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November 3, 2003 at 12:00 AM
Hello ambi -
It\'s not my habit to reply to reviews, but since you took the time and trouble to make your point intelligently, I felt an explanation wouldn\'t be out of place. Also, the act of writing this response helps me to better clarify to myself the reasons for writing my characters the way I do. Unfortunately, I have to answer you here because email sent to the address you gave was returned as undeliverable.
First (and most obvious) is the fact that every writer\'s characterization of these two will be different, and not always in strict accordance with canon. As I see it, that\'s kind of the point of fan fiction - to create situations, personality traits, etc. that were never touched on by the original author.
Second, I got tired of Hermione\'s perpetual \"Superwoman\" status. True, she is intelligent and intuitive. But in my view, she is also still very much a Muggle, albeit a magically proficient one. She grew up as one, and her identity is firmly rooted in that fact - therefore, her most deeply ingrained thought processes are naturally in line with those of other Muggles. She instinctively applies Muggle logic first to magical situations, because her mind has been trained to think that way from birth. Even six years of magicaucatucation can\'t change that. I find it inevitable that these two will clash at some point - i.e., she will attempt (and fail) to get her mind around a situation \"Muggle-style\", when what she really needs to do is use her inborn magical instincts and think like a true witch, to truly *know* and *feel* her magical side as opposed to merely studying it and considering it a tool.
Third, the characterization of Severus Snape. In my story, this cold, bitter and tortured man finds himself thrown headlong into a situation he never could have foreseen for himself, as well as having to deal with emotions he has never felt before. Even the most accomplished and intelligent of beings will falter when faced with something this foreign to their nature, something that threatens their very concept of themselves as a person. In a sense, by suddenly being exposed to this overwhelming light, Snape faces a kind of annihilation as the man he has always been is replaced by thn hen he is forced to become. And annihilation, as we know, is one of the greatest fears of all sentient beings.
I don\'t feel that either of them are \"dunces\". I do feel, however, that they are each doing their best to deal with the difficult changes they\'re going through while trying very hard not to reveal that struggle to anyone else - especially each other. I know from extensive personal experience that intelligence and skill does not prevent people from acting uncharacteristically when suddenly placed in a frightening and disorienting circumstance. If it can happen to me, it can certainly happen to Severus and Hermione.
In closing, may I respectfully recommend that you read (if you haven\'t already) some of the other SS/HG authors on aff.net. I\'m sure you\'ll find that many of them employ characterizations more in line with what you seek.
Thank you for taking the time to read my story.
Tater Chip Girl
It\'s not my habit to reply to reviews, but since you took the time and trouble to make your point intelligently, I felt an explanation wouldn\'t be out of place. Also, the act of writing this response helps me to better clarify to myself the reasons for writing my characters the way I do. Unfortunately, I have to answer you here because email sent to the address you gave was returned as undeliverable.
First (and most obvious) is the fact that every writer\'s characterization of these two will be different, and not always in strict accordance with canon. As I see it, that\'s kind of the point of fan fiction - to create situations, personality traits, etc. that were never touched on by the original author.
Second, I got tired of Hermione\'s perpetual \"Superwoman\" status. True, she is intelligent and intuitive. But in my view, she is also still very much a Muggle, albeit a magically proficient one. She grew up as one, and her identity is firmly rooted in that fact - therefore, her most deeply ingrained thought processes are naturally in line with those of other Muggles. She instinctively applies Muggle logic first to magical situations, because her mind has been trained to think that way from birth. Even six years of magicaucatucation can\'t change that. I find it inevitable that these two will clash at some point - i.e., she will attempt (and fail) to get her mind around a situation \"Muggle-style\", when what she really needs to do is use her inborn magical instincts and think like a true witch, to truly *know* and *feel* her magical side as opposed to merely studying it and considering it a tool.
Third, the characterization of Severus Snape. In my story, this cold, bitter and tortured man finds himself thrown headlong into a situation he never could have foreseen for himself, as well as having to deal with emotions he has never felt before. Even the most accomplished and intelligent of beings will falter when faced with something this foreign to their nature, something that threatens their very concept of themselves as a person. In a sense, by suddenly being exposed to this overwhelming light, Snape faces a kind of annihilation as the man he has always been is replaced by thn hen he is forced to become. And annihilation, as we know, is one of the greatest fears of all sentient beings.
I don\'t feel that either of them are \"dunces\". I do feel, however, that they are each doing their best to deal with the difficult changes they\'re going through while trying very hard not to reveal that struggle to anyone else - especially each other. I know from extensive personal experience that intelligence and skill does not prevent people from acting uncharacteristically when suddenly placed in a frightening and disorienting circumstance. If it can happen to me, it can certainly happen to Severus and Hermione.
In closing, may I respectfully recommend that you read (if you haven\'t already) some of the other SS/HG authors on aff.net. I\'m sure you\'ll find that many of them employ characterizations more in line with what you seek.
Thank you for taking the time to read my story.
Tater Chip Girl
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October 28, 2003 at 12:00 AM
Ok. You are forgiven.
Do post at wiktt a note so we could read as soon as you updated.
Thanks
Do post at wiktt a note so we could read as soon as you updated.
Thanks
schedule
October 27, 2003 at 12:00 AM
You started off with a promising plot, and great writing skills. But why, oh *why* do you make hermione and severus such dunces? You know they deserve better characterizations than what you have given them. It pains me to see them written in such a manner. Hermione in particular. Especially considering she is a sixth year in this fic. She\'s behaving as she would have in her 2nd year. She was even quicker on her toes than this in her third year. Give her the intelligence she deserves. She is acting like the idiots harry and ron are.
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October 27, 2003 at 12:00 AM
Oh, and just to be more specific, I\'m nto talking about their \"does s/he or doesn\'t s/he love me!?\" moments. Those are pretty standard, no matter the characterizations of the two. But rather just their lack of thinking, of understanding of situations, of integrating different, nonintuitively connected concepts, etc, where they would typically have much more than what you\'ve given them.
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October 20, 2003 at 12:00 AM
Okee Dokee, you\'re back. It\'s Oct 20th now and I still don\'t see anything new! As Prof. Umbridge says \"Ahem-hem!\"
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October 17, 2003 at 12:00 AM
really enjoyed your story....are you going to update soon?
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October 6, 2003 at 12:00 AM
WHERE ARE YOU? Your fans have been desperately waiting for a new chapter. I know I am not alone. Don\'t let this fic go. It has so much potential.
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September 26, 2003 at 12:00 AM
It\'s great to see that you\'re back! I\'ve been anxiously awaiting the next chapter!
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September 26, 2003 at 12:00 AM
Please update soon!
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September 24, 2003 at 12:00 AM
This story is absolutely fantastic so far. You have completely captivated me and I\'m absolutely salivating at the promise of more chapters. Your descriptions are wonderful, you characters perfectly in character. Keep up the fabulous work!