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Reviewer: MollyandArthur Signed Date: 2015.12.13 - 09:31PM Title: Chapter 20 – At One with Misery

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I think I have already said this, but the Weasley family is so disappointing in this story. The fact that they are blaming Ginny for being possessed by Voldemort is obscene. And, Ron is horrid.

Author's Response: Actually, Ron does get better in this story. Not sure why I took mercy on him, perhaps I was sickening for something?



Reviewer: riegert8 Signed Date: 2014.06.20 - 08:47PM Title: Chapter 20 – At One with Misery

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No Review



Reviewer: DukeBrymin Signed Date: 2013.03.23 - 06:42PM Title: Chapter 20 – At One with Misery

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I'm glad Ginny didn't allow herself to be a one-time conquest of Dean's.

Author's Response: That git Thomas better keep his filthy paws off lovely little Ginny or there will be trouble! Actually, Dean will feature again in the story and you can bet he’s up to no good.



Reviewer: HP18 Signed Date: 2013.03.23 - 03:17PM Title: Chapter 20 – At One with Misery

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I do love your chapters but I'm wondering why you haven't entered Draco Malfoy into the equation. I also wonder why (and I've wondered this about Neville too) if there are so many smart people at Hogwarts i.e. Dumbledore, McGonnagal, Hermione. Why didn't anyone ever think that it may be Ginnys wand.

As far as Ron and his friends are concerned I like the way you made life at Hogwarts like a real school its not uncommon for boys to chase girls and talk about them like that together. And though I've always liked the Ron character I always knew he had bullying tendicies considering the way he treated Luna and Hermione in canon. Speaking of which I wonder what Hermione who is a stickler for the rules thinks about Rons business.

I can't wait to see the Harry/Hermione meeting and the Harry/Ginny reunion. It will be espescially interesting when Harry recognizes Ginny and she doesn't know them. I've always wondered why people just listen to Dumbledore without question I mean who would allow their child to be obliviated. And truth be told I always thought Percy had a point in canon when he said that Arthur should have strived for a better job with all the kids he has.

Author's Response: Draco’s coming but it will be a couple of chapter yet. The wand thing is a good question, even in canon we don’t see any attempt to match up the pupils abilities with their wands. Remember Ron having to manage with a taped up wand? No one said anything about that. It’s also sort of inferred that Neville only really starts improving until he’s got a new wand. I guess Hogwarts leaves that sort of thing up to the parents and leaves it at that. With Ron’s temper he’s bound to be a bit of a bully but he’s not that bad in this story. It’s mainly just any boy who shows an interest in Ginny that gets punched; Ron views most other pupils as potential customers. And yes, we will be getting some Ron/Hermione interaction later in the story.

Author's Response: Draco’s coming but it will be a couple of chapter yet. The wand thing is a good question, even in canon we don’t see any attempt to match up the pupils abilities with their wands. Remember Ron having to manage with a taped up wand? No one said anything about that. It’s also sort of inferred that Neville only really starts improving until he’s got a new wand. I guess Hogwarts leaves that sort of thing up to the parents and leaves it at that. With Ron’s temper he’s bound to be a bit of a bully but he’s not that bad in this story. It’s mainly just any boy who shows an interest in Ginny that gets punched; Ron views most other pupils as potential customers. And yes, we will be getting some Ron/Hermione interaction later in the story.



Reviewer: annep Signed Date: 2013.03.23 - 11:41AM Title: Chapter 20 – At One with Misery

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I don’t think that Ginny’s school years are all that different from what many kids experience. My school years were not happy and going far away for university was fantastic. I see this chapter as actually quite realistic.

I think you’ve done a great job of maintaining the basic character traits for all three at Hogwarts. Hermione would continue to be an annoying know-it-all without Harry and Ron to temper it and give her adventure & fun to balance her books. Ron was so insecure and craving money & popularity; Seamus and Dean would not be the kinds of friends to help Ron outgrow those traits in a positive way. Ginny’s magic has been suppressed and her family has not been the rock of love & support that they were in canon, so of course she’s been rather down-trodden. She’s now 15 and beginning to find her inner strength. (Many of your reviewers need to remember the ages of your characters. Most teens can be pretty obnoxious, at least at times, while they’re figuring out themselves and the world.)


