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Reviews For The Poor of God
CLIFFHANGER MUCH?? Waiting waiting waiting... Tell Snape that I've been doing so much reading of fanfic recently that I'm absolutely failing to read for law school... and the profs are meaner than he is! :) Author's Response: Dude, if you fail the bar because of me, I will cry. STUDY.
First the attack. That was interesting because it reminded me of the sort of thing Fred, George and perhaps others might have done to the Slytherin Inquisitorial Squad in OOTP, if they'd done something to get McGonagall in trouble. So the Slytherin student's reactions aren't really that surprising. They'd assume that Harry had carried tales to Dumbledore about Snape's insults in order to get him in trouble, on top of, of course, the potions accident. It appears that one used a curse something like Sectumsempra. Since in HBP we got to see Snape's response when Harry used that one on Draco, I'm curious how he'd respond when some of his own Slytherins use a spell like that on a student he cares about. I was struck by Snape's tension after his confrontation with Dumbledore. As Harry finds it difficult to deal with Snape's insults or "I loathe you" demeanor even when he realizes it's an act (now at least), I wonder if it is difficult for Snape to deal with Dumbledore's public disapproval, even though Snape knows it to be an act as well. Dumbledore uses the terms "schoolboy grudge" here and while in canon Lupin may call it a schoolboy grudge, Dumbledore refers to Snape's continuing anger at James as stemming from "wounds too deep for healing," which seems to be saying that Dumbledore really does see the depth of pain that Snape is dealing with. Snape, of course, wouldn't see it as a schoolboy grudge, as he sees James, in part, as a would-be murderer who got cold feet, and the person whose arrogance in trusting a treator foiled his attempts to save Lily's life. So Snape might find Dumbledore's public comments difficult to bear, even knowing he's acting. After all, most listeners *don't* know it's an act. Obviously, I get protective of Snape. :D And what about those stains on his cuff, hm? Poor Snape. On a re-read of the previous chapter together with this one, I noticed that he never even had a chance to change clothes after waking up with a hangover and having to take Harry to the Great Hall and have the confrontation with Dumbledore. Now he's back rescuing Luna and Harry. I'm enjoying watching the difficulties of Harry and Snape as they both resist so strongly the notion that they are growing to care about one another and the opinion of the other. Both are so damaged and wanting to avoid further vulnerabilities, after so many hurts. By the way, I noticed this sentence: "Suddenly, he would like nothing better than to rip apart piece by piece." It appears to need an "it." Excellent writing as usual. Author's Response: I really appreciate your making the effort to rewrite the review and post it again. :-) Thanks for pointing out the typo! I always miss a few. And yes, just as you say, Snape hasn't changed his shirt in over twenty four hours, so the stain on his cuff is Harry's blood from Vernon's attack. I never meant that to be a mystery, but a couple of people have asked. And you are perfectly right about the levels of tension going on between Dumbledore and Snape in that conversation. I was hobbled by having to depict the whole thing from Harry's POV but if I'd done so from Snape's, it would have lacked the necessary tension---mostly because Dumbledore, speaking sotto voce, is, rather than chewing Snape out, asking in a conversational way how Harry is doing, etc, until that last, loudest comment. But rest assured, my Dumbledore knows exactly how hard that was for Snape, and he won't forget it. Sectumsempra is the kind of spell that certain students would know even without Snape's textbook---for one thing, Harry's probably not the only person who ever flipped through that old textbook, and also anyone Snape went to school with who saw him use it could pass it on to their kids. Lupin refers to it openly by name in DH, so knowledge of the curse is probably common by now. As to how he's going to react to his students using it on Harry and Luna...well, you'll see next chapter. :)
Author's Response: Branwyn: The prospect of merely having your thoughts conveyed to her secondhand was enough to draw her out of the woodwork. Snape: Woodwork? Gained a readership among the vermin, have you? Well done. Branwyn (ignoring him): She thinks your concern for Harry was "poignant". Snape: From the same root as "poniard", a sword with a sharp point---stabbing. Yes, entanglement in Potter's affairs is not unlike being hacked apart by swords, how clever of her to notice.
