(#) BenRG 2008-12-04
An interesting chapter. Harry's muggle-raised thoughts on the nature of wizarding eductation were interesting as was his bonding with Neville (who I strongly suspect will be replacing Ron in this storyline as Harry's closest male friend).
What I really liked was the cameradre by the lake. This Harry is so much healthier and better-balanced than canon Harry who, frankly, always struck me as being on the verge of a nervous breakdown or a psychotic episode.
I also found Harry's interaction with Remus intersting. Canon Harry had a need to know about his parents due to his extreme emotional deprivation. This Harry has friends, an adoptive family (who count amongst their number some of the wisest and most powerful beings on Earth) and a home worthy of the name. Hearing of his biological family will be interesting and occasionally thought-provoking, especially as he grows older. However, I doubt that he will ever really have a particularly deep interest in them.
I'll take a bet and say that the Diary's victim will still be Ginny. However, I expect that the dynamics of the whole issue will be radically altered by the fact that Harry is very different from canon and that Ginny hasn't spent any time around him in this timeline.
Overall, this continues the good quality work on this story. The characters remain rounded and believable (better than canon sometimes) and I find myself looking forward to seeing how the CoS storyline works out in this version of the universe.
BenRG's Rating: 8/10
Author's response
- In this reality Harry and Ron only have a nodding acquaintance, they aren't buds. Neville on the other hand is one of Harry's best friends in Britain.
- I really enjoyed the series through book six. Yeah a lot of things didn't make a lot of sense, but on the whole, a 'ripping yarn' of classic proportion. One of the things that really bothered me was the descent into misery that was Harry's life. I think it really says something that he only considered Hogwarts 'home', even though someone tried to kill him every damned year. Sure life at the Dursley's sucked as shown, but at least no one was trying to kill him...
- I believe that both Sirius and Remus stand a good chance of forming a close friendship with Harry, but only after they stop living in the past.
- Thank you for your thoughts.