Lily Jane Monday 22nd July 2013 13:12 | The Hero and His Lady |
What a sad, but at the same time upliflting tale. Only you can create such opposite emotions in one story.
I don't remember reading it before, and I probably hadn't as my break from fan fiction took much longer than I planned, but I'm really glad I found it right now. I believe I wouldn't have appreciated it a few years ago as I do now.
It's a very delicate subject, being with someone till their last breath. Yet you made it feel as it is just another step in life. Very sad, very painful, but a step into a new adventure. And hope for eternal love.
I cried, I admit, but those weren't sad tears. Thank you for that.
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Saturday 10th August 2013 19:17 | The Hero and His Lady (Author Response) |
Well, hello there! I'm so sorry I was away when you wrote this review. Sorry I'm so late replying.
I'm glad you enjoyed the story, even though it had a sad theme. Because it's H/G there is hope - I can't think of two characters that deserve an eternal happy ending more than those two. It was difficult to write, but I'm glad that readers have found it to be satisfying. Thanks so much for letting me know you read it and what you thought of it. |
J-TGriffy Sunday 11th March 2012 10:58 | The Hero and His Lady |
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Isabelscool Wednesday 4th January 2012 21:39 | The Hero and His Lady |
made me cry beaut |
Saturday 7th January 2012 06:16 | The Hero and His Lady (Author Response) |
I'm glad you liked it. Thanks for letting me know! |
Life Shadower Sunday 10th July 2011 15:31 | The Hero and His Lady |
Like all the other people have said, this is probably one of the most beautiful pieces of literature that I have read. Sure, parting is bittersweet sorrow, but this is something of a whole different matter. I can definitely see why you wrote this as what Harry and Ginny meant to one another, all of this keeps coming together as being left behind and I can feel it with the entire story.
I feel as though I am ripping stuff off of the other reviews, but I seriously mean it when I say that I felt my heart being ripped out as I read this:
“Did I —?” Her clear brown eyes were wide open, looking into his. “Did I ever thank you for saving my life?” He smiled. He hadn’t expected that. “You just did.” “Oh.” Her lips curved upward and then she sighed and closed her eyes. “Did I ever thank you for being my life?” Harry asked her as the tears fell.
Thank you so much for sharing this work with all of us. Its beautiful. |
Sunday 10th July 2011 17:54 | The Hero and His Lady (Author Response) |
Oh, didn't you make my day. Thank you for your kind review. I'm glad H/G touched something in you just as they have touched me. I love this couple and their "happily ever after" which is just as interesting and poignant as their adventures at Hogwarts, in my opinion. Thanks for reading. |
jenniferflynnhudson Tuesday 28th June 2011 15:01 | The Hero and His Lady |
What a beautiful for a complete end to their story.
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Tuesday 28th June 2011 18:10 | The Hero and His Lady (Author Response) |
I'm glad you liked it! It was hard to write since I like my H/G to be happy. Thanks for reading! |
pottermagic Monday 4th October 2010 17:44 | The Hero and His Lady |
Thanks for recommending this. I didn't find it sad, it was too beautiful to be sad |
Monday 4th October 2010 19:27 | The Hero and His Lady (Author Response) |
I'm glad you liked it. Thanks for letting me know! |
bibliomaniac Tuesday 21st September 2010 20:35 | The Hero and His Lady |
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webster Friday 10th September 2010 09:57 | The Hero and His Lady |
Bittersweet, but great! |
Friday 10th September 2010 16:03 | The Hero and His Lady (Author Response) |
This was a hard one to write. Thanks for reading! |
without wax Friday 11th June 2010 03:30 | The Hero and His Lady |
wonderful. That's all i can say. The best 1 chapter story I've read till now.
