Many thanks for another excellrnt chapter! It's good to see how Luna has applied the carrot/stick approach to Ron......but I wonder if she needed a stick made from ironwood and more than one carrot! She'll have to keep an eye on him even after he completes his training. I wonder if Harry will take him on the mission? I'd think it would be risky! It was also good to see the others advance. I also thought that Mackensie took exactly the right note with Harry, he needs to accept his own worth as a leader; knowing that he has to have confidence in himself as well as his troops. Unlike Dumbles he's been out there with his people, and has been upfront with them, their families and his allies. Dumbles would never consider doing thst! Just out of curiosity, in this AU did Dumbles just get a lucky shot at Grindelwald or did someone else do most of the work while Dumbles stole the victory and the credit? Or did that fight happen before he went off the deep end? It was nice to see Harry and Hermione with Mrs. Figg, and I hope that she stays with Harry until Dumbles and Voldy are settled with for good. I hope that she let's her family know that she's safe, and to watch out for Dumbles. Hmmmm....Carolyn might be able to use her journal as evidence of Dumbles actions if it's necessary. But currently I'd say that Dumbles is doing an excellent job of screwing himself! (snicker) I'm glad that Harry got Neville's family out of there, if nothing else, Dumbles might have snatched them the way he did Trelawney. Then again, while Harry, Hermione and Neville would have been planning a rescue right away I doubt that they'd have gone alone....... and Augusta, Amelia and Carolyn already have his number. Dumbles is also stupid enough to keep them at Hogwarts, and now that Harry has made contact with Flopsey infiltrating the castle will be easier. Perhaps the elves could also keep an eye on Snape too! By the way, has there been an increase in the use of pain potion by the DE's yet? Between their treatment via Voldy and those extra strength potions they should be feeling at bit out of things by now..... And I thought it was hilarious that Voldy thought he was finally getting accustomed to the pain of young love; until Harry and Hermione went into overdrive! It was nice seeing Harry with two future students, and I liked how he explained things to them and to Mrs. Figg as well. Perhaps Harry should talk to other members of her family incase they are force sensative as well. Seeing Cho put Draco in his place was wonderful, and if he goes after either Cho or McGonagall I hope he draws back a nub! Shakes head, the idiot should have leaned his lesson by now, but it seems that he's going to have remedial lessons once more! Looks like Dumbles and Snape will be in the class right with him; and it couldn't happen to a more deserving bunch! Dudley and Marissa were great, and I liked seeing their relationship move ahead like that! THanks again for the chapter! As always, seeing Dumbles, Snape, Voldy and Draco in pain makes my day! :)
Author's response
Hey a Teresa!
I thank you for your thanks.
Luna is such an interesting character. I don't see her as a 'seer' per se, but as a seer of potentialities. She's still very much a teenager though.
Naah, her 'stick' was made of an energy beam inside two counter-rotating magnetic fields.
Harry will take him on the mission. It's part of the plotline I've established. For once, Ron will get to shine.
Mackenzie: One of my Instructors in Bud-S told us the same thing, as we were frequently called on to take charge of patrols and the like. "If you don't have confidence in yourself, how can you expect your troops to have confidence in you?"
Upfront: I agree. Like "the greater good", "The bigger picture" has always been a pain in my ass. In either case, the term means: "Shut up, do as you are told and let those of higher rank do your thinking for you, because you are clearly too stupid to do it for yourself...moron."
Dumbledore: There are so many theories. By leaving that particular plot hole unfilled, Rowling gave us so very much to platy with. In this instance, Dumbledore's platoon defeated the security around Grindelwald, fought through the resistance and with a little help from Ol' Albie, weakened him to the point he could be killed. Unfortunately, all of them were 'killed by enemy action' and Dumbledore took credit.
Mrs Figg: She will stay and since she can use the force, she will probably stay on from then on in.
Letting hr family know: Actually, no. Letting them know would open a can of worms best left closed. basically it would place them in the position of hostage. As long as he doesn't know that they know, they're reasonably safe.
After June, is a different story.
Carolyn won't need that journal. Like you said, he's doing a bang-up job himself. I have one more major incident planned, before he's out on his ass.
Longbottoms/Trelawney: That was my reasoning too.
Elves: Harry has 83 house elves, all of which can spy for him. Dobby is all he needs to get into and out of the castle without notice. As long as his elves aren't aggressive or intentionally harmful, the castle elves won't bother them. They are after all, part of Hogwarts' defenses. He's going to leave them pretty much alone, though he might have Flopsey 'deliver a few messages' for him.
Most of the Deez Snape gave the potions to, were killed during the solstice raid, or afterward by Voldy. those three that survived, are buying them on the black market. Those three will come into play near the end of the story.
Voldy: BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
The littleest students: Don't expect anything much from for the time being. Harry's primary focus is getting his Jedi ready to face the Death Eaters. They will make cameos between now and June, but for the most part, they'll be under the tutelage of Judith and Arabella.
Drakey is going to make one more big mistake in a few chapters and with his fall, Dumbledore's house of cards will begin to crumble.
Dudley/Marissa: I can actually see it. Given the decisions he's made, and the actions he's taken, he deserves a little something from time to time.
Until next time...
Alorkin