Comments | hbpchallenge: Fic: Extracurricular Matters

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Fic: Extracurricular Matters

Jul 29, 2009 02:00

Title: Extracurricular Matters
Author: rotaryphones
Characters: Dumbledore
Rating: PG
Prompt: From kellychambliss: Dumbledore alone -- what does he think about late at night, sitting in his quarters with Fawkes?
Summary: Harry's personal life is the last thing that Dumbledore should be concerning himself with.
( What had caused him to ask that question? )

fic

Comments 17

werewolfsfan July 29 2009, 12:13:26 UTC

Unbelievably, it never really occurred to me to see Dumbledore's relationship with Harry as fatherly or even grandfatherly. I've really always seen Dumbledore as a mentor or adviser and a distant one at that. But having read this, I can see that Albus could see himself as a father figure.
I like your insight as to his more nuanced feelings on love. This elevates them to more than the trite sayings of Rowling and feels more in keeping with a man of his experience and intellect.
Lovely fic altogether and the ending is perfection.

rotaryphones August 2 2009, 17:48:44 UTC

Thank you! I don't think Harry necessarily thinks of him as a father, but I could see Dumbledore thinking that way. Thanks for reading!

lyras July 29 2009, 14:48:41 UTC

Ooh, I really like this. I've seen Albus as guilt-ridden before this, but you really bring home the human cost of his choices. Really well done.

rotaryphones August 2 2009, 17:52:04 UTC

Thank you! I see Albus as walking that line between overwhelming guilt and analytical detachment.

vegablack62 July 29 2009, 15:31:15 UTC

I thought you captured the tensions and ambiguities in Dumbledore's relationship with Harry. By showing that Dumbledore was aware of it you make him more sympathetic and human.

rotaryphones August 2 2009, 17:53:52 UTC

Thanks! I'm glad Dumbledore still came off as sympathetic despite his decisions.

paulamcg July 29 2009, 18:03:49 UTC

Thank you for providing some depth behind and helping me appreciate this moment in the movie. So great to learn more about how Dubbledore sees himself and his attitudes to love and to Harry.

rotaryphones August 2 2009, 17:55:26 UTC

Thanks for reading! That line in the movie really made me curious about Dumbledore's thoughts on love and relationships, especially pertaining to Harry.

magnetic_pole July 30 2009, 00:11:35 UTC

Oh, lovely--expansive and romantic and emotional and self-deprecating in just the way I imagine for this character! To be honest, I thought the line in the movie was rather stupid, but I'm entirely reconciled to it now; of course this was what he was thinking; in fact, the whole relationship makes a bit more sense now. Ah, the power of a good fic. Wonderful! Maggie

rotaryphones August 2 2009, 17:58:46 UTC

Thank you so much! And I agree - the line in the film seemed so OOC to me, but it really made me curious about what Dumbledore thinks of Harry's love life, especially considering his own past history.

Thanks for the fun challenge!

magnetic_pole August 2 2009, 18:23:56 UTC

especially considering his own past history.

*nods* Good point. Actually, I thought this might be yours when I read these lines:

Just friends. It was a phrase he himself might have used in his younger days when faced with the truth. But those were different times, and Harry had no reason to lie.

You're welcome. And thanks so much for participating! M.