without wax, |
Friday 11th June 2010 05:56 | The Hero and His Lady (Author Response) |
I'm glad you liked it. It's one of my favorites, even though it's rather angsty. Thanks for reading! |
bleeblahblee Wednesday 7th April 2010 09:07 | The Hero and His Lady |
... interesting; kind of depressing I think... but it was well written... yes it was good. |
Wednesday 7th April 2010 17:16 | The Hero and His Lady (Author Response) |
Yes, I thought it was sad - even though H/G were together for so long. Not my usual style. Thanks for reading! |
winslow Monday 29th March 2010 16:21 | The Hero and His Lady |
This was a beautiful and touching story. It is nice to think of Ron and Ginny having such a long time together. Thank you for writing! |
Tuesday 30th March 2010 06:41 | The Hero and His Lady (Author Response) |
I don't like to think of Harry or Ginny dying, but that seemed the best way to send them off. Thanks for reading. |
MysticalRose Sunday 4th October 2009 04:53 | The Hero and His Lady |
Really well written - this was a beautiful depiction of Harry and Ginny's final hours. Very moving; tears actually came to my eyes! Great story. |
Sunday 4th October 2009 05:23 | The Hero and His Lady (Author Response) |
I'm glad it moved you. I cried when I wrote it! Thanks for reading! |
Tante Saturday 29th August 2009 22:18 | The Hero and His Lady |
My goodness, you are brilliant.
I've not left you a review in quite a while. But, oh, your writing never disappoints. Timing, characterization, emotional mixture and depth, complexity, detail - all brilliant.
Thank you again. |
Sunday 30th August 2009 15:01 | The Hero and His Lady (Author Response) |
What a nice review! I appreciate it. Thank you, dear. |
crazycarls Saturday 29th August 2009 02:10 | The Hero and His Lady |
thats was the most beautiful story!
i loved it so much it made me cry!
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Saturday 29th August 2009 15:48 | The Hero and His Lady (Author Response) |
Thank you. That was just the reaction I was looking for. |
bcollins Wednesday 22nd July 2009 21:20 | The Hero and His Lady |
This was sad but really great, I got goosebumps in several places both times a read it. |
Thursday 23rd July 2009 07:01 | The Hero and His Lady (Author Response) |
Oh, you're sweet to read it again! Thank you. |
bcollins Sunday 19th July 2009 19:25 | The Hero and His Lady |
LOVED IT - thanks it wa so sweet.
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Monday 20th July 2009 06:55 | The Hero and His Lady (Author Response) |
Thank you for letting me know. That's always encouraging. |
Sovran Monday 6th July 2009 22:50 | The Hero and His Lady |
Ahh. What a lovely piece. As others have said, H/G\'s journey together is wonderful. What caught my attention, however, is the presence of the tertiary characters in the story . . . the people on the radio and the \'driver\', especially. I\'m rather convinced that the driver is actually one of Harry\'s relatives. It\'s simplest to say that he\'s one of George\'s line, but any of the brothers would do. He could even be Harry\'s direct descendant, given that Ginny carries all the best Weasley genes herself. Now that I think of that, I believe it\'s true; the driver is Harry\'s grandson or great grandson. Who else would James trust with that task?
The other one I\'m suspicious about is that \'young and lively\' voice from the radio, which caused Ginny to focus for a moment. Why that voice? There must be plenty of young and lively voices available if one listens to the radio 24 hours a day. I think that the speaker was another of Ginny\'s descendants, or at least that of one of her brothers.
Together, those two things leave me with another layer of goodness and, at the same time, another layer of sorrow. Harry and Ginny truly are old and ready to move on, and in the natural course of things they\'ve begun to forget people in their lives. Harry recognized the driver\'s eyes even if he\'d forgotten the driver himself, and Ginny recognized the voice without realizing who it was or even why she recognized it.
That rings true with my experience; people who lose their memory don\'t truly forget a person or anything beloved, they just lose track of the details involved like labels and visible features. From the point of view of the elderly, I think that this story represents what that would look like. Of course Harry doesn\'t think he needs a driver or any such nonsense, but from the outside perspective he\'s frail and forgetful, so of course he needs some sort of minder.
Ah, it just gets better the more I think about it. Even that person on the radio who \'loved school\' is reminiscent of Hermione. I\'m not confident that the speaker is another relative of the Weasley clan, but I think that the voice reminded Ginny of Hermione on a subconscious level.
If I were a schemer, I might go so far as to suggest that each of the tertiary characters is intended to be reminiscent, at least, of one of the Weasleys (plus Hermione) from Harry and Ginny\'s generation. But I\'m not a schemer.
Even if you didn\'t intend any of this, I\'m going to keep right on believing it.
