The Refiner's Fire

Great read...This is my third time and I still marvel at how well the story keeps my attention.

Wow, thanks!

Abraxan

I started reading HPff a few years ago when one of my friends started sending me links. To this day, I have yet to read a fan fiction more compelling and true to character than The Refiner's Fire and The Time of Destiny. I read these wonderful stories before the last two JKRs came out, and I didn't bother picking them up until a few weeks after they were published because to me, The Refiner's Fire and The Time of Destiny are the true books six and seven. I have recommended your stories many times and have always received no uncertain measure of gratitude for doing so. Please, keep writing, and I'll keep reading.

~No power in the ‘verse can stop me…~ Lisa

WOW!  Thanks so much!  I really appreciate that! 

If you like my fanfics, you might also like my original novels, the first of which is available on Amazon.com and other sites.  Go to Amazon or BN.com or your favorite online bookseller (or to a brick and mortar bookseller - they can look it up on their computer if it isn't in the store) and do a search on my name, Lynda Sappington.  My novel and my sculpting how-to book will both show up in the search results.  The novel, "Star Sons: Dawn of the Two" is a magical fantasy set in the present day.  It's gotten good reviews on Amazon and is selling around the world.  The second book in the trilogy should be out by the end of the year.

Thanks for writing!

Abraxan

What a brilliant and well-plotted story! I really enjoyed having the Refiner's Fire as an explanation for Harry's extraordinary powers. I also enjoyed the variety of battles and the fact that Harry can turn into more than one animal as an Animagus. The only thing that bothered me a little was the terms of endearments used. For some reason, I can't see Harry using the word "sweetie". Or, that could just be my own personal dislike of the term. Either way, it's a very minor thing in what is one of the best fics I've read in a while. Well done!

You never know what a guy will do when he falls in love, LOL!  Especially a guy who, like Harry, grew up with no love in his life at all.  So I think it's very possible he would say "sweetie" or "sweetheart" or something like that, possibly following an example he's seen in real life or on TV or read in books - kids with unusual life experiences like Harry do that kind of thing - they take whatever they can find as the examples they'll follow while trying to build a normal life.

Glad you enjoyed the story!

Abraxan

Allright after some busy times I finally finished it :)

Overall this was a great story, some stuff a bit to easy to expect if you're into fanfiction but definetly good enough to look forward to the sequel.

It's a bit late right now to start allready but I'll probably be reading the first chapter tomorrow.

Looking forward to give some comments about the sequel as well

When I wrote these fics, I wasn't reading any fanfiction - I read canon and a few stories, then stopped reading to write my own because I hadn't found any stories that satisfied me.  Glad you liked it, but it isn't influenced by any fanfiction at all - just canon.  Glad you're looking forward to the sequel!

Abraxan

Ah, the end. I always hate that. Your buildup to it was wonderful, and I can't wait to read the next one.

All told, I think the only thing I wished was there and wasn't was a scene after the battle at Little Hangelton, telling what had happened to Voldemort. Maybe something showing his remaining death eaters dragging him back to the cave, or wherever it is bugs like them crawl off to hide. Other than that, it was a great story.

Thank you for sharing it.

Since the story is mainly told from Harry's POV, it would be impossible to show that scene, just as it was impossible to show that same kind of thing in canon. 

I'm glad you enjoyed it!  You still have a lot of reading to do, so onward!  LOL!

Thanks for the reviews!

Abraxan

This story was great... I can't wait to start the sequel.

Thanks a lot!

Abraxan

Outstanding chapter to an outstanding story.

gunny

Thanks!

Abraxan

this story was magnificent!!!!! i couldn't stop reading it. i carried my laptop around the house for two days, driving my husband crazy. i just wanted to tell you how much i enjoyed it and can't wait to read the next one. i'll be recommending this story to everyone i know who reads fanfiction. thanks for sharing your amazing talent with the world!!!!

Thank you so much!  I'm so glad you enjoyed it, and that you're recommending it to your friends!  Thanks for writing!

I don't know if you're aware of this or not, but I have an original fantasy novel that's now available on Amazon.com.  Go there and search for "Lynda Sappington" and you'll see "Star Sons - Dawn of the Two" - that's it.  It's available for pre-order now, in case you're interested!

Abraxan

fantastic story can't wait to get started on the sequel!

Thanks a lot!

An absolute treasure. Those a last few lines are some of my favourites from the whole story, and that's saying something, considering the overall quality of it.

Thank you so much!  What a lovely thing to say!  I hope you will enjoy the rest of my stories as well - "The Time of Destiny" is the sequel to "Refiners" and there are several ficlets that fit into the time gap between the end of "Destiny" and its epilogue.  I'm also going to start uploading a new "gap fic" titled "Now and Forever" in a week or two, so watch for it!  And I have an original novel, "Star Sons: Dawn of the Two" that will be available on Amazon.com soon! 

Thanks again for your lovely review!

Abraxan

THANKS!
Great story
*catchbreath*
Everything here was fine, I think you really outlined JKR with a "nearly super" Harry, and you can definitly compare yourself to every bit fanfic outside here.
Ohw, to be honest, JKR is a lot worse than you!
I would really like to write about what I liked and not liked, but, um, there's nothing ;-)
So, thanks, thanks, thanks!

Thanks a lot!!  If you like my writing that well, you may be interested in my original novel, "Star Sons: Dawn of the Two" which will be published soon!  Watch for a new HP story, "Now and Forever" (which is set after the stuff in "Time of Destiny" and before the Epilogue - the timeline goes:  Destiny, A Fox's Tale, Beginnings, Now and Forever) to start uploading soon.  Ordering info for "Star Sons" will be included with each chapter of "Now and Forever" - and if you've signed up for alerts for my stories, you'll probably get an alert for "Star Sons," too.

