#is this considered dumbledore bashing

[oxydiane]

Anarchy

a state of disorder due to absence or non-recognition of authority or other controlling systems.

‘You can’t do this!’ Marlene shrieks and the other members of the Order can only watch with clenched fists. Remus was keeping a hold of all their wands and pointing his own threateningly.

‘Yeah? Watch us.’ Sirius spits back, venom in his voice as he holds Harry with one arm and clutches Remus’ old Prefect badge with the other. It was a Portkey.

‘You can’t just flee— This goes against the plan!’

‘What plan, exactly? The one that got James and Lily killed?’

‘Dumbledore will—‘

‘To hell with Dumbledore!’ Remus yells and throws one quick look to his wristwatch. He feels Sirius’ hand slide over his own, the warm metal against his skin. It was time. ‘We are out of here.’

With that, he lets the wands he had previously stolen fall and Marlene’s terrified face is the last thing they both see before the Portkey activates.

@wolfstarmicrofic

[severussnape-prince]

Prompt #2

Warning: James and Lily critical/bashing.

When Harry and Voldemort's wands connect in the graveyard (4th year), instead of showing shadows of Voldemort's pass spells, they reverse the spells. So Cedric comes back to life in his body, and then Lily and James pop out, looking just as they did the minute before they died. Harry brings all of them safely back to hogwarts with the portkey.

At first Harry is ecstatic- he has his parents!! His greatest desire came true!! But it's not the perfect life Harry imagined. Lily and James are 21 years old (painfully young to be parents) and struggling to adjust to the 13 years they missed.

On top of that, they're far from perfect. Lily's temper is fiery, and she's stubborn and dead set on believing what she thinks and not considering anyone else's pov. While Harry loves how protective she gets of him when she finds out about the Dursleys, her resulting fiery temper triggers his trauma from the Dursleys.

James grew up rich, entitled and a bully. While Harry loves some of James's hobbies, like flying/Quidditch, some of his other hobbies arent so fun/innocent. One of the ways he bonded with his friends was by bullying/hexing others. He attempts to bond with Harry the same way sometimes, which makes Harry wildly uncomfortable. He also consistently tries to sneak out with Harry from Dumbledore's protections, which Harry is strongly against considering that Voldemort is up and about.

Meanwhile, there's Snape in the background who's a complete emotional mess because Lily is ALivE, and James (along with Sirius) are trying to resurrect their hogwarts days by hexing him. (The only difference is that after being in Azkaban and dead for over a decade, Snape is far better dueling than them).

Anyway, when hogwarts fifth year starts, Harry ends up talking to Snape. Snape is somewhat desperate for news on Lily, but considering that she wants nothing to do with him he keeps his distance. Harry tells him about Lily, and in return Snape tells Harry about his parents in their hogwarts days and helps him understand them more. Severitus, basically.

[chocfrog-enjoyer]

Things I hate in Harry Potter Fanfictions

This are the tropes I found multiple times in lots of different fanfictions and I got fed up with how illogical, overused and badly written they are :/

Completely changing the story to the point where I’m starting to wonder if it’s even Harry Potter because the only thing that stayed the same are the names.

( If it’s ships ) When one or both sides are already in love with each other ( in this cringy “I always loved him/her ) especially on what normally would be considered enemies to lovers. If I’m reading a story especially with a non canon ship I’d want to know how they’ve came to be, how the love blossomed. Or at least a reasonable explanation of why the character loves the other from the start of the story.

( If it’s Dark Harry ) The: One morning Harry wakes up and decides ah fuck it I’m changing sides “I care not for your good side anymore, now I’m going to be evil” and Voldemort is like “Oh well- guess I won’t kill him then, never mind that it was my obsession for the last decade and more, It changed today”

Evil-Good Harry…? Honestly I hate this trope soooo much. The: Voldemort was good from the start and it was Dumbledore that was truly evil and he manipulated Harry and/or he was the one who killed Harry’s parents. “Yeah, no like Voldemort is a pretty good guy. He can even be considered as a role model of being good if we ignore all of his other/earlier victims and people he tortured. I mean- I don’t see any evil right?”

