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Reviewer: Gin110881 Signed Date: 2015.05.28 - 06:58AM Title: Chapter 7 The Opinions of Men Change

Its good news that the both of them get some magical training again. Carys is really good for the both of them! The Muggle scenes and chapters are very well written and I like them very much. However, I have to admit that the Magical scenes are a little bit more fun to read.
The revelation that the Slytherin Common Room is connected to the Floo network and Tom R. has used it was a surprise that I really liked. Now everybody should be able to see which side Snape has chosen.
Even if I do not write every time, your Ginny/Harry scenes are excellent; I love them!


Author's Response: I really like Carys, she's good for them and allows them to grow in their magical ability and their relationship. It seemed to me that a house that prizes cunning and ambition would ensure that they have an edge over the other houses. Glad you are enjoying the Harry/Ginny romance.

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Reviewer: Mistress_Lrigtar Signed Date: 2012.08.05 - 05:44PM Title: Chapter 7 The Opinions of Men Change

I'm glad to see that Harry and Ginny's names have been cleared, that's a start. I wonder how Snape will go in this fic? Is he really on the good side or is he bad? I am still enjoying this, I only have one small peeve; I'm not a hundred percent sure Harry or Ginny would call each other 'baby'. That screams American to me.

Author's Response: Thanks! You should be wondering about Snape - I didn't want to make it too clear, like the books I wanted it uncertain. Sorry about the 'baby' thing, I have to admit I use it a lot myself so that's probably why it creeps in. Do you have a more British suggestion? I am obviously not British so any helpful hint would be appreciated :)

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Reviewer: I Love Ginerva Signed Date: 2012.08.05 - 02:46AM Title: Chapter 7 The Opinions of Men Change

No Review

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Reviewer: Imperator 277 Signed Date: 2012.07.31 - 12:37PM Title: Chapter 7 The Opinions of Men Change

Everyone has got to get a clue The only real reason Snape withheld the information was because he wanted Harry to suffer. It just shows what a sick, evil sociopath he really is. He gets enjoyment from seeing Harry suffer for the things his father did to him. Snape is smarter than that to believe that he thought Dumbledore wanted to believe Harry was guilty. I really hope Sirius gives it to him good. Cannot wait to hear the minister's reason for keeping Harry expelled, but I have a theory that he wants to use Harry as a political pawn to solidify his position. Or, he sees Harry as a political rival and will uphold the expulsion to discredit him. Bottom line is, he wants to take credit for being the one to defeat Voldemort. That is my theory. But he should think that on the other hand, reversing the expulsion will look good with the public that he is pardoning their hero and make him popular. Feel free to use my ideas. I really hope to read more chapters soon!

Author's Response: Thank you. I'm not a huge Snape fan - he was infatuated with Lily, but I can't believe he really loved her. If he did how could he have treated her done like that. There will be more from Scrimgeour in the next chapter. I took a week off while I was on vacation, but I'm working on it now :)

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Reviewer: dshadel Signed Date: 2012.07.30 - 06:09PM Title: Chapter 7 The Opinions of Men Change

No Review

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Reviewer: seekers_destiny Signed Date: 2012.07.30 - 10:23AM Title: Chapter 7 The Opinions of Men Change

I totally missed Harry not already knowing Umbridge was dead. However, I agree with you on their ability to detect magic. I would imagine that once a spell is cast, the magical "residue" would not last long. As I recollect it, they could only get exact spells from a person's wand but could only get the most recent impressions from checking an area. I also doubt there'd be any way other than testing the wand to know who cast what. Also, in the give and take of detecting and avoiding detection, there must be ways of obscuring what one can find out with a magical scan. That's just the sort of thing that Voldemort would know.

On the subject of the Death Eaters striking so close to where Harry was in the previous chapter because they suspected he was there, I disagree. All of the people who have taken in Harry and Ginny have been fairly well-to-do. After all, who else would be in a position to take two strangers on short notice without any compensation? Where do such people live? In a place that can afford to sponsor a big celebration. What better place for Death Eaters to strike than a big celebration? All those muggles in one place and not expecting trouble. By my logic, they were at a greater than normal chance of seeing some DE activity near them. As for the dementors at the mall, I would think they would just go wherever there were plenty of people to "feed" on.

My first surprise for this chapter was that Scrimgeour became Minister. When you kept Madam Bones alive, I thought she'd be the more logical choice. Perhaps her recuperation kept her out at a crucial time. I can see where having Scrimgeour as Minister allows you to extend Harry's outlaw status but some other reason for it is necessary. It's good that he was identified as being "political" but he also leapfrogged his superior (Madam Bones) to get the appointment. She would also be seen as tough on dark magic and opposing Voldemort.

When he was going to do owl orders I suspected that Sirius would learn of it. Since it came up again about him checking up on the account I am even more certain. It appears that you will be keeping Harry on the run for a little longer than I expected. Initially, I was surprised Sirius would say 'don't contact us' in the article but then I realized, he could not afford to publically say anything else. I don't get the attendance of Order members at Quidditch games to find Harry or Ginny but it would make sense as far as fighting off any DE attacks.

I'm very glad that Harry is becoming proactive about his magical education. One of the problems I had with JKR's version is that Harry was so passive about preparing himself. I like this Harry a lot better. The logic about the trace and how they could do some things anyway was top notch. I loved the scene where Harry was watching Ginny finish her potion. I also liked the conversation about getting brooms. Nothing could top their last conversation at the end of the chapter though.

