By Ishtar
Reviews
brad posted a comment on Sunday 12th February 2006 8:37pm
This is a good/fun story ... before reading this new chapter I intended to quickly skim the previous one but found myself perusing it again in its entirety. Likewise I enjoyed reading of Harry's recent adventures in this one.
*Loved* Harry's rescue of Hermione. Catching her in her arms, her clutching hold of him as he flew her to safety ... awwww. Okay, by default I'm a H/Hr man, and I know they're only eleven, but it's still a cute image. If you *were* writing a romance, or if this story was on Portkey, I'd be jumping up and down in the expectation that this event would comprise a kernel about which a relationship could crystalise. Oh well. It was still very nice. And independent of the romantic overtones - or inclinations of the reader! - it's always good to have Harry act as the shining knight, coming to the rescue. Much more impressive to save the life of one of his classmates rather than a rememberall at his first flying lesson.
I'm totally at a loss as to the multiple poisons utilised at the feast. I guess Quirrel's behind it all?
In canon the guardian of the stone - Fluffy - was a three-headed dog, wasn't he? Or am I getting mixed up with the movie (if it was different)? If it wasn't a chimaera - and I'm pretty sure it wasn't - what changed in this new AU? I guess Harry said or did something in an earlier chapter which I've forgotten?
Enjoyable chapter, thanks!
Ishtar replied:
In the book as in the movie, they used Fluffy, the three-headed dog. I have used a chimaera simply because people are making slightly different decisions. Not all the changes relate to things that Harry says or does. For example, the stone is hidden at the top of a tower instead of in the gauntlet in the basement, and that was entirely Dumbledore's decision, not relating to Harry in any way. The challenges will be different, too. This is largely because I didn't want to be boring by using the same old JKR challenges that every rewriter uses, and partly because I'm taking things that JKR didn't even mention until later in the series and blending them into the narrative differently. Examples are the prophecy, Professor Kettleburn (who was only mentioned in canon in Book 3 to explain why Hagrid suddenly became a Professor, but I certainly think he would have been asked to provide a guardian, hence the chimaera) and, eventually, horcruxes. You may have noted I alluded to Snape's half-blood status in an earlier chapter.
As for the poisons, Quirrell was a) staging a major distraction as in canon and b) attempting to render Dumbledore and Harry insane while c) framing Snape for it, thus taking out all three of the people his Master is most ticked off at. Much cleverer than simply letting a troll in to wander around doing random damage.
And don't discount Fluffy just yet. They are going to have to replace the chimaera. There will also be ramifications of the rescue. For example, I haven't shown yet just what Ron said to get Hermione (and Tracey) so upset.
AmeSuisei/AdronTaltos/CarlOort posted a comment on Sunday 12th February 2006 12:20pm
I've been waiting for this chapter since you added the quote about ducks to your sig..
bout time.. :-p
Ishtar replied:
That was my husband's sig, actually. He wanted to tease people.
MononWalker posted a comment on Sunday 12th February 2006 12:13pm
Very interesting chapter, Dorothy. I like how you are subtly (and not to subtly) altering canon and yet still telling the same tale.
"But I don't want to be an avacado animagus" has got to be my favorite bit.
Keep up the great work!
Ishtar replied:
Pool little Cho, not wanting to be an avocado. Can't say I blame her, actually. Wonder if anyone will tell her an avocado isn't an animal?
Dahlias posted a comment on Sunday 12th February 2006 7:45am
God, I feel sorry for Remus... :(
Dahlias posted a comment on Sunday 12th February 2006 7:34am
Clever... different... and I luv the bit with the hammer and that whole scen had me dieing!
Bibi posted a comment on Sunday 12th February 2006 2:05am
That's my favourite chapter so far!!!
I loved the scene whith Remus and the Werewolf books.
