HP: Masks and Mirrors, Chapter Three
Title: Masks and Mirrors
Author: MrsTater
Rating: R
Summary: As Remus and Tonks rebuild their relationship, a dangerous Order mission only she can undertake dredges up the same old problems -- as well as an entirely new set when the family she was born into clashes with the family she has made for herself within the Order of the Phoenix.
1. Homecoming ( Read more... )
Author: MrsTater
Rating: R
Summary: As Remus and Tonks rebuild their relationship, a dangerous Order mission only she can undertake dredges up the same old problems -- as well as an entirely new set when the family she was born into clashes with the family she has made for herself within the Order of the Phoenix.
1. Homecoming ( Read more... )
Also you've addressed two issues which deal with the tru feelings of Tonks and Remus - its very plausible what you;ve portrayed here. It certainly makes a lot of sense that in the process of being the most popular boys at school, James and Sirius would've been the kind of idiots to leave Remus out of their schemes at times. I like how you make tonks read Remus so well - only a very perceptive witch, who truly loved him could do that. And Tonks definitely fits that bill :)
Tonks insecurities - this was the crux of the entire story. And its wonderful that Remus knows her better than she knows herself - or cares to admit. You've given Tonks' character a new dimension here - that of the little girl who still wants to be the best, all her faults notwithstanding. And I can see this little desire as the driving force behind her spirited character. I love how you've drawn parallels with Tonks not making it as prefect and not making it as Remus' love the previous year. Its the characteristic thing that you always manage to pull off in all your stories - draw the parallels where the rest of us would never have thought to look. BRAVA!
The best part is Remus being able to read her like a book - thereby bringing her real reasons to the front. In a way, it should help them see things more clearly, yeah? You give Remus the true perceptive qualities of a Leader, and that of a true-love to Tonks. The two facets are hard to separate - and all in all become the character that is Remus - brilliant portrayal there.
(Hey, idiot producers, are you reading this fiction?)
And another good part is the way Tonks realizes the full extent of how Remus looks at this relationship - that her parents reaction though disappointing, hasn't stopped him from looking forward to having children with her, envisioning complaint-owls arriving into their hands about misbehaving Lupins. :D
The mid-air snogs took my breath away. I think someone needs to do an art-piece on it. Its such a vivid imagery of Tonks kissing Remus upside down. BRILLIANT!
Finally the action - the best part is how well you make these two work with each other. Remus' experience is definitely more substantial than Tonks' and it shows here. And its sort of sad to see Tonks learn the hard way not to undermine Remus' advice, even if he isn't an Auror. Her recklessness though is understandable in the light of protecting her home. This installment stands out as the best action piece I've ever seen from you - quite realistic, and I'll say this Rowling-nesque. You put the reader right in the middle of the scene - and it unfolds very vividly in our eyes.
BRILLIANT WORK! do post Masks4 soon :) You know I hate to wait ;)
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Tonks insecurities - this was the crux of the entire story. And its wonderful that Remus knows her better than she knows herself - or cares to admit. You've given Tonks' character a new dimension here - that of the little girl who still wants to be the best, all her faults notwithstanding. And I can see this little desire as the driving force behind her spirited character. I love how you've drawn parallels with Tonks not making it as prefect and not making it as Remus' love the previous year.
This was my main goal with the chapter. Remus and Tonks are rebuilding themselves as individuals, as well as a couple, and at the root lay deep insecurities that hadn't been touched before the breakup, but which were at the root of all the pain. I think at this point they are emotionally very attuned to each others' inner selves as they work together as a couple. But Remus' five days' absence for Order work, of course, leave room for those old doubts to creep in. So it's a case, really, of patching up these holes before the next inevitable separation comes along. Because unfortunately there won't be long broomrides to every mission.
I'm so, so pleased you liked the mid-air snogs, and the talk about a family. I really wanted to give them a moment of peace and hope before the action kicked in.
Finally the action - the best part is how well you make these two work with each other. Remus' experience is definitely more substantial than Tonks' and it shows here. And its sort of sad to see Tonks learn the hard way not to undermine Remus' advice, even if he isn't an Auror. Her recklessness though is understandable in the light of protecting her home.
I'm so glad you felt they worked together. Honestly, I was terrified of how Tonks came across here, because it's so easy to make her inept, but I really needed her to have other issues at work that are clouding her judgment a bit. And I think you summed it up in saying that Tonks is learning the hard way about unermining. It all comes back to the insecurities you mentioned above. Tonks very much wants to prove herself, and as explored in chapter two, with Andromeda, when she's focused, something that challenges that chance to prove herself puts her on the defensive. My approach is that they've almost got to re-learn, in a way, what it is to be a professional team as that touches on those same insecurities. Which, of course, will be explored more in upcoming chapters.
Thank you again, so very much, for your lovely, thoughtful comments. It's a pleasure to share my R/T stories with readers like you who love the characters so much and read so thoughtfully. :)
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