HP FICTION: Under Her Gaze

SUMMARY: Snapshot. Remus Lupin contemplates his Hogwarts acceptance letter.

DISCLAIMER: Hogwarts, and the rest of the Wizarding World belong to J.K. Rowlings.

The boy sat quietly under the tree, his back against the trunk so he could look out into the small clearing. A soft breeze ruffled his hair, providing a hint of coolness on what would otherwise have been an unbearably hot summer day. He had been in that spot for what seemed like hours, watching only absently the comings and going of the birds and the work of the bees as they flew from flower to flower. No matter the distraction, his mind and eyes kept drifting back to the parchment he clutched in his hand, the fulfillment of a long-time dream.

He still couldn't quite believe it. For as long as he remembered he had heard about Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Both his parents were magic, that is, able to see and do magic, and had attended the school themselves. There were times, when he was younger, when they would put him to bed by telling him stories about the grand castle that housed the wizard school, of its ever changing halls, moving staircases, and even about the ghosts who lived there. He had always loved these stories, letting them fill his mind with dreams of adventures that would probably never have been allowed had he actually attended the school. Being very young, he had longed for the day when he could attend and experience everything for himself, not understanding all the hard work that would come with it.

With time and circumstances, however, all that had changed. His parents rarely ever talked about their school days around him anymore, afraid it would upset him to be reminded of what he couldn't have. A place in Hogwarts would never be given to a monster like him. His parents had tried of course. They had pleaded and begged and tried every remedy available to them until they could afford it no longer. He had been poked, prodded, and forced to drink foul potions more times then he could count. Yet it had changed nothing. His dreams of experiencing the castle and having grand adventures had become just that, dreams.

He had once read a fairy tale where the young princess's beauty was ruled by the phases of the moon. As the moon waxed her beauty grew, to be revealed in full splendor when the moon reached its own fullness. As the moon waned, so did her beauty and health, until she was as a frail old woman. Awakening only at night, the princess lived her life under the watchful and controlling gaze of the moon, until the night came when the curse was lifted by the kiss of a prince.

The parchment crackled in the breeze, the neat letters wavering in his vision. He didn't believe in dreams coming true, not anymore, not for him; that was for the realm of fairy tales, not real life. There was nothing that would lift the moon's curse from him. He would live under its control for the rest of his life. But maybe… He straightened the parchment once more, reading the words again. Maybe that wasn't the dream that needed to come true.

In the fairy tale, it was the prince's compassion and love of the old woman that lifted the curse, his acceptance of her at her worst. If he could be accepted for who he was, as the letter suggested he might be, that could be enough. It wouldn't take away the pain of the transformation, but it might make it bearable; just as his parent's love had allowed him to forget, at times, the moon's control over him.

He allowed a small smile to escape, a spark of excitement lighting his eyes. Maybe those dreams weren't as impossible as he thought. He might yet experience all those adventures his young mind had conjured. The small smile became a grin as he remembered. Carefully folding the parchment, the boy jumped up and started running, disturbing the birds who had forgotten his presence in his stillness.

AUTHOR’S NOTES:

[1] I imagine Remus being about four or five when he was bitten. Having watched nieces and nephews growing up, I have a new understanding (and sometime awe) concerning the intelligence and imagination of children that age.

[2] The fairy tale Remus refers to is “Little Daylight” by George MacDonald. It is a version of Sleeping Beauty.

HP FICTION: New Glasses

By Aelthwyn

Author's Note: This is my first ever fan-fiction. It's based on JK Rowling's characters James, Sirius, Remus, Peter, and Lily from the Harry Potter universe. Just a little scene I imagined of a fun day in the life of the Marauders :) I hope I have done them justice.

. . . . . . . .

James squinted at The Daily Prophet over his morning toast.

"Anything interesting?" Sirius asked squishing onto the bench next to him.

"If someone would care to hand over my glasses maybe I could tell." James's tone sounded distracted as if engrossed in one of the columns.

Sirius snatched it from his hands, trailing it in the butter. "Well maybe I'd better read it to you then." He said genially, clearing his throat in preparation and perusing for a choice headline. James glared at him.

"What!" Sirius did his best 'I'm innocent' expression. "You must admit my version of Hogwarts a History last night was much more entertaining anyways."

Remus smirked. Peter grinned. James glared on icily.

Sirius' smile fell and he went on in earnest. "James I swear I didn't hide them! I told you last night!"

"After leading me to believe you had turned them into a glass and I'd spent hours when I could have been writing that essay helping the house elves wash up and attempting to un-transfigure all those glasses!"

"It's not my fault if you're gullible and paranoid of your own friends."

Peter snorted at this suggestion.

Meanwhile Remus had rescued the newspaper from Sirius' wrinkling grasp, smoothed it out, and wiped the butter off the Minister for Magic's nose on the back of the front page. He regarded Sirius with a rather sinister proffessorly look over his cup of tea.

Sirius let out an exasperated sigh and magicked a quill to write something on his napkin. "I say, you're rather perfecting that Moony, someday they might just have to make you a Prof." He tossed the napkin across at him. Remus glanced down.

I will not hide James' glasses.

I will not hide James' glasses.

I will not hide James' glasses.

He tossed it back at him with a laugh.

Just then a late owl swooped in from above and dropped something in James' lap. "Anyway, I won't be needing anyone to read to me today, no thanks to you lot." He unwrapped the little package. "I ordered a new pair." He explained pulling out a shiny pair of spectacles. They were sort of… rectangular this time, and they all stared at him awkwardly for a moment taking in his new look.

"Well I can see what you think." James sniffed. "So spare me your remarks. I just thought I'd try something different." He finished loftily. Remus handed back his paper to which he pointedly turned his attention.

Remus glanced at Sirius. Sirius glanced at Peter. Peter glanced at James and then back at Sirius who muttered something (James was ignoring them), while surreptitiously flicking his wand behind the convenient screen of the Prophet. A moment later they were all choking down laughter.

James stood with a feigned expression of indignation. "Fine friends you are." He declared turning to go, but ran into Lily just coming to join them.

"Oh! James, they came!" She smiled a little too brightly as Peter shook his head vigorously behind James' back.

"Good morning Lily. What do you think?" He asked.

"Well…," she turn his head from side to side as if inspecting them. "They'll take some getting used to, but….. I think they really suit you." She replied ducking behind him to slide into the spot he had just vacated.

"Well at least someone likes them." James said to his three friends. "And if you think they're so awful, perhaps you'll consider giving back my old ones. Anyway, I'm going to go finish that essay somewhere without you three sniggering at me." He fixed them with a stare over his new glasses, not quite as successful as Remus' and strode away to a splutter of laughter.

"Hey James! Nice glasses." They heard someone call from further down the table as he passed.

