Springfic: "Scenes from the Hog’s Head Inn" (2/2) for fugacious_love

[springmod]

Title: Scenes from the Hog’s Head Inn (2/2)
Author: wotcher_wombat
Recipient: fugacious_love
Character(s): Aberforth Dumbledore, Sirius Black
Rating: PG
Warnings (highlight to view): a bar brawl, a wee bit of language
Wordcount: 11,341 words
Summary: Aberforth wondered if he’d ever had a handle on Sirius Black. Had he ever seen the boy, or merely the shadows of things

Comments

[minervas_eule]

I am also here on tetleythesecond 's rec. To be honest, I could not imagine, I'd be so fascinated by a recollection of scenes from Aberforth's mind... but you give us really gripping confrontations and the characterizations are stunningly believable.... Great job!

Re: Scenes from the Hog's Head Inn

[wotcher_wombat]

Oh, wow! Thanks! I'm so glad you stuck around even if Aberforth didn't seem like the most interesting character, and I'm especially pleased that you liked it. Thank you so much for your kind words!

I'm sorry it's taken me this long to reply. I've been on vacation. :)

[lyras]

Wonderful story! Just excellent storytelling from start to finish. Aberforth and Sirius are two of my favourite characters, and I think you have an excellent handle on both of them. :)

I liked the way you split the narrative up into the different times, and the fact that everything ( and everyone) is so complicated. I loved the dynamic between Sirius and Regulus, and then my heart broke for them both in the scene where Sirius confronted the Death Eaters.

I loved the fact that you didn't hurry things here, but let the characterisations unroll gradually. The scene in which Aberforth bought the mirror, and then the brief glimpse of a young Sirius running past the window, is heartstopping.

The ending is so beautiful; I'm slipping it into my own personal canon. A perfect way to tie everything together. Thank you for writing this.

Re: Scenes from the Hog's Head Inn

[wotcher_wombat]

Thank you so much! Your review has given me so much joy! I'm glad you liked the shifting timelines and the varied shades of gray for all the characters. I started writing it in chronological order, but that wasn't the correct order for the emotions of the piece. I felt it needed that emotional whiplash in going from Sirius blowing off his brother to Sirius fighting tooth and nail to getting Regulus back, knowing he's already too late. It meant more to put Aberforth and Albus's first confrontational confrontation immediately after a glimpse of them getting along during HBP. I also wanted to close with that enigmatic scene with Sirius during PoA so that I end with Sirius the same way that Rowling introduces him: a man of shadows and contradictions.

I'm so happy that you liked the story, and thanks again for taking the time to review!

And I'm sorry for the delay in my reply. I've been on vacation. :)

[kellychambliss]

The second half is just as strong as the first; after reading, I feel as if Albus and Aberforth are real people that I actually know. As in Part I, your ability to choose telling details is impressive (as when Aberforth takes out his garbage at the same time, Dementors or no Dementors). Your dialogue sounds like real speech and does such a good job of characterizing the speakers. All the characters are just so well-done and fully-realized (like Dung, for instance; his voice is perfect -- "Goblin-made, that is. Up-market"). I love Aberforth's assessment of Albus, and his advice to Sirius: Albus will always do what he thinks is right, but I can’t tell you if that would protect these people. Would I take the chance? No.”

A superb story; thank you!

Re: Scenes from the Hog's Head Inn

[wotcher_wombat]

Oh, thank you so much! Your reviews have meant an awful lot to me. I'm thrilled that you found the characters believable. It was an absolute joy to write this, and even when the challenge of writing such an introverted and perceptive character as Aberforth seemed daunting, I always enjoyed discovering his voice. Thanks again!

My apologies for the delay in my reply. I've just come back from vacation. :)

[snorkackcatcher]

Very nicely done this -- not just a portrait of Aberforth that grew on me and convinced, and an unexpected link for him with Sirius, but also supplying completely convincing backstory for a number of little elements of canon, which really adds to the effect. One of the best of the fest! :)

Re: Scenes from the Hog's Head Inn

[wotcher_wombat]

Thanks for the compliments! I'm so glad you liked all the little details from canon; I really enjoyed coming up with some plausible origins for them. Thanks again!

I'm sorry that it's taken me so long to respond. I've been on vacation. :)

[lazy_neutrino]

Brilliant. A portrait of Sirius in the round, with lovely undercurrents between the two Dumbledores which you use so effectively to parallel the developments in Sirius' life. This is the most complex and convincing Aberforth I have seen, and I like the way you don't give us a definite end to the story - Aberforth has seen far too much by this time for that.

And just an aside - so that's how the mirror got there! I really liked that detail. Brilliant work, the whole thing.

Re: Scenes from the Hog's Head Inn

[wotcher_wombat]

Thank you so much for the review! I'm so happy that you liked the fic--especially the mirror, since that's where the fic began for me. In canon we have this forgotten mirror that's so closely tied to Sirius (designed to rip our hearts out after he dies), and yet in the final book, it winds up commenting more about the Dumbledores' relationship. It seemed like there should be a connection there, and I was so excited to explore it. Thanks again!

My apologies for the delay in my reply. I've been on vacation. :)