If they only knew what they were walking into...
Snakeskins is a fic by the Fandom Semi-Famous Lsunnyc/Sunruner. At the start of the story, the Italy Bros are in England's office discussing... well, something Nation-y when Arthur Weasley Floo Powders his way in through the fireplace to inform Arthur of the murder of two Italian children at Hogwarts - coincidentally while the two representatives of Italy are standing right there. Romano is sent back to Rome while England and Italy follow Weasley to Hogwarts and meet Headmistress McGonnagal, who knows a lot more about their true identities than Weasley does. They organise an investigation to go undercover as students to Hogwarts and...Well, the rest you'll have to find out yourself.
It's a crossover and clever blending of the Harry Potter and Hetalia: Axis Powers universes and expands it outwards, looking at Wizarding Italy with a Description Porn Wizarding Venice and several cleverly written and guaranteed to make you love them OCs.
And, in case you haven't recognized the name, this is the same author who wrote HetaOni Final Loop and HetaOni Recovery. Yes, that fic. Let that sink in for a sec and it'll give you some idea of what's in store for you.
Here's the link to it on FFN
and Tumblr, though the Tumblr is several chapters ahead of the FFN since she uploads it there first.
As of November 20 of 2015 the fanfiction version is up to chapter 159 while the tumblr version is on chapter 169.
Provides Examples Of:
- A Tragedyof Impulsiveness: Rose jumping back to the spider's nest ended up costing Charlie his life and Scorpious his leg
- Soren's death was caused by James impulsiveness
- Abusive Parents: Well, Abusive Siblings, or at least in the eyes of those at Hogwarts. All they know is Feli as a boy in his teens and Lovino is a married man in his twenties who kicks and sends explicit howlers to his younger brother and refuses to heal his regrown fingers properly as some sort of punishment.
- Scotland gets called out on this by Bill Wesley
- Hermione nows want to take Arthur out of his abusive home, even to the point of almost kidnapping Arthur and Italy from the train platform after a car accident
- Scotland gets called out on this by Bill Wesley
- Academyof Adventure: Starts like this poor fools
- Academyof Evil: While not on purpose, Hogwarts is turning into this.
- Accidental Murder: England accidentally 'kills' Italy through a botched apparation and splinches half of his side and arm away.
- Action Pet: While not exactly a pet England's Lion Patronus falls in this category.
- Adaptational Badass: Depending on your take on him, Italy definitely could count, especially when compared to his portrayal in the anime. Could also come under Adaptation Personality Change.
- Adults Are Useless: While not exactly useless, many adults show a lot of incompetence, specially in later chapters.
- Though this can be explained (at least partially) by Hogwarts' rather medieval organization. To quote Italy: "No training for teachers, no discipline guidelines, barely any teaching guidelines, no recourse for addressing student behaviour. Not even first aid standards?"
- Agents Dating: Avoided by England and Italy to prevent compromising the investigation Not that they don't want to.
- All Deaths Final: The Author did play around with the possibility of bringing Charlie back as a ghost, but dismissed the idea arguing it would be too sad, and that Charlie deserved to rest in peace.
- All There in the Manual: Lsunnyc posts extra information that doesn't fit in the narrative (along with answering questions, posting ideas for upcoming chapters, etc.) on her Tumblr.
- Ambition Is Evil: As with any Harry Potter verse fic, Slytherin get lumped into this, though successfully averted in that none of the characters are actually evil - the rest of the school is just prejudiced against them.
- Anyone Can Die: The author has said she's going to kill one of the Slytherin trio about Christmas-time in Fourth Year. As to which one it is, no one knows. It's Charlie
- An Arm and a Leg:
- Scorpius, oh God, Scorpius
- You can now add Soren to that list
- Asskicking Leads to Leadership: After the Patronus display on the tournament and the wand transfiguration on the forest, it is easy to know why England held such position in the magical council.
