By Musings of Apathy
Reviews
Rebel Goddess posted a comment on Thursday 23rd November 2006 6:51am
I like that the kids didn't decide to get married the instant Ginny mentioned it. The letters to the goblins were also fascinating. Love this story. More please. Excellent chapter.
riegert8 posted a comment on Thursday 23rd November 2006 6:29am
I like this chapter. I could understand why dumbledore feel that he has to protect Harry, I doubt that he cares for Harry at all. Dumbledore know that Harry is their last chance to get rid of Voldemort and he make sure that when the day happen Harry would still be alive. It nice that Molly is putting Ginny clothes away, it sad that Ginny room is small. That does bring up a good point, Ginny Stuffed Dragon is around 3 feet tall and I would think that would be hard to hid. It funny that Harry find where he is at and how he got there, I like that Ginny told Harry how his parents really died. It great that Harry and Ginny wrote to Goblin on if his parent's had any money, I like that he ask the Goblins for help. It great that Ginny ask her father about family. Great chapter
Sean Dillon posted a comment on Thursday 23rd November 2006 6:26am
Great job with the goblins. Never hurts to help someone out when it doesn't cost you anything and you might profit from it later.
So according to Dumbledore's instruments Harry's already with his family then. So what is happening at the Dursley's?
jilumasam posted a comment on Thursday 23rd November 2006 6:01am
Excellent story. Waiting very impatiently for the next chapter.
Chris McFadden posted a comment on Thursday 23rd November 2006 5:40am
Goblin plotting can be very fun in the right circumstances. Especially when they have a whole lot to gain by getting an in with a prospective hero and very influential client.
Ian Morgan posted a comment on Tuesday 21st November 2006 4:58am
this is a great start to the story
Please update soon
Nyeshet posted a comment on Monday 20th November 2006 6:59am
Warning: Long Review / Story-Consideration
I've been thinking about this, and I am honestly not sure as to whether Dumbledore would return Harry to the Dursleys. Note that in canon he did not realize the extent of the neglect until Harry was attending Hogwarts - possibly not even until a few years into Harry's time at Hogwarts. He expected some neglect - in effect he expected Harry to be raised with minimum care necessary for survival (food, water, clothing, shelter, basic education [due to muggle laws], and little else). He did not expect violence (and, from the canon I note that most of this seems to come from Harry's cousin), and I do not think he expected hatred - just a lack of love.
This fanfic has a much much more violet Dursleys than in canon. Faced with this, I have difficulty seeing Dumbledore just sending Harry back. On the other hand, I *can* see Dumbledore perhaps visiting and making a few "requests" of the Dursleys, using their fear of magic and the idea of being constantly under watch (by magical means) as a way to inforce at the least the minimum Dumbledore had expected of them.
Harry, however, is unlikely to accept this. I can see him attempting apparation again, despite the laws, just to get away from the Dursleys and to Ginny (his only friend / light in his dark world). If anti-apparation wards are placed, then - if Harry is aware of them - he will attempt it at or along the path to his (muggle) school. Wards, from what we know of them, seem unable to cover such vast regions, and if the school and house are covered, I can't see the entire distance to the school also covered - at least not easily. If he is splinched then Dumbledore will not only have to deal with that but also the troubling fact that Harry seems willing to endanger his life to escape the Dursleys - especially now that he has found a way to do so. If he is not splinched then Harry will end up at the Weasleys and Dumbledore will either have to return him again (and perhaps put up wards - or, if they were put up, deal with the consideration priorly stated) or accept Harry's decision.
The problem is that Harry's only blood relatives are the Dursleys. If he is removed from them, he is effectively without guardians and therefore a ward of the government - which, for the Wizarding World, is the MoM. As canon has already shown, the current Minister is at least as influenced by the Malfoys as by Dumbledore (which is stronger is questionable at this point in time, although the Malfoys seem to have overshadowed Dumbledore even a few years from now). That would mean that the question of where Harry should be placed / raised is almost certainly to be either influenced or determined by the Malfoys - Harry's enemies.
The Weasleys have no claim to him, and considering their number of children and their nearly poverty level conditions (ie: just enough to make ends meet), they would almost certainly not be granted custody. The idea of magically binding marriage vows is really the only way he could be made a member of their family. Matthew's "Nightmares of Future's Past" story uses another means of placing Harry with the Weasleys - and that only works because 1) the Malfoys are discredited due to Draco's actions towards Harry (that endangered his life at least once), and 2) Harry had a years' worth of experience with the Weasley family and was successfully able to point out the friendships, etc he had formed with them and the ways through which they had cared for him, saved his life, looked after him, etc. As a relative stranger to their family - and especially considering his (much) younger age, I do not see that working this time.