"You know I think he might have got those ones just to annoy us," said Remus.

"Or else he intends to impersonate McGonnegal." Peter giggled.

"Not in those!" Sirius grinned madly.

"Those can't be the ones he ordered." Lily cut in.

"No no." Sirius assured her. "They were rectangular." Another bout of sniggers possessed Peter.

"He did tell us he wanted to try something different." Remus' eyes glittered in amusement. "Thanks for playing along, you were perfect."

"Honestly, the four of you!" Lily exclaimed, though she couldn't help giggling herself. "You know he'll get you all back for this, and I'd rather not be included."

"Oh don't go fix them yet!" Peter begged as she looked about to go after James, but he was already out the door, so she gave up and took the plate Sirius had just served up for her.

"We really are going to have to get the old ones back now though." Said Sirius, "And I Didn't take them!"

"I suppose it must have been….." Peter stopped. "Well, he lost them sometime on Friday right?"

Remus shot him a knowing glance. "Yes, we'll have to do a thorough search, later."

"I suppose I could go sniff around….." Sirius began.

"No I will." Peter cut in. "We've got potions with Slytherin today and I'd rather miss it."

Lily gave him reproving glance, mixed with sympathy.

"All right, if you can't root them out we'll put our heads together again before dinner." Remus nodded to them.

"Well I don't know what you two are still sitting around here for, but I'm not going to miss the fun!" Sirius said getting up to head after James with a pile of toast in his hand. "Pardon us Lily." He bowed gallantly at her with a wicked grin on his face and the other two rose to follow him with nods and smiles wishing her a good morning.

. . . . . . . .

"We should make the map show things as well as people." Peter whispered to Remus as they exited the great hall.

"Yes but which things?" Remus replied, "There'd be too many among all the quills and fizzing whizbees in people's pockets."

"Oh."

Sirius was munching distractedly at his toast and craning his neck for their quarry. He tapped their shoulders before pointing at the door to the library.

James was just emerging, still apparently oblivious to the Hot Pink-Rhinestoned-Cats-Eye glasses perched upon his nose. All three nearly doubled over laughing and ducked behind a pillar as James turned their direction. The hall was starting to get thick with people heading toward their first classes and they watched as people gaped and prodded each other as James passed. Several more people 'complimented' James on his glasses with dubious expressions before he began glancing around suspiciously. Then a group of Slytherins suddenly barred his way, and Sirius nudged the others to sneak 'round and back him up.

"Nice specs, Potter!" one of them sneered.

"Why thank you." He replied with sarcastically sunny politeness, just to spite them.

"Going to start a girl's band?" another laughed.

His smile froze and he reached up suspiciously. Just then plastic flowers sprouted from the corners of his glasses and squirted the lot of them as Sirius and Remus appeared at each of his shoulders for the face off. In the cries and commotion that followed there was a sudden flash and several people tripped over someone who must have slipped in the puddle.

"Great look, Flower Pot!" one who hadn't gotten wet called as the Slytherins broke up in a mixture of curses and hysterics.

"Thanks, Pal." James said through gritted teeth shoving the ridiculous glasses at Sirius as he watched them depart. Sirius put them on and beamed 'round at them. They all burst into laughter clutching each other as they staggered down the hall.

Sirius reached for the classroom door, apparently with every intention of wearing them inside.

"Wait! Give them here!" James grabbed them. On the backside they did look vaguely rectangular and innocently black, so he didn't feel too bad about not realizing sooner. "All right change them back" he prodded Sirius.

"You wanted something different!" he insisted still laughing. "Anyway, serves you right for not believing your best friend!"

"All right, all right, I'm sorry." James said grinning and shaking his head.

"Serves him right for intending to annoy us with them too." Remus put in.

Sirius made an exaggerated mournful sigh as he halfheartedly raised his wand at the glasses.

"Don't worry Sirius" Peter whispered loud enough for James to hear "I got a picture."

James made a pretend clout at Peter's head and fixed the glasses himself. "Come on!" he said grabbing Peter and Sirius by the sleeves as Remus opened the door. He shot a wink at Remus, as he pushed Sirius in before him and muttered something behind his back. Sirius' eyebrows sprouted into one thick bushy mass as he slipped into his customary seat at the back of class. "How long till someone notices?" James whispered, grinning at Remus who slipped in quietly after them.

"Well Binns certainly won't" Remus muttered, with a light in his eye that bet James it would last till next class.

. . . . . . . .

"I don't know. I think I rather like them." James said looking at himself in the bathroom mirror later that afternoon.

Sirius snorted catching sight of his enormous unibrow which he'd been pretending not to notice all day, forcing the others to keep having to stifle fits of laughter during class.

"You can't be serious James. It's like, changing your nose or something!" he exclaimed indignantly.

"You just don't look like you." Peter said.

"People change their glasses all the time. You just have to get used to it." James replied. "I think they make me look more calculating, don't you think?" he tried out a glare over the top of the narrow flat rims.

"I don't know. I think I rather like this." Sirius threatened, mimicking James' inspection of himself.

"You wouldn't!" James and Peter both cried.

"Oh I'm sure he would." Said Remus dryly. He leaned on James' shoulder to get into the mirror frame along with them so he could stare at James pointedly in it "But if you insist on keeping these, I think one of us will have to actually confiscate them."

They stared at themselves, the four of them, for a moment and then broke into laughter again as Sirius made faces in the mirror, doing his best to imitate gorillas and trolls.

. . . . . . . .

"Why don't you just enchant them to look like your old ones?" Lily suggested over dinner that evening. "Not that these are bad, but, you know…"

"Oh, now it's a matter of principle." Remus explained, talking as if James wasn't there. "I'm sure he will eventually if we stop bugging him about it."

James gave a sort of noncommittal nod.

"Anyway, sorry about this morning, James." She said as she got up to leave, her eyes lit with the amusing memory.

"Don't apologize!" Sirius cried, "Old 'Flower Pot' here deserved every minute of that and you know it."

James laughed along with them, "That really was a brilliant touch. Totally caught me off guard when I started squirting them!" He grinned broadly.

"I wish you'd gotten a picture of their faces!" Sirius laughed.

"Well I would have if I hadn't been trodden on." Peter grumbled good-naturedly.

"I think Peter deserves a reward for braving the enemy ranks in this escapade" Remus clapped his arm round Peter's shoulder. "How about repaying him those sugar quills you owe him James?"

"What! Reward him for taking that picture!"

"It has been over a month you've owed me!" Peter piped up on cue.

"Oh….well all right." James relented as they all got up from the table.

"Meet you back in Gryffindor Tower." He waved them on as he turned to head toward the one-eyed-witch.

"Where are you going?" Lily asked confused.

