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rate_review Reviews

for Changing of the Guard

by Lomonaaeren

person N/A
schedule April 27, 2008 at 12:00 AM
You're a genius.

I don't think I can sum my thoughts up better than that, actually. I don't like the Harry Potter series, much. The fanfic is one of my guilty pleasures due to the ideas that some people come up with. This fic is one of those, one of those stories where I don't care what world it's set in- the sheer quality of it is breathtaking.

I don't entirely agree however, with the general opinion that Harry is sick. I think that, when it comes down to it, he doesn't have any more of a problem than your average person with a self-confidence problem- but because he has all that power, his method of dealing with it is far grander than the aforementioned average person.

Which is another point, to be fair. Harry's method of dealing with his self-confidence problem makes him stronger than he knows. Many people, upon being faced with low self-esteem would simply go through life like that, unable or unwilling (or unwilling to believe) that they can change it.

Harry? Harry has taken his 'problem' and made it his strength. He doesn't like who he is- so he becomes somebody he does like. That's a lot of work, a lot of training and a lot of equipment needed, yet Harry has paid the price for it gladly. The sheer dedication it requires to pull something like this off tells me that if Harry can do it, there is very obvious merit that I'm not sure is held back at all.

Think about it. Apart from anything else, Harry has created, from scratch, a flourishing business that not only brings in money but also in a very real sense, helps people. That does not strike me as a problem.

I think that, with a few basic realizations, you basically have to admit that Harry is more well-rounded and possesses more strength of character than he knows. His ability to act out his personas down to such a fine-tuned level, even on an emotional basis, is a clear indicator of that.

Ah hell. Now I'm rambling too much.

In any case, if I had to pick out any single flaw, I'd have to say it's the penseive. It's a fun idea, and very fitting for his situation, but the problem is the ease with which it could be abused.

As an example, let me lay a situation out. Harry creates a persona which is, effectively, a 'better' version of Harry Potter. He takes his own personality and, in his mind, re-builds it to be who he wants to be, while keeping it clear in his mind that this person has all the memories he has- including all the other personas. The potential for that sort of thing when combined with this special penseive is vast.
schedule April 27, 2008 at 12:00 AM
I loved this chapter; it was very engaging. I liked how we got to see more of Harry's motives behind Metamorphosis.
Hehe, now I wonder what will happen with the Harry, Draco and Aurors. Ggh, the suspense is killing me. xD
person avihenda
schedule April 27, 2008 at 12:00 AM
nice read, like allways.
keep it up!
person Jan
schedule April 27, 2008 at 12:00 AM
Please update chapter 22 soon!

Jan
schedule April 27, 2008 at 12:00 AM
Argh! Damn the arrogance! I honestly gave Draco more credit than that, however his pride is much more canon to the Malfoy portrayed in the books. Everyone else seems quite all right with the way that Harry runs Metamorphosis, however, I have to disagree. He's fracturing his personality, how is that healthy? I could understand the impulse to become something you're not, to disappear into another world, another psyche, but it's not healthy. It's hiding, it's running away, it's managing to not deal with your problems. I attribute it to your writing style that you have managed to make Harry's justifications so persuasive just as you did with Draco's rationalizations of how he eventually would have discovered Harry's true identity. Which is appropriate as you're writing from Harry's perspective and he would be able to justify his own actions. Well done! But I, personally, don't buy it. Perhaps I would have been convinced if Harry's own, true, makeup wasn't being pushed so far below the surface and if his morals weren't being stripped away in favor of personalities that don't have them (did everyone forget about his plan to separate himself from Draco, screw the consequences?). The fact that these personalities are more real to him than his own and that he is forgetting himself amongst them is...well, to put it ineloquently, bad. It is, in essence, dissociative identity disorder, and perhaps if it were put that way people wouldn't see it as acceptable. I find Harry's versions of himself intriguing, but not exactly...good. However, we all have versions of ourselves we show to different people and I don't find this as terrifying, however, the fact that they were all so close to the surface and seemed to flicker one after another is slightly worrying. Oh, and you don't have to convince me Harry's smart! I am in awe of both Harry and Draco's intellect, they both think twelve steps into an action before I've even considered one. So, you are doing fantastically in the psychology department, I know, I'm a psych major. Brilliant! Anyway, I enjoyed this update, sorry I'm not among the majority here in my notions of Harry, I could be completely wrong but that's my opinion. Thanks for the update, I hope we'll get another soon! You're amazing!

