Reviewer: risiepookie Signed
Date: 09/26/2007
Title: Chapter 19: Chapter Eighteen: "So Corrosive a Secret"
Alrighty, I'm back on it! ::is trying to be a better friend and UB!wifey:: As promised...
Liked the opening segment with Dumbledore and Snape. We've talked about this, but I'm so glad that Snape, in the end, was still an evil git. He just had a weak spot. It would have gone against everything I thought about him if he turned out to be good in the end. I think you're skirting that balance really well here:
“What risk, Headmaster?” Snape's voice was still coldly angry. “What possible hazard could be posed by Potter's ignorance? Who could it have harmed?”
The eyes Albus Dumbledore turned on his old friend were bleak, and very old. “I do not know, Severus.”
“Then how could you–”
“How could I have known that Harry's ignorance of the prophecy, of my fears about Voldemort's connection with him, would cost Sirius Black his life?”
Snape sat back away from the man who had shown him so much trust. “And yet, Black lives.”
However, it's this soft "Professor Black" that brings me right back to Dumbledore and the hidden depths.
More of the fabulous new!Trio!!! “There are all sorts of possibilities,” said Sirius, sitting back on his couch. Remus was at the far end, and Tonks was stretched out between them, her head in Lupin's lap, her feet on Black's."
Indeed, there are all sort of possibilities, both with the defensive/offensive strategies, as well as with the relationship for the new trio. I can't wait until you start to work on those outtakes. ::wink:: I loved the entire section with the six of them- the easy comfort apparent in both trios, the clear affection between all friends, etc. The openness is wonderful. I love how Hermione directly asks about their relationship and Tonks' reply is beautiful.
You know I could let this go by without commenting on it:
"Sirius lifted a brow, opened his mouth, and Hermione pointed sternly at him from her seat on one of the comfortable armchairs, Harry and Ron sitting cross-legged on the floor at her feet. “I'm warning you!”
“All right, all right!” surrendered Sirius, grinning widely at her. “I know better than to tempt terrible fate!”
Again, the Hermione/Sirius friendship is fantastic. I don't know what it is about their dynamic, but I just get it and I feel it. I've said before it's Sirius' adult humour, his ability to be both serious and silly, his somewhat-older-brother coolness, his snarkyness, his affectionate but sarcastic nature. I've also said it's a bit of Hermione's prissiness, her ability to pull off a dirty joke with a straight face, her ability to give as good as she gets, her openness to learning new things from Sirius. I'm not sure it it's any of that, but I know that I love the little nuggets you give us.
"Hermione's eyes widened. “Cloacina?” Her face snapped around as she looked into nowhere. “Cloacina... The cleanser... Surname of Venus...” She spun again to face Tonks. “You mean there's a spell? A spell just for vaginal cleanliness?”
Harry and Ron exchanged a wide-eyed glance, their mouths clamped desperately shut. Better to throw fruit at Death Eaters than laugh at this!"
This was so unbelievably in-character for Hermione! I can completely see her freaking out and obsessing about what else she might have missed, but was unaware of. And onto the bestt part of the chapter! My favourite lines:
“So I'm dropping my knickers and charming my cunt in front of two randy teenaged boys? Shall I give 'em knob-jobs while I'm at it?”
Ron battled the temptation to cry out an enthusiastic Oh, yes, please! 'cause he knew Tonks would get a chuckle, but Harry's desperate eyes sided with his common sense, so he held it in."
**OMG, I nearly died of laughter at this!
Expressions played across Tonks' face, and Ron thought it was time. “Oh, Godric's balls, Tonks! Not that! If it waits till we're back, it'll be Grubbly-Plank again! Don't make us watch Grubbly-Plank drop her knickers! Hasn't Harry suffered enough?”
Tonks smirked.
“We won't look,” said Harry, his voice soft and reassuring.
“Bugger that!” cried Ron. “I wanna see what colour she has it! I'm betting plaid!”
***some more huge snorts of laughter for that one. I can just imagine Ron about to burst if he doesn't say something and then he pops out with this! :o)
“See how that works?” asked Tonks' voice, casually.
“Yes...” Hermione's voice was very quiet. “Yes, I see that. Uh... Yes.”
Harry was sweating. Ron bit his lip. There was a rustle of fabric, Tonks muttering a sticking charm, then her voice, cheerful, but, with an odd note to it: “All right boys.”
***And so begins the part that had me fanning myself profusely and my face getting hot. ::is still blushing::
Hermione was silent a long time. “No,” she finally said. “It was her, too. That was so... It was really intimate, Ron.” Another silence. “She's... She's really very sexy.”
“She really is, isn't she,” said Harry"
**I'm totally with you here. I think Tonks has to be one of the sexiest characters in the books. She's got so much potential. So much spunk. she could fulfill any fantasy you could ever have, as far as being with different people. She's adventurous. Okay, gonna stop now.
"But, you know, don't you, love?”
“Know what?” Hermione breathed.
Ron leaned back again. “That we'd run across Tonks to get to you.” And Harry whispered harshly in her ear, “Fuck, yes!”
**That is some of the absolute sweetest sentiments in this entire chapter. It's the epitome of this trio. Hermione may not be perfect. She may not be the most fantastic lover or have amazing skills to change into a living fantasy, but it doesn't matter. They want her. Her. She doesn't need to be those things, because she's more than good enough to them. OMG, teh sex! It's so hot. I'm seriously dying over here!!! I think we're getting closer and closer to another big step for the trio. I can't wait to see when we progress in that direction, but this scene was fantastic. So incredibly sexy and moving and genuine and real and wonderful. The moment after with Tonk was sweet, just that little thank you and the rubbing of her knuckles. ::meep:: I'm very much looking forward to seeing how the "Obliviate" plays into the storyline. I believe you mentioned something to me, so I'm waiting to see how that pans out. Okies, now that my review is a couple pages long, I'll stop. But, I'll get to the next couple chapters ASAP. ::smooch:: Thanks, as always, for sharing with us! :o)
Author's Response: Yay! Doctor Pookie returns to reviewing me!
Thank you so much for the kind words on Dumbledore and Snape! I really liked that scene. I felt so bad for Albus, having to keep things that are so crucial from Severus.
I really liked this scene of the two trios just hanging out, enjoying one another. I liked the comparison of Lily to Hermione, and all of the back-and-forth about relationships. I'm glad you enjoyed that, too.
It's funny that the bit with Hermione and the cleaning spell came about through a series of accidents. I wanted Ron to give Hermione that kiss in the bathroom scene in chapter Sixteen, so I added the wet-wipe to avoid readers saying "Eeeew!" Then they said "Eeeew" to the wipe, so I had to make a point of getting rid of them! Has there ever been a male ficcer who paid this much attention to vaginal heigene?
I like Ron quashing his humour in the scene with Tonks, and also using it for a purpose, to steady nerves and get rid of tension.
So, so glad you found the love scene that followed hot! I must confess, so did I as I wrote it, and you're right: that milestone is approaching.
The coda with the older trio meant a lot to me, especially the connection there between Hermione and Tonks, making everything all right.
Thanks for coming back to review!
When Hermione uses ancient magic to save Harry and Ron, the trio's lives are changed - forever! 