Harry Potter and the Nightmares of Futures Past
Miserable Uncertainties
By Viridian
Reviews
Cassandra30 posted a comment on Tuesday 16th August 2011 3:35am for Miserable Uncertainties
Totally awesome!
Potter&Granger posted a comment on Monday 25th May 2009 3:07pm for Miserable Uncertainties
stunning spells did not lock up your body, just leave unconcious on the spot, wich lead me to think that was a second person at the time wich, whatever who is, maybe Snape though, had cast a petrificus totalus charm to make harry fell backwards.
it's a bit suspicious but however i think that was a fair few hints what should made Harry suspicious:
1)Snape don't probbing Harry's occlumency neither any of the other's.
2)Snape speaking with less venom than usual
3)The detention, right on the day of the match
4)Snape releasing Harry earlier while detention
5)Threathing Ron and Neville to leave the dungeons or else
6)Snape bieng quiet while anyone it's growing harder to read
Doesn't Harry after all he'd gone trought in both timelines would beign in constat vigillance?
Specially with those warning bells flashing, though he may be a little disconcerted whit the strange behavior of Snape.
I suppose we going back at the "merged-Harry isn’t infallible" bussines, being so, it would be entire plausible to be ambushed and more than likely because such an ambush hadn't happen in the prior timeline....
Great fic though, keep on trucking Matthew.
mantis posted a comment on Wednesday 15th April 2009 8:13pm for Miserable Uncertainties
Good summary of the last few chapters from Arthur's POV; it's always nice seeing the effects this version of Harry has on those around him.
I love the idea of siccing Rita on Gilderoy Lockhart -- if anyone deserves to be in the crosshairs of one of her hit-pieces, it's him. (Or Umbridge, of course -- I always though Harry and Hermione underutilized Rita's talents in OotP.) Treating Harry as a high-value source rather than a target is sensible, too -- Rita would have done it in canon, if she was smarter. It's actually a good thing that she has the journalistic ethics of a snapping turtle, though -- a [i]good[/i] journalist wouldn't let herself become so dependent on one source that she acts as a tool of that source.
I'm again wondering if you're a fan of Lois McMaster Bujold -- Harry reflecting on how he's changed his friends reminds me of the summation at the end of "Komarr" of Miles' positive impact on the lives of the various women he's been involved with.
It had occurred to me that, unless he and Ginny made love at some point during their "sunlit days" together at the end of Harry's sixth year, the older Harry of your prologue probably died a virgin. Looks like I had that right. I'm imagining, somewhere down this timeline, after he's revealed the truth to his friends and he and Ginny are old enough to be comfortable with that kind of physical involvement, her shock at discovering that he really doesn't know any more about sex than she does.
"It is true that Ms. Granger has an exceptionally well-organized writing style, though you tend to do better when required to think on your feet." Yeah, that's Hermione's greatest weakness, as I mentioned in an earlier review: she tends to freeze up when there isn't enough time to think things through, whereas Harry's natural tendency is to *act* -- and his instant, unconsidered reactions to crises have an uncanny way of producing successful solutions (grab Quirrell's face, stab the diary with the basilisk fang, etc.).
Why *didn't* Harry ever ask McGonagall about his parents in canon? You'd think by late in OotP, after her ringing defense of him in the face of Umbridge's malice, he would have been past being intimidated by her manner, and in that book particularly he had a lot of reason to want to know what James and Lily were like at school.
Harry's dealings with Rita and Slughorn remind me of one of Lazarus Long's aphorisms: "Never appeal to a man's 'better nature.' He may not have one. Invoking his self-interest gives you more leverage."
Nice little moment with Cho, there. Of course, as a Harry/Cho shipper I've always maintained that she's basically a nice person. There's a lot of hostility and vilification of her in the fandom, based on very little canonical evidence -- most of what we see of her in canon suggests that she's a rather sweet girl, just rather more emotionally labile than Harry was equipped to cope with in OotP, and I'm happy to see you going along with that interpretation. I really hope merged!Harry can prevent Cedric's death and Cho's resultant heartbreak.
The weather on a given day being different in the new timeline is a bit disturbing, whether it's because some events are random and can change beyond the changes that Harry causes, or because something Harry's done is having a literal "butterfly effect."
