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[grumpytheunicorn]

The temptation to make a sideblog to post art I'm too scared to share here, is really strong right now

[danpuff-ao3]

SNARRY FOR BEGINNERS

Are you a bit Snarry curious, but also sorta wary and unsure where to start? Good news: I have some recs for you!

Snarry is a tricky ship for some folks. All of its most problematic themes are what draw me in personally, but that's not to say there aren't some safe places to start for a newcomer!

What I've chosen are:

Nothing too long, so you can get a little taste to see how you feel. So I'm looking at 50k or under.

Nothing "problematic" or as few "problematic" themes as I can get. No underage. No power imbalance. No consent issues. (...or at least nothing egregious haha.)

Works that also maintain some integrity to Harry and Severus' individual characters, and the tension between them. If I play it too safe it won't feel properly Snarry to me! Half the fun is the tension between them, so we must keep that!

So...If you wanna check some out, keep reading!

An Awkward Customer

by AnyaElizabeth. Rated: E. Words: 10,768. Postwar. EWE. Romance. Humor.

Snape can't figure out why Potter is hanging around his shop.

Why Read? A nice rom-com based on the prompt: "Harry makes a bet with someone that he could seduce anyone if he put his mind to it, and that someone selected for him is Snape, naturally." Severus owns an apothecary so we get some nice flirting at the workplace!

a scratch for every itch

by bleedcolor (@bleedcolor.) Rated: T. Words: 11,478. Fluff & humor. Magical maladies. Friends to idiots in love. Romance.

Severus Snape is an itch that Harry just can't scratch.

Why Read? Surely fluff is a safe place to start! And as a person who isn't often drawn to fluff, this is one I love, and is a comfort read of mine. Very sweet and silly and a great place to dip your toes in!

Dumbledore's Folly

by Dementordelta. Rated: M. Words: 47,446. Romance. Courtship. Oldie but a goodie!

Snape must court Harry according to wizarding traditions.

Why Read? I've reread this fic countless times over the years and it's still such a fun read. If you like arranged marriage/courtship fics, this is the one for you!

The Interrupted Kiss

by emynn. Rated: E. Words: 24,291. Postwar. Romance. Hurt/comfort. Mystery.

Once upon a time, Severus Snape shared a kiss with Harry Potter. Then Harry had disappeared after killing the Dark Lord, leaving Severus the reluctant darling of the Wizarding world. When Dumbledore insists on throwing a ball in Severus’s honour, Severus is convinced the world has gone completely mad. But when he comes across an ashy-faced young man whose half-answers about his identity haunt his every thought, Severus realizes that a ball might be the least of his worries.

Why Read? What safer place to start than a fairytale? If we ignore that most original fairytales are pretty effed up, actually. This is a Cinderella-inspired work. Severus is the Prince (naturally), and Harry is the wandmaker (cool career, right??) who attracts many cute animals! (He does not sing to them, though; what a shame!)

This Time of Ours

by emynn. Rated: E. Words: 35,442. Time travel. Hurt/comfort. Romance & drama.

Severus Snape wasn’t supposed to die. Neither was Harry Potter.

Why Read? Emynn has plenty of great Snarry fics, which is why you're getting 2 recs! We start with some fun snarking, move onto sweet bonding, and then...second chances! Very light, enjoyable read.

On the Deficencies of Translation Spells

by LilaDiurne (@liladiurne.) Rated: E. Words: 41,130. Getting together. Magical theory. Professor Potter & Professor Snape. Beaubatons. Pining. Light angst. Minor Harry/others.

Divorced, single, and free, Harry lives a completely unapologetic life in Paris. Between casual hook-ups and an easy, comfortable job, he likes to think he is as close to happiness as he'll ever be. And when he gets offered a teaching job at the prestigious Académie Beauxbâtons, he thinks he may have found exactly what was missing. But Harry is thoroughly unprepared for what he finds there - a familiar face that's been haunting his dreams for six years.

Why read? It's very Harry-centric. It's Harry's POV, and very about Harry and his journey as he moves to a new place, in a new phase of his life, and settles in. There's an existing connection and attraction between Harry and Severus, and one that unfolds so sensually and beautifully. Harry's very much an adult and mature and has lived a lot of life when he and Severus reunite.

Rapture

by mia_ugly (@mia-ugly.) Rated: E. Words: 48,123. Time travel. Romance.

Snape sees the man, for the first time, on his twenty-fifth birthday.

Why Read? It's a classic! It is very beloved in the community for good reason. Gorgeous writing. The relationship develops so naturally, and the pure emotion will knock your socks off. Potentially the best place to start for Snarry. I'm not a big fan of time travel, but I love this fic!

Revealed, Gently

by sarkysue. Rated: T. Words: 22,243. Postwar. Romance. Humor.

Snape isn’t dead, he’s back at Hogwarts and in need of an assistant. Coincidently, Harry is hanging around Hogwarts, reluctant to move on with his life. Cue sniping and snarking, tears and laughter and, possibly, love.

