and Ollivander. They were some of my favorite minor characters to work with. I love to write Luna, even though it's frustrating. Do you think Dumbledore even thought about it in those terms? I don't think he considered Snape's life, either in the corporeal sense, or his emotional life or needs as he made his plans...Thank you for reviewing!
Response from StormySkize (Reviewer)
You're right, of course, about Dumbledore not even thinking about anything other than his own plans. Snape's life, his emotions, his mental health -- none of that meant anything. To me, this makes Snape's loss even more poignant and frustrating. He can't even console himself with the thought that his death would serve a purpose -- a real purpose beyond Dumbledore's machinations.