The Time of Destiny
Epilogue - Part 2: Back At Hogwarts Again
By Abraxan
Reviews
Grukal posted a comment on Saturday 1st July 2006 11:57pm for Epilogue - Part 2: Back At Hogwarts Again
You know, you are an extremely talented writer, and i am really impressed by your stories. Keep up the good work
Abraxan replied:
Thank you very much! I have some ficlets on this site as well as these novesl. They're made to fit into "Destiny's" epilogue. "A Fox's Tale," "On Second Thoughts" and "A Very Harry Christmas" will soon be joined by a wedding story I'm writing.
I've been busy working on an original novel ("Star Sons") which is now being beta'd. While I'm staying away from it (so I can have fresh eyes while revising it), I'm doing this wedding story and starting the second novel of the "Star Sons" series (it's a trilogy or a series, I don't know which yet). When the novels are published (positive thinking here!), I'll post ordering info on all the sites hosting my stories!
Thanks for writing!
Abraxan
Alternator posted a comment on Monday 12th June 2006 5:21pm for Epilogue - Part 2: Back At Hogwarts Again
Wow. Another insanely large fic, well written and meaty, that will demand to be re-read later this summer. My characterization compliments from The Refiner's Fire remain true, so I won't bother to repeat them here, and just leave a few more:
1) In many instances, the start of a new chapter indicates an important shift in action and a jump ahead in time. Shifting like this is common in novels, but I thought I'd mention it since the shifts weren't as smooth as they could have been. That's my one criticism.
2) Dumbledore as Harry's grandfather seemed corny at first, and I even wrote a note to myself to comment on it, but you managed to carry the impossible off well and made it believable. Bravo.
3) Harry's habit of saying "I'm fine" when obviously maimed adds a lot of verisimilitude to the fic, so good job there.
4) Harry and Ginny were clearly meant to be a "perfect couple", but Ron and Hermione having relationship troubles--and Hermione not wanting to get married immediately--contrasted nicely and threw Harry/Ginny into sharp relief as unusual.
5) Sebastian dunking the murderous students was pure awesome in concentrated form.
6) The ficlets adding to the epilogue are excellent, nicely expanding the afterstory. Don't stop writing more when you need breaks from your book trilogy!
Abraxan replied:
Glad you liked it!
1. Ah well, I did my best! Without professional editors to look over my shoulder, and with me being a self-taught writer, you're lucky it's as good as it is! LOL!
2. GREAT-grandfather! Or was it great-GREAT-grandfather?? I've forgotten! Glad you think I managed to make it work! I thought Harry needed some REAL family, and Dumbledore filled the bill nicely. In canon, he's much more involved with Harry than a normal headmaster would be, even with an orphaned student. He admits he LOVES Harry at one point (when he's confessing to Harry all the things he should've told him - end of OoP???). So it seemed a natural extension of that to make him Harry's great-great-grandpa.
3. "I'm fine" is Harry's mantra, so it seems. One of my characters in my original novel has the same attitude, and I have to be careful to avoid letting him say "I'm fine" under similar cirucumstances! Glad you liked that, though!
4. Glad you liked the way the relationships turned out. I can't see Hermione and Ron as having a "smooth" relationship the way Harry and Ginny will (in canon). They're just too prickly with each other, whereas Harry and Ginny aren't the bickering types (which is great - I hate to be around couples who bicker!!!) Glad you liked that.
5. I just LOVED that scene with Sebastian!! "Pure awesome in concentrated form" - what a fun way to put it! Glad you enjoyed it! It was GREAT fun to write!!!
6. Glad you're enjoying the ficlets, too. They're fun for me to write, something easy to do when I get too bogged down in creating a new world, new characters, working out the kinks in the various situations, etc. They're ALMOST restful for me to write, a familiar landscape to relax in. So I'm glad you guys are enjoying them, because I do enjoy writing them!
Thanks for a nice review!
Abraxan
John Burrage posted a comment on Thursday 11th May 2006 3:56pm for Epilogue - Part 2: Back At Hogwarts Again
You have written two fantastic novels which are on par with the best of the canon and much better than The Half-Blood Prince, in my opinion. I hope you continue writing fanfiction for us to read. Thanks!
Abraxan replied:
Thank you so much! I'm busy working on original novels now (seems to be a trilogy so far) aimed at real-life publication. I have written several ficlets (some are on here, all are on my Yahoo group, http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HPRefinersFire) that fit into the epilogue. The latest one, "A Fox's Tale," takes place a month after Destiny ends. I just uploaded that one to the Yahoo group today. Asad may upload it here soon, I don't know - I don't have time to upload to a lot of sites now that I'm trying to devote my computer time to these novels (the first of which is nearly complete in first draft form, YAY!). The novels are hero-quest magical fantasy stories like HP and Lord of the Rings, so they should appeal to the same audience. When (not *if* - thinking positively here!) they're published, I'll post ordering info on all the sites hosting my stories. Thanks for writing!