- Attack of the 50-Foot Whatever: The 'thing' that drags Rose and Eliza to the forest
- Badass Boast: You call that a patronus, Potter ?
- Badassand Child Duo: Italy/Feliciano England/Arthur bonus points for being the same person.
- Badass Teacher: Not even having been impaled by a sword will stop Soren.
- Backto School: England and Italy
- Barbaric Bully: James Sirius Potter Hopefully Soren will be able to reform him
- Beat Themat Their Own Game: Albus Potter was sure he'll win the dueling tournament with his Patronus as none of the other kids would know what to do when confronted by one, then he had the final against Arthur
- Becoming the Mask: While not totally, at times England does start to think and behave as Arthur
- Beware the Nice Ones: Italy will not doubt to harm you if you push his buttons in the wrong order.
- David also qualifies for this after the Death Arc
- Bloody Horror: Soren after being impaled by a sword
- Body Horror: The Forbidden Forest scene and it's aftermath, in which every injury both England and Italy receive is described in brutal detail.
- Also the fights that France sets up have several wince worthy injuries, some dramatic enough that a chapter ends on one.
- On the top of that The Aftermath of the Death Arc left more than one reader clinging. Poor Scorpius
- Even MORE as Soren's injuries are painfully described, along with it's consequences.
- Also the fights that France sets up have several wince worthy injuries, some dramatic enough that a chapter ends on one.
-
Bonus Material: If you follow the author's blog, then there's every chance you'll find out about plot points many chapters before they actually happen.- And then there's the little set of EngIta tie-in bits, she wrote set in the holidays during Sixth Year.
- On top of that, she wrote a short thing set just after 'The Doomed One's' death.
- Break the Cutie: England, after Italy's death, he ends up crying over his best friend's mangled body calling out for his older brother.
- This also applies to all the kids involved in the Death Arc
- The Bully: James Sirius Potter
- Calling the Old Man Out: While she is not her guardian, Molly Weasley get a bit of Arthur's mind at Charlie's funeral after being complimented that he was too brave for a Slytherin Not that she actually got the point.
- Done again by Scotland to Harry and Ron after they continue to insist that Arthur should've been on Gryffindor
- Cassandra Truth: After the Death Arc Rose is this as no one really believes that the Slytherin kids saved her
- Cats Are Mean: Crumpet, England's familiar.
- Though successfully averted by Gino, Italy's cat.
- Chekhov's Gun: England mentions to Italy when they first arrive at Hogwarts not to go in the Forbidden Forest - so what happens when they actually ''do'' go into the forest?
- Also, to an extent, the log where Italy removes the charm. It's where England apparates to the final time after both he and Italy have been badly wounded and where their brothers find them.
- Child Prodigy: James Potter, apparently he is the brightest student on his year plus the exstar in Quiddich
- Conflicting Loyalty: England and Italy regarding Hogwarts and the children.
- Continuing is Painful: Italy during the 5th year
- Conveniently Unverifiable Cover Story: The Vargas and the Kirklands
- Cool Teacher: Soren
- Cooperation Gambit: How the fic starts Italy wants to close Hogwarts, England wants to prove Italy wrong and keep Hogwarts open Not anymore tough
- Cover Identity Anomaly: Neville is quick to point out that there are nor records of the Kirklands for centuries.
- Also the Vargas are covered with so many red tape that invokes this trope.
- Cradling Your Kill: England in the log after the Forbidden Forest.
- Cruel and Unusual Death: Charlie, being bitten by spiders on the Forbidden Forest
- Cursed with Awesome: England's blessing to Scorpius as it can either make him great or consume his soul
- Daddy's Girl: Ellie Gamp.
- Death by Despair: While she was already very old, the death of Charlie finally broke the Headmistress's old heart
- Death by Origin Story: The Rossetti siblings.
- Death Is a Sad Thing: The deaths of Mcgonagall and Charlie
- Deadpan Snarker: England.