Why Read? It's fun. It's cute. It's a bit silly. It makes great use of how not easy it would be for these two, and having a blast with it! There is arguably a power imbalance what with Harry being Snape's teaching assistant, but it doesn't really feel like much of one. It's only a great opportunity to force these 2 to hang out long enough to fall in love!

The Sleeping Prince

by who_la_hoop. Rated: T. Words: 42,758. Postwar. Deaging. 8th year.

It's hard to ignore your past — and impossible to do so when you can't remember your future. But a meddlesome portrait, a dragon with an ancient grudge and true love's kiss teach an unlikely Prince that a regrettable past doesn't have to mean an unhappy ending.

Why Read? While probably the most questionable on the list, it's still fairly tame. Student Harry and his developing feelings for Student Severus, who is deaged postwar. It feels very much like a feel good teenage romance, wherein the characters very much act their age, awkwardness and all! The only caveat being things change a bit at the end, but there's no underage and it is rated Teen, to be fair!

The Beating of This Fragile Heart

by Writcraft (@writcraft.) Rated: E. Words: 33,146. Hurt/comfort. Fluff & angst. Serious Injury. Romance.

After the war, the last thing Severus Snape needs is the memory of a fleeting wartime kiss and a very persistent Harry Potter thwarting his plans to live a peaceful and solitary life. It’s only when Harry’s life is endangered that Severus is finally forced to confront his feelings head on.

Why Read? If you're coming from Drarry, you might be familiar with Writ's works! They've written plenty for drarry and some rare pair works, and they are a fantastic storyteller. This fic in particular is very romantic. Full of hesitancy and insecurity, and seeing how the relationship begins and how it unfolds and changes (for the better) when Severus is forced to deal with his issues. It's quite a journey but so full of love from start to finish and it's just so lovely and full of feels and one I return to again and again.

[blacksgarden]

Just wanted to check up on ya, how are you feeling? Did you have a great week? Just tell me about your week.

Bc that would be lovely to know that someone may have had a better week, bc I'm really feeling shit firstly bc of my period and secondly bc me and bsf share an account on capcut (Which I really love) but she posted a video and someone asked something in the comments about her wanting to tell her fake friend about her depression and them my bsf, answer her "no don't tell her their fack and you know it, I have tried it with my friend and now everyone know." I'm so afraid it is me she is talking about bc she tells me everything and I told like two ppl I trust and now I wonder if one of them told everyone about it, I'm just so afraid she will take her own life, and I can't live without her. (Not me crying while writing this) 

Anyways hope your doing well.

Hey lovely, I'm doing quite well, thanks for asking! I haven't been as online as I used to be, so my replies might be really late 😭

My week has been great! I've started to focus on improving myself and becoming the best version of me. So I've been exercising, reading, revising, writing, drawing-- basically rediscovering myself and finding out what things I like and dislike once more. I was in a dark place before, and fortunately, now I'm not.

It's actually really fun, to go through this process, in my opinion. It's like waiting for the butterfly to come out of its cocoon, and I really can't wait to see how my transformation looks, you know?

I'm sorry to hear you had a bad week, darling. But I'm also happy you felt comfortable enough to share it with me! It's always good to share these things, penting things up only hurts you further.

I feel you on those period cramps, they honestly are the worst. I used to have really painful cramps! It was so bad, the only thing that pacified it slightly was curling into a ball on my bed 🥲 Painkillers did nothing to help me, but I found hot packs helpful. Maybe you could try that and see if it works for you too!

Also, sharing a capcut account sounds really cool! Sharing anything personal with a best friend is always an amazing thing to do. It's like weaving a little piece of both of your hearts together into an adorable scarf 😆 In which the scarf is a part of the shared bond you have together.

Oh honey, cry your heart out if you need. It's okay. Any relationship whether it's platonic or romantic can be difficult at times. But one key thing to make it work is communication. Just talk to your best friend. Ask her what she meant and who she was talking about. Jumping to assumptions isn't going to solve anything, if not make things much worse.

I get the fear of not wanting to push a friend in fear of them taking an extreme measure in response. I have a friend that was like that. It's best to just ask, listen and talk it out. Try not to interrupt her until you both properly understand the situation the other is facing. Let her speak her mind and when she's done, you tell her what went through your mind and how you felt. For all you know, it's probably someone else she's talking about 🤷‍♀️

People like her just want someone to listen to them, you know? Trust me, cutting them off sometimes can be sooooo.... I don't have the words to even describe it 💀 I don't mean that in a bad way. It's just best not to upset them further than they already are.

I hope this week was slightly better for you, luv. And I hope that things between you and your best friend gets better. Don't hesitate to reach out again, I enjoy your messages 😁

[mageofseven]

Hello! I've been a little curious for a while so I wanted to see if you would be willing to take up an ask of mine. I was wondering which of the brothers would most likely know sign language, and if you're comfortable, how the brothers would react to a mute mc. If you don't feel like answering my request that's fine. Have an awesome winter and stay toasty!

