I'm a 26-year-old engineer who has become "obsessed" (that's the word my wife uses, anyway) with Harry Potter. Of course, she also accused me of being in love with Ginny Weasley once, so.... *shrug*
I write (and read) stories like the ones on this site as a way of escaping from the real world for a while.
Currently, I'm working on two chaptered stories (see below), which I update just as fast as the amazingly awesome Moderators will let me. I know I get frustrated when it takes forever for a story I'm reading to get updated, so I try to avoid giving other people that same frustration. :D
NA banner by Moony 62442 and abbs866
My good friend Abby created a second banner for A Stolen Past, and it was too good not to post. Here it is, for your viewing pleasure!
Well, what can I say? It's been an awesome ride. I've been following your story for quite some time now, and it's sad to see it end. (Sorry for not reviewing as often as I should have -- I tend to print out a chapter at a time and read while I'm walking to school, but then I forget to log back in and review.)
While I tend to think the intimacy ought to have been put off until they were married, I think you made it realistic and handled it in about the best way possible (i.e. you let us know what happened, but didn't go into "gory detail"). This is definitely one of those times when I can say, "Well, I might not put that into one of my own stories, but if I was going to, I hope I'd be able to handle it this maturely." I think you portrayed that part of the chapter in a very tasteful/non-offensive way. So good job. :)
Oh, one more thing. I think the way you've handled Draco is fantastic. Most of the stories I've come across where he ended up helping the "good guys" have him either (a) become an exemplary fellow and best friends with the Trio, or (b) go right back to being an insufferable git as soon as Voldemort's out of the way. I feel like your characterization of Draco, and his relationship with the other characters, has been excellent.
Once again, thanks for the wonderful ride, and I anxiously look forward to the epilogue. Cheers!
Author's Response: Oh, thanks so much! I debated long and hard over what to do about Harry and Ginny, but my gut just insisted this was right for them. Originally, I\'d thought about it before the final battle, but I wanted it to be a beginning, not an end. So, I thought it worked for THIS story. :)
I thought this story was really sweet, and I just couldn't bear to see it here with no reviews. Unfortunately, I have a sinking suspicion that happy moments between Harry and Ginny will be rare in book 7, but I can still hope for sweet times like these.
Another very good chapter. I'm looking forward to the next one -- I can't wait to see Mrs. Weasley's reaction.
Author's Response: Thank you very much. I really hope you do like Mrs. Weasley\'s reaction...I think it\'s very true to character ;)
Yay, the chapter was approved! I have to admit, I'm getting really antsy for them to locate Harry and go charging off to the rescue. I know these take time, but still... I'm really interested to see what happens when they contact Draco, not to mention find out what Pansy's up to and who the stranger in the pub was. Ohhh, so many questions. Please update soon -- I need more!
Author's Response: i know i\'m dragging out the whole rescue thing and it\'s not totally for purpose of torture...really! but, i will say that things are going to fly into ultra speed in the next few chapters and i hope that will satisfy...
This is such a creative story idea; I'm fascinated by it. Please update soon -- we're all dying to find out what happens next.
Wow, I had totally given up hope of this story ever being continued. I'm glad you proved me wrong. :-) This was a very cute chapter -- nice and fluffy. The interaction between Harry and Ginny in the park seemed a bit rushed, but other than that, well done. Dumbledore was pretty mean at the end there; he really needs to just tell them. Well, thanks for updating, and I hope to see another chapter here soon!
Hooray! I was so happy to see an update that I had to read it right away. This chapter is yet another fun read, and I really like the interaction between the characters. I'm glad you've made the "relationship" between James and Lily believable for eleven-year-olds (i.e. James making jokes). Of course, if Lily were to respond as though she fancied him, James would probably bolt at this point, as he would have no idea what to do next (my opinion, anyway). But I'm still really enjoying this story, and I hope to see another update soon.
Author's Response: I\'m glad that you approve. Thanks so much for the great review. Sorry I can\'t update more often, I would love to, but I just haven\'t got all that much time since school started up again... :(
I really like the way you introduced James and Remus' relationship in this chapter -- it showed that James really is a good guy at heart, even if he might have a big head at times. I was so glad you updated; I was starting to get worried. I followed Message in a Bottle all the way through as you were writing it, and I loved it -- same goes for this one. Keep it up, and please update soon!
Author's Response: Yay! I am so glad to hear from you. I really am very sorry about the long wait, but the beginning of senior year pretty much blew up in my face. I will try to be more regular in my updates from now on. I\'m glad that you liked this chapter and thought that it was fitting for the boys. Anyway, thanks for the review!
*shudder* Okay, that was just... sad, actually. It made me want to cry. Poor Harry. Poor Hermione. Poor everybody. The sad thing is, I think Ron may have gotten the best part of this deal. I enjoyed it, in a sick and twisted sort of way.
Your descriptions were very good -- clear, but not overly graphic. I also really liked your creativity, not only with the shocker of who the villian is, but also with the rather gruesome idea of her preserving the bodies of her victims. You know, now I think about it, the way I started this review really sums it all up. *shudder*
Author's Response: I\'ve always found psychological impact more important than raw gore. I don\'t think that I\'ll ever do \"graphic\" in that manner. Thanks for stopping by!
A fitting end to a hilarious tale. I especially liked the reference to the cannibal in Azkaban (yes, I have seen your little movie on the forums). It's so sad to see this story end. I hope you start posting a new one soon.
Author's Response: Heehee, thanks, nuw! The cannibal guy came from a dream that I once had about book seven, where there\'s a scene that has Lucius getting bullied in jail...
Yay! I can't wait for Harry to get back to Ginny and stick it to Snape, Malfoy and Wormtail. Please update soon!
Author's Response: Soon. Thanks for the review.