Author's Response: It seems my reviewers had widely differing experiences in their school years. Personally, the school I went to was rubbish and it’s only recently that I’m beginning to realise just how bad it was. How I managed to pass so many of my ‘O’ levels is a mystery (In British schools at the time you sat either CSE’s or the more advanced ‘O’ levels before moving onto ‘A’ levels at Sixth Form or College). I lasted one day at College; I was in an ‘A’ level geography class and there was one kid who thought Brazil was in Africa. I decided I was wasting my time at that point and went out and got a job instead. Oddly enough, the matter of people writing characters as their true age was something I was discussing with potterfan2008 just the other day. Personally, I don’t enjoy writing from the perspective of a small child which is why my stories tend to be AU and I steer clear of Hogwarts most of the time. I groan whenever I see a story that has a twelve year old Harry having adult conversations with Ginny. I couldn’t have a sensible conversation with a girl until I was at least twenty-five. Mrs Brennus would probably suggest that I still can’t.



Reviewer: maisa potter Signed Date: 2013.03.22 - 04:09PM Title: Chapter 20 – At One with Misery

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I need the next chapter now!!!! I want the Harry/Ginny reunion!!!! I really love your story, but I really feel as if Ginny is not in character at all at times, but I get why you characterized her that way.

Author's Response: Steady on there, you crazy lady! It’s coming soon, I promise! I totally agree that Ginny is not in character and this is a direct result of her experiences to date. Things will start changing for her, however. Mind you, if I’ve written any character differently it has to be Dumbledore. This one’s definitely not the twinkly-eyed, kindly, old man of the books.



Reviewer: carolyn jinn Signed Date: 2013.03.22 - 04:20AM Title: Chapter 20 – At One with Misery

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Another wonderful chapter.

Ron and his mates seem to be the epitome of bullies and the 'sleazy' side of Hogwarts. I am glad that Ginny did not lower herself to their level.

Ginny's Hogwarts years maybe her worst but she has developed into a strong willed and independent person. (No thanks to Ron).

Looking forward to your next chapter and Harry's arrival at Hogwarts.

Author's Response: I’m glad that’s how you see Ginny developing. I think some people feel I’ve made Ginny too meek but I wanted to show a gradual process of her gaining confidence and strength. Of course, that process will probably get a boost when a certain young man arrives at Hogwarts and sets her straight on a few facts.



Reviewer: hot48cricket Signed Date: 2013.03.21 - 10:49PM Title: Chapter 20 – At One with Misery

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I really enjoy your story. Hope when Harry gets to Hogwarts that he brings Ron down a peg or two or five!

Author's Response: I can see that a Harry/Ron confrontation is being eagerly anticipated. It might not be for a couple of chapters yet, but it’s coming.



Reviewer: alterdream Signed Date: 2013.03.21 - 10:18PM Title: Chapter 20 – At One with Misery

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Well I really enjoyed the Ginny chapters! I can't wait to see what's coming next.

Author's Response: Hopefully I will post chapter 21 this weekend.



Reviewer: Tron Signed Date: 2013.03.21 - 09:28PM Title: Chapter 20 – At One with Misery

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Ginny's family has really let her down in many ways. Knowing that Ron and the twins have been making "some" money with their various talents/activities, they sure haven't tried to help her out at all. Poor girl has nothing decent to wear on a regular day, much less a trip to Hogsmeade. Molly could get a job to help out since all the children are at school or at work.

I'm impressed that Michael asked Ginny out to begin with. His actions later were tactless, but I'll give him credit for trying.

The conversation between Ron, Seamus, and Dean was really the straw that broke the camel's back. I know Ginny liked Dean, but Ron's words were worse than Dean's in my opinion. Ron is her brother and he called her stupid and has such a horrible opinion of her. The sad part is he's not ashamed to share his opinion of her with anyone - just like Percy.

Ron's not my favorite character. In this story, you have actually made him interesting. I still don't like him, but I'm looking forward to seeing how he ends up.

I'm looking forward to the coming Harry/Ron and Harry/Draco interaction. Your Harry is a fighter and he's very good at it. Draco and Ron (possibly Seamus and Dean) may have to be scraped off the ground when Harry's finished with them (or when Ginny gets her hands on a working wand).

Keep up the great work. I look forward to the next chapter.

Author's Response: I think you can assume that most of the Twin’s money is being sent back home but they probably are a bit oblivious of their siblings. After all, in canon it took Harry’s pleas for them to fork out for a new set of dress robes for Ron. Ron has a very specific view of his sister; he does feel guilt for not protecting her previously and therefore has now gone completely the other way. In his mind she’s still the little girl he used to know playing with her dollies and needing him to guide and protect her. In this story he’s quite macho and sexist so his opinions have spilled over into his dealings with Ginny. He assumes all boys just want her for sex and that she is incapable of protecting herself. He doesn’t have a very high opinion of her (or most girls really), but does genuinely love her and will do anything to shield her from the big, bad world. I’m glad you find Ron’s a bit more interest in this story; I definitely wanted to do something different with his character. I will say that you should judge him at the end of the story rather than now – things will change.