Abraxan
Robin Westerly posted a comment on Thursday 20th April 2006 12:34pm for Epilogue - Part 2: Back At Hogwarts Again
Thank you. You have given us an amazing gift. You have help set my mind free. I've been suffering from a long illness and these stories have helped draw me out of it.
Thank you.
To tell you the truth, the Harry Potter universe seems to be more yours than J.K. Rowling.
Anyway now I'm crying, whether because its the end of the tale or because its a happy ending, I don't know.
Once more Thank you.
Abraxan replied:
I'm so sorry about your illness! I hope you're better now! Been there, done that with long illness, and I know what a blessing it is to find something to occupy your mind while your body simply will not cooperate with you. I'm glad I was able to help you through it!
Thank you for your kind words about my stories! I do have some ficlets in mind to fill in gaps in the epilogue, so be watching for those! Two are already online: "On Second Thoughts" and "A Very Harry Christmas." I'm currently working on one called "The Fox's Tale" that should be ready to publish in a week or two. I'm also working on an original novel aimed at real-life publication. When (not *if*! Thinking positively here!) it's available, I'll post ordering info on all the sites hosting my stories.
Thanks again, and I hope you're healthy and strong now, or will be soon! Best wishes for a speedy recovery!
Abraxan
Vidar posted a comment on Monday 3rd April 2006 10:47pm for Epilogue - Part 2: Back At Hogwarts Again
Thanks for such a nice story, after reading the refiner's fire i really hoped ToD would prove to be a worthy sequel..... And i must say, I think you managed very well:) All tough there was some stuff I didn't like. Killing the Grangers was one off them, but it's your story and your twist and i think it's bloody brilliant:) For a while I tought you was planning to write new books for Harry and Ron's years at Auror School and what ever else that could happend for thoose years. Pitty realy that you wrote the Epilogue.... Destroyed so many nice novell possibilities (Hey, i'm from norway! Everything can't be perfect! Could you spell norwegian that good?:))........... But anyway, thanks for a great book:)
Abraxan replied:
I have no intention of writing any more HP novels - hence the epilogue. I'll write short stories to fill in gaps in the epilogue when I need a break from the original novel I'm working on now. I want to try to be published for real and see if I can make some money with this gift. I'll post ordering info on all the sites hosting my stories when (not *if* - thinking positively here!) it's available! I'm glad you liked my stories!
Abraxan
Highschool Nerd posted a comment on Saturday 1st April 2006 3:55pm for Epilogue - Part 2: Back At Hogwarts Again
Once again, wonderful story! I normally don't like HarryGinny's, but your stories are the only exceptions. I really, really enjoyed them. :)
Abraxan replied:
Thank you so much! I'm glad you enjoyed the stories!
Abraxan
Jimbocous posted a comment on Friday 31st March 2006 7:16pm for Epilogue - Part 2: Back At Hogwarts Again
Thanks for a great read. It's been a wild trip. Can't wait to see what you've got planned next!
Abraxan replied:
"Next" is "On Second Thoughts," a ficlet that fits into the second part of the Epilogue. It's posted on this site. After that, who knows? I'm busy working on an original novel aimed at real-life publication now. I'll write ficlets from time to time to fill in the gaps in the epilogue, or as plot bunnies bite me on the nose, when I need a break from the novel. I'm glad you enjoyed my stories! Thanks for writing!
Abraxan
starlightsuprise posted a comment on Monday 20th March 2006 3:00am for Epilogue - Part 2: Back At Hogwarts Again
The journey i've undertaken through reading the Refiner's Fire and The Time of Destiny has been absoulutely amazing. It's been an fantastic time reading your story and seeing how it unfolds. You're a brillant writer and i think JKRowling should watch out. Well Done and I look forward to reading future work of yours. Thanks for the joy and fun you've given me in the hours i've spent reading this.
Best Regards,
Starlightsuprise
Abraxan replied:
Thanks so much! What a lovely review!! As for my future writings, I'm currently working on an original novel aimed at real-life publication (why should JKR make all the money, right?? heehee). It's a hero-quest magical fantasy along the lines of Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, etc. I'll post ordering info on here when (not *if* - thinking positively here!) it's available! And I plan on doing short stories to fill in the gaps in the epilogue of Destiny whenever I need a break from the novel. I have one such flclet nearly ready to go to the betas, so stay tuned!
