Name: Boogum reviewed
Pruning on Mar 29, 2011 11:43 pm
I was so excited when I saw this update! Despite the fact I'm nearly dead with tiredness, I figured I would read and review now, so I apologise if this is filled with typos and is rambly.
I love, love your beginning! Again, you immediately got me hooked into the story. I also like the fact you keep using the imagery of 'burning', and Draco thinking he is seeing fire, but it is actually Ginny's hair. It's a nice little motif.
The shower scene cracked me up -- that scream, hehe. I can just imagine how mortified Draco would be to walk out and see Ginny sitting there. And I have to say, I LOVE the fact you didn't make him all cocky and unflappable, as so many authors do in those situations. He's a teenager; I seriously doubt he'd be feeling confident after just walking out of a shower in a towel and discovering a girl waiting for him. Oh, and I love the fact that Ginny is the one who isn't bothered and just tells him to get dressed. It speaks volumes for how little she cares about his appearance, which I think is fitting. Having lots of older brothers, I doubt she'd be much embarassed by the male body.
I seem to be saying this a lot, but I love the way you dealt with the following conversation. You really nail the emotions in this scene. I fully believe your Draco; he's very 'real' and raw, without going overboard. I think you're also doing nicely with bringing Ginny into his life. I like the fact it is just her compassion which prompts her to help him -- compassion created from her own experience as a young girl being controlled by Voldemort and trying to keep her actions secret.
I'm very curious about this 'magic'. I find your word choice for Ginny interesting -- the fact you describe her as an immortal, and the divine nature of her grace. Judging from your writing, I don't think you're the type to throw these descriptions around at random, which makes me wonder if she actually does have a unique kind of magic or purpose, or if it really is just Draco finding an intense relief in finally having someone to share his burdens with.
I enjoyed the scene with Pansy. So often people make Pansy out to be a twit, and I'm glad you didn't. I like a strong Pansy, and you really captured her perfectly in my mind. I like that Draco doesn't act like a total arse to her either; he's been acting like one enough by avoiding her, so there's no need to be any more rude. I don't see him as being the type to be disrespectful to girls, anyway.
Aww, I loved that last scene. Normally I'd be doing my '"Noooo, you're going too fast!" complaint, but this didn't feel rushed at all. Your Ginny is so matter-of-fact about everything and so unromantic that it doesn't put me off. And you write Draco so well! Most of the time I cringe when reading an emotional Draco, but this was truly heartbreaking, and without being over the top. I could really feel it, and the image of him trying to hold back his tears and sobs, then being held by Ginny, is so beautiful and tragic, in that completely innocent and human way. Your writing never ceases to amaze me! I'm definitely adding this one to favourites!
Author's Response: Thank you so much! I crack myself up with the shower scene, too. Poor Draco. The exchange in the locker room was one of those scenes that I just couldn't force my way through believably no matter how hard I tried; I had to put it away for a while and then one day the current framing just popped into my head and I ran with it. Ginny's not a literal immortal here. You have no idea how happy your comments about her make me! They're just so dead-on to what I was going for. And if Draco's ringing true, that's great news. He's got so many facets - The Snarker, The Ice Prince, The Playboy - and I love them all (don't we all?), but I confess to a special fondness for stripped-down, raw Draco. After seeing so much Pansy bashing in D/G fics I developed a soft spot for her. Letting her dump Draco whenever she wants is part of my reparations package!
Name: Anise reviewed
Sowing on Mar 25, 2011 09:29 pm
Oh yay! She's here! Welcome to the FIA, Selkie! (offers chocolate chip cookies and milk. And firewhiskey. Or whatever.)
An alternate sixth-year fic! Always so much possibility with those. Your Draco is very believable; he's starting to really fray around the edges at this point, and we see that vulnerability where Ginny really *could* have gotten into his heart through his weaknesses. He's not nice, and he's not sweet-- he's not what you could call good at this point; really, he's morally neutral at best-- but he's so torn, and we feel such pity for him. We can feel the terrible desolate coldness of his life, and then there's Ginny, the flame.
Looking forward to more! :)
Author's Response: Eeek! *stuffs cookie in mouth and takes a gulp of Firewhiskey, grimaces, and picks up the milk instead* Thanks! It's good to finally be here!
Yes, this Draco's on the brink of every sort of collapse and he doesn't have much in the way of redeeming qualities. I think the simple fact that Harry ultimately found him with Myrtle as his confidante speaks volumes to how isolated he was that year, despite his bravado in September. And isolation, of course, opens up all manner of vulnerabilities....
Name: slitherhither reviewed
Sowing on Mar 25, 2011 07:58 pm
I am so glad you're posting this here!
Sincerely,
a fan on livejournal
Author's Response: *waves madly* Thanks! The first thought I had when I realised I'd finally written a proper(?) D/G romance was "woohoo, I can post this to FIA!"
Name: Boogum reviewed
Sowing on Mar 25, 2011 07:21 pm
Oh! Oh! Oh! This is amazing!!! You had me glued to the words from the first sentence, and my interest only became more caught as I read on.
I'll admit, I'm not a huge fan of Hogwarts era fics, especially when it's based on HBP events. I find they just repeat the same old things and hardly ever capture the real stress and fear of Draco's situation. But this is something special! Your Draco is unique while still strongly resembling his canon counterpart. I believe his feelings and love the fact you emphasised just how terrifying and draining his situation is without being exhaustive with explanations. That's the sign of a true writer.
I also like your Ginny. Often, people do try to write her in this way when paired with HBP!Draco, but yours doesn't have that irritating quality where I just feel like I'm reading about a busy-body Gryffindor. This Ginny is warm and caring, but she's not stupid. I don't think she 'cares' about Draco in a romantic way or even a friendly way. The way I see it, she's just a girl who's looking out for a fellow student because Draco is obviously driving himself to the bone. That is definitely refreshing.
In case you haven't realised, I really, really enjoyed this chapter. Will definitely be looking out for your next update! ^_^
Author's Response: Wow, I'm so pleased you liked it considering it's usually not your thing. Thanks for taking a chance on it! I promise not to tarry in HBP land. Draco really is at the end of his rope here, one step away from crying hopelessly in Myrtle's bathroom (and really, who knows how long he'd been doing that before Harry caught him?). I'm so gratified to hear that Ginny comes off the way she does. These impressions you got could be a good thing to keep in mind as we sink further into Draco's POV.
Now I'm going to try to avoid saying something dorky about how cool it is to be getting a review from you....