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Complete Time Heals All Wounds by brightsilverkitty - M

Discussion in 'Almost Recommended' started by Karinta, Sep 27, 2015.

  1. Karinta

    Karinta Sent Back to India

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    Title: Time Heals All Wounds
    Author: brightsilverkitty
    Rating: 4.5/5
    Genre: Angst/Romance
    Status: Complete
    Library Category: Romance
    Pairing: Hermione/Bellatrix
    Summary: Are Murderers born? Or are they made? When Hermione is sent to the past she is forced to become acquainted with someone she knew she'd hate for the rest of her life. Rated M for later chapters.
    Link: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/7410369/1/Time-Heals-All-Wounds

    This is an excellent example of how weird and unworkable-in-canon pairings should be written. Basically, Hermione is sent to the past during her sixth year, to (guess what) Bellatrix (then-Black)'s sixth year, and stuff happens.

    But it is the way it which stuff happens that makes this excellent. At first, the two avoid each other (Hermione due to the knowledge that Bellatrix will be an insane murderer in the future, Bellatrix due to the fact that she's been brought up to believe that she's better than everyone else, and has massive anger issues). But then they do become friends - sneaking out at night to get a book from Hogsmeade, becoming the two best witches in the class, and generally having loads of intellectual fun. Then it turns to romance, and at first it's a bit awkward, but then they settle in.

    Conflict then develops due to the fact that Hermione is both Muggleborn (Bella's family can't know about her) and From The Future, and there's a guy called Lord Voldemort who wants to recruit Bella for his eevul plans. Also, a lot of the genesis of Bellatrix's later "insanity" in canon is explained as severe depression and schizophrenia, later manifesting as psychosis and sadistic tendencies (egged along by Voldemort, of course).

    Hermione does eventually wind up getting thrown back to her time (without any time having actually passed), and DeathEater!Bellatrix and Hermione try to rekindle the relationship, but it doesn't work due to the fact that Bella is now a changed woman, and has murdered and tortured and committed mass atrocities, and there's no way to deny it.


    Seriously, give it a whirl, and see what I'm talking about. The thing is amazing. The emotional writing is superb; you feel like you're in the character's minds (and perhaps their hearts as well).
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 27, 2015
  2. Ched

    Ched Da Trek Moderator DLP Supporter ⭐⭐

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    Huh, you know, this doesn't sound remotely like something I'd enjoy. But you sold it to me. I'll try it later tonight (once I stop constantly refreshing MoL because it's supposed to update today).
     
  3. Radmar

    Radmar Disappeared

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    I vaguely remember reading this one. It was intense read. Very emotionally draining. I spent entire week recovering from reading it. I suppose that means it's a good read. 4/5.
     
    Last edited: Sep 27, 2015
  4. sonny_yalin

    sonny_yalin Third Year

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    I've really enjoyed this so far. I think it's avoided a lot of pitfalls that some of these kinds of fics fall into. For instance, it seems like it has avoided a bad characterization of non-insane Bellatrix. If I didn't have to wake up early tomorrow, I'd definitely keep reading through the night. As it stands, I'll just have something to look forward to tomorrow. Thanks for the rec!
     
  5. newageofpower

    newageofpower Professor DLP Supporter

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    MoL?

    /10char
     
  6. Ched

    Ched Da Trek Moderator DLP Supporter ⭐⭐

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    Mother of Learning. Original fiction. Well worth a try, in my opinion.

    Story

    DLP thread
     
  7. newageofpower

    newageofpower Professor DLP Supporter

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    A-ah. I quite dislike Groundhog Day stories; probably due to watching Haruhi Suzimiya while younger.
     
  8. happyg

    happyg First Year

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    Makes you wish for a good beta and a Biercian edit to whittle it down to the good parts. Bellatrix is not well crafted, if common editing misses break your soul then you might not get into it.

    Otherwise kind of fun, a novel pairing with usual time travel nausea. If you are bored enough this is fun. Fairly weak on the whole.

    3/5 for the pairing/scissortastic fun.
     
  9. Ched

    Ched Da Trek Moderator DLP Supporter ⭐⭐

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    I tried. I couldn't get into it.

    I won't be rating, because frankly I didn't read enough of it.

    The prose itself is lacking. It feels wordy, and my eyes wanted to start skimming almost immediately. That in itself is not an insurmountable problem, however.

    But I'm not into Angst/Romance stories. I'm not into Bellatrix. I'm only into Hermione sometimes, depending on how she's written.

    So while this story might have a good premise that is reasonably well executed in terms of plot and/or characterization, there's nothing to keep me personally reading. I skimmed up to Chapter 4 and gave it up.
     
  10. EvilOftenWins

    EvilOftenWins Squib

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    I managed to get about halfway before I lost interest. The concept is cool, and I enjoyed seeing a different side of Bellatrix. The story could definitely use some beta work, especially in the first few chapters.

    Overall I think it works as a decent timewaster. 3/5.
     
  11. The Iron Rose

    The Iron Rose Chief Warlock

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    Thoroughly mediocre, which is a shame because I adore well written femslash.

    But well written this is not. There's some interesting ideas, but the execution is lacking. 3/5.
     
  12. Darth V

    Darth V First Year DLP Supporter

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    Like the person above me said "Interesting ideias, but the execution is lacking". All in all it was an enjoyable read, although I don't think it's Library material. Guilty pleasure fic, IMHO.

    3/5
     
  13. Karinta

    Karinta Sent Back to India

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    I don't know where you guys get all this "mediocre writing" stuff. It's great writing, or at least it develops into that. It's definitely not book-grade, but it's not as average as you make it out to be.

    Also, what I quite like about this fic is the skilful handling of plot threads and tying a lot of them up in unexpected ways, and the masterful use of tension between characters.