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zelda_queenZeldaQueen: Okay. This is it. When this is over, I'll have officially conquered Child of Grace, at least until the Suethor decides to update again. I can do this. Let's go
Projection Room Voices: Starting Media in 3...2...1...
Chapter 55: Child of Destiny (Part 3)
"I don't see why I can't just go stay with Blaise," Holly commented for what felt like the thousandth time since that morning. When she'd been unceremoniously and quite literally ripped from her bed by her godfather. It was a Saturday, after all. No one in their right mind should be up just after dawn.
ZeldaQueen: Just like no one in their right minds would substitute commas for periods in what ought to have been two sentences up there. Guess what that says about the Suethor?
And yes, she was ignoring the fact that only a few months ago that she would've been one of the crazies up so early.
ZeldaQueen: After all, since when had she let a little thing like "characterization" get in the way of her whining?
This was just the latest in Sirius' string increasingly ridiculous behaviours on his quest to "help" her out of her funk. That list included carrying her still asleep form to the fireplace and Flooing her Luna's house not once but twice in the last week. Not to mention surprise Apparitions to Blaise's for a tea party with his sisters.
ZeldaQueen: Ah yes, because it's so ridiculous to try to get someone out of being isolated and depressed by having them spend time with people, the horror!
And wasn't it not so long ago that she bitched nonstop if anyone made the slightest effort to separate her from her buddies?
Unsurprisingly, Holly gave back as good as she'd gotten. A fact that was evidenced by the lingering blue tint to Sirius' skin and how he would skip every third step.
ZeldaQueen: I do love how Holly retaliates violently whenever she doesn't get her way. It does so make her a sympathetic character, and oh-so pleasant to boot!
Remus naturally was no help in the matter. Aiding and abetting her godfather as he was.
ZeldaQueen: That's right, how dare he care about her wellbeing?
And Holly was beginning to doubt if Tom had even noticed what was going on. He barely emerged from the library, and when he did, his face was always stuck in a book.
ZeldaQueen: I cleverly hid bear traps in the books and when he fell asleep on them... *evil grin*
Chances were that he was purposely avoiding the other three people in the house, which wasn't out of character for him. He was on edge due to the return of his alter ego. Not that Holly could blame him for that one or for his urge to hide away in a dark corner and lick his wounds. It was the Slytherin thing to do. That and plot revenge.
ZeldaQueen: In other words, it's the Slytherin way to sulk be petty instead of make an effort to move on or actually resolve a problem. That doesn't make the Slytherins out to be very pleasant
Of course, she would've appreciated his assistance right about now. It really would've evened the odds stacked against her. Though it was hard to dissuade Sirius Black once he got an idea stuck in his head, and for some reason, he seemed to think that she needed to get out of the house.
ZeldaQueen: Well, Miss Mary Sue, when I was going through a depressed funk, getting out of the house did help. So why don't you show off those many virtues you keep touting and fuck out of here?
And not just that but go to the headquarters for his secret club – The Order of the Phoenix, and yes, that was such a pretentious name.
ZeldaQueen: *stares*
*blinks*
Is there anything at all I need to say to point out how utterly, utterly arrogant and horrible that was?
Not to mention that she just made out like the Order was some child's club or something. Hey Holly, guess what? They're trying to stop Voldemort! I repeat, Harry was acting like he was going through PMS, but at least his focus was "stop Voldemort". You're just floundering around, being a useless bitch and a load. Sirius and Lupin are kind of busy working to stop a genocidal madman and not only are you totally ignoring this and distracting them by making no effort to move on and go with their efforts to pull yourself together, but you look down your nose at said efforts and call it "pretentious".
It's times like these that I remind myself that I just have to make it to the end and this is over
Supposedly, they were run by Dumbledore and tasked with fighting Voldemort, but Holly had seen little evidence of the latter part yet. Thus far, she'd only heard the pair of them complaining about the lack of progress.
ZeldaQueen: I'm so sorry folks. This must be done
FUCK YOU YOU USELESS BITCH! HOW ABOUT YOU MAKE SOME SORT OF EFFORT TO ACHIEVE RESULTS IN FIGHTING VOLDEMORT BEFORE YOU HAVE THE STONES TO CRITICIZE THE EFFORTS OF OTHERS!
"Zabini manor isn't a hotel," Remus responded to her earlier statement, abruptly bringing Holly out of her thoughts. He was in the process of cleaning up the breakfast dishes with his wand after refusing Holly's offer to wash them by hand. He'd quickly recognised the delaying tactic for what it was and had sent her to get her things.
Curses, foiled again.
ZeldaQueen: Why am I supposed to like her? Why?
"I know that, but it'd just be me. Eren's practically given me my own room," she reminded them in a tone that was absolutely not a whine.
ZeldaQueen: Which means that it absolutely actually is
Holly put a hand on her hip as she watched Sirius shrink her bag for her since he knew that she'd only put it off to annoy him. Of course, she technically wasn't supposed to do magic over the summer, but with their wards, no one from the Ministry would ever know.
ZeldaQueen: Actually, I'd imagine that they would.
And I hate that just as much as from the start of Year Three. "Oh, like I'm actually going to be held to their rules or anything! To Hell with that!"
Actually...didn't she remove the wards in a totally bogus and non-canon way? What? Why am I surprised that the Suethor can't remember her own canon?
And besides, it was a stupid law anyway, and neither Sirius nor Remus thought it a good idea for her to go for months without practicing her magic. Not with a madman and his merry band of henchmen on the loose.
ZeldaQueen: Yes, it's not like the law was put into place so that underage witches and wizards wouldn't go running around, hexing Muggles for amusement and showing off and getting the wizarding world in trouble. Nope. Oh, and Holly? Children who are not allowed to use magic over the summer ought to have parents or guardians who can, and I doubt that you'd forget every single thing in a few months.
...Wait a second. If they can't sense her usage of magic, how will the Dementor thing happen? She's cheerfully abandoned the Dursleys, her home with Sirius is hidden, and she shouldn't be under the Trace after the aforementioned Year Three thing.
I also have a nasty feeling that the Suethor is setting up for a Soapbox Rant during the hearing, if she has it
"True. But they don't have the kind of defences that the headquarters has. Not with what my paranoid father put up and after Dumbledore added to it." Sirius handed over her shrunken bag, which would require only a tap to return to full size. "And Eren and Dante do have a life outside of us, you know.
ZeldaQueen: IMAGINE THAT!
They're going to see his sister in Spain later this week, but they already agreed that Blaise can stay behind. With you."
ZeldaQueen: Well then, Blaise doesn't have a life outside of Holly
"As long as an adult is there," Remus added and seemed to smile at the look she gave him.
"So you're basically shipping the two of us off to stay in a strange place with people we don't know," Holly insinuated.
ZeldaQueen: Dude, it's the Order of the Phoenix, not a daycare center! The Weasleys were there because their parents were members and Hermione and Harry were also being cared for by them. They don't just keep children around for the heck of it, especially if their parents have nothing to do with the Order *glares at Blaise*
"The Weasleys will be there," the werewolf countered, now in the midst of spelling the pots and pans back to their proper places.
ZeldaQueen: I don't like where this is going
As if that made it any better. She was up for letting bygones be bygones, but that didn't mean that she wanted to live with Ron and undoubtedly Hermione.
ZeldaQueen: Doesn't sound like she let "bygones be bygones" in that case. She might as well say "Oh yeah, I've forgiven them, but it's not like I want them in my presence or anything!"
With an attitude like that, I can't believe she doesn't know why they dislike her
Fred and George were fun. Percy was tolerable. But Ginny was still creepy.
