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• Like Some Song You Can't Unlearn

  (#) jdzysman 2007-02-27

  Excellent story so far. I am interested to know... will Harry's identity be revealed? I wonder why he didn't just tell Dumbledore his story, wouldn't that have let him have more freedom to deal with Snape?

  Author's response

  How often did he try to tell Dd in the old world that Snape can't be trusted? Why would this one listen any more than the other? Besides, to what end, it wouldn't free Sirius any faster. DD trusts Snape and not Odysseus, and he certainly wouldn't trust an insane time/demensional traveller, would he? Harry, at this point, doesn't care about the fight with Voldemort since he assumes it will end in its own time with or without his involvement.

• Like Some Song You Can't Unlearn

  (#) Alorkin 2007-02-28

  A harsh, gritty and pain-filled story. I've read many 'other world' stories where Harry(or someone else) has lost everyone he loved in the fight, but I think this is the first I've seen where he is turned aside by those who were his friends.
  Harry's suicide(attmptt?) was well played. I'd imagine, given their attitudes in the first world, the Weasleys would try to claim Harry''s (unstated) fortune. Mebby he should have left it to the gobins.
  It's interesting how he ended up in Godric's hollow, rather than in another Hogwarts, at the end of his fall.
  Lily should not have felt the wards alert, as the home(apparently) belongs to the Potters, and htough she is marrieed tto James, she is not of the blood. On top of that, I believe you indicated the cottage has been empty since 'that day'.
  Harry's method of financing his exploits, is unusual at best. I've only seen something like it in one 'Azkaban' fic.
  Lucky Lucius' luck has just run out. you never did say just who they were tormenting when Harry happened along. As I tell my daughter, 'there's always someone bigger'. The mutual seduction between Narcissa and Harry would certainly drive the over-egoed bastard to vengeance. Too bad he tried it on the wrong guy. (See above quote.)
  This Harrry is darkeeer, meaneer and more soldier-likee hthan the kid drawn by JKR. Unlike that one, this one I can easily see being able to defeat Voldy.
  I oved tthe b-play btwen Odyessus and Snivillus...erm Severeus, But James was rather more childish than I would have forseen. Of course, given his character in OotP, I suppose it's not surprising he would act like he did.
  Harrys response to Snape's claim of him being dark, is nicely done. The challenge is clear, and of courrse, Snape cannot shoot back.
  With the capture of Pettigrew, and Dumbldore's attitudes concerning his incarceration, I wonder if he was instrumental in Black's arrest and imprisonment in the first place. A powerful and morally ambiguous wizard like him, would easiy be able to 'influence' Black into doing something stupid, or 'influence' Crouch into chucking him into Azkaban without trial.
  Since Dumbles describes Fudge as pretty much a corrupt pol, I'd think he'd try to prevent Sirius Black from regaining his freedom.
  
  So far, this is an excellent story. I have placed it on my 'alerts' list and hope to read more very soon.
  Alorkin

  Author's response

  Thank you for what is likely my longest review to date, you bring up some good points. As for Lily and the wards, blood, in and of itself, is not going to be such a driving force in this story. James and Lily are married, they were both keyed to the alarm wards on GH hence they were both alerted when they were breached. Your opinion of Harry as being more soldier-like is spot on. At the risk of revealing a bit of information too soon, that is a key factor in the story. Harry was a soldier fighting a war, more akin to a special ops than a simple grunt. His actions can not be judged by the more simplistic, peace-time rules of light and dark. He fought a war and won, then we was subjected to the guilt of surviving. Hermione, Ron, and the others weren't forced to sacrifice those peices of themselves, literally and figuratively, that would allow them to understand that. Thus they blame Harry for doing what had to be done to spare them having to. As for Albus, any attempt to paint him as anything but completely light runs into the block of Fawkes. If DD is dark then why does Fawkes remain? Dumbledore is completely light, but that does not make him completely right, as we shall see. He has his own perspectives, beliefs and the tunnel vision that they shackle us all with. Thanks again. BJH

• Like Some Song You Can't Unlearn

  (#) mackon 2007-03-01

  Brilliant cant wait to see how Odysseus reacts to Belle and the others he hated in the old world but has no reason to hate now. How will he interact with Hermione, She could easy develop a crush on a young handsome male teacher that seems to understand her ie Lockhart. please update soon.

  Author's response

  Yes well, do humans really need a reason to justify their hatred? I guess we'll see. Thanks for reading. BJH

• Like Some Song You Can't Unlearn

  (#) mackon 2007-03-01

  Doen't look like Sirus is going to have many friends when he gets out. The Order and Dumbledoor seem not to care or racked by guilt. The ministry will want to brush it all under the carpet as quickly as posible. If Sirsus isn't lucky he could find himself locked in the loony ward at St Mungos. Maybe Odysseus could send Narcissa an owl and get her to be on Sirus's side during the trial and hopefully release.

