I love this so far. Definitely one to watch out for and think about putting up in For Review if the next couple chapters are as good as the first two.

It reminds me of a Philip K Dick novel, or something. Really interesting start.

 

Apparently a reader had a similar concern and inquired via PM:

 

That's a relief. I was just about to send a PM asking the same question.

 

As of two chapters in, this is officially my favorite non-DLP fanfic currently being written. I guess I'm a sucker for mysteries, but I'm really, really liking this. It's so short, but I want moar.

Though the H/Hr interaction is setting off all kinds of warning bells in my head. Since Harry somehow remembered Sally-Anne, has he actually played any role in driving this story? It's early, but the signs of Hermione taking over the story have me concerned.

 

This story (Strange Disappearance of Sally Anne Perks) is gonna let most of us down - I give at least a 90% probability of that. It's yet another example of the fact that good authors don't have a monopoly on good ideas for fics.

The early signs are as follows:
1. Hermione's almost schizophrenic switch in viewpoints. She was contemptuously dismissive when Harry brought it up, yet came around when Harry brought up the "five boys and girls per house" thing. Never mind that that only works if you get exactly forty incoming students, and never mind that there are only three named girls in canon Gryffindor's class of '98 (though the author at least made sure to point out that there are five girls in Gryffindor - wherever that came from).

If it turns out that Hermione's actually in on the conspiracy, and is trying to lead Harry to something...well, I'll concede that I was wrong about that part of it. That would be awesome.

2. English is a second language for the author. Not his/her fault, but in this case it means that the prose has a wooden feel to it, and is ungainly to boot.

I hope to be wrong about this story - good ideas shouldn't go to waste.

 

I'd be amused if this started a trend of Sally-Anne fics. For those who think random Slytherins like Daphne and Tracey aren't obscure enough, you can ship with a Hufflepuff who might not even exist!

 

I should hope so because Daphne and Tracey are tired old slags by now. Everyone should just move on to the only good Slytherin girl of the bunch the wonderful Runcorn. :awesome

 

So, this might be pretty controversial, because... well, take a look:

Title: Forbidden: A Tale of Four Friends
Author: Hecateslover
Rating: M
Status: Words: 35k, Chapters: 2, 5 days old.
Summary: A sort of different Harry Potter is sorted into Ravenclaw in his first year. Sticks to canon very loosely. Goes through first year and beyond. SLASH, HET, FEMSLASH, HPDM, HPNL, HPLL, and other pairings. Will be updated weekly. MATURE readers only please!
Link: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6243985/1/Forbidden_A_Tale_of_Four_Friends

As you can see, we have the promise of slash in the future. Three things made me click the story:

1. I'm a sucker for Ravenclaw Harry.

2. Harry is also going to end up with Luna at some point. Bi-Harry isn't quite so bad as slash.

3. It's got really long chapters, 35k words, in 5 days.

I ended up enjoying this fic a lot. In the 2 chapters posted, we've already finished first year. The characterisations are good. The magic is interesting and original. The music stuff, while a bit homo, is interesting too. Downside is the slightly perfect Malfoy family, as is common in these fics, but it's not too bad. Malfoy still thinks Muggles and Muggleborns are there to be shat on (but keeps his mouth shut around Harry); Malfoy Sr. still thinks of Harry's value in terms of turning him over to Voldemort.

If it keeps up like this, I probably won't object too much to the HP/DM slash, if it's done well. Though I'll still probably skim over any intimate contact.

Here's the review I left (spoilers):

Spoiler

Very interesting story.

I was hesitant to read because I don't normally (read: ever) read slash, but the HP/LL pairing brought me in, and I don't regret it. Harry's friendship with Malfoy is interesting. I like that you haven't made Malfoy and his family instantly "Muggle lovers" and friends of all things good and kind - decades of prejudice, ingrained by war, don't go away overnight. In fact, I should imagine that'll be one of the main themes of the overall story.

All in all I think your characterisation is done pretty well. I'm especially pleased that you didn't go over the top with the conflict between Dumbledore and Harry. I think it was resolved pretty well. I can't stand fics where you have Dumbledore scheming in his office well beyond the point where he has clearly lost the moral victory. Your Dumbledore argued his ground, but clearly knew when to concede. This is good. Dumbledore, when done well, is one of my favourite characters.

Harry is definitely fun to read. I like the intellectual edge you've given him while still retaining a few of his general characteristics (e.g. good at duelling and flying, strong moral core). You do make him a bit effeminate though. Slapping, for example.

I liked the "Harry bullied by fellow Ravenclaws subplot". Added an extra dimension of interest.

Love the long chapters.

Flitwick is good. I hope you cover some of his and Harry's summer in more than just a passing mention.

The downsides to the story I think are probably evident to yourself. The pacing is very fast, and in many ways feels like we're in a prologue. The interesting character interactions and coverage of magic comes at the cost of the main plot (e.g. the Voldemort stuff), which came tagged on at the end, pretty much as an afterthought.

Now, for this stage of the fic this is easy to overlook. After all, who wants to read yet another Philosopher's Stone re-do? However, as the story advances and diverges more from canon, I hope you'll slow the pace down and focus on the Voldemort/war plot as well as your characterisation. If you don't, the story will possess a certain airy dream-like quality, as if it is occurring in some kind of fantasy land disconnected from the dark events of wizarding world.

