Wonderbee31 posted a comment on Monday 16th February 2009 3:45am

Nice section, and really enjoying the little twists in each AU from Hermione to Ginny, and how some things are the same. Can't wait to see what happens when Arthur takes his seat, and what Tom will do next, as wel as how long it takes to get Fudge prised out of his current position.

Deborahsu posted a comment on Monday 16th February 2009 2:08am

I'm so glad to see an update! These parallel stories have got to take a good bit of time to work on, so I do understand, particularly since life happens in the meantime.

I like what Harry is doing with the Wizengamot and everything else, really. Getting Arthur in and Umbridge out is truly a turn for the better!

JaCee2u posted a comment on Sunday 15th February 2009 10:38pm

Darn you, Aaron! Now I really can't decide which of these two I like better. I'm not a big fan of H/G ships, but I loved your talk with Father William. They were both excellent, but this one was better than Granger Defense's.

All I can say is that they were both wonderful chapters.

LeprechaunJV posted a comment on Sunday 15th February 2009 7:18pm

Excellent.......
Look forward to your next update.
Hope by then Ron sets his head and pride in order.

Crys posted a comment on Sunday 15th February 2009 1:39pm

Nice touch on making Winky cry for just ten seconds. House-elves aren't human, so their emotions aren't the same. As you aptly pointed out.

The original "Day of Infamy" speech is a powerful moment in American history. Watching Fudge bastardize it (and botch it horrifically), was just painful.

Gardengirl posted a comment on Sunday 15th February 2009 12:47pm

Huzzah! Glad to see it up :)

noylj posted a comment on Sunday 15th February 2009 10:49am

How did Hermione get in Diagon Alley with Ginny and Harry?
In your other story, you seemed to have Ginny in a scene I didn't think she was actually in.
You have the same problem JKR has: how to explain Herms putting up with Ron? The lad is a waste of sperm and should have been left with Lav-lav, except your Lavender is too good for him.
Thanks for updating. Thanks for nice long chapters.
However, you have Harry's girlfriends in the two stories just a little too similar in what they say and how they react.

amulder posted a comment on Sunday 15th February 2009 9:24am

Aaran...
Just want to drop a short note of encouragement.
This is one of the most ambitious and complex and unique stories out there. I applaud all your efforts.
I still stand awed that you're generating two versions of this at once. But I confess I only read this version, as I think reading both would be confusing for me, and I prefer the H/G flavour.

Interesting that the Prophet is still so biased. It allows H to pursue the Quibbler angle, but still kind of odd that the ownership would be so shrouded in secrecy.

Have we seen the end of Dolores? Or is she still going to be a thorn in Harry's side? Seems unlikely with how she drew her wand in the Wizengamot.

thanks again,
...art

nuclear death frog posted a comment on Sunday 15th February 2009 8:05am

It feels like forever since this was updated, but good show overall nonetheless.

Carol Layland posted a comment on Friday 2nd January 2009 2:47pm

How did I miss the postine of this chapter? Oh Well, I found it today when I was exploring and I was feeling badly abused because I had not received a notice of this posting.
As you usually do the chapter is a total delight to read and it has equal amounts of normal living and battle. The peace in our time is certainly memory producing for me as I was living and with a memory of the "peace in our time" philosphy of Mr. Chamberlain. At least he got almost a year out of his foolish maunderings. Poor Fudge only gets one week and then he learns about his breand of foolishness. And then to Top off my chapter Harry declares his love for Ginny. Wonderful!!! Thank you for your kind words about my name for Clarinda's shop. Carol Layland-Veach

Carolyn Jinn posted a comment on Sunday 30th November 2008 4:03pm

You have just made yourself another loyal fanfiction reader. I think this story is absolutely great.

The amount of history and side-plots in the story are amazing. Sometimes the history is a bit much to read, BUT once I have read it, it just seems to make the story ....ummm..more believable.

All of the characters seem to be alot more mature. The way Harry and Ginny finally have their first kiss was just 'wonderful'.

I just can't wait for the rest of the story.

Please don't leave all us loyal and anxious readers waiting to long. Again, congratulations on a well written and planned out story.

kate19 posted a comment on Saturday 29th November 2008 2:14am

i'm still reading this one through. like the BIG chapters am a fan of stories that have BIG chapters! also love the maturity that harry shows. the only thing i want to ask, and i understand that you may have had to answer that question multiple times by readers, is how much does it differ from 'The Granger Defense'?? other than the hermione/ginny difference? anyway, love it so far as i have read and in the next 2 days or today maybe i will be reading the rest. bye

Harold Clark posted a comment on Monday 3rd November 2008 2:41am

I have read this chapter several times now and still find it to be so well-constructed that I see many threads and subplots developing. Well, done! great action! impressive character development! Well, I am not satiated yet; hoping for more - I dare not hope for better but then you are always doing more!

Beahmont posted a comment on Tuesday 7th October 2008 8:44am

I have been a fan of this series since its inception, until about Chapter 19. And I would still be a fan and not someone reading on in morbid curiosity if not for the total absence of logical timeline progression since that chapter. Since then it seems to be one logical train wreck after another. Since Mr. St. Vines enjoys writing back and side stories so much perhaps he could explain how if muggle technology is so much better than magic, wizards(excuse me British Wizards and to a lesser extent it seems European Wizards, apparently the American Wizard's flatulence has no odder), are obviously the stupidest variant of the human species, and magic isn't really magic but some kind of science that only certain people can do (and has a poor concept of reality as well given that a lead and gold block some of it's effects, but for some people it doesn't need too. And yet it interacts with only certain kinds of electricity, only there is only one kind of electricity!)that the problems of the story could exist!

