Vrzepka posted a comment on Thursday 14th February 2019 3:56pm for Worst Birthday Ever

Tough to read scaffold abuse

Torrey posted a comment on Tuesday 28th April 2015 5:21pm for Worst Birthday Ever

I've heard many times about how this is supposed to be such a great story.

I tend to like time travel stories, I even like Doctor Who (even though time travel is just the back-drop for those stories, and not the subject of the stories themselves), even HP time travel stories.

I just can't stand seeing Harry take that kind of abuse WILLINGLY. Especially when he knows he has other options, and has the ability to do something about it.

I thought I could read this story all the way through, even after the earlier bits of abuse, but with this chapter, I just can't stomach it any more.

WhiteElfElder posted a comment on Monday 2nd March 2015 6:51pm for Worst Birthday Ever

This is sounding a lot like Snape made a visit and left commands in the Dursleys to make them more vicious...especially that remark about "bloody James Potter".

Cassandra30 posted a comment on Wednesday 10th August 2011 5:50am for Worst Birthday Ever

But Hedwig is vulnerable! Ack!

mantis posted a comment on Sunday 12th April 2009 7:40am for Worst Birthday Ever

I absolutely LOVED this line: "'Harry Potter is always in danger at Hogwarts. Harry Potter is in mortal danger everywhere he bloody goes,' Harry growled." So true! And more true of Privet Drive in this timeline than ever before, between Malfoy's idea of an amusing birthday present (at least, I assume it was Malfoy, per or fils) and Uncle Vernon heading round the bend.

Also, unlike some of your reviewers, I thought Harry's miscalculation of the seriousness of Vernon's intent, and inability to do anything to stop it by the time he did realize how bad it was going to be, rang very true. None of his past experience with Vernon indicated that such an assault was in the offing, and no martial artist, no matter how well trained, is going to be able to defend himself effectively when he already has some broken bones and nerve damage, especially against an opponent who outmasses him four or five to one. Harry isn't a black belt at this point, anyway -- mastery of a martial art, like playing an instrument, is largely neuromuscular training rather than abstract knowledge, and Harry couldn't bring that training back in time with him.

dimriver posted a comment on Sunday 26th October 2008 12:54am for Worst Birthday Ever

He has already seen he Uncle becoming abusive, it would have been reasonable for him to anticipate this, but it's also reasonable for him to expect things to go like they did before. Great story.

TxA_GunFighter posted a comment on Friday 23rd November 2007 8:10pm for Worst Birthday Ever

Bummer, it is time for some payback.

gunny

Aaran St Vines posted a comment on Monday 30th October 2006 4:15am for Worst Birthday Ever

This was well written. Canon does leave open the possibility of Vernon assaulting Harry. After all, he did send Harry to the cupboard for a week without food.

It just rips out my guts when such things happen to children.

Sad work, well done.

M. R. Moore posted a comment on Wednesday 16th August 2006 3:21am for Worst Birthday Ever

Isn't there an old saying about fate being a bitch and having puppies or some such thing?

Rocky235 posted a comment on Friday 31st March 2006 1:30pm for Worst Birthday Ever

Awful, Harry getting beat like that. I trust you to set Vernon straight later though. Sheesh, I was pretty relaxed before this chapter.

Christina C. Keimig posted a comment on Sunday 19th March 2006 5:58pm for Worst Birthday Ever

Oh, my God! I'm glad canon never has that bastard actually beat the crap out of Harry. Then again, it's not like it wasn't implied, right?
Very hard to take, that.