Quick HP fandom question - Severitus/ Sevitus

[hobgoblinn]

At first, I though it was just an alternate spelling, but now I'm not sure. As I understand it, "Severitus" is a HP fandom lingo for a story in which Snape is somehow Harry's father - biological or adoptive. Right? So what's "Sevitus"? Are they distinct words with different meanings (one biological, one adoption/ mentor fic)? Help me out here, HP fans. I really did try to google this, but I'm not getting anything particularly useful.

ETA: So, consenus is, "Severitus" was originally a particular challenge, not unlike the "Marriage Law" Challenge, and it's been somewhat appropriated to cover fics that share some of the same characteristics as those in the challenge. The name comes from the originator of the challenge. "Sevitus" denotes fics that deal more generally with Snape as father/father figure, but many authors use "Severitus" interchangeably with it.

Comments

[keladry_lupin]

As I understand it, Severitus is a specific challenge, like the MLC or the YLC. Specific rules and guidelines were laid out. Sevitus has Harry as Severus' biological/adoptive son, or just Severus as Harry's mentor; just so long as it's a father/son-type relationship, rather than Snarry, which is the name for their 'ship.

What's even more confusing is that I'm not sure if all the Harry-is-Severus'-son authors know the difference. I've never read the challenge, so I can't be sure, but as I understand it, my favorite fic in this genre follows the exact rules. The author calls it Severitus anyway.

[hobgoblinn.livejournal.com]

Thanks. Yeah, someone else actually dug up the original challenge link. Look back through the thread to see it. Kind of interesting.

Which fic in the genre is your favorite? I'd like to see it. Got a link handy?

And I get MLC (Marriage Law Challenge) but what's YLC?

[keladry_lupin]

It's actually four stories, all by Gillian Middleton:

Mine

Snape's Vocation

The Owl and the Puppydog

The Absence of Unhappy

They were all written pre-HBP, so it isn't canon. What I really like about this series is that Harry is Severus' son, but it wasn't by way of adultery or rape:

"Against his better judgement Severus Snape let a part of himself be used in a spell six years earlier. Now the consequences of his actions cannot be avoided any longer and Snape finds himself the father of a five year old boy-Harry Potter!"

YLC stands for Yenta Livery Challenge. It works off the same premise as the MLC: that after the war, magical families are diminishing and bloodlines are weakening. But instead of an asinine marriage law, the Ministry dictates that all prospective brides and grooms must have their compatibility verified via an arithmantic agency. The Yenta Livery Company. The MLC caught on like wildfire, but I like the YLC premise more.

[hobgoblinn.livejournal.com]

So fics like "The Arithmantic Dating Agency" fall into YLC? I didn't know there was a challenge, though I've seen a couple of fics along those general lines.

Thanks for the links. I'll take a look.

[keladry_lupin]

I'm pretty sure Shiv came first. But there are a few stories that stem from the YLC, like "Irreconcilable Differences" and "Grumpy Young Witch and Grumpier Older Wizard."