Potions and Snitches
Snape and Harry Gen Fanfiction Archive

Title: Detention 01 Dec 2008 8:56 pm
Reviewer: wynnleaf (Signed) [Report This]
    As with the other story, I've been reading some of the reviews. In HBP, we are never told whether or not any of the teachers ever learned about Draco's attempted Crucio. Harry certainly did not mention it to Snape, even in his defense when Snape was assigning such lengthy detentions, so we can't necessarily assume Harry told McGonagall. My feeling was that Harry initially felt so bad over what happened that he didn't attempt to place any blame on Draco. After all, Harry had been contemplating trying out Sectumsempra on McClaggen next time his back was turned. So while Harry's actually usage of it was in self-defense , he had been perfectly willing to use it on an innocent victim just for spite.

    Draco, of course, had no reason at all to reveal his own guilt. So there's no reason to wonder why Draco didn't get punished. In any case, even if Harry had mentioned it, perhaps teachers would have thought that almost getting killed was punishment enough. And in any case, Crucio was completely illegal and Dumbledore didn't want Draco under arrest.

    Author's Response: Thanks for reviewing again! Yes, the fact that Draco isn't punished is certainly irritating many readers.
Title: DADA 01 Dec 2008 7:38 pm
Reviewer: Pandora (Signed) [Report This]
    As usual, I've really enjoyed this chapter. You really have a knack for getting inside your chracter's mind, and I'm actually understanding Snape's point of view, which with regards to corporal punishment, I'd never thought that that would happen!

    Author's Response:

    Thanks! Yes, I really like writing Snape - if I'm in the right mood... ;)

Title: Detention 26 Nov 2008 1:01 am
Reviewer: ashmeadowphoenix (Anonymous) [Report This]
    Hmmm...It's a little hard for me to believe that Harry would in fact find this a just punishment. Strictly speaking, he cast a spell in self-defense, and Harry has never shown much remorse for defending himself. Nor is it typical for people to be punished this severely for defending themselves in Hogwarts, even with unknown spells. What he did was stupid but not malicious. What Malfoy did (casting a cruciatus curse that was only cut off because of Harry) was malicious. Besides isn't it a little hypocritical of Snape to want to severely punish Harry for using an unknown spell, when he was the one who made up the spell in the first place, which frankly is just as stupid and more than a little malicious. I only say this because in this fic, Snape seems to genuinely want to make Harry more responsible. Thus being hypocritical doesn't really give Snape any moral authority (instead of in other fics where he doesn't really care what Harry actually did but punishes him because he wishes to, in which hypocrisy is not an issue). I suppose that this all goes back to the fact that while I could not see Dumbledore even authorizing such a punishment, without first ascertaining the exact circumstances. If I remember correctly, Harry was actually initially sympathetic toward Malfoy before Malfoy attacked. In these circumstances, a stupid response like using an unknown spell on Malfoy is more understandable and not I think a sign of an uncontrollable temper. These are just the disonances that nagged me while rreading the fic. However, that being said, I love the burgeoning understanding that is developing in Harry and Snape. It is very much in character and very real to the situation. I woould love to see where this goes.

    Author's Response:

    Thanks for your review, I was very interested in reading your thoughts. Is Snape hypocritical? Myself, I'm not sure. I certainly don't see him as "firm, but fair", either. Yes, he wants to make Harry more responsible, after all, he knows how important Harry is in the fight against Voldemort. Still, he dislikes Harry a lot, and he cannot deal with that dislike as he should, being an adult and a teacher. Honestly, I think Snape is the most fascinating character in the Potter books, but none that I would like to meet personally!

    You wrote what Draco did was malicious. I agree it is unfair that Draco isn't punished, but I wanted to follow Canon. There, Draco was never punished for almost killing two fellow students because Dumbledore wanted to protect him. And there is no mention in HBP about him being punished for trying to use an Unforgivable on Harry.

Title: Detention 25 Nov 2008 7:33 pm
Reviewer: Pandora (Signed) [Report This]
    You really have a gift for deliving into your characters minds and feelings. I enjoy reading about how they view the whole incident from both perspectives.

    Maybe Snape's methods are harsh, but I think that the essay is a great idea, and hopefully Harry will learn from it.

    Author's Response: Thanks for your feedback! I'm glad you enjoy the different perspectives, in fact that's what makes it for me interesting to write as well.
Title: Punishment 19 Oct 2008 6:57 am
Reviewer: terumi (Anonymous) [Report This]
    unexpected..................
Title: Dealing with The Chosen One 12 Oct 2008 5:17 am
Reviewer: Molly White (Anonymous) [Report This]
    okay
    Snape is totally using this as an oppertunity to get revenge off Harry for what James and Sirius did to him, really, what if Malfoy had succeeded in hitting harry with the Cruiciautis curse, this is totaly horribly unfair i mean really.
    Harry should be ticked off, i dont blame him, snape is once again doing this all because Harry is his sole reminder of James, jezz that man!
    anyways great story i hope u update really soon!!!!!!