By his own accounting 300+ muggles with enchanted weapons and armor brutally slaughtered a huge proportion of Dark Wizards. This leads to the question of how some muggle born has not come along and done something similar to the purebloods before now, and especially since the invention of the firearm, which has been around in the world since the 1400's? And on this topic how come the muggle and squib born members of "Her Majesties Magical Forces" have not done something about this before now? Especially if muggleborns are almost automatically more powerful than purebloods!

The previous is purely a thematic and story concern, but I'm also curious as to how things could have ended up the way they did if old people in authority are obviously so stupid and wrong as they have been written? It seems as if they achieved their power and prowess and then all of a sudden became functionally retarded. I just don't understand how in this reality things came to be?

And another thing of note that I've noticed in many fictions recently is this constant portrayal of many canon elders as incompetent, but all the younger characters on the light always seem to come out smelling like roses at the end. Yes Albus Dumbledore is human and has flaws people, get over it. Much as I will say Harry can't always be right and still end up in the hospital or hurt, Dumbledore can't always be wrong and stupid because he says things that Harry disagrees with. Has anyone else noticed that the Philosopher's stone would have been perfectly fine without Harry getting involved? That in fact it was Harry's involvement that put the stone in jeopardy. Yes, he was a real hero in 2, but he was just as responsible for the mess in 3 as he was for creating a solution for some of the problems. In 4 his own ego drove him to want to win when he only had to compete. If he'd done the real honorable thing he would have thrown the games so that the people who were actually supposed to be there would have the spotlight and the prize. 5 was a mess all the way around and everyone from Dumbledore to Harry, more so Harry, has a good portion of blame to go around. Though amusingly enough Harry and Dumbledore are at opposites as far as causes go. Dumbledore trusted Harry to keep his word too much and Harry LIED to Dumbledore's face when he told him he would trust him and do what he asked of him. In other words Harry's problem was that he didn't trust the adults in his life enough, some of it admittedly with good reason, but most of his reasons came from his own actions. 6 was played out just as the writer wrote it and their are really no big mistakes or blame to go around. In fact Harry makes up some ground by actually remembering his gifts this time and letting his friends use it. 7 is the ultimate proof that Harry is a real hero. He's flawed just like everyone else but he does his best to do what's right. And everyone agrees it is a good thing for Harry. But when Dumbledore, or sometimes McGonagall, Molly, and Sirius do the same thing it is manipulative old coots at work.

I have to say that I'm disappointed in the work since the end of Chapter 19. The thing that drew me to this fiction was it's realistic portrayal certain aspects of life at the start, in spite of it's overwhelming statements that the bad guys and wizards incompetent. The system of government is unique and very fascinating. The depiction of Fudge and Umbridge are spot on for the setting. The extra characters that have been introduced are fully fleshed out individuals that make you think they really have been around the whole time and are not simply plot devices. I love the economy, the vampires, the other nations, and sometimes I even like relationship between Harry and Dumbledore, until we start in with the now obligatory bashings. Hell, I'm not even put off by the obvious religious overtones. In fact sometimes they are indeed highly appropriate and welcomed plot devices. Harry is a little off from the circumstances in my opinion, and Ginny seems to be far too complacent for my tastes, but these are admittedly opinions and later chapters may reveal more detailed causes for such actions. Overall they feel like real people and not puppets being lead down a forced Deus ex Machina. This is far more than I can say for a great many fictions.

All in all I like this fiction. But I'm just not a fan any more. I think if logical reasons could be explained for the thematic concerns I expressed then I could grow to be a fan again. And I want that. I want to return to the point were I was checking two, and sometimes three, times a day to see if this fiction had been updated. Until then, I'm going to have to give this one a 3/5 and hope for answers in later chapters.

Harold Clark posted a comment on Thursday 2nd October 2008 7:48am

Wow! That is action and drama and romance and nobility opposed inaction(Fudge), cowardice, (Fudge), cruelty and curlishness.

Let this not be the end! There is so much to be written!

Harold Clark posted a comment on Wednesday 1st October 2008 4:40am

Okay, I'm sorry about calling you out on the anti-union sentiments you expressed a few chaptrs ago. Though I still think you have the wrong end of the stick re: Unionism, you obviously are an equalitarian and believe that individuals should rise to each person's level of competence (or incompetence as the case may be). I just hope that you will see the truth in the solidarity issue of Unionism sometimes.

Harold Clark posted a comment on Tuesday 30th September 2008 2:07pm

Flames about the Religious factor!!!! Not at all, the best of Christianity and Wicca has to do with our care and stewardship of this creation.
However, I do want to scold you sererely about your canard against unionism. To this day the only real bargaining power for the worker is the Union..unlike the moneyed class who have armies of lawyers, goon squads in uniform, and paid Parliaments and Congresses to enforce their position to the detriment of the workers and the middle class, et al!! Shame! Shame!thrice Shame on you! Bye the way. Great Chapter!

Harold Clark posted a comment on Tuesday 30th September 2008 5:39am

Wow! Action! Romance! Romantic Action! Intrigue and duplicity; Love and loyalty! I can't overestimate the wideness of this episode! Congratulation!!!!!!!

Jim_xinu posted a comment on Sunday 28th September 2008 10:36am

Exciting chapter(s). But what happened to Jenkins of MID and the apparently coordinated DE attack on Harry? Nothing seems to have been said about it after Harry woke up from it.

Thanks for sharing these with us.

Evan Mayerle posted a comment on Tuesday 23rd September 2008 7:55am

*snicker* I rather loved that bit about Hufflepuffs being rather deadly in defending folk, it's what I'd expect from their nature rather than the timidity they've sometimes been shown as. I daresay the Deeters are not going to be in a good mood when what was supposed to be a painless (to them) and simple attack turned out to be anything but and people fought back instead of cringing in fear. Tom's really not going to like that.