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Reviews For The Poor of God
The nightmares, or dreams, were done really, really well. They were thrilling, intriguing, messed up as dreams often are, and some what horrifying at the same time. I liked the mix of all of Harry's experiences and how they came out, like saying that Quirrel was the one to use the blood quill on Harry. Very well done. I do like that fact that Luna is going to sit with Harry. I wonder what her unique perspective and personality will produce while she is working with Harry. I wonder that Snape isn't trying to direct Harry's dreams more. For example, having very soothing music, and trying to get Harry to 'relive' maybe a childhood with his mum around. I also wonder if Snape will learn how to best direct Harry's anxiety over his father figures. Right now, he's acting very Snape-like, and this of course is usually the wrong tone, and thing to say. I wonder if Snape tries to act more like James, or Sirius, if it would help, or if he'd just bungle it up just as bad. Perhaps no matter what he does, he can't fully direct Harry's dreams. I wonder how aware Harry is exactly. I would be very confused if I were him. Maybe Snape should try and do bizarre things, like put on an apron, and bring in a tray of cookies for Harry. XD I really appreciated the amount of vocabulary you manged to put in this chapter. Thank you. Sometimes I worry that reading fanfiction is not a good way to expand your writing skills, or vocabulary, but when authors do try, it helps change my mind. And this is for Harry: Do you think that this activity will make you closer to Snape, or do you think that you will feel more awkward about him and things you can't remember, once/if you regain your sanity? Do you think that Snape will get tired of you? Or, if after every thing's done, he will feel closer to you than ever before? Do you think he'll want to talk about some of your issues? Maybe before it gets really bad, Snape can give you something to calm you down. Like chamomile. Author's Response: Dear Jan: Honestly, I couldn't tell you aware I was during the dreams, because I barely remember any of them, just flashes of things here and there. I don't know if Snape affected them one way or the other, but whenever he tried to pull me out of them I caught on to where I was pretty quickly, so I guess having him nearby helped. I honestly don't know whether this will make me closer to Snape (or whether that's somewhere I want to be, honestly) but, considering all the stuff I already knew he knew about me, I don't see how things could get any more awkward on that front. Granted, Snape's pretty good about not using personal information against me. Who'd have thought, huh? I don't know whether he'll want to talk or not, really. He gets a little...overwrought whenever I go into too much detail about my life with the Dursleys. Luna says that's a good thing, but I don't quite see how. Love, Harry
Author's Response: You think SNAPE is going to have cabin fever? What about me?? I'm on bed rest for a whole week! IN SNAPE'S QUARTERS! Love, Harry
But what a chapter! You did a wonderful job playing with Harry's subconscious; his nightmares weren't at all what I was expecting, although I didn't quite know what to expect. I liked that this was told from Snape's perspective. I look forward to finding out what Albus does to Vernon--his note didn't sound very pleased. And now I can't wait to see what Luna does. Thanks for the rapid update; I look forward to the next chapter! Author's Response: Dear Vicki: NOBODY EXPECTS THE SUBCONSCIOUS EXPOSITION...um, sorry. I started watching this Muggle movie with Hermione over the summer and...yeah. Anyway. My subconscious is quite weird, I grant. I just hope its properly fatigued now and will stop bothering me for awhile---whole thing will have been worth if I stop having nightmares when I do sleep, I think. Love, Harry
Alright; my favourite part of this chapter is a toss-up, I think, between Snape reading Vernon's letter (and telling Dumbledore to deal with Vernon Dursley before he is able to), and Snape comforting Harry when he's crying out for Lily. Snape was beautifully in-character this chapter, and I enjoyed his thoughts and emotions. How he thought Harry was dull, arrogant, and rebuffing him in the first potions class, and the discovery that he hadn't. I'm glad Snape finally discovered Harry's scar from the blood quill; I'd love to see him ask Harry who did it and track down Umbridge afterwards. I'm interested to see how Luna will interact with Harry in this state; and for Harry's sake, I hope she can help. Author's Response: Hi, SnowySleigh! I just passed your comments along to Professor Snape. He wants you to know that he will "bash that bloody keyboard over that horrible harridan's head" before he'll answer any more reviews. But I secretly think he was a little flattered because his scowl went away for a whole second. Love, Harry
Author's Response: Yes, actually---this theory first occurred to me not long before DH came back a couple of months ago, and I have been operating on the assumption that it's true ever since. My logic being, if Dumbledore had any idea what was really going on in the Dursleys house (in detail, I mean) he would have sent someone along to help Harry after COS---the Dursleys trying to keep Harry from going back to Hogwarts would be something Dumbledore absolutely wouldn't ignore. Considering the timing---pre GoF, pre Snape returning to his spying---and in light of his oath to Dumbledore, it seems likely Snape would have been the person D. sent. *sigh* So many missed opportunities.