  Author's response

  I think Dumbledore and the Potters are still in shock over the idea that they could have been wrong about him. We'll see how they react next chapter. BJH

• Like Some Song You Can't Unlearn

  (#) wjenks 2007-03-01

  Very good story so far

• Like Some Song You Can't Unlearn

  (#) snape504 2007-03-02

  Fantastic! I love it! Is there anyway I can receive notices as to when you update?
  Debby
  snape504@yahoo.com

  Author's response

  I'm glad you are enjoying it and I believe Ficwad has the capability to send those notices out if you set your account that way. BJH

• Like Some Song You Can't Unlearn

  (#) KEmperor 2007-03-02

  This is a really good story so far. I hope you post more soon. I love the whole Narcissa plotline too.

• Like Some Song You Can't Unlearn

  (#) Geovanni_Luciano 2007-03-03

  I wanted to take the opportunity to review you story, but when I read the first chapter I couldn't help but go to the next and so on. It's really quite good. I'm curious as to what you have planned for Draco Malfoy as far as clearing up whether his path will be the same as in canon. Will you actually develope a relationship with Harry and Narcissa or are they just going to be bed buddies? Will you be revealing Harry as Harry to the Potters. In addition, Harry would be much closer in age to Tonks at this point, if you're not considering more of a relationship with Narcissa that could be an avenue to explore. I've added your story to my alerts and I hope that you update soon.
  
  Geovanni Luciano

  Author's response

  Interesting questions. What is Draco in canon? He is an evil, selfish, arrogant, spoiled, vicious but ultimately cowardly sneak. Was he this way because of Harry's presence in his life or was he this way when he first met Harry on the train? Would the absence of Harry at Hogwarts have made him less evil? Less arogant? Less anything? Or would it have made him more? As for Narcissa, yes Harry and she will have a relationship but one different from what I think anyone is expecting. That will not really develop for a bit yet as a few other things need to occur first. Thanks for reading. BJH

• Like Some Song You Can't Unlearn

  (#) noahshonor 2007-03-03

  This a unique take on the go back in time genra. I am enjoying it very much.
  Was recommeneded on 'Blots yahoo group.

• Like Some Song You Can't Unlearn

  (#) janeaverage 2007-03-05

  Here from CaerAzkaban Y!Group, and I'm so pleased I bothered to read those messages this weekend. The whole time/dimension travelling/"redo" genre is one of my favorites, and this is a really original take on it. I hope I'm not reading too much into things when I say it looks like you have a lot of little subplots you're weaving together, and I'm looking forward to seeing where you take them. Ginny has intrigued me -- I'm debating with myself whether it's more likely that there's still some Tom in her, or the mess she's become is the result of others' reactions to the CoS incident (as coloured by the lack of Harry as scapegoat/savior/distraction/etc.)
  
  I'm thrilled with the Narcissa dynamic also. Harry's, well, much smoother than canon, but not the god that fic often makes him out to be, and you've managed to keep him and her both grey, rather than going over the top on his descent into darkness or her "redemption." I was kind of ambivalent about her thoughts on Draco -- in canon, whatever else we may say about her, it's clear she loves her son. So I'm curious to see where you take that -- perhaps the lack of Harry-influence has changed their family dynamic enough that she's less attached to him, or maybe it's just that she hasn't realized how much he means to her in this dimension, since he's not exactly been placed in a life-or-death situation where she might lose him altogether.
  
  And speaking of Draco... even aside from the HBP-plans, which may not be necessary since Lucius doesn't seem to have earned any "punishment," it'll be interesting to see how he handles dear Professor Harris, who killed his dad and is canoodling with his mum. I'm anticipating some interesting (though, since it's Draco, ultimately failed) revenge plots :)
  
  In short: Fascinating, I can't wait to see what you do with it! :)

  Author's response

  Well thank you for your kind words. I'm not sure about interweaving too many subplots, there will be several but mostly straight lines I think. I'm Glad you're intrigued with Ginny, we will be finding out more about her in a couple of chapters. Harry has to deal with Luna first before he gets to her. As for Narcissa and her relationship with Draco. She thinks she keeps her life fairly compartmentalized. She is Draco's mother, as we saw at the station where she waved him off even though he wasn't looking. In fact, since the events at the DoM in this world still resulted in Voldemort being outed, Draco was once again given his two tasks... Oops, did I say two? Oh well. Narcissa's relationship with Harry is, in her mind at least, totally seperate and distinct from Draco. She is a senual creature with Harry and what she considers to be a nuturer with Draco. Now, does Draco seperate the two that way? I don't think so, he simply hates Harris for a different set of reasons than he hated Harry. BJH

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