gymnastgal19 Saturday 19th April 2008 21:43 | Playing Hippogriff |
:O:O!! OMG!!!
That was soo oo oo sad!!! I started to tear up a lil at the end!!
so mean of petunia and absolutly heartbreaking to lupin!
|
Sunday 20th April 2008 10:44 | Playing Hippogriff (Author Response) |
Thanks for your comment! I'm glad the emotions in the story came through when you read it. |
goldensnidget Monday 31st March 2008 17:30 | Playing Hippogriff |
Oops. Linked to this from elsewhere and didn't realize that of course, your story predates DH. Sorry for not catching that! |
goldensnidget Monday 31st March 2008 17:24 | Playing Hippogriff |
Oh, I all kinds of loved this. You know, I never even thought about why Remus didn't try to see Harry. This was such a touching moment -- there was so little happiness in both their lives that even a few seconds would be precious.
I did want to point out, though, that "that awful boy" was actually Snape, not James. Petunia says in OotP that she knows about the dementors because she overheard that awful boy telling Lily about them. We're supposed to think it's James, but then we see Snape explaining dementors to Lily (and Tuney eavesdropping) in Snape's final memories. (I'm assuming you've read DH -- sorry for the spoiler otherwise!) |
Monday 31st March 2008 20:36 | Playing Hippogriff (Author Response) |
Thank you very much for taking the time to read this and leave a review -- I'm glad you found the story touching!
As for "that awful boy," your guess in your other comment is right -- I wrote this story in December 2006, before DH. I had even considered that Harry's assumption in OotP that Petunia was referring to James might be a red herring, but then I decided I was probably overthinking, heh! Anyway, I actually have a slightly revised, DH-compliant version of this story posted at the Sugar Quill, which fixes that glitch and makes it clear that Harry already knows what brooms are. |
the_critic Wednesday 28th November 2007 16:10 | Playing Hippogriff |
poor see, I just read one of your other stories anfd it was amazin so I hafta read all of yours see? |
Monday 17th December 2007 21:40 | Playing Hippogriff (Author Response) |
Sorry my reply is kind of late -- but thank you for the kind words! |
gymnastgal19 Tuesday 27th November 2007 15:29 | Playing Hippogriff |
I love this!!!! Ive always imagined harry meeting some wizards, like remus shortly after his parents were killed...
|
Tuesday 27th November 2007 20:11 | Playing Hippogriff (Author Response) |
Thank you! Trying to look after Harry seems like something Lupin would do... |
mrstater Monday 28th May 2007 06:23 | Playing Hippogriff |
I saw this linked at Remus_News at LJ and I'm happy I followed the link. Well, I'm sad, because the story is so heartbreaking. But glad I read it, because this is wonderful.
I've been re-reading Sorcerer's Stone, so Petunia is very fresh in my mind, and I must say you've captured her perfectly. Which must be difficult, writing a character who's so cruel to poor little baby!Harry. And yet you've captured that ludicrous humor that's in how she spoils Dudley, as well, so it's lightened up just a little. All the little touches are perfect here, especially things like Petunia observing Harry liking things that whoosh through the air -- which are perfectly normal things for any child to like, not just magical ones! But so, so Petunia.
This fic so seems like a vignette that could really happen. So often in fic it seems like Remus completely drops off the face of the earth, but I think he would definitely try and do what he could to have a Marauder in Harry's life, and it's lovely that he'd come in with little reminders of the wizarding world as a last-ditch effort to raise Harry as he should be. And knowing that he must have scrimped to buy that toy broomstick, only to see it snapped in half, is really an emotional part of the fic.
Really lovely work. |
Wednesday 30th May 2007 10:58 | Playing Hippogriff (Author Response) |
Thank you so much for following the link over here and taking the time to leave such thoughtful comments. I'm very happy to hear that you liked this; it's one of the stories I've most loved writing, even though it's sad to think of Remus and Harry losing their last link to a happier past.
