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Reviews For Sacrifices
Author's Response: *throws confetti* I think Remus rocks, just my thoughts there. He's massively important to this story, so his involvement only gets bigger. Thanks, again! ~ RK
Very interesting, good changes of points of view and explanations why somebody does something and of how torn up and devasted Severus, Sirius and Remus are by the events. For example, great idea with that scar removing charm invented by Lilly to help Severus back when they where at school, that is - like many other points in this story - a creative use of the information in OOP, HBP and DH. I also liked that glimpse of Kreacher in the old Black house. And good to show how the allmighty Albus Dumbledore miscalculated and behaved irresponsible... And everybody knows it! (But how, you didn´t really explain how the Daily Prophet got wind of what happened at the Potters and afterward so quickly? If they did interviews with Dumbledore, I dont think he would tell them so much?) Dumbledore isn´t omnipotent and infailable anymore in the eyes of the public and I do concur wholeheartedly. Really, what responsible adult would leave a little child, an orphan, an attempted murder victim, all alone outside a strangers house in the middle of a cold night in November? And on top of that at the doorstep of people who are known to despise and hate the parents of the freshly orphaned child? This is inviting a tragedy to happen. Poor Harry, at least Severus found him in time and saved him. Now I am very curious how Severus will explain to Dumbledore and the other Hogwarts teachers that he has a son so suddenly? Even without that special scar I assume that little Harry still looks very much like Harry Potter, green eyes like Lilly Evans, black hair like James Potter... well ok Severus has black hair too? I´ll hurry to read on to find out! *wink* I was only a bit confused as to why and how Severus was visiting Lilly just at the same time as Lord Voldemort came to attack the Potters and duelled with James? As far as I know, James and Sirius really hated Severus, how would James let this Death Eater into his house to visit Lilly, especially if the Potters are under the Fidelius charm hiding from the Dark Lord? Or do you imply that Lord Voldemort took Severus along for the planned attack on the Potters as a back up or a witness or perhaps to torment him, because Severus begged his Lord to spare Lilly? Why did you write that Lilly faced a "monster"? Isnt that a bit too black-and-white cliché? Surely, the Dark Lord is a tall man, a very powerful wizard, the leader of the dark wizards of Britian, allready altered by dark rituals from his most handsome dark looks as a teenager or when he worked for Borgin and Burks as a young man, but to call him a "monster? Lord Voldemort at this point in time doesn´t look quite so gaunt, snaky, scaly as after his resurrection at the end of GOF, doenst he? Something else: I suppose Severus has at least some knowledge about basic child care (like what and how to feed a baby or toddler, changing napies, calming little kids, what potions they might require to heal them from common childhood illness and so on) from his basic healer training while studying for his Potions Mastery? Otherwise there is no explanation how he can care for little Harry, keep him alive and well for a few days. Because most young men (and woman) would be utterly clue- and hopeless at this, if they haven´t experianced growing up with younger siblings in their family or learning to babysit someone elses children as teenagers? I remember well how unsure, terrified and overwhelmed I was with my own pregnancy, birth and my baby, as I am an only child. Growing up and later at university or working at different jobs I had almost no contact with mothers, babys or toddlers before giving birth myself. That is contact apart from sometimes seeing other mothers with small kids like on the streets, in a bus, in a shopping mall, at a beach and so on but I never paid any attention to them other then either noticing that they slept peacefully like little angels or wincing from the screaming temper tantrums those kids threw like miniature devils. My husband was an only child too, we both have/had rather technilogical professions, so he didn´t have a clue either about anything concerning babys... Well I assure you that my child survieved and is just short of her teens.*wink* So as a tribute to all those parents and especially single parents out there struggling daily with raising their kids, (and most of them doing a spendid job despite all the odds) I appriciate it if Severus has some problems coping with toddler Harry and that the readers don´t get the completly wrong image that it is all so very easy and not much work and sleepless nights to raise a kid. I smiled at the scene with little Harry trowing food everywhere or that he is so attached to a toy animal, how typical! Author's Response: This is the biggest review I have ever received...and I am very excited about that. First of all, thank you for the constructive criticism all throughout the review. It's made me do a lot of thinking. Since this was such a huge review, I've decided to respond with equal vigor! Thank you for the compliment on the point of view shifts. I'm so glad you liked Kreacher. He interests me quite a bit actually, and I thought what better way to show Kreacher before he was left alone for all those years than right before Sirius goes after Peter? Personally, I am not that big of a Dumbledore