"Uh…..Secret stash." James glanced furtively at the others.

"Top secret" Sirius added darkly, steering Lily back to the tower with them.

Five minutes later James dropped carefully to the ground of the passage to Honeydukes and saw glowing in the darkness his old round-rimed glasses, now enchanted to shine in rainbow color sitting atop a large bag of sweets. So that's where Peter was during Potions today! He must have scoured the grounds for them that afternoon. James inspected the bag. By the number of pepper-imps he figured Sirius must have sent him with a special order, and a donation, probably from James' wallet, for the sugar quills while he was at it. He grinned, pocketed the bag and switched his glasses before hurrying back after his friends.

Dumbledore's Orders

“Now I have work for each of you. Fudge’s attitude, thought not unexpected, changes everything. Sirius, I need you to set off at once. You are to alert Remus Lupin, Arabella Figg, Mundungus Fletcher - the old crowd. Lie low at Lupin’s for a while; I will contact you there.”
— Dumbledore, end up book 4.

I’m going to take a leap and suggest that Dumbledore was so flustered by his encounter with Fudge that he wasn’t thinking straight. That can be the only explanation behind the orders he gave Sirius. Sirius, who was a member of the ‘old crowd’, who was thought to have vilely betrayed them and the Potters, and who was considered a murder, now on the run from the Ministry after breaking out of prison. Yes, Sirius is the perfect person to regather the Order of the Phoenix. What was Dumbledore thinking?!?!?!

A much more rational take on the orders would be for Sirius to alert Remus and have Remus gather the others. Sirius should probably not be approaching former enemies of Voldemort until such a time as Dumbledore can confirm his trustworthiness.

To Be Continued…

Sirius Black's Character

Author's comments:

J. K. Rowling has said that she likes Sirius as a character, but she does not think he is "wholly wonderful":

"Sirius is very good at spouting bits of excellent personal philosophy, but he does not always live up to them. For instance, he says in "Goblet of Fire" that if you want to know what a man is really like, 'look at how he treats his inferiors, not his equals.' But Sirius loathes Kreacher, the house-elf he has inherited, and treats him with nothing but contempt. Similarly, Sirius claims that nobody is wholly good or wholly evil, and yet the way he acts towards Snape suggests that he cannot conceive of any latent good qualities there...Sirius' great redeeming quality is how much affection he is capable of feeling. He loved James like a brother and he went on to transfer that attachment to Harry."

Rowling also described Sirius as a "bit of a loose cannon" and a "case of arrested development" and once described Sirius as "brave, loyal, reckless, embittered and slightly unbalanced by his long stay in Azkaban."

Reaction:

There are several points about her assessment that don’t add up for me, based on what I know of Sirius from Books 3 and 4.

The first point is that he “doesn’t always live up to” his “bits of excellent personal philosophy”. Her two examples of this are Kreacher and Snape… lets think about this for a min… Kreacher was utterly vile and I wanted to strangle him most of the time and Snape was heavily into the dark arts, even if he was against Voldemort. Not the best examples in the world, considering it would take a saint to get along with those two. Considering Sirius’ long history with both of them, it is only natural he doesn’t get along with them. They are not exactly innocent victims when it comes to their bad relationship (though that is a different subject).

The second point is her comment that he is a “case of arrested development” and “slightly unbalanced”. While I won’t argue that 11 years in the hell hole that is Azkaban wouldn’t leave someone unbalanced, I do argue that it left him immature. There is nothing about his actions in the 3rd and 4th books that even remotely imply this. In fact, he acted remarkable mature and sane considering what he had been through. As someone pointed out, after hunting Peter for nearly a year with murderous intent, he backed down easily at Harry’s request that Peter be turned over to the Dementors instead.

It is no secret that I think she butchered his character in the 5th book (along with several other characters). Not blatantly, but little things here and there that didn’t add up and ended up changing the feel of the character. I did not buy his family history, his relationship with his family, his relationship with Kreacher, his supposed bullying of Snape (implying Snape was a victim), nor how badly he handled being confined to his “old house”.

This is someone who befriended Remus and survived 11 years in what was effectively hell on earth, and it felt like she didn’t honor his character’s particular strengths and weaknesses. She used him to get across the points she wanted to and didn’t follow him where he would naturally go. The faults she gave him didn’t feel like the faults he would have. Not to say he didn’t have plenty of faults, but my impression of the character led me to expect different problems.

To summarize, I believe her comments that he is a “case of arrested development” and hypocritical to be inaccurate based on what I know of the character before book 5.

Now, to address the question of how I dare say something like this. Character often have a life of their own outside of the author’s mind. The author comes up with the concept but the characters are more than the author’s creation. In their own way, they are real people, though ultimately they aren’t of course. As such, it’s possible for an author to loose touch with their character, or misrepresent them, especially if the author is trying to accomplish something specific without regard of their character’s personality. This can include everything from unfitting character back story, family history, wrong personality, actions, attitudes and so forth. I have seen plenty of published authors admit this and have experienced it myself when developing my own characters. I can’t count the number of times I’ve tried to have a character be a certain way or do a certain thing because I wanted it, only to have them protest in their own way. It takes, as Moody would say, constant vigilance and an attitude of listening to the characters instead of dictating. I feel that JKR dictated (especially based on some comments of hers) and as a result, she lost touch with her characters and misrepresented them. It isn’t rare and it does happen. That is why I’m willing to say her characterization of Sirius in the 5th book felt wrong.

Potential Plot Holes

J. K. Rowling created a brilliant world with incredible characters... but her plot development leaves a great deal to be desired at times.

For example, in "Chamber of Secrets", why were the petrified students not taken to the real wizard hospital? (introduced in book five, and mentioned in book four.) Considering the general usefulness of the Mandrake potion (returning transfigured people to their original state), it would seem like they would have some available? What good is having a hospital otherwise?

It is many little things like this (and a few major things) that make me doubt her ability to come up with a strong, stable plot.

Character Deaths

I've been thinking a little about the characters killed off in the Harry Potter series. Other than the outrage I feel about some of them, I can only think of one or two of the deaths that actually had any impact or import to me.

The top two are Cedric and Dobby, with Dumbledore coming in a distant third. It's possible Moody is in there somewhere. Other than that though, I didn't gain (or lose) anything from the deaths. That is part of the reason most of the deaths bother me so much. It seems like nothing was made of them. Even their pointlessness was ignored. What's the point of killing someone off (expecially "major" characters) if you aren't really going to do anything with it?!

Meddling

I don't know the details yet, but it appears JKR is meddling with her Harry Potter characters again, specifically James Potter and Sirius Black. In my experience, ever since the 5th book, this hasn't been a good thing.

