Definitely a cruel place to stop. I suppose the truth is that this horrible event had to occur. Albus must be injured by the ring. Still, I'm hoping the next chapter offers a bit more hope.

It's fascinating. Well done

Author's Response: And continuing . . .

Sssshhhhhhh. Josh, how many times have I told you not to post review replies when you haven't taken your meds? People are going to call the police.

Author's Response: But I took the little red pill. Wasn't that the one that makes all the voices stop?

I feel I should preface this review by saying that I don't normally read fics this far out in the world of AU. I tend to shy away from things that change Harry's past at all, especially in such a drastic way. But I had heard enough good things, and had talked to Christine enough, that I figured I'd give it a shot.

I'm incredibly happy that I did. This is a very well-written fic. While there are some things I'm not overly fan of, particularly some of the changes prevalent in Harry's character (which I won't get into here), I must say that I truly enjoyed reading what you've written, and I cannot wait to find out what happens next.

The dynamic you built between Harry and the twins (and Ginny pre-dating the attack outside the Headmaster's office) was particularly well done and a joy to read. Your idea to start up that multi-front prank war for Harry was inspired, and I can't wait to see where else you take it in the future.

Given that we do not know what is driving a lot of Ginny's character, I find it hard to comment too much on her. She has been well written, in my opinion. We see her playful and fiery spirit, but we also see her insecurities and vulnerabilities. We can assume that even though she didn't meet Harry back as an 11 year old, she still grew up on stories of the Boy-Who-Loved, and I find myself curious as to how much of an effect that held over her initial reaction and acceptance of Harry, not to mention the playfulness between them.

I'm also quite pleased at the way you've written Ron and Hermione. I think a lot of people would be tempted to turn them right back into Harry's best friends, but there obvious barriers there that didn't exist when they were 11 in the original storyline. Hermione using Harry as a source of information is definitely in keeping with her character, and her obliviousness to how much she is grating on Harry's nerves was a nice touch as well. Ron's jealousy and desire to protect Ginny from Harry was very much in keeping with his character. His volatile nature would not mix well with this new Harry, and I can certainly see why Ron is the least accepting of Harry of the whole bunch.

There is much else I could comment on, but I should probably stop myself before this gets too lengthy. Anyone who keeps correspondence with me will tell you that I have a tendency to get rather long-winded when speaking through text. All of that aside, you've written a very enjoyable story, and while the general concept may not be my cup of tea, there's no denying your abilities as an author. It's an excellent story, and I eagerly await the next update. Happy writing.

Author's Response: Thanks for reading, thanks for leaving feedback, and perhaps most, thanks for giving it a try.

I suspect your issues with Harry are common to a lot of people. He's not entirely likeable right now, but that's part of the fun of the setup, isn't it? I always felt that the twins, Neville, and a few other characters really came out short in the books. I can understand why JKR made that decision, but still... so much potential.

Ginny is a complex character. Some people tend to think the story is really about her, no matter how much I may whistle in the process. There are distinct issues that everyone in this story needs to work through - Ginny, Harry, Albus, Remus, even Edgar. Although I am a firm believer that some people are not redeemable, I think very few people are ever truly set on one path to the exclusion of all others.

Thanks for the kind assessment. The next chapter is wrapping up in beta, so hopefully you won't be waiting too long.

I am hoping (really hard) that the through-line of the plot in this story/series is going to be "The Humanization of Harry." I'm guessing that the subtitle of "Part I: Anger" suggests that there is something different after anger -- because frankly I'm finding this Harry a little hard to take. I doubt that he and I would get along.

I found Harry's reaction to the evidence of Ginny's beating at the end of Ch. 14 and beginning of Ch. 15 to be pretty brutally callous. It's been pointed out to me by other readers that he does manage to notice that her hair's a mess, which I suppose counts for something. But I must say that if you told me that an unnamed 15-year-old boy was approached by an unnamed 15-year-old girl who made an emphatic demand for training in combat, showing bruises, having nearly killed the aforesaid girl by accident a few days previous, knowing about her enhanced fragility due to some unnamed trauma ("not raped", how comforting), for that boy to react the way Harry has reacted would indicate some serious developmental flaws.

Anyway, I'm hooked on the plot and I'm going to keep reading, but it's really unpleasant to have a POV protagonist whose outlook is so emotionally stunted.

...Now I don't know whether I can fairly call this a negative criticism of your writing. Clearly if your Harry is bothering me this much, I must be finding him real enough to get under my skin -- which implies that you've made him very vivid and that you've made your other characters so compelling that I feel sorry for them. I suppose one could have written a similar angry letter to Dostoyevksi about Raskalnikov in the first third of Crime & Punishment.


Author's Response: So your review is quite interesting. First, thanks for reading, and leaving feedback. Second, let's talk about this...

In short, I see two problems here. The AU pretext is an opportunity to take the sandbox created by JKR, and diverge. Some people choose to diverge in a very minor way. Some people choose to diverge in a major way. Either way requires a certain mental flexibility on the part of the reader.

Your comments boil down to essentially two things. (1) Harry seems to act inhuman toward all, and (2) Harry does not react to a situation as you would choose to act. The third part which is incidental but quite revealing is that (3) you feel that Ginny, and perhaps other females, are fragile flowers that require protection and coddling.

Feel free to clarfiy your ideas. In the meantime, I'll address the only interpretation that I see of your comments in order:

(1) The idea of humanizing Harry is an implication that Harry isn't human. Borrowing from the Hierarchy of Exclusion, you're saying Harry is either varelse or even possibly djur. I disagree strongly. Harry in this story is raman, yet the degree of external alien behavior is such that you cannot perceive him beyond varelse. This leads directly to...

