Review for A Fist Full of Galleons

A Fist Full of Galleons

(#) TheClueless 2009-05-25

First, thank you for this story, DrT. Like almost all of your previous works, I enjoyed it. I hope I won't seem to greedy if I state my hopes for future stories from you to enjoy in the future.

Second, thank you for responding to my previous concerns regarding the timeline in Chapter 15 (Bombing for Peace).

Third, I take it that Albus wanted Slughorn (with the information he has on Tom M. Riddle) at Hogwarts in case he was wrong and Voldemort was just "mostly dead"? (BTW, I'm still trying to imagine Minister Bones as Princess Buttercup, and Rufus as Miracle Max, because of you!)

Fourth, the opening scene at Hogwarts was a hoot to read. McGonagall tearing a strip off Albus' back while tossing his own words back at him. Snape reminding Albus of things he knew (Given his obsession with Harry, I doubt that he missed how the neo-Trio said their goodbyes at the end of the last year.) but decided weren't that important. Then there's trying to imagine Albus' reactions to Snape reminding him that he doesn't need the tool named Harry James Potter anymore, and McGonagall telling him it's just plain too late to even try to "make up" for wht he's done to Harry over the years. And then, for "The Shadow" reminding people to behave.... Or else.

Fifth, the books Snape hands out to the other staff members of Hogwarts. While I think that Snape got off lightly in this story - especially given how he ends up in some of your other stories! - I still couldnt' help but smirk. I was wondering, ever since Albus got tempted to throw Snape to the wolves - even if only for an instant - to get back at Harry, if Snape would ever get his revenge. Particularly since he managed to come to an understanding with Harry. That both Harry and Snape (as the one deliverying the bad news) would get revenge on Albus at the same time, and get at least a little bit of fame (particularly for the Lycanthropy treatment plan), is (IMO) very Slytherin.

Six, the idea that getting technomagic accepted in Great Britain was mainly accomplished due to a combination of anti-Muggle security features and porn just made me smile like crazy. Especially since it strikes me as being very believable. Especially the part about the porn.

Seven, the fates of Albus Dumbledore and Rita Skeeter. I almost feel sorry for Albus, his reputation gets shredded, his body starts to seriously go south on him, and then he looses touch with reality. (I have to wonder how Abe reacted when he realized Albus was holding conversations with his "good" friend Grindlewald, and the Dumbledore boys (dead) little sister.) And then I remember how he could have dealt with Riddle before he even graduated from Hogwarts, and how his actions (both in this story, as well as in the books) affected Harry... As for Rita, well, "you place your bets and you take your chances."

Eight, the deal of "teaching equals pardons" for the neo-Trio was very nice, IMO. I take it that Luna probably ended up helping the staff in classes like Care of Magical Creatures, when she wasn't taking care of the children? I take it since Harry didn't have problems teaching kids to fly that his problems with teaching technomancy wasn't due to him not being cut out for a career as a teacher? I also can't help but smile while imagining Hermione changing how Muggle Studies was taught at Hogwarts; "This is what you need to know to pass the Ministry-regulated tests, and this is what you need to know to actually get some real-life use out of the time you're in my classroom."

Nine, it was nice to see that - slowly - things did change for the better in Great Britain, and in Europe in general, due to the actions Harry and company took during this story. Still definately on the conservative (and, IMO, hidebound) side of things. But no longer infamous for violence, corruption and/or nepotism trumping ability.

Ten, Sirius. While I agree with others (in a previous chapter) that this is definately "squick" information, your previous comments - in the reviews - about this being a result of his time in Azkaban, exposed to the Dementors, makes sense to me. How much time must he have spent as a dog? How much of an affect did the Dementors have on Sirius, even when he was in his animagus form? Even leaving aside the Dementors, my take on Azkaban is that you'd be better off at Gitmo, so how did over a decade there affect Sirius? And then there's that infamous quote about how the only thing long-term imprisonment cures a man of is his heterosexuality...

Eleven, how the future would view Harry. I agree with the review who thinks that Harry probably would have been amused if he'd learnt how - in a couple of centuries - Luna and Hermione would be more famous than him (probably even in Great Britain) since he was much more of a "doer" than a "thinker". Especially since they wouldn't have been free to "think" (at least on the topics they became famous for) if it weren't for his actions. Assuming, of course, that humanity (or even just magical humanity) had survived those Harry helped cut down. The fate of the Cloak, Stone, and (especially!) the Wand was a nice touch.

Finally, we have Pansy. I love the idea that her "revalations" about Harry probably helped to increase his fame and - eventually - his good name. The fact that she ends up being used as a "living" example of just how bigotted and hateful were in her native time period strikes me as very ironic form of revenge.