Thus there is too much danger of removing Harry from the Dursleys, as the Malfoys will likely be determining Harry's future guardians if such is allowed. While many like to argue against Dumbledore's actions, if they really look at the situation as JKR has set it up, they will see that there truly was no other option. Granted, Dumbledore could use illegal means to remove and hide Harry, but sooner or later those would come out and discredit him - removing what little influence he has at the MoM. With a major war on the horizon and the MoM already compromised by infiltrated DEs in various departments and all but controlling the MoM, there really is no way way to remove Harry without risking his life and/or possibly any chance of victory in the war against Voldemort - in which case Harry's life is also forfeit, just a bit later instead of sooner.
I look forward to the way the current situation with Harry at the Weasleys is handled. I expect Dumbledore will be arriving in a couple days - three at most. Considering the stated inspiration of the story, I expect that either before that moment or - should Harry be returned - the next time Harry arrives (via apparation) some vows will be found and possibly exchanged.
Now *that* would be interesting - seeing Dumbledore's expression as he considers ways of salvaging the situation, only to realize that two *children* have taken magically binding wedding vows, thus possibly rendering themselves *adults* in the magical world, and almost certainly canceling out the benefit of returning Harry to the Dursleys (as it would end upon his majority, which having married he might be considered to have achieved, albeit a little earlier than expected). ^_^
Lindsay posted a comment on Sunday 19th November 2006 12:44pm
What a great start to what promises to be an amazing story. There were so many great details in this chapter. I loved the way you chose to start it with the dog, foreshadowing Ginny's inner turmoil with Harry's situation and her ultimate decision to keep Harry a secret when he finally arrived. I also loved the way they corresponded with oneanother despite Mr. and Mrs. Weasleys' insistence that they couldn't. (And though I found their letters to be unusually mature for a seven and eight year old, they are both unusually bright children of course, which is what I'm choosing to attribute this to.) I also loved the scene in the shop when Harry and Ginny first met, with the drawing of dragons. I thought they both were very in character here, and throughout the story. And though in cannon I don't believe Vernon was as physically abusive as he is portrayed here, I do believe that AUs are AU for a reason, and perhaps somehow his violence was a trigger for this particular AU. (Of course there are many that believe that he is abusive to this extent in cannon--I just haven't seen the evidence to support it; but it is possible.) I feared greatly that Harry's borrowing of the caligraphy pens would be discovered, and I hope that he is able to stay with the Weasley's so that this won't happen now. I look forward to the next chapter with great anticipation! I hope that Ginny and Harry are able to conceal their secret, or when it comes out, I hope Harry is allowed to stay! Certainly Dumbledore will be involved no matter what happens when he is discovered... I'm excited to see how it all works out, no matter what happens. Once again--great job, and PLEASE update soon!!!
nuage posted a comment on Sunday 19th November 2006 9:49am
Really good! They are so naive, your writing describes perfectly the way the children's minds work. Please update soon!
intromit posted a comment on Sunday 19th November 2006 12:09am
Great job! I'm eagerly awaiting the next installment. Dumbledore's response to Harry going missing and showing up at the Weasleys should be interesting - I don't imagine this being kept a secret for very long. Mrs. Weasley isn't going to know whether to feel proud of her daughter or throttle her! As well as Ginny finding out that he is The Harry Potter.
I laughed at Ginny's comparison to Harry as a lost dog. The logic is very apt for that age.
Again, well done.
intromit
Alorkin posted a comment on Saturday 18th November 2006 5:53am
While normally a Harry/Hermione shipper, I like where you've taken this. As you've indicated, it is much like 'Luna's Hubby', and 'Fate's Debt'. Ginny's immediate concern over a stray is typical of a seven year old child. My daughter was (and still is) the same way.
Her immediate attachment to Harry is lovely, bringing back mamories of my first attraction to the cootie bearers. Her decision to gently
defy her parent's wishes, and write Harry, both opened the way to help him, and showed the independent streak she has.
The scene in the park was typical of bullies.
I know the feelings Harry has, only too well, as growing up, I was usually the target of opportunity.
Dumbles is not going to be pleased that Harry has been moved from the 'care' of his relatives, and his monitoring instruments are probably going crazy at the moment. He will most likely insist Harry must be returned to them 'for his own safety' or 'for the greater good'.
Molly, has always taken Dd's word for every thing and I cannot see anything else happening here, despite her often overbearing mothering.
I look forward to the next chapter of
'Family Inseperable' Alorkin
darthloki posted a comment on Friday 17th November 2006 9:17pm
More! More, man! *anxious eyes*
HermioneGreen posted a comment on Friday 17th November 2006 6:32am
Awesome story. I would like to think that Molly and Arthur wouldn't act the same way with Harry as they did with the dog, but as I realize that this is written from the perspective of 7 - 8 year olds, I can see where they would lump the same reactions into the same bowl . . . I look forward to more. Keep up the good work.