- Description Porn: The description of Wizarding Venice is the main one, but the Author's amazing descriptions could make almost anything come under this.
- Injuries also fall in this category for better or for worse.
- Did You Just Punch Out Cthulhu?: Did England just punched Harry James Potter in the face?
- Double as Harry considers for a moment to reciprocate the punch
- Dirty Coward: The Gryffindors get accused of this quite often, James Potter can qualify to this in his more jerk-like moments.
- Despite his 'good' intentions Neville end up looking like this after the armor's attack
- Doesn't Trust Those Guys: Hogwarts regarding the Slytherins, most notable between the Gryffindors-Slytherins relationships.
- Don't Go in the Woods: In this story is an understatement.
- Double Agent: Soren as of Flintwick understanding.
- Emotional Regression: The charms England and Italy put on to turn them into kids also have this effect... or maybe it's just the being surrounded by children 24/7.
- Specially now since Italy and England have acknowledged to some level that they are in love and instead of dealing with it like two old veteran nations they are behaving like 'actual' 15 years olds. Too much for Sore shearing.
- Establishing Character Moment: Ellie, the quiet, sweet, owl-loving girl storms over to them and calls out England and Italy after their fight in Creevey's classroom. The effect of one of his children rejecting him so harshly literally has England curled up in a ball on the floor.
- Everybody Hates Mathematics: The exception probably being Arthur and Scorpius.
- Evil Former Friend: Not exactly evil, but Hugo tends to fall in this category.
- Evil Teacher: Huntington towards Italy.
- Eventhe Guys Want Him: Soren
- Experienced Protagonist: To an extent, both England and Italy, since they know a ton of stuff that normal 12 year-old boys wouldn't have a clue about and are both experienced fighters.
- False Friend: David accuses Arthur of this because he figured out that he wasn't telling the whole truth regarding on what happened on the forest.
- Famous Ancestor: James Potter about his father. He thinks he can get away with anything because his Dad saved the world. Thankfully, Albus is a lot nicer.
- Not anymore
- Fantastic Racism: Directed to the Slytherins
- Fantastic Slurs: The name Snakeskins is used as a derogatory term towards the Slytherins.
- Fiery Redhead: Ireland is the embodiment of this.
- Also Ginny Wesley
- Fingore: Italy
- Foreign Exchange Student: Italy
- Foreign-Language Tirade: The way that England and Italy speak if they don't want to be understood by anyone around them.
- French Jerk: France is very jerk-ish during England and Italy's 'counselling' meetings.
- Friend to All Children: The Nation to their own children. Or, at least, when he's not trying to be one of them.
- Foreshadowing: Be afraid when L Sunny C begins 'spaming' her blog with certain Hetalia characters or ideas ans it probably will be a key plot point in the future.
- Happened with Norway and now with Romania
- Gentleman Wizard: England, but sometimes looses his temper while dealing with some children and specially with some adults.
- Graduationfor Everyone: HOPEFULLY
- Grudging "Thank You": England, being his normal Tsundere self.
- Happily Adopted: Arthur's cover story
- Half-Breed Discrimination: Some Slytherins still show this, even among members of their own house.
- He Had a Name: England sees red when Percy Weasley starts dismissing Charlie's death.
- Headbutting Heroes: England and Italy after Chapter 45.
- Heroic BSoD: Both England and Italy suffer from this after The Death Arc
- Soren, and Iceland to an extend after Frigga gets destroyed by the creature
- Heroic Spirit: The Slytherin Trio shows it more than the 'brave' Griffindors, who sometimes are just pain bullies.
- Hero with Bad Publicity: Slyherins suffer from this chronically. While there are a couple of exceptions, most of the Slytherins are very nice kids.
- Hormone-Addled Teenager: The majority of the cast. And too much for the author displeasure Eliza with David
- A House Divided: The Slytherin House after England and Italy start fighting.
- I Let Gwen Stacy Die: Both England and Itlay feel this regarding Charlie's death.