Ron, Ginny and Hermione bashing because why not ( this happens especially often with Slytherin Harry fanfics). I don’t mind if some characters get their negative traits explored but make it real people, I can’t read a story where those characters act so bad and OOC for no actual reason. And no Harry being in Slytherin isn’t a reason because those characters never bullied and harassed anyone purely because they were a Slytherin. Yes they did not like this house ( for a good reason might I say ) but they never even acted out on Malfoy who was openly bullying them, the only situations we get where Malfoy and his friends got attacked by Ron and/or Hermione were deserved, and were responses to his provocations.

( If it’s not in order to hide his identity ) Changing Harry’s name. I can understand using Hadrian or Harris as the elongated versions of Harry but when someone straight up changes his name and now I’m reading a story about Daniel or Bob or something for no apparent reason then the whole thing seems stupid and illogical for me.

When Draco and Snape liked Harry from the start. Draco was a narcissistic, spoiled little child and he wasn’t nice to Harry both when he knew who he was ( train ride ) and when he didn’t ( Madam Malkin - their first meeting ). He expected admiration and friendship from Harry like if he had earned it. Making him be like a best friend from the very start is non sense, those boys would need time to come together, and with Harry’s personality I bet they’d still have a silly rivalry if they were in the same house. Same with Snape, like there’s no way he would tolerate Harry let alone like him. He hated Harry from the moment he saw him in the great hall and even before the boy went to Hogwarts. For Snape and Harry to like each other there would need to be a very good reason and it wouldn’t come immediately, but with lots of time and more interactions between each other.

Too much muggle stuff in the magical world. I don’t mind it if a lot of the story plays out in the muggle world or some muggle stuff is crucial for the story point but when I read a fan fiction where Harry was in St.Mungos and he was being treated the muggle way I lost it and dropped the fic. Like are you really going to put full on muggle medical equipment in a gigantic wizard hospital and make your healers use almost only muggle diagnostic methods? Most Wizards barely have any proper knowledge on muggles, and even muggleborns don’t know that much since they are introduced into wizarding world at a young age and basically spend the rest of their life in it. They have a lot more knowledge about muggles than pureblood wizards but it’s still not THAT much.

Overpowered Harry. The „Lord Potter; Black; Peverel; Gryfindor; Slytherin; etc… etc.. :/ nothing wrong with powerful Harry. I like powerful Harry. But it’s ridiculous that a child, a 11-15 yo boy would just instantly have more magical power than Merlin himself, and he would immediately know what to do with it

Gringotts knows everything about you. The „heritage tests” and all. Making a good use of Gringotts is amazing in fanfiction and I love exploring ideas people have on it but this trope is not only overused but also dumb. I’m not talking about simple family linking that people use or like blood checking. I mean the young Harry goes to Gringotts and just with a drop of his blood it is instantly known that he is meant to be a lord of this and that and he owns such and such properties and he is hella rich because of all the vaults that were left to him. And also goblins being friendly. These creatures do not like wizards.

Know it all Hermione. But like literally. Hermione being so overglorified and being literally smarter than Dumbledore and basically all Hogwarts staff often at age 11-16. She’s smart but let’s be real this is not possible. Like her being able to do anything in the world after “reading a book/going to the library for a bit”

Harry being the most handsome, ripped and freaking amazing Hogwarts student while literally being like 14 or 15.

Harem… Nothing bad with Harry having a flock of girls that are attracted to him ( this is canon ) but oversexualizing women in order to make Harry the girl-magnet that has 7 girlfriends and like all the „conventionaly attractive” witches around him - Hermione, Ginny, Fleur, Daphne etc.”

Harry hating Dumbledore from the beginning, blaming everything on the poor old man, being annoyed by the most stupid thing like: “Dumbledore smiled at him, and Harry went utterly furious” ://

Child Harry behaving like an adult and teenage/mature Harry behaving like a child. Why would a 11 yo go to Hogwarts and suddenly be a master manipulator, know exactly what to say to get out of difficult situation and can outsmart his peers and/or adults to show „how much better he is”. And the other situation: Harry being completely clueless, using childish language, being referred to by others as “little one, pup etc.”

