Now, what is this new story I’m so thrilled about? Glad you asked! Think Brothers in Arms, but significantly better in quality, character development, and structure. It’s called The Courage to Live, and it’s a Harry Potter story that picks up right at the end of the seventh book. I change exactly one canon detail: Snape survives the war, and he’s, well, maybe not as thrilled about that as he ought to be. If you love BiA, I mean it when I say you will LOVE this story. It’s everything BiA is in a more polished, adult form — and it’s already got almost twice the content, which is honestly just incredible. I’ve done in six months on this story what took me six *years* on BiA — talk about a passion project!
While BiA is more of an idealized, simplified look at mental health and moving on from the past, TCtL is a grounded, realistic take that focuses on Snape’s journey through therapy and struggle to find himself, with an emphasis on friendship and personal growth. But, if you’re worried it might not have the characteristic humor and likeable cast of BiA, don’t be! TCtL is hilarious in its own right, and I make the most of the cast, especially the staff of Hogwarts.
Fundamentally, Snape isn’t so different a character from Shadow and even Eclipse, and I think, if you’ve liked them in BiA, you’re going to find a lot of similar things to love in him. Even if you’re not a Harry Potter person or if you disliked Snape in the books, I’ve shown this story to a lot of people in both categories, and I’ve gotten some really positive reactions, so I encourage you to check it out! Snape is his own man, certainly, and not always a pleasant one, but if we’re talking fascinating, heavily-traumatized characters, he just about sets the bar — and it’s set pretty high. I’ve absolutely loved working with him in this story, and I think you all are going to love reading it! Check out the first five chapters, and let me know what you think! ;)