I loved Harry's fretting over the learning the text and making potions, and how Snape realized the basis for that dream was the first potion class. Another reviewer mentioned it first, but I too thought it was a brilliant touch how had Snape expecting Harry to recognize the asphodel reference and how he was insulted by the boy's confusion. It demonstrates how Snape really doesn't know very well how to establish relationships with people. Well, a good relationship, that is. Although I think he and Harry come out of this experience much stronger and closer than before. I liked how Snape is finding himself a lot more affected by Harry's pain than he expected to be. He really does have a heart, he just likes to hide it. And here's Luna! I can't wait to read more! Author's Response: Dear Kristeh, boy are you not kidding about Snape not having the first clue how to go about connecting with people. Asphodel, I ask you. Still, he's been sort of nice to me lately---he's a lot nicer on paper, actually, although he's also a lot more insulting. Not sure how that works, but then, where Snape's concerned, I never am. Love, Harry
I knew Waking Dreams was going to be absolutely horrid. I *knew* it. Talk about emotionally draining; I never cry! And we have days of this to look forward to? Poor Harry. And I mean that in the most non-pitying way possible. I think I'd feel bad for anyone under the influence of this particular potion. The fact that Harry happens to be one of my favourite characters when written properly has nothing at all to do with it. *shifty eyes* Really. A question on how you've depicted Snape (which is spot on, by the way). Are you taking the back-story of Deathly Hallows into account? With the way he thinks about Lily, apologizing and whatnot, I think you might be, and if you are, I love you all the more for it. Snape just breaks my heart here. He's trying to be cool, professional, and keep his distance, but the intimate nature of Waking Dreams isn't allowing it. Not only are Harry's inner-workings on painful display here, Snape's are dragged out into the light as well. Of *course*, Harry would stand between Snape and Voldemort! Harry would stand between *anyone* and Voldemort; that he actually has some emotional currency running in Snape's direction only makes him that much more steadfast in his resolve. Even if it's only under the effects of the potion (which is turning out to be quite sadistic, isn't it?), it's real to Harry, and *that's* what matters. You brought in Luna. You brought in *Luna*! Again. You've cemented yourself a fan, deary. I shall follow you hither and thither. Author's Response: Hi! The Draught of Waking Dreams is definitely awful, yeah. Way worse than Skele-Gro, I'd rather be in pain for twelve solid hours than vomit my emotions all over Snape, of all people, even for an hour. I just figure I'm lucky Luna turned up, Snape's got a weird soft spot for her and I don't think he'd actually kill me while she was looking. Love, Harry --- Branwyn here. In answer to your question (Harry didn't really understand what you were asking), yes, all personal canon pertaining to Snape from DH is in play here. I've been assuming for years that Snape was keeping an eye peeled for Harry because he was friends with Lily, although I didn't anticipate the formal vow he made to Dumbledore, so in that respect DH didn't mess up my story at all. :-)
ugh. anyways, i can definitely sympathize with how hard this chapter must have been to write! poor author-y. poor harry. poor snape-y...nah, pretend i never said that. he might just decide to use me as his battering as he takes over the dursley residence, and that would NOT be good. luna?! yay! luna! hehe, she should be fun to mess with snape's head. honestly, she can mess with anyone's head with some of those totally random comments that she makes! she's one of those people i -really- wish i could meet. hmmm..favorite lines for you to gobble up? definitely, this one made my eyes teary. then again, my eyes are always teary because of this stupid darn cold! gah! "Aunt Petunia?" the boy says again, in the small voice of a small child. Something about the plaintive, hopeless note behind the words causes Snape to gather his hand into a fist. Snape takes the plate with the sandwich in one hand and the glass of water in the other, but just as he has just taken a step towards the parlor, Potter's next words freeze him in his tracks. "Mum?" A long silence follows, into which the boy expels a long, shaky, broken breath, not unlike a very quiet sob. ... and then...harry got that hug i've been pining for. here, harry, i'll send you some more cyber-hugs too, and offer a customary load of english toasting bread with kerrygold butter for our beloved author! and for snape...perhaps, licorice? that stuff rocks all. Author's Response: Dear Elocution, sorry you're sick! Did you say something about Snape going back to the Dursleys? Why would he do that? Oh, no....come to think of it, that letter I got from Uncle Vernon is missing, I just thought I'd dropped it. He's not going to do something mad, is he? Is he? ...Could I watch?
Sincerely, Harry Potter |
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