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Reviews For The Poor of God
I can understand poor Snape's behavior afterwards, as well. Even though he knew it was all an act, I'm sure he detested having to be dressed down like that in front of everyone. And, unfortunately, Harry was there to take the brunt of his grumpiness. A grumpy Snape is not a good thing. And, I'm not sure, but I think Hell might have frozen over, or at least got a little cooler. Did Snape actually admit that he was wrong about Harry? That he knows that Harry isn't the type of person to laugh at someone else's expense? Yah Snape!!! I can see those walls slowly beginning to crumble. I liked Snape's idea to have Harry reply to Vernon's letter. Will we get to see what Harry actually wrote? And will Snape actually send it to Vernon? I love how Luna kept pointing out to Harry that Snape was acting like a parent and how Harry kept denying that. He really doesn't have much to reference Snape's behavior with other than the Weasley's, and I'm sure that there are MAJOR differences in parenting styles there. Of course, Harry needs a parent more like Snape, doesn't he? What the heck was Snape thinking letting Harry walk the corridors with only Luna? Sometimes the man is overly restrictive and other times it's like he's thrown all caution to the wind. He has to know that there are people within the castle, mostly in his own house, that wish Harry harm. At least Harry remembered to use his little green army guy. I think they both would have been devastated if Luna had died. Anyway, sorry for the long, rambling review. I loved the chapter and, as usual, can't wait for the next.
Okay, got that out of my system. Mostly. So, this is what I'd call a 'lull us into a false sense of security the better to smack us into a brick wall' kind of chapter. I liked the interaction with Harry, Ron, and Hermione, and you have their characters down just as much as Snape's and Harry's and Luna's. I particularly like this: "No amount of suddenly not being horrible can make up for that," because well, he's got a point, doesn't he? That's a central issue for Harry at the moment, and it can't but do him good to know he's not the only one who feels that way. But I'm also glad he feels conflicted about his reaction, because that conflict is what's driving the growth of the relationship, and the relationship is what makes the story so damn interesting. I appreciated the low-key tenor of the 'dressing down', because it really was so much more in character than the huge blowup Ron was hoping for, and I *loved* the moment when Snape caught Harry's eye and reminded him with that subtle glance that it was an act. It's a nice echo of the way he tried to prepare Harry for the 'potions incident', only this time he catches the clue. Yay, Harry! :) Also, nice touch having Dumbledore call Snape 'Professor Snape' rather than 'Severus' at the beginning of the confrontation. It's subtle, but for anyone who's been paying attention to how Dumbledore speaks to his staff, it sends a *very* clear message. The exchange between Snape and Harry as they walk back to Snape's rooms is telling, not only because of Snape's apology--for which I was ridiculously proud of him--but for Harry's obliquely expressed concern. And what the hell is that stain on Snape's sleeve? Is he still bloody from when Vernon attacked Harry? The man definitely needs a nap, at least, if not a potion. The section that begins with "There are no good options, Harry realizes" and ends with "I am quite in earnest" struck me as important, just because I think it's a scene that likely to be repeated with variations many times as Harry and Snape's relationship changes and --hopefully-- transforms into one of mutual trust. Actually, the whole conversation around Vernon’s letter, and whether his threat is credible, is excellent, and I had to laugh at this: “I mean, I don't really see Uncle Vernon popping round to the Malfoys' to plot my death over tea and biscuits, do you?" even though Snape is, of course, quite right, and Harry really does need to understand that. I also laughed when Snape made Harry the lap desk. I can just see the long-suffering *I can't believe you are abusing a book in that manner, Potter* look he was giving Harry. :) I am, of course, dying to read Harry's letter to Vernon, because I’m fascinated to know if he's come to enough awareness to know just what would be an 'appropriate' response. My guess is, most likely not; he has so little sense of self-worth, and is so accustomed to accepting his treatment at that miserable bastard's hands . . . but he's surprised me before. Yay, Luna! I really think I love Luna. :) And the conversation about Snape acting like a parent is quite funny and touching at the same time, because really, how would Harry know 'normal* in a parent-child relationship if it came up and bit him on the nose? And the image of Ron as an only child is hilarious. And then, and then, ack!! The bloody wretched Slytherins show up and *smack*! Get a grip, Annette! *deep breath* Okay, so I had to laugh when they first see the Slytherins and have this exchange: "But they don't look happy to see us." "Don't they?" says Luna. "I think they look rather pleased, myself." It’s so very, very characteristic of both of them, and the irony is in the fact that they’re both right. And I’m afraid I really can’t bear in depth analysis of the following scene. Suffice to say it was intense, and scary, and brilliantly done, with Harry trying to protect Luna and Luna trying to protect Harry and thank *god* for modified portkeys, and the wildness of Snape’s manner when he arrives on the scene . . . *deep breath* I like the bit where Snape makes Harry turn his head while he Heals Luna, just because its illustrative of one of the more endearing--and simultaneously alarming--realities of his personality. He's so . . . his sensibilities are so very Victorian--practically medieval, or at least the rather romanticized modern view of medieval--in some ways, and then again he can be such a brutal pragmatist. I suppose it goes back to that disunity of soul, and I can see how its *useful* to be able to so completely disengage different parts of himself depending on circumstances, but honestly, its a good thing he's not dissociative, because really, the very idea of Sibyl Snape is . . . ack! *squick*! Oh, god, somebody please Obliviate me now because I *so* don't need that image in my head! I meant Sibyl the book, of course, not Sibyl bloody Trelawney, but *shiver*. Oh, I guess that's the curse of a vivid imagination. But my original point was, Snape with full -blown Dissociative Personality Disorder would be, uh, scary. Really, really scary. And the last line is brilliant. Sincerely, Annette P.S. Is something intensely horrible going to happen to those Slytherins? And to Vernon? Please? Can I watch? Can I *help*? Pretty please? I’m just a Muggle, but I’m really quite creative. And I follow directions well. Author's Response: "So, this is what I'd call a 'lull us into a false sense of security the better to smack us into a brick wall' kind of chapter." So glad you noticed! I think of Snape as fairly Victorian, yes. It's a product of his upbringing---he was raised in a working class Muggle neighborhood by parents who had probably lived through the second World War, and their mores would have been very traditional. And Snape, as I see him, tries very hard to protect his humanity in small ways and gestures. I'm not sure anything I could do to Vernon or the Slytherins would be horrible enough to satisfy my readers, alas. I do want to maintain some plausibility. But you can be sure that Snape will be bursting at the seams of his own limitations. He is quite, quite upset. Aren't you, Professor? Snape (from the sofa): Do shut up.