Have I mentioned yet that you write Quidditch scenes very well? That's a tricky thing to do repeatedly -- part of the reason Harry misses so many matches in canon, and why JKR said that she heaved a huge sigh of relief when she reached the point where she'd never have to narrate another Quidditch match again; Luna's commentary at the Gryff-Slyth in Book Six was a desperate effort to find something original to do with a Quidditch scene.
So the question is, did Snape intentionally time the end of that detention so whoever stunned Harry could get the drop on him? I was going to stop reading at the end of this chapter and get some sleep, but now I have to know...
TxA_GunFighter posted a comment on Sunday 25th November 2007 1:52pm for Miserable Uncertainties
Good chapter, bit of a bummer at the end.
gunny
Minerva Granger posted a comment on Wednesday 29th August 2007 10:25am for Miserable Uncertainties
Oh, SHIT!!!! EVIL CLIFFIE!!!
Aaran St Vines posted a comment on Thursday 2nd November 2006 12:58am for Miserable Uncertainties
Molly and Arthur's feelings about their children and Harry (as seen through Arthur's eyes) are so perfectly within canon. Very well done.
Terrible cliffie at the end. Glad the next chapter is written.
Cheers!
Reviewer-Who-Begs-For-Updates posted a comment on Sunday 27th August 2006 8:28pm for Miserable Uncertainties
Hah! Your cliffhanger is foiled by the presence of the next chapter! I shall go read it now. Bye!
jayley posted a comment on Friday 5th May 2006 3:33pm for Miserable Uncertainties
well, i hope his and ginny's relationship works out ok. scary cliffhanger!!! can't wait for your next chapter!
Patches posted a comment on Friday 5th May 2006 8:17am for Miserable Uncertainties
I really want to congratulate you on this story. It is excellent. I have enjoyed reading it and it has become one of my favorites. I am also going to read Team 8 but I am really looking forward to more of this story. Quite a nasty cliffhanger you left! Harry being stunned and breaking more bones! I sure hope he gets care quickly! Thank you for writing. I really appreciate your tallent and efforts. pms
Arvin Betancourt posted a comment on Friday 5th May 2006 4:45am for Miserable Uncertainties
PLEASE!!!!
Update as soon as possible!!!!
Sovran posted a comment on Thursday 4th May 2006 7:06am for Miserable Uncertainties
I posted this review over on SIYE, but I didn't want there to be any question of just how much I like this story, so here it is again.
I've just picked up this story for the first time (hence my first review), but I must say it's really enjoyable. I love how you found a way to write Post-HBP, AU, and Super!Harry all at the same time in a plausible way. Especially since you kept Super!Harry from becoming some sort of talisman for everything going right in the world. I find myself vested in the outcome (some things must work out or There Will Be Fire), which is a rare and wonderful feeling.
There are a very few tiny technical errors, but in fandom that's practically the holy grail, so I'm not picking.
My only concern is that sometimes the characters, other than Harry, seem to think and act more like 15+ year olds than 11-12 year olds. At the same time, I can come up with a list of plausible excuses for this, so I guess I'm mostly interested in seeing how it continues and if it's explained any more.
Finally, I am THRILLED that you've got a really great 200k+ word story and you've not even finished with second year. That's a wonderful sign.
On an added note, I like having this story on both FFA and SIYE, as it gives me some reassurances about things that are important to me in HP. There May Not Be Fire on that point. If that's not clear enough, then enjoy the mystery. =)
Tammy S posted a comment on Wednesday 3rd May 2006 3:56pm for Miserable Uncertainties
Excellent chapter! I can't wait for the next. I actually went back and read the whole thing again from the start. You are a fanfic master!!!
Alorkin posted a comment on Wednesday 3rd May 2006 9:41am for Miserable Uncertainties
This is an excellent story. When I find a new story, I usually try to read whatever already exists before adding my two Knuts. I figure it's only fair to see where the author is going before I comment.
OK, That said, I have read four or five 'Harry goes back' stories. They provide a welcome change to a number of over-familiar genre's. Rather like a palate cleanser between courses.
You have a really interesting set-up here. Harry's losing everything in the final battle (and it's lead-up) leads to his life and death decision. I read one like this, which unfortunately seems to have been abandoned, called: 'Averto Vicis' There's also a funny one called 'Lets do the time warp again'. (after all, it's just a jump to the left...) 'The other side of the mirror' is also excellent.