All Slytherins are misunderstood angels. No they aren’t! As a Slyhetin myself I can recognize Draco’s ( and his friends ) bullshit when I see it! Yes stop the stereotype of “All Slytherins are bad” but do not excuse actually bad Slytherins.

Fics gloryfing toxic pureblood culture. Exploring different aspects of the culture, the better and worse ones is cool and creative but I’ve seen a lot of fics gloryfing what is just abusive and toxic and romanticizing it in the name of “pureblood customs/traditions”

Guns… just no… like what? It’s like how to tell you’re American without telling you’re American. I hate seeing guns in HP and the wizarding world, and the often following glorification of this weapon

Excessive American English. I don’t mind it much if it’s just some words but please all the slang and common words from American English are annoying. It’s not that hard to do a little bit of reaserch of the common differences in some words. The story is played ( mainly ) in the United Kingdom, the language used by characters should be British English ( like Harry & Hermione ) and Scottish English ( like McGonagall )

Excessive ( and especially if heavily described ) abuse from Dursleys that would have killed Harry at least 5 times before he would be 10. Like heavy beating, breaking bones, stabbing. I do not like reading such things and I found this in fanfics quite a lot….

Oversexualization of children 11-15. While exploring the sexual side of romance/life is okay in a teenager, it is a part of life, I hate seeing fics that oversexualize ships that at the time have characters aged 11-15 - literal children, especially oversexualizing young Hermione, in some Harmony fics ( where she was 14 ), or Ginny, with fics calling her a slut/whore because she had a crush on Harry, or when she’s a bit older because she dated a few boys.

Illogical use of Parseltongue. First of all Parseltongue is a language and Parselmouth is the speaker ( pls I beg don’t describe Harry as a Parseltongue ). But suddenly this language being like all powerful, and you can do wandless magic with it and basically perform any spell without ever using it before.

Luna being bullied by every Ravenclaw, ( like most of those ppl - especially the older ones or younger ones - do not actually care ) and her being like a super mega seer that knows all about the future and is actually super mega smart in her weirdness.

Feel free to add your points to this list!

[fanfic-lover-girl]

‘I agree,’ said Professor McGonagall. ‘And in any case, it is not true to say that Dumbledore never envisaged a situation in which Hogwarts might close. When the Chamber of Secrets reopened he considered the closure of the school – and I must say that Professor Dumbledore’s murder is more disturbing to me than the idea of Slytherin’s monster living undetected in the bowels of the castle …’ (HBP, Chapter 29 – The Phoenix Lament)

Sometimes I wonder why people don't comment on how cult-like the Order of the Phoenix is. At least people like the Malfoys, Snape and even freaking Bellatrix doubted Moldy Voldy at some point. The OotP treat Dumbles like a god, following orders like blind believers. It's disgusting. They act like how pop culture thinks Christians act - brainless puppets. Jesus Christ had more resistance from his disciples than Dumbles ever does from his! And Jesus is God! Let that sink in. Ok, mini Christianity rant over :)

Also, people bash Snape for being a terrible teacher while worshipping 'Queen McGonagall'. She has her moments but she's a crap teacher too. Honestly, as far as I am concerned she's WORSE than Snape. Because just like many other Gryffindor characters, her faults are never acknowledged.

Good to know, Minerva, that a monster threatening the lives of your dear students is less disturbing than an old man being murdered. You certainly have your priorities straight :). With the way how this woman fangirls over Dumbles, if I did not know better, I would believe she had something happening on the side with the old geezer.

Hogwarts truly does not give a single crap about students.

[timeaussnape]

Hii, I saw your post asking for Severitus recs and I have quite a few!