- Immortals Fear Death: Justified, since coming back from the dead is not a pleasant experience in the slightest.
- Inadequate Inheritor: Fred Weasley according to many first and second generation Wotters
- The Infiltration: Basically the whole premise of the story.
- Inevitable Tournament: After the events of the Recovery Arc, the dueling tournament falls into this.
- It's Always Sunny at Funerals: Charlie is buried right before sunset.
- Kids Are Cruel: Where to start? Addison's hair is cut off because she's friends with a Slytherin, James Potter sets Italy on fire for no apparent reason, Gloria and Margaret bully Ellie because she's not a Pure-Blood. This story is chock-a-block with these moments.
- Actually, just James Potter in general fits this trope, nasty little brat.
- Rose Weasley and Gloria Flint are both incredibly stuck-up girls to the point where they bully others for very small things. They get better. Margaret Finnick also comes under this, but she grows out of it much quicker.
- In a cruel twist Eliza is now this specially regarding Rose
- Actually, just James Potter in general fits this trope, nasty little brat.
- Kiss-Kiss-Slap: Chiara and Romano's relationship
- Knight Templar Big Brother: Albus and Hugo despite the latter being younger towards Rose after the Dead Arc
- Last of His Kind: Charlie's brother is the last to carry the name of the Higgs family
- The Rossetti siblings were this, with their deaths their clan is officially extinguished.
- Lonely Funeral: Charlie's funeral, justified because it coincides with Mcgonagall's.
- Likes Older Women: Child!Italy towards Madame Lupin
- Living Legend: Romano potentially qualifies for this, due to having been the King of Wizarding Italy at one point.
- Love Triangle: Addison-Eliza-David and David-Eliza-Scorpious
- Mama Bear: Fear the wrath of Hermione and Ginny Weasley.
- Meaningful Funeral: Charlie and the Head Mistress's, one more than the other for very painful reasons
- Mistakenfor Romance: Poor Artur can't catch a break.
- First and still Rose, and for a brief moment Addison
- Mistakenfor Spies: All the nations in Hogwarts, particularly Norway.
- Muggle Power: The reason Minister Weasley is so bitter toward the nations and clings dearly to his famous 10%.
- Naked on Arrival: England and Italy (before the modification) both have to strip down to their birthday suits before removing/putting on the charm.
- Nervesof Steel: Flintwick dealing with Soren's confession in 169
- Never Suicide: This is what get the main plot rolling as Italy refuses to believe that the Rossetti siblings committed suicide.
- New Year, Same Class: There is not a lot of rotation in the student body, specially with Slytherin.
- No Man Should Have This Power: Most of the Wooters reaction toward England.
- Not Blood Siblings: The UK brothers to some extent
- Not Just a Tournament: It wasn't just a tournament, it was for Charlie.
- Obstructive Bureaucrat: Whlie only doing their job, many Aurors and Professors fall in this category
- Painfully true regarding Percy Weasley's stubbornness to keep Hogwarts open
- Older Than They Look: Well, the Nations are all immortal.
- One-Word Title
- Opposing Sports Team: Among all the Houses, but specially marked with Slytherins and Gryffindors.
- Original Character: Eliza Gamp, Charles Higgs, Gloria Flint, Margaret Finnick, Professor Huntington, and that's just the tip of the iceberg.
- Justified in that most of the Canon characters have no real reason for being there, since they're either an immortal Nation or have grown up past school age.
- Papa Wolf: Basically all the dads but special mention to Harry, Seamus, Ron, Bill, Italy and England.
- Portmantitle: "Snake" + "Skins"
- Posthumous Character: The Rossetti siblings.
- Publicly Discussingthe Secret: During the aftermath of the Armor attacks
- Rage Breaking Point: Seamus just looses it when he finds out about Neville's actions during the Armor attack
- Reasonable Authority Figure: Mcgonagall was the epitome of this. Flitwick is headed towards this direction. And despite all the odds looks like Hermionie is also heading this way
- She is not anymore
- Revenge Before Reason: Gryffindors fit this trope perfectly, even for petty things.