Beautifully done, as always, and a stand-out even in your unmatched body of work. |
Tuesday 7th July 2009 05:39 | The Hero and His Lady (Author Response) |
Oh, thank you for this review - full of things to think about! One of my favorite plays of all time is Our Town by Thorton Wilder - in Act III the dead are commenting on Emily's funeral in rather monotone, detatched voices. I thought to do that with the radio here. The Stage Manager in Our Town explains that there is a period of being "weaned" away from life - I think that does happen to people in old age and I sought to show that here.
So yes, you are right - Harry and Ginny are both pulling away from life and the people they loved - in increments. Like Dumbledore said, the people you love never really leave you - so seeing the twins in his driver's eyes was a way of showing that. I love your theory that it was Harry's descendent.
Thanks for reading and for leaving such a thoughtful review!
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Aberforth\\\'s Avatar Saturday 4th July 2009 06:47 | The Hero and His Lady |
What a lovely, touching little story. Even though it was clear what was coming, I was quite moved. The metaphor of the vanishing point was very effective.
Thanks for sharing. |
Saturday 4th July 2009 13:52 | The Hero and His Lady (Author Response) |
I'm always glad to know what was effective in a story. Thanks for your kind, thoughtful review! (As always) |
shimotsuki Thursday 2nd July 2009 14:36 | The Hero and His Lady |
Oh, beautiful. Harry and Ginny's love is so strong and tender in their old age. And good for Ginny for still being the rule-breaker...
I really, really like the structure of this, too. The flashbacks that all center on the Hogwarts Express and being left behind; the idea that the train is being retired as life moves on; Harry's sudden decision to go and see the train leave that one last time.
A really effective retelling of the myth. (And you made me sniffle!) |
Thursday 2nd July 2009 15:46 | The Hero and His Lady (Author Response) |
Oh, I sniffled when I wrote it! I'm glad H/G's love shone through - that was the most important part of the story - that which survives all partings. Thanks for reading! |
RIPHedwig Sunday 28th June 2009 13:21 | The Hero and His Lady |
aw that was lovely
perfectly structured, though I wish and had died next to each other... still, it was beautiful.
I can see this bit being true: "There was more to his story than the first seventeen years of his life, but they never bothered to cover that part in school."
Another brilliant story, thank you.
B
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Sunday 28th June 2009 19:48 | The Hero and His Lady (Author Response) |
I'm glad you liked it. I know the subject matter is a bit daunting, but really it is H/G's fairytale ending.
And yes, those history books always leave out the good stuff!
Thanks for reading, as always. |
lyonessx Tuesday 23rd June 2009 21:00 | The Hero and His Lady |
“Did I ever thank you for being my life?” Harry asked her as the tears fell.
I cried and I do not cry. This was beautifully written. thank you |
Wednesday 24th June 2009 04:57 | The Hero and His Lady (Author Response) |
I cried when I wrote that section. Thanks for reading! |
ksingh Monday 22nd June 2009 21:39 | The Hero and His Lady |
Magical...and sweet....and so many things that I thought Harry and Ginny would be. I've always thought if you grow old together, then you should be able to leave this earth together. Mercy should prevail, so one won't be "left behind." This story spoke to that part of me, and I loved it. Congradulations on a well written story. |
Tuesday 23rd June 2009 06:10 | The Hero and His Lady (Author Response) |
If anyone deserves happiness and mercy at their ulitmate ending, it's Harry and Ginny. I'm glad that part spoke to you. Thanks for reading! |
brios Monday 22nd June 2009 08:10 | The Hero and His Lady |
very beautifully written, you made me cry |
Monday 22nd June 2009 08:43 | The Hero and His Lady (Author Response) |
Thank you. That's a wonderful compliment. |
memasuzy Monday 22nd June 2009 06:16 | The Hero and His Lady |
This isn't angst. It IS beautiful and poignant and sad.
I love this line:
“Did I —?” Her clear brown eyes were wide open, looking into his. “Did I ever thank you for saving my life?”
He smiled. He hadn’t expected that. “You just did.”
“Oh.” Her lips curved upward and then she sighed and closed her eyes.
