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Reviews For The Poor of God
Author's Response: Madam: While I hardly see the point belaboring the purpose of an experimental potion to one who is clearly painfully unacquainted with the literature on the subject, pedagogical habit impels me to inform you that the Draught of Waking Dreams is often used by healers in controlled circumstances to reach patients in an advanced state of catatonia by forcing them to confront the source of their mental and emotional distress. For further information, see the article in the most recent edition of Potions Quarterly by A. Jigger. Regards, S. Snape
I am really enjoying your story, and it's been fascinating to see your writing style mature and evolve a bit from the first chapter on through to this one. You really have talent and I'm glad you're sharing it with us. On to the review... I like how you've got Snape supportive without being a flag-waving member of the HP fanclub. Too many stories are ruined (in my view) by having snarky Snape mysteriously morphed into a cavorting mothering buffoon who wears his emotions on his sleeves. *That* would be Lockhart, not Snape. Your Snape is able to offer support and sympathy while keeping his core personality intact. Sadistic little me, though, is very much looking forward to putting Snape through Harry's dreams. I don't think Harry will be the only person to collapse afterwards (though in Snape's case it may be a breakdown instead!) :) Anyway, great job and I'm willing to beg for more!! Author's Response: Madam: I would have replied sooner, but found myself paralyzed with astonishment by your acumen in discerning that I am no member of the "Harry Potter Fanclub." That observation is nearly as flattering as the relish with which you seem to be anticipating my inevitable collapse from exhaustion once Potter has run the course of recovering from his mishap. The fact that you seem to have a fair estimation of Gilderoy Lockhart's character raises you slightly in my esteem, however. Regards, S. Snape
The thing I love the most about this story is that you connect everything so well. And also, you're really great with characterization. You've done Hermione perfectly. She's often written a little too annoying, but you seem to balance that with her inclination to protect, and it just...works. I love how you pay attention to Snape's facial expressions, because he always tries to keep it neutral. Even though the expressions are subtle, they seem to mean a lot to Harry. The last line gave me chills, by the way. This was a really well-done chapter. I'm hooked on this story :) Author's Response: Madam: I suppose, at my age, it is flattering to discover that so many women are so riveted by my face as to catalogue the expressions that cross it. Of course, the fact that Potter is equally riveted by them rather takes something out it, though it does demonstrate a pleasing sensitivity to nuance I would not have thought him capable of. S. Snape --- Hey Jade: Honestly, the Waking Dreams potion was a product of the fact that I have nightmares myself---though granted, with less reason than Harry, whose dreams could really more accurately be called night terrors. Still, I recently had a frightening experience in waking life that might have been lifted straight from one of my dreams, and the eerieness of that situation is informing a lot of the Waking Dreams stuff in the story. Hope that answers your question! --Branwyn
Snape's mouth is suddenly dry, as he remembers how Potter had thrown wide his arms—to shield him— That is completely perfect because not only does it say loads about Snape, it says even more about Harry, who is still willing to shield a man who has just stripped him down so thoroughly he's probably going to go through a whole identity crisis now. Yeah. You can try to hide it all you want, Snapey. We know better. Seriously, I'm going to bed now. You can ignore my previous review because I obviously have no knowledge of the English language at 2.15 in the morning. Author's Response: Yes, I am hardly in any position to disagree that Potter is quite foolish enough to sacrifice himself at the expense of the undeserving. One would admire him, if one were not possessed with the desire to fit him with restraints until he learns a modicum of self-preservation. Snape
And here is a list of lines that I actually copied and pasted, because they are like ... perfect. "When he does not find a pulse immediately, panic steals the breath from his throat—his vision starts to grey—but then he feels the thrum of Harry's heartbeat against his fingers, faint and thready but palpable, and if Granger weren't standing there with his wand at last he would probably betray himself before all and sundry by sobbing his relief into the boy's hair." Oh, Snapey Snapey, you can't hide anything from a fangirl XD "You could not have predicted how essence of rue would react with hellebore in a temporally modified, class two Transfigurative base." Um, yeah. Ok. But it sounds really smart (and I sound really stupid because I am REALLY tired, but I WILL finish this) "Hogwarts," says Snape. "My chambers. You are in my bed." Snape gives him a wintry smile. "Try not to be dazed by the horror of the thing." Mmmm ... bed ... "This morning," Harry says, wishing fervently Snape would stop talking to him so he could concentrate on losing consciousness, or possibly dying." I can't tell you how glad I am that