- O Mine Enemy by Kirby Lane

This one is my absolute favorite, and I never miss an opportunity to sing its praises. The characterization is one of the most canon compliant and on point I’ve ever seen in the fandom; the author has a way of working WITH the characters’ canon versions instead of going against them or finding ways around them, so the whole thing reads like a natural progression of where they stand in the source material. And it’s not just Snape and Harry, either. Kirby’s Dumbledore is the most believable I’ve ever seen in any Severitus work. And the development of their relationship is SO satisfying (it’s one of those slow burn stories that make you feel like you fought tooth and nail for and earned every tender moment and every step forward, but it also doesn’t feel dragged out), and the plot is GREAT as well. Everything feels so high-stakes and so intimate at the same time. It’s got everything: Seer!Harry, alternative Horcrux lore, Dursley family bashing, kidnapping and rescue missions, arcs that progress beautifully and come full circle in more ways than one, and of course the parental/protective Snape of our dreams. The first few chapters are good but won’t blow your mind at first or anything, but the story finds its footing pretty quickly and then you won’t be able to put it down. I swear.

- The Chivalry series (The Guiltless and The Poor of God) by branwyn

I haven’t seen this one mentioned in rec lists nearly enough. The Guiltless is mostly setup, as it is all about Snape’s initial discovery of Harry’s home life. The second installment is where the story really begins to shine for me. The writing is almost lyrical at times and the plot is pretty original, as far as Severitus works go; Harry and Sev establish a tentative (and adorable) correspondence until a Potions mishap offers the most glorious excuse for angst and hurt/comfort I’ve ever seen (to give you an idea, iirc the exploding potion in question was named the draught of waking nightmares). The story also focuses quite a lot on Harry’s recovery from the Dursleys’ abuse, and Luna features prominently as well. Fair warning tho, the epilogue is a tearjerker (the happy kind of tearjerker, I promise).

- Time Left Today by gzdacz

Road trip AU (does being on the run from the cops count as a road trip?) , set immediately after Year One, in which Harry and Snape have to go on the run from the Ministry after Quirrell’s death (a journey which takes them all across Europe, and the author builds each setting beautifully). Snape’s POV here would probably be considered a bit OOC by most of the fandom, but his outer persona and dialogue was sufficiently Snape-ish to make the story feel like an organic continuation of the first book (and his inner life is constructed so well and so subtly that for once I found myself not minding the deviation from his canon harshness). Also, this little Harry is absolutely adorable and one of the most believable portrayals of a child I’ve seen in fanfic. The Lily/Sev flashbacks are yet another highlight; gzdacz’s Lily is my favorite EVER, and I desperately DESPERATELY wish there was even one Snily/Lily-centric story out there that portrayed this version of the character.

- Crime and Punishment by melolcatsi

You’ve probably already read this one since it’s a Severitus classic, but it’s a classic for a reason and I can’t make a rec list without including it.

- I Know Not, and I Cannot Know; Yet I Live and I Love by billowsandsmoke

Ok so this one isn’t really Severitus, but it scratches the same itch and it COMPLETELY blew me away. Plus, it’s only 32k words. It’s a canon compliant look at Snape mentoring Luna through the years. That’s it. I won’t say anything else because I could not begin to do it justice.

And here are a few others that, although they didn’t stand out to me like the previous ones, I really enjoyed:

- A Thousand Words by Ailee17

- It's Delicate (isn't it?) by MellarkandArt (this is only my fav part of a longer series, which I also recommend in its entirety, but I suppose it could be read as a standalone)

- I, Your Glass by koppelkat

- Under Your Skin by waitingondaisies (considerably shorter than most fics I’ve listed; Snape discovers Umbridge’s detention practices)

- Digging for the Bones by Paganaidd

- Life as Dictated by a Talking Hat by RhiannanT

- The One I Run To by Sa-kun

You might want to check for content warnings and completion status on a few of these. All the best!

I 1000% meant to answer this as soon as I got it, but I've been looking for O Mine Enemy for months. I read roughly half of it while delirious with the flu a while ago and could not, for the life of me, remember what on earth it was. Tysm!

I will definitely be checking all of these out. Your explanations made me want to read all of them! Especially the Chivalry series - I'm such a sucker for tearjerkers.

Gosh, and thank you for reminding me of Crime and Punishment. Patiently waiting for the next chapter is so hard!

Thank you again for all of these recs, all the best!