Thanks for writing!
Abraxan
Pleather Boots posted a comment on Friday 17th March 2006 5:09pm for Epilogue - Part 2: Back At Hogwarts Again
I hope your book is coming along. You can rest assure that you'll have at least one fan waiting. Toodles!
Abraxan replied:
It's coming along very well, thanks! I'm well into chapter 5 after a slight problem that took me a while to fix with chapter 4. I'm "thinking" probably five chapters ahead of where I'm writing, so I'm racing to catch up with myself!
In the meantime, a HP ficlet idea has hit me that I might write today, if I have time. Stay tuned!
Thanks for the support!!!!
Abraxan
Pleather Boots posted a comment on Friday 17th March 2006 5:06pm for Epilogue - Part 2: Back At Hogwarts Again
Fantastic job! Thank you for an amazing ride.
Abraxan replied:
Thanks so much! I'm glad you enjoyed it!
Abraxan
Christopher Patton posted a comment on Thursday 16th March 2006 4:11pm for Epilogue - Part 2: Back At Hogwarts Again
Great finish to this wonderful pair of novels. Thank you for your time, imagination and being willing to share them with us.
Chris Patton
Abraxan replied:
Thanks a lot! I'm so glad you enjoyed them!
Abraxan
Imp posted a comment on Sunday 12th March 2006 4:25pm for Epilogue - Part 2: Back At Hogwarts Again
Glad to know that the Potter and Weasley boys can take care of themselves. Gedding and his lackies had it coming. Awesome dragon scene. But I told you Harry would end up in the hospital wing again. You just can't resist putting him there. Honestly, Rowling doesn't even put Harry through this much punishment.:P The trip to the land of the phoenixes wasn't surprising in itself, but Harry going through a burning? Briliant!!! I would have never thought of that one. Glad that he's able to get along with the Dursleys now. I was hoping you would tie that up in the epilogues. Thanks for that. Harry's become quite wealthy with his name going on so much stuff. Could you tell us exactly how wealthy he is at the end of this epilogue? And lastly, what did Harry end up getting Ginny in the first epilogue? I don't think you revealed that. Or maybe I just didn't pay enough attention. My memory is really terrible. I like the tension between Jamie and Siri and Harry. It shows that even Harry has his problems with his children. But parents start to look a lot smarter when you grow up. I'm really going to miss looking for updates every week. Your story has helped me to take my mind off of college once a week every since December. I can hardly wait until you get published so I can go out and buy your book; maybe get it signed too if possible. Thanks for such a wonderfull story and I will always look forward to your draubles when you need a break from the novel. Once again, and I've said it several times before, thanks for a great story.
Abraxan replied:
I never said what Harry got Ginny in the first epilogue. And I have no idea how wealthy he is - let's just say he doesn't HAVE to work and all seven of his kids will be very well off! LOL! Glad you liked the dragon scene and the idea of the burning and the tension between Harry and his oldest sons - that was very realistic, I thought! LOL! Glad you liked Harry's resolution of his problems with the Dursleys, too!
My novel is coming along very well so far - I'm in chapter 5 and am pleased with how it's turning out to this point. I'll post on here when it's available to order, and sure, I'll autograph it! LOL! Thanks for writing!
Abraxan
Quizer posted a comment on Sunday 12th March 2006 8:30am for Epilogue - Part 2: Back At Hogwarts Again
First off, please don't be offended of anything that follows. None of it is intended to be truly offensive to your person. The points I raise are mostly my opinions, and what I think are valid concerns.
Also, if it appears that I focus too much on the negatives in the reviews, it is because I like to explain my reasoning behind the points I find fault with. I'm sure you generally prefer that to something which approaches or resembles a flame.
This is likely the last review from me until you churn out those drabbles, so bear with me just this one more time, alright?
Whoa, that's a surprise. After chewing me out like that last time, I certainly didn't expect you to have this scene (about the boys' names) in the wings already. What were you so upset about anyway? Was it wrong of me to anticipate trouble in this regard?? As for my objections to the names, I think it's already strange to 'diminutize' names that to me sound perfectly fine the way they are, while the shortened versions sound weird to my ears, accepted as they may or may not be. If you assigned those names just for the sake of keeping them apart in the story, you need not have bothered. Even if you replaced the names, it would be obvious at all times who you are referring to. Anyway, good job on the scene, it was exactly as I would imagine it to happen!