Reviewer: smokeylovegood Signed Date: 2013.03.21 - 07:54PM Title: Chapter 20 – At One with Misery

Meant to say "nearly April" earlier and wanted to add that I love the way you've built it up for Ginny to break through her memory block with a lot of reason to be angry at a lot of people - you've given yourself so much room for anger, revenge, learning and forgiveness. And I never liked Michael or Dean!

Author's Response: Ginny will regain her memories gradually; it won’t be an instantaneous thing. Of course, when she does, you can assume she won’t be happy…



Reviewer: Hawk29 Signed Date: 2013.03.21 - 07:26PM Title: Chapter 20 – At One with Misery

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First off, I'll gives props where it's due. You obviously meant for us to feel bad about how miserable Ginny is, and you've pulled it off pretty spectacularly in her three dedicated chapters. My reaction to your latest two chapters as well as the other reviewers' reactions suggest you've done a great job eliciting an emotional response from your readers, so good job.

In regards to Ron, I didn't feel anger or much of a strong reaction to him at all. In fact, I'd congratulate him on finding a niche to raise funds to help his family out. I understand his actions aren't entirely altruistic and he has found great personal gain from his wheelin' and dealin', but if his family is really in such dire financial straits as you paint in the Ginny chapters, him finding a way to be self-sufficient is probably a big help to his family. Sure, it's morally bankrupt and he faces severe consequences if caught (which I'm sure he will be, just to throw some extra drama into events), but I've never seen Ron as a guy with great job prospects in the real world. The Auror Corps is seriously demanding, professionally and academically, according to most of canon. I've never really understood how Ron managed to pull off that career. I could definitely see Ron doing something shady (he wouldn't consider it immoral, he's trying to help his family and improve his life situation) to get by. His actions toward Ginny are rude, but not entirely out of character. Instead, I'd suggest this is what he would behave like in canon if left unchecked by a much weaker-than-canon Ginny.

Moving on to Ginny...

She's had a rough go of things. I never really understood the lack of *consequences* regarding her actions in Chamber of Secrets in canon, and find your scenario being somewhat more likely. She WOULD be ostracized by her peers; her family likely would become much less trusting and more protective of her; she likely would have little self-confidence. She faces none of those consequences in canon, or at least Harry never notices until she has pushed past those issues. Her personality is such that I find it hard to believe she hasn't made any sort of friends, even if they aren't the popular crowd. She's not as outgoing as in canon, but she's by all accounts still a good, friendly person with decent social skills.

Her lack of a love life is a tricky thing. Your portrayal of Michael was obviously very insensitive and not a good fit for Ginny. Dean doesn't have the fortitude to get over pressure from his friends, and with Ron being a much stronger figure on the Hogwarts social scene, I can buy that as being plausible. Likewise, the conversation Ginny overheard among the Gryffindor guys is very plausible. Groups of guys talk entirely different about women when they're with an all-male crowd, and that typically doesn't start changing until they start getting married. As Dean's POV briefly suggested, he did like Ginny, and certainly wouldn't have handled that situation the same if he knew she were there. I sympathize with your Ginny's feelings being hurt, but we all know she's meant for Harry anyway. I have to wonder how the two characters are supposed to work together, though, as Harry is an incredibly strong figure in your story and Ginny is incredibly weak, to the point of being a pushover. How is she supposed to have the confidence to impress Harry? I'm looking forward to their meeting.

Again, thanks for the interesting chapter. I'm enjoying your story and hope you continue to push the chapters out regularly!

Author's Response: Thank you. There is a certain amount of role reversal in this story in that Harry has a better life than in canon, while Ginny has had a much worse one. It’s interesting that I can pile all sorts of emotional turmoil and pain on Harry but if I do the same to gin-gin there are howls of despair. I have just started (slowly) posting this story on FF.Net and I’ll be interested if I get the same response on a non-shipper site. I’m glad you appreciate the role I’ve created for Ron. As you note, his initial motivation came from a good place; the desire to do something for his deprived family. Of course you’ve hit on another of JKR’s contradictions – she’s said that Ron goes onto become an Auror but later said that he joins George in his joke shop. A lot of Authors have taken that to mean that Ron starts Auror training but quits to join his brother. I’d credit Northumbrian as providing the best example of that plot line in his wonderful post-Hogwarts stories. I think Ginny’s situation has been exacerbated by a number of things: the lack of closure regarding the Chamber, her defective wand and the burden of guilt placed on her for her father’s sacking. I hope I’ve allowed little flashes of her true personality to come out now and then, and these will increase in the next chapter. If, for plot purposes, I’m giving Ginny a miserable life I couldn’t really give her a nice boyfriend, could I? Michael was easy to get rid of; even in canon he comes over as a bit of a knob. I’ve probably been a bit cruel to Dean as in the books he comes over as a nice bloke. That said, I still hate him intently for daring to lay his hands on our beloved Miss Weasley and I will punish him accordingly.