Whew! That was an exciting encounter. Harry really will be insistent now that he doesn't endanger anyone. Those seventh years played for keeps. I'm also eager to hear Harry's reply to his uncle. Author's Response: You will hear Harry's reply in full detail. :)
But seriously, I definitely didn't see the Slytherin attack coming! They'd better be expelled, the little bastards... I loved the reference to the DA, by the way, and I also loved how Harry smiled in proud remembrance. I always loved how Luna attacks the Death Eaters in the book...so nonchalantly, watching them fall with fascination...lol. I just love her. Some of my favorite lines: Harry blinks at him. "Well, no, not really." At Snape's irritated expression, he adds, "I mean, yeah, I know he said that, but...he calls him 'Lord Whatsit', so I didn't think there was any point taking him seriously. I mean, I don't really see Uncle Vernon popping round to the Malfoys' to plot my death over tea and biscuits, do you?" **This line was SO like Harry's humor and really made me laugh. "Snape, having the final say on everything I do and everywhere I go," Harry says. "It's not normal. It's like being a prisoner, or..." Harry can't think of any other similes. "Like having a parent?" Luna suggests. **I love how you used the word "normal"...as if Harry's previous life was anything alone those lines... And I loved this description: He is exhausted, almost blind with pain, and he feels strangely hollow inside, as though he has been sobbing his guts out for an hour, or has thrown a screaming temper tantrum like he'd done in Dumbledore's office at the end of last year. **I know EXACTLY what that hollow feeling is like. Great simile. Overall, this chapter was brilliant. I can't wait for the next one! Author's Response: :-) I though the use of the word "normal" in those circumstances was particularly ironic and amusing, yes. :-)
Why, O why did the whole incident in the potions classroom not teach them that when you try and contrive things, it all goes pear-shaped? We know that the Slytherins can be as loyal as hufflepuffs when one of 'their own' is slandered. It stands to reason that they would want retribution. It's as if in all the plotting and little clever schemes, Dumbledore only thinks about what the desired consequence is, not about all the other possible consequences. Agh! Only one small thing - when Snape says 'God' rather than 'Merlin' is that because he's under so much stress that he's reverted back to his dodgy muggle past? I can imagine that the shock of the situation would lead him to speak uncharacteristically. Anyway, I had better pretend to do some work to take my mind off the wait for the next chapter. By the way, the frog rating only lets me go up to 10 out of 10 - which isn't nearly enough... Thanks again, Ally Author's Response: Hey---careful on the Dumbledore critcism. Snape is standing just behind me making strange growly, spitting noises. It's unpleasant. Not to mention wet. And no, he is informing me that he does not want your pity, but he does want me to tell you that as Head of Slytherin he has no use for the kind of loyalty that so completely disposes of cunning as to involve a direct unprovoked attack on the Boy Who Lived and a female student two years younger than them.
Also, well spotted on the God/Merlin thing. Yeah, I believe that whenever Muggle raised wizards are under significant duress, they revert just a bit and say the kind of things they did when they were young. Like Hermione saying "Oh my God" as the owls with OWL scores were arriving.
Snape is so gentle, so caring, and now what will he do with both of them hurt. What will become of those who hurt them? Protective Severus YAY!!!!!!!!
I've been reading a few of your other stories when waiting for updates on this one. I was sceptical but I really enjoyed your Rose Potter story and what you've posted of the Luna/Severus story. Are you still planning on updating those stories. Also, is it just me or was that Waking Dreams potion ordeal fairly tame. Well at least compared with how you had Severus describe it to Harry at the beginning. I guess I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop, seeing as how Harry seemed to recover much quicker than they thought possible. I know he's been through so much other stuff and don't want you to torture him, but I'm just wondering if there was a reason Harry recovered so quickly. I laughed at your Author's Note because I was actually chewing my nails. Horrid habit. Anyway, looking forward to how Severus deals with the boys who attacked Harry and Luna and the rest. It was great to see them out and about a bit and see Ron and Hermione again. The 'conversation' between Severus and Dumbledore was perfect. Dumbledore has a very unique power in his voice, love it! Hope you're having a good week! Author's Response: The Rose Potter story is complete. I am considering writing sequels/prequels, however. Best place to stay abreast of that if you're interested is my LJ. The Luna/Snape story...I may be posting more at a later date, but I doubt I'll ever actually finish it. Sorry. I don't know how much more dramatic I could have made the Waking Dreams potion, but one way or another there's no other shoe to drop. They will talk more about how Harry recovered so quickly in this chapter, though. I too chew my nails. I probably ingest more fingernail than I do food. |
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