(2) Why should different people react to adversity or an unknown situation in the same way? In fact, most don't. This will tie-in to (3) below too. The fact that you choose to perceive and act in a certain way is based on your life experiences. Has Echoes-Harry had those experiences? Has he had the choices you have had? Or is he truly a new creation, someone that shares the name with canon, but is not canon? Your preconceptions are baggage that you are trying to saddle these charactes with, but they refuse to carry your luggage for you. Your objection lies in the fact that not only will they not try, but they ignore you when you ask them nicely. Rather than asking them to carry yours, perhaps you should dig through theirs to see what their valuables are? For it is what we value that defines who we are.

(3) Who said Ginny is a fragile flower? Who said that Ginny, if given half the chance, wouldn't take your head off if you hacked her off? Who said that any girl needs to be comforted, protected, and/or coddled? That's a rather narrow world view. Me Thag. Me Defend. Me Fight. Kind of boring, isn't it? Stereotypical and suffocating, I'd like to think that most of us have moved on to a new world view as long as we're not funadmentalists of some ultra conservative dogma or religious doctrine. Has Ginny asked Harry to defend her? Or has she been seeking from everyone she could some mechanism or training to fight her own fight? That answer was given many chapters prior.

I have far more respect for someone who tries to stand on their own two feet, accepting a bit of help along the way, over someone who expects and demands the other.

You're right, I'm glad you're worked up and bothered. But rather than try to pigeonhole these characters into your world views, and JKR's canon presentation, why don't you let them stretch their wings and watch as they discover their own lives?

The punchline: it won't be the Humanization of Harry, because Harry is already Human.

Yes, evil you are. I’m surprised you’re not getting flamed for Harry’s Ginny “abuse�. Yes, I want to hear your answer to GNG. Why, Josh, why? I’m cackling again!

Sorry.

Hey Dave (I know he’ll read this), your review made me laugh out loud. Yes, Josh is mean. We all know it. I can’t wait to see what people say about next chapter. Is it wrong for me to gloat about knowing what’s coming? Probably, but I might do it anyway. I can be evil too.

I think I have an explanation for the validation/ hit count thing. When you log on sometimes a story that has not been validated will show up as recently added. When you click on it, you’re chastised and shooed away. That has to be how you’re getting hit counts. I’m not sure about the review. As for the validated author thing, I think you have to be part of the in-crowd which you are not. They have to give it to Cel at some point, so maybe since she betas for you, you can eventually wheedle your way in.

You forgot something. You didn’t give credit for cattle and love play. We can’t have that now, can we? Some things are sacred.
~ Christine

Author's Response: Egads! My fairy beta editor has pointed out my omission. I'll go tweak the A/N now at the end of the chapter. If you saw it before it was added, that goes to Gurney Halleck of Dune character fame.

And yes, you're allowed to cackle and gloat, but only if you can manage it in a way that leaves everyone both horrified and fascinated about what comes in the next chapter. In which case, I say Carry On!

The hit-count issue may be correct. As for Validated Author, as I said, previously, if it comes, it comes. I'm sure there are rules and processes somewhere behind it all, but it's pretty vague from this side of the equation. I dunno about in-crowd and all that, I know politics crop up anytime there's more than three humans in one (virtual) space... but that's life.

I'm happy to sit and write, offer my $0.02 when asked or provoked, and otherwise torment, I mean, please my readers with the next chapter...

uh-oh

Author's Response: I think I've finally figured it out. You've picked up on how I twist reviewer comments around to make people re-consider what they have said, so now you're aiming for something I can't do that with. Right?

Well, in direct response: who is in trouble?

Why's Harry so mean to her?? She didn't do anything wrong. She just wants to keep from getting beaten up. Maybe it's Ron that's fighting with her. She's pretty mad at him, and my big brother used to beat me up. I hope she gets back at Harry later.

Why's Dumbledore so mad at Remus? Everybody loves Remus.

Harry's in trouble again at the end. Poor Harry. If it's not one thing, it's an other.

Author's Response: Why is Harry so mean to Umbridge? That's a good question. I agree, Minerva hasn't done anything wrong. Someone is going to beat up Hermione? Did I miss that? I don't think Ron would, he's her boyfriend after all.

All that aside, I'm glad you're enjoying the story GNG. I would encourage you to keep thinking hard about those questions you asked, and see if it doesn't all fall together in the next chapter.

Harry needs to be careful with his vision.
I guess Harry will need new armor.
Ginny will really hate Harry in the morning when she wakes up more sore than ever before in her life.
I hope we find out precisely what happened to cause Ginny to demand training.
Good chapter. Can't wait for the next!

Author's Response: It's funny that what may be a strength today is a weakness tomorrow. The Terminator may been a large muscular fellow good to have on your side, but only until you need to squeeze down that tiny pipe to escape. At which point, he's not much good, now is he?

It's funny how that next-day soreness just sort of leaps out at you. Sore legs, shin splints, sore shoulders, sore neck, yep, she's going to be really loving old Harry, now isn't she? (smirk)

another great chapter looks like ginny may have bitten of more thean she can chew which is good as it means that its gioing to be a long procees for her to get where she wants to go and i look forward to her development path in this story as much as harrys. relly liked thwe wards and evrything to do with the riddle house esspecally the whole ring thing and a great cliff hanger.

Author's Response: It should never be hand-waved aside as a trivial bit of exercise to just whip your body into shape and start doing physically demanding things. It just doesn't work like that. Other authors seem to like to jump right past the reality part, which is fine for them, but I try to keep the physics laws operational here...

I'm glad you're still reading. The next chapter is already well into beta, so hopefully the cliff hanger will be short lived.