    Author's Response:

    Not a nice man, Snape, is he?

    Thanks for your review, I am glad you like the story.

Title: Dinner 11 Oct 2008 2:11 pm
Reviewer: Well... (Anonymous) [Report This]
    I think this is too much focused on the caning. Which, apart from the fact that physically hurting children can't teach them to not hurt people. I don't see the logic. I don't think Dumbledore would ever have agreed to caning, he is too wise for that. Snape would be the kind of person who lashes out and then regrets it, not punish like that methodically. It makes no sense and the author wallows without end and explains how great caning is and how effective, etc. I have been caned, hit with many objects, kicked, etc when I was a child and I see no reason why it should be... glorified, that's what it is. JKR would not have done this. Though, there are many things she wouldn't have and I agree with, but nonetheless, this story is pretty off. It is the first on P&S I believe to be out of place.

    Author's Response:

    Sorry if you think it's glorified, that was not my intention.

Title: Dinner 09 Oct 2008 3:38 am
Reviewer: lema (Anonymous) [Report This]
    omg poor poor Harry!
    AND he had detention? taht sucks!
    poor kid, gosh that caning was bad enough!

    Author's Response: Poor Harry indeed...
Title: Dinner 08 Oct 2008 7:50 pm
Reviewer: Cheesedoodle (Anonymous) [Report This]
    So we're going to ignore the fact that Harry used the spell in self defense, are we? Look, it's not a bad story—it's actually rather well written—but this just seems really warped to me. Draco tried to *torture* Harry. If someone began an unprovoked attack on you, and (for lack of a better analogy) hurled something at you that if it hit would cause you indescribable agony, don't you think you would be justified in retaliating any way you could? If Malfoy had actually ended up dead I would still think he deserved it.

    As you can see, I don't think Harry deserved punishment for using the hex under these circumstances. However, if we're *going* to hand out punishments merely on the basis of that fact it was an unknown incantation, I am shocked that Draco is getting off scott free. He started the fight, he knew perfectly well what his curse did, and it was a horrible curse! Yet he isn't getting any punishment at all, when Harry is going through all kinds of things, just because...what? Because he knew what crucio does? Or because he was hurt? I doubt that taught him much of anything, especially since he was healed almost immediately. Or because his curse didn't land? That would be ridiculous—if a person shot at someone, I don't think everyone would be saying, "Well, he missed, so we can't hold him accountable."

    I wasn't going to respond to your story about whether Harry deserved his punishment or not, because while it seemed unwarranted to me, I figured your universe would at least be equally harsh to everyone involved. So, fine. It's your prerogative. But I am very disturbed that Draco isn't in trouble as well.

    Author's Response:

    Thanks alot for your detailed feedback. I love it when readers share with me what they liked and what they didn't like!

    As I understood, your main point of criticism is that Draco isn't punished as well. (And it seems, you are not the only one to feel like that... ). As I replied to another reviewer, HannahRammah, also in Canon Draco was never punished for almost killing two fellow students (necklace, poisoned wine), because Dumbledore wanted to protect him, and the book does not mention any punishment for Draco's attempted Crucio, either.

    Side note: Believe me or not, I think the punishment that Harry got in HBP was in a way even harsher than in my stories. Making Harry copy James' and Sirius' misdeeds and commenting "It must be such a comfort to think that, though they are gone, a record of their great achievements remains", I think that is cruel beyond words.

    Again, thanks for your review!

Title: Dinner 08 Oct 2008 6:54 pm
Reviewer: HannahRammah (Signed) [Report This]
    Although your story is well-written, it's not really logical. Draco attempted to use an Unforgivable and none has done a thing about it. And it just doesn't follow with canon Dumbledore that he would allow Snape to cane Harry. Even you mentioned in this story that Dumbledore had abolished corporal punishment. Why then, would he allow it now? With Harry, of all people? And similarly would not do anything about Draco's role? I realize this is not a story about Draco, but to be an effective whole, the lesser parts must make sense.

    Author's Response:

    Thank you very much for your review.

    I agree that it seems unfair that Draco isn't punished for trying to use an Unfogivable. However, I do not think it contradicts Canon. There, Draco was never punished for almost killing two fellow students (necklace, poisoned wine), because Dumbledore wanted to protect him. (And, by the way, it is not mentioned in Canon, either, that he was for the attempted Crucio, and I am pretty sure that Harry did tell McGonagall about it to justify himself when he was "called out of the common room for fifteen highly unpleasant minutes in the company of professor McGonagall", as it says in the book.)

    So, is Dumbledore OOC as he allows Snape to cane Harry? Maybe. However, he needs a lot of persuasion by Snape who knows how Draco probably feels. After all, Snape felt betrayed after the werewolf incident and it was another step that made him take the Dark Mark. So he wants to protect Draco from making the same mistake that he made in his youth, and I can imagine that Dumbledore can be convinced, even if he does not feel completely comfortable with it.

    Again, thanks for your feedback, I appreciate your sharing your thoughts with me!


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