Slowly, But Exceeding Fine

Fanfiction
Title:	Slowly, But Exceeding Fine
Author(s):	Ellen Fremedon
Date(s):	June 2002
Length:	165 KB
Genre(s):	slash fanfiction
Fandom(s):	Harry Potter
Relationship(s):
External Links:	Slowly, But Exceeding Fine (AO3) Slowly, But Exceeding Fine (Ellen Fremedon's Fanfic) Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 (Severus Snape Fuh-Q Fest Archive)
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Slowly, But Exceeding Fine is a Snape/Black slash story by Ellen Fremedon. It was written for the first wave of the Severus Snape Fuh-Q-Fest, scenario 140: Snape has a personal health problem he wants to keep quiet.

Summary: How to kill a dementor, live with a curse, and let go of an old grudge.

Beth H. created a remix of the story for We Invented the Remix in 2004: Briefly, But Exceedingly Drunk (The Any Port in a Storm Remix).

Recs and Reviews

Snape/Black is a difficult pairing to write well. This story shows that that is an achievable aim. Slowly But Exceeding Fine is, in a lot of ways, the Snape/Black story and invariably gets mentioned whenever someone asks for recommendations featuring this pairing. The characterisations are excellent and the story is long, as befits a story which properly explores a relationship between such an unlikely pair. However, Slowly But Exceeding Fine is much more than simply the story of a relationship. It's also the story of the final battle against Voldemort. Action, sex, angst and even cups of tea - this story has them all. It's also one of the most ambitious and very best of the 317 stories written for the first two waves of the Fest. Slowly But Exceeding Fine can be found at the Severus Snape Fuh-q Fest Archive

This is another pre-OotP classic, appearing on just about every SS/SB recs list I've seen... and with good reason. You don't see writing of this calibre every day. So many beautiful turns of phrase in one fic, imaginative plot ideas (I particularly liked how the author integrated Norse mythology into the HP universe), subtle characterizations... Ms. Fremedon really spoils us readers.

Then you've got the main characters. Her Snape, prickly Snape with all his angles and hard bones, clever, angry, dedicated, a bit on the nasty side at times and oh, just perfect. The story is told in 1st person, from Sirius' POV. Her construction of his character is a thing of beauty. You feel like you're listening in on the thoughts of a real person. I can't remember a single 1st person POV fic that worked this well for me.

Then there's the progression of their relationship...

I couldn't deny it had always been part of our rivalry. The attraction. The need to get under the other's skin, make him lose control.

Yes, a thousand times yes. They don't even like each other, but every time they're together, the air between them crackles. They get in each other's face, rather like those famous scenes in OotP, except that this Sirius gets to live. And I don't just mean he doesn't die in the end, I mean, he gets to live, do things, contribute to the war effort, unlike poor Sirius of OotP, all but imprisoned again in 12 Grimmauld Place.

...we expanded our repertoire-- arguing, bickering, bantering, disputing, quarrelling, even some genuine fights.

Slowly, but in an exceedingly fine way, that repertoire also exapands to include conversation, understanding, a strange sort of camaraderie and this not-quite-tenderness that will melt your insides just as surely as their physical encounters will melt your brain.

They say that war makes for strange bedfellows. That old saying is true when, with the fight with Voldemort rapidly upon them, Sirius Black and Severus Snape use each other to relieve some stress and tension. But as time wears on, will they find that there is more to their relationship than either of them originally thought, especially when Snape find himself the victim of an addiction? I love the storyline in this one, especially Ellen's original battleplans. Kudos, also, for logical and wise use of supporting characters.