I swear, your obsession with putting Harry in the hospital wing borders on a psychological disorder. Whether it is about the hurting, the (often long and tedious) healing process or the place itself, I don't know, and I don't particularly care, but this obsession of you has soured this story off my favorites list forever. I was actually apprehensive reading this chapter, wondering what kind of catastrophe you thought up for him this time. I certainly won't put myself through the heartache of reading those passages again. In my eyes, you failed if you were trying to produce a story with re-reading value (although I noticed that several other reviewers think differently). This endless suffering is just not my type of thing. For the sake of your professional career I hope that this trend of catastrophe -> near-death experience -> agonizing recovery period does not continue into your original novels.
The repercussions of the egg-stealing are enormous in a way I had not expected, especially for the perpetrators. I wonder if Minerva lost her professional edge for a moment while telling those boys. The punishment is harsh, but fully justified, but it felt a bit as if her close relationship to Harry had colored her words a bit. Did you actually intend that or is that a misperception on my part?
The Whimsy charm was an interesting touch. It sounds like the type of thing that would be used for small children. Did you think of that use?
Harry getting a new Giant Squid for the lake was a nice touch as well, even though Sebastian was unique and can't really be replaced to those who knew him (few as they were). While you and I know that, the text leaves that issue alone. Maybe you would want to add a line there, saying that Harry knows, too... (Do you do that, add small changes and amendmends to your published chapters?)
I like the way you got rid of Harry's scars at the end, by using a phoenix's burning. A great use of the phoenix properties Harry assumes with his animagus form and a nice way of getting rid of that part of Harry's problems with himself as well. While Phoenix-Animagus stories aren't particularly rare out there, you did the one of the best jobs out of the lot and I cannot find fault with your choice and its execution. Good job!
The Afterword is a truly great idea and device. It ties up all those loose ends and is immensely enjoyable. A most fitting way to end this epic tale.
Finally, I want to thank you for answering each and every review you receive. You are the only author I have seen so far who has done this and you deserve nothing but the utmost respect and praise for this. You rule!!!
Well, that's all I have to say for now. Good luck whatever you're working on next, and I will keep an eye out for those drabbles!
Quizer
Abraxan replied:
As for the bit about the names, I manage quite nicely to put annoying posts out of my mind, so I don't even remenber what you said that annoyed me before, unless you just didn't like the "diminuitive" of James and Sirius. If you don't like it, tough. "Jamie" is a popular name in England, and if someone named his child Sirius, I imagine they'd use a nickname for him at least part of the time as well. I don't care how it sounds to your ear. It's how it sounded to MY ear, and to my Brit-picker's, that counted, and both of us were happy with it.
Nope, I have no psychological problems that makes me put Harry in the hospital. He leads a dangerous life, and ending up in the hospital is the natural result of that. That's all there is to it. And you are in the vast minority of my readers - there are many who are ALREADY re-reading both fics because they're sorry the stories are over. You have a right to your opinion, but you're in the minority, quite possibly a minority of one. I had several reviewers on various boards THANK me for not doing a bland "happily ever after" bit, but having an adventure that would show his children exactly what a hero he is in reality, rather than them having to depend on Aunt Hermione's stories to hear about their dad's heroic days. I equate it to children whose fathers fought in wars. Once they're home, the only "heroic" thing many kids see or hear about their dads doing is the everyday heroism of bringing home his check and staying faithful to his wife (not a bad way to be heroic, mind you). But when my father, a WWII veteran, did a heroic deed (saving the life of a friend with repeated bouts of CPR; another time, saving a man from having a truck he was working on roll over him; etc.), it was seriously impressive - and my father was a very modest man. He didn't tell the stories, other people did, with awe in their voices, but it happened during MY lifetime and made such an impression on me. So I wanted something like that for Harry's kids. Hence the dragon tale.
I don't think it matters why Minerva reacted the way she did - she was completely within her rights to say what she did and do what she did. She was appalled that they were so cavalier about the dragon and her eggs, and that so many students were injured or killed because of these two supposedly intelligent boys' STUPIDITY. And then there was Harry, who she truly cares about. But in the main, her reaction was simply because of the boys doing such a stupid thing that had such horrible consequences.
I didn't worry about the Whimsy Charm being useful for children. I made it up for Harry. I'm sure there are lots of other uses for it. Why should I worry about them? It did what I wanted it to do in the story. I liked it. I'd like to see it myself. I've been so sick that I couldn't read or watch TV and was bored out of my skull - I thought of the Whimsy Charm as a way to keep Harry entertained, something quiet and unobtrusive but enjoyable, and it wouldn't take any energy on his part to enjoy it. Perfect entertainment for an invalid like him (at the time).
Once my chapters are online, they're published and I don't change them. What's there, is there.
I'm glad you liked the burning - I thought it was a nice touch to use the land of the phoenixes again in the epilogue. I like things that come full circle. Thank you for your kind words about that part of my plot.