this story is present tense. You are a genius and that sentence wouldn't be nearly as funny or awesome or cool if it was "he wished fervently that Snape would stop talking to him so he could concentrate on dying." Wow. Now you know why I don't write. "What would something that color of blue taste like, anyway? Cotton candy? Blue raspberry? No, those are Muggle flavors—the wizarding world is more organic, their blue probably tastes winter rain, or sea water or something." Ok. I may have been awake for a really stupidly long time, but even I can understand just how gorgeous that sentence is. (yes, you can say I'm weird, but seriously, that sentence is pure gold XD) Ok I'm not going to put any more quotes in, because (I mean, hello), you kind of wrote it and everything (and also because the connections between my brain and fingers are starting to go comatose), but when Snape explained why he's always insulted Harry makes sense. Like, I guess that he probably would have insulted Harry in the beginning in order to get some sort of petty revenge on a dead man, but every time Harry ignored him, or was unaffected, the annoyance grows and evolves because I think maybe somehow it's almost as if James is still having the last laugh through his son. Yeah. Wow - that starts off as past tense and ends up in present tense. I think I'm going to go to bed now. You are very awesome. Author's Response: Madam: Your impertinent assumption that you know anything of the workings of my mind is nearly as offensive as the indecent way you refer to the bed that currently shelters an ill child as though imagining it put to other uses. I will pay you the compliment of assuming that your apparent stupidity is the result of exhaustion rather than any innate mental deficiency and therefore I urge you to rest and refresh yourself before troubling me further with your observations. Sincerely, S. Snape --- I'm really glad you liked that line about blue things. Only I see now I left a word out. O_O Still, it was one of the ones I was proudest of. :-) Branwyn
BUT this is (like every other chapter you've written) is lyke, so amazing it's melting my brain and I'm reverting to netspeak. Either that, or I've been up for 24 hours too and am about to collapse XD. Well, no rest for the wicked - I still have another chapter to review!
I can honestly see Ron acting the way he did, the fact that he didn't pick up on that there might actually be a reason why Snape was suddenly treating Harry so poorly and cruelly. And sadly I can see him being mad as all still even after Dumbledore explains it to him. As for Dumbledore How could he not know that Harry's nightmares are so bad? I mean if you stop and think about it, how is it possible with everything that Harry has been through for Harry to actually have a good dream! For Merlin's sake the old coot is fashioning him to be a weapon whether he admits it or not! Well that's all I have to say wonderful chapter and I look forward to the next. ^_^ *gives you skittles* Author's Response: Madam: I must insist you do not speak disrespectfully of Albus Dumbledore; he has more than earned the benefit of every doubt. As to Mr Weasley, I can only observe that Potter has an innate talent for inspiring in his friends the sort of touchingly blind devotion one normally associates with well-trained dogs. Whether he is capable of allowing reason to penetrate his fanaticism remains to be seen. With appreciation for a bizarre Muggle sweet which seems to be composed primarily of glue and sugar, S. Snape
I love both snarky!Snape and desperately polite!Snape. Right now, Harry needed the second or he would not have believed him, but I fully hope that the snark will return as Snape feels confident that he can't hurt Harry's attitude toward him. In fact, I have always felt that Harry being able to accept Snape just the way he is is a wonderful point to reach in the relationship. I especially liked this exchange--so I guess I really do love snark!Snape: "Harry flushes; Snape, on the other hand, looks rather pale. "I have had quite as much as I can take of your bullheaded heroism for one week already, Potter. You once paid me the courtesy of saying you did not think I was like your uncle. If you were not lying, you will cease flaunting your offensive assumption that I would prefer my own convenience to your dire need, and let me do my job—which, at the moment, is to preserve what I can of your health and sanity."" Author's Response: Madam: Though I find myself increasingly bewildered by the apparently universal assumption that conducting myself as a responsible teacher and an honorable man is the sign of some repressed attachment to Mr Potter, I thank you for the compliment you apparently wish to pay. Rest assured that Mr Potter will receive from me such protection as he requires. Regards, S. Snape
I can't help but feel for Snape. He seems to be blaming himself for all this, when the whole thing was Dumbledore's idea and he really didn't even want to do it in the first place. Still, in spite of his blaming himself, he's still quite able to deal out sarcastic retorts: "Shall I locate a nice, cozy cupboard for your convenience?" Ha! That's our boy. :) Author's Response: Madam: Your concerns for my peace of mind are kind but wholly unnecessary; I hold myself no more than rationally responsible for the ill fortune which has beset Mr Potter. Regards, S. Snape |
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