Oh, dear Merlin, Hannah. How have I not read this? This... gahhhh. Seriously, it gave me the shivers. I was reading your 100 word drabble and really enjoyed it so I clicked on your banner noticing the picture of Harry and Hermione. I'm so glad I did!
This is a great one-shot. You created such a vivid, dark, menacing atmosphere in such a small space. And the ending, oh my, the ending. It's just... so... crushing and hopeless. I might have totally misinterpreted what you intended to convey but I assume that Hermione is going to kill Harry... maybe I'm just masochistic but that's how I read it. Anyway, I absolutely loved everything about this from the atmosphere to the way you structured it interspersed with flashforwards and flashbacks. This is the type of AU story that I just eat up.
Sorry for such a topsy turvy review but I'm not one to leave a coherent review at the best of times let alone after reading a fic as moving as this.
Julia xD
Ooh, knowing Jess as I do, you have written the perfect story for her here! Like your note said, it has a bit of everything, and yet what's amazing is that it all works so well in so short a piece. We get the background we need to understand where they are and what's happening. We get the inner turmoil to understand their emotions. And we get a Harry/Hermione moment! ;)
The ending is bonechilling, really. It's such a vivid image, these two damaged souls coupled on the floor as fate comes to claim them. So dark, so angsty, so vivid and visual and visceral. This was really wonderfully written. I'm glad I clicked on your lovely banner (see, they do work!) Great job!
~Gina :)
Author's Response: Elene really did do a lovely job with the banner, didn't she. I'm so glad that it drew you in because I definitely think this is my odd little story that scares most people off from reading it. I kind of figured when I wrote it that Jess would love it, but hardly anyone else would probably ever dare to read it. I'm so glad you thought it worked, because it worried me when I wrote it whether I could make it feel believable and whether I could find the balance between slotting in enough of the fairly extensive backstory necessary without losing the sense of urgency in the present. Vivid, visual and visceral was exactly what I was aiming at so I'm very glad that came through. Thanks for brightening my morning with such a lovely review, Gina.
brilliant
Author's Response: Thanks, I'm glad you liked it.
I would hereby like to formally squee over this fic. Yayayayay, I can finally say, "HA! I knew it was you." XD
I just adored the utter darkness of this story. I do love me a damaged!Harry fic, and it was as if you took the darkest of darkness and moulded me a story with all of my favourite things in it: death, violence, sex, and madness. You are my hero (won't say 'heroine' because it sounds too drugg-y) for writing such a haunting, beautiful story.
Good morning, by the way. When I get caught up on my NaNo word count and finish up my Katie/Oliver (almost done!), I'll stop being so lurky.
Heart you.
~Jess
Author's Response: Oh I love the concept of formal squeeing! You are hereby formally thanked. I figured there wasn't a chance in hell that you wouldn't spot I'd written this (who else would write you messed up, dark smut after all?). I loved being able to write death, violence, sex and madness (given that they are my favourites too) and know that you'd enjoy it (for rather than in spite of its oddness). I'm so glad you liked it, dear!