Thanks for sharing
'Mione
Faith1 posted a comment on Friday 17th November 2006 5:42am
AAAWWW!!! This is amazing!
Puck posted a comment on Friday 17th November 2006 4:09am
Cute
Hope he doesn't get sent back that would suck
MonkeyAxman1302 posted a comment on Thursday 16th November 2006 11:42pm
Very interesting first chapter! If this is going to be your NaNoWriMo its a good start its nearly 20k words!! lol!
I thought that Ginny was believably 7, an odd thing to say I know but true in my opinion. A slightly older child might have realised that her parents wouldn't react to Harry the same way they did to Ron's stray dog. Especially if they saw him beaten blue. I think that her character was well portrayed.
Liked the Accidental summoning charm on Ginny an an 8 year old doing apparition has to be a first! I wonder if Dumble's wards would have picked that up!
I look forward to more!
Monkey
Nyeshet posted a comment on Thursday 16th November 2006 12:46pm
Ginny thinks Harry a muggle, and therefore has not yet made the connection between his name and who he *really* is. While she may have suspected the accidental magic in the park to have perhaps come from herself, Harry apparating into her room is likely a different story. When he arrived, however, too many things needed to be done for such thoughts to roam her mind. When she awakens, I imagine she may finally wonder - and finally realize the truth. Far from becoming more fan-girl-ish towards Harry, I suspect she will become even more protective of him - perhaps seeking to hide him in her room and smuggle food upstairs after breakfast, for instance.
As for Dumbledore noticing Harry's departure, it may actually take awhile. The wards are not perfect. What little we know of them suggests that they detect dark magic and the presence of wizards more than other things. Note that no one seems to have visited after Harry accidentally apparated to the top of the school building in the books (which, if I am not mistaken, would have occurred in the next few weeks / months or so during a Harry Hunt). Harry's squib neighbor was placed there on purpose to keep an eye out for things that the wards miss. I imagine that she will report to Dumbledore in a couple days that she has seen no sign of Harry working outside. The Dursleys don't like to stand out, so if she asks them directly about Harry (perhaps asking if he can do a chore for her, or some such) they are not likely to admit that Harry somehow ran away (which is likely how they will see it - along with the idea of 'good riddance to bad rubbish, I imagine). Thus, Dumbledore may not find out for a few days.
Harry, on the other hand, will very very soon realize that magic really exists - if for no other reason than Ginny having to explain about the ghoul due to the sounds it makes. Once he realizes that magic does exist it shouldn't be too hard for him to realise that the accidental magic was due to him - not strange co-incidence.
Similarly, he will likely recall his thoughts / feelings prior to his apparation. If he is returned, I imagine that he may simply attempt it again. I can't see Dumbledore feeling fine about Harry potentially splinching himself - especially without wizards nearby to help should he find himself in that dangerous and potentially life threatening condition (dependent, of course, on what is left behind).
I'm just guessing, but I think that Ginny - seeking a way to keep Harry from having to go back to his family - will seek to find a way to make Harry a part of her family. Wedding vows - especially if they are magically binding - may eventually be an idea she comes up with, perhaps as a last resort, perhaps not. If such vows are not age restricted (and, from the triwizard tournament it seems that some very dangerous magic is *not* typically age restricted, as it needed extra magic (Dumbledore's age line spell) to prevent those beneath a certain age from entering. Most adolescents and adults would know better than to rush into such magically binding situations as wedding vows, while it may be a blind spot that keeps them from realizing that a pair of children may one day stumble upon such and attempt to make them. Or perhaps children are seen as not yet magical enough to form such a bond, but Harry's unusually strong magic allows it?
Either way, I quite look forward to the coming chapters. How long, I wonder, will it take for the Weasleys to discover their houseguest. I would imagine that at best they have 2-5 days before Dumbledore knows and sends a letter to Harry - with a tracking charm so that he knows where it ends up. Actually, as intelligent and as wise as he is, he may be able to scry the location in a mirror, for all I know. Too bad his rosy-hued glasses and lack of common sense skew the results of his wisdom and intellect.
Musings of Apathy replied:
Wow, I'm glad that you liked my first chapter. I intend to address just what Ginny knew of Harry's identity and his signifigance in the next chapter. This is also where I go off canon from the fan-girl part of her personna.
After such a long review, I hope that i have some surprises left for you.
Pathfinder985 posted a comment on Thursday 16th November 2006 8:07am
Great concept. Can't wait to see what Mrs. Weasley does when she finds him. Well written and put together. Keep it up!
Raven posted a comment on Thursday 16th November 2006 7:50am
I love the story and all, but I just got touches of H/G small ship feelings, but overall not a bad story. And another thing was I don't think Molly would be so welcome a boy lying on her youngest daughter's bed, who is yet only seven. Ah, this is going to be good
Lady_Gallatea_Ravenclaw posted a comment on Thursday 23rd November 2006 6:52am