History FanFic / TheBestRevenge

* PapaWolf: Deconstructed with James Potter, who squared the family fortune to pay for the war against Voldemort. The characters are divided with one camp, including the [[WordOfGod Author]] claiming that James and Lily would have preferred that Harry be poor than [[FateWorsenThanDeath what would happend if Voldemort won]]. Others, mostly [[UnreliableNarrator Snape]] believe that James was simply an idiot who squadered the family fortune and left his only son with just barely enough to get a proper wizarding education.

* PyrrhicVillainy: While rifling through Petunia's mind, Snape discovers that she basically sabotaged her own life in a misplaced obsession to show up Lily by marrying the first suitor that came along and having a child before her sister did. When all was said and done, she was stuck in a loveless marriage with a man she couldn't stand, and a son she didn't know how to raise properly.

* LotusEaterMachine: The Mirror of Erised has been substantially upgraded from canon -- though it is less effective on children, who have fewer regrets. It almost ensnares Snape and [=McGonagall=], who only manage to escape because they happen to bump elbows, bringing them back to reality. [[spoiler:It ''does'' ensnare Voldemort, and he is expected to spend the rest of eternity inside it, basking in the triumph of seizing the Philosopher's Stone.]]

* SparedByTheAdaptation: [[spoiler: Quirrell survives the events of The Philosopher's Stone and is exorcised of Voldemort's soul]]

* LotusEaterMachine: The Mirror of Erised has been substantially upgraded from canon -- though it is less effective on children, who have fewer regrets. It almost ensnares Snape and [=McGonagall=], who only manage to escape because they happen to bump elbows, bringing them back to reality. [[spoiler:It ''does'' ensnare Voldemort, and he is expected to spend the rest of eternity basking in the triumph of seizing the Philosopher's Stone.]]

* InsufferableGenius: Hermione, like in canon. Only, her enthusiasm at being the best, as well as being an outsider, gets her bullied by the Ravenclaw girls. Luckily, Harry informs a teacher, who steps in and stops it from going too far.

* SealedEvilInACan: [[spoiler: Voldemort's spirit is trapped in the Mirror Of Erised, as a reflection of himself holding the Philosopher's Stone]]

* WinWinEnding: [[spoiler: Snape finds a SecondLove and reconnects with his mother's side of the family; Charity gets recognition for her books and has children; Harry is HappilyAdopted and unburdened by fame and heroic responsibilities; Sirius is freed and owns an exotic island where Remus can transform safely; the curse is lifted from the Defense teaching position; Quirrell is freed from the possession, saved and healed; Tom Riddle (the part of him that was sealed in the diary) starts a glamorous new life in the USA.]]

* AndIMustScream: [[spoiler: Unlike canon where Quirrel is a willing follower, here he hates Voldemorts possession and during the climax in the first story talks about what a living nightmare it is to forcibly share his mind with a Dark Lord]]
* AscendedExtra: The Hufflepuff house as a whole gets fleshed out. As do [[spoiler: Nicolas and Perenelle Flamel]].

* EverybodyLives: There are almost no deaths among the main characters in the story or it's sequel, even the Baselisk in the Chamber Of Secrets is spared thanks to Harry using his Parseltongue to convince it to return to the chamber, then feeds it until it falls asleep.

* SparedByTheAdaptation: [[spoiler: Quirrel survives the events of The Philosopher's Stone and is excorsized of Voldemort's soul]]
* PyrrhicVillainy: While rifling through Petunia's mind, Snape discovers that she basically sabotaged her own life in a misplaced obsession to show up Lily by marrying the first suitor that came along and having a child before her sister did. When all was said and done, she was stuck in a loveless marriage with a man she couldnt stand, and a son she didnt know how to raise properly.

* WinWinEnding: [[spoiler: Snape finds a SecondLove and reconnets with his mother's side of the family; Charity gets recognition for her books and has children; Harry is HappilyAdopted and unburdened by fame and heroic responsibilities; Sirius is freed and owns an exotic island where Remus can transform safely; the curse is lifted from the Defense teaching position; Quirrell is freed from the possession, saved and healed; Tom Riddle (the part of him that was sealed in the diary) starts a glamorous new life in the USA.]]

* YouAreACreditToYourRace: Due to a misinterpretation of Lucius' words, Draco believes that if he meets the rare exceptionally talented muggleborn, he shouldn't look down on them and treat them as equals. This gradually lessens his prejudices, until it almost completely vanishes.

* PyhrricVillainy: While rifling through Petunia's mind, Snape discovers that she basically sabotaged her own life in a misplaced obsession to show up Lily by marrying the first suitor that came along and having a child before her sister did. When all was said and done, she was stuck in a loveless marriage with a man she couldnt stand, and a son she didnt know how to raise properly.

* PhyrricVillainy: While rifling through Petunia's mind, Snape discovers that she basically sabotaged her own life in a misplaced obsession to show up Lily by marrying the first suitor that came along and having a child before her sister did. When all was said and done, she was stuck in a loveless marriage with a man she couldnt stand, and a son she didnt know how to raise properly.

