I'm a thirtysomething mom of 3 who uses HP as an escape. I'm thoroughly addicted. I've got strong opinions on characterization, and I've become an ardent H/G fan since Order of the Phoenix.
If you're a fan of TSH - Potterficweekly.com is starting weekly podcasts on 6/8/2007 discussing the fic before the release of Deathly Hallows. There is a forum where you can leave comments to be discussed. I hope to see you there!
Healing Harry by pandafan81
Rated: 1st-2nd Years [Reviews - 507]
Summary: A rose, a new bedroom, a Pensieve, and a new home. Harry finds comfort in his friends and family. Will he find more?
I didn't mind the sappiness, lol. What concerned me more was the ease in which Penelope was inducted into the Order. For all the precautions we saw, they seemed remarkably cavalier about the whole thing?
It might be my judgement of Percy is colored from HBP, but it seems to be that his brothers didn't owe him any kind of apology, it was the other way around. I liked Sirius's way better. Percy made the easy choice, not the right one, and should have had to live with those consequences. I would have preferred him remaining shut out, it would have been suitable antoning.
Author's Response: I like to see Percy as the Prodigal Son. I can see the Weasley's opening their arms to him, although this part was written pre-HBP so I still had hope for him then!
Hooray for H/G goodness. I love the cat abandoning Ginny to sleep with Harry. There is something very cute about that,heh.
As for Snape - in this story I think he's bad. He just gave up Ginny. If he were good, I think he would have downplayed her significance to Harry. In canon, I think he's still on the good side. I think he and DD had already made some kind of arrangement between the two of them. I believe DD was already dying long before he drank that potion.
Author's Response: Ah, the eternal question (until book 7), did Dumbledore and Snape have an arrangement? My jurry is still out, one day I think he's good, the next, I want to hunt him down and curse him myself!
Yes, Merlin abandoning Ginny for Harry's pillow, very cat like. Very much like my cat!
Woo Hoo! Thanks for an extra chapter. DH was sorely missing an aftermath, so I'm glad you decided to give us one. I loved the chess analogy (although I don't play, either). I thought it was very nice symbolism. I enjoyed the Quidditch, too, and while I adore Ginny, I still don't believe there's any way she'd even tie Harry for the Snitch ;)
Author's Response: heee... I\'m so glad you liked it. I don\'t know if my last chapter is going to be much better... but there are some of my own imagined details in there for post-voldemort, so there you go. chapter 18 is in queue waiting to be validated.
As for Ginny and Harry getting the snitch... Well, Harry might be \"a little off his game\" for the sake of it. There\'s no doubt, Harry would and could catch it, if he wanted to...
Not going too slowly at all. In fact, I like the pace very much. Harry and Ginny were very sweet in this chapter, and I loved Harry's line about two very sneaky girls. Nicely done.
Author's Response: I see Hermione and Ginny as the next dynamic duo! Nothing stops them, even boys!
I'm so glad you included Mr. Weasley in this chapter as the one to talk to Harry, no matter how embarrassing it might be for him. I can't imagine our Harry completely comfortable with anyone, but I love to see Mr. Weasley taking that role. I loved him forever after he stood up to Vernon on Harry's behalf before the Quidditch Cup.
Author's Response: I have a soft spot in my heart for Mr. Weasley too. Everyone has to go through the talk eventually, and who nicer to get it from than from him?!
I'm so glad you allowed Hermione's parents to survive. Everyone loves to kill them off, and really, Harry is the orphan of the story. Too much is overkill.
Now, what's going to happen to Crookshanks? Students are only allowed one pet, so which one will Hermione choose to take?
Author's Response: Yeah! Melindaleo came by!!! Thank you, I don't like it when people kill off the Grangers either. A lot of people use that as a vehicle to get Ron and Hermione together (Not that that doesn't work in many of the stories I've read... *covering butt*) But I think they can get together on their own without killing off her parents. As for Crookshanks, he's still around (Actually, I'm not sure if he's popped up in my story yet...) Maybe Hermione will get special permission to keep both (*hint hint!*) Thanks again for reading and reviewing! I'm goal for today is to get chapter 14 all typed out. So hopefully it'll be up in the next day or two!
NIce to see you back! Kill him with love, huh? That's something I'd thought canon would do, but it wasn't used to its fullest potential. I'm eager to see it here.
Author's Response: Thank you very much. You\'ll see how it plays out in the next chapter, which is written and submitted!
I enjoyed the snowball fight the best. I thought Harry's team was doomed at the start with Hermione and Percy, but they came through. As for Snape, I'm not entirely convinced he's gone to the dark side in canon, either, so I can accept this. I think DD is off his rocker to ask Harry to have the same sort of blindfaith in him as he does Hagrid and Remus, however. Harry and Snape hate each other. While they might work together, I don't think blind faith or trust is possible. So, vodlemort wants Harry before he turns 17. If he's not ready, though, they could always keep him hidden until he's legal. I'm very dismayed they used Ginny the way they did.
Author's Response: As am I! Even if they were using her presence as a ruse to get more info out of him. Darn characters write themselves into my bad graces sometimes. Thank you for the wonderfully insightful review. And believe me, Harry may have agreed, but he's not going to like it. But at this point the've got to band together. They could hide Harry, but he knows Voldemort will continue to attack and kill innocent people just to lure him out.
Wow, Snape gave Malfoy detention? What's up with that? I love Professor Sprout! She's too funny waiting for all the couples too show. Very cute. I'm betting that most of the colors turned orange, lol.