Why can't she just stop like she said she would and put the series behind her. Please... leave the poor characters alone. They have been abused enough. I'm tired of having to add more things to the list of character mutilations that I need to fix. It's already quite long :(

Harry Potter: Response

Author’s Note:
This is a short story written in response to JKR’s October “Character Development.” It made no sense given what we were told in the books, and in my opinion, took away from the story. Take that as you will.

--------------------------------------------

Response…

Harry stood in front of the door to the Headmaster’s office. He wasn’t entirely sure he should be doing this. Asking Professor Dumbledore for advice about his problems with Lord Voldemort was one thing; questions of a personal nature were another.

Before he could turn around and make his way down the stairs, the door to the office opened and Dumbledore summoned him inside. Harry didn’t remember knocking.

“Ah Harry, how are you this evening?”

“Oh…good…sir”

“Is something troubling you?”

“Well…you see… the article in the daily prophet…well…”

Harry stumbled to a stop. He didn’t know how to ask. He needn’t have worried.

“Ah yes, a most interesting article.” Dumbledore looked amused. Harry couldn’t understand why. If Rita Skeeter had said things like that about him… not that she hadn’t come close. And then there was what she had said about Hermione. Harry knew she couldn’t be trusted, but he still wondered.

“I was wondering… sir… if any … well… if any…” Harry paused. “If any of it was true, sir”.

Dumbledore sighed, loosing the amusement he had shown earlier.

“The world is a complicated place Harry. Many of the facts Miss Skeeter presents in her article are true. Yet her interpretation of those facts… and her conclusions… Facts, Harry, can be interpreted many different ways, depending on the your goals. Interpretations must be tested. Let me ask you this, given what you know of me and Miss Skeeter, do you believe her interpretation of the facts?”

Harry looked down, thinking over the list of facts Skeeter presented in her article. Dumbledore’s association with Grindlewald was strange, he admitted. He wouldn’t have thought the professor would get involved with someone like him. Still, Skeeter’s reasons seemed a little far-fetched, given what little they know about what went on. It seemed very unlikely that he would follow Grindlewald because he was in love with him. There were other reasons Harry could think of that sounded much more like the Dumbledore he knew.

Harry looked up and met Dumbledore’s eyes.

“No, sir. I don’t believe she’s right.”

“Why then, do you think, she would say what she has”

“Well, it makes people question whether they know you, whether you have been honest with them. It would make her popular with the ministry, given your conflict with them… um… it would also get her a lot of attention.”

“Very good Harry… Always remember to think carefully over what you hear about others. Test it against what you, yourself, know. And don’t just doubt what you hear about your friends. Remember that the same thing happens to those you don’t know. Believing in things before you know the facts from the people involved can be very destructive.”

Dumbledore continued.

“Now, if I am not mistaken, you have a Quidditch game tomorrow to rest up for. You wouldn’t want to disappoint Professor McGonagall by falling asleep on your broom. You know how she delights in the game. Off you go…”

Harry heard the door shut behind him. He was glad he came. Now, he just needed to remember to look for his Quidditch robes before he went to bed…

--------------------------------------------

Back in the Headmaster’s office, Albus Dumbledore sat down at his desk with a sigh. He was weary. Rita Skeeter’s article was just the latest in a string of attacks against him. There seemed to be no end in sight, and also no depths his opponents wouldn’t sink to. If they would devote as much time to hunting down dark wizards as they did when making up these ridiculous stories… Albus sighed again. No matter. He allies stood with him. He would rest in that.

Harry Potter: Veil

8/25/2005 (according to the document modification date)

<begin lecture>

Veiled Archway
Department of Mysteries
Ministry of Magic

Very little is known about the ancient archway, whose opening is covered by a veil, that sits in a chamber in the department of mysteries. There are times when the veil covering the archway flaps, as thought blown by wind, and voices can be heard beyond it. It is believed that the archway is kept in the department of mysteries as a tool for studying death. Beyond that, nothing else if mentioned about the archway. It seems as though the power of the archway is common knowledge in the wizarding world, but that is not known to be a fact.

</end lecture>

You remember that discussion we were having concerning bringing people back to life. Andrea mentioned using the archway or a twin to the archway the brought people back instead of killing them. I’ve seen a fan-fiction that has done this before. It wasn’t very well written but they did use the idea.

For some reason, I was thinking about that today and I came up with an interesting idea. As far as I can tell, no one really knows what the archway does. For some reason, perhaps written history or writing on the archway itself, they believe it to be associated with death. The information we are given about the archway in the fifth book is actually very limited (so much so people debate on whether Bellatrix killed Sirius or falling though the archway killed him). We do know it’s very, very, very old. Perhaps so old that its real use and knowledge of it has been lost in time (extremely possible).

So here is my idea...

What if there was an inscription, on the archway or near where it was found, that gave a warning. Death and suffering to all who path though the veil. Or something like that. But what if passing though the veil didn’t actually kill people, but just made them as good as dead. Trapped somewhere, not in our world (dimension), that they couldn’t of their own will leave. This is where the other archway would come in. The archway in the ministry would be an entrance. The other archway would be the the exit (kind of).

Why I say “kind of” concerning the exit is because trapped people can’t choose to leave though the exit. They must be summed though it by someone on the other side. By summed I’m thinking that the summoner must throw an object belonging to the person they want though the veil and say a certain incantation. They wouldn’t be able to call people who had really died, just people who had passed through the other veil.

The world beyond the veil would not be a nice place. It would be on the negative side of “like death”. It would not be a place people would want to go. I haven’t worked out the details of that though. I do believe that time would pass like it did in our world. There might even be things that grew there (they have to eat something perhaps). Beyond that, I don’t know yet. I was thinking that it might be a cross between the prison world SG-1 got sent to where they found the destroyer of worlds (whose name I can’t spell) and the dark island in Voyage of the Dawn Treader.

Now you might ask, why would anyone create something like this? My answer would be that it was the ancient form of Azkaban. I place to banish dark wizards or those who committed crimes. It could be both a permanent form of punishment or a temporary form of punishment (hence the way to summon people out).

I figure that by the time of the fifth book, people would have forgotten all this. Perhaps the people who created it died out in ancient times and someone found the veil without knowing what it did, brought it back to their own land, and myth grew out of its use there. The history of the archway in that land might be the history people know.

Anyway, it’s just an idea. I thought it was an interesting one.

HP FICTION: The Problem with Words

Title: The Problem with Words
Timeframe: MWPP Era
Genre: General, Comedy (my version at least)
Summary: James, Peter, and Remus take a trip to the library.