I also thought that Harry would have troubles to understand the difference between house elves and humans. Your solution was great! What will the wizards think, once they see educated house elves?! :)
Arkeus posted a comment on Saturday 11th February 2006 9:26pm
hum, interesting. i am a bit miffled about your treatment of hermione, but that's becausei am biased toward her :-)
so good work, and i hope you continue :-)
Alex00 posted a comment on Saturday 11th February 2006 5:25pm
awsome story i cant wait for more
Fate posted a comment on Saturday 11th February 2006 3:45pm
This story is excellant!!!
And wonderfully written!
Can't wait for more!!
atlantis-rob posted a comment on Saturday 11th February 2006 9:32am
Wow! And Wow again! That was a kicking chapter, the last bit with the feast and all the crazyness was great! Excellent job on the change in the quirell/harry bit that was awesome for sure. The prank startup was also great especially the robe color changing one! Excellent work D!
Bells posted a comment on Saturday 11th February 2006 6:49am
i love this story. its a very interesting plot line, especially with harry in hufflepuff! i thoroughly enjoyed reading this, and look forward to your next update!
Bibi posted a comment on Saturday 11th February 2006 4:56am
I've just read the first chapter and I love it! I think I fell in love with little Harry :) He is so cute!!!
Joel posted a comment on Saturday 11th February 2006 12:31am
Great part! Love the variations on Sorcerer's Stone. Could have done without the dream sequences, but that's a personal thing I have in general that doesn't reflect on you. I like the loved!Harry you're writing: there's enough of canon!Harry in there that he's plausible, but really he's a good extrapolation of the caring influences in your!Harry's youth. Love the update.
Prince Charon posted a comment on Friday 10th February 2006 11:46pm
Oh, dear, I think the senior Marauders will be visiting Hogwarts.
Very interesting part.
Thank you for the update.
More soon, please.
Mordecai posted a comment on Friday 10th February 2006 10:48pm
i loved this chapter, perhaps the best one of all, though it did take you a while to get it out, but the quality more than made up for that.
please update soon
IP82 posted a comment on Friday 10th February 2006 9:53pm
Ok chapter - not your best, but still good enough.
Pranking was a little elementary, but I accept that they are only first years.
Broom accident was an original twist to the old scene.
Hufflepuff Quidditch team was way too professional and serious, IMO. They seem much more zealous than Gryffindor team from the canon, even though they should be everyone's bitch and loose all the time. I was expecting them to take the cup thing less seriously, which would be the reason for them loosing all the time.
I like how Harry handled the potential duel and the new twist on the creature guarding the stone.
I didn't like that psychedelic halloween very much, especially that confusing dream part, but I guess it'll become important later in the story. Harry spilling his guts out to Dumbledore was strange too - was he under a spell or something?
Anyway, good development of the story so far. Not the best IMO (too much canon-like scenes), but still way better than majority of stuff out there. Keep up the good work.
The Resident posted a comment on Friday 10th February 2006 7:36pm
Thank you for another chapter in this marvellous tale. Subtley weaving JKR's story with your own marvellous imagination. The school-wide prank was interesting and its going to be interesting to find out who the unknown is that was behind the 'poisonings'. As always, you intrigue and amuse me with your storylines. Keep up the great work and I wish you an early 'Happy Valentine's Day'.
Quizer posted a comment on Friday 10th February 2006 6:30pm
Good stuff. I'm already looking forward to the next chapter.
Lot's of unique events. I wonder to what extent Harry's dreams have any meaning. The Divination potion is obviously responsible for the Goblet of Fire appearance and some of the other stuff, but the hallucinogen probably scrambled everything beyond repair.
I also like how you include Death Eaters in the story already. JKR obviously added them to the universe in book four only, but being such a large part of recent history, it makes sense that people would know about them before then.
Good job, and update soon! :)
Quizer
Goyana posted a comment on Friday 10th February 2006 3:24pm
Great chapter, update soon.
Donald McLeod posted a comment on Monday 13th February 2006 1:47am