- Sacrificial Lion: Charlie
- Save Our Students: Understatement of the century
- Say My Name: "Veneziano!" first, then "England!" and finally "SCOTLAND!"
- Screw the Rules, I Have Connections!: The Wotters, but especially James.
- Secret-Keeper: Percy, Scotland and Bill as they know the truth behind Italy and England's real motive to be in Hogwarts
- Sore Loser: James Potter
- Smug Snake: Percy Wesley
- Spiders Are Scary: Even more in The Death Arc
- Spoiled Brat: James Sirius Potter and he is almost 15!
- The Wooter kids fall in this category May be Rose can be counted as an excetion But only after the Dead Arc.
- Startswitha Suicide: The whole fanfic starts with the apparent suicide of the Rossetti siblings.
- Stiff Upper Lip: England, most of the time.
- Stalkerwitha Crush: Rose, however given the circumstances is difficult not to feel bad for her as Arthur is the closest thing she has to a friend now.
- Starving Student: Italy at some points as English food is to terrible for him to eat.
- Stupid Sexy Friend: England to Italy and vise versa They decided to wait.
- Supernaturally Young Parent: England to Australia and, by extension, as Granfather to Wy
- Surveillanceasthe Plot Demands: Percy orders Harry and his Aurors to spy on the Kirklands
- Survivor Guilt: England and Italy both suffer from this to a great extent after Charlie's death
- Rose suffers heavily of this as of Chapter 100
- Switching P.O.V.: The story regularly switches between England and Italy, with the odd other POV on occasion.
- Tangled Family Tree: We find out during Charlie's funeral that his family is actually related to the Weasleys.
- Too Good for This Sinful Earth: Charlie, oh God, Charlie
- Took a Level in Badass: Ellie, when she chewed England and Italy out after their fight in Creevey's class.
- Also Scorpius is fairly passive in the first couple of years, but after character development kicks in he really begins to show his true colours.
- Tooka Levelin Kindness: Rose Weasley, after the Death Arc, is showing this.
- Tranquil Fury: Arthur, after David get beaten by Albus Potter in the tournament using a Patronus
- Trauma Conga Line: Poor poor Rose
- The Fighting Narcissist: Albus Potter in the tournament as he was showing off his ability to cast a Patronus
- Tragic Keepsake: The Rossetti Cross that Feleciano uses as a charm.
- Unsportsmanlike Gloating: Slytherins are guilty of doing this after Gryffindor looses dramatically after Feliciano breaks Albus' broom while trying to save the kids on the Death Arc
- Villain with Good Publicity: Not much as 'villains' but as antagonists, Gryffindors have this. Specially since the biggest heroes of the generation came from this house
- Well-Intentioned Extremist: Out of all the people Hermione in her cruzade of 'liberate' Young!Arthur from his 'abusive family'
- Was It Alla Lie: Italy and England's feared (but expected) reaction after the whole charade is over.
- What Could Have Been: A miscalculation by the author gave us the current Death Arc, as it was first intended that the whole Owlery incident will occur while England and Italy were still upset with each other. So they'll be brawling with France at the moment the thing kidnapped Ellie and Rose. And because of this, both of them would be late to save them and carry the guilt that their fight cost them a friend's life. The thing is, that the Author made them make up faster than intended, so that's why the situation happened the way it happened.
- Whatthe Hell Hero?: England delivers a big one when he discovers that The 6th Years Ravenclaws and Gryfindors kick James out the safe room to die.
- It also applies to England in the same scene as he basically threatens fifteen years old kids to expulsion shame and death
- Wizarding School: Duh
- You Can Run, but You Can't Hide: This applies to the something that is terrorizing Hogwarts
- You Know What They Say About X...: Slytherins are seen as evil by default.
