MadBrad wrote:

I enjoyed that, although the simple comic-book-fan side of me is still concerned that Harry's not the bestest most powerfulest wizard there is. Got a couple of questions; I've missed, or forgotten, the fact that Harry needs to summon 'pain and hatred' to open the dark plane? Which I don't understand, because normally he seems to be able to slide into it very easily, as he did before and after the battle. Also, why did the Plane 'resist his call'? And why did the castle resist him too? Had Hogwarts been corrupted by Voldemort? Looking forward to when Harry travels to a dimension where Snape is, indeed, a baddie; his penchant for trusting Severus no matter the universe may get to bite him!?

When Harry transports himself in and out of the Dark Plane, he doesn't need to affect the interstice of the planes much; he's only changing/moving himself. In order to open a real gateway to let other things in, he needs a lot of anger or negative emotion. It's almost like his pain is resolved/reflected in a weakness in the fabric of the dimensions. The castle has been protective of opening that gateway (hence in revolution when Snape drags him off there before the worst happens). But this castle after five years of Voldemort adjusting the wards on it (corrupting it as you say) doesn't block the gateway being opened as well as the castle in his own Plane, but it still resists him a little because not all the old magic is gone.

As to your first comment: Harry thinks so too, but when he expressed that he left poor Snape speechless.

As to your last comment: hm, yeah...

AJ Granger wrote:

Sounds like the start to am impressive battle, although, at dinner in front of everyone seems prone to higher casualties. It would be interesting to know if Harry was killed in first year for sure, or if he's still around in that world. Because he'd be the last horcrux for that Voldemort, not this Harry. Really liked Candide's defense of Harry to Tonks (he needs to tell her what he's told Candide about his feelings for her).

Voldemort does not want to harm purebloods so the hall is also difficult for him to fight in. Harry wants an audience for the battle so that there is no doubt that Voldemort is gone and lots of witnesses works well for that. And, it's more neutral ground, as opposed to the tower where Voldemort hangs out normally. But, yes, he's being a little reckless choosing that spot and being optimistic that the students will have the sense to get out of the way.

Snape's ideas to find Harry have been really interesting. He's got nerves of steel. I'm not sure I appreciated his belief that Harry would always need him to watch him. Very narcissistic of him, and very demeaning of Harry.

Narcissistic maybe. Demeaning though? Hmmmm.... It would certainly be better if Snape simply trusted Harry completely to never stray into darkness. But, given the number of years Snape has been attendant simultaneously on two powerful wizards trying to kill each other, I don't think he can possibly ever totally trust that Harry won't turn bad. I just can't see him believing that much in basic human nature, especially in the face of the bizarre dark magic Harry is playing with. It just wouldn't be Snape to do that, so it's less a personal insult than a limitation on Snape's worldview. As to his telling Candide that he's always going to have to watch over Harry, I thought of that as tragic resignation, not narcissism. He's admitting (and warning her) that this duty he's been given is never going to end. If he felt more confident that he has the power to keep Harry on the light side, it would way more egotistical of a statement, but as Harry's overhearing them in chapter one shows, Snape isn't confident at all.

Sarah wrote:

Back in the regular AU world, Severus' meeting and almost-bargain with the vampire were most intriguing. He is certainly willing to explore all options to get Harry back, even the unsavoury ones, which rather challenges Harry's earlier assumption that he had changed his adoptive father towards the end of Revolution. I almost regretted the fact that the bargain fell through...

Hm, I thought of this one dimension deeper than that. I think Snape's nature HAS changed, but his determination and habit of not flinching when presented with a bad task have NOT changed. That makes him a victim twice over in that scene with the vampire because he's also a victim of his own bloody-mindedness.

I think the rating on the story would have had to be adjusted if the deal had gone through. There is something inherently and deviantly sexual about vampires feeding. Not that it wouldn't have been fun to write... ;-)