Your attention to detail is remarkable. You've carefully worked out all the wrinkles to date, and based on your previous chapters, I don't see that changing anytime soon.
It's nice to read about a Ron who isn't a jealous ass, a Hermione who is more human than a study machine, and a Ginny who isn't a two dimensional paper doll.
You've also included some rather interesting insights about the two least mentioned people in the series. Neville and Luna. Their introduction in the original series makes absolutely no sense. Here, Neville is a human being, not a human punching bag, and Luna's peculiarities are well explained. I honestly cannot imagine why Rowling introduced her in the first place. In JKR's stories, she served no purpose at all. Go figger.
Some of your people are pretty much standard. Snape is a bastard, Draco is a Death Eater in training. Molly is overprotective, and Percy is a prat. A surprise here is the charater of Arthur Weasley. In the stories, he's almost as much a non-entity as Neville. You've made him a real, thinking, feeling person. Well done!
Your portrayal of Bill, Charlie and the twins is pretty much what I'd expect, but I'm glad you're making the work harder. I really hope they scrape by with more than three OWL's each this time.
You also did a fine job on Sirius Black. The ministry (read Lucius Malfoy) interference guarantees a great future chapter or three!
Harry's manipulations of dear Rita are very Slytherinish. I don't like that pestanyway. it's good that some use can found rot her. Harry's revenge against his 'family' also played out well, although I would have had him buy the note on #4, and have the Dursley's pay the mortgage to HIM. That would have been sweet. Goldfarb seems a likable enough chap.
I am usually a Harry/Hermione shipper, as I feel it's the most logical pairing, given thethat they both grew up inthe same environamnt, and have both had to endure the same kind of bigotry, however, I really enjoy stories about our intrepid hero and whatever lady he finds...IF they are well written. This one is. There is so much not included in Rowlings books. I think that's why so many people are so disappointed with the-book-that-must-not-be-named. Characters changed overnight from one personality to another.
Harry is getting in deeply, here, and athough he seems able to take care fo himself well enough, as you pointed out, he's been getting sloppy. This latest cliffy only tends to reinforce that idea. I'm betting the assailant is eithe Snape, Draco, or your mystery person. More likely not, as he(?) would need to maintain his(?) secrecy for the time being. I figure it cannot be Dumbles, because Harry fell backwards on the stairs. Dd would not allow him to be injured like so. Draco would revell in it and Snape would use it to allow him easy access to Harry's mind. I really hope something nasty happens to whoever done it!
I will anxiously await the next installment. Alorkin
Graup posted a comment on Wednesday 3rd May 2006 5:34am for Miserable Uncertainties
Enjoyed the new chapter.
I enjoyed the Quidditch match, and the cliff hanger.
Thanks for sharing your story.
Asad posted a comment on Wednesday 3rd May 2006 2:48am for Miserable Uncertainties
Ooooh! Evil cliffy!
Good work as Harry begins to realize how relationships might change in this alternative world.
Dunno why, but this chapter seemed very short to me.
Eagerly awaiting the next chapter!
Katherine posted a comment on Wednesday 3rd May 2006 12:45am for Miserable Uncertainties
I loved Arthur’s thoughts in the beginning of this chapter. The idea of if someone had told me a year ago..... made me laugh. Is Ginny acting like she is cause she wants to go with Harry to the Valentine's dance? Or for some totally other reason? I too think that Harry needs to give his friends a little credit. I very much doubt his friends are going to abandon him once they find out what Harry's been keeping from them. Will Draco try to get the diary back? Will he get it back? Will he get any info out of Harry? Hope to find out what will happen soon. Will Harry be able to save Dobby this year? Or can Harry manipulate Dumbledore into summoning Mr. Malfoy to Hogwarts. And this time around can Harry take Dobby into his employ? And maybe Winky later on before she falls into depression.
MarinePotterfan posted a comment on Tuesday 2nd May 2006 11:42pm for Miserable Uncertainties
Ahhh! a cliffy, now I need an update. What a story. I love the whole Harry/Ginny conflict that Harry has. He wants to be with her but is holding back because he wants her to like him for him and not because of what he knows about the future. I think that his friends are ready to here the whole thing and I can't wait for the chapter that it is in. I wonder who attacked him. He knows the voice, but who was it. And I think that Draco came back also but not to his body like Harry did. It will be great to see how you have this all come out in future chapters.