Reviewer: zorica Signed Date: 2013.03.21 - 06:53PM Title: Chapter 20 – At One with Misery

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Poor Ginny what a depressing life! And Ron is a bad bad boy but probably quite a realistic take on a British coed boarding school. Cannot wait for Ginny to break away from this misery and find true happiness. I'm sure it won't be a smooth ride but at least Harry will be in the picture. Love your writing and love this story.

Author's Response: It could be worse for Ginny; she could live in Middlesbrough. As noted in a previous response to a review, I appear to have turned Hogwarts into Cirencester Agricultural College. To give you an example of what the place is like; me and a few colleagues were attending a week long residential course there a few years ago. One evening we wandered into the student bar and noticed that they were holding a pub quiz. Thinking that us thirty and forty year olds had a bit more knowledge than a bunch of late-teens, we grabbed an answer sheet and prepared to join in. Question one was as follows: - ‘Which two males did Susan Evans have a threesome with last month?’ Needless to say we made our excuses and left quickly.



Reviewer: smokeylovegood Signed Date: 2013.03.21 - 06:15PM Title: Chapter 20 – At One with Misery

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Bit of a sadist of late, are we?
Ginny's too miserable for even the Goth kids at my school!.
As soon as Ron became popular and everyone wanted to talk to him, I knew he was up to something illegal or at least immoral (teachers can spot that a mile away)! You did warn us in your review replies, so I guess that is better than turning dark.
How on earth did he get any OWLs to stick around for his sixth year and how will Ginny with the defective wand (or is that how she founds out it is defective)?

Can't wait for the big meet up. I imagine all of that extra intensive work to make up for a defective wand and the evidence of her great potential from childhood will make her a seriously kick-ass witch.

It's April, 29 degrees (32 = 0c) and we're under a lake effect snow warning (google it), please give me some warm fuzzies soon, I really need it!

Oh - Bill would try TO come home, not try AND come home. Pet peeve. I have a lot of them (like spelling a lot wrong).


Author's Response: What do you mean, ‘of late’? I work for a bank; I’m a sadist all the time! Oh, and by the way, those Goths aren’t being miserable; they’re being introspective. There seem to be a lot of females on this site with teaching experience; I keep expecting to be told to go and stand quietly in the corner for writing this story! Ginny should have been able to get a reasonable number of OWLs, there are enough courses that don’t require ‘foolish wand waving’. As for Ron, I assume he found a way to cheat (maybe be bribed McGonagall, she likes a drop of Firewhiskey now and then! Err…maybe not). I’m pleased to see you have a pet peeve; just remember it needs plenty of exercise and ensure it gets its shots regularly.



Reviewer: HeroInTheWings731 Signed Date: 2013.03.21 - 06:02PM Title: Chapter 20 – At One with Misery

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I loved seeing your yearly updates with Ginny in this chapter. A brief glimpse at her life each year does a great job of showing the situation she is in. I can't wait until next chapter when Harry presumably shows interest in her and also helps her by reminding her that she needs a different wand. Also, I can't believe how much of an asshole Ron is. When Ginny first noticed Ron's popularity, my first thought was drug dealer and I wasn't far off. I hope he gets his comeuppance. Also, something I thought of which is specific to your story, but just in general: with 5 kids at Hogwarts and 2 working real jobs, why is Molly still a house wife? With Arthur losing his job, the need for money is even greater here and yet she still doesn't get her own job.

Author's Response: Why did everyone instantly assume Ron was dealing in drugs? It must be a cultural thing. No, just drink, porn and the odd hard to get potion. Actually, I think I’ve turned Hogwarts into Cirencester Agricultural Colleague. I’ve done a few residential courses there and frankly I’ve never seen such debauchery in my life! Good point about Molly; I do remember reading a DarkGinny! story on FF.Net (sorry, can’t remember the title) once that made a big thing of Molly’s apparent unwillingness to leave the kitchen. You’d think some sort of catering job would be right up her alley, wouldn’t you? Or child care, perhaps? She’s not exactly the role-model for the modern woman, is she?



