Quoted for truth. Yes, they are both generally reserved people - but there was a degree of closeness there. Just look at the end of the dance, and how pissed Harry was at Daphne's interruption.

Seemed fine to me.

 

I want to agree with Cheddar here. I personally liked the relationship between Harry and Calypso were instead of sexual tension, they started as friends and instead move towards a more sexualized relationship. I don't think it really fits with Harry's character to suddenly have him with this huge sexual tension, especially with his occlumency and negative experiences/attitudes towards not being in total logical control.

 

300 pages? Isn't a new thread needed?

EDIT by Minion: No. It would clutter the Library with too many threads no one needs.

 

I'm going to agree with everyone who thinks that the romance is moving along at an acceptable clip. It's not a romance story, people. And not every guy's all "ZOMG TITS!" at the age of fourteen. Some people are just naturally a bit more reserved. On one hand, we have Harry, who, as Cyclops explained, has so amazingly come into his own with everything that happened to him all the way from Ravenclaw to Ivan; on the other we have Calypso, who's the daughter of Romulus Rosier, who's had a marriage contract hanging over her head since goodness knows when, and as Odran said, who it seems will have difficulty conceiving. Can you imagine these two people opening up physically to each other so early? I think that the Yule Ball will lead to them bonding a bit, the Skeeter article will cause havoc, and it might bring them even closer. This is a point where the romance can take off from. Santi's handling it brilliantly, as he has done the rest of this fic.

 

It's good to see this update finally. Overall, I like the pacing of the latest update, and you can tell that the passage of time between the last update and this one clearly was well worth it - the author's technical ability have improved and over all the prose and characterization felt like they were a lot smoother then in the past. My only real criticism, if it could be called that, is the occasionally gratuitous use of foreshadowing. Makes it come across as choppier then it should, the 'cliffhanger-esque' effect sorta hindering the flow of the rest of the story. But that could just be me.

 

Just finished a full reread. I had forgotten just how much I loved this story until now. But it's still great, and it doesn't look like Santi's lost a step over three years. I really hope we don't have to wait three more for another.

But as far as the romance, I haven't really had any problems with it. It is definitely a little chaste, but it's always possible for Harry to just be a late bloomer. But there's also something else going on I think.

I'm not sure if this has been discussed before, and I'm not reading 300 pages to check, but I'm pretty sure Calypso's going to die soon. I can't really point to any specific scene or part, but it would explain a lot. The consequences of that botched Entrail Expelling curse which hasn't been mentioned in a while. Her father dropping the marriage contract, and Calypso blowing him off (mostly). She knows she's going to die, so wants her last time to be happy and interference free. My guess on timing is Fifth year.

I really hope that made sense.

 

Eh, that comes across as a bit to much of a WAG to me. Short of getting hit with an unforgiveable, there is basically nothing that HP-magic can't seem to cure or take care of. I can see how you came to the conclusion you did, but I don't buy it. Feels too 'chevok's gun-y' to me.

Which on a technical level I don't believe it would be something that Santi would employ, given how much weaker it would be then his current level of writing has shown.

 

Actually, my opinion is that Calypso has been effectively rendered sterile (or is it barren?). The hints when her father said that the curse effectively ruptured internal organs, along with the fact that her father dropped the marriage contract (that sort of marriage focuses on producing an heir rather in addition to forming a relationship between two families).

The last part with Lady Shluga saying there's nothing that could be done now pretty much cements it for me. The conversation between Romulus and Calypso is pretty vague, but if you read it with the idea that Calypso is unable to bear children, it kind of supports the idea. Anyway, just my two cents.

*Edited to reply to the correct post

 

Yeah, that's what I thought happened because of all the references they make. Like how healing internal organs requires potions but it can obviously be done, and how Romulus talks about Calypso (iirc) being "broken" and how Harry might leave her for it.

 

Absolutly loved last chapter.

That said, it is interesting that while rereading the story a few times during the break I had never really thought what should happened after chapter 16. I mean I anticipated that Rita would write her article but I thought it would be from the next Dark Lord angle. Like how Durmstrang students are intimidated by Harry and Calypso. Always liked when an author gives opinions about a main character from outside. It's one thing how Harry appraise himself and we as readers think of Harry as a talented and very likeable character, a person that cares deeply about those close to him but what think other people. The people whom Harry repeatedly defeated in duals sometimes seriously hurting them. Especially after he and Calypso basically wiped out those nine of the best student of Durmstrang. Would be interesting to see that.

On the other hand I thought we would see some quotation from Rita's article that are written in Skitter-style but as I was thinking about it, it's good that we didn't see them. Those article are hard to write and thare are only two states they can have 1) they can be hilarious or 2) they are terrible but not anything between.

