I was re-reading this *(when I'm waiting ofr new chapters to come out I tend to return to favorite authors, Merlin knows how many times I've read Acts of Betrayal) and while I love the overall tale, I have to agree with those who were puzzled by the failure of Harry's powers to return. I know, your universe, your rules, but at least to me it fails the 'willing suspension of disbelief' rule of fantasy, as in the part about internal consistency.
Here's my take on it: according to the concept you created, the cursed gem continually drains Harry's core and feeds it into Tom's core. That's fine, it more than explains his reduction to a complete cypher insofar as magical energy is concerned. The two gemstones create a one-way circuit, connecting the two cores, correct? But when Tom dies, his core ceases to exist. Without the core to complete the circuit the curse should no longer function.
There's another matter to consider post-epilog: the Potter name and heritage and Harry and Hermione's children, who are definitely going to be magical. Somehow I can't imagine Harry wanting to deny his parents' love and sacrifice by keeping his children ignorant of their existence, and then there's the small matter of Potter Manor and the family history it contains, not to mention the much stronger position Harry and Hermione would be in to affect positive change in the Wizarding world if his position was restored.
It wouldn't even have to be an immediate reversal; if Haary's core has to reach a certain level before it can re-initialize itself, it could take several years before the slow influx of magic from his surroundings could raise the level to the point that his own magic could take over. It could be like the old logic problem about the amoeba and the glass: If an amoeba doubles it size once every minute, and it takes 2 hours, fifty-eight minutes to fill the glass 25% full, how long will it take to fill the glass? The answer of course is 3 hours. The same could be true of Harry. That could give him the excuse to disappear and go to Uni as a muggle for a time, in the meantime managing the 'Potter Trust' through a 'set of instruction' left with the goblins. They of course have no reason to admit that said instructions are being updated until Harry is ready to return.
Anway, I know you have no plns to go back and change things, even if my little soapbox changed your mind. I just needed to vent my pedantic valve a bit. Thanks for your patience, and your great work!
Author's response
- And my take on the 'Harry has no Power': The twin curse gems are the keys. The gem that dissolved into Tommy is the receiver, the one in Harry is the transmitter. The Virgin ritual involving the Librarian and the two shopping bags amplified the amount of magic being siphoned from Harry by doing something unspecified to Tommy. When Tommy died, that extra oomph gotten from the ritual died with him (which is why his null field dropped and the Bella's final Crucio hurt). The Base effect of the two gems on the other hand remains, Harry's is still draining him and sending his personal magic potential to Tommy's corpse where the magic goes where ever the magical potential of a dead wizard goes.
- Clear as mud?
- Harry and Hermione's kids are indeed magical. When they are old enough to understand, they will be told of their heritage, and the reasons for Harry stepping from the limelight.
- Harry's PERSONAL fortune was distributed at the reading of his will. The Potter Trust remains active and as such time as Harry's descendants wish to reclaim their heritage, they can, quietly should they choose. There was a reason Bill was selected to assume custodian ship of the Potter titles. He's not the type to get attached to the power.
- Crap, I may have to do a sequel.
- On the