One great Snape vs Voldemort fanfiction is 'The Dark Mark's Secret'. It delves into Snape's complex relationship with Voldemort. Snape is constantly in a precarious position, having to play the double agent. The story shows how he uses his wits against Voldemort's brute power. Another one is 'Snape's Hidden Alliances'. It focuses on how Snape manages to outmaneuver Voldemort in some crucial situations. The characterizations are really well - done in both of these, making them engaging reads.
Another theme is loyalty. They both have deep loyalty to Hogwarts but express it in different ways. Snape's loyalty is complex and often misunderstood, while McGonagall's is more straightforward. Fanfictions explore how these different loyalties can cause friction between them. In a lot of these stories, their loyalty also brings them together in times of crisis. For instance, when Voldemort's forces threaten the school, they have to find a way to cooperate despite their differences. This exploration of loyalty makes the fanfictions really engaging.
In some fanfictions, their rivalry might be explored in the context of the Hogwarts Houses. For example, McGonagall being a proud Gryffindor and Snape a Slytherin. There could be a story where they have to resolve a conflict between the two Houses, and their different approaches to the situation create a lot of tension and drama.
The main thing that makes Snape vs Voldemort fanfiction interesting is the contrast between the two characters. Snape is complex, with his own motives and a hidden side. Voldemort is pure evil. So when they interact, there are always mind games and power plays. For example, Snape has to constantly deceive Voldemort, and the tension this creates is exciting.
One interesting plot could be a magical duel between Harry and Snape where they both use unexpected spells. Harry might draw on some newfound knowledge from an ancient magic book, while Snape uses his years of experience and dark arts knowledge in a creative way.
One interesting plotline could be a battle of wits within the Hogwarts faculty. Snape, with his deep knowledge and sly nature, tries to outmaneuver Umbridge's strict and often cruel regime. For example, he might secretly undermine her rules in ways that only the students and a few other faculty members notice.
However, Umbridge can also be a popular character in these fanfictions in a different way. She is the perfect villain. Her over - the - top cruelty and her self - righteous attitude make her a great antagonist. Writers can really explore her nastiness and how the other characters react to her, especially Snape who has his own way of dealing with her.
One great 'Snape vs McGonagall fanfiction' is 'The Clash of Professors'. It shows their different teaching styles and how they often butt heads in Hogwarts' corridors. The author does a great job of portraying their personalities as we know them from the original books.
In many fanfictions, they are often portrayed as equally powerful in different ways. McGonagall's strength lies in her traditional magical skills and her leadership, while Snape's strength is more in his unique knowledge and his ability to adapt to difficult situations. So it's not always clear - cut who is stronger.
It really depends on the writer. Some might make Harry more powerful because he has the power of love and friendship on his side, which is a strong force in the wizarding world. Also, he has his own natural talent for magic.