Thanks for writing!  I always enjoy hearing from happy readers!

Abraxan

Hello there....your story is umm... absolutely awsome! Kept me wondering for 3 days... since I had to stop to go to work eat, bathe,answer natures call..but some times I took my laptop to the loo with me...sorry TMI! ;-P
I am going to read the sequel...If it is anythinh like the Refiner's fire...I will be enjoying myself!
you are a very god writer..excellent...fabulous...etc,etc,etc,
Thanks for writing such good stories!
Truly a fan of your written words,

Vilma

LOL!  I've been known to carry my laptop to strange places too (mostly when writing, not reading, but I understand your situation!).  I'm so glad you enjoyed Refiners!  Time of Destiny is the sequel and it has an epilogue that takes place several years later.  Since I finished Destiny, I've been writing ficlets that fit into that gap in time:  A Fox's Tale, Beginnings, Hedwig's Tale, A Very Harry Christmas (I think that's all for now).  I'm nearly finished with another one, "Now and Forever" which also fits into that gap in the epilogue.  Now and Forever will also be used to let people know about the availability of my first original novel to be published, a fantasy called "Star Sons 1: Dawn of the Two" which will be on Amazon.com hopefully fairly soon (I just got the galleys to proofread today!!).  Thanks for your kind words about my writing - I hope you enjoy the rest of my stories and that you'll consider purchasing "Star Sons" when it becomes available!

Abraxan

I like it, but this is a lirrle cruel to Harry. You give him someone to make him better, he falls in love, and you kill her. He gets over that just a little too fast. Then there's the fact that they all seem childish in this story.

I had my reasons for writing the Casey stuff the way I did.  He needed a "first girlfriend" and she was perfect for that.  She wouldn't necessarily have been a good "life partner," but she did help him get over his grief over Sirius and start getting on with his life. 

One of the things I'm portraying in these stories is the cost of war.  Casey's death was a random act of nastiness on Voldemort's part, not entirely random because he knew she was important to Harry, but still, she wasn't involved in the war so killing her just shows how cruel and heartless Voldie is.  And losing her threw Harry into the despair that eventually led to him going through the Refiner's Fire, which made him the wizard he needed to be to beat Voldemort. 

If you thought Harry got over Casey fast, you didn't read carefully enough.  He put his memories of her in the Pensieve, and too many at a time, which nearly killed  him (and caused the Refiner's Fire).  He CAN'T REMEMBER HER until he puts those memories back, so he didn't get over her quickly - he simply can't remember her.  And childish???  Out of the litererally thousands of reviews I've gotten for these stories on the various sites where they're hosted, that's a first.  So that means it's inaccurate, or someone else would've mentioned it too.  You're entitled to your opinion.  I'm entitled not to share it.

Abraxan

So, does the Slytherin get into trouble for assault and attempted murder or is this just one of those "he was cursed back, so he has already been punished enough?"

I have no idea.  Remus took care of it "off-camera."  Showing what happened to him wouldn't forward the plot, so I didn't bother to write it.

Abraxan

Wonderful fic. Enjoyed it completely.

Thanks very much!

Abraxan

Wow...that's brilliant ! Great writing all around. I love all the different twists and turns you gave us throughout the entire story. Awesome job, and please continue! Thanks so much for writing, and giving all your readers the entertainment and joy (as well as sorrow, suspence, anger, etc...) while reading. Congrats

Thank you very much!  You can continue reading Harry's story in my world by reading "The Time of Destiny" which is the sequel to "Refiner's Fire."  There are also several ficlets on this site that fit into the epilog of "Destiny" so you have a lot of good reading ahead of you! Enjoy!

Abraxan

Loved the Chiropractic adjustment :) It feels like magic sometimes after an adjustment. Thank you for writing and I look forward to reading the sequel.

LOL!  You're the first person to comment on that, IIRC!  Yes, I love my chriopractor - he keeps my carpal tunnel under control so I've managed to avoid the surgery for maybe 12 years now, bless him!  Glad you enjoyed the story!  Thanks for writing!

Abraxan

OUTSTANDING STORY!!!! I loved it and I can't wait to read The Time of Destiny. You're an awesome writer!

Thank you VERY MUCH!  I'm so glad you enjoyed it!  Thanks a lot for writing!

Abraxan

Great story! Poor Harry, could not make a trip without getting hurt or just simply having a good time. Love it that he can do much more complex spells and that he has a phoenix of his own. Harry and Ginny, do belong together, and it great that Dudley sees how pretty she is and that she is with Harry.
Keep on writing, can wait to start reading the sequel.

Thanks very much!  I'm glad you enjoyed my story!

Abraxan

that was definately one of the top 5 fics i have ever read. I cant wait to read anything else you write (including your original peice if / when it comes out to australia). You are an excellent writer, keep it up!

Thanks so much!  Be sure to read "The Time of Destiny" and the ficlets I've written that fit into "Destiny's" epilogue:  "A Fox's Tale," "On Second Thoughts" and "A very Harry Christmas," and. . .coming soon. . ."Beginnings" which fits in after "A Fox's Tale" and tells the story of the latter part of the summer and early fall after the trio leave Hogwarts.  It should be online in a couple of weeks (waiting for the betas to finish their work on it.)

And when (not *if*! - thinking positively here!) my original novels (the first one's finished and being beta'd now, the second one is about 2/3 planned and I will start writing it soon - it's either a trilogy or a series, I'm not certain yet) are available, they'll also be available online - if Amazon doesn't carry them, I will do it myself!  So you'll be able to get them in Australia! 

Thanks for writing!

Abraxan