Disclaimer: The Marauders, Hogwarts, and the rest of the Wizarding World belong to J.K. Rowlings. I should limit my comments to that lest I get myself in trouble :)

Note: I never posted this on fanfiction.net. I wrote this after reading lots of MWPP Era fan-fictions and hearing many "Sirius/Serious" jokes. It's possible it only makes sense to me :)

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“Ow! Peter that was my foot!” --James
“Sorry” -- Peter
“Sh, quiet... I thought I heard something.” --Remus
“Stop worrying, we’re not gonna get caught.” --James
“Easy for you to say, you’ve already got detention this week” --Remus
“Now who’s the one talking” --James
“grrrrr” --Remus
several minuets pass with only the sound of shoes on stone.
“You’re sure Sirius isn’t going to wake up?” --Remus
“Positive” --James
“He won’t like it if he finds we went out without him.” --Remus
“If no one tells him, he won’t find out.” --James
silence
“Why are we doing this again?” --Peter
“We’ve been over this. It’s for the good of the school” --James
“For the good of the school? I thought it was because you’re tired of... did you hear that?” --Remus
“Hear what? Your imagining things. Look...we’re almost there.” --James
“For your information, I have good hearing.” --Remus
“Um...I can’t get the door open guys. Do they lock it at night?” --Peter
“Lock the door to the Library? Why would they do that?” --James
“Maybe because they’re tired of books disappearing in the middle of the night?” --Remus
James glares at Remus who can’t see him in the dark.
“How do we get in?” --Peter
“If both of you will just stand aside.” --Remus
“Alohomora” --Remus
“I know there was a reason we brought you.” --James
“I still don’t understand. Why don’t we just do this in the morning?” --Peter
“Because then Sirius will be with us.” --James
“Why does it matter?” --Peter
“I’d feel like an idiot?” --James
“And of course detention is much better the feeling like an idiot, so...” --Remus
James glares at Remus who doesn’t appear to be paying attention.
“I think it would be in this section.” --Remus
“Is it that one?” --Peter
“Yah, this is it.” --Remus
“What does it say.” --James
“I wouldn’t know, I haven’t opened the book yet.” --Remus
“Well hurry up, we don’t have all night.” --James
“Patience, I have to find the right section.” --Remus
“Is it in alphabeticall order?” --Peter
“Of course.” --Remus
small amount of time passes.
“Found it yet.” --James
Remus glares at James.
“It wouldn’t be taking so long if I had enought light, but someone insisted...” --Remus
“Alright, alright, will you just find the information.” --James
“Okay here...um...this might be harder then we thought.” --Remus
“What is it?” --Peter
“Look at this list” --Remus
“Well, we’ll just have to try each of them. Do you have parchment with you?” --James
“And a quill?” --Peter
“Why would I?” --Remus
“Because that’s your job!” --James
“We’ll just have to take the book back with us.” --Remus
“But He’ll see it!” --James
“Quiet! It’s just a risk we’ll have to take.” --Remus
“Ok, fine. But if he finds out, I’m blaiming it all on you.” --James
“Fine.” --Remus
“Are we going now? I thought I heard something” --Peter
“Not you too!?” --James
“Oh come on!” --Remus
“Don’t forget to relock the door.” --James
“Ow, Peter will you please watch where you’re going.” --Remus
“Sorry, but it’s so dark.” --Peter

--------------------------------------------------------

Sirius Black woke the next morning and found his friend’s beds empty. He wondered where they were. They usually didn’t get up any earlier than him. Getting dressed and wandering down to the common room he found them. They were over at one of the corner tables, asleep. A large book was open on the table in front of them and he could see James’ invisibility cloak draped across the back of his chair. Careful not to disturbed them, Sirius looked to see what they were reading...

Lily Evens was just coming into the common room when Sirius rushed past her, almost knocking her over. She looked back, confused, ‘What was that about’. Her confusion only increased when she heard laughter coming from the boy’s dormitory. Determined to find out what this was all about, she walked over to the remaining Marauders, who were still asleep. Just as Sirius before her, she looked down to read from the open book on the table and had to stifle a laugh. What she saw was this...

Thomas’ All-Purpose Thesaurus (for wizards and witches of all ages)
  SERIOUS (adj.)
   Can mean:
    grave (adj.) and has synonyms:
     grave
     solemn
     somber
     stern
     grim
     severe
     staid
     sober 
     unsmiling
     humorless
    important (adj.) and has synonyms:
     important
     momentous
     significant
     crucial
     vital
     critical
     considerable
     major
     fundamental
    acute (adj.) and has synonyms:
     acute
     life-threatening
     dangerous
     critical
    earnest (adj.) and has synonyms:
     earnest
     sincere
     genuine
     honest
     resolute
     decided
     determined
    thought-provoking (adj.) and has synonyms:
     thought-provoking
     meaningful
     intense
     deep
     profound
     powerful
    Antonyms and has synonyms:
     funny
     trivial
     minor
     flippant

THE END

Order of the Phoenix: Harry and the Killing Curse Criteria

March 26th, 2006

In an attempt to see if anyone can come up with a better idea then mine, I’m going to list the criteria I based my idea on.

• If Lily didn’t die first (for Harry), Harry would have still survived (1)
• If James didn’t die first (before Harry), Harry would have still survived
• Harry has no powers completely unique to him that allowed him to survive (2)

(1) At least in the sense that the protection she gave him when she died trying to protect him didn’t save him from the killing curse.
(2) In other words, no special powers. He is allowed to have greater abilities but not special abilities. There is a difference (in my mind, an important one).

With the first two items, the main point I’m trying to get across (or put into the story) is that Harry didn’t survive by chance alone.

HP FICTION: Approaching Darkness

Title: Approaching Darkness
Timeframe: Summer after Harry’s forth year
Genre: Drama (more like melodrama), AUish
Summary: Darkness approaches Hogwarts.

Disclaimer: Harry, Hogwarts, and the rest of the Wizarding World belong to J.K. Rowling, no matter how irritated I am with her at the moment.

--------------------------------------------------

Approaching Darkness -

Another night was underway. The moon, almost full, dimly lit the grounds of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry with a cold blue-white light. The windows of the castle, previously warm beacons shining in the night, were being extinguished by unseen hands within the stone walls.

The light of the moon kept the castle from being plunged into darkness. Faint outlines of towers and halls could still be seen by those who knew what to look for, even though the castle’s revealing inner light had gone.

The quiet peace that usually settled over the school, as students and teachers drifted off to sleep, was this night elusive. There was tension in the air, expectation. The trees of the dark forest stood still, branches and leaves unmoved by wind. Even the creatures, normally breaking the silence of night, each with its own unique voice, felt the mood radiating from their surroundings and remained silent.

Entering this stillness, swirling mist broke out of the forbidden forest; a cold, gray fog covering the ground and blocking the faint moonlight from the surface of the earth. The mist wrapped around Hagrid’s Hut, breaking like waves against the wooden walls, and continued on its way toward the dark castle.