ZeldaQueen: GINNY IS CREEPY? EXCUSE ME, BUT WHERE EXACTLY IS THE EVIDENCE FOR THAT?
Seriously, there's NONE! The last time her name came up was when she had the gall to want to ask Neville out to the Yule Ball! There has been no evidence of this "creepiness". And this just makes me depressed, because I know that Holly's going to bring Luna and Neville along to the Department, but replace Ron, Hermione, and Ginny with her bland cut-out friends. Or if she does bring them along, her friends will also follow and spend their time mocking the Gryffindors
She didn't know much about the older two Weasley brothers, though the eldest – Bill – was rather attractive.
ZeldaQueen: So of course he gets a free pass *fumes*
Fleur Delacour had written to tell Holly that she'd met him through her new job at Gringotts; it seemed that the pair was quickly becoming more than friends.
ZeldaQueen: Considering how Holly hypocritically considered Fleur a snob and never rescued her sister from the lake, I have to wonder why Fleur would be buddy-buddy enough to correspond with Holly?
Holly considered that possibility before scowling. She wouldn't be distracted from her ire.
ZeldaQueen: No, she won't let the possibility of a good-looking guy keep her from sulking and bitching!
"Not to mention a ton of people that we've never met. How do we know that we can really trust them?" she questioned so-not-rhetorically. "It could all be a plot."
ZeldaQueen: It's a trap!
Seriously, she has got a lot of nerve to go on like this. Not only did she fall into Voldemort's plot last year because of her own idiocy, she has made no effort to find out about this organization that Sirius and Lupin are in, only to scowl and criticize how it's run when it's brought to her attention. Newsflash, princess - you're not a member. You're not the leader. You're not even their waterboy. Sit down and shut up, your opinions matter for zilch
The Animagus snorted and rubbed behind his ear. "If you really believed that, I'd be impressed. But we're not about to have another Wormtail. Members have to take some very specific oaths this time, and Fawkes gets to inspect everyone." He shook his head. "Have you ever tried lying to a phoenix? Nasty stuff that."
ZeldaQueen: I have to wonder what the Suethor's obsession is with Fawkes. Is it just me, or does she seem to...well, favor him a lot?
"Just because they don't support Voldemort doesn't make them good people," she pointed out. "They could be working for the Ministry instead. Part of the heliopath conspiracy. Or baking goblins into pies."
ZeldaQueen: *rolls eyes* Yes, just steal Sirius' "the world isn't divided into good people and Death Eaters" argument
"Been reading the Quibbler again, Holly?" Remus asked with a laugh as it finished putting away the last of the dishes.
ZeldaQueen: No, I think she's on the reading level of candy bar wrappers
She blithely ignored him. They weren't going to budge anyway; she might as well go for the ridiculous.
ZeldaQueen: That implies that she isn't already at the ridiculous
"Or maybe they're in on it with Fawkes. He doesn't seem like the overlord type."
Sirius cocked his head and looked at her with suspicion. "Gods above and below, you make it seem like we're shipping you to Siberia. It's only for a night. Possibly two."
ZeldaQueen: I'm sorry, but why are they so certain that the secret headquarters are the best place for an insane girl to spend a few nights?
"Just to get me out of the house," she grumbled.
"Yes," both men said together.
ZeldaQueen: I'll take it one step farther - get her out of this fic
Holly tapped her bare foot on the floor. "Then, why can't I go to Luna's then? She's offered, and they have enough wards to make Moody envious."
ZeldaQueen: Ward envy. Sweet
She was smart enough to know why Draco's place might be a bad choice, Death Eater father and all. Not to mention Theo or Pansy with their relations. Milli shouldn't be excluded. Nor Cynthia or even Gavin house. But silly Sirius and Remus seemed to think that she needed more adult supervision than they'd provide. And while they trusted her with Xenophilius Lovegood, he did have the tendency to forget himself, his daughter, and the wider world when writing for the Quibbler.
ZeldaQueen: Yet again, why is she so surprised that they won't leave her with people they know won't provide her with proper supervision?
"You're going to the headquarters," Sirius said with finality. He sounded a twinge too much like Molly Weasley, too. Or even Andromeda. Maybe they'd been giving him pointers again.
ZeldaQueen: I hate this fic, I hate the Suethor, and I hate how she constantly ignores Molly Weasley's many good traits in favor of her negative ones
Still Holly wasn't having any of it. She'd grown-up with Vernon's bellowing and Petunia's flying frying pan and had faced-off against a Dark Lord. It was hard to intimidate her.
ZeldaQueen: Which is why she spent most of this fic sobbing and clinging to everyone
"Really? Since you loved Grimmauld Place so much as kid."
ZeldaQueen: *stares* I really hope Sirius murders her by the end of this
She'd heard enough to know that it was dark, dank, and depressing. Just the place they should send a Slytherin. Really, it was just like being back in the dungeons at school. Only less hygienic since no one had lived there for years. And it was probably filled with all sorts of cursed objects and severed heads if she knew anything about the Blacks. Perhaps a body or two. A few torture chambers.
ZeldaQueen: Yes, perhaps a body or two. Like your own, you little brat!
Kid stuff, really. So damn family friendly.
That must've shown on her face too since Sirius pinched the bridge of his nose as though pained. But possibly, that was only because he'd finally grasped that he was in all but fact the parent of a teenager and until that moment hadn't really understood what that entailed.
ZeldaQueen: Saying she is a teenager does NOT give her free pass to act like this
Or perhaps all his childhood sins were merely revisiting him. McGonagall really had cast a Karma curse like she'd so often threatened. The universe's sweet, sweet vengeance.
ZeldaQueen: I doubt that. No one deserves a Mary Sue
"No," he told her then, "I absolutely hate the place. I loathe it with every fibre of my being and more besides. But Voldemort's back, and there are only so many places I feel are safe enough for you, and you really do need to get out of this house. Even if it's to go there." He lifted his chin. "And you. Are. Going."
ZeldaQueen: Thank you Sirius, for showing some amount of backbone here
Holly crossed her arms over her chest. "Yes, mum. If you so insist."
ZeldaQueen: Great. Now, someone whallop her with the broom
"I do insist." But her godfather sighed then. "Don't be that way, pup. You know that I'm only trying to look out for you. That we-" And he jerked his thumb between himself and Remus, "-are only trying to look out for you."
ZeldaQueen: I'm looking out for her too. And when I see her coming, I duck behind a rock with a sword at the ready...
Holly didn't want to give in. She didn't. She was a stubborn, slimy Slytherin just like Snape had taught them. But Sirius' sad puppy expression was just too much sometimes. All the time.
She crumbled completely.
ZeldaQueen: Oh dear lord, don't I wish!
"Fine."
He instantly brightened like the sun coming out from behind a cloud. "Splendid." Sirius jerked his wand towards the entrance hall. "Here's your shoes. Don't forget to put on some socks first."
ZeldaQueen: Because what would this fic be, without it's usual dose of banality?
Holly merely sighed as she got ready, and she was just finishing up when Blaise Flooed over. But it evaporated when he greeted her with a kiss to the cheek that made her smile and Sirius' eyes narrow.
ZeldaQueen: Yes, kisses on the cheek are just so platonic.
Yes, I know some people do kiss on the cheek as a greeting. It's when you take all of the holding and cuddling and sappy "I'd burn cities for you" things that make it more suspect
Apparently, he'd only just realised that while they'd have other adults present, he wouldn't be there the next few days to be on the lookout.
ZeldaQueen: Wait...so he knew he was leaving Blaise and Holly at the headquarters while he himself wasn't there...and only now did he realize that he wouldn't be able to watch them?
