The tools themselves aren't really the issue. It's the fact, that a wand can't be a spit and polish -job. The wand can't have any errors or the results could be deadly for the wielder and to those around when something goes wrong (just like with a broken wand).

The length of the wand also seems to have some effect on how the wand performs and what sort of spellwork it is best suited for.

Harry was able to grab Fawkes' tail feathers, because the Phoenix let him do it. Do you honestly think, that if a Phoenix doesn't want to donate it's feathers that a Wizard can just simply grab some? Fawkes actually fought the Basilisk, so a Phoenix can be quite dangerous. And I might be wrong or am remembering something from a fanfic, but didn't Ollivander say during the wand weighting -ceremony, that the Unicorn, whose hair was in Cedric's wand almost killed him, because he plucked some hairs from it?

So gathering wandcores might not exactly be a risk free -operation. I mean a Dragon obviously has to be dead if you want to collect Heartstrings from it, but for the others, it's not a requirement. Like I said before, plucking a hair from an unco-operative Veela might not be the smartest thing to do.

This one, I do agree with somewhat. I personally think, that there is at least some magic cast on a wand to make it more durable, because the wands are quite thin, at anyone who has done woodworking knows, that thin wood will break rather easily. Considering how long most wands last, there has to be something a little more to them, than it seems.

As for the length of time needed for each wand. I believe that a simple wand might not take long, but if you add to it some handcarved ornaments, that will actually take some time. If you've ever done woodworking, it takes a lot of planning and a very slow execution. Rushing things will only cause you to make mistakes and ruin the piece.

 

I mean, Rin's basically spot on here. It boils down to something as simple as this: Wizards use magic for everything. Why would they all of a sudden stop when it comes to making wands?

 

Eh, I don't give a rat's ass either way. When it comes down to it, it is what you make it. A talented author can take a shitty concept and turn it into art. Conversely, a shitty author can take a unique and potentially awesome premise - and turn it into a cure for insomnia.

It is what you make it.

 

My point addressed . . .

. . . which, to me, makes it sound like these things are veritably radioactive.

Harry grabbed hold of Fawkes's tail feathers with no ill effects. I see no reason that once donated by the phoenix (which canon says Fawkes did), the tail feathers would be any more (or less) dangerous to handle than they were when they were still attached to the phoenix; i.e., the feathers didn't suddenly become the magical version of radioactive.

If I misinterpreted minhoto's point, then I apologize.

As for the unicorn . . . I'd gore you too, if you plucked a hair from my ass.

 

Severus Snape. It annoys the crap out of me when he has more than a minor role in a fanfic. He's an interesting and complex character but at the same time, he's written as such an unrepentent arsehole it makes me want to punch him in the face.

The only time I've found him tolerable is in Rewriting the Song where he's a teenager and deliberately trying to improve himself.

 

Very true, Knight. I just wish people would leave him alone if they aren't sure they can write him well. I don't use him more than necessary as I don't feel I can write him particularly well myself.

This has probably already been mentioned, but 'Arthur Weasley is Minister' makes me want to cry. Why on earth would he be picked over someone like Amelia Bones, Kingsley Shacklebolt, or even Amos Diggory if there weren't many alternatives. But Weasley? I doubt it.

 

Well, to be fair, Amelia Bones is dead, and Arthur is generally well-liked, which is enough in some cases. What gripes me the most is when Fudge (and Umbridge) get to keep their positions, even though everyone hates them, and they could easily remove them. The excuse is the over used cliche 'The devil you know is better than the devil you don't'.

 

I don't understand why authors don't introduce a new character as Minister very often. There must be a significant number of senior ministry figures we haven't heard of, and on top of that, as I understand it, non Ministry people can become Minister (based on Dumbledore being asked to become Minister, though it is still conjecture). Bring in someone new, someone interesting, someone who can shake things up a bit.

 

Yes, there's actually plenty of Ministry Departments where a Head hasn't been mentioned (Magical Creatures, Mysteries, Magical Transportation, etc.) and as Mordecai said, there would be many other suitable individuals available.

LordAnarchy, while that point is very valid in stories that are canon compliant, Madam Bones wouldn't necessarily be dead in an AU. I personally quite like Arthur, but his pro-Muggle leanings would hold him back, I think. Yeah, I get what you mean about Fudge/Umbridge. What I dislike is when Fudge wakes up one morning and he suddenly isn't Minister. The author should always establish what actually happened (I generally enjoy Wizengamot scenes)

 

Remus as Minister bugs me, though I've only seen it once. Even ignoring the werewolf discrimination, I find it difficult to see the public voting for someone who's essentially out of commision for 2-3 days every month.