Some people commented about Harry/Calypso relationship. IMHO I hope they stay together like OTP. I find it strange that people think that any serious relationship can be dumbed down only to sexual attraction. While we know that Calypso is certainly attractive IMHO Harry likes her not (only) because of that. I think what he likes is her ability to challenge him and Harry likes challenges, he likes her competitive spirit. But a few people have already commented on that.

PS. Hope The Santi wouldn't take a break for another a few years to update.

 

So very happy that you finally updated. Pretty much given up hope a while back. I gotta ask, I don't suppose you would have Nathan have a one on one conversation with Calypso would you? I think it'd be a huge eye opener for Nathan you hear her unbiased opinion of him.

 

On the Calypso/Harry relationship front, the reason we don't see a lot is because I am primarily focused on other things during fourth year. I could have done more for the Yule ball, but, again, the plot purpose was not to show Harry and Calypso's evening but rather to get us to the Viktor/Kira drama. I will try to describe her better in the future Taure -- I have a description of all the characters in my outline, and I sometimes forget that I might not have provided all the details in the story itself.

You will get a deeper view into how Calypso and Harry are with each other in two chapters. However, it is in year 5 when Harry and Calypso's relationship will take center stage. This was planned from the beginning because 1. Viktor will have graduated (thereby enhancing the prominence of Calypso almost by default) and 2. The Triwizard just has too much ancillary stuff that needs to be flushed out.

Edit: Damn, I guess I just gave away that Harry and Calypso live to see year 5. Sorry, but no Rocks Fall quite yet. Though at least one person you don't suspect will be dying at the end of year 4.

 

I suppose it would be entirely too convenient for it to be Kira huh?

 

And to reveal that she's a Rosier to Rita. Has Harry actually called her by her full name like that before?

 

I would bet my bottom dollar on it being Nathan.

Anyways, I know I'm late, but good showing. Everything was excellent as usual. Like most others I thought I had reached some hallucinatory state upon seeing your story in my mailbox.

I feel that the Diggory's were a little too hostile, for me. Mild animosity, yes. But it nearly felt like the Weasely's going at the Malfoy's.

I liked the ward thing with Hermione. It was pleasant and humorous. Let me see....

I'll also cast my vote in with Harry and Calypso's relationship going at a very good pace at the moment. Harry is indeed a closed off individual, and would surprise me and seem out of character if he did anything to risque.

Other than your brilliant way of making me absolutely despise every antagonist that even appears for a short while (Daphne, Nott and Skeeter), I have nothing more to add. Top notch work.

 

Viktor apparently lives long enough to graduate, so likely not him. Fleur maybe? But she isn't important to the story at this point. Dunno, but I'm sure we're all eagerly anticipating the next chapter.

 

I really loved this chapter, particularly that moment when Harry and Calypso treat cursing Malfoy like it's a future charming outing for the couple. Nothing screams romance like bonding over sadism and mutual loathing toward a third party. I have a theory about who is going to die, but I don't want to spoil it in case I am right.

I do know someone needs to die to give HP that little push into madness. I don't think the Dark Arts immediately taints someone, they always seemed more subtle and that it's only later you realize how they have slowly effected his mental state with continued use of negative emotions. That combined with the pressures and traumas found in the coming war would be enough to turn him dark.

 

I personally hope that if calypso is sterile, then harry can help cure her, say by asking his friendly neighbourhood phoenix for some tears. I do love a happy ending.

I was just thinking about earth elementals and inferi, what could harry do to augement these magics if he had the Resurrection stone? IT would allow him to contact all sorts of wizards for detailed info about varius magics. Albus might have burned that book, but he and gellbert still remember it, and so their shades could yet share it's contents.

I just thought of an epic dark spell, an ice version of the fiend fyre spell, it uses the fiend fyre and aqua eructo spell as a basis, it litterally freezes everything it touch to absolute zero, including the air it touches. ice so cold it burns you to death. It might even harm dementors, turn them so cold they simply shatter. That might be a great project, it includes dark arts and charms.

So harry has access to the black library, to accompany his research. I remember one story, where harry used the dark arts to help him cook. He used the cutting and slicing, skining, and butchery spells to prepare the meat. and spells likea blodd boiler and bone burning to cook the meat. I wonder if he is making his own version of grimmoire book, that albus and gellbert created. It contains the dark arts he has studied, the mind magic, animagus, and other lore he has been exposed to. Magical lore he copied from magic texts he had limited access to.

Is harry important enough to nathan to be his hostage? I am thinking that if he has ron as a hostage, harry will feel deeply betrayed. He might understand hermione or a girl he liked, but never weasley being picked over him. If krum's hostage is hermione, then harry will annoy nathan saying he has missed his chance with her now.