She threw a smirk over her shoulder at him and was still smirking when Remus wrapped her in a hug and Apparited them to a nondescript and shaded part of a park somewhere in London.
ZeldaQueen: *is on her knees praying to God to end the smirking*
Sirius and Blaise appeared a second later, and the four of them walked over the grass to the far side and then through several residential neighbourhoods that had certainly seen better days. The homes became decidedly bigger and somewhat cleaner as they walked until they came to a corner. The two adults paused, while Remus reached into an inner pocket and pulled out a folded slip of paper. It took longer to walk to the spot a townhouse had just appeared than it did for Blaise and Holly to memorise the information, and she couldn't help but lift a brow at the sight before them.
ZeldaQueen: Of course now that the plot has shown up, the details have scampered off. How silly to expect otherwise
Sure, Holly knew about Fidelius, but if she hadn't known this was a secret headquarters, she'd honestly wonder why on earth anyone would ever bother to hide this place. It was certainly nondescript enough compared to the street as a whole, and nothing about it screamed wizarding folk or anything at all magical.
ZeldaQueen: It's the home of wizards who were old Pureblood supremacists and who Sirius outright said were paranoid and she wonders why they hid themselves from a Muggle neighborhood?
Purebloods weren't known for being subtle about that sort of thing, but the Blacks apparently took paranoia to a whole new level. Even their unplottable and hidden house was ordinary enough outside to escape notice.
ZeldaQueen: Unfortunately, the Sue still found the place
The inside wasn't any better. If anything it was worse, and this was after weeks of cleaning. Holly hated to imagine what it had looked like when Sirius had opened it at the end of June.
ZeldaQueen: (Sue) "Ick, you haven't cleaned it properly by the time I got here? What's wrong with you?"
Even now, it looked like the tomb of some long dead Dark Lord. While it wasn't dusty – much – cobwebs stretched across every corner, and all of the fixtures were tarnished. The carpet was threadbare, the wallpaper was peeling, and even the portraits on the wall were blackened and dingy with age and lack of care.
ZeldaQueen: I don't know, maybe a couple of throw pillows...
No wonder Sirius hated it here. This place was everything his house wasn't.
ZeldaQueen: She pretty much figured he didn't like the house because it was dirty and messy. Somehow, it reminds me of Meyer and her "rich is happy, poor is miserable" themes
A mental tingle was her only forewarning when Tonks popped out of a doorway as if summoned by magic. Holly couldn't help that notice she walked with exaggerated care as she approached. As though a single misstep might set off a landmine.
ZeldaQueen: Little did she know that the Order knew she was coming and had riddled the hall with landmines. One misstep sent the Sue sky-high in fifty different pieces, and canon quickly returned to normal
"Wotcher, Holly. Blaise. Cousin. Remus," the Auror greeted with a wave and shake of her short purple hair. "'Bout time you lot showed up. We've been waiting for you."
ZeldaQueen: Oh no, Tonks has forgotten her commas!
"We said that we'd be by after breakfast," Remus admonished, but Holly still saw that he smiled at Tonks rather winningly.
ZeldaQueen: Is this supposed to be foreshadowing? Because if so, the Suethor seems to have missed the point of their relationship, that he was afraid his lycanthropy would make her miserable with him
Tonks grinned back and then promptly tripped over an umbrella stand. She nearly crashed headfirst into a set of moth-eaten curtains, which suddenly opened to reveal the portrait of an old and drooling woman.
ZeldaQueen: It was the physical representation of canon. "LEAVE MY PRESENCE! SUUUUUUE!!! SUUUUUUUEEEE!!!" it screeched
"Filth! Scum!" the portrait screeched as she took one look at them, yellow eyes rolling around. "By-products of dirt and vileness! Half-breeds, mutants, freaks, be gone from this place! How dare you befoul the house of my fathers-"
ZeldaQueen: Oh wow, I was right! The portrait does recognize Mary Sues!
She abruptly came to a halt as she caught sight of Sirius.
The shrieking was horrible. Ear-splitting even. Like someone under the Cruciatus or her egg from the second task or Draco singing in the shower.
ZeldaQueen: And yet apparently no one else heard this and tried to close the curtains
Her voice rose in volume with every hate-filled word, and Holly saw Sirius' face grow cold and distant as he lifted his wand. The spell was nearly colourless, and he cast it silently, but the woman abruptly cut off mid-word. The following quiet was nearly deafening itself. Holly knew that her eyes were huge as she turned to her godfather, and a glance at Blaise showed that he was in a similar state. Both of them could only stare as they watched Sirius lower his wand with a nasty and all too Slytherin smirk before looking at them.
ZeldaQueen: SIRIUS HATED SLYTHERIN! DON'T YOU DARE ASSOCIATE SLYTHERIN WITH HIM!
"I see that you've finally met my mother, Holly. Your dear grand-godmother."
Holly visibly jolted. "Your…"
ZeldaQueen: Yep. Rather distressing to learn that not all pureblood Old Name people were pretty and royal-like, eh?
And suddenly, so much about his pathological hatred for his parents was made painfully clear. The silence obviously showed that Blaise had realised the same thing, and there was a pause as they gaped at the old woman in the portrait, her mouth moving furiously but without sound. Only the noise of their breathing and the creak of the house around them filled the hallway.
"Well, I can see where you get your smashing good looks and witty charm," Blaise deadpanned a few heartbeats later.
ZeldaQueen: Oh shut up and go away!
There was a tick. Then, Sirius let out a barking laugh and shot the woman a triumphant look as he shut the curtains in her face once more. If he made a rude gesture afterward, no one commented.
ZeldaQueen: Sirius was always in a foul temper after dealing with her. What are you talking about?
"Normal Silencing charm won't work on her," the Animagus complained as they proceeded down the hallway, waving off Tonks' apologies. "Had to look up something stronger. Can't get her down either. Not without taking out the whole damn wall, and it's a loadbearing one."
ZeldaQueen: Too bad Rose Potter didn't get that memo
Holly nodded dazedly as they came to a set of stairs and went down. Tonks shifted almost uneasily as Sirius walked up to the closed door at the bottom.
"There's a meeting in progress," she told them. Her eyes then strayed to Blaise and Holly.
ZeldaQueen: (Tonks) "Did you have to bring the Mary Sue? I'm not sure my Auror training fully prepared me to deal with one"
"So? Sirius questioned back.
ZeldaQueen: STOP USING THE WORD "QUESTIONED"!
Tonks shifted again. "You know they're not supposed to come in."
ZeldaQueen: Is it just me, or is Tonk's being awfully shy and nervous. I have a bad feeling that the Suethor will be chickifying Tonks to try to make Holly look better
"They know that we're coming," the Animagus sent right back, "and they have just as much right to be here." His gaze went to the teenagers before going back to Tonks. "Besides, Holly's the only one of us who's actually seen Voldemort since his return.
ZeldaQueen: (Sirius) "I know it's her own fault she saw that and it's not like she expressed any desire to help us out or even come here at all, but she has the right...somehow"
I think that qualifies as having inside information."
ZeldaQueen: That, and Sues always get free passes for this sort of thing
Tonks bit her lip with indecision, but Remus put a hand on her shoulder.
ZeldaQueen: Yep, clumsy foreshadowing ahoy. Now I'm starting to wonder if the Suethor does in fact ship Tonks and Lupin. If she didn't, the two probably wouldn't look at each other sideways. And of course, if the Suethor thinks something ought to happen, she just makes it happen, plot and characterization be damned
She stepped back, which Sirius took as an invitation to open the door. Every eye riveted on him as he strode inside before immediately going to Holly and Blaise, and given the number of Order members present, it was a tad unnerving.
