PAT MAHALA posted a comment on Sunday 10th September 2006 12:51am

Great store, very well writen, it looks like a long one. I hope you keep it up, well done.

Jewelle posted a comment on Thursday 31st August 2006 12:36am

I recently found your stories on the PDA-Harry Potter Fanfiction site, it (the site) has rapidly become my favorite site. I just finished reading HP and the JYA and was hoping to see it finished. I really enjoyed your portrayal of the NA Shaman/Mage philosophy and was looking forward to seeing more of this story. I can just see us Americans being so lawless as to not have an actual ministry like the British and the shock this would cause all the Hogwarts students. I also liked how you seem to be giving Ron some credit for having a brain and the fact that he is being encouraged to step into the limelight and show his skills/accomplishments by McGonagal. I was hoping to see more of these talks between the Professors and Hermione, Ginny, and Ron. As well as the type of talk that Twobears had with Harry in this chapter. Maybe you could swing it so that Harry and crew head back to Hogwarts at the end of the school year and Harry recruits his 'war party of warriors' and they defeat Moldieshorts and then go to fix some of the problems in the ministry and Hogwarts that is occuring to them now as they experience America's Mage's education system.
Again please I'd like to see where you take this story so update soon.

Rebel Goddess posted a comment on Wednesday 23rd August 2006 5:18am

The only thing that beat Blaise in this chapter was the National Sport line. Apparently Harry has recovered from his blushes. Great stuff.

Rebel Goddess posted a comment on Wednesday 23rd August 2006 5:05am

Interesting idea for Avalon. My only reservation would be how easy it would be to linger there every day and never move on after someone had died because staying in contact would be so much nicer. Good use of Cedric.

Rebel Goddess posted a comment on Wednesday 23rd August 2006 4:49am

I was wondering if Agatha was a Squib but clearly she's just suffered from various Obliviate charms. Excellent chapter.

Rebel Goddess posted a comment on Wednesday 23rd August 2006 4:35am

OK. Fair enough regarding DADA. I absolutely adored the wank conversation. Poor Harry is going to be bright red for days so he'll fit in nicely with the rest of the clan. Wonderful writing.

Rebel Goddess posted a comment on Wednesday 23rd August 2006 3:32am

My only criticism of an otherwise wonderful fic is this: would Dumbledore seriously send Harry somewhere where he wasn't taught DADA as part of the school curriculum? He has to face down Moldieshorts still, and however lax Dumbledore is about other aspects of Harry's safety, he does seem to want him to live through it. Otherwise: giggled my head off at Fred and Harry kissing and loved the surprise party.

Ishtar replied:

Dumbledore doesn't have many choices.   He knows that the Americans are some of the best when it comes to DADA, perhaps because only those who are truly interested participate.   And he knows what their program is like, which Harry doesn't, yet.   His only other option is Durmstrang, which is a Bad Idea for many reasons, or pulling Harry out of school entirely and giving him private tutoring, which is also not helpful because Voldemort can beat anyone who would be providing the tutoring.

Rebel Goddess posted a comment on Wednesday 23rd August 2006 1:41am

Which is why wizards should never be admitted to muggle hospitals. Fantastic beginning. Poor Harry, but the way you used Dudley was brilliant.

Julie posted a comment on Thursday 17th August 2006 4:49am

I'm just being picky, because I think it's worth it ;-)

The tv licence covers *all* the household's televisions so doesn't need to be mentioned.

"Snack chips" are, I suspect, what we over here call "crisps" (come in plastic 1oz packets in various flavours).

n4zhg posted a comment on Saturday 5th August 2006 2:44pm

Re-reading this story, and wondering just what book Hermione got Harry.

Then realizing that "Sex For Dummies" was published just around this time...

Ishtar replied:

I had in mind "Man's Body: An Owner's Manual".   But "Sex for Dummies" works as well, if not better.   I wonder if that was published in England around then?

sarah15 posted a comment on Thursday 3rd August 2006 8:30pm

Please update soon this is such a good story

MercuryBlue posted a comment on Saturday 22nd July 2006 10:53pm

Interesting error on the chapter listing. Every single chapter is listed as having zero words. You might want to fix that, though I'm not sure it's worth fixing. Just wanted to point that out.

Oh, and is there any chance we'll see an update before Christmas?

noylj posted a comment on Monday 17th July 2006 3:47pm

Well, 15 chapters and we finally reached America.
Hope Harry can shake off Lav...

noylj posted a comment on Monday 17th July 2006 2:59pm

Well, I missed the reference. Could you put the "national sport" comment in your author notes to help me out here???
Good story, but it sure isn't HBP compliant....

Ishtar replied:

In the chapter entitled "The Facts of Life", Ron says that wanking is practically the national sport for teenage boys.   After Quidditch, of course.   At that time, Harry hasn't tried it.   By saying it *should* be the national sport, he's admitting to Ron that he has, in fact, tried it and agrees with him.

True, it isn't HBP compliant, because I started writing it shortly after OotP came out, almost two years before HBP hit the shelves.   There will be some HBP elements later on, such as Scrimgeour becoming Minister, but no Horcruxes.  

MrRobertsIII posted a comment on Sunday 9th July 2006 11:13pm

Is this abandoned?
Neat fic. I've usually avoided Year Abroad type fics because a Mary Sue almost always pops up. Not here though, I'm glad to say. Hope you return to this fic soon.

Ishtar replied:

No, this fic is NOT abandoned.   I got sidetracked by another story and underestimated how long the other would take to complete, which unfortunately leaves me with two big stories to work on (and RL kicking me in the shins).   However, I am working on a new chapter and hope to have it done soon.

I'm glad you like what I've done.   It was a direct response to all those Mary Sue ones where Skye Emmylou Sparklechild Black shows up at Hogwarts - I decided to turn the cliche on its head.   I did include a girl with odd-colored hair and eyes, though, just so the cliche isn't totally neglected.

Patches posted a comment on Sunday 9th July 2006 11:09am

I just checked the list of posting dates for this story. I was disappointed to see that it hasn't been updated since Sept. 15, 2005. I hope you will reconcider finishing this story. Thank you. pms

Ishtar replied:

No, this fic is NOT abandoned.   I got sidetracked by another story and underestimated how long the other would take to complete, which unfortunately leaves me with two big stories to work on (and RL kicking me in the shins).   However, I am working on a new chapter and hope to have it done soon.

Patches posted a comment on Sunday 9th July 2006 11:07am

This is an excellent story. A great story line with wonderful detail. I love the way you have included the mystic flavor of the Native American Shaman history. This is a wonderful look at the world from different perspectives and from different cultures. I really hope you continue this story soon. I would love to see how it all comes out. It is really great the way Harry is interacting with the other students and teachers in America. He is finally being challenged. He is also getting different perspectives from people he thought he understood like Slytherins (Blaise).
I especially like the talk he is having with Two Bears. The fact that Two Bears is not forcing Harry to talk and is even offering to have Harry walk away without more discussion. That is really good. Thank you so much for writing. Please continue. pms

Patches posted a comment on Monday 3rd July 2006 6:46pm

Great chapter. I love how the human interest is woven into all the aspects of this story. Thanks for writing. pms

Patches posted a comment on Monday 3rd July 2006 6:13pm

So Harry shares the prophesy with Ron and has terrible nightmares. At least Ron is starting to see a little of what Harry would like to avoid in his life. Thanks for writing. pms

Patches posted a comment on Monday 3rd July 2006 5:39pm

Wow! Harry is going to America! This should be interesting! Looking forward to it. Thanks for writing. pms