Reviewer: jojo99 Signed Date: 2013.03.21 - 04:27PM Title: Chapter 20 – At One with Misery

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Let's hope that Harry helps her - poor Ginny.

Author's Response: Actually, when Harry arrives at Hogwarts he notices this really hot red-head called Susan Bones and he…nah, I’m just playing with yah. I’m sure Harry will do whatever needs to be done.



Reviewer: nesciamema Signed Date: 2013.03.21 - 03:52PM Title: Chapter 20 – At One with Misery

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Damn, talk about the short end of the stick.

Author's Response: Evil, aren’t I?



Reviewer: Majlena777 Signed Date: 2013.03.21 - 02:44PM Title: Chapter 20 – At One with Misery

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This chapter definitely touches the heart, poor Ginny. Kinda shocking how little Ginny got the support from her family, but thanks to this story is more interesting.

Author's Response: It will all come back to haunt the Weasleys, trust me!



Reviewer: Mistress_Lrigtar Signed Date: 2013.03.21 - 02:43PM Title: Chapter 20 – At One with Misery

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Clearly you intended to upset Ginny and your readers with this gem of a chapter. Congrats on a job well done! Now, please don't hit me with a slimy kipper, but I am absolutely appalled at Ron and the twins behavior in this chapter. While I know times are exceedingly tough for the Weasleys, Molly and Arthur raised them better than to resort to selling alcohol and drugs to the student body of Hogwarts. I was surprised that the twins even went along with Ron's idea or that they essentially patted him on the back for a job well-done. Fire whiskey was never mentioned in canon as being available in school, and I can only surmise that that is because like me when I was in school, no one ever thought to offer such a thing to Harry. However, I am also surprised at the crude sexual behavior of Ron, Dean, and Seamus, as that sort of thing never transpired in canon, and I can't believe simply because Harry isn't around things would be so drastically different. Perhaps it is because the war has not touched the student body as it did with Harry being at the center of things, and I suppose I will give you that. All of that said, I truly hope you will cease with this torture in the next chapter and give Ginny, Harry, and us, your dear readers, some well-deserved sunlit days or you may find all of us coming after you with limp kippers.

Author's Response: Hey! I never said anything about my kippers being slimy. Wet, yes, but not slimy. And trust me; you’ll never get a good swing with a limp one. Without seeming to be too harsh on my beloved homeland, Britain tops the European charts for teen pregnancies, drug taking and alcoholism. Champions! I rather suspect the Hogwarts I’ve portrayed is a bit closer to reality than in canon for a British school. Remember, in Britain the age of consent is sixteen and the age for drinking is eighteen, and virtually every teenager in the country tries their absolute best in indulge in both those things long before they are legally allowed. But even in canon there seems a rather loose attitude to drinking. On Hogsmeade visits all the kids are allowed into the pubs unsupervised .Old Slughorn was quite happy to offer Harry and Ron an alcoholic drink and even queen of rules Hermione didn’t seem upset about it. To summarise I therefore believe that all wizards and witches are complete pissheads and get rat-arsed whenever they get the chance. And as for your fish-related threats, I can only say that Harry and Ginny will definitely forge a wonderfully wholesome relationship where they sit and hold hands while thinking pure thoughts. Or something.



Reviewer: Marinka Signed Date: 2013.03.21 - 02:30PM Title: Chapter 20 – At One with Misery

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Ron has changed a bir, but he is a prick. A major one at that! I would love ot see his reaction if somebody would talk about him that way. And honestly, what does Molly thinks about where are his money coming from?? Part time job with Filch?

I am glad that she has few friends but my god! what a sad life ... I am also glad that Dean episode made her want to take control more and not broke her. Is she good in Herbology? What does Snape thinks about her? Has she ever, besides Harry, used a different wand at school?
I hope Harry does remember wand discussion and gets her a new one soon:))

Author's Response: I think Molly and Arthur are indulging in a bit of sticking their head’s in the sand syndrome. This will definitely be an issue that is addressed later, I promise! The Dean episode is definitely a turning point for Ginny. We’ll have a couple of scenes in the next chapter before Harry arrives that show that while she’s not really any happier, she is adapting to her situation. My previous stories have had a theme of Ginny ‘saving’ Harry when he’s been miserable, with this story it will be more the other way round. Sir Harry! To horse and save the fair young maiden!




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