On one level, I enjoyed the interrogation of Snape. He was finally stripped of his arrogance and stripped of Dumbledore's automatic support (quite a feat). It also displayed the level of Dumbledore's betrayal of Harry and it is time for a lot of remorse on Dumbledore's part. Of course, the best part is the public vindication of Harry and Ginny (Molly should be very very sorry as well).

However, you now have a Snape that is OOC or you have taken the story AU for his motivation. Based on the canon motivation for Snape, he has betrayed everything he was supposedly in this for. His only excuse might have been learning of Harry's fate (he has to die) so he might have seen Harry as disposable. However, he found that out sometime after Ron was nearly poisoned by Draco's feeble attempt at killing Dumbledore, which won't happen in your story. How he could continue on risking his life to oppose Voldemort in memory of Lily and do this to her son is beyond me.

Author's Response: Thank you so much for the lovely long review, I really appreciate it. I had DE strike close to Harry and Ginny for resaons close to what you surmised. I envisioned the attacks as widespread and in mostly Muggle well to do areas. HBP mentions widespread Dementor attacks so I took that and had them attack a crowded back to school shopping mall. I kept Madam Bones were she was because I see her as more of the law and order type rather than a politcal type person. I will have Scrimgeour explain himself a bit in the next chapter. About Sirius, he doesn't have a safe way to let Harry know where he is without inviting attack and doesn't want to risk getting his wand snapped. That to me is really the key. If there is a possibility that Harry would be captured and his wand snapped, he would be vuneralbe to attack and as plugged in as Voldemort is to the Ministry there is a good chance he wouldn't make it there alive. The Quidditch games are really a cover for exploring the small Wizarding areas around Appleby and Wigton both in the Lake District that have Quidditch teams. I definitely like a more active Harry and this Harry is one. I'm glad you liked the Harry and Ginny scenes - I have to admit they are some of my favorites. Snape - I have never really bought his reasoning. I think he could have done so much more to protect Harry and he didn't. In my story, he acted as he thought Dumbledore wanted him to and he didn't do anything to actively help the Death Eaters, he simply didn't report it. I imagine at this point Dumbledore hadn't confided in Snape his plans for Harry or anything about the Horcruxes.

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Reviewer: ginnyweasley777 Signed Date: 2012.07.30 - 08:10AM Title: Chapter 7 The Opinions of Men Change

so glad for the quick updates
reckon Snape just showed Dumbledore up a wee bit there :)
fantastic chapter

Author's Response: Thanks! Yes, Snape certainly did surprise Dumbledore,didn't he?

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Reviewer: jediprankster Signed Date: 2012.07.30 - 01:07AM Title: Chapter 7 The Opinions of Men Change

It just occurred to me. The Trace! If Harry was the one to kill those on the Knight Bus, the Trace would have registered the curses involved. Yes they do just ignore any magic detected while the student is at the school, but it should still be detected. Amelia could just check those records from the time of the murders. If there were any underage witches or wizards nearby, the spells would show up on their Trace. Maybe they don't actively monitor during school, but surely the magic still records what was cast.

So, Scrimgeour is upholding the expulsion? Why? He gains nothing from it. He knows that they were expelled for something that wasn't against any rules. And even if it was against the rules, What possible reason could he have for that?

Finally, Dumbledore is seeing a bit of Snape's true colors. Hopefully this proves to be another awakening for him. Although, in Snape's sort of defense, he does have a point. It would appear to the outside observer that Dumbledore actually didn't want Harry cleared. Not that excuses his actions, but

I really liked how Sirius went searching for Harry, and found a house instead. Isn't that the way life usually works? You go looking for something, and find something else. Maybe something else you wanted. But sometimes even something you didn't know you wanted.

This was a very good chapter. This only weak point was their expulsion not being overturned. Yes, needed that to keep them on their 'Perious Journey', but you don't have any solid reason behind Scrimgeour's decision. We know why you did it. We don't know why he did it. Until you give us a reason for his decision, it will seem like a very weak excuse to keep them away.

Author's Response: Thanks! I imagine that close to Hogwarts, they don't even monitor underage magic. That area must be filled with magical energy - the same reason I believe they couldn't detect magic done in the Shrieking Shack. I will have Scrimgeour explain a bit more of his rationale in the next chapter. I do agree, it is a bit of a pretext, but I do have a reason. I think Dumbldedore and Snape will both see each other in a bit of a new light. Dumbledore should have questioned Snape right away, but he was so focused on Harry Snape assumed that was the plan. I like the idea of Sirius having a place free of the past with room for Harry and Remus. Plus it being in such a beautiful place that had such happy memories for Harry would make it that much more appealing.

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Reviewer: Tazio Signed Date: 2012.07.29 - 11:13PM Title: Chapter 7 The Opinions of Men Change

Always great to see this gem updated. I particularly liked the nod to getting around the trace via underage marriage, it made me laugh a bit to see such a common plot point for other stories thrown out the window after just a tiny bit of consideration. Thanks for sharing,
-Jason

Author's Response: Thanks! I admit I have used marriage in previous stories and am not totally ruling it out, but now is certainly not the time for that :)

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