ZeldaQueen: I'd imagine any number of eyes being riveted would be unnerving, as well as painful
Holly didn't know most of the people in the expanded basement kitchen. A few were familiar seeming, as if she'd seen them before or perhaps a relative. But she did recognise some.
ZeldaQueen: Which is an easy and convenient way for an infodump
There was Moody, the real one she assumed, sitting next to a man she belatedly realised was Kingsley Shacklebolt.
ZeldaQueen: How does she know of Shacklebolt? That name has never come up in this fic before now.
Projection Room Voices: Actually, it has
ZeldaQueen: It has? Seriously?
Projection Room Voices: Check your sporking notes
ZeldaQueen: *does so* Hrm, you're right. So it has. My apologizes! This fic is messing with my head more than I thought
Arthur and Molly Weasley were on the other side of the table and didn't seem all that surprised to see them, though her mouth was drawn in a thin line.
ZeldaQueen: If the Suethor dares to have Mrs. Weasley be sweet and maternal to Holly after everything the Sue has done to her and her family, it will not be pleasant. At all
McGonagall was there too, and she gave a nod at Holly's attention. Professor Snape was beside her, and his eyes flashed at the sight of his students, but his face remained passive.
ZeldaQueen: My brain hurts and I don't care
And at the head of the table, Albus Dumbledore just smiled.
ZeldaQueen: Poor guy, the Sue drove him senile.
And I fear how Holly will react to his "I must be distant" decision. Harry was bad enough, but this chick?
--------------------------
AN: I'm tweaking Tom's backstory a bit to fit with the plot. Nothing too major though. Also, this is the fourth draft of this chapter. It just wouldn't come out right.
ZeldaQueen: First of all, you think you're just now "tweaking" his backstory? What do you think you've been doing BEFORE now? He hung bunnies from rafters, robbed children, terrified his fellow orphans, and spent his years at Hogwarts plotting and calculating while easily charming the other teachers and students into thinking he was the most wonderful guy ever. How did you think that gelled with your version, who was bullied and abused every which way?
Second of all, if this is what you thought came out right, I hate to see how the wrong ones went
ZeldaQueen: AND THERE! I FINISHED IT! OH DEAR SWEET LORD IN HEAVEN, IT IS OVER!!! *does a happy dance*
Right. I'm going to take a break until the New Year. I need some Harvest Moon to heal my poor brain. In the meantime, I'll be posting some things to look forward to.
Thank you everyone, for your comments and support on this sporking! HAPPY 2011!!!! *runs off to play Rune Factory*
Onward to: Child Of Grace Spitefics
Back to: Chapter 55: Child Of Destiny (Part 2)
Return to: Table of Contents
Projection Room Voices: Starting Media in 3...2...1...
Chapter 55: Child of Destiny (Part 3)
"I don't see why I can't just go stay with Blaise," Holly commented for what felt like the thousandth time since that morning. When she'd been unceremoniously and quite literally ripped from her bed by her godfather. It was a Saturday, after all. No one in their right mind should be up just after dawn.
ZeldaQueen: Just like no one in their right minds would substitute commas for periods in what ought to have been two sentences up there. Guess what that says about the Suethor?
And yes, she was ignoring the fact that only a few months ago that she would've been one of the crazies up so early.
ZeldaQueen: After all, since when had she let a little thing like "characterization" get in the way of her whining?
This was just the latest in Sirius' string increasingly ridiculous behaviours on his quest to "help" her out of her funk. That list included carrying her still asleep form to the fireplace and Flooing her Luna's house not once but twice in the last week. Not to mention surprise Apparitions to Blaise's for a tea party with his sisters.
ZeldaQueen: Ah yes, because it's so ridiculous to try to get someone out of being isolated and depressed by having them spend time with people, the horror!
And wasn't it not so long ago that she bitched nonstop if anyone made the slightest effort to separate her from her buddies?
Unsurprisingly, Holly gave back as good as she'd gotten. A fact that was evidenced by the lingering blue tint to Sirius' skin and how he would skip every third step.
ZeldaQueen: I do love how Holly retaliates violently whenever she doesn't get her way. It does so make her a sympathetic character, and oh-so pleasant to boot!
Remus naturally was no help in the matter. Aiding and abetting her godfather as he was.
ZeldaQueen: That's right, how dare he care about her wellbeing?
And Holly was beginning to doubt if Tom had even noticed what was going on. He barely emerged from the library, and when he did, his face was always stuck in a book.
ZeldaQueen: I cleverly hid bear traps in the books and when he fell asleep on them... *evil grin*
Chances were that he was purposely avoiding the other three people in the house, which wasn't out of character for him. He was on edge due to the return of his alter ego. Not that Holly could blame him for that one or for his urge to hide away in a dark corner and lick his wounds. It was the Slytherin thing to do. That and plot revenge.
ZeldaQueen: In other words, it's the Slytherin way to sulk be petty instead of make an effort to move on or actually resolve a problem. That doesn't make the Slytherins out to be very pleasant
Of course, she would've appreciated his assistance right about now. It really would've evened the odds stacked against her. Though it was hard to dissuade Sirius Black once he got an idea stuck in his head, and for some reason, he seemed to think that she needed to get out of the house.
ZeldaQueen: Well, Miss Mary Sue, when I was going through a depressed funk, getting out of the house did help. So why don't you show off those many virtues you keep touting and fuck out of here?
And not just that but go to the headquarters for his secret club – The Order of the Phoenix, and yes, that was such a pretentious name.
ZeldaQueen: *stares*
*blinks*
Is there anything at all I need to say to point out how utterly, utterly arrogant and horrible that was?
Not to mention that she just made out like the Order was some child's club or something. Hey Holly, guess what? They're trying to stop Voldemort! I repeat, Harry was acting like he was going through PMS, but at least his focus was "stop Voldemort". You're just floundering around, being a useless bitch and a load. Sirius and Lupin are kind of busy working to stop a genocidal madman and not only are you totally ignoring this and distracting them by making no effort to move on and go with their efforts to pull yourself together, but you look down your nose at said efforts and call it "pretentious".
It's times like these that I remind myself that I just have to make it to the end and this is over
Supposedly, they were run by Dumbledore and tasked with fighting Voldemort, but Holly had seen little evidence of the latter part yet. Thus far, she'd only heard the pair of them complaining about the lack of progress.
ZeldaQueen: I'm so sorry folks. This must be done
FUCK YOU YOU USELESS BITCH! HOW ABOUT YOU MAKE SOME SORT OF EFFORT TO ACHIEVE RESULTS IN FIGHTING VOLDEMORT BEFORE YOU HAVE THE STONES TO CRITICIZE THE EFFORTS OF OTHERS!
"Zabini manor isn't a hotel," Remus responded to her earlier statement, abruptly bringing Holly out of her thoughts. He was in the process of cleaning up the breakfast dishes with his wand after refusing Holly's offer to wash them by hand. He'd quickly recognised the delaying tactic for what it was and had sent her to get her things.
Curses, foiled again.
ZeldaQueen: Why am I supposed to like her? Why?
"I know that, but it'd just be me. Eren's practically given me my own room," she reminded them in a tone that was absolutely not a whine.
ZeldaQueen: Which means that it absolutely actually is
Holly put a hand on her hip as she watched Sirius shrink her bag for her since he knew that she'd only put it off to annoy him. Of course, she technically wasn't supposed to do magic over the summer, but with their wards, no one from the Ministry would ever know.
