The Letter of the Law

[dragonyphoenix]

A few people have suggested that I remix sroni’s story without remixing the original. My story does more closely follow sroni’s and there are enough distinct elements in the two existing stories that it could work.

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The suggestion does follow the letter, more than the spirit, of the law, but as one friend replied: “as long as letter of the law is obeyed... why should you care about the feelings of a person who doesn't care about yours?”

With that in mind, I’m looking at the three stories to see what I’d have to change to remove elements that are distinctive of the first story. I am asking for comments although I pretty much have decided to change my story and post.

Original Story	Story I'm Remixing	My Story
Snape/Anya	Snape/Anya	Snape/Anya is an uncommon pairing. I’d only feel comfortable remixing the story if I could find another with that pairing. Happily I found two.
They meet in Anya’s magic shop in London.	Dumbledore meddles by sending Snape’s order to The Magic Box in California.	When Professor Slughorn takes over as Potions instructor, Dumbledore has Snape order potions for the school and do so through The Magic Box.
Element not in original story.	Hellmouth energies enhance herbs.	That Hellmouth energies enhance herbs is a major plot point. The spell Snape uses to locate Harry (to give him the sword) uses enhanced herbs.
Anya uses Veritaserum when proposing to Snape.	Ditto	I put it in my story because it’s a key element of the story I was remixing, but it is not central to my plot and can be easily removed.
Snape and Anya get married.	Snape and Anya get married.	This would be difficult to lose. My whole story is leading to it.

The original story is part of a series of stories and Sroni took from them all when writing hers. I had not even been aware of the other stories, much less read them, until my story was completed. Still, let’s look at some of those elements.

Original Series (but not remixed story)	Story I'm Remixing	My Story
Correspondence: one of the chapters shows the letters going back and forth between Anya and Snape.	The correspondence is discussed. It’s how they came to know each other and became close before meeting in person.	The correspondence reminded me of 84, Charing Cross Road, which is a story told in letters. That is the form my story takes.
Correspondence is leading towards Anya become a Potions instructor at Hogwarts.	Anya asked the best way to use potion ingredients.	Anya does ask for pointers, twice, but never learns enough about potions to teach the subject.
Snape’s articles appear in Potions journals.	Snape’s articles appear in Potions journals.	Well, yeah, I do include that but he’s an academic. In Shade More Than Man, Sirius encourages Snape to publish an article about one of his potions.
Snape advises Anya on vengeance. This is a major plot point because this is when she had that “he understands me” epiphany.	A major plot-point of this story as well.	I did add this to a later draft and have worked it into my story rather tightly, but I do feel this would have to be removed.
After they are married, Snape is DADA instructor and Anya teaches Potions.	Does not show up in the story I’m remixing.	Anya does not teach Potions in my story. Since this is not in the remix, I came up with it on my own. I’d thought about leaving Snape as Headmaster, since mine follows canon and Dumbledore is dead, but I don’t believe the wizarding world would have stood for it after the punishments handed out by the Carrows while Snape was Headmaster. Plus, DADA was Snape’s dream job; so I gave it to him.
Petty vengeance on students. Quite in-character.	Does not happen in the story I’m remixing.	Anya comments that the students are much nicer now that she’s let out she used to be a vengeance demon and that she advises Snape on punishments.

Comments

[snogged.livejournal.com]

You've definitely done some thorough work on this remix situation. :)

[dragonyphoenix.livejournal.com]

I definitely want to do it right.

[velvetwhip.livejournal.com]

*bonus points for Young Frankenstein*


Gabrielle

[dragonyphoenix.livejournal.com]

Thank you. ;-)

[punch-kicker15.livejournal.com]

I have no opinions on what should be left in or out, just wanted to say that I'm happy you're finding a way to salvage some of the (obviously considerable) work you've already done on this story. So yay!

[dragonyphoenix.livejournal.com]

Thanks. I still wish there was a solution that would make everyone happy. ;-(

This doesn't completely break the link between my story and the original story so I'm afraid the original author will still be upset. It feels like either I'm mad because I don't post my story (to please her) or she's mad because I did post the story. Darn it!

[rbfvid.livejournal.com]

It feels like either I'm mad because I don't post my story (to please her) or she's mad because I did post the story.
Well, it's a no-brainer)

[dragonyphoenix.livejournal.com]

*grin* Except if I do post then I also feel guilty.

[punch-kicker15.livejournal.com]

It feels like either I'm mad because I don't post my story (to please her) or she's mad because I did post the story. Darn it!

Yeah, this sounds like one of those crummy situations where someone is guaranteed to be unhappy (unless it turns out she's happy with the workaround). That sucks.

(I am in favor of the solution that involves well-researched fic being posted, but then as a reader who loves that kind of fic, I'm a wee bit biased.)

[dragonyphoenix.livejournal.com]

As someone who put in that work and is really excited about the story, I'm also a wee bit biased! ;-)

[sroni.livejournal.com]

I would honestly love to read your story. I'm sorry that this is a whole kerfluffle, but I can tell that you've put a lot of time and effort into yours.

[dragonyphoenix.livejournal.com]

I"m glad your Dad - Dad? Father-in-law? I know you two are related but I don't recall exactly how - came up with the work-around. I hope the original author sees this as a fair compromise.

[sroni.livejournal.com]

He's my dad, yes. :D

I hope she does, as well. I mean, nobody wants to see someone upset.

There were various things that I took from other stories in the series, and if you'd like, I can look through and list out the things that were in the original series and which things I came up with, if that would be helpful? (For instance, the "bunsen burner" was straight up one of her drabbles, and I borrowed from it because I liked it.)

[dragonyphoenix.livejournal.com]

Thanks. I've read the rest of the series so I'm pretty sure I know what was originally hers.

[dragonyphoenix.livejournal.com]

Actually I'm rethinking your offer. I have read the stories but it's possible that I might have missed something. You, not knowing my version, would have a clearer view. If you are still willing to generate that list, I'd appreciate it.

Thanks.

[sroni.livejournal.com]

Yup! I'll get on it onde i've slept, and send it to you.

[dragonyphoenix.livejournal.com]

Great. Thank you.

[sroni.livejournal.com]

Sent you a message. If things messed up, let me know and I'll do it over again.

[dragonyphoenix.livejournal.com]

I got it. Wow, you really did go into where everything came from. Thanks!