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Reviewer: Forge2 Signed Date: 2022.11.29 - 10:45AM Title: Chapter 7 - Muggle Shopping
It's hard to wrap my mind around even this stiff and slightly less horrible version of Petunia, but the narrative you've built up around her makes sense to explain her change. I like seeing more of her humanity. You've expertly woven a tale that allows her to retain much of herself from the books but tweaked her personality enough to be fascinating without being so unrealistic that it takes the reader out of the story.
Author's Response: I am so glad you think so. As I recall, I lost more than one reader over Petunia and this whole issue of giving any money to the Dursleys.
Thank you, and happy reading!!
Reviewer: Gin110881 Signed Date: 2015.12.31 - 09:40AM Title: Chapter 7 - Muggle Shopping
Ah yes, a shopping spree. As a well-bred husband I never comment shopping sprees. (However, I never forget to mention that I don't comment, lol).
However, I'm glad that Ginny and Harry are allowed to have some fun together. I expect to see the photos later decorating Ginny's room, lol.
Many thanks for the fun chapter!
Author's Response: Yes, this chapter was kind of fun and fluffy. Still, it is building forward in story development. Thanks for reading and commenting.
Reviewer: Mistress_Lrigtar Signed Date: 2013.03.23 - 09:06AM Title: Chapter 7 - Muggle Shopping
I am so annoyed with Petunia, I want to strangle her. She has some nerve telling Harry not to expect things to be any different around the house after he graciously gave her that money that neither she nor Vernon deserve! I'm not certain Harry in canon would have been so generous, but I may mistaken, as he does seem to have an odd view toward money. Why wasn't the gentleman at Gringotts more forthcoming as to where the money was coming from?
I was shocked by Harry's vehemence towards Mrs. Weasley when she was discussing the bank issue with him at the ice cream shop, as his response asking her if she felt he should give her money, as well, seemed to come out of left field.
I loved the scene in the photo booth with Harry and Ginny, as that is such a typical thing for young couples to do:). Hope she goes home and tells Fred and George about it, because like she said, it would make a great Wizard device!
Author's Response: Harry didn't expect the money to change anything between them, so why would anyone else, The Dursley's aren't going to magically transform into new beings, they are who they are. There are more answers about the money coming in further chapters.
The Gentleman at the bank gave what information he had, he simply didn't have much.
Harry's reaction to Mrs. Weasley was simply his being tired of discussing the whole issue and having to explain and justify his actions. I am afraid Mrs. Weasley was just at the wrong place at the wrong time regarding the matter. However, I maintain that Harry's giving the Dursleys the money was his final victory over them. He has left them beholden to him, as he leaves their lives permanently.
The photo both scene was another of those fluff moments that I agree is simply typical for a young couple of their age. And, you can be sure that Ginny told the twins all about it. In fact, if I can work it in to the story, such a Wizard photo both will turn up at the Twin's shop in Diagon Alley.
Thank you so much for reading and most especially for your comments!
Reviewer: Emlyn Signed Date: 2013.03.07 - 10:07AM Title: Chapter 7 - Muggle Shopping
I'm glad Harry got a nice day out, even with all it's ups and downs. He did a great job with the reporter. Love his obliviousness to the waitress.
Author's Response: Yeah, the waitress, that was fun to write, it was intended more to show that Ginny is indeed only 15, than it had much to actually do with Harry. Glad you liked it.
Reviewer: Arnel Signed Date: 2013.03.04 - 05:01PM Title: Chapter 7 - Muggle Shopping
The trip to the Muggle shopping mall was a wonderful bit of fluff, but I must admit that I was mentally looking over Harry and Ginny's shoulders for whatever bit of trouble the Death Eaters might want to cause: Remus' presence was much appreciated when he was forced to reveal himself to Harry at the photo booth. By the way, I thought it was worth a giggle or two when Petunia turned the tables suggesting that the Muggle mall would be the best place to shop, purposely putting the Weasleys in a spot of discomfort the way she'd felt in Diagon Alley.