I'm not really sure how I feel about this shield stopping the Cruciatus. I mean, it's similar to Lily's blocking the Killing Curse, but still, that had something to do with blood, since he had to go to Petunia afterwards to keep it alive. This new shield makes Harry almost invulnerable, too much a super hero, indestructible. I kind of like Harry when he has some human vulnerabilites. If he can't be hurt, it almost takes away the tension, kwim? I'm not criticising, just thinking out loud. Oh, love Merlin, btw, you described a mischievous kitten perfectly.
Author's Response: Well, giving Draco detention serves a purpose, you'll see. I'm glad you've noticed the shield and that it may be "too strong". However, Harry himself is the person most likely to weaken it (read on, you'll see). But it's significance will be revealed a few chapters down the road. Thank you for the lovely and thoughful review!
I love Tonks! She was awesome. I'm so glad to see a teacher on Harry's side in the battle for a change. Twitchy little ferret indeed! I loved Ginny's earplugs, as well.
Author's Response: I'm so happy you liked Tonks and the earplugs! This is one of my favorite chapters, I laughed when I wrote it. And I've gotten several orders for those earplugs.
It was nice to see Harry having a happy Christmas. Nice warm fuzzy feelings for them. I liked the gifts they shared with one another.
Author's Response: I'm glad you liked it! I guess you can call this the warm and fuzzy before the storm. Uh oh, did my cat just get out of his bag?
I'll always be with you... by hattiepotter
Rated: 3rd-5th Years [Reviews - 213]
Summary: Sequel to Always Stick Together. After the life-changing events of the last few weeks, and the emotional ending to Always Stick Together, the wizarding world prepares to fight for their freedom. Harry is going to have to play a key role in the battle and Ginny is willing to do anything to get them through the Second War... Love, unity, friendship and courage will all be tested in this battle between good and evil - but will it all come to a happy ending?
Reading Always Stick Together first is not completely necessary, but it would help this story to make more sense!
Uh oh, they're going to be in trouble with either Ron or Mrs. Weasley if they don't wake up first in the morning. I did find Ginny's changing in front of her brother a bit strange, though.
What stung me more than anything was that Mrs. Weasley didn't even greet Harry. I know she's strung out, but...OUCH! Poor, Harry. That had to hurt.
Author's Response: Ginny doesn't care - or at least I don't think she would that much. The fact that Mrs W didn't even greet Harry shows the extent to which she is stressed out.
Hooray for the update! What about Ron though? Harry wouldn't have just saved the girls without Ron. How awful about the Burrow, sniff. I wanted to strangle Ginny, but her response was very human. The idea of Harry wanting to shout "I did it" was so cute and recognizable.
So, are they in his room in Grimmauld Place or at Privet Drive?
Author's Response: Exactly - she wasn't exactly thinking straight at the time. I'm not telling you where they are! You have to wait for the update! Thank you so much for the brilliant review - it's people like you that help the most.
xxx hattiepotter xxx
I've just read through both stories and really enjoyed them. I can't tell you how happy I am to see you showing some of the side effects and psychological trauma being a tortured POW for so long is having on Harry. I loved the flashback dream and the constanct flinching - very nicely done and I hope you follow through with it. Harry gave Ginny the flower and admitted he needed help, but he really still hasn't leaned on anyone.
I was actually more annoyed by Ginny in the past few chapters. If my timeline is right, he's only been back for a few days and she's being rather demanding. She has to at least suspect they didn't treat him very well, even if not the full impact of how they tortured him.
My heart is aching for Harry in your story right now, I guess I'm feeling a bit protective of him.
Author's Response: I'm glad you like my ideas. Harry was still getting over the whole thing, as you say, and he really hadn't properly opened up to anyone yet. When he first gets back, Ginny is so happy that she doesn't care that he's not telling her anything, but then she starts to want to know. I do feel sympathy for her, as she doesn't really know what he's been through, but she does have a right to. Harry isn't feeling up to telling her yet, but he has to soon or else he'll never get it out and off his chest! Please keep reading - your review was wonderfully informative!
Well, the war is certainly hitting closer to home now, isn't it? Sad, but very realistic with the way you have them all snippng at one another, as well.
Author's Response: It certainly is. Thanks for the comments - they're all useful!
I liked the scene at Privet Drive, but I wish it had lasted longer and had some more dialog with the Dursleys!
I don't know why Ginny behaved so stupidly, however. I know she was upset, but that seemed extreme. How come Harry didn't just Apparate them out again though?
Author's Response: Ginny wasn't really thinking - it may seem extreme, but she was still in shock and acted on instinct rather than reason. I didn't want them to spend too long at the Dursleys' - I didn't want to drag it out too much. As I have said in a previous review, there was an Anti-Apparition guard on the Burrow. Thanks for the review!
Author's Response: I have now amended the chapter with more clear indication of the Anti-Apparition thing. Thanks for pointing it out.
Whoa, nice ending. I think if Voldemort had made Inferius out of James and Lily, he'd use them to torment Harry. I'm eager to see what is planned for the next chapter.
Author's Response: Thanks. Last chapter has been submitted!
So, was it Inferi of James and Lily who attacked Remus and Tonks? Shudder. That's just creepy! Fascinating though and I'l be waiting for more.
It's funny to START a story with Harry going back to Privet Drive, lol, but I was glad for the update!
Why is it that us girls always end up doing the packing? It's a conspiracy!
I like to see Harry standing up to Dudley, the big oaf. I hope the dreaded Dursleys don't give him too bad a time, he's been through a lot.
Author's Response: I know - I thought it might be cool to write a whole story just showing the summer. Girls always pack because men can't do it! We are much more organised and thoughtful packers. Look out for the next chapter which should be up within the week.
It's very interesting that DD allowed all teh students to fight. I'm eager to see what happens with the Inferi and if James and Lily are included. Shudder.
Author's Response: It seemed time that he would allow them to help - the Order needs all the help it can get. Yes, shudder...