A young man observed the scene from one of the castle’s high towers. As the mist reached the walls surrounding the school and began pouring through the gate, he could almost imagine that the school no longer sat on land but floated above it in the clouds. There was security in that thought, however false it was. And he knew it was false. There was nowhere safe, not anymore.

Something was coming, a darkness unlike that of the night. Cold that pierced not only the body but also the soul. Evil that would not rest until hope, and warmth, and goodness were but a weak memory, if even then. And he knew, he felt, it was coming soon.

A chilling wind blew through the open window in front of him. It ruffled his already unkempt hair and sent its icy tendrils through his thin robes. He took no notice of the cold, his mind occupied with hundreds of unpleasant thoughts.

Out in the night, thick, dark storm clouds began to gather, cutting off the faint light of the moon. In the absence of this revealing light, unnoticed by the troubled young man, silent figures crept out of the protection of the forbidden forest. Long black cloaks flowed around them as they converged upon the gate that would lead them towards their goal. Ample hoods rested upon their heads, hiding their identity from all who would look upon them. Lust for power and fear of their master drove them forward. Victory this night would bring great rewards. Defeat meant death.

One by one they entered the dark halls of the castle, each to their own dark mission. Malevolence, like their cloaks, seemed to surround them as they silently moved through the school. Yet the castle slept on, unaware of the danger within.

Up in the tower, the young man seemed to sense the change within the castle. Jumping up from where he sat, he made to grab his wand, but within seconds was frozen in place. There was death in the air. A shrill scream pierced the silence of the night followed by a blinding flash of green light, unseen by all those within the castle walls.

Signaled, as though by the scream of a life now destroyed, darkness made itself known. Shooting up over the treetops of the forbidden forest, from seemingly hundreds of different locations, bright green fireworks cast their eerie glow over everything in sight before fading slowly into smoke. Rising up in their wake, a bright green skull settled itself over the forest; an image of a snake protruded from its gaping mouth. The symbol that made even the strongest wizard fearful and the most hopeful lose heart. The sign of Lord Voldemort.

In the light of their master’s symbol, having abandoned all pretense of subtlety, a host of dark robed figurers darted out of the forest. Brilliant light erupted from their raised wands and streaked towards the castle. As wave upon wave of light impacted with the ancient walls, it seemed the very foundation of the school was trembling. The very spells that had held the castle together and protected it for hundreds of years were being tested and they were failing against the onslaught of dark magic.

Racing down a corridor, having abandoned his tower, the young man dodged stones as they fell from the now unstable walls and ceilings. He knew it was only a matter of time before the castle collapsed in on itself, killing all those inside and saving the darksiders the trouble of doing the job themselves. The need to get out was overwhelming, causing him to abandon caution and run even faster then wisdom dictated.

His heart was pounding in his chest, his breaths coming in short gasps, as he rounded the corner he hoped would lead to freedom. Only a short distance away the front doors of the school stood, open and inviting, calling him to the escape they offered. Yet he came to a stop in front of them, hesitating. He could hear the screams of students and teachers echoing in the entrance hall. He knew, with a sense of desperation, he couldn’t just leave them without trying to help.

His hesitation was all the dark one needed. It raised its wand and muttered a curse, directing it at the boy. Turning around, the young man froze as a beam of light sped toward him. Roaring filled his ears. Within seconds his world seemed to be filled with brilliant green light and a penetrating cold. An agony unlike anything he had known before filled him, only releasing its claws as darkness claimed its ownership over him.

--------------------------------------------------

The memory of dazzling light and agonizing pain still fresh in his mind, fourteen-year-old Harry Potter bolted upright in bed. Taking several shaky breaths, he tried to calm his racing heart and mind. It was only a dream… only another dream.

Swinging his legs over the edge of the bed and placing them on the floor, he tried to make himself forget how real everything had seemed. It felt as thought he had actually been at Hogwarts in the midst of a death-eater attack. Yet he knew he hadn’t been. Of course that doesn’t mean I won’t be, eventually.

It was less than a month since the most feared dark lord of the century had returned, regaining his old strength, and it was only a matter of time before he resumed his campaign of terror. Those who acknowledged his return were preparing themselves for a difficult fight.

Harry’s mind again drifted to Hogwarts. If Voldemort was indeed more powerful than before, as Prof. Trelawney predicted, it wasn’t unlikely that he would go after Hogwarts. After all, Hogwarts, along with its Headmaster, was a symbol. It was known as one of the safest places in the wizarding world, a stronghold of the light. Its fall would be devastating.

But that wouldn’t happen. It couldn’t.

Harry tried to push all these thoughts out of his head. They weren’t doing him any good. They only succeeded in giving him nightmares and sleep-deprivation. He didn’t need anymore things to think about. The events of the Third Task still hovered, even present, in his mind. Cedric’s death still weighed down on him. No, I don’t need anything else to worry about right now. Anyway, what had Hagrid said? What will come will come. I can only control how I meet it when it does.

Focusing on that, and on as many happy memories of his friends he could think of, Harry laid down again in an attempt to sleep. After all, His Aunt and Uncle would probably have an unrealistically long list of chores for him to do come tomorrow. He would need all the sleep he could get.

--THE END--

AUTHOR'S NOTES:
07/07/05: This is just a small idea I got that came out of my efforts to write my own version of Harry’s fifth year, although it is only slightly related to the aforementioned efforts.
03/26/06: I think the idea came from a dream (or nightmare) I had of the dark mark hovering over the forbidden forest. In the dream I think it was actually several dark marks, but I didn't use that many in the story. I wrote this rather quickly if I remember correctly. It is by no means a great example of writing, but it's something.

Order of the Phoenix: Pureblood Status and the Potters

First Draft - March 26, 2006

This is all, of course, more opinion and speculation then anything else.

The Potters are a very old wizarding family. According to official standards they are considered purebloods. Pureblood fanatics, while categorizing the family as purebloods, would (and do) consider the Potters to be blood traitors not only in that they consider muggles worthy of life, but they also consider muggleborns worthy of studying magic and of association. This is seen in that James Potter, a pureblood wizard, married Lily Evans, a muggleborn witch.

Out of all the pureblood families, the Potter are probably one of the most despised by those who hold the so called purity of blood to be important. It would not be considered odd for the Potters to be called muggle-lovers and blood traitors when referred to in conversations by the other purebloods, that is, when they are mentioned at all.

The Potters status as purebloods was retained, despite their love of muggles and muggleborns, in that they have never actually married muggles, and very few muggleborns (it works itself out after a few generations, in my opinion). Their marital connection with muggles have always been very distant. Their love of muggles more abstract and on principle than out of experience. They have done this not out of arrogance or snobbery, but simply because they don’t get out of the magical community enough to fall in love with any muggles. They have mainly met their future spouses at Hogwarts, which as anyone knows, only teaches those who have magical abilities. So, they have remained purebloods more out of lack of opportunity than any desire to do so.