I think Petunia's interesting. She's nasty and selfish, and she isn't doing Dudley any favors, let alone Harry, but I get the sense that some of her bad decisions come down to fear. I hope we get more Petunia/Lily/Dumbledore backstory in DH.
knowing that he must have scrimped to buy that toy broomstick, only to see it snapped in half -- Oh, I'm glad you caught that; that's exactly what I was trying to do there. |
jadzialove Sunday 13th May 2007 17:14 | Playing Hippogriff |
Absolutely lovely and heartbreaking. You managed in so few words to capture exactly what draws me to Harry and, to a lesser extent, Remus. Just so perfectly poignant.
Truly, it only intensifies my great regret (and shame!) that I missed being the beta on this one.
Wonderful work! |
Monday 14th May 2007 14:28 | Playing Hippogriff (Author Response) |
Thank you for the lovely comments! And I'm very happy to be working with you now. |
jncarlin Saturday 10th March 2007 19:15 | Playing Hippogriff |
This is lovely and heartbreaking. You did a great job capturing Petunia's character. And Harry's little "Hipgiff!" and "Moony" are so sweet.
Very nice work. |
Thursday 15th March 2007 11:16 | Playing Hippogriff (Author Response) |
Hi, and thanks very much for your comments! I didn't want to overdo the baby talk thing, but at 17 months, Harry isn't going to be saying a whole lot yet... It was interesting trying to extrapolate Petunia backward in time, to think about how she would interact with a toddler she hated but couldn't outright ignore the way she often does with older Harry. |
dancinginmagic Friday 9th February 2007 14:28 | Playing Hippogriff |
Oh. Oh, Petunia, you FOUL woman. Can I slap her? Please?
I really loved this story. It was simply amazing. I'm sorry I didn't read it earlier. Good luck with future stories!
Sarah |
Sunday 11th February 2007 11:02 | Playing Hippogriff (Author Response) |
Thanks so much for the kind words and the encouragement! I really appreciate it. |
Jenn_Lynn Tuesday 30th January 2007 05:21 | Playing Hippogriff |
Great story! My heart broke for poor Lupin when Petunia refused to let him visit! And your portrayal of a baby Harry was very cute. Hipgiff - very cute! I could picture it all quite vividly. Keep up the great work! |
Wednesday 31st January 2007 16:00 | Playing Hippogriff (Author Response) |
Thank you for the kind words. I'm glad you hear you liked the story! |
McGonagall's Cat Sunday 28th January 2007 23:59 | Playing Hippogriff |
Very nicely done. Everyone is quite in character and it is a plausable glimpse of Harry's early life.
Thank you. |
Wednesday 31st January 2007 15:58 | Playing Hippogriff (Author Response) |
Thank you so much for your encouraging feedback, and for taking the time to leave a review! I'm glad to hear you found the characterization and scenario to be plausible. |
Lauberry Sunday 28th January 2007 15:28 | Playing Hippogriff |
So sad... but it would explain so much!
Lovely job. |
Sunday 28th January 2007 17:58 | Playing Hippogriff (Author Response) |
It would explain a few things, wouldn't it! Thanks for your review. |
Evelyn Tuesday 9th January 2007 12:09 | Playing Hippogriff |
What an adorable scene. I loved all the hints of Harry loving to fly. And that's a really interesting question you brought up there - what did Moony do all those years, didn't he ever look for Harry? I'll remember this as something like a real prequel; pity we'll never get one - unless you'll write some more? |
Thursday 11th January 2007 17:01 | Playing Hippogriff (Author Response) |
Thanks for your kind words; I'm so glad you liked the story. I do hope JKR lets us know what Remus was up to for all those years, but I guess if she doesn't, that just gives fanfiction writers something to do (heh). |
gypsy Wednesday 3rd January 2007 09:36 | Playing Hippogriff |
Ohh.... so sweet and so sad. *sniff* I loved giggly Harry, and that Remus seemed to be waiting for any chance they'd be at the park. I'd love this to go AU and have Remus sneak peaks into Harrry's life without the Dursley's realising. Every now and then, just to keep a steady watch and let Harry know he has a friend. Even if it finishes there, a touching piece. 9/10. |
Thursday 4th January 2007 16:41 | Playing Hippogriff (Author Response) |
Thanks for the review and the suggestions! I'm not sure I feel ready to take this AU, but you've made me think: maybe Remus did go check on Harry from time to time, without letting Harry know. Hmm. That might be fun to pursue. |
Ladybug Sunday 31st December 2006 01:25 | Playing Hippogriff |
What a simply perfect little episode. It feels so right, I feel sure it really happened (as much as anything in HarryPotterLand really happens!! LOL) I loved Petunia and Dudley, you got them just right. And I love the last line particularly - oh if only she'd known. Great story, I love it. |
