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Reviewer: Gin110881 Signed Date: 2023.12.05 - 01:47AM Title: Chapter 64

What a fantastic chapter. I loved how Harry's friends, and Ginny in particular, insisted on helping him and eventually found a way to clarify the situation before Harry (or they all) rushed off into the unknown. Most of all, I loved that the four's efforts even convinced Dumbledore to give them a little more insight into Harry's situation, something he had refused just days before.
Like I said, a fantastic chapter.

Author's Response: Harry's pretty stubborn, but his friends can be fairly hard-headed, too, especially when it comes to doggedly refusing to let Harry leave them behind. It's tricky to juggle two slightly different friend groups (Harry, Ginny, Hermione, Ron, and Neville vs. the Defense Club leaders), but I'm glad to have Neville as the one to save the day with the mirror. It would've been fun / harrowing to have them all head to the Ministry together, especially if I could find a way to include Luna, but I like that they avoided this pitfall. Telling his friends about the prophecy was definitely icing on the cake. Thanks for the comment!

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Reviewer: Arnel Signed Date: 2023.12.01 - 03:02PM Title: Chapter 64

I'm so relieved that Ginny and common sense prevailed in this chapter. I was worried that you'd follow canon and lead Harry and his friends on the same wild goose chase that happened in OotP. It was good to see that the group could make a decision together that helped Harry do what he needed to do while keeping him safe in the castle.

I absolutely love Ginny's character development in this chapter. She's become someone Harry can lean on without being judged, who can be the person he needs to be in whatever situation they find themselves: he knows she will be there silently lending support, occasionally becoming the voice of reason and helping him accomplish the things he must do. I think he appreciates that she isn't quick to nag or push him into talking when he doesn't want to because he isn't ready. In this instance she took him to Dumbledore, the adult he really needed and who needed to know what Voldemort was trying to make Harry do.

Unfortunately, you've given Harry quite the guilt trip over almost taking his friends into harm's way. I think that's going to take a few days for him to work through. I hope he apologizes to his friends for how rotten he's treated them in the past few hours.

Finally, I'm relieved that Dumbledore gave harry permission to tell his friends of the prophecy. While they can't know the entire thing, it will be a load of Harry's shoulders to have others carrying part of the burden too. I'm glad Ron, Hermione, Ginny and Neville accepted Harry's fate and are remaining supportive. you kept each of their reactions in character, although I was surprised that Neville was a bit weepy. Never pegged him for someone easily emotional. I think you've thought about his reaction in more depth than you're willing to show in this chapter.

Well done.

Author's Response: The canon foray into the Ministry was exhilarating, but I didn't have the heart to have Harry make that same mistake again. The extra defense training and more time with Moody will have impressed upon Harry how dire things would have been, had they fallen for the ruse. He's definitely going to feel awful for a while and beat himself up, but his friends are pretty good at getting through to him. I don't like to overplay the "Ginny is so much like Molly" thing, because I see them as so different and pretending they react the same flattens both of their characters. That said, Molly's more demonstrative style of conflict coming out when Ginny's frustration reaches a breaking point makes sense in my head. It's how conflict was modeled in her home, and I could see her falling back on it in a pinch. And I could definitely see Harry being a bit startled by it and it putting him on the back foot. Probably for the best that he didn't argue; she's better at it by a mile! Beyond that, I love that you brought up her bringing Harry to Dumbledore. She recognized that he needed to talk to someone he could be more open with, and even though she wants to be that person (and has earned that kind of trust), Ginny pulled Harry away to deal with the issue with an adult. Super important move by Gin, and it showcases her growth. I hate having to make Harry keep secrets, so this chapter was as much of a relief to me as it was for him. As for his friends' reactions, I picture Neville as being more blindsided by this kind of thing than the others, if only because Harry has shared more with the others and for longer. He's making his way into the trio-turned-quartet, but it's still pretty new to him. Thanks for the fantastic comment! It brightened my day!

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