ZeldaQueen: Actually, I'd imagine that they would.
And I hate that just as much as from the start of Year Three. "Oh, like I'm actually going to be held to their rules or anything! To Hell with that!"
Actually...didn't she remove the wards in a totally bogus and non-canon way? What? Why am I surprised that the Suethor can't remember her own canon?
And besides, it was a stupid law anyway, and neither Sirius nor Remus thought it a good idea for her to go for months without practicing her magic. Not with a madman and his merry band of henchmen on the loose.
ZeldaQueen: Yes, it's not like the law was put into place so that underage witches and wizards wouldn't go running around, hexing Muggles for amusement and showing off and getting the wizarding world in trouble. Nope. Oh, and Holly? Children who are not allowed to use magic over the summer ought to have parents or guardians who can, and I doubt that you'd forget every single thing in a few months.
...Wait a second. If they can't sense her usage of magic, how will the Dementor thing happen? She's cheerfully abandoned the Dursleys, her home with Sirius is hidden, and she shouldn't be under the Trace after the aforementioned Year Three thing.
I also have a nasty feeling that the Suethor is setting up for a Soapbox Rant during the hearing, if she has it
"True. But they don't have the kind of defences that the headquarters has. Not with what my paranoid father put up and after Dumbledore added to it." Sirius handed over her shrunken bag, which would require only a tap to return to full size. "And Eren and Dante do have a life outside of us, you know.
ZeldaQueen: IMAGINE THAT!
They're going to see his sister in Spain later this week, but they already agreed that Blaise can stay behind. With you."
ZeldaQueen: Well then, Blaise doesn't have a life outside of Holly
"As long as an adult is there," Remus added and seemed to smile at the look she gave him.
"So you're basically shipping the two of us off to stay in a strange place with people we don't know," Holly insinuated.
ZeldaQueen: Dude, it's the Order of the Phoenix, not a daycare center! The Weasleys were there because their parents were members and Hermione and Harry were also being cared for by them. They don't just keep children around for the heck of it, especially if their parents have nothing to do with the Order *glares at Blaise*
"The Weasleys will be there," the werewolf countered, now in the midst of spelling the pots and pans back to their proper places.
ZeldaQueen: I don't like where this is going
As if that made it any better. She was up for letting bygones be bygones, but that didn't mean that she wanted to live with Ron and undoubtedly Hermione.
ZeldaQueen: Doesn't sound like she let "bygones be bygones" in that case. She might as well say "Oh yeah, I've forgiven them, but it's not like I want them in my presence or anything!"
With an attitude like that, I can't believe she doesn't know why they dislike her
Fred and George were fun. Percy was tolerable. But Ginny was still creepy.
ZeldaQueen: GINNY IS CREEPY? EXCUSE ME, BUT WHERE EXACTLY IS THE EVIDENCE FOR THAT?
Seriously, there's NONE! The last time her name came up was when she had the gall to want to ask Neville out to the Yule Ball! There has been no evidence of this "creepiness". And this just makes me depressed, because I know that Holly's going to bring Luna and Neville along to the Department, but replace Ron, Hermione, and Ginny with her bland cut-out friends. Or if she does bring them along, her friends will also follow and spend their time mocking the Gryffindors
She didn't know much about the older two Weasley brothers, though the eldest – Bill – was rather attractive.
ZeldaQueen: So of course he gets a free pass *fumes*
Fleur Delacour had written to tell Holly that she'd met him through her new job at Gringotts; it seemed that the pair was quickly becoming more than friends.
ZeldaQueen: Considering how Holly hypocritically considered Fleur a snob and never rescued her sister from the lake, I have to wonder why Fleur would be buddy-buddy enough to correspond with Holly?
Holly considered that possibility before scowling. She wouldn't be distracted from her ire.
ZeldaQueen: No, she won't let the possibility of a good-looking guy keep her from sulking and bitching!
"Not to mention a ton of people that we've never met. How do we know that we can really trust them?" she questioned so-not-rhetorically. "It could all be a plot."
ZeldaQueen: It's a trap!
Seriously, she has got a lot of nerve to go on like this. Not only did she fall into Voldemort's plot last year because of her own idiocy, she has made no effort to find out about this organization that Sirius and Lupin are in, only to scowl and criticize how it's run when it's brought to her attention. Newsflash, princess - you're not a member. You're not the leader. You're not even their waterboy. Sit down and shut up, your opinions matter for zilch
The Animagus snorted and rubbed behind his ear. "If you really believed that, I'd be impressed. But we're not about to have another Wormtail. Members have to take some very specific oaths this time, and Fawkes gets to inspect everyone." He shook his head. "Have you ever tried lying to a phoenix? Nasty stuff that."
ZeldaQueen: I have to wonder what the Suethor's obsession is with Fawkes. Is it just me, or does she seem to...well, favor him a lot?
"Just because they don't support Voldemort doesn't make them good people," she pointed out. "They could be working for the Ministry instead. Part of the heliopath conspiracy. Or baking goblins into pies."
ZeldaQueen: *rolls eyes* Yes, just steal Sirius' "the world isn't divided into good people and Death Eaters" argument
"Been reading the Quibbler again, Holly?" Remus asked with a laugh as it finished putting away the last of the dishes.
ZeldaQueen: No, I think she's on the reading level of candy bar wrappers
She blithely ignored him. They weren't going to budge anyway; she might as well go for the ridiculous.
ZeldaQueen: That implies that she isn't already at the ridiculous
"Or maybe they're in on it with Fawkes. He doesn't seem like the overlord type."
Sirius cocked his head and looked at her with suspicion. "Gods above and below, you make it seem like we're shipping you to Siberia. It's only for a night. Possibly two."
ZeldaQueen: I'm sorry, but why are they so certain that the secret headquarters are the best place for an insane girl to spend a few nights?
"Just to get me out of the house," she grumbled.
"Yes," both men said together.
ZeldaQueen: I'll take it one step farther - get her out of this fic
Holly tapped her bare foot on the floor. "Then, why can't I go to Luna's then? She's offered, and they have enough wards to make Moody envious."
ZeldaQueen: Ward envy. Sweet
She was smart enough to know why Draco's place might be a bad choice, Death Eater father and all. Not to mention Theo or Pansy with their relations. Milli shouldn't be excluded. Nor Cynthia or even Gavin house. But silly Sirius and Remus seemed to think that she needed more adult supervision than they'd provide. And while they trusted her with Xenophilius Lovegood, he did have the tendency to forget himself, his daughter, and the wider world when writing for the Quibbler.
ZeldaQueen: Yet again, why is she so surprised that they won't leave her with people they know won't provide her with proper supervision?
"You're going to the headquarters," Sirius said with finality. He sounded a twinge too much like Molly Weasley, too. Or even Andromeda. Maybe they'd been giving him pointers again.
ZeldaQueen: I hate this fic, I hate the Suethor, and I hate how she constantly ignores Molly Weasley's many good traits in favor of her negative ones
Still Holly wasn't having any of it. She'd grown-up with Vernon's bellowing and Petunia's flying frying pan and had faced-off against a Dark Lord. It was hard to intimidate her.
ZeldaQueen: Which is why she spent most of this fic sobbing and clinging to everyone
"Really? Since you loved Grimmauld Place so much as kid."
ZeldaQueen: *stares* I really hope Sirius murders her by the end of this
She'd heard enough to know that it was dark, dank, and depressing. Just the place they should send a Slytherin. Really, it was just like being back in the dungeons at school. Only less hygienic since no one had lived there for years. And it was probably filled with all sorts of cursed objects and severed heads if she knew anything about the Blacks. Perhaps a body or two. A few torture chambers.