I think Harry made a good assessment of what motivated Petunia when she paid for everyone's purchases at Marks and Spenser: it's a heady thing to suddenly come into money and the temptation to spend it is enormous at best. I hope that she will realize that she can't buy Harry's love when she didn't give it freely herself for all those years and that she needs to go back to being her frugal self so that the money will last.
I just hope Vernon won't throw Harry out on his ear the minute he hears about the money or try to make Petunia give it back! It would be just like him, you know?
Author's Response: Thank you for your kind comments. I am glad you are enjoying the story, fluff and all.
This chapter was intended as a juxtaposition to the previous one, I really wanted to have the Weasleys see more of the Muggle world and the comparison and contrast of Diagon Alley to a Muggle mall was just something I couldn't pass up. As I am not British it did take some research to try to get it right. I feel certain I failed quite miserably in the eyes of any Brit who has actually been to that Shopping center.
Yes having so much money does make one want to spend it, but I don't think Petunia will be the real problem. No Vernon, there is another issue entirely. Also, I do not think Petunia would imagine that she could buy Harry's love at this point, but she does certainly feel some regret and a huge sense of debt to him at this point.
You'll have to keep reading to see what Vernon does.
Thanks so much for the reading and the comments. As always, Happy reading!
Reviewer: potterfan2008 Signed Date: 2013.03.04 - 11:44AM Title: Chapter 7 - Muggle Shopping
It was fluffy, but he can give his aunt millions but can't get his girlfriend an owl? Sorry but that bothered me. I think he needs to get out of that house and cut all ties with the Dursleys. I gather from you review answers that you don't believe Harry was abused, but starving a child, locking them in a cupboard, and telling them how much they aren't wanted is abusive. Personally I believe they were physically abusive as well - we've seen Petunia swing a skillet at his head and Vernon wrap a hand around his throat - that is not normal and now they are getting rewarded for that behavior. You've detailed that the Dursleys are getting millions from some unknown source - is it legit? Are they obligating themselves to someone for this? Harry better be getting a lot more than that. The shopping was ok, I would imagine Petunia would enjoy shopping no matter what and of course making sure her whale of a son got more than Harry would still be important. Harry has been to a burger shop - Hagrid took him after they went shopping first year.
Author's Response: Okay, I give... you know the books little details better than I do! I honestly don't remember the reference to Petunia swinging a frying pan at him, though I do recall Vernon placing his hands at Harry's throat. And, I didn't mean to imply that I don;t think the Dursley's abused Harry, I certainly do, but just not as severely as many seem to think. It is not like they beat him regularly, or tossed him down the stairs. The biggest point I would like to make is that none of what they did do ever broke him, or stripped him of his humanity.
I do get a little befuddled sometimes by the assumption that Harry giving over this money is automatically a "reward" to the Dursley's. I'll admit that Vernon sees it as some form of justice, but then Vernon is the worlds biggest git, and I don't much care what he thinks. I suspect that Harry doesn't either. But in a sense, Harry does feel he owes a life debt to Petunia, but even that doesn't really factor in for me. As I have repeated many times the issue here, as far as I am concerned is about who Harry is, and has little at all to do with the Dursleys. Just wait for the Karma to catch up with them. The phrase, "be careful what you wish for," seems to come to mind when I think of Vernon and all that money.
Now, the issue of Ginny and the owl... If he had tried to buy it right then, Molly would have marched him right back in to the shop to return it don't you think? Harry is smarter than that. (Keep reading.)
Now, the question: is the money legit? Yup, no strings attached, (Well except perhaps the afore mentioned karma.) And, "Harry better be getting a lot more than that." Well, yeah... that is a mere drop in the bucket, though I am not as I have seen in so many other fanfics, making Harry the richest Wizard in the world... or at least, I will never say that, exactly. I'll let you speculate once you get that far.
Thank you for a delightful and engaging review, and most especially, thanks for reading my story. I hope I will hear more from you as the story unfolds. Thanks again!
