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Reviews For When the Boat Comes In
Author's Response: ^^ glad you enjoyed the chapter
Author's Response: Thanks ^^
I wonder if Severus is going to put the cloak up? It isn't really an appropriate item for an eleven year old to have. I suppose the children would go after the stone. They aren't quite old enough to have sense. I do hope that they won't get hurt. Great chapter! Author's Response: Thanks for the review. I think that it might take another year or so for Harry to understand the reality of house-elves lives, mainly because he won't see too much of it. Harry also needs to mature a little before he is ready to challenge Draco's beliefs. However, Harry isn't stupid, nor is he the type to pass by on the other side: when he realises what is happening and is confident in himself, he will do something.
Author's Response: I think it is wisest to remember two things 1. when a character speaks, it is their views, not the authors and 2. that the wizarding community is bound to feel pretty uncomfortable about Christianity in general: the Bible says that people who use magic should be killed and, in the past thousand or so years, Christians have committed atrocity upon atrocity on those who they have thought to be witches. They have burnt them (a horrible, exceptionally painful death) and tortured them (and I'm not talking about a beating, I'm talking about really gruesome, vicious, humiliating abuse.) It would be exceptionally odd that if a culture who has been so denigrated was not rather scornful of the people who have long persecuted them. I actually have nothing against Christians: Christianity is no worse than many religions and better than some. I think the ten commandments are a decent set of life rules and I think much of what was said by Jesus was wise and good. However, I will never except those parts of the bible which encourage intolerance and cruelty, i.e. homophobia.
Author's Response: I think it's a good idea to remember that it's a character talking, not the author, and that a member of the magical community would be much more likely to support pro-magic religions than anti-magic religions. Most cultures have very long memories as far as enemies are concerned and I think it would be hard for the English magical community to forget that, had a witch-hunter captured them, they would have been tortured until they confessed then burnt. I live in the Witch-Hunting centre of England and I have seen where they imprisoned them, what they did to them and anyone who has burnt themselves on a pan can imagine how agonsing it must be to burn to death. Yes, mages could magic themselves out but, to do this, most mages would require a wand and those can get lost and broken. So, while it's all well and good to say that the magical community should be positive about Christianity, in reality, it would be strange if every mage could find it in their hearts to be so.
Author's Response: I know, you can almost imagine Dumbledore getting teary-eyed every time he hears that song lol! Thanks for the review.
Author's Response: Thanks for the review. I could imagine that Harry, who has been so neglected, would rather like the luxuries of the infirmary ^^.
Author's Response: Thanks for the review ^^. I feel the same: I've often thought that it was a shame that Draco ended up in a group which encouraged him to conceal his best traits and polish his worst ones. He'll always be a spoiled little git but, if Harry accepted the hand of friendship, Draco probably would have done the opposite, emphasised his best characteristics and toned down his worst, to keep Harry's favour. In this fic, I do want the Slytherins personalities to end up rather differently, which, of course, is entirely possible if they come under a positive influence at a young age. Having Harry, a politically significant half-blood, and Hermione, a muggle born, as Slyths, the entire year is going conceal their prejudice, which is going to mean the Slyths get to know and like Hermione, which will, in turn, challenge and alter (to a greater or lesser extent) their beliefs on the inferiority of muggleborns. Similarly, to keep Harry's favour, the kids are going to only want to show their best sides, which will lead to a more tolerant, kinder atmospere in the Serpents Nest and, eventually, happier, more well-rounded adults. My goal is to change the personalities, not the characters: for the Slyths to end up the best people they can be, not different people entirely.
Author's Response: Thanks for the review. I know the personalities seem a little different but I've just been going on the basis that, in a different environment, the children would develop quite differently. As we don't see Blaise and Theo until late in the canon, I've used a bit of licence there: all we know is that, by year five, they're cold, aloof and somewhat vicious. Therefore, I've given them both personalities which, but for Harry's presence, might have caused them to be ostracised: Theo is bookish and awkward, while Blaise is the epitome of a metrosexual male: if these boys grew up in a hostile environment, they would withdraw into themselves and become very bitter, unhappy young men (think sweet, charming, pre-teen Severus vs angry, embittered, resentful adult Severus. Draco in canon, shows many signs of having strong sensibilities: he is deeply loyal to his family/friends and capable of selflessness and deep bonds (remember his reaction to Crabbe's death?). Draco is also shown as being too kind to kill in HBP and, in TDH, at the Manor, Draco does everything he can do to avoid handing Harry over to Voldemort. Draco also has a fair amount of charm and the power of pleasing, when he so wishes. It's simply that, in this fic, Harry is seeing Draco in the best possible light, as an ally and friend. As for Crabbe, Goyle and Milicent: they don't excel at school, they are large and clumsy and, probably, severly lack self-confidence. In a situation where they feel victimised, they will tough it out but, when they feel free to be themselves, different personalities might emerge.
Author's Response: Thanks ^^ I based it on a number of conversations I've heard between children, lol!
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