Dreaming Through the Twilight, Ariana Dumbledore, R

[msmoocow]

Title: Dreaming Through the Twilight
Author: msmoocow
Fandom: Harry Potter
Rating: R
Warnings: Vague atrocities, mature themes.
Prompt: #110: The hardest times for me were not when people challenged what I said, but when I felt my voice was not heard. -- Carol Gilligan
Notes: A million thank yous to my friends shiiki, sowritesauds, and queenb23more for helping me out. Their input and

Comments

[rose_starr]

This is the first Ariana fic I've read, and you so totally do it justice that I'm not sure I'll need to read another one!

I love how her mind flows from one moment to another, from one memory to another, from one person to another. It's complicated and yet so simple, just as you'd imagine she would be.

The most chilling scene is the one with the hands ... the thoughts of what the Muggle boys did to her ... *shivers*

And then, of course, I love the end with Neville! *grins*

Truly fantabulous work, my dear!!!!

[msmoocow]

Sigh. Thank you so, so much. And for the help that you gave me, too--looking at it now, I did abuse my poor parentheses in the original. Funny how the little buggers seem so cool at first, eh? :)

(And of course I had to bring Neville into it. You know me!)

[kerosinkanister]

I'm really impressed. I think this is the best thing you've written. It was wonderful and tragic and my heart broke for Ariana and Aberforth. The disjointed prose fit the story, where it's not clear what's happening and whether Ariana's alive or dead, and I only hope the next world is easier for her.

[msmoocow]

That is an unbelievably flattering thing to say! I've developed a huge fascination with the Dumbledore family, and Ariana especially.

When the sexual nature of her trauma was first suggested, it was a big shock for me. I wanted to explore what that must have been like for her, but somehow it didn't feel right to begin with the incident and end with the death. I thought it'd be better to explore the root of her issues in this way. Hence, reverse chronology.

This story was so much of a fun challenge to write. I'm really happy you think it's my best, because I'm leaning towards that opinion as well.

(Can you tell that I love replying to reviews with pretentious descriptions of my Highly Sophisticated Thought Process? :P)

[kerosinkanister]

I was left after DH thinking Aberforth was twice the man DD ever was, at least. Kind of an interesting thing for JKR to do with the completely overlooked brother being a much better man.

I think JKR handled it really well and it's actually similar to something in another nominally children's book I just finished, Diana Wynne Jones's the Dark Lord of Derkholm (why, yes, I'm on a bit of a kick of hers). Anyway, there's an implied sexual assault but it's written similarly to the scene in DH where children won't get it and won't be missing anything, nor will adults be missing anything either if they don't catch it. But it's such a heartbreaking scene if you do catch it.

[msmoocow]

I was actually left with a lot of admiration for Albus. His "Being--forgive me--rather cleverer than most men, my mistakes tend to be correspondingly huger" or whatever the exact quote was just attacked the back of my mind every time I read about his ambition and greed. I don't know if I necessarily would have manipulated everyone as he did in order to win for the greater good, but I did like how in the end his master plans worked out. His utilitarian approach was what the war needed, definitely.

Aberforth was more of an enigma for me. On one hand, his devotion to Ariana and resentment of Albus made him a noble, sympathetic character. On the other hand, his advice to harry in the Hog's Head ("Give up and save yourself, you idiot") told me that he wouldn't be willing to sacrifice himself for people he didn't care about. I agreed with Harry when he kind of defended Albus here.

The Dumbledores are just so interesting. I hope lots and lots of fic springs up.

And I'll be sure to check that book out--I've been meaning to read HMC,

[msmoocow]

Thank you! Yeah, it was an experimental piece for me, and I'm happy you like it. :)

[secretsolitaire]

Oh, this is both gorgeous and harrowing. I had to read it a couple of times (and brush up on my Dumbledore family history, thank you HP Lexicon!) to appreciate all the details you had in here. The scene with the Muggle boys gave me the chills.

No fear, only forgiveness, fragile as ash in her palm.

Beautiful line here.

With an expression that holds everything Ariana can ever hope to know about love, he pats her head once and turns to leave.

This just made my throat ache.

[msmoocow]

Wow, thank you so much! Two things on my Big Fat List of Goals to Accomplish With This Fic were chills and achy throats, so yay! :P

But seriously, thanks for the lovely feedback, and I uh...creepily followed you over to your journal and saw the rec you made. Thank you so much for that too! :D

[latine]

This was wonderful! So creative and original. I had been meaning in reading this for a while now; I'm glad I finally did. I like like like Ariana.

[msmoocow]

Thanks so much! I don't know if I LIKE Ariana so much as pity her, but I do know that I now have a morbid, near-creepy fascination with her. Poor thing. :(