fan. There are even canon characters that think he is invincible and knows the best course of action for everything, which I wholeheartedly disagree with, and I wanted to show that. And it always bothered me that he just like dumped Harry on the doorstep like that! He's a wizard! Couldn't he have alohamora'd the door and at least gotten him out of the cold, and into shelter? He makes mistakes, he makes the wrong judgements, but no one ever calls him on it. Why? So, I tried giving some of the characters like Remus a little more of a backbone and stand up for himself. (And I love Remus, so he was always going to be an important character in this...) As to the Daily Prophet "getting wind" of everything...Well, they always seem to do so in canon anyways, so why not? And if Rita Skeeter is an unregistered animagus who can literally blend into the environment while getting a story, there has to be more of them that do something like that. Severus explaining how he suddenly has a son is explained around chapter 11 or 12, so keep on reading. Lots of stuff happens in there. As to Severus being present at James/Lily's home on the night of the attack. In a way future chapter I have the entire flashback planned. It will probably be it's own chapter, actually. Everything to do with that is explained. All of your questions about why/how Severus was there, did Voldemort take him along, etc. should all be answered in that chapter. Answers are coming! Lily facing a monstrer: Yes, I used monster because to someone who kills Muggleborns for no reason other than them being a Muggleborn, would be somewhat of a monstrous person to her. He is a frightening person, he's corrupted/brainwashed people to his thinking and his creed, he's murdered people, he's tortured people, and now he's coming to kill her and her husband and son. If I were in her position it would make them a monster to me, too. (Not meaning to sound defensive or anything, just explaining.) As to Severus's childcare knowledge. Yes, some of it would have been learned from gaining a Potions Mastery, since it would probably train him in healing potions including the administering of them. And I'm not sure if I made it clear, but how he learns to care for a child is by the memories that Lily gives him. Almost like a weird tutorial, more or less for him. And I am ignoring most of the childcare issues, not to give the impression that it is easy (I babysat my baby cousins when I was only 13 and it was insane!) because it isn't, I agree, but if I included all of the difficulties in raising a child, this story would be beyond gigantic! And there is a time jump approaching soon around Chapter 18 or somewhere around there, where Harry will be a little more grown up. There are so many plot points that I need to get it moving, that I can't focus on a whole lot of issues/difficulties in childcare. But I do understand how much of a pain it is, or have a really vague idea anyway, with babysitting little demon cousins! I really appreciated this review! It was well thought out, and deliberate. The points you raised really got me thinking, and you brought up some good points. Thanks for letting me know what I need to work on in the story! Thanks for this wonderfully detailed review, and I hope you keep reading! Thank you!
Did Severus change Harry's appearance to look more like him too, or did he just hide the scar? Will Harry stay very young in this story, or will we see him go to Hogwarts too. That would be really interesting. I'm glad that I get to read a few chapters at a time. Author's Response: I am getting more and more excited with all of your reviews! No, Severus did not change Harry's appearance, he just removed the scar. We will see Harry at Hogwarts, but not necessarily as a student. (That's for the sequel...Yes, I said it...There is one planned.) Thank you!
-P.G. Author's Response: Thank you. You are making me super-super happy with all your reviews! *happy dance* To your first question: Yes. To the second and third points: Well, there's a few chapters before that happens, but you'll see soon enough...Thank you for your enthusiastic reviews.
Author's Response: Yes, I think it should have been that Severus took Harry too...Thank you for reading and reviewing...Makes me very excited!
Author's Response: Thank you for the Latin help there. Makes me happy. I am most nervous about the Latin, because there is a huge chunk of it in a later chapter (which I dread will be a mangled example of the language... *vainly hopes for success*) Thanks for reading!
Sorry for not keeping up with your story either. Kept rather busy the last few day! Now I'm off to the next chapter! Author's Response: I'm so excited to get your review. There is a reason for Severus in the story acting not so bitter yet. But the snarky familiarity will eventually arrive, but not for a while. But for now, he is less bitter, but still has a bit of a temper.
The only correction I would make on the Latin is to change "Ostendo" (which actually means "I show") to "Ostende" (which is the imperative "Show!"), and "Tego" to "Tege". Otherwise your grammar looks correct. I'm looking forward to seeing little Harry at Hogwarts. Dancingkatz Author's Response: Thank you for the review AND the Latin help! Will be sure to change the Latin. Thanks! Thanks for reading!
Author's Response: Thank you for reading/reviewing! Makes me bust with excitement when someone reviews. Yes, the next step is arriving at Hogwarts. Glad you like it so far. |
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