FanficTalk Archive
Unleash Your Fandom
I think you did an amazing job setting up an ambiguous character in Quella. Even at the end, I don't know where her loyalties really were. I do think that when she was debating with herself at the end, she was freaked out enough that she was letting her true colors slip. Whether or not she decided in favor of Voldemort because he was stronger (she thought) or because she agreed with his side doesn't matter. She'd chosen that side, and she *thought* that was the side Sev had chosen too. How quick she was to want to get rid of him when she realized he was on the light side made me wonder if she really ever cared for him. She might have. She might just care about herself and her own survival more.
And that's evidenced in her last act. My guess is that she realized that there was no way she could really talk Sev into trusting her at all now. And Sev can be pretty ruthless. She's all about survival, and she though it was a kill or be killed moment (which it probably was).
Excellent irony in having Avery be the one to kill her--and thereby save Severus's life.
This is a dark tale, and you did a great job with it!
Yours,
Noelle
Author's Response:Thank you! The ambiguoity is exactly what I was aiming for.
Remus was in for a rude awakening with Janus. If Quella was only trying to figure out Snape's loyalties, and now she knows--or thinks she knows--I guess there's no more spy for the Order.
I enjoyed how you wrote the break out from Azkaban with Voldemort walking right up and just busting down the doors.
Author's Response:Thank you for the review.
Severus is angry with everyone now. With Quella for being sloppy, and leading to her almost getting killed, and with Tonks for setting her up for that. It was pretty sloppy.
I wonder if he's upset he had to hurt Quella under the anger.
Author's Response:Thank for you for the review.
I love your details about how the illusions work. They're well thought out. It makes sense to me that smell would be hard to recreate, because specific smells trigger such strong reactions in people. It also makes sense to me that it would be easier to create an illusion for a whole room than for a single person. Severus, of course, would want to figure out how all this works.
Ugh. Quella messed up big time. And now Sev has to torture her. So sad.
Author's Response:Thank you for the review.
I've often wondered if Albus let the Potters be killed because he was hoping that fulfilling the prophesy would destroy Voldemort.
It's about time Quella and Severus got into bed together! They've been dancing around it so long. I doubt this will make their realtionship any less complicated though.
Author's Response:Thank you for the review.
I love how Severus and Quella keep dancing around each other's loyalty. They keep accusing each other of being loyal to this or that master, but they never come right out and admit where they stand.
I do believe that Albus would have done something like allow such a raid to happen in order to ensure Quella's good standing with Voldemort. Poor Severus though, to have to learn that here.
Author's Response:I'm not always a Dumbledore fan--of course, his canon character makes him an easy one to look at from both sides.
Severus and Quella's realtionship is so interesting. They're sort of honest with each other in a way they aren't honest with anyone else, but they're also holding each other at arms length, because they don't know who they can trust. But Severus should be careful. It's entirely likely she's playing him the same way she plays everyone, only she flirts with him in a different way.
The fiendfyre was really well done.
Author's Response:Thank you for the review.
Severus is taking a huge risk talking so openly with Quella about his true feelings. I wonder if she's actually feeling him out, trying to figure out what side he's really on. I don't really believe she took the mark to be with him romantically. I think she may have done it to get close to him to figure out what side he's on.
But she's also a relativeist, if she's being honest in this chapter. So maybe she's also playing both sides while she makes up her mind which side to be on. Or maybe she's just hanging out in the middle so that whichever side ends up on top, she's on in the end. She's a fun character.
Author's Response:Thank you for the review.
This was a singular duel fought by a singular woman. I really enjoyed how she used the illusions to keep everyone off guard. But it must have made everyone there have second thoughts about getting close to her. She's shown them a glimpse of how powerful she is.
But why did she join Voldemort? Did she really do it for Severus? Does she really care that much about a man that she really hardly knows?
Author's Response:Severus is asking the same questions you are, which is why you don't know the answers.
Great chapter! I loved the sexy build up in the bar, and the intesity of Quella losing control...and then she's honest with him. Her powers are so wild it must have been horrible to try to control them as a child, alone. I understand why she has to keep her distance from Severus now. I wonder how long it will last though, they're so attracted to each other.
The memory she lets him relive was really sweet. I like how you played that.
Author's Response:Thank you!
I loved the sceen where Quella was describing and showing her powers to Severus. I could tell you had a lot of fun with the different illusions and you used them t good dramatic effect.
She's pretty much right about how similar Voldemort and Albus are. I don't know that I agree with her conclusions, but she's right about their similarites.
I feel like Sev is a little out of his depth with her. She keeps turning his world upside down and he has no idea what to do about it.
Author's Response:I was trying to make Severus feel unbalanced--right to the very end.
Dang....Quella is Janus? Well, she obviously has some seriously amazing abilities that make her a perfect spy. I loved how you showed her ability to change roles mid sentance from one character to another, and make each character seem real. And Severus is watching her do it, and validly wondering who she really is. And can he really trust her? I liked how careful he was about playing his Death Eater role all the way up to Dumbledore's office.
I don't know what to think of Quella yet, but I'm enjoying the ride :D
Author's Response:Thank you for the review.
I loved all your details about the Department of Mysteries! The protections were so creative, from the floor, to the lightening, to the fact that if someone actually penetrated into the farthest room, they'd be kept alive for questioning. I wonder if anyone has made it that far before. I also love the idea that stealing this map probably helped Lucius and the others get in there at the end of OotP.