Order of the Phoenix: Harry and the Killing Curse

(The following is my take on things. If anyone can think of anything better...)

KILLING CURSE -

The killing curse (Avada Kadavra) is one of the unforgivable curses, outlawed by the ministry of magic and holding a lifetime sentence to Azkaban for its use on humans. There is no known counter to the curse which kills its victims instantly in a flash of green light and the sound of rushing wind, leaving no visible mark or cause of death. Only one person (Harry Potter) is known to have survived the curse.

HOW HARRY SURVIVED THE KILLING CURSE (first draft) -

THE FIRST POINT:
Wizard children (those children with magical abilities) have been known to unconsciously use magic when frightened, or angry. Harry transported himself to the school roof when Dudley and his gang were after him. He also made the glass vanish from the snake cage at the zoo when mad at Dudley. Neville made himself bounce when he was dropped from a second story window by his uncle. These things happen, seemingly, without the children actively trying to do them. They seem to be an accepted part of growing up with magic blood. In fact, parents (and others) think it quite strange if occurrences such as what happened to Harry and Neville don’t happen at some point (I feel quite sorry for muggle parents). Children go to school in order to learn to control the power they have, not to acquire it (at least this is mostly the case).

THE SECOND POINT:
A wizard’s ability to do magic depends on the amount of power they hold. Some wizards can’t do certain spells because they aren’t powerful enough. These types of spells are usually considered advanced magic. For example, the patronus charm is considered very advanced magic (up until the fifth book) and very few wizards can actually do it (or they have problems doing it), even more so have the charm take an actual recognizable shape. The same goes with the killing curse. A great deal of power must be behind it to make it work (most students wouldn’t have the skill to do it). So, the more advanced the magic, the more power is required to do the magic.

THE THIRD POINT:
In my (my being Tracy) version of the Harry Potter universe Harry is as strong (or capable of becoming as strong) as Voldemort, with Dumbledore coming in a close second. In other words, Harry and Voldemort are slightly more powerful then Dumbledore (known to be one of the most powerful wizards of his time). So, Harry should be capable of doing some very advanced magic (intentionally or unintentionally).

THE FORTH POINT:
It is thought that there is no way to block the killing curse. Most (if not all) would say it has no counter curse. The only way to avoid it is to duck. A more proper way to say it would be that there is no KNOWN counter curse. It seems reasonable to state that just because no one knows of a counter doesn’t mean one doesn’t exist. It also seems reasonable to state that a counter to the killing curse would be extremely advanced magic. It would take as much, if not more, power then that being used on the killing curse to affectively use the counter curse (if one did exist).

[ begin note:
How are curses and counter curses discovered? From what we have seen, it is done by experimentation. How then would the counter curse to the killing curse be discovered without someone getting killed in the process? Would someone try to block it when it wasn’t aimed at them? It seems like part of the counter curse would be the extreme desire not to get killed. Can someone, than effectively experiment when they aren’t in danger of dying? How about practicing the counter curse? Wouldn’t the same problem apply? Just some thoughts.
end note ]

CONCLUSION:
Harry blocked the killing curse. All that happened (the scar, the transfer of powers [or connection to Voldemort], the destruction of the house, the death of Voldemort, etc.) was the result of the counter curse.

NOTES:
Remembering that the killing curse actually touched Harry (or so it seems), I was thinking a little more about how blocking it would actually work. It doesn’t seem like it is blocking it in the traditional sense if it actually touches the person. Nor do I think it is reversing the killing curse. It would seem like, then, that there is a split second right after the curse hits and before the person is actually dead when it is possible to block/reverse (or expel to use another term) the curse. It would also seem likely that only the person being hit with the curse could accomplish this (or maybe I think it is very convenient for me if this were true). It would make sense. All attempts to block the curse before it hits a person have failed. There is no known spell to bring back the dead. Both of these things have probably been looked into a great deal. What if, then, the defeat of the killing curse lies somewhere in between?

Half Blood Prince Review (Major Spoilers)

I wrote this the day after I read HBP. Some of my opinions/thoughts have expanded and changed since then, but I don't currently feel like rewriting this at the moment. Perhaps later I will write a revised version.

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince - Thoughts

(I might repeat myself several times, I’m figuring things out as I go :)

I will first say that I did enjoy reading this book. I don’t agree with all her plot decisions but that’s what fan-fiction is for :) I don’t like that she killed Dumbledore but I won’t complain about the way it was done (although I still haven’t decided what was going on there). When I write my version of book five and beyond, Dumbledore will probably live (so will Sirius, but that is another matter entirely).

There were a lot of my questions that were answered by her (I’m not saying I liked the answers, but they were answers). Most of them were related to Voldemort’s early life (which I find fasinating and is probably why I liked the book). That (and what Draco was doing) seemed to be the focus of the book, almost to the exclusion of everything else.

Draco’s plot and Voldemort’s early history were everything in this book. It seemed like everything else was put in the background to the point that it almost fades from memory. If they didn’t make occasional mention of people dying in the outside world, you can almost forget that Voldemort has returned. It is very strange when you start to think about it. It feels like with the exception of Harry, Dumbledore, the past Voldemort (and the other memories), the new potions teacher, and maybe one or two others, you are seeing everything through a tunnel. You aren’t really connecting with the other characters as persons, you are just connecting with what they are doing (if even that). They just kind of fade into the background.

It seemed like, to me at least, that the war was too easily forgotten, or brushed off. The death of classmate’s parents or other relatives are mentioned almost as an afterthought and then forgotten. None of this is really dealt with. It feels like the mentions of the war are put there because that is what’s expected but that it’s kept to a minimum because there are other things to be concerned with. The only things that don’t seem slightly forced are the lesson’s with Dumbledore and potions (with everything surrounding that). (Well, maybe Quidditch too.)

Albus Dumbledore, Harry Potter, Snape, Slughorn, and young Voldemort are the main characters and the ones who stand out most clearly in my mind after reading it. It seems like everyone else was forgotten (I’m sorry I keep saying this). What happened to all the cool characters she introduced in the past? Where are Neville, Luna (well, she seems to get some good parts), Tonks, Remus, Mad-Eye, the Order of the Phoenix, the Teachers, the Death Eaters? Some of them get some walk on parts that don’t last long and are never heard from again. It just seems very strange to me. What did she do, give into a really strong desire to edit most of the story away? I needed more character interaction!!!!!!