I love how you always have Dumbledore's great plots end in ruin - he spends far too much time and effort based on how he THINKS people are going to react, instead of how they actually DO react!! Hopefully Severus will put his foot down firmly on Dumbledore's NEXT great idea!! He needs to nip the idiocy in the bud!! I'm breathless from the action in this chapter - Well Done!! Scarlett Author's Response: "come down like the wrath of god" is, actually, a fairly accurate summation of what Snape will be doing in the next chapter. :-)
Thank you for the pleasure you are giving us all. You are a star. Big, big Hug. Author's Response: Branwyn: First you drive them to dictionaries, now you're making them panic over their grammar. Snape: Hmmph. Clearly intimidation isn't everything. Her grammar was better before she tried to correct it. Branwyn: Remember that the next time you've got Neville in class, will you?
Well, another great chapter... Please update in 48 or I will have no nails left! Can't wait to see how Snape deals with the Slytherins that attacked Luna and Harry...
'Try to believe you are safe.' " I thought these were the saddest words in this whole story. So sad, because they were so cruelly true. Severus has tried again and again to protect Harry and even if he could do it, at least from the outer world, right now he is failing miserably. And not because he doesn't want to. He doesn't know how and the fact that Harry isn't really trusting him isn't helping. The worst part is that Severus knows all that and it hurts more than he could admit it. i think he hates it being so useless. And still while he is saying these words, he is probably doing the best thing for Harry even without realizing it. He is being there for him.
I'm sorry I couldn't leave you a comment earlier, I've only discovered your story (and this site) recently. I find myself being grateful for letting us know how Severus thinks, because it was quite easy to realize his motives behind his actions: when he seemed so relieved that Luna would live and how angry he seemed when he realized Harry wasn't all right. I was glad to see that he had not made the same mistake and assured Harry that everything was an act. JUST an act. I'll leave you another short comment, for my favourite scene of this story(I'm sure you'll find it easily.) Sincerely yours, Rika. PS Don't think I didn't notice Severus calling 'Ms Potter' Harry when he appeared in the corridor. Talk about being worried. I don't think he called him that before, at least not to his face. Author's Response: Thank you! And yes, Snape calling him "Harry" and not "Potter" was very deliberate. I'm glad you noticed. :)
mmm...dilapidated nails has a nice ring to it, you know? even if it doesn't exactly make sense, the l's match and it sounds awfully poetic. anyway. loved the chapter! i admit, i haven't been reviewing nearly as often as i used to on this website, and now i'd like to offer an explanation. a book. it's called, "my sister's keeper." that book is brilliant. pure brilliance. at first, i was mostly sucked in by the sarcasm (woot! sarcasm! lol...) and then there was so much more that i was just overwhelmed and i decided my mission in life was to bring the wonders of this book to anyone who comes in my presence. including, naturally, you, because you happen to be the first person i have read since i went into that huge phase thing, which ended at precisely 11:30 last night. feel proud. very proud. anyway, if you haven't read it, go read it. oh, and i checked out your recs! well, i haven't been to the library since like forever, so not the books, but i read 'girl most likely'! i stayed up really really late reading it, and was practically half-asleep, so i really do need to reread it to get the whole feel of the thing better. anyway, 'twas quite brilliant. thanks for telling me about them. okay, now i have sufficiently rambled about everything but your chapter, so i'll finally get to the story. woot. my favorite line? probably, this one. "Try to have a little faith in the prodigiously powerful witches and wizards who have been working to insure your safety, Potter," Snape says, and though his voice is dry rather than reassuring his expression is perfectly serious. "It is not a foregone conclusion that death and destruction will follow you wherever you go." it just kind of got me this little mental picture, with like this cartoon character harry (think nerdy little boy with glasses and short and drowning in an enormous cape) with little bubbles titled death and destruction trailing after him. it was quite fascinating. and a bit sad, for harry. i send him yet another hug, in what seems to be my reviewing ritual. mmmm...protective snape! how exciting! ^_^ oh, and the password. asphodel. it was one of those things you just miss, stop, and read again, and your eyes get big and round. you really are an amazing writer. Author's Response: Thank you for the recommendation! I will look the book up. And I'm glad you liked "Girl Most Likely" as the author is my best friend---do drop her a line, if you're inclined, and let her know. I love the cartoon image. I can just see that. It would be adorable. And I'm glad you picked up on the "asphodel" thing. I'll give you a piece of information that may or may not make it into the story---it's the emergency password he set up just for Harry in casehe ever needed it.
I really, really enjoyed this chapter! Thank you! Author's Response: Ah, I thought you'd given up on my story! Thank you! |
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