ZeldaQueen: Yes, perhaps a body or two. Like your own, you little brat!
Kid stuff, really. So damn family friendly.
That must've shown on her face too since Sirius pinched the bridge of his nose as though pained. But possibly, that was only because he'd finally grasped that he was in all but fact the parent of a teenager and until that moment hadn't really understood what that entailed.
ZeldaQueen: Saying she is a teenager does NOT give her free pass to act like this
Or perhaps all his childhood sins were merely revisiting him. McGonagall really had cast a Karma curse like she'd so often threatened. The universe's sweet, sweet vengeance.
ZeldaQueen: I doubt that. No one deserves a Mary Sue
"No," he told her then, "I absolutely hate the place. I loathe it with every fibre of my being and more besides. But Voldemort's back, and there are only so many places I feel are safe enough for you, and you really do need to get out of this house. Even if it's to go there." He lifted his chin. "And you. Are. Going."
ZeldaQueen: Thank you Sirius, for showing some amount of backbone here
Holly crossed her arms over her chest. "Yes, mum. If you so insist."
ZeldaQueen: Great. Now, someone whallop her with the broom
"I do insist." But her godfather sighed then. "Don't be that way, pup. You know that I'm only trying to look out for you. That we-" And he jerked his thumb between himself and Remus, "-are only trying to look out for you."
ZeldaQueen: I'm looking out for her too. And when I see her coming, I duck behind a rock with a sword at the ready...
Holly didn't want to give in. She didn't. She was a stubborn, slimy Slytherin just like Snape had taught them. But Sirius' sad puppy expression was just too much sometimes. All the time.
She crumbled completely.
ZeldaQueen: Oh dear lord, don't I wish!
"Fine."
He instantly brightened like the sun coming out from behind a cloud. "Splendid." Sirius jerked his wand towards the entrance hall. "Here's your shoes. Don't forget to put on some socks first."
ZeldaQueen: Because what would this fic be, without it's usual dose of banality?
Holly merely sighed as she got ready, and she was just finishing up when Blaise Flooed over. But it evaporated when he greeted her with a kiss to the cheek that made her smile and Sirius' eyes narrow.
ZeldaQueen: Yes, kisses on the cheek are just so platonic.
Yes, I know some people do kiss on the cheek as a greeting. It's when you take all of the holding and cuddling and sappy "I'd burn cities for you" things that make it more suspect
Apparently, he'd only just realised that while they'd have other adults present, he wouldn't be there the next few days to be on the lookout.
ZeldaQueen: Wait...so he knew he was leaving Blaise and Holly at the headquarters while he himself wasn't there...and only now did he realize that he wouldn't be able to watch them?
She threw a smirk over her shoulder at him and was still smirking when Remus wrapped her in a hug and Apparited them to a nondescript and shaded part of a park somewhere in London.
ZeldaQueen: *is on her knees praying to God to end the smirking*
Sirius and Blaise appeared a second later, and the four of them walked over the grass to the far side and then through several residential neighbourhoods that had certainly seen better days. The homes became decidedly bigger and somewhat cleaner as they walked until they came to a corner. The two adults paused, while Remus reached into an inner pocket and pulled out a folded slip of paper. It took longer to walk to the spot a townhouse had just appeared than it did for Blaise and Holly to memorise the information, and she couldn't help but lift a brow at the sight before them.
ZeldaQueen: Of course now that the plot has shown up, the details have scampered off. How silly to expect otherwise
Sure, Holly knew about Fidelius, but if she hadn't known this was a secret headquarters, she'd honestly wonder why on earth anyone would ever bother to hide this place. It was certainly nondescript enough compared to the street as a whole, and nothing about it screamed wizarding folk or anything at all magical.
ZeldaQueen: It's the home of wizards who were old Pureblood supremacists and who Sirius outright said were paranoid and she wonders why they hid themselves from a Muggle neighborhood?
Purebloods weren't known for being subtle about that sort of thing, but the Blacks apparently took paranoia to a whole new level. Even their unplottable and hidden house was ordinary enough outside to escape notice.
ZeldaQueen: Unfortunately, the Sue still found the place
The inside wasn't any better. If anything it was worse, and this was after weeks of cleaning. Holly hated to imagine what it had looked like when Sirius had opened it at the end of June.
ZeldaQueen: (Sue) "Ick, you haven't cleaned it properly by the time I got here? What's wrong with you?"
Even now, it looked like the tomb of some long dead Dark Lord. While it wasn't dusty – much – cobwebs stretched across every corner, and all of the fixtures were tarnished. The carpet was threadbare, the wallpaper was peeling, and even the portraits on the wall were blackened and dingy with age and lack of care.
ZeldaQueen: I don't know, maybe a couple of throw pillows...
No wonder Sirius hated it here. This place was everything his house wasn't.
ZeldaQueen: She pretty much figured he didn't like the house because it was dirty and messy. Somehow, it reminds me of Meyer and her "rich is happy, poor is miserable" themes
A mental tingle was her only forewarning when Tonks popped out of a doorway as if summoned by magic. Holly couldn't help that notice she walked with exaggerated care as she approached. As though a single misstep might set off a landmine.
ZeldaQueen: Little did she know that the Order knew she was coming and had riddled the hall with landmines. One misstep sent the Sue sky-high in fifty different pieces, and canon quickly returned to normal
"Wotcher, Holly. Blaise. Cousin. Remus," the Auror greeted with a wave and shake of her short purple hair. "'Bout time you lot showed up. We've been waiting for you."
ZeldaQueen: Oh no, Tonks has forgotten her commas!
"We said that we'd be by after breakfast," Remus admonished, but Holly still saw that he smiled at Tonks rather winningly.
ZeldaQueen: Is this supposed to be foreshadowing? Because if so, the Suethor seems to have missed the point of their relationship, that he was afraid his lycanthropy would make her miserable with him
Tonks grinned back and then promptly tripped over an umbrella stand. She nearly crashed headfirst into a set of moth-eaten curtains, which suddenly opened to reveal the portrait of an old and drooling woman.
ZeldaQueen: It was the physical representation of canon. "LEAVE MY PRESENCE! SUUUUUUE!!! SUUUUUUUEEEE!!!" it screeched
"Filth! Scum!" the portrait screeched as she took one look at them, yellow eyes rolling around. "By-products of dirt and vileness! Half-breeds, mutants, freaks, be gone from this place! How dare you befoul the house of my fathers-"
ZeldaQueen: Oh wow, I was right! The portrait does recognize Mary Sues!
She abruptly came to a halt as she caught sight of Sirius.
ZeldaQueen: (Mrs. Black) "ANOTHER Mary Sue? How do you keep managing this, boy?"
"Youuuuuuuu!" And if anything, her yelling grew louder. "Blood-traitor! Abomination! Shame of my flesh!"The shrieking was horrible. Ear-splitting even. Like someone under the Cruciatus or her egg from the second task or Draco singing in the shower.
ZeldaQueen: And yet apparently no one else heard this and tried to close the curtains
Her voice rose in volume with every hate-filled word, and Holly saw Sirius' face grow cold and distant as he lifted his wand. The spell was nearly colourless, and he cast it silently, but the woman abruptly cut off mid-word. The following quiet was nearly deafening itself. Holly knew that her eyes were huge as she turned to her godfather, and a glance at Blaise showed that he was in a similar state. Both of them could only stare as they watched Sirius lower his wand with a nasty and all too Slytherin smirk before looking at them.