“Did I ever thank you for being my life?” Harry asked her as the tears fell.
simply beautiful! Thank you! |
Monday 22nd June 2009 06:54 | The Hero and His Lady (Author Response) |
I'm glad that you liked that part. I think it sums up just what H/G meant to each other after all of those years. Thanks for reading and taking the time to review. |
angeli Saturday 20th June 2009 12:16 | The Hero and His Lady |
this story is not at all angsty, quite the contrary, in fact... it is beautiful, poignant and moving. bravo! |
Saturday 20th June 2009 12:42 | The Hero and His Lady (Author Response) |
Thank you for the nice review, I appreciate it. |
Lorelei Lynn Saturday 20th June 2009 08:03 | The Hero and His Lady |
I really liked the Hogwarts Express "left behind" motif running through the story. Well done! |
Saturday 20th June 2009 09:22 | The Hero and His Lady (Author Response) |
I always wondered what Ginny was thinking once the train left and she went home. Poor dear. That's the first thing I thought of when I saw the song lyrics I had been assigned. Thanks for reading! |
aurora luminis Friday 19th June 2009 22:46 | The Hero and His Lady |
As always, you are superb. Only this time the tears are following down my cheeks. I guess age does that to a person. Really, you surpassed yourself with this one. It is difficult to write a short story that is truly powerful. I am going to hold it in mind when I work on my next HP pieces...and always hold it in heart as something rare and beautiful. |
Saturday 20th June 2009 06:39 | The Hero and His Lady (Author Response) |
What a lovely compliment. Thank you. I'm only able to write something like this because of the wonderful characters JKR has given us. Because it Harry and we know him so well - and because it's Ginny and we love her too - that's where the heart of the story is. Thanks again. |
ngayonatkailanman Friday 19th June 2009 18:03 | The Hero and His Lady |
Oh Merlin! My heart just swelled! Excellent. |
Saturday 20th June 2009 06:36 | The Hero and His Lady (Author Response) |
Oh, thank you. That's a gratifying reaction. |
hagridsheart Friday 19th June 2009 16:12 | The Hero and His Lady |
Wow, i'm amazed and nearly in tears.
Bravo.
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Friday 19th June 2009 16:45 | The Hero and His Lady (Author Response) |
Thank you. What a nice review. |
Illyra Friday 19th June 2009 13:15 | The Hero and His Lady |
What a lovely story! It definitely pulled on my heart. Thanks so much for sharing this - I always love your stories and writing! |
Friday 19th June 2009 13:21 | The Hero and His Lady (Author Response) |
I've been meaning to write something like this for H/G for awhile, but I could never figure out how to do it. (And I didn't know if anyone would want to read about H/G dying) Thanks for reading! |
DebbieO Friday 19th June 2009 11:08 | The Hero and His Lady |
Sweet story! Sad and beautiful, creative...haunting. Awesome work. I really enjoyed the mythological feel you created with the legend of the trees. |
Friday 19th June 2009 11:30 | The Hero and His Lady (Author Response) |
I'm glad the mythological didn't seem too tacked on. JKR tackled death throughout the series, so her images naturally fit with H/G's story - but I needed a bit more to round it off. Thanks for reading! |
bbnaz Friday 19th June 2009 10:24 | The Hero and His Lady |
Lovely and sweet. Wouldn't it be grand if life duplicated fiction?
So nice to read your stories as always. |
Friday 19th June 2009 10:31 | The Hero and His Lady (Author Response) |
You're so right. Very few get an ending like this. Thanks for reading - it's always nice to see you, too. |
Kelleypen Friday 19th June 2009 08:40 | The Hero and His Lady |
Aww . . . so sweet. Of course Harry would follow her right away.
Of course, I kept waiting for the name of this magical malady they both were stricken and how they both caught it. Unless you just mean old age.
It seemed very symbolic and quite plausible that Harry would go to Kings Cross at the end, in light of the books.
Well done. |
Friday 19th June 2009 09:48 | The Hero and His Lady (Author Response) |
Hi Kelley!