What is Quella doing there though? I was surprised when they got the door open and she was waiting for them. Maybe I shouldn't have been though, she has many talents.
Author's Response:Thank you for the review.
I totally agree that Severus made the antidote to Nagini's poison that saved Arthur. This is an intriguing take on how he *got* a sample of the venum in the first place.
Albus is taking a lot of risks accepting help from a so called spy he doesn't know. Sev must love that.
Malfoy Manor is the *perfect* location for a New Year's Eve bash! I loved that you played with Sev dancing--and he had quite the time with Quella.
What's a girl like that see in Avery I wonder??
Author's Response:Avery is simply a means to an end.
Thank you for the review.
You've set a much darker tone than the one in Even the best Laid Plans in this story right off the bat. In addition to guilt, you show us that Severus continues his double life because he enjoys the singularity of being the only spy in the Dark Lord's circle. Except, he's realized that he isn't the only spy. And Albus is being all closed mouthed about it, which must make Severus feel terrible. So here he is in a seedy bar when he should be getting some sleep. Is he drowning his sorrows? Is he trying to sus out the other spy? Maybe both?
Quella catches his and our interest right away too. She's playing the role of the beautiful temptress, but she's obviously got some tricks up her sleeve that Severus hasn't seen before.
I agree--we'll be seeing more of her soon!
Author's Response:Thank you for the review!
Hi there!
I read Even the Best Laid Plans in the queue and really enjoyed it so I was doubly happy to see another Snape/OC story. I really enjoy the way you write the characterization of Snape. I feel like the weariness you describe here is very much in line with the Snape in the books. He's just so done with all of it, but he still marches on. I also like his slight narcissism of being unique and not wanting to waste that special power. That definitely feels like it evolved realistically from the books. I really like how he seems threatened by the idea of another spy in that it takes away his importance. I can't imagine that feeling of constantly scanning your enemies looking for your ally, but not being able to trust them because WHO KNOWS if they're really your ally. I just love the web you write. Also Avery is the worst, I truly enjoyed the way our lovely lady deals with him. The card game was very fun to read as well! All around this was another excellent start and I can’t wait to see where the story goes!
Paula
Author's Response:Thanks Paula,
Quella is the complete opposite of Maerna from Even the Best Laid Plans. Whereas Maerna was kind, selfless and giving. . . .Well, there's a reason Quella's name rhymes with Bella (plus she make Bella's violent streak look like child's play.)
The point of this story is too mess with Snape's mind, so he can't tell who to trust and what is right anymore. . . at least that's the goal.
Okay, hey there. This review is for our swap :)
So this is first fic I've read from Snapes POV. And I want to start out by saying that I think you did well capturing his voice. I think you nailed how he interacts with the other Death Eaters and how he walks into a room, as well as how he thought/talked about Sirius and the rest of the Order.
Quella is ... an interesting character. I don't like her lewdness and her promiscuity, so I'm hoping that is an act. (Assuming that she's the spy?). I'm rather curious as to how she cheated with anti-cheating cards. Unless Macnair was actually too drunk to do the spell properly? But then the trick turning the sickle into a galleon... my initial guess is that it's an illusion? And if she is the spy, it sort of fits, because spies give the illusion that they're trusted.
Now, does Quella know that Snape is a spy? That's another question I have. I don't recognize her name, so I'm assuming she's an OC? But Snape didn't recognize her or her name, meaning she in that name and body are not in the Order. I did consider that it's Tonks, but ... I don't think Tonks would be a skilled at occulumency. So, not Tonks. It could be a canon character that's disguised, but something tells me it's your original character.
Then that begs the question, is she apart of the Order officially or off the books? Like, does she just report to Dumbledore and not the whole Order? Furthermore, why did Dumbledore need another spy? If I were Snape, I'd be feeling several different emotions: does Dumbledore not trust me enough to report? Is my information not accurate enough? Does Dumbledore think I'm actually on Voldemort's side?
Overall, a interesting and promising beginning. I'm looking forward to reading more!
- javu
Author's Response:Yes, she is the original character and an illusionist. The card trick was also an illusion but she wasn't manipulating the card itself, but rather the people's eyes with what they were seeing; therefore, she completely bypassed the anti-cheating charms cast on the cards.
Sorry, to disappoint you, but Quella is not a nice character. She could rival Bellatrix and I mean with a capital B. (Probably part of the reason, they don't get along in the story.) She often uses sensuality and sex to get what she wants. Plus, she thrives a bit on violence. (Hence the warning during the summary.) As far as the rest of your questions about her, you'll just have to read to find out.
If you want a nicer woman for Snape, I suggest trying my other Snape/OC-Even the Best Laid Plans. Maerna is much kinder, more genteel, but she still has spirit to keep Snape in line. Plus that story is already finished.
Thanks for doing the review swap.
Any access or use of the FanficTalk Archive is conditioned upon compliance with our Site Guidelines and Terms of Service and the Copyright Policy and Privacy Policy contained therein. Should you have any questions about them, you are very welcome to contact any of our archive validators. For advanced searching, please click here.
Any characters, source code, text, or titles contained herein which are recognizable as copyrighted material are the sole property of their owners.