ZeldaQueen: SIRIUS HATED SLYTHERIN! DON'T YOU DARE ASSOCIATE SLYTHERIN WITH HIM!
"I see that you've finally met my mother, Holly. Your dear grand-godmother."
Holly visibly jolted. "Your…"
ZeldaQueen: Yep. Rather distressing to learn that not all pureblood Old Name people were pretty and royal-like, eh?
And suddenly, so much about his pathological hatred for his parents was made painfully clear. The silence obviously showed that Blaise had realised the same thing, and there was a pause as they gaped at the old woman in the portrait, her mouth moving furiously but without sound. Only the noise of their breathing and the creak of the house around them filled the hallway.
"Well, I can see where you get your smashing good looks and witty charm," Blaise deadpanned a few heartbeats later.
ZeldaQueen: Oh shut up and go away!
There was a tick. Then, Sirius let out a barking laugh and shot the woman a triumphant look as he shut the curtains in her face once more. If he made a rude gesture afterward, no one commented.
ZeldaQueen: Sirius was always in a foul temper after dealing with her. What are you talking about?
"Normal Silencing charm won't work on her," the Animagus complained as they proceeded down the hallway, waving off Tonks' apologies. "Had to look up something stronger. Can't get her down either. Not without taking out the whole damn wall, and it's a loadbearing one."
ZeldaQueen: Too bad Rose Potter didn't get that memo
Holly nodded dazedly as they came to a set of stairs and went down. Tonks shifted almost uneasily as Sirius walked up to the closed door at the bottom.
"There's a meeting in progress," she told them. Her eyes then strayed to Blaise and Holly.
ZeldaQueen: (Tonks) "Did you have to bring the Mary Sue? I'm not sure my Auror training fully prepared me to deal with one"
"So? Sirius questioned back.
ZeldaQueen: STOP USING THE WORD "QUESTIONED"!
Tonks shifted again. "You know they're not supposed to come in."
ZeldaQueen: Is it just me, or is Tonk's being awfully shy and nervous. I have a bad feeling that the Suethor will be chickifying Tonks to try to make Holly look better
"They know that we're coming," the Animagus sent right back, "and they have just as much right to be here." His gaze went to the teenagers before going back to Tonks. "Besides, Holly's the only one of us who's actually seen Voldemort since his return.
ZeldaQueen: (Sirius) "I know it's her own fault she saw that and it's not like she expressed any desire to help us out or even come here at all, but she has the right...somehow"
I think that qualifies as having inside information."
ZeldaQueen: That, and Sues always get free passes for this sort of thing
Tonks bit her lip with indecision, but Remus put a hand on her shoulder.
ZeldaQueen: Yep, clumsy foreshadowing ahoy. Now I'm starting to wonder if the Suethor does in fact ship Tonks and Lupin. If she didn't, the two probably wouldn't look at each other sideways. And of course, if the Suethor thinks something ought to happen, she just makes it happen, plot and characterization be damned
She stepped back, which Sirius took as an invitation to open the door. Every eye riveted on him as he strode inside before immediately going to Holly and Blaise, and given the number of Order members present, it was a tad unnerving.
ZeldaQueen: I'd imagine any number of eyes being riveted would be unnerving, as well as painful
Holly didn't know most of the people in the expanded basement kitchen. A few were familiar seeming, as if she'd seen them before or perhaps a relative. But she did recognise some.
ZeldaQueen: Which is an easy and convenient way for an infodump
There was Moody, the real one she assumed, sitting next to a man she belatedly realised was Kingsley Shacklebolt.
ZeldaQueen: How does she know of Shacklebolt? That name has never come up in this fic before now.
Projection Room Voices: Actually, it has
ZeldaQueen: It has? Seriously?
Projection Room Voices: Check your sporking notes
ZeldaQueen: *does so* Hrm, you're right. So it has. My apologizes! This fic is messing with my head more than I thought
Arthur and Molly Weasley were on the other side of the table and didn't seem all that surprised to see them, though her mouth was drawn in a thin line.
ZeldaQueen: If the Suethor dares to have Mrs. Weasley be sweet and maternal to Holly after everything the Sue has done to her and her family, it will not be pleasant. At all
McGonagall was there too, and she gave a nod at Holly's attention. Professor Snape was beside her, and his eyes flashed at the sight of his students, but his face remained passive.
ZeldaQueen: My brain hurts and I don't care
And at the head of the table, Albus Dumbledore just smiled.
ZeldaQueen: Poor guy, the Sue drove him senile.
And I fear how Holly will react to his "I must be distant" decision. Harry was bad enough, but this chick?
--------------------------
AN: I'm tweaking Tom's backstory a bit to fit with the plot. Nothing too major though. Also, this is the fourth draft of this chapter. It just wouldn't come out right.
ZeldaQueen: First of all, you think you're just now "tweaking" his backstory? What do you think you've been doing BEFORE now? He hung bunnies from rafters, robbed children, terrified his fellow orphans, and spent his years at Hogwarts plotting and calculating while easily charming the other teachers and students into thinking he was the most wonderful guy ever. How did you think that gelled with your version, who was bullied and abused every which way?
Second of all, if this is what you thought came out right, I hate to see how the wrong ones went
ZeldaQueen: AND THERE! I FINISHED IT! OH DEAR SWEET LORD IN HEAVEN, IT IS OVER!!! *does a happy dance*
Right. I'm going to take a break until the New Year. I need some Harvest Moon to heal my poor brain. In the meantime, I'll be posting some things to look forward to.
Thank you everyone, for your comments and support on this sporking! HAPPY 2011!!!! *runs off to play Rune Factory*
Onward to: Child Of Grace Spitefics
Back to: Chapter 55: Child Of Destiny (Part 2)
Return to: Table of Contents
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Date: 2010-12-30 02:42 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-12-30 03:37 am (UTC)I really hope it never is. I'd say the chances are 50-50 though. Unlike Halcyon, this Suethor appears to have planned out how the story will go, however she is kept pretty busy with her med school stuff. So yeah.
(no subject)
Date: 2010-12-30 07:57 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-12-30 01:16 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-12-30 09:44 am (UTC)Also, you know how you've mentioned the fics would stand just fine if Holly weren't even a character? How would you like a spitefic written from that perspective? With all the secondary characters remaining as sociopathic as written? I would, however, need advice on where to set it, if possible, to find the original?
Just curious, because you've said that a couple times, and I thought you might find it interesting. Also, it's inspiring (I'v been writing a lot lately)
(no subject)
Date: 2010-12-30 01:13 pm (UTC)That would be fantastic! Perhaps it could be set during one of the times when Holly just sits there, like when everyone else figures out how to solve the First Task? By original, do you mean what the Suethor actually uploaded? Because it's on fanfiction.net, just search for "Child of Grace"
If you do write it, please let me know! :D That would be so sweet to see!
(no subject)
Date: 2010-12-30 08:53 pm (UTC)And then I suppose I'd better at least see the fullness of her uselessness in the original.
I'll see what I can do! If I can finish it, and my brain doesn't leak out my ears, I'll definitely send you a link :)
(no subject)
Date: 2010-12-31 01:58 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-12-30 08:17 pm (UTC)It would be beyond hilarious if LAdT and moonofthesea turned out to be the same person. She's got this obsession with using "questioned" and other (pardon the pun) questionable dialogue tags and pretentious purple prose as well.
Congrats on finishing the story so far, and good luck for the future sporkings! :)
(no subject)
Date: 2010-12-31 04:00 am (UTC)Thanks! :) There's some real stinkers lined up, though I don't think any of them are as bad as this. Here's to 2011! :D
(no subject)
Date: 2010-12-30 09:46 pm (UTC)Finally, Holly whispered to herself. The Order meeting had been as horrible as she could have imagined, and the Weasley brats had insisted on trying to talk to her, but she had managed to escape to her room. She mentally called to Tom, who obligingly emerged from his diary to greet her.