Yes, it was old age and the lingering effects of some kind of magical influenza. Bless them both! Yes, King's Cross had to be the place for Harry to start his next journey. Thanks for reading. It's good to see you again. |
Dad Friday 19th June 2009 07:56 | The Hero and His Lady |
I was worried by the warning at the begining of the story. I actualy think it was a nice story and had a happy ending. |
Friday 19th June 2009 09:46 | The Hero and His Lady (Author Response) |
I would have paused at that warning, too - but I wanted to be sure to let people know that it was about death. You never know what's going on in the real life a reader, so it seemed safer to put up a warning. That being said, I'm glad you took a chance on the story and thought the ending felt happy. It was meant to be comforting. Thanks for reading! |
The Boss Friday 19th June 2009 07:04 | The Hero and His Lady |
Sad but a touching and fitting story. Good to se that they both had 100 years together officially. Great piece =]
The Boss |
Friday 19th June 2009 07:17 | The Hero and His Lady (Author Response) |
Yes, I had to put that long marriage in there - no matter what the number, I do think H/G would have had that kind of epic love story. Thanks for reading (as always!) |
DukeBrymin Friday 19th June 2009 06:51 | The Hero and His Lady |
Oh, I also wanted to mention that I didn't think was angsty at all--it was filled with a hope and peace that made me very happy. |
Friday 19th June 2009 07:15 | The Hero and His Lady (Author Response) |
Yes, you're right! It's not really angst. Tearjerker is probably a better way to put it. |
DukeBrymin Friday 19th June 2009 06:50 | The Hero and His Lady |
Bravo! Absolutely beautiful, made me cry, which doesn't happen all that often.
I loved the parallels in the story (and not just the tracks that meet at the horizon). The train leaving, and all the other "leavings" in the story.
I loved Spunky!Ginny telling Harry to get in the bed with her.
And I especially loved the idea of Harry reaching out to catch the Hogwarts Express, and how it related to him catching Ginny again--reminds me of the book "The Warlock's Last Ride" by Christopher Stasheff--the wife dies, and the story involves much of the husband trying to find happiness afterwards.
Anyway, great job, as always, thanks for sharing! |
Friday 19th June 2009 07:14 | The Hero and His Lady (Author Response) |
I'm glad the mixed metaphors with the trains and trees worked - the trains were the hurly burly of life and the trees represented the quiet peace at the end - it's hard to know if any of that is working until you get some readers. So thank you for your review! |
professor Webster Friday 19th June 2009 06:12 | The Hero and His Lady |
Very nicely done even if the plot isn't original. You did it most competently and far better than most would have. I especially enjoyed the ending which was original. It is entirely likely that Harry Potter's and Ginny Potter's last resting place would become a point of pilgimage in later years & this is a very good way to end it while emphasising (SP?) the good that they two of them did. |
Friday 19th June 2009 06:29 | The Hero and His Lady (Author Response) |
The history books never have the emotional life story of its heroes and I like to think that there was a place in the magical world where H/G's story would be reflected upon. It seemed the fitting ending for this story. Thanks for reading! |
yiota Friday 19th June 2009 03:17 | The Hero and His Lady |
That was amazing! True, it was sad and made me cry, but at the same time you couldn't have depicted a more loving couple. I think it's true that "to the well-organised mind, death is but the next great adventure". But it's one thing for a person to die, it's quite another to be left behind, especially the husband of a hundred years. I don't think there are many authors who'd venture to this unexplored territory, but you certainly do it very well! Well done! |
Friday 19th June 2009 04:56 | The Hero and His Lady (Author Response) |
To have Harry and Ginny be able to go on that next adventure together seemed to be the ultimate fairytale ending of their story. But it made me cry to write it! Thanks for reading! |
saulick Friday 19th June 2009 02:30 | The Hero and His Lady |
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Friday 19th June 2009 04:54 | The Hero and His Lady (Author Response) |
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gioia Friday 19th June 2009 02:05 | The Hero and His Lady |
Once again, your story sent me running over to Know-it-Alls to post a rec. I really, really loved this!
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Friday 19th June 2009 04:54 | The Hero and His Lady (Author Response) |
Oh, thanks! You're always so supportive. |
honourary_weasley Friday 19th June 2009 01:00 | The Hero and His Lady |
Aww... very sweet and very sad. I particularly liked the voice on the radio, and the sense of time that's passed it created:
I loved school. It didn’t seem like anything bad could happen there.
heh, neither did anyone else, until it happened.... only now it's decades ago and nobody remembers.
Nice job, as always! |
Friday 19th June 2009 04:53 | The Hero and His Lady (Author Response) |
Who ever said high school is the best time of your life is delusional or lying! LOL. Lots more in life than school - and H/G got to enjoy it. Thanks for reading! |