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

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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).

One thing I wasn't sure about was the mediwizards refusing to treat Goyle. I think most doctors have a code of conduct whereby they can't refuse to treat a patient on principle. Obviously, this may be different in the wizarding medical world, but I would think that at least one of them would be willing to help? Maybe I'm off in that assumption though. And even if none of them would, didn't the other side have any medwizards on it? Mediwizards who would then be willing to treat Death Eaters since they were a Death Eater themselves? Maybe I'm not thinking broadly enough, but I still think that Goyle would have been able to get some help. I do think it was very credible that Harry would work very hard to get medical treatment for him- I mean, Goyle was just a kid in the war; he doesn't deserve that.

It seemed like poor Harry was giving too much of himself and not getting anything in return. I'm not sure if that was the way it was meant to be (and I completely agree that it would be in line with his personality), but it was pretty disheartening. I am surprised Harry decided to stick things out with Ginny even when she left without talking to him first. I suppose he is all noble and all that, but still- doesn't he know Draco would be so much better than she for him? (If not, well, at least I know it for him.) I was glad they got in one good kiss though first.

I really loved the first part of the story. Maurice Booth was very comical and I enjoyed his odd banter with Harry (and I, like Harry, was wondering if he was completely off or if he was faking). I also thought Draco was perfect- of course he would have become the perfect eavesdropper and felt the need to inform Potter. He was wonderfully in character right from the get go- and his loyalty to friends, passions, feistiness… well, I was glad you kept them here. I thought he was fantastic. Harry was also very much himself (although his personality is a bit more saddening as I mentioned before).

I really wish the story had been longer- I would have liked to see how everything came together and how everyone finished healing after the war (I think you've done a powerful job in showing all the pain), but I do think it was well done as is. Do you think Harry and Draco will get together in the very far future? I'm just curious. (It seemed like Harry was too.) At any rate, well done!

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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 between the sides getting any better during their "peak" years.

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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!

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