By the way, I am dying to know what Narcissa's plan of action will be. I truly love her strength of character and I rarely enjoy her involvement. Thanks!
person qwerty
schedule April 27, 2008 at 12:00 AM
Cliffie! This story keeps getting better and better.
How will Harry overcome this fear of being hurt by others who know the true Harry? Because, they way the story is going right now, Harry won't ever realize this and will continue to be content with the status quo. It is a bit eerie to read how Harry thinks of himself. "Draco won't realize that there were 3 different Harry Potters in his bed that afternoon." It's like conscious Multiple Personality Disorder.
Great chapter
update!
schedule April 27, 2008 at 12:00 AM
Harry doesn't want to leave Draco, but he has devised a plan to make the progression to the split up as exhilirating as possible.
A new set of characters, based entirely on himself. However he has to be careful, other characters already exist and they can enter
or exit at any time. Draco has the idea in his head that now that he has Harry he only has to get through to that crucial final
secret to be in like Flint. He's under estimated Harry's acting skills, he did not recognize anything about,and indeed was disdainful
of Gouldier, if he doesn't realize his mistakes, he could be set back in the fight to be the first to have everything figured out.
Thank you,
Lunatic with a Hero Complex

person Caldonya
schedule April 27, 2008 at 12:00 AM
Great Chapter! I really liked the part with Elizabeth.Are you eventually going to explain where Harry gets these ideas about himself from? I;m sure If you do it will be really near the end. The complexity of this story is amazing.
person avihenda
schedule April 26, 2008 at 12:00 AM
great chapter. Looking forward to the next chapter, like allways.
schedule April 26, 2008 at 12:00 AM
I forgot who I was dealing with...you're the Queen of twists, turns, and general overall mind fucks! lol. I have no idea what's coming, and I LOVE that about your stories. But I'm gonna take a guess anyway.

So, now that we have some insight into how much Harry really ENJOYS doing what he does, I have some conflicted feelings about it all now. At first I just thought that perhaps Harry had an unhealthy need to lose himself because he hates himself and lacks the confidence to live as Harry...now I'm not so sure. We all have things we like to indulge in, and who's to say at what point those things are necessary and a part of us and when they are obsessions and crutches we use to escape from ourselves? Metamorphasis may be a crutch for a insecure Harry but it also seems to be like something that's he can be proud of and that can give him a sense of accomplishment and fulfillment as well. Who am I to judge that...The only thing that gives me pause about it all is the way he's isolated himself from any type of real intimacy and that damned Pensieve thing he's keeping locked up. I just want him to find balance between what he enjoys and does well and making a connection with someone who cares about him. The 3 Harry's in bed with Draco was so fascinating, and I'm sure most people have at least 2 versions of themselves they use when interacting with others. Harry just happens to be in touch with all of his personalities. And dammit, Draco ALMOST had it didn't he? so damn close, but of course his pride and arrogance couldn't reach past another explanation for why Harry was doing that well practiced wrist movement. I thought that Draco might recognize Harry as Elizabeth but when he didn't I realized that Harry doesn't really need that pensieve thing at all, if he wants to go through life burying himself he can. I really hate his little plan to diss Draco and I hope Draco can control his emotions long enough to remember that Harry is plotting. But what do you have up your sleeve that will wreck both of their plans?

So here's my guess: Something tells me that Harry writing to Narcissa was a BAD idea, especially telling her how he plans to HURT her son...you don't f*ck with Narcissa's favorite son, even if it will produce a outcome she thought she wanted. I guess I'll have to wait 3 agonizing days to see if I was right or not. God I love this story!!! Great update AS USUAL! : )))