By Bobmin
Reviews
Rob Clark posted a comment on Sunday 23rd December 2007 8:22am
Another great part! Love your writing and this story, even if it's not all chock full o' action. :)
As you say, it's character driven. And it's nice to see them grow up in this more pleasant AU. But something tells me they might not want to stay in Britain afterwards, at least not without some major changes. Frankly they've outgrown it.
Thanks for the nice Christmas prezzy!
Rob
Jezzie posted a comment on Sunday 23rd December 2007 3:37am
I'm writing this review after having read the first six chapters of the story in an almost disturbingly short time, and I've got to say that the story has been top-notch so far.
There are a few things that stand out about it, especially compared to most other fanfics out there. It really gives the impression of being consistent, rather than just making the story up as you go after each subsequent chapter. As you no doubt know, that's something that can be seen way too often in fanfics.
Without going into too much detail about it, I'll just say that I think that the concept of the story is really intriguing.
Now that I think about it, there's not really anything to dislike about the story at all. It's got humour(Death of Dumbledore,anyone?), excellent character development, little to no spelling errors to speak of...well, I'll stop here before I start with the superlatives...
To sum it up, it's quite excellent. I'm looking forward to reading the next chapter, and I'll be sure to drop a chapter specific review for that one!
Papa MidNite posted a comment on Saturday 22nd December 2007 11:28pm
Another great chapter guys, I'm glad to see Lav Lav put in her place, she needed to grow up
oh yeah domo arigato lol I just wanted to start singing Styx domo arigato Mr. Roboto
PM
Darak1 posted a comment on Saturday 22nd December 2007 7:09pm
Gleefully compiles author notes for later reading.
Oh and the chapter wasn't bad either.
Patches posted a comment on Saturday 22nd December 2007 5:04pm
This was an excellent chapter. Thanks so much for the early Christmas present. I love the way you have Harry and Hemione's relationship growing slowly but steadily on. That is so cool. I love the way Lavender has decided that she is to be judge and jury over Hemione's relationship. It was poetic justice that she got stompted down by Hermione in the end. Tonks' advice to Harry was right on. I'm so glad she could give Harry some warning about too much interference from him would not help Hermione in the long run. That was perfect. I love Mcgonagal. She is so cool. I can see the stern by the book teacher giving Hermione just this speech after Hermione took care of Lavender. McGonagal would have probably handled the situation in a similar manner in her youth! She probably would have done it a lot sooner though.
That defense test for Harry's NEWTS was brutal. Harry really answered a lot of questions for a lot of people with that performance. It is too bad he is going to end up with more scars but Harry's tasks are far from over. He is much better prepared than he used to be though. I am so glad that Hermione has basically received "permission" from her parents about her relationship with Harry and where it is going. For now sleelping together is a good thing. I am sorry about Cindy's apartment being destroyed. I am so glad that Sirius is helping her through it all. I am also very pleased with Remus and Tonks. That is a great pair! Thanks so much for writing. I really like everything you have written. This is a great addition to the other stories you have out there. Thanks again, pms
Tlcatlady posted a comment on Saturday 22nd December 2007 3:17pm
I absolutely LOVE THIS!!! The ongoing prank wars are hilarious. It was a nice touch having Harry screw up the apparation based on the curvature of the Earth. . .and there's nothing like a subtle entrance that breaks the sound barrier and blows all the windows at the same time. I am surprised that after all she's done, you've even managed to make me feel slightly sorry for Lavender too. As always, loved it and am looking forward to the next enstallment. :O) Tara
lilly_kris@yahoo.com posted a comment on Saturday 22nd December 2007 3:12pm
Its 2:11 am and i have stayed up a few hours reading "The Power of the Press". I'm in love! I have a question to ask. Is there a place I can go to sign up or leave my email for the next update to the story or do I have to keep checking for it?
Thank you so much!
Genericrandom posted a comment on Saturday 22nd December 2007 11:13am
Once more a wonderful, if completely demented, chapter. Things like 'common sense' and 'logic' mixed with 'magic' always seem a little off somehow, so you guys really are some of the strangest around.
Seeing as I'm in the middle of my second year of Japanese, those parts were really entertaining to see (even if they were in roomaji, which is the Devil's Japanese =p). I doubt you'll have many excuses to do things like that again later on, but it was still fun.
I eagerly anticipate finding an email in my inbox telling me this has updated again. Whenever that happens to be.
rune1806 posted a comment on Saturday 22nd December 2007 9:46am
the prank war at the start was great, hermione taking out harry so funny. her mom finding them in bed was cute but as a guy hot girl+bed+very little clothes=hands on bits and bums. carry on or off as you like.
ponderous stibbons posted a comment on Saturday 22nd December 2007 9:25am
My fav lines:
Mums are sneaky. I only hope I can be half as good as my mum is when it's my turn.
Like Remus and Sirius, she was intimately tied to her wand. He despaired of ever breaking her of the habit.
