Something Past Survival - Chapter 23, Part 2

[imuptonogood]

Summary: After the war, reconciliation between enemies is necessary to create a better future, one that is only possible if one embraces the past.

Disclaimer: Harry Potter, his friends, his enemies, and the lovely world they live in all belong to JK Rowling.

Chapters Posted: 23

Words Posted: 158,525

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Comments

[sunsethill]

Hmm. Harry does need to deal with the fact that he cast an unforgiveable for no other reason than that he was angry that Carrow "dissed" McGonagall. I never have understood Rowling's choice to have him do that. Yes, Harry has a temper, but she was the one who named them Unforgiveables. So what does that mean? Does it have a meaning in magic or is it just hyperbole by the Ministry? If anyone can come up with a reasonable explanation for the whole thing, I think you can do it.

The theme of family was well carried out in this and you did a good job of showing how the Weasleys and Gryffindor will anchor Harry and allow him to learn from the Blacks without totally losing his own values in the learning.

The little look at the tension in Arthur's parents' marriage because Cedrella was dark and her husband was light was nicely done. It illustrates why you wouldn't see many "mixed" marriages. It must be much like it is for couples who have very different, but deeply held, religious beliefs.

I'm also very intrigued, now, about what is going on with Hermione's parents. Her decision to take away her parents' free will in order to keep them safe has always been of concern to me. She hated house elf "enslavement", but wasn't willing to let her parents make their own decision about what to do. I think it does show that she, too, made a very "religious" decision, as fighting the war to her was of more value than her parents' autonomy. She knew they could be used against her, and the war (and Harry) was her first loyalty, so she couldn't "allow" them to make a decision to stay in danger. I can't wait to see what you've come up with for them. Also, why in the world doesn't Hermione just hop on a plane? Has she gone so native that she doesn't think about doing that or have I gotten the dates mixed up and her portkey is really leaving pretty soon?

I also noticed the little hint (now that I'm thinking about Hermione's ideas) that Hermione was not correct in her understanding of houseelves if the Tonks' elf was affected by the lack of family magic. I hope we eventually get a definitive answer from you about what happens to free elves.

As always, I adore the amount of world-building type of thought you put into this story. You do such a marvelous job of extending Rowling's creation and filling in all the plot holes.