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Reviews For The Poor of God
And I think Snape shrinking Harry's trainers were a brilliant idea--maybe unique in the annals of this type of story. That's hard to do. ;-)
"Branwyn: Of course not. You were polluting your body with designer hallucinogenic Potions you invented yourself." I'm assuming your referring to the Draught to Induce Euphoria? I've never seen anyone, but myself ever comment on that one. It really struck me in HBP that Harry ran across this potion where Snape had repeatedly worked to perfect the potion *and* had added the peppermint (I think) that according to Slughorn would basically reduce the outward manifestations of the potion. I thought at the time it sounded just like something teenage Snape might do. He'd maybe be drawn to a potion to give him really great feelings -- something he wouldn't experience naturally very often -- but wouldn't want people to actually *notice* him being affected by it. Author's Response: *laughs* You know, I hadn't actually made that connection. I just assumed that if nihilistic teenage Snape wanted to alter his mood, he'd do it himself rather than trust to a common Muggle weed. But what you say makes a lot of sense. Very subtle but brilliant of JKR.
Author's Response: Thank you! Rest assured, I am going on. :)
You've got yourself a fan! :D! A very dedicated fan! Wonderful Snape-Harry interaction. Just lovely. :)
What I like about this chapter is that nothing too horrible happens in it, which after the roller-coaster of the past several installments is rather a relief. I'm all for intensity, and obviously a budding angst-junkie, but there's also something to be said for respite. I have to say that I find 'drunk and rambling' Snape quite endearing and 'hung-over and seriously considering slitting my own throat' Snape altogether adorable (don't tell him I said that, please!). Poor thing. He is, in his own way, almost as emotionally stunted as Harry; it's a damn good thing the two of them have Luna. But even in my sympathy, I have to say I laughed my ass of when he woke up. Dancing hippogriffs. *snort* Hammering trolls. *chortle* "Damn Muggles and their blasted weeds. Damn whiskey, and the Dark Lord, and heartbreakingly vulnerable children who had the indecency to be born with their mother's eyes..." And do you have any idea how disconcerting it is to be laughing almost hysterically and suddenly be blindsided by tears? Other lines and sections that stood out for me: "But Snape does not turn on him, does not dash the glass against a wall and call his name in tones that makes it indistinguishable from a swear word." This is just . . . it's so precisely reflective of the source of Harry’s issues, and it makes me so angry and so sad to think not only about how Harry has had his name (and thereby his sense of self) debased in that way, but how many real children in the real world have, also. " . . . because Harry knows, believes, deep in his heart, that even if Vernon Dursley were to charge through the door of the parlor at this very moment, Snape would drop him before he had the chance to so much as shout at him." This line, on the other hand, makes me want to cheer, because it's so hopeful, such a concrete example of Harry's essential resilience, and his bravery, which let him continue to learn, to believe even that which flies in the face of all his previous experience. " . . . he has the impression that Snape can't bring himself to get through more than a few sentences at a time without having to stop and collect himself," and "For the first time, Harry is glad that Snape is not looking at him. There is such a haunted note to the man's voice that Harry is almost afraid to think what his eyes would look like," and "Snape lifts his head then, and Harry, gobsmacked, sees that his eyes are very bright, as though on the verge of overflowing with tears," and “But when Harry drops his gaze again, he finds that the hand resting on the arm of Snape's chair is trembling,” I love for much the same reason, because all four lines--indeed Harry's reactions to the whole conversation (though it's almost more a monologue in the beginning) about his parents, help underscore Harry's empathy, his understanding that Snape, who he is just now coming to comprehend *has* feelings, might be struggling with them, despite the lubrication of alcohol. Some people never are capable of that level of empathy, after all. It’s also deeply heartening that Snape is willing to struggle, and willing to let Harry see that he does. I love how, even sloshed, Snape still talks like, well, Snape. 'Excessively hagiographical terminology' indeed. :) And I like how he continues to respond badly to, for example, the idea of being apologized to, though I'm glad he's drunk, or tired, or maybe just gracious enough to hear the apology (which is vintage Harry in its fumbling, anxious, courageous, absolute sincerity) out. Snape may not 'aspire to unity', but he so clearly does aspire to--while at the same thinking he has no hope of gaining--decency, to . . . redemption, I suppose. Which is all just a way of saying that I continue to appreciate your deeply in-character characterization, which is even more remarkable the farther you take them from any situation or interaction they encountered in the source material. And I can’t tell you how much I appreciate the much-needed humor of Harry—with such very Harry earnestness—telling Snape that smoking is bad for him. It’s a small instance of your large ability to control pacing and mood, of the (apparently instinctive, since you say you’re not plotting ahead) way you can ratchet up the intensity—either slowly, in deadly little increments, or with the stomach-clenching abruptness of a carnival rocket-ride—and then puncture it with a single line, before doing it all over again. I think I notice it here, particularly, because the whole chapter has something of that sense of caesura for me; it’s important, and illuminating, and central to the unfolding narrative, but it’s not nearly as *agonizing* as some of what’s come before, or, I assume, as some of what’s coming after. It's good to see Snape review the events of the previous evening with so little--relatively speaking--regret. I like the little bit at the end, with Snape shrinking Harry’s shoes, quite a lot, both because it’s a sweet moment, and because I think it’s really helpful for Snape to see how much Harry appreciates even very small gestures, perhaps even more than the larger ones, because he can understand them better, and they set up less cognitive dissonance for him. I find myself hoping rather pathetically that he’ll be able to get to the Great Hall and back without any further trauma, but somehow I’m afraid the hope is a vain one. Thanks as always for writing. Sincerely, Annette Author's Response: Thank you. I rather thought the emotional roller coaster needed to slow down for a breather myself. Although apparently I'm not going to get 37 reviews for a single chapter again until I let someone try to kill Harry again... I'm glad you laughed. I love getting cranky characters drunk and then giving them hangovers. As to laughing and crying in the same line, you don't honestly expect me to apologize, do you? :-) And yeah, the bit about Harry fearing Snape's reaction...well, as you say. Lots of children hear their names spoken in tones not easily distinguished from swear words. *raises hand* It leaves evidence. As someone who shares Snape's tendency to overshare under the influence of alcohol, I thought that would be a perfect way to help the story along. :) And I worked very hard to make this chapter funny. Or rather, I stopped restraining my own sense of humor, which can be a bit inappropriate at times, and let it do its wicked worst. It *was* important for Snape to see how responsive Harry is to small gestures, because small gestures are all Snape's comfortable with at the moment. It's an easier way to build up a slow foundation of trust between them. I can assure you that breakfast will be...*relatively* uneventful. Afterwards, though...
and oh my god, snape: listening to the rolling stones and smoking ciggerettes? the next chapter better have him talking about how he smoked pot in the 70s and used to do hits of acid or something just for this hilarity of it all.. lol.. priceless. Author's Response: Branwyn: She wants to know about your history as a drug user. Snape (peering at the screen): Please. As though I would condescend to pollute my body with anything so mundane as cannabis. Branwyn: Of course not. You were polluting your body with designer hallucinogenic Potions you invented yourself. Snape: The results are so much more satisfying when tailored to an individuals own brain chemistry.
Author's Response: I honestly don't know where they'll be in the end. :-( Sorry. Just...wherever their path leads them. I'm waiting to find out too.
I had to say awwwwww several times in this chapter. I loved it, no other words to explain it. Update soon! |
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