"We wanted to know if you'd bounce," replied Emma with a straight face.
"Imagining Harry and Hermione's children. I can just see it. Those poor kids will never have a decent head of hair."
I briefly considered staying with Harry and basically dropping out of Hogwarts.
(Glad she considered it, though I see no reason other than Story Plot that she doesn't go through with it.)
Perky Weatherbee
(I think there could be such a thing as Too Much Percy Bashing. Of course, Too Much Ron And Ginny Bashing is a myth.)
She said, "My arousal might not be as visible as yours, but it's there, just the same."
lulled to sleep listening to your heart beat
"I'm immune to portkey vertigo. When I take a long distance portkey, I change my ears to remove the inner ear canal.
(Great idea! Pity Harry can't learning. Still, makes for more Floor Connossieur jokes.)
"Because I asked you to share my world, not to give up your own," he replied softly.
For all I know, I threw a teddy bear at the blighter,"
You've given her a set of tools. Give her the emotional support she needs, but let her fight her own battles
He glared at her hotly, but she refused to burst into flames.
"Miss Granger, I had been wondering when you were going to put that harpy in her place," she said.
English Royalty seem to like large imposing structures. We have the quiet gardens, beautiful ponds and carefully sculpted landscapes, but the Imperial Palace had a soft, almost ethereal quality to it
(I hadnt thought of Japanese art as being more... subtle. Interesting. I have much to think about.)
. When you are apparating that far, you need to take into account the curvature of the Earth...
"Good! I'm glad to see you're still enough of a kid to do something stupid."
If what she believed was true, then her charges were once again about to be put into extreme danger.
(I like the fact that Minerva's first thought - unlike even that of canon!Albus - is the safety of her students.)
"He continues to sacrifice himself for our world."
"No, he's doing it for Hermione and his family.
Five Aurors, including the one using Muggle technology, versus twenty coconuts
(Btw, I'm glad an Auror was using Muggle tech. Was he a Muggleborn Auror disobeying orders?)
Also, I like the fact that you didn't make his exams all Os. You two (there are two of you, right?) have grown up a lot writingwise since you wrote Parallels. (As if you didnt already know that.)
It had taken a while before Hannah was accepted in their little Gryffindor group, but Hermione had welcomed her with open arms. She admired the red haired witch for her ability to get Ron to grow up
If you think I look bad, you should see my examiners
(Funnily enough, that's not a statement that's normally heard.)
Hermione gave a shudder. "Hang onto your hat, Harry. Whatever they have planned, it's a doozy. When Mum looks like that, we're in trouble."
"I'm so proud of you," she whispered to him.
For Harry, this was a defining moment unlike any other.
...
All in all, I think the defining moment of the chapter, in my unsolicited and unobjective opinion, was Hermione fighting her own battles. I hope she fights more in future, and not just with delusional bullies.
biblios posted a comment on Saturday 22nd December 2007 8:01am
oh what fun, I am on my hols in devon and it is very late at night and I hiding from a mother in law! and your latest installment was perfect, now if I send you a large box with air holes and an old lady inside, anonymously I trust you could use her for your disclaimers, but be quick she has a very penetrating whine!!!
loved harry and hermy getting into bed together, and poor lavlav she needed flushing, and woo hoo what will they have to say to the hunk collecting hermy!!! and down Ginny you hussy, a real scarlet women ;-)
like remus and tonksy getting together, and the burning of the buldings very good but more on the odd lost folk from cindys building would help flesh out the incident or was it just a way to get her moved in with sirius sooner...
what about groundskeepers assistant? and cover for remus at full moons? harry would be good and on the spot for voldegini to slither to, also what is the dead basilisk like? any savable potions bits? etc? and minerva would love to get him back to teach..
more politics please, like the fix the small prob but larger still going and it look like he has had help from all world, and only britain hasnt twigged (roflmao)
cant wait for more, and I can send no calorie dohnuts from the wizarding world for you both, no big butt for alyx and sugar with out the highs for bob, hummm not much point in having them I suppose...
lol rue
solicitor posted a comment on Saturday 22nd December 2007 5:42am
"To practice and prescribe to the best of my ability for the good of my patients, and to try to avoid harming them."
This is an change to the traditional Hippocratic Oath that has been added in some countries. By making it illegal to sell or give magical potions to muggles who are unaware of the magic world you are setting Cindy up. I can easily see a situation where she has a patent who is dying and she knows of a potion that could cure them. She would be required by her oath do do so, even in violation of the law. This is one path the pro Moldishort group could attack Sirius.
I think that an argument of the intent of the law versus the letter of the law would be enough to get a not guilty verdict under the beyond a reasonable doubt requirements. Not being fully versed in current British Criminal law I am not sure of the accepted standard, however in America not a problem (especially with 12 people with not enough sense to get out of jury duty).
I can't see any reason for you to use this in this story, but you are the artists creating this masterpiece, not me.
Thank you for letting us read this.