"Tom, you wouldn't believe how obnoxious Ginny has been," Holly began, narrowing her eyes at the mere memory of the redhead's behavior. "But of course, her pathetic little attempts at conversation don't interest me..."
Tom had the nerve to cut her off. "Your pathetic attempts at conversation, to borrow your own phrase, don't interest me either."
His eyes were cold, the friendly glint Holly had grown accustomed to completely gone. The tiny girl stared in shock, expression even more blank than usual.
"I should kill you right here and now, Holly Potter," he continued, his voice deep and harsh. "I should have done so in the graveyard, after the third task."
"Tom," the female Slytherin interjected, "What's the matter? You know that you had no control over what happened then. Voldemort was merely a mistake you made. There's no need to angst over what you've done, or to feel that you are the same person as that monster."
"Do I truly need to spell it out for you?" Tom spat, picking up Holly's wand and waving it in sharp patterns. The words TOM MARVOLO RIDDLE shimmered just long enough for Holly to perceive them before the letters rearranged themselves to read I AM LORD VOLDEMORT.
"I would have expected that even a child as stupid as you would have bothered to research the 'soul-splitting' excuse I gave. I suppose I might as well spell it out for you, then. I am a Horcrux, a piece of Voldemort's soul."
A smirk spread across Holly's face. "I'll tell Blaise," she announced smugly. "He said he'd destroy cities for me. He'll destroy you."
"You will do nothing of the sort," Tom replied coldly. "You have given me all your secrets, opened your heart to me. I control you now. Have none of your friends noticed what a sociopath you've become, precious Holly? Or do they turn a blind eye because you're the great, the famous, Holly Potter? Oh, I could do anything I like with you. Send you out to kill that Mudblood you already so despise. Have you throw your precious 'bondmate' off the Astronomy Tower. I've already used you, Potter. Yesterday, when you woke up at one and thought it was morning? Wouldn't you like to know where you really were that night? It wasn't asleep in bed as your idiotic godfather is all too willing to believe...."
Holly glared at him, eyes narrow and flashing as though she were ready to spit fire. No one had ever failed to be cowed by the threat of her anger. Tom ignored her.
"Yes, Potter, I can toy with you as much as I wish. But I won't. It's time for me to do what I should have done last summer in the graveyard, what I should have done as soon as you lost the Dursleys' blood protection." He pointed Holly's wand towards her.
"Avada Kedavra."
(no subject)
Date: 2010-12-31 12:44 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-01-02 07:05 am (UTC)But that was as a READER. As a READER, I can think such things. As a character in Holly's position? Utterly unsupportable, unacceptable, and all other terms of *wrong* as I can't think of a the moment.
And if, as a reader, it bothered you that much, why not change the name? (I mean, ugh, but since everything else is being "fixed" in this fic, she may as well). Oh, it's all so Holly can feel superior.
You know, I hadn't realized how much that bothered me.
(no subject)
Date: 2011-01-07 08:57 pm (UTC)Anyway, hearty congratulations and all around!
Here's hoping the next chapter ne'er see the light of day.
(no subject)
Date: 2011-01-07 08:58 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-01-07 10:51 pm (UTC)I'm kind of torn. I hate this writing and would be glad to never have to spork another bit of it again, but there's the tiniest bit of me that's curious as to how it's going to end. Given how the Suethor complained about Rowling stealing her epilogue idea, I have a sinking feeling that marriage and spawn are in the cards. :(
About Kingsley...
Date: 2011-10-26 09:25 pm (UTC)Anyways, great sporking!
This is one of the most tedious and infuriating fics I have ever read, and you have done a great job tearing it to shreds.
*Applauds*
Re: About Kingsley...
Date: 2011-10-27 05:05 am (UTC)And thank you very much! ^_^
(no subject)
Date: 2012-06-07 06:55 pm (UTC)I was poking around the reviews (disturbingly mostly positive), and I ran across this gem and I had to share:
"the changes are not at all subtle but the story line is still present that much is known. how you somehow change the transition of events yet keep the initial plot of the story is amazing! and i like the way you subtly! bashed Ron and Hermione and even Ginny."
I'm not sure which is funnier, that she thinks the was Azar creates huge plot holes by skipping over important events, changing things, then jumping back to canon is "amazing" or that she thinks the Hermione and Weasley bashing was "subtle".
Anyway, thanks a lot for this... interesting trip through Child of Grace.
(no subject)
Date: 2012-12-04 05:17 pm (UTC)...And then I read this fic, and realized I would of had to include HER in it. There goes the 'Sueniverse'.
(no subject)
Date: 2013-07-03 07:43 pm (UTC)What the hell? Did the Suethor really just call the resistance against Voldemort a secret club with a pretentious name? Does she even know what they did? They fought Voldemort! They saved lives! And some of them died because they did. All those Order casualties, they weren't kids who played at fighting. The Order is not a stupid club with a pretentious name.
That's it, then? She hasn't updated since? Still stuck in med school? Long may she languish there, I say. And great job on the sporking! *toasts you with a bottle of ginger ale*
(no subject)
Date: 2015-01-13 12:45 am (UTC)I wonder how it would have ended
Date: 2015-10-14 12:24 pm (UTC)That said, it just baffles me that this story managed to get so many positive reviews and praise :/ the character of Holly isn't terribly well-written; she just strikes me as the usual Bella Swan clone who likes to mope about, only to whine and cry and pitch tantrums when she doesn't get her way. Charming.
Lastly, this may sound like a bit of a dumb question; but why are these sort of 'what if' fanfics so popular in the Harry Potter fandom? You know, the ones where the author will change or remove an element they feel Rowling got 'wrong'. I mean, I know it's common for people to have on aspect of the canon or characters they don't like or disagree with, but it's pretty damn arrogant to say that you know Rowling's world better than she does!
And for that reason, I can't help but recall another particularly bad example of this sort of fic- one of those wish-fulfillment alternate histories where Snape ended up with Lily. I remember that the young Sev was depicted as this misunderstood boy genius who's So Much Better than Everyone Else, and James was- surprise surprise- bashed into oblivion and painted as a mustache-twirling dickbag. How lovely.
Sorry for the rant that ended up turning into; but I really hate fics like this- despite the fact that many of them have premises that aren't half-bad- and I fail to understand why so many of them get so much popularity and rave reviews :/
Re: I wonder how it would have ended
Date: 2015-11-14 10:25 pm (UTC)In all fairness, there are also people who think Bella is a clever, funny woobie. I think in both cases, it comes down to going off of what is said instead of what actually happens, which means that the implications of how the characters behave isn't really noticed. I also think the fact that the suethor attempted a writing style that sounded professional and wrote a fic that wasn't exactly tiny contributed to making it memorable by FF.net standards.
I don't necessarily think it's a problem exclusive to Harry Potter itself. It definitely comes across as pretty noticeable for the fandom though, probably because it's a really big fandom and series in general. Not to mention, Rowling's usually accepted as a good writer, so saying that one knows better comes across more arrogant than, say, declaring that one can write a better story than Stephenie Meyer (which yeah, the Twilight fandom is another that has fics that seriously change canon, but fewer people seem to care because that canon isn't exactly a prize).
Honestly, people being smug or angry or crazy and trying to Do It Better has gone on in the literary world for ages. I just think the internet has made it depressingly easy for those people to put their work out there for all to see. :/