*Gasp!* Could it be that we were right and Alex isn't really Harry's son after all? But who is this woman who showed up on his doorstep? Was the baby Alex? Argh, I just want to read more, but I know I have to wait. Please update soon!
Very good chapter, and yet... frustrating. *sigh* Still no answers, although I suppose that's the point, isn't it? ;-) It's good to see Harry and Ron reconciled so easily, and I'm glad the four are all working together. Of course, I still REALLY want to know what's going on with Harry -- what happened to prevent him from coming back? But I trust you to tell us when the time is right. Please update soon!
I've been of the same mind as saveginny_506 for some time now -- doubting that Harry is REALLY Alex's father. Of course, that could just be wishful thinking on my part. On the other hand, I have this little theory that's probably waaaaaaaaay off, but you might get a laugh out of it:
I think Alex was a case similar to Tom Riddle's (nobody wanted him, so he was headed for a Muggle orphanage), and Harry somehow found out about him and decided to take him in to keep history from repeating itself. Okay, maybe not.
Anyway, I think you're doing a great job with this story. Like everyone else, I'm a bit frustrated by the lack of answers, but I trust you'll reveal everything at the proper time. Keep up the good work!
Very nice beginning - it grabbed my attention right away. Please update soon; we're all dying to see what happens next!
Author's Response: Thanks, I\'m glad you like it. Chapter 2: The Arrival is in the Queue, so it should be up soon!
Another wonderfully-written, yet sad, chapter. You're doing an excellent job with this story, and although I'm sure we're all screaming for the "good guys" to immediately go kick some butt, I hope you don't rush through things. Keep up the excellent work, and please give us another chapter soon.
Author's Response: Thanks. As much as I too want the Death Eaters spat on, the story has a lot more problems about to come up. The next chapter will focus back on Petunia and James and I hope to have it written soon. Thanks for the review.
Just wanted to say I'm liking your story so far. I think it's well-written, and I agree with everyone else that it's just so... SAD right now. I'm glad to hear that things will get fluffy later on.
Please update soon; we HAVE to know what happens. And I'm really interested to see how you bring Harry back from the brink of death and Ron back to life. You ARE going to, right? :D
Author's Response: Kill Harry and Ron? ::passes out:: In your dreams, my friend! Haha. Yeah, they\'ll be back...Just wait and see. I\'m going slow with Chapter Two because I\'m writing two other fics at the same time. But thanks for the review, and I might just go and work on that now.... ;-)
Yay! They're alive! Well, now we know what happened (more or less, anyway). I'm interested to see what happens next.
Author's Response: Oh, yay! Thank you! nad I\'m gload you liked it... it was a blearghish chapter to right. :-)
Author's Response: ...I hate typos. ::sighs::
How will Harry’s years at Hogwarts turn out, now that he's a Slytherin? Will he turn to the Dark Arts and be a follower of Voldemort? Or will he kill Voldemort, or die trying, after he learns of the prophecy? Will Harry's choices lead him down a different road? Follow and you will see...
“What is a diary as a rule? A document useful to the person who keeps it, dull to the contemporary who reads it, invaluable to the student, centuries afterwards, who treasures it.” –Ellen Terry
Hmmm.... I'm still enjoying the story, although I wish the updates were more frequent. Then again, you could update every day and it wouldn't be enough for me, so don't take it to heart.
I especially enjoyed the parts with Dobby and with the snake, although I too am somewhat disturbed by Harry's reference to Voldemort as "The Dark Lord."
I do have one question, though (which I'm sure you've already considered and won't actually answer right now, but which I'm going to ask anyway): Will Ginny Weasley be smitten with Harry the way she was in CoS? If she is, that could prove interesting indeed. I mean, what would Percy and the twins think of their baby sister pining after a Slytherin? I'm sure you've already thought of this and either discarded or embraced the idea, but I thought I'd put it out there anyway, since I'd personally like to see some of the characters' reactions.
Anyway, congrats on another great chapter, and I hope to see the next one soon!
Author's Response: I always send the next chapter to the queue about five or six days after the previous one, but they aren\'t validated until a week later. Nothing I can do about that, but I\'m sorry.
Someone else mentioned that, too, about him referring as the Dark Lord. Is there something in that? Maybe, maybe not.
I actually have not really thought about who is going to be with. I have no person in mind later, like 5th year, which will make some problems between him and Draco. With Ginny, I’m actually not sure. But there’s something that happens in the 3rd year, which will definitely discard the idea. I’m not telling you what though.
Thank you very much!! I’ll be putting the next chapter into the queue quicker this time! ~Sara
This whole thing with Draco and his parents is really sad. I have a friend whose family is sort of like that: they seem perfectly fine when there's company, but they're at each other's throats when they're alone.
I was happy to see Ron's response to Harry's letter. He's clearly not thrilled, but he's willing to accept his friend despite his faults. Very refreshing after so often seeing Ron depicted as a hothead who never considers trying to temper his reactions.
What does Draco want? Probably something to do with his father. Ultimately, he wants his father's love, but I think he'd settle for his father's respect and acceptance.
Yet again, you have given us a wonderful chapter. I can't wait to see what Harry decides to do with the Hand of Glory. Dying to see what happens next.
Author's Response: I have something like that with my father and that\'s how I pictured the relationship between Draco and his father.
I pictured Ron\'s reaction as anger when he first read it at the Burrow, but didn\'t want to seem angry when he wrote back. Ron didn\'t want to seem angry because he still wants Harry to come over, and lets just say that he thought Harry wouldn\'t if he knew Ron was angry with him.
I too think Draco wants that. He hates his father when he\'s alone with him, but when someone says something against his father, Draco will defend Mr. Malfoy.
Thank you very much!! The Hand of Glory will come in handy!! ~Sara