Comments | hd_worldcup: Team Epilogue: 3. A poisonous toadstool never changes its spots.

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Team Epilogue: 3. A poisonous toadstool never changes its spots.

Apr 21, 2009 14:28

Title: All That's (Not) Forgiven
Team: Epilogue
Author: maraudersaffair
Prompt: 3. A poisonous toadstool never changes its spots.
Wordcount: 7,750
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Mentions of heterosexual sex (Ginny/Harry)
Summary: While training to be an Auror, Harry must assist the Malfoys in rebuilding the Manor.
Author's Note: A great thanks to my beta, marauderswolf, and my ( Read more... )

pg-13, prompt: 3. poisonous toadstool, fic, team epilogue, round ii

Comments 23

(The comment has been removed)

maraudersaffair April 22 2009, 03:06:15 UTC

Thanks so much for reading. I'm glad that you liked everything I was trying to express in this story. :D

joanwilder April 21 2009, 20:52:03 UTC

One thing I liked about this is that Draco and Harry both seem a bit more mature than a lot of the 'immediate' aftermath stories I come across. You've certainly nailed Harry--he'd be outraged that no one in the WW would want to treat Goyle (although, I think the reaction is understandable, given all these people were victims; I do think it's a stretch to imply that their prejudice in any way approximates the sort of crimes that Draco's father perpetrated.)

This was an interesting scenario, one which wasn't resolved in the end, but in true Harry fashion, he'll do his duty. I really liked Narcissa in this too. And with Ginny in Japan, who knows what will happen. :)

All That's (Not) Forgiven maraudersaffair April 22 2009, 03:08:20 UTC

Well, I hoped I got across how strange it was that the Malfoys saw themselves as victims instead of the usual complete turnaround you see with post war fics. Thanks so much for reading.

Re: All That's (Not) Forgiven joanwilder April 22 2009, 03:19:12 UTC

Yes, you did get that across very well. I don't think I explained myself well above. This passage near the end:

Strange how Malfoy thought he hadn't done anything wrong. Same as how Marlson and everyone else thought it was best for Goyle to die. They all thought their unhappiness was someone else's' fault. No one changes, similar to how a toadstool's spots never change.

What I was trying (badly, it turns out) to say is that I don't think these two circumstances are similar at all. It is ludicrous for Mafoy to think he'd not done anything wrong, but it's Marlson's reaction was almost understandable, given his family had suffered at the hands of the Dark side. His unhappiness was someone else's fault, to a point. I guess after the war, though, everyone's got to make a choice about how bitter they will be. But I think you made your point that change, especially when it's a negative to positive one, is difficult and unusual.

Re: All That's (Not) Forgiven maraudersaffair April 22 2009, 04:19:57 UTC

Phew! I'm glad I met my goal with this story then! Thanks so much for commenting me back. :D

Thread 5

sugareey April 21 2009, 21:38:02 UTC

Really, really good characterizations. I can definitely tell that theyse boys have grown up and they are dealing with the aftermath of the war. I really liked how Harry pushed to get Goyle healed, which is certainly his way to do the right thing. That's just how Harry is.

I actually wished there was a bit more to explain what happened between Harry and Draco and just with the trial and the Manor. But I guess an open ending offers some hope.

Nice work with this. I also really liked your detailed descriptions to paint a picture in the mind. That was what got me the most. =)

All That's (Not) Forgiven maraudersaffair April 22 2009, 03:09:26 UTC

Thanks so much! I agree with you -- I think the ending could have needed a bit more information, but I was wondered about the length.

pervyunitwins April 21 2009, 22:48:08 UTC

I would like to express my dissatisfaction with the way things ended. No, I did not expect a happy ending, given the fact that this story takes place before the epilogue and you are on Team Epilogue, hence the stupid epilogue still had to happen. But I would have liked Harry and Draco to have some sort of happy interlude together. Yes, I find I am a romantic.

The story is very well written and I was sucked in from the first. You got Harry down pat. I believed that he would exactly what he did in this story. He would never give up when it comes to righting an injustice that had been made, be it getting Goyle the treatment he deserves as human being despite his past, or seeing that Lucius pays for the crimes he committed.

Draco was more mature, but he still had a lot of growing up to do if he believed that he is nothing without his father.

I did like the story, a lot actually, despite the end. You should come over to Team EWE so that the boys can end up together.

All That's (Not) Forgiven maraudersaffair April 22 2009, 03:10:54 UTC

Hahaha! Thanks so much for your comment. My goal was actually not to have a happy ending, so I guess you would've never been satisfied.

smirking_muse April 22 2009, 10:30:27 UTC

Oh, wow. That was pretty depressing. It suits the aftermath of the war though- no one would be quite right and things would not go well on principle. I felt like everyone was working against everyone else though- wouldn't someone be a bit more decent? I suppose everyone was highly affected though and doesn't have room to worry about anyone else though. It was just horribly saddening (albeit realistic ( ... )

maraudersaffair April 22 2009, 16:44:10 UTC

Thank you, thank you for your wonderful review! I loved all your great feedback -- it made me think about things from my fic that hadn't even crossed my mind!

With Goyle, I wanted a symbolic situation that, unfortunately, wasn't very realistic. If his attack had happened in another fic of mine, or in a situation that was meant to be more along the lines of realism, of course St Mungos would be one of the only places that former Death Eaters could go to get help. But I really wanted to show how both sides were still suffering and untrustworthy.

I really wanted to take the fic further! However, looking back on it, I'm glad I ended it where I did. Like the other reviews said, it allows the readers to make their own assumptions about what happens to Draco and Harry.

Do you think Harry and Draco will get together in the very far future?Well, I don't want to depress you anymore . . . But if you really want to know, I think Harry's loyalty and idealism to his family will stop him from ever getting with Draco. And I don't see the strain ( ... )

smirking_muse April 22 2009, 17:19:47 UTC

I do agree that he is loyal to a fault, and that he'd compromise his own happiness for his family's. Maybe he'd be widowed? Alright, I'm thinking way too hard, and you left it open, so in my world, I can give them their happy ending. I still think even without the clean happy ending, continuing has a lot of merit (in addition to all the angst and sadness that would come along with it), so I do think it would have been interesting to see it go further. I think there are a lot of interesting issues that you've brought up in this story, that I am often guilty of ignoring (i.e. healing, futility and prejudice after the war). Thank you again for sharing- your story really made me think!