This was the first HP fic I bookmarked and I still love it.

Yeah, so I read A Nick in Time, and like the decidedly stupid person I am, decided to read the sequel, as the original fic was really quite good. And the first third of the story wasn't too bad. I mean yeah, the introduction of Julius was a bad sign, and the arithmetic was the worst I've ever seen, but still...the characterization was quite good.

Then, instead of taking the opportunity of making the rather awkward waking up scene in Snape's bed into a good jumping off place for Harry to either freak out about having feelings about Snape or realize Snape has feelings for him and close himself off, the author skips five weeks. FIVE WEEKS. Which brings us to this stupid curse, and Harry and Snape actually being in something of a relationship without Snape being any the wiser.

And almost immediately afterwords we have what truly puts the nail in the coffin--bad sex. And no, I don't mean that the initial sex between the characters was bad from their points of view (which actually makes sense, and would've added to the story in my eyes). I mean the sex was so poorly written I wanted to wash my eyes out with soap. And it went on. For pages.

Eventually I just had to give up finishing this. The choice of words makes it sound like a bad regency novel. Snape comes across as a total spineless push-over, whereas Harry suddenly is the Mary Sue to end all Mary Sues. And then there were the sheer number of sentences that simply made me shudder in utter revulsion, such as: "All coherent thought froze in his brain as he stared up into the long, handsome face of the man who'd put his tongue and penis inside him last night." I mean who actually writes such unmitigated garbage.

Okay, this was probably cruel, but honestly I hope no one else ever reads this story again. I don't wish it on my worst enemy.

Well, I do like the occasional Halequin fic (and dislike the novels for the same reason as you), but I'm a bit...picky when it comes to sex in fics. Not that I can't live with bad sex in a story. But the last third of this story is pretty much one EXTREMELY drawn out sex scene. In which the author continuously contradicts herself. And also reiterates the same points to the extent that...well...it can't be good for a person's health.

Now, I'll admit that I really cannot read BTVS/ATS Harlequin unless it's a bit tongue in cheek. SGA, J2, and thus far Merlin are almost always worth finishing, on the other hand. In fact, there are a few good Harlequin's in bandom as well.

I first started reading fandom with really REALLY bad spuffy. (Honestly part of me wonders why I even stuck with fanfic at all.) Then came Spander that, looking back, ranged from really good to really bad. Trying to read some of the stories I was in love with when I first discovered them now causes me quite a good deal of nausea.

That's why I tend to not only reread fics but put as long as possible between the readings. Now I can read a story and not stomach finishing it the first time and realize that the next time I try, a few months later, it might be more palatable.

The real reason I disliked this story so much was that it started with such a good premise, and the first good bit was really quite well-written. I enjoyed the characters and found both of the boys' POVs to be quite accurate. Also, Ron and Hermione in both of these stories were sinfully good. So the lack of love I have for this story is more for the author choosing to dig herself into a well and not get help getting out of it than for the fact that it's actively bad. I hate seeing a good story go bad.