What happens when a brain damaged Harry and a transgender Hermione both get sorted into Slytherin? Snape's not sure, but he thinks it's likely to be an interesting term. This story follows various first years through the trials of their first year
Takes Place: 1st Year
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Snape flavour: None
Tags: Alternate Universe, Slytherin!Harry
Categories: Teacher Snape > Trusted Mentor Snape, Parental Snape > Guardian Snape
Membership status: Member
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Reviews by Terri B
Rated: T
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Warnings: Abusive Dursleys, Neglect
Chapters: 25 - Completed: No - Updated: 09 Jul 2017 / 31 Oct 2011
Series: None - Challenges: Minor Canon Character, Barrier to learning
Chapters: 25 - Completed: No - Updated: 09 Jul 2017 / 31 Oct 2011
Series: None - Challenges: Minor Canon Character, Barrier to learning
| Title: Chapter 14: Week 14 - Hermes, Dudley, Harry | 07 Feb 2012 |
| Reviewer: Terri B (Signed) |
- Dear lastcrazyhorn,
I've been enjoying this story very much from the beginning. Your manner of developing your plot is sophisticated - especially considering you do most of it using dialogue/transcripts. I'm glad that you show the session transcripts of mostly all the first years in all the houses - it's an excellent idea, adds realism, and it's really cute to see how gossip circulates throughout the students, and how each of the different students is affected by other students' actions.
My one problem: I agree with McGonagall's opinion of Hermes, and unfortunately the section from her point of view did nothing to convince me otherwise.
There have always been women who prefer "masculine" activities (Leslie in Bridge to Terebithia, Maggie in The Mill on the Floss, Jo in Little Women), who resist their mothers' attempts to turn them into young ladies. Witness your Hannah Abbott. These women grow up to combine their "womanhood" and their "masculine interests" to create vibrant and unique personalities.
When Hermes's personal life was still a mystery to us, I was willing to accept that she might feel like a boy trapped in a girl's body. However, finding out that her big secret is merely that she is really, really a tomboy and her mother really, really wants her to be girly (ok, yes, to a crazy degree) is disappointing. That doesn't make Hermes transgender. That doesn't cut it for me.
Furthermore, I find it disturbing that an eleven-year-old decided on her own that she was the wrong gender, even a bright eleven-year-old like Hermes. (Or maybe I'm underestimating Hermes.)
I have a hard time believing that children think like that. I also have a hard time accepting that the "good" adults at Hogwarts (McGonagall is clearly the odd, old-fashioned one out) believe the best course of action is to accept this child's decision that though she was born a girl she really is a boy.
Not that I believe that breaking her habits, or whatever, is the best way to go. Of course, her underlying feelings need to be addressed, and of course she can go on reading and playing with Lincoln Logs and whatever she likes to do (except if it causes harm to herself or to someone else), and the first year girls should be given special instruction against bullying. The point is that Hermes is HERSELF, even if she likes to do 'boy' things, even if she likes to dress like a boy and keep her hair short, even if she prefers to go by a sexually-ambiguous nickname. Only then will she really be true to her own unique self.
Especially since it seems most likely to me that the intensity of Hermes's masculine preferences stems from a deep-rooted issue with her mother. I hope that is what Severus will focus on in working with her.
Is there more to the story that I'm missing? Is there more you haven't revealed yet?
All of the above is solely my own opinion, and I hope not to offend anyone by it - certainly not anyone struggling with their identity, nor anyone with a loved one struggling with their identity. My thoughts are based on what we know so far of Hermes's background and the construction of her gender.
~ Terri B.
Author's Response:
It's all right that you agree with Professor McGonagall. :) I'm in partial agreement with almost all of my characters, even Justin.
It IS true that the entire story isn't out yet about Granger, but you are certainly entitled to your own opinion in the meantime (or after). The topics that are focused on in this fic (intelligence, social presentation, gender issues etc.) aren't simply cut and dried ideas that are agreed on by the mass public. Now, the opinions represented by the people that make up the usual fanfic audience, they tend to be a little more open towards bizarreness; one would have to be, to get one's mind around some of the fics that are out there currently. :)
So does that make you closeminded? Not necessarily. Traditional minded? Maybe. I dunno. It's not my place to put labels on people, which I think this fic is trying to demonstrate. We can label ourselves and we can get labelled, but in the end, is that what really matters?
Once more, I don't know. It depends. :P
Worried sick about a missing Hedwig, Harry decides to pull one of his more dangerous stunts. Snape has been landed with the job of looking out for the Boy-Who-Lived… but surely he doesn’t know anything about Harry’s missing owl? One-shot.
Takes Place: 1st Year - Snape flavour: None
Tags: None
Categories: Teacher Snape > Professor Snape
Takes Place: 1st Year - Snape flavour: None
Tags: None
Categories: Teacher Snape > Professor Snape
Rated: K
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Warnings: None
Chapters: 1 - Completed: Yes - Updated: 12 May 2012 / 12 May 2012
Series: None - Challenges: None
Chapters: 1 - Completed: Yes - Updated: 12 May 2012 / 12 May 2012
Series: None - Challenges: None
| Title: Chapter 1: Owls in the Garden | 17 May 2012 |
| Reviewer: Terri B (Signed) |
- Heh heh. The actual ingredients for the forgetfulness potion :)
That was really sweet!
Author's Response: Thank you! Yes, I got them from a website that got the recipe from Pottermore :)! Thanks for reviewing!
Harry is cursed. Severus is trying to find the cure.
Entrant into the 2012 prompt fest. Prompts: Frost covered windows. Footsteps in the dark.
Takes Place: 8 - Post Hogwarts (young adult Harry) - Snape flavour: None
Tags: None
Categories: Fic Fests > #14 Prompt Fest 2012, Parental Snape > Guardian Snape
Entrant into the 2012 prompt fest. Prompts: Frost covered windows. Footsteps in the dark.
Takes Place: 8 - Post Hogwarts (young adult Harry) - Snape flavour: None
Tags: None
Categories: Fic Fests > #14 Prompt Fest 2012, Parental Snape > Guardian Snape
Rated: T
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Warnings: Character Death
Chapters: 5 - Completed: Yes - Updated: 16 May 2012 / 16 May 2012
Series: None - Challenges: None
Chapters: 5 - Completed: Yes - Updated: 16 May 2012 / 16 May 2012
Series: None - Challenges: None
| Title: Chapter 5: Chapter 5 | 17 May 2012 |
| Reviewer: Terri B (Signed) |
- Man. This was wonderful - so original! I'm impressed that you were able to tell a good story complete with action and character development and suspense in such a short space!
Author's Response: Thanks you!