 

BUT they could put out a sign: 'All complaints are handled on fullmoon!'
:awesome:awesome:awesome:awesome

 

And that's why I'll never vote for a woman.

 

Petpeeve: Opening a story with Harry moping in his room feeling miserable and guilty over Sirius' death. And then crying. Oh, the crying.:facepalm

 

Prescient house-elves who create moments of awkwardness when they refer to an as-yet-inexistent relationship between two characters whose only roadblock to twu wub is another five chapters of angst. Bonus points if the elves, their perpetual bondage rendering them without the wherewithal to invest in Hooked on Phonics, preciously mangle one of these character's names.

What a clever and original joke. Five stars.

 

Another pet peeve I have are stories where X and Y read the Harry Potter -books. It's not the actual idea that I hate, but every one of those stories has been poorly written no matter what the basis of the the story is. I'm just going to list the typical issues I have with them.

Generation X reads: There are three different generations usually involved with these books. The Marauders era/first war -characters, Harry's era -characters and the next generation aka the children of Harry & others.

Personally the last one is absolutely pointless, as the children would already know about the war as it would be in history books and their parents would tell them. The Marauders -era readings are also often pointless as the authors seem to be in the mindset, that the characters shouldn't remember anything as apparently things worked out "perfectly". I just have to wonder, what is going on in the authors' heads? Because to me, that just seems like pointless mental torture, where you have to watch your friends and children suffer and die.

The only era, that is even half important is Harry's Era, but that too gets bungled up by poor writing.

Repetition: Almost every single story of this kind that I have skimmed through seems to repeat the same things: Similar discussions after every few sentences, similar jokes, out-of-character reactions etc.

People read, who really have no need to be there: For example Draco and Narcissa being present in the readings. I don't care what others say, both of them are evil, but cowards and that does not change, not even in the "epilogue".They do not deserve pity, just a painful death or a life-in-prison.

Out-Of-Character or Ridiculous Reactions: aka people screaming about Harry sleeping in a cupboard or people dying (like Lily and James), only to start joking after the next sentence or paragraph from the books is read.

Likewise for HBP, people would scream when Harry uses the Sectumsempra and then spend ages berating him for using it, instead of seeing that it was totally justified (Draco confirmed that he was working for the Dark Lord and tried to use the Cruciatus -curse on Harry. Truth be told I would have been much happier if Harry had used the Reductor -curse to finish the git off, it would have been much better). I checked several of the reading book 6 -stories and this was the exact same reaction every damn time.

There are dozens of other cliches that are used such as: abused! or pussy!harry, poorly done Mentor!Snape, Slimy slytherins, replacing real life curses with Merlin's Pants and everything you can imagine.

As said before the idea of HP -characters reading the books does have some merit as story idea, but only if it is a parody. The reading & character comments does not work as a serious story. Personally it would be a great way to do a parody about Umbridge and Fudge trying to discredit Harry (Of course it would only work, if the two didn't have the chance to read the books first by themselves). Unfortunately there have been a few attempts at that, but each of them has failed rather soundly.

 

"Mistress Grangey, sir!" :facepalm

 

In quite a few fics I've read in the past few weeks, the author uses "tick" instead of "tic", as in a verbal tic. Usually I don't bother with minor errors like this if the grammar and plot is good overall, but for some reason it just bugs me.


tick = a small arachnid that can carry quite a few nasty diseases.

tic = "a sudden, repetitive, nonrhythmic, stereotyped motor movement or vocalization involving discrete muscle groups" (wiki definition)

 

Using rhetoric to question Harry's romantic interest in other character. "She was just a friend...wasn't she?"

Ugh.

 

Flashbacks, especially ones that happened a few minutes ago in the story. For example

As Harry walked out the Headmaster's office, he thought about his meeting with Dumbledore.

~*~*~*^~^~*~ FLASHBACK ~*^~*~**~^~*^~^~*

"Harry, my boy! So glad you could make it, " said Dumbledore...

~~*^~*~^^~^~ END FLASHBACK ~~*^~*^~**^~^

 

To expand on that: flashbacks within the first chapter, especially within the first few paragraphs. I'd rather they just start with the scene in question and then do a time-skip.