But yes, interesting story, and I look forward to an update. The fic also deserves more reviews than it has. I shall recommend it so several of my fanfiction associates.

Edit: Having read the author's profile, I have but one thing to say: don't. It will kill you inside.

 

Do you have a link?

 

Pfft, links are for mortals.

Also, edited in.

Also, Just Friends was great. Should definitely go into the main DLP Library. Favourite quote:

I thought this was a really good Luna character moment too:

 

That is quite a big leap of faith you have taken by posting that in here. The guys profile read like every other slashshipper fangirls out there (The comment to not read it was well founded, but as with anything, tell someone to not do something and naturally everyone will do it). Favorite pairings include HP/SS, HP/slytherin male (Except crabbe and goyle. This guy has standards!) HP/NL, Harry/Harem (male or female) Harry/werewolf.

But at least the author says this, so it is not a surprise "I'm gay...or lesbian, if you want to call it that. I write femmeslash a little, and I'm sad that there isn't a lot of it on here that I like. I try to write it, but it never seems to turn out good enough."

yes it is, because it implies that Harry at one point in time has voluntarily had a relationship with a man. All the tit in the world can't erase the fact that Harry sucked a cock, took it up the ass, or dreamed of Draco and whipped cream.

As for the story itself, I can't comment. I haven't read it (yet?) I have no problem with dubious stories like this as long as they are not explicit, but it is very rare to find a slash story that is not explicit, and this one is rated M, so I don't hold out hope. Since it is recommended, it can't be completely terrible so I will at least attempt to read it.

 

Ha! My problem with the profile wasn't the pairings per se (I had, after all, already expected to find a liking of slash). No, the most worrying part was where she says she doesn't like Harry to be dominant. This doesn't really fit well with DLP tastes at all.

However, her Harry is shaping up pretty well in the fic, so I'm going to take the fic over the profile as a source of judgement.

Also, not going to reply to your other comment. Not liking slash is fine. Personal tastes are personal tastes, and I share your dislike of it. Still, I'm not sure if that much venom is really required.

As for the story, there's no romance there yet at all, so nothing to worry about as it is.

Also,

Not really. This story is exactly the kind this thread was created for: stories which you enjoyed for one reason or another, but have some characteristic which precludes you from recommending them for the Library.

 

To be honest, I have less of a problem with the slash than it being Draco Malfoy...

That said, it's a decent story, if not too remarkable.

 

Nice rec, Taure. I like this story, and I'm not bothered by the possibility of having to skip slashy sections in the future. The parts with Luna and Flitwick make up for that, along with the promise of more Fred & George involvement in the upcoming chapter.

I'm also happy that the pace of the story is fast, instead of going over 1st year in painstaking detail.

 

I also liked it quite a lot. One of the better ones of Harry being in Ravenclaw. I'm curious to see where it is
going .

Edit: Also read the one about Sally-Ann Perks. That one's nice too.

 

You noob. That's one of the first things I do when I start reading a fic of a dubious author.

Let's see:

My favorite Pairings: In all of these, Harry is a usually submissive, or equal. Almost never a top. It just feels odd to me.

Harry/Snape- come on, it's the student/teacher thing, and they do have a lot in common...

Harry/ any other slytherin sorted character- except for Crabbe and/or Goyle. Just...ew. Lucius and Tom Jr/ Voldemort are okay, sparingly.

Harry/Neville- The cuteness! The angst! And you just know Neville is a closet!top...

Harry/ Luna- Ditto, like above. These stories also tend to be hilarious. And Luna is hot- much cuter than the other girls in canon.

Harry/Hermoine- Very sparingly, and I mean it.

Harry/Multi- Harem stories are yummy, male or female.

Harry/Remus- very cute, but sparingly.

Harry/Fenrir- ditto.

​

And of course, there is a general warning:

Warnings: Most of my stories have BDSM and/or D/s content. If you don't like that, find another author. And if you don't know what that term is, or you are too young to know what that is, don't READ. I rate them M for a reason, people.​

Now you can throw darts at the screen to bet on the pairings that will show up, apart from HPDM HPNL HPLL...
And - no thanks - I pass.

 

I don't like that fic much, Taure. It's just not that remarkable. I don't mind the pairings, but there's nothing to attract me to the fic in the first place. Even if it was het only, it wouldn't belong in the DLP library(in my newb opinion).
Decent writing, but a few grammar/spelling erorrs.

All in all, pretty lack-luster story.

 

Ugh, nothing worse than people who have admiration for Pre-Raphelite painting. I mean their whole purpose in life was going against a painter who had about 10x their talent and reputation, and the rest of her profile lends more evidence to this. It has also completely scared me off the story, I don't hate slash, well at least not as a secondary pairing, but BDSM plus slash is just a deal breaker.

 

I got a review reply, which included this:

I really hope that doesn't mean transvestite!Harry.

 

I left a review as well, I told her to make her story totally awesome it'd be best to just drop the slash entirely. She replied with

"I'm afraid I can't drop any slash at this point, but I understand why you
would think that. There are many slash writers who think sex can override any
plot problems, grammatical errors, ect."

That gives me hope that it's not going to turn into porn later on.