Sunday 31st December 2006 19:29 | Playing Hippogriff (Author Response) |
Ah, I do hope Remus signed his name to that letter he left for the Dursleys when the Advance Guard pulled Harry out of Privet Drive in OotP... Thanks for the encouraging review. |
Sirius Lee Brilliant Saturday 30th December 2006 22:14 | Playing Hippogriff |
Sorry, I clicked on 'Review' rather than 'More'. Great story!! It made my cry though,... no idea why, yes, the story was a little sad, but not to the point of crying.Again, very nice stoy! |
Sirius Lee Brilliant Saturday 30th December 2006 22:14 | Playing Hippogriff |
Sorry, I clicked on 'Review' rather than 'More'. Great story!! It made my cry though,... no idea why, yes, the story was a little sad, but not to the point of crying.Again, very nice stoy! |
Sunday 31st December 2006 19:24 | Playing Hippogriff (Author Response) |
Thanks -- I'm glad you liked it. |
Sirius Lee Brilliant Saturday 30th December 2006 22:11 | Playing Hippogriff |
God, I'm a crybaby tonight! |
WhiteWitch Thursday 28th December 2006 23:42 | Playing Hippogriff |
Heh. That would definitely be more cheerful -- but it would also be AU...
Doesn't matter!!! ....*sobs pathetically* |
Erin Wednesday 27th December 2006 13:55 | Playing Hippogriff |
*sniffle*
This story almost makes me cry - so sad! And so brilliant - where did you get this idea? The thought of Remus trying to help young Harry and being pushed away rings so true to his character portrayal. *sorrowful sigh* Who knows what could have been different if she'd not chased him away?
Erin |
Sunday 31st December 2006 19:23 | Playing Hippogriff (Author Response) |
I started out wondering what the first holiday season after Halloween 1981 would have been like, and things went on from there. Thanks for your encouraging words, and I'm glad you liked the story. |
lacyrachil Wednesday 27th December 2006 08:33 | Playing Hippogriff |
Beautiful. Sometimes obvious things elude is. After all, Harry was at one time a baby. I wonder how those years were with the Dursleys? |
Sunday 31st December 2006 19:18 | Playing Hippogriff (Author Response) |
Pretty awful, it seems, from what little we've seen in the books. I'm just amazed Harry has enough spunk left in him to get back at Dudley the way we see in PS/SS. Anyway, thanks for your review! |
Believer Tuesday 26th December 2006 18:38 | Playing Hippogriff |
Awe! This really pulls on your heart strings. I love it though. Nicely done |
Sunday 31st December 2006 19:16 | Playing Hippogriff (Author Response) |
Thank you! |
Arnel Sunday 24th December 2006 22:30 | Playing Hippogriff |
If this story was designed to infuriate your readers, you've done an excellent job of it. This was not a good story to read right before going to bed last night! It's so like Petunia to treat poor little Harry like that right from the start and I was so happy when she let Remus play with him. However, her real colors came out when she destroyed his gift to Harry...and that's what got my ire up! This is well-written and takes the concept of missing moment to a different level. |
Monday 25th December 2006 22:17 | Playing Hippogriff (Author Response) |
Wow! I'm sorry to have gotten your ire up, but glad to hear that the story was able to do so (heh). Thanks for the encouraging review. |
lantis222 Sunday 24th December 2006 16:39 | Playing Hippogriff |
Poor Remus. I really enjoyed this story, you did a great job! I only he could have beenn aroung Harry, things might have been easier for him. At least Harry had that one wonderful ride to remember him by. |
Monday 25th December 2006 22:15 | Playing Hippogriff (Author Response) |
Thanks for the kind words. JKR did go out of her way to make sure that Harry's childhood was perfectly awful, didn't she. |
EmeraldPrincess Sunday 24th December 2006 14:24 | Playing Hippogriff |
Moonyy.. |
Monday 25th December 2006 22:11 | Playing Hippogriff (Author Response) |
Yeah... |
WhiteWitch Sunday 24th December 2006 11:11 | Playing Hippogriff |
NOOOO!!! SADNESS ENSUES!!! OMG!!! PLEEASE!!!! MAKE THIS LONGER AND HAVE REMUS TAKE HARRY AWAY!!!! PLEEEAASEE!! |
Monday 25th December 2006 22:10 | Playing Hippogriff (Author Response) |
Heh. That would definitely be more cheerful -- but it would also be AU... |
Grandma Kate Sunday 24th December 2006 09:59 | Playing Hippogriff |
So sad for both Harry and Moony. |
Monday 25th December 2006 22:08 | Playing Hippogriff (Author Response) |
True -- but to me, this scenario is less sad than the possibility that Lupin simply never tried to contact Harry all those years (even after he re-entered the magical world). |
LauraGene Sunday 24th December 2006 09:25 | Playing Hippogriff |
That was so lovely and so terribly sad. And it makes such perfect sense that Remus would try to visit Harry and that only someone like Petunia Dursley could keep him from doing so.