Anyway, I think I stated that I found some things strange enough. I’ll move on :)

I’m not quite sure about the Horcruxes. They remind me far too much of the ring of power (at least certain aspects of it). I wonder if she watched LOTRs too much as she was writing the book. Actually, I wonder if she watched LOTRs and the Star Wars prequels too much. The “Chosen One”????? Is Harry going to join the dark side, kill off all the light side wizards, and later be redeemed by his son?

I thing that although she answered quite a few questions, she also raised tons more. I can’t see how she can resolve all the unresolved things in the next book.

I never liked the prophecy. I don’t think I like what she did with it in this one either. I mean, if you’re going to have a prophecy, at least have one. Don’t introduce it in one book and, pretty much, make it unimportant in the next. That is basically what she did. By hearing the prophecy and taking it seriously Voldemort created it (at least that is what it sounded like). Perhaps my problem is that I have a different idea of what prophecy is then she does (and I do, kind of, know that it all depends on how you use the term). I think of prophecy as a spotlight on events. The events would have happened no matter what, prophecy just draws your attentions to the events and explains where they fit in the grand scheme of things. It puts events into perspective and gives insight into what’s going on. Her version is more like self-fulfilling prophecy. I suppose there is nothing wrong with that, I just happen to prefer the other way.

Remus needed to be in it more. He is one of my favorite characters. I’m still not sure what I think about him and Tonks. I will really have to think about that one. I like Tonks, I really do. It’s just that she’s what, 13 years younger then him? I know that shouldn’t bother me but it does. (Note: on further reflection, I don’t really like the Remus/Tonks pairing. I don’t feel like their personalities match in that way.)

On the other hand, I kind of liked that he (and the other marauders) weren’t mentioned much because I really don’t like what she did with them in the last book.

I really liked the first few chapters. The first was great. I found it extremely funny. The second chapter with Snape, Bellatrix, and Narcissa was very interesting. I would never have considered Bellatrix being something even remotely resembling a sister (in mindset that is, I knew they were related). Dumbledore picking up Harry was great. I really do think he (Dumbledore) enjoyed playing with the Dursley’s minds (I probably would have if I was him). Actually, I can’t think of a chapter that I really disliked. The Ron/Lavender thing was a little annoying but I suppose I’ll consider almost being poisoned as adequate punishment.

Do all works of fantasy need dead armies (or zombies in this case)?

All in all, I don’t have the problems with this one that I did with the last. The characters seem to be acting like themselves (nothing like they were acting like in book five, which is interesting). The Harry in book six is the Harry I expected in book five. I can’t escape the thought, though, that Voldemort really needs to read the evil overlord’s list and take some of its advice. He is far too predictable. I mean, come on, could he have picked something less obvious then family heirlooms to put his soul into?


Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince - Speculation

R.A.B. -
The initials signed in the note found in the replacement locket (that was suppose to be a Horcrux). By the way, a Horcrux is a object that holds a piece of the soul, making a person, kind of, immortal. You must kill to create a Horcrux. Anyway...

To the Dark Lord
I know I will be dead long before you read this
but I want you to know that it was I who discovered your secret.
I have stolen the real Horcrux and intend to destroy it as soon as I can.
I face death in the hope that when you meet your match,
you will be mortal once more.
R.A.B.

Would it really be too obvious (as someone suggested) that R.A.B is Regulus Black and that the real locket is at Grimmauld Place (the locket no one could open)? Regulus was killed by Voldemort when he tried to leave the death eaters (didn’t like what he was being asked to do). I wonder if it is possible that Mundungus Fletcher (Order of the Phoenix, thief) could have stolen the locket along with the other stuff he took from Grimmauld Place. What would be the point in having him do that though? There must have been some point in having him take stuff from the house.

Snape -
I don’t think Snape is a servant of Lord Voldemort. I also don’t think what he did was right. It was a very difficult situation, and I’m not sure what other action he could have taken but he shouldn’t have killed Dumbledore.

Here is an interesting question. Did Dumbledore want Snape to kill him? What exactly was he begging for, to be spared or killed so that Draco could be spared? Could Dumbledore communicate his intentions to Snape thought his mind? She kept reminding us that Snape was good at reading minds and blocking others from his (so is Dumbledore). I really don’t know. It seems like something Dumbledore might do. Also, remember, that when Harry and Dumbledore were going into the cave (or at least in that chapter), Dumbledore commented that Harry was far more valuable than him. He probably didn't want Harry to get hurt. He would have rather died himself then let that happen.

One really wonders if she is going to kill Harry. It seems like she has the perfect set up for it. If Harry got his powers (speaking to snakes and such) from part of Voldemort's soul being transfured to him, then he would have to die for Voldemort to be killed. I don't want this to be the case but it seems like a real possibility.
If I remember right, Dumbledore speculated that Voldemort was going to make another Horcruxe when he killed Harry. We know that Harry gained some of Voldemorts powers.
The Diary had Voldemorts powers. So, I was just wondering based on that. We don't know how the Horcruxes are made (or the timing) so we don't really know what happened that night. That and she's never given any guarantee that Harry will live.

I’m also very interested to see what she does with Draco’s character. Is he going to become a real death eater or is he going to turn on Voldemort? He wasn’t going to kill Dumbledore. I think he was really considering taking up Dumbledore’s offer (and then the other death eaters came). It seems, though, you don't really feel sorry for Draco until the twenty-seventh chapter ("Lightning-Struck Tower"). It's when you find out he isn't all that committed to killing Dumbledore. I wonder if it would have been different if he had known Harry was there?

One of the death eaters would have killed Dumbledore. I don’t see that Snape, Draco, and Harry (if he was released from Dumbledore’s spell) could have prevented that. Would the unbreakable vow be broken if someone other then Draco or Snape killed Dumbledore? Would the vow have been broken if Draco had taken Dumbledore’s offer? There are too many questions.

Why did Snape make the unbreakable vow to begin with? Did he know what Draco’s mission was at the time? Was there a way to get out of the situation without making the vow or destroying his cover (if it was a cover)? Or is he really evil and meant to make the vow knowing full well what it would mean?
The wording goes "if it seems Draco will fail...will you carry out the deed that the Dark Lord has ordered Draco to perform?" A question to which Snape answers yes.
Now it seems to me that it could go either way. Either Draco or Snape has to kill Dumbledore, or someone has to kill Dumbledore. If Dumbledore wasn't killed, the vow would be broken (?) and Snape would die.

Would Merope (Tom's mother) have told Tom more about his haritage if she were able? Was naming him her way of telling him who he was? How could he have found out so much if she was unable to tell him anything? Part of me says she would have had to leave him some more substantial clue for him to learn so much. I mean, he opened the chamber in fifth year. He would have had to know a great deal about slytherin and who slytherin was to him, would he not, to have done that?

--Tracy