Wow. A brilliant version of the pensive scene. Well written and could pass as cannon ;)

*holds up a judge's card* 10

Author's Response: :-D
Thanks!
Alison

This story line is unusual. I don't recall seeing anywhere else that Tobias might have been defending his son in the memory Harry saw when he was able to counter Snape. Interesting touch, having a "Lily Evans" living next door (now I'm not so sure she's THE Lily we know at school...) There's also the hint that Martha will do something to end Tobias's presence in Snape's life ("I'll see you in hell..."), either prison or death.

Nicely done. I've put this on my "recommend" list.

Author's Response: Ooh, thank you! I'm glad you liked the story.
Alison

Interesting twist. and certainly a plausible explanation to the pensive scene. Two things seem wrong. I would consider it unlikely that Eileen died as the result of a car accident. Too Mugglish, Remember Hagrid's reaction when Harry told him his parents died in a car crash. The other is the wand. You described Voldemort's wand I think.

Author's Response: Thanks for your comments. The reason I had Eileen die in a car accident was that I was trying to draw a parallel between Harry's experience and Severus's. Both were told that their mother had died in a car accident. Whether or not Eileen was I leave up to the reader's imagination. Also, I used Harry's wand as the model for Eileen's. Again, a parallel between the two wizards. The reason for this is that I have some ideas for a continuation of the story, and (time permitting!) may add-on to it at a later date, once my studies are completed.

Again, thanks for commenting!
Alison

This was such a good character exploration, it rendered me virtually speechless! A brilliant scenario, one that ties in with many of Snape's subsequent character traits, in particular the supposition that he knew more spells as a First Year than most Seventh Years.

It would also fit in with the canonic parallels between Harry, Snape and Voldemort - one raised by blood relatives, and subjected to neglect and abuse, one raised by a blood relative and a stranger, and subjected to some forms of neglect, and definite abuse, and one raised by complete strangers, and exposed to the lack of love/care characteristic of an orphanage of that time, as well as to neglect and possible bullying or abuse from the older, bigger kids. This would really reinforce that impression that Snape is the middle, the "gray area" between Harry's "white" good and Voldemort's "black" evil.

I liked the subtle introduction of the idea that Severus and Lily grew up in the same neighbourhood and consequently were childhood acquaintances, if not friends. Personally, I'm of the mind that any friendship that existed between Sev and Lily blossomed after the O.W.L.'s and the SWM incident, but I'm certainly not ready to discard the possibility of them growing up 'together'... < p>This was a delightful piece of writing - powerful, and brilliant in its exploration of an alternative facet of a young Snape's family life. This offers an environment where years of neglect and domestic violence would have still molded Severus' personality in ways even his father's subsequent good treatment could not offset - for instance, his determination to be powerful. Coupled with a very believable track record of playground bullying (one that Tobias' second wife seemed to condone rather than condemn *insert derogatory appelation of female canine persuasion*) this would definitely result in an introverted, taciturn, extremely private young man with a determination to prove himself, to better himself, and to amass all the power to go with his talent.

~ Ada
*apparently not quite as speechess as I'd purported to be*

Author's Response: Ada,
Thanks for your thoughtful review! I really appreciate you taking the time to set out your thoughts re my story so succintly.

I got the idea to write this because I got bored with reading the same old "Snape's father was a monster/child/wife abuser/drunk" etc etc.

I started to think what the circumstances could be if he wasn't as black as he's painted, always remembering, of course, that ALL we fanfic writers know of him so far in canon is one small sliver of memory.

I'm glad you liked the story. I find Snape by far the most fascinating character in the whole HP line-up. I particularly liked your idea of Harry being "good", Voldemort "evil", while Snape is the "shade of grey", which was something I was striving for.

Thanks again for the longest reveiw any of my stories have received so far!

Alison