Keep up the great writing.
MPF
Zarz posted a comment on Tuesday 2nd May 2006 10:04am for Miserable Uncertainties
I love this story! I am inclined to think that Harry's friends will all forgive him when they find out what is going on, but I still can't wait to see that scene, however it turns out. Keep up the good work - I can't wait to see another update of this! (Who did attack him, and will he be able to get out of it before much damage is done? At least, for Harry, I'm sure he'd far prefer to be kidnapped, even tortured, himself, then there to be the possibility that that was happening / had happened to one of his friends.) I'm glad that Professor McGonagall seems to be understanding of the DA. That will likely help a lot. Also, it's interesting that Harry still broke a bone in this timeline, but things had already changed so much that Lockheart de-boning him never even came up. I think that's one of the best indications of how things have changed for the better. You are a really talented author, and if your novels are anywhere near as good as NFP, I suspect they'll be incredible loved!
Chris Steadman posted a comment on Monday 1st May 2006 8:27am for Miserable Uncertainties
While I like your sotry, I have a bit of a problem with your characterizations.
You seem to be confusing a bunch of 11 and 12 year-old children with much older teenage adolescents.
While writing your story in such a way as to make them more mature is fine, it's quite another thing to ascribe things like romantic affection, deep forethought, and calm rationale to kids this age.
If it were just Harry, that would work. It fits this verion of his character. But applying these kinds of too-mature attributes to the other characters the way you do... It just doesn't jive. It gets kinda creepy, too.
You make them seem *too* adult, far beyond what's believable for a story such as yours.
Viridian replied:
Here's a couple of things to keep in mind:
First, Wizarding culture seems to hold a fairly medieval attitude toward the aging process. Children are given access to deadly weapons at age 11 (wands). It also seems that they mature a bit faster than usual. James and Lily were fairly well off (James' parents were wealthy, and the Evans' seemed to be at least Middle class), which usually mitigates against marrying at a young age. Yet, they married immediately after graduating, at age 17, and no one seems to think this is unusual. (And no, they didn't 'have to'. Harry was born more than 9 months later.) These facts suggest that children in the English Wizarding World seem to be expected to mature a bit sooner than in western Muggle culture. They also deal with some heavy social issues for a bunch of young teenagers (by our standards).
Secondly, Harry is having a more profound effect on his peers than he realizes. (He's a little surprised when Ron doesn't act like a prat.) When you integrate a group of mixed-age children, one of two things typically happens. The older children regress to the behavioral standards of the younger cohort, or they hold firm and, in effect, raise the bar of acceptable behavior for their peers. This really works (I went to grad school in developmental psychology) and is the theoretical basis for Mainstreaming special education classes.
Notice that Ron and company didn't change much at first, but the more they hung around Harry, the more it began to affect them.
One of the aims of Arthur's retrospective was to underline the changes in Ron. He acts differently than in canon because "he doesn't want to let Harry down". Harry needs him more as a friend, confidant, and protector this time around, not someone to skive off doing homework with. Add to that Harry being a lot more open about the less than stellar aspects of his life, and you get a Weasley acting very mature.
Neville was raised by his aunt, with no children his own age around. Once he gets over his hesitancy and confidence issues, he's going to act like how Augusta raised him to be. Harry's demeanor just reinforces that.
Hermione is less bossy because no one is challenging her regarding the importance of their school work. (Harry regards it as just one more means of preparation, after all.) She also has a wider circle of friends, which is probably helping her confidence issues. Her issues, plus Ron's immaturity, were the barriers that set them to bickering instead of getting along. Not that Harry isn't above a little subtle influencing (like with the thank you gift), paying a debt to their future counterparts who regretted all the time they waster fighting.
You've watched Ginny being built up by Harry's letters and emotional support and overall confidence-boosting. In canon, she feared never being taken seriously by anyone (that's according to Riddle in CoS)... in NFP, the boy she idolized just a little bit from the stories respects her, is friendly towards her, and treats her almost like an adult. What's not to like about that? And so she embraces that role and runs with it. Once she started, she also began getting positive feedback from her family as well, which will only reinforce it.
As for Luna... who knows why the hell she does anything anyway! =)
Patches posted a comment on Sunday 18th November 2012 5:10pm for Miserable Uncertainties