Just read through this the other day. It wasn't so terrible that it made me x out. At the same time it wasn't enough for me to think it's library worthy. I like the idea and the execution, while sloppy at times, is still decent. 2.5/5 for me

 

Not terrible, started dragging by chapter 7 though. it's like the author decided that harry and his OC allies were going to be the only one's with anything approaching common sense. But then that's pretty common in INDY!Harry stories, so is Manipulative!Theif!Dumbledore for that matter.

Edit: 2.5-3 /5 Started out decent, but in my opinion a plot device that works for maybe 1-3 chapters was forced to become the plot it's self.

Edit2: I'm truly starting to believe this story is a crackfic. I see the word 'Mollywobbles' and I throw up a little.

 

The storyline, while interesting is more of a "best scenario" type, which I rarely enjoy as it has no real claws to grab the imagination. With out a little bit of conflict, or at least some good old fashioned grit, this fic is just another long-winded one that will be forgotten as soon as it's abandoned or the author finishes it.

Rating 3/5 for now

 

Alright. New chapter.

WHAT THE FUCK?!

A magical contract that could result in the entire magical population of Britain losing their magic? This contract/magical vow bullshit has gone too far.

Also, the newspaper "article" is really mediocre. The author always follows this dumb formula: "I overheard Potter say something, so I looked it up in the library/gringotts archive/ministry archive and...wait for it...OMG POTTER WAS RIGHT! Can this really be true?! more dumb rhetorical "smart"-sounding questions"

 

No, that one didn't even sound smart. that was a 'Hah hah I can't believe you morons don't realize I'm tea-bagging you yet' Type of article.

'Harry' (And by harry I mean the author) is getting to full of himself and his 'witty' commentary. Another disappointment... I don't think I can even call this one 'Guilty pleasure' so much as 'Train wreck' now...

 

Yeah...I'm downgrading this from a 3/5 to a 2/5. This last chapter just made me realize how bad the story actually is. It really doesn't even deserve to be in the Recycling Bin. The articles are always the same uninspired crap, and the rest of the plot is pretty weak. I'll follow the updates just to see what ends up happening, but I seriously doubt that the quality is going to improve.

 

I've pretty much got the same feeling. When I read through it all at once, I thought it was a reasonable, fun fic. Not great, definitely not great, but not bad. This last update was the worst chapter in the story, and it really showcased all its flaws at the same time.

2.5, rated as 2. I'd have rounded up if it wasn't for this chapter, and the likelihood of the remainder of the fic being just as bad.

 

I'd like to formally apologize for my transgressions.

As of where the story is with the newest chapter, I'm starting to regret even suggesting it. The writing quality is still good, but the plot just took a major nose dive.

 

Chapter 24 update:

So now Sirius randomly cares about Harry again. This is confusing.

Also, Dumbledore is utterly one-dimensional here. A clichéd manipulative Dumbledore is boring.

 

Personally I grew bored with the plot early on. The premise was at first interesting, but it soon became bogged down by several cliché. I suppose if this was written at an earlier time it may have been novel, but this is lacking in originality.

The characterization was rather displaced and random. The characters are too dynamic and yet predictable. The situations the characters react to have been done much better by other authors in the library individually. Quantity is not quality. I would have preferred that the author would have spent more time fleshing out the characters and the various plot devices used.

Grammatically this story needs work. A few typos can be forgiven, but the blatant and constant mistakes grate the nerves.

Harry as a reporter was somewhat unique, but his articles were too self-centered, and too many people enjoyed them for no discernible reason. We got to read them ourselves, and I can't see the wizards who lack an ounce of logic even attempting to understand his points.

I will not get into the Goblins... Their relationship is questionable with this Harry as it is.

Japan... All I know about the Actual Harry Potter version of Japan is that they have a national Quidditch team. I'm assuming they are not much different than the rest of JK's Universe. I'm all for sticking it to JK's work, but at least leave it reasonable...

Overall this work has been like nails on a chalkboard. There was potential in the initial idea, but it was squandered early and often with too many asinine plot devices, unstable characterizations, and an incredibly slow story that appears to be mostly filler.

 

This was lame for a wide variety of reasons. It's rushed, no character is really developed, there's precious little magic actually involved at all. It started out being merely dull and has quickly slid into the realm of 'who cares as long as I don't have to read it anymore'. The only thing that saves it is moderately readable prose. 1.5/5

 

Fail.

Fail.Fail.Fail.Fail.Fail.

This is beyond terrible. I deeply wish that there was a rating below 1 that I could give. It's worse than anything else I quoted.

It was a 1/5 before this chapter, I don't know what it is now. >_<

 

I may as well hop on the bandwagon.

The authors are exhibiting some ridiculous loops of logic as they discuss the contract between the British royalty and the wizards. Additionally - the characterization just plain drags. I still don't quite get how Sirius went from a self-centered man-whore to suddenly showing care for Harry's life.

2/5. I'm being generous.

 

Too bland and cliche filled, only the writing was fairly good. Why does everyone these days write Dumbledore as some manipulative bastard, hes just an eccentric old man who has bad memory and judgment skills, and for his age it's not surprising.

Also Japan being supposedly the best magic school is confusing, at best a relative term as the world is vast. There are far too many other countries for best to be a literal term.

I'd give it a 1/5, Chapter 24 sealed the deal for me.

 

It's a pity, because this is actually a quite interesting idea, where Harry either uses his fame (except in OotP) or simply writes in anonymously. Obviously, the method used was completely crappy. Why does he himself have to be the source for so much? I'm sure he could put in plenty of criticism from anonymous sources or from easily available ones. And the introduction of the letters through the Quibbler was also a bit suspect, but if done the way it was in canon, it might work. Alternatively, he could have held off slamming the ministry (provided this was not in OotP) and gone after his other targets. Given his fame, I doubt the Prophet would have denied him, and once he gained some credibility, he could have switched to the Quibbler to bash the ministry if he so wanted.

Of course, the whole thing was ruined by super!heir!rich!Lord!Harry and the overly stupid and clueless Dumbledore. A manipulative Dumbledore could be done with this with a good author, but Harry should then find a way to continue with his press exposure despite what Dumbledore says, using political connections. Going by the actions in OotP, I think Fudge would have been happy to back Harry against the Headmaster.

But, yeah, this story as it is is pretty sad. It takes a decent idea and throws in way too much superness and stuff, ruining what could have been a pretty interesting fic.

Edit: Oh yeah, 1/5.

 

I decided to downgrade to 1/5, as well. As stated previously, this is now rife with cliches, and any semblance of a good idea has long since been overshadowed by all the idiocy. The thing that annoys me most is the quality of the articles; you'd think that Flitwick's help would make a noticeable difference. No editor would ever accept such horribly written articles for a weekly column. Of course, this is just the authors' own skill (or lack thereof) bleeding through, here.

 

I've already downgraded my vote. This just isn't worth it anymore. The first few chapters, while admittedly not amazing, weren't beyond saving. Now? Ugh...

Someone lock this and kill it with fire, please and thank you.

 

Leave the thread.

I would say link it to the author... But honestly, that's probably a bad idea. /:

 

Don't have to downgrade my vote since it was a 1/5 in the first place.

The first letter in the first chapter already advertised the fail.