What a marvelous present for us all.
Laura |
Monday 25th December 2006 22:06 | Playing Hippogriff (Author Response) |
Laura, thank you for the kind words. I'm glad the story seemed plausible to you. |
Kamalia Saturday 23rd December 2006 22:56 | Playing Hippogriff |
What an evil lady! Poor Remus...and Harry. You captured Petunia well - no wishywashy, hidden gentleness for her! Good job and congrats on getting a piece here on PS! |
Monday 25th December 2006 22:03 | Playing Hippogriff (Author Response) |
There may be a tiny bit of hidden gentleness to Petunia (she almost starts to feel sorry for Remus here), but it must be really tiny for Harry's childhood to have been what it was. And thanks, I'm happy to be here on PS! |
daniel_r_crazy22 Saturday 23rd December 2006 15:32 | Playing Hippogriff |
Aww. That was really cool with Moony there and all. And Hatty knew who it was cool. That's sweet. And Petunia is very rude. I lvoe this short story. Very well written too! |
Saturday 23rd December 2006 17:44 | Playing Hippogriff (Author Response) |
I'm glad you liked it. I can't help feeling a tiny bit sorry for Petunia -- some of her cold behavior probably stems from fear. |
Sherylyn Saturday 23rd December 2006 14:01 | Playing Hippogriff |
This is truly beautiful!! Even though it's sad overall, it's still just beautifully done! Thank you for sharing it with us all! |
Saturday 23rd December 2006 17:40 | Playing Hippogriff (Author Response) |
Thank you for the encouraging words! |
Uzamaki-girl Saturday 23rd December 2006 13:34 | Playing Hippogriff |
Oh I loved this story! Poor moony. |
Saturday 23rd December 2006 17:38 | Playing Hippogriff (Author Response) |
I'm glad you liked it. Thanks for leaving a review. |
Miri Saturday 23rd December 2006 13:20 | Playing Hippogriff |
Oh what a happy and sad story which is also an explanation as to why Remus didn't get in touch with Harry in all the years he was at the Dursley's--not wanting Harry to be treated to any more painful scenes from Petunia like this one. Poor Remus and poor Harry. I really wish JKR had given them more of a chance to be closer in HBP. Hopefully, they'll have a chance to be more of a family in the last book and beyond.
Thanks and Merry Christmas to you and yours. |
Saturday 23rd December 2006 17:37 | Playing Hippogriff (Author Response) |
I also hope that Harry and Remus both make it through the last book and have a chance to get to know each other better. Anyway, receiving a direct order from Petunia to stay away seems like one plausible reason for Remus's absence from Harry's pre-Hogwarts life. (Plus, it makes his participation in the Advance Guard in OotP that much more satisfying.) |
angel_in_training Saturday 23rd December 2006 12:59 | Playing Hippogriff |
Poor baby Harry! It was really good. |
Saturday 23rd December 2006 17:27 | Playing Hippogriff (Author Response) |
Thanks -- I'm glad you liked it. |