* WinWinEnding: [[spoiler: Snape finds a SecondLove and reconnets with his mother's side of the family; Charity gets recognition for her books and has children; Harry is HappilyAdopted and unburdened by fame and heroic responsibilities; Sirius is freed and owns an exotic island where Remus can transform safely; the curse is lifted from the Defense teaching position; Quirrell is freed from the possession, saved and healed; Voldemort starts a glamorous new life in the USA.]]

* PhyrricVillainy: While rifling through Petunia's mind, Snape discovers that she basically sab

* AscendedExtra: The Hufflepuff house as a whole gets fleshed out. As do [[Nicolas and Perenelle Flamel]].

* SealedEvilInACan: [[spoiler: Voldemort's spirit is trapped in the Mirror Of Erised, as a reflection of himself holding the Philosophers Stone]]
* SparedByTheAdaptation: [[spoiler: Quirrel survives the events of The Philosophers Stone and is excorsized of Voldemort's soul]]
* PhyrricVillainy: While rifling through Petunia's mind, Snape discovers that she basically sabotaged her own life in a misplaced obsession to show up Lily by marrying the first suitor that came along and having a child before her sister did. When all was said and done, she was stuck in a loveless marriage with a man she couldnt stand, and a son she didnt know how to raise properly.
* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: An In-Universe example, as Snape thinks of many theories regarding [[spoiler: Zacharias Smith's disappearance]].
* YouAreACreditToYourRace: Due to a misinterpretation of Lucius' words, Draco believes that if he meets the rare exceptionally talented muggleborn, he shouldn't look down on them and treat them as equals. This gradually lessens his prejudices, until it almost completely vanishes.
----

** The Malfoys do retain elements of PragmaticVillainy. As Snape notes, at the end of the day, the Malfoys are on their side and no one else's. Narcissa especially notes that she can bite her tongue and downplay her prejudices (and advises her son to do the same) so that they can get Harry on their side: a large asset to securing their power.

** The Malfoys do retain elements of PragmaticVilliany, as Snape notes. At the end of the day, the Malfoys are on their side and no one else's. Narcissa especially notes that she can bite her tongue and downplay her prejudices (and advises her son to do the same) so that they can get Harry on their side: a large asset to securing their power.

->Minerva nodded, and said, “You’re a wise boy, Mr. Potter. After all, you know what they say-” her eyes, full of compassion, slid to Snape.
->“What?” Snape asked, impatiently.
->She smiled. “That living well is [[TitleDrop the best revenge]].”
-->-- Professor [=McGonagall=] in regards to Severus Snape.

''The Best Revenge'' is a ''Literature/HarryPotter'' ForWantOfANail in which Severus Snape sees the address of Harry Potter's letter, which leads him into changing his perception of The-Boy-Who-Lived, and beginning a mentorship that would change everything. While some canon bits are slightly tweaked, everything else is for the most part the same. The Author, who is also known for writing ''FanFic/VictoryAtOstagar'', expands upon the Wizarding World; it's traditions, lore, politics, it's prejudice against the muggles and muggleborn, as well as houses otherwise not as developed as Gryffindor, and side characters who didn't get as much focus.

* YouAreACreditToYourRace: Due to a misinterpretation of Lucius words, Draco believes that if he meets the rare exceptionally talented muggleborn, he shouldn't look down on them and treat them as equals. This gradually lessens his prejudices, until it almost completely vanishes.

* InsufferableGenius: Hermione, like in canon. Only, her enthusiasm at being the best, as well as being an outsider, gets her bullied by the Ravenclaw girls. Luckily, Harry informs a teacher, who steps in and stops it from going too far.

-->-- Professor McGonagall in regards to Severus Snape.

* AdultsAreUseless: Averted. The whole premise is Snape doing something about Harry's abusive home life. And adults like Snape, McGonagall, Flitwick and Sprout do their part in preventing Voldemort's return, Burbage prevents bullying from happening in the Explorers Club as well as protects students when in danger, and even Lucius and Narcissa do their part to stop the Dark Lord. The only person who arguably plays this straight is Dumbledore, but it's not without reasons.

* AdaptionalHeroism: Lucius and Narcissa, though they still retain their pureblood supremacy. And, shockingly enough, [[spoiler: Professor Quirrell]].
* AdaptionalVillainy: Zacharias Smith, who becomes Harry's rival in school.

!! This Fanfic provides examples of:

Her story is written into two parts, [[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/4912291/1/The-Best-Revenge The Best Revenge]] and [[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/5843959/1/The-Best-Revenge-Time-of-the-Basilisk The Best Revenge: Time of The Basilisk]]. Both are completed.

Her story is written into two parts, [[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/4912291/1/The-Best-Revenge The Best Revenge]] and The Best Revenge: Time of The Basilisk. Both are completed.