(#) BenRG 2008-03-04
I loved this chapter.
The whole idea of Harry introducing a wizarding girl to the muggle world is an interesting counterpart to the common 'Hermione introduces Harry to the Muggle world' plot used in a lot of H/Hr stories. I loved Daphne's reaction to consumer society and the hints of the world beyond Britain. Now... when she gets back, will the rumours of a terrible Muggle secret weapon (the Death Star's superlaser) start circulating in pureblood society? ;-)
I do get the impression that British wizarding society not isolates itself from the muggle world, it also isolates itself from other parts of the magical world. This means that Daphne probably has never encountered foreign cultures, making someting as pedestrian as pizza seem like an exotic delight.
I'm enjoying Harry/Daphne and the two characters do seem to be fitting together well. Even if you don't want to stick with this ship for the whole story, I think that the two of them may continue to date on-and-off for the rest of the year - they seem to be developing too much momentum to drop.
From a characterisation point of view, irrespective of her feelings, Daphne's Slytherin training will say to her: "Harry - magically powerful, politically influential and wealthy in the magical and muggle worlds. Just imagine my power as Lady Potter-Black!" She would want to have a relationship on an intellectual level, no matter what she feels about him. It might be fun to watch her try to frighten off Harry's other dates. This could lead to a kind of social warfare between the cliques of the most powerful pureblood women in seventh year (centred on Daphne, Susan and possibly the Patil twins).
The bit with Hermione was actually the highlight of the chapter. In canon, Hermione, for such a knowledgable girl, is remarkably stupid sometimes. This is especially the case when trying to evaluate her own actions and their consequences. It is good to see her being forced to realise that the world will not conform itself to her convenience.
I like matured!Neville too. He is the one who would have worked the best as Harry's Paladin. It is Ron, not he, who should have been the laughingstock of Gryffindor's Class of '98.
This is a great story and I'm looking forward to more of this and 'Betrayal'.
BenRG's Rating: 8/10
Author's response
- Harry made sure Daphne understood the concept of fiction before showing her the movie... Besides, a weapon that blows up the Earth would be a bit inconvenient when that's the only planet you've got.
- Especially when you consider that modern Pizza (especially that from a chain restaurant) has little to do with Italy, but is a Yank invention (based on a regional Italian dish)
- Your 'war' between the ladies is an interesting possibility, not one that I'd have thought of, but now that you've suggested it, I might use... I'll have to see what happens.
- Hermione has some growing up to do. future chapter will shock her badly, not once, but at least twice...
- The problem of having Neville as Harry's right hand is that it's more than a little possible for Nev to have over shadowed Harry in short order. Then the 7th book might have ended up as Neville Longbottom And 'Harry hold my cloak, Voldemort's pissed me off for the last time.'
- or not.