Oooh! This is an interesting one! Thank you for the ask~

Also though, winter? It's only September, almost October. Its fall where I live 🍁

Spoiler warning: Year 1 spoilers

~

Most Likely:

Satan- probably learned multiple forms of it as a hobby (ASL, BSL, and LSF)

Lucifer- likely learned it as a result of the exchange program so he could understand the student

Belphie- learned it just so he and Satan could quietly insult Lucifer without him knowing

~

Lucifer:

Read it off their application originally so he wasn't surprised at all when he met them.

Learned their form of sign language in preparation for their arrival.

Wouldn't really say he's fluent, but has learned enough to communicate with MC so he can assist them with whatever they need.

It helps that MC is mute and not deaf; he and his brothers can simply talk to them as they do with anyone else and they can understand the demons; he merely needs to read their hands in order to get their responses.

Overall, doesn't really mind MC being mute, but does worry about how his brothers' interactions with them will go

Mammon:

Wait, so how's he supposed to look out for someone who can't even talk to him?

Is slightly uncomfortable in the beginning because of the silence between the two

But eventually likes how he finally has a person around him who isn't constantly calling him names or talking back to him.

Poor MC has to hear him gloat about himself a lot.

Swears up and down that he would never learn sign language for them; they just need to do what The Great Mammon says and not die, got that?

Actually gets pretty attached to them quickly. After being turned down by Satan to borrow some of his books on the topic, the demon simply searches online for resources to help him.

Very slow learner. Manages to get better at it when he finally admits to MC that he's trying to learn and they let him practice with them.

Some of his hand signs are slightly off when he does them, but since he just needs to be able to read them when MC uses them, it's fine.

Won't admit it, but he is very happy that he can have full conversations with his favorite human.

Leviathan:

Doesn't feel like it affects him. I mean, why would he wanna talk to some normie human anyway?

After the TSL trivia contest between the two of them, he feels like he's kinda obligated to because of the pact between.

Just kinda learns the basics so he can understand them somewhat at first.

As the two get closer though and he dubs them his Henry, this boy gets so into it. He really makes it a priority so that nothing can limit his talks with his Human.

Is super proud of himself and even has full conversations in sign language with them, despite the fact that he doesn't actually need to sign back to them.

Overall, doesn't really care that they are mute, but loves that conversations with his Henry feel so secret and special.

Satan:

Already knew the language long before MC moved into House of Lamentation.

Is extremely fluent in the language.

Honestly, he would have been their guardian throughout their stay in Devildom because of this if Lucifer actually trusted him.

He practically is once the two get close though.

Will translate whatever they say to teachers during the classes that they share.

Has most definitely scared off other demons who tried to joke about or insult them for not being able to speak traditionally. Their classmates learn quickly that Satan won't tolerate that shit.

Becomes the first person they go to if they need something, even before Lucifer.

Overall, likes having someone he can use the language with.

Asmodeus:

Really doesn't care at first.

I mean, that doesn't stop him from flirting with them, right?

But then he remembers: he can't hear them say anything back to him. No confirmations of whether they're actually comfortable with his words or advances. No way to hear them give him compliments or flirt back.

Big pouter at this fact.

Won't actually make any attempt to change it at first though.

Will just make his brothers translate what they say for him.

It's not until the retreat at the castle when they draw great power out of him so he can charm the snake that he's actually starts thinking that this human is interesting and he just needs them in his life more.

Will now learn sign language because he needs to be able to understand his bestie

And they are best friends. Of course, unless they wanna be more 😘

Overall, finds it very inconvenient, but gets over it and starts seeing it as nothing more than part of their charm.

Beelzebub:

Honestly, expect no conversation to take place between the two for a long time.

Beely is a quiet boy so having MC who has no choice but to be silent just kinda brings them to a stalemate.

When he discovers that they are trying to help Belphie and Lucifer make up however, he realizes that he needs to be able to talk to them properly.

Really, really tries to learn. Has never been one to easily grasp any foreign language though, let alone one that solely involves hand movements.

With MC's help though, manages to learn a lot more than he thought he would.

Can understand most things they say/sign now, but sometimes needs one of his brothers to fill in the gaps for him.

Overall, really wishes MC wasn't mute because it feels like a barrier keeping him from getting closer to them, but tries his best on his end so they can be friends.

Belphegor:

Knows sign language, but has never used it with anyone but Satan and that was just for a handful of times.

Was surprised that it actually came in handy when they first visited him in the attic.

He was honestly very annoyed at this, but tried to pretend otherwise. I mean, how was he actually gonna get help from them if they couldn't even speak?

Honestly surprised to hear that one by one, each of his brothers was learning the language for this human.

It bothered him that they had gotten that close with his brothers, but wasn't complaining; I mean, it definitely made things easier.

After the Incident™️, he feels guilty as hell and becomes very protective of them.

He sees them being mute as something someone might use to take advantage of them.

Becomes their sleepy little guard dog.

Overall, he found MC being mute as annoying at first, but later it becomes a source of worry for him.

Like, what if they get attacked and can't call for help?

He can't help but wonder if they had their voice, could they have somehow broke free and screamed for help the night of the Incident™️ and prevented things from happening the way they did.

Just doesn't want anything bad to happen to them and feels like he has to make up for their mute-ness.