Mark Willson posted a comment on Saturday 22nd December 2007 2:12am
I really do love this story, and it just keeps getting better snd better. Ta muchly
Kimr posted a comment on Saturday 22nd December 2007 1:44am
A coconut to the nuts, at HIGH-SPEED, OUCH that's just NASTY ><.
Another fine addition, it definitely sets that stage for harry to make a come-back, it'll be interesting to see if you introduce any interesting characters as the leaders of the Cult of Voldemort?
As for those wanting to cut the journal entries, I agree with you, keep them it builds on the characters, allows a person a visualize and empathize with the characters better.
Teganii posted a comment on Saturday 22nd December 2007 1:36am
Update soon.
Sorry couldn't resist. You opened yourself up to that.
You are starting to discuss Harry's future in your story and that brings up something I have a hard time justifying what JKR did (one of the many actually). Why would a young man so frustrated with the war and having an evil wizard after him for so many years want to continue fighting after said wizard was killed (by a second year curse no less)? I think JKR made a serious hypocrite of Harry saying he went on to become an auror. "No, I'm not an attention seeking berk but I play one after the seventh book from JKR."
I like your idea of Harry and Hermione doing something together. Seeing how well Hermione's parents get along and how they work together. Maybe they could become Lama farmers and work with Technicolor penguins selling Monty Python episodes to house elf's? Or how about opening a franchise of donut coffee houses? Just a thought. Thanks for the update.
Happy Holidays!
Tora58 posted a comment on Friday 21st December 2007 11:51pm
I have to say I am enjoying the story immensely. I found a few typos that I don't know if you want pointed out or not, but not a huge deal.
And as a "lurking" reader I invite you to try and find me. Even if you manage to find my lair, you will become drunk upon entering my domain. Hard to cook food when your smashed :)
Mickey posted a comment on Friday 21st December 2007 11:40pm
LOL! Maybe I should read the AN more often. Before I fasten my seat belt would you mind explaining why it has what looks like a padlock on it?
I'm glad you're not going to stop the journal entries although I do wish you'd actually shown some of the stuff you just told about (such as Harry's Transfiguration N.E.W.T test and events related).
I agree with you about following a potion recipe not being that difficult however I think a good analogy for the Wolfsbane potion would be preparing from recipe a confectioner's three layer wedding cake using substances as stable and harmless as nitroglycerin or hydrofluoric acid. I'm not saying it can't be done but you better be very clear about all the needed safety precautions which will be assumed in the recipe before you start and expect it to take you a dozen tries to get it right. As for Snape I think that speech illustrates IMO a great portion of his problem. He's equivalent to a chef who prides himself on being able to prepare fancy meals (without a recipe book naturally, never touch the things) being stuck teaching a high school Home Ec. class. The rest of his problem is that he is a bigoted, racist, self centered, obssesed, arrogant, (did I mention bigot?) with pure hygiene.
Some nits in the story:
Broken bones- in CoS Harry has to spend the night regrowing all the bones in his arm so that would IMO place an upper limit on how long merely healing damage from broken bones would take. Additionally it's mentioned that if the bones hadn't been vanished a simple fracture could have been dealt with in a few moments (the impression I got was that a single cast spell would instantly heal the break) While you could argue anything more then a simple fracture would take longer I still think you're having broken bones be considered much too serious an injury in this story.
Lavender- No, I'm not objecting to her being a bully but given that she was as much of a bully as you described I doubt that single incident with Hermionie would have been enough for her to back down, although now that I've written down my objection it occurs to me that once Hermionie started fighting back she might not consider further incidents worth reporting.
Mastery - It seems to me that having a mastery granted automatically with an O grade in the N.E.W.T test makes it a nearly worthless achievement which does not fit how it was treated elsewhere. I'd think rather then being granted automatically I'd think maybe that would be enough to waive the admission test to whatever program teaches it.
Oh and if you don't want those donuts you can always send some of them to me, I'll make sure they don't get back to you to cause problems :)
Banner posted a comment on Friday 21st December 2007 11:30pm
**Dobby gone bad **
I'm not sure that my imagination will stretch that far. I might break something. The articles in Quibbler were pretty mind-bending, as well.
I love watching Harry kick ass. The Pacific Rim emphasis on practical over theoretical exams has never been more clearly highlighted.
This is the first time I've felt sorry for Lavender. But let's face it - she's a poionous little bitch. Her father's a jerk, but that doesn't excuse her attempts to publicly humiliate someone who never hurt her.
Thank you.
PerfesserN posted a comment on Friday 21st December 2007 11:08pm
Thank you for updating just in time for the Yule, happy Solstice everyone!
Warning, do not drink hot or carbonated beverages (or hot carbonated beverages) while reading the Quibbler articles in this story. Burning sinues may ensue. . .
I especially like it that the kids are taking their time and not rushing into intimacy - it really does make it that much more satisfying when they do finally go for it.
True love waits, and masturbates. . .
N!
James13 posted a comment on Sunday 23rd December 2007 8:33am