I'm glad you enjoyed the Afterword - it just didn't feel right to me to stop the story there and leave everyone wondering about what happened to the characters in the future.
I respond to reviews because it's the polite thing to do - if people are kind enough to review, I feel the need to answer their questions and thank them for kind comments. I'm glad you appreciate my responding to reviews. I can't imagine NOT responding to reviews (except those that enrage me, or that just say "UPDATE!" - I delay responding to the ones that anger me, and I just don't respond to the "UPDATE!" ones. If anyone paid attention, I updated faithfully every week - such a post didn't seem to me to require a response.)
What I'm working on now is an original novel, a hero quest magical fantasy that may become a series. I'm having a good time working on it so far. Hopefully, some publisher will like it as well.
I'm glad you enjoyed my stories. Thanks for a nice review.
Abraxan
Wooster posted a comment on Saturday 11th March 2006 11:13am for Epilogue - Part 2: Back At Hogwarts Again
Oh wow. That was amazing. You covered everything didn't you? I absolutely adored the afterword, and I salute you for a very realistic handling of Jamie and Siri's attitudes in their first year of Hogwarts!
Abraxan replied:
Thanks a bunch! I'm so glad you liked it! Yes, Jamie and Siri had very realistic attitudes, I thought. Glad you thought so too! Thanks for writing!
Abraxan
Iunee posted a comment on Friday 10th March 2006 8:11am for Epilogue - Part 2: Back At Hogwarts Again
Awesome. Really awesome. You are really one of the best authors I've ever read. In my top three, I think I mentioned that once ago, didn't I? ;-)
Though you seem to like Harry in hospital, I will gladly re-read your fics in some time. (As I already did with RF)
I hope you will grace us with some new fics sometime.
Read over any grammtical errors and so on, please :)
Abraxan replied:
I didn't see any grammatic errors, actually - nothing that caught my eye, anyway! LOL! No worries!
THank you so much for your kind words about my fics! Honestly, I'm not that fond of Harry in the hospital, but he's doing stuff that would kill anyone else - he can't go through such experiences unscathed!! So off to the hospital wing for him! Poor kid, I'm SO hard on him, LOL!
I'm working on an original novel aimed at real publication now. When I need a break from it, I have some HP ficlets planned, based on the "gaps" in the epilogue.
I'm so glad you enjoyed my stories! Thanks for writing!
Abraxan
Adde posted a comment on Thursday 9th March 2006 11:40pm for Epilogue - Part 2: Back At Hogwarts Again
Sorry for my english, still learning ;)
I usually like the stories when Dumbledore are evil or stupid and Harry takes his life in his own hands but this story are way to good to not like! Very loong (wich i like) and very well written. I have read many many fanfictions and this comes up to my toplist directley. I have followed the story since the middle of "The Fefiners Fire" and I am very happy you finished it :)
By the way, the end was just, well, exellent.
Sincerely,
Albus
Abraxan replied:
Thank you very much! I'm so glad you liked it! I can't get into "evil" or "stupid" Dumbledore because that's just not the character JKR created. I'm glad you liked mine despite Dumbledore being intelligent and wise and still in control of his powers! LOL! Thanks for writing!
Abraxan
SammyWrae posted a comment on Thursday 9th March 2006 8:34pm for Epilogue - Part 2: Back At Hogwarts Again
Wow. I am suitably impressed :}
Abraxan replied:
Thanks!
Abraxan
juhi1 posted a comment on Thursday 9th March 2006 5:40pm for Epilogue - Part 2: Back At Hogwarts Again
i was so disappointed to see that ur books are finally over... but i guess all good things must come to an end. i enjoyed reading these two books so much, and i loved the afterword! it was really nice. and i totally love harry's kids. uve made them such a nice happy family, it truly is beautiful. congratulations, and thanks for keeping me occuppied for so long! :)
Abraxan replied:
Thanks very much! I'm glad you liked Harry's family - he's rather fond of them too, LOL!
Abraxan
Manatheron posted a comment on Thursday 9th March 2006 5:26pm for Epilogue - Part 2: Back At Hogwarts Again
AWESOME!
Can't remember if you said you had another to start in the wings or not though... Or were you going to write a book?
Abraxan replied:
I have an original novel already underway. I plan to do some HP short stories when I need a break from my novels, but don't hold your breath - I need to get moving on this novel!! Glad you enjoyed the fics! Thanks for writing!
Abraxan
Bob Joyce posted a comment on Sunday 6th August 2006 3:15am for Epilogue - Part 2: Back At Hogwarts Again
Abraxan replied: