Resonance
(1) Resonance (Harry Potter)
By GreenGecko
Reviewed by Kathryn A on 27th September 2008 (9)
Tags: Novel, AU Divergent Timeline, Sixth Year, Mentor, Reconciliation, Adoption, Hurt-Comfort, Post-Voldemort
Characters: Severus Snape, Harry Potter
(2790K)
Summary: Year six and Harry needs rescuing by Dumbledore and Snape.
The resulting understanding between Harry and Snape is critical to
destroying Voldemort... (AU)
Warning: This story is massively, hugely long. It will suck you in and make
you lose sleep because you don't want to stop reading it. At least, it did
me.
PLOT
This is a Harry-Snape reconciliation fic, a genre of which I am rather
fond. It does start off in a somewhat predictable way, with hurt/comfort
leading to a better understanding between the two, which proves vital in
the defeat of Voldemort. This story is unusual in that Voldemort is
defeated relatively early in the piece, and the majority of the story deals
with the aftermath. For Harry, there is the accumulation of six years of
stress, the rootlessness of having fulfilled his purpose in life, the
unwelcomeness of fame, and some unexpected but plausible side-effects of
Voldemort's death. This being written before Half-Blood Prince, the means
of Voldemort's defeat is different than in canon, but I was pleased to see
that, like the best post-"Order of the Phoenix" AUs, the "power that
Voldemort knows not" is indeed love, as in canon, rather than power as in
magical might.
The story is also unusual in that Voldemort here is defeated in Year Six
rather than Year Seven, which means we have Harry still at school in the
aftermath. Not everything is safe, for there are still people trying to
kill Harry: death-eaters who were not all caught in the final battle. Not
to mention trouble with Year Seven's new professor. Plus the usual strains,
misunderstandings and reconciliations with the Trio, plus a sprinkling of
new friends and enemies.
I like the ending; everything comes full circle, and we are reminded just
how far everyone has come.
CHARACTERISATION
With a reconciliation fic, characterisation is critical. How would Snape
and Harry move from their mutual hatred to mutual respect and beyond? For
Harry, it starts because Snape helps when Harry needs help, and is the only
one who understands the darkness that haunts Harry. For Snape, it starts
with Harry's vulnerability, mutual goals (destroying the Dark Lord), not
having the awe that everyone else seems to have for Harry, realizing for
the first time that Harry does not want the adulation he is getting, and
being the only one to notice that not all is well with Harry after
Voldemort's defeat. I suspect also that this Snape might have considered
Harry a puzzle to be solved.
Snape does not become nice, though he does become not quite so nasty.
Harry is neither a saint nor a basket-case; he is sulky, short-tempered,
caring, thick, insightful, tongue-tied, talented, frustrated -- his usual
mix, though he also learns a lot and heals too. Indeed, both Snape and
Harry end up healing each other to a degree.
There is also strong characterisation from the supporting characters; Ron
(who gets to be a git, yes, no surprise there), Hermione, Ginny,
Dumbledore, McGonagall and the rest. Even Draco manages to be shown as
something more than a shallow villain.
There are good original characters. I especially liked Suze Zepher, the new
Slytherin Seeker, and Vineet, one of Harry's fellow Auror apprentices, but
they aren't the only ones.
WORLDBUILDING
This extends the Harry Potter world in interesting ways; not just new
spells, but extrapolations about the workings of magic, the nature of
Voldemort and Dark Creatures (and how that affects Harry), the Ministry and
Auror training, additions to Wizarding society such as their equivalent of
nunneries, and glimpses of Wizarding culture in other countries. Also
little details, like why Wizarding gardens tend to be infested with Garden
Gnomes, and more of Fred and George's inventions. There are also suitably
crazy Wizarding names, like Wereporridge and Tideweather.
STYLE
Despite revisions, there is still the occasional typo, but not often enough
to detract from the overall story. The pacing and dialogue are engaging,
especially important in such a long work. I can't remember any particular
passages or turns of phrase that stood out to me, but I was mainly caught
up in the characterisation and plot.
(2) Revolution (Harry Potter)
By GreenGecko
Reviewed by Kathryn A on 27th September 2008 (10)
Tags: Novel, AU, Mentor, Reconciliation, Adoption, Hurt-Comfort, Post-Voldemort, Worldbuilding
Characters: Severus Snape, Harry Potter
(2171K)
Summary: Harry continues his Auror training and begins a journey of
mastering his unusual and growing powers. Harry, with the help of his
adoptive father, is finally making his own way, but fate and prophecy are
never completely absent.
This series continues with great characterisation and plot (and plot
twists) and worldbuilding. This actually takes account of some things from
Deathly Hallows as part of the plot, not because this was trying to be DH
compliant (because it is already AU) but because it was something that
would make the plot more interesting. I like how, in making Hary having
unusual powers, the author has actually made these powers cause as many
problems as they solve; or indeed, even more problems than they solve.
Things are not straightforward or obvious; Harry has to grow up even more,
for sometimes he is his own worst enemy.