[moonlightdancer26]

why the heck do marauder stans hate dumbledore so much???? I see some arguments that dumbledore should’ve taken Harry to hogwarts instead of the dureslys? which doesn’t make any sense because 1. its a school, and who would be there to take care of Harry? 2. The only reason he was with the dureslys was because of blood wards that prevented him from getting found out by DEs and Voldemort and everyone from james side wad dead

which was smart because Ann and Frank got tortured after Voldemort disappeared so imagine what would’ve happened to Harry if he was put with literally anybody else

They also act like it was only Dumbledores fault that sirius got imprisoned and saying dumbledore ‘always has a say’ and he was more powerful that the minister of magic????

like mf were we reading the same book??? I can name several things where he said something and no one did shit + threatened him for it

theres also the thing thT Remus didn’t say anything to dumbledore about Sirius not rattling them out because both of them know Sirius is very fully capable of murder like when he tried to murder snape because he existed or smth

If remus did I feel that would be relevant and Remus never said anything about Sirius being an anigamus too for some reason

anyways sorry because I started ranting and probably sounding confusing

good day 👍

I’ve asked myself that same question for god knows how long, anon.

All their arguments are very irritating. The main reason I seek out Dumbles-defence and defend him for some of his actions is because of this very reason. Marauder stans’ arguments stem from bias and pursuing to avert the blame, but the funny thing is I’ve seen them blame him for things he had absolutely nothing to do with. I genuinely have no idea what they hold against him so much. I say all this as a Dumbledore hater (I consider myself more of a skeptic but that’s not the point), he did do a lot of things in canon that undeniably deserve criticism, but 97% of the things this fandom the Marauders fandom hate him for are far-fetched and are not canon. For the most part, I can only ever accept Dumbles bashing from Snape fans.

I do agree that he should’ve done something about the Dursleys’ abuse (seriously, screw him for that), but Harry still had to stay there for the blood protection. He most certainly should not have left baby!Harry unattended for a decade with people whom he knew were awful, but Harry had to stay. Dumbledore didn’t want Harry to know of the Wizarding World’s existence before he turned 11.

And no, it was not Dumbledore’s fault. Sure, you could argue he had something to do with it, but you can’t pin the blame solely on him. There were many catalysts for James and Lily’s death and Sirius’s imprisonment—most of all Voldemort and Peter. Dumbles had a lot less power in the Wizarding government than people like to think he did.

Remus not going to Albus and not begging for a trial only further empathises how bad of a person Sirius must’ve been. He was really that bad of a person that EVERYONE—including one of his best friends and the entire OoTP—had no problem believing that Sirius joined Lord Voldemort, betrayed James and Lily to death, and would have murdered baby!Harry too. I mean, it’s not like Sirius denied the crime (that was so stupid of him tbh), but y’all are really telling me that no one thought “huh.. something doesn’t seem right”? Does this fandom not realise how bad that implies Sirius was???

Don’t worry, anon, I get what you’re trying to say. Thank you for your ask, have a nice day.

[bharatiya-naari-sab-pe-bhaari]

Sometimes I literally get sickened by the utter rot some people have festered in their minds. I get disliking a character but wishing them getting murdered, assaulted, tortured to insanity (I am quoting here directly). Writing fictional pieces where the same thing happens. Its kinda scary the depravity which certain human beings have descended to.

And it goes both ways. I have also seen people defending the characters I like in the same way. Just for clarity's sake I will point out the other side but to clear misconception I want to reiterate that it goes both ways.

I disliked Captain America in Civil war and as a character I donot like him generally too much. He is too rigid and too plain for me to enjoy.

But I have literally felt sick trying to read some anti Cap and team fics. Some of the Iron Man supporters have written unimaginably sickening stuff happening to him. It was a very rude and shameful realisation which had me feel puckish. He gets tortured, killed, murdered, eaten alive by a Wakandan tribe for God's sake.

Same for certain pro Snape fics where I find people bashing the Weasleys, Dumbledore and others so badly that its almost unbearable and at the verge of tipping the equilibrium of sanity. I legitimately feel scared of these kind of writers.

Of course the people on the other camps are no better if far worse (considering I do happen to often like morally grey and complicated characters as opposed to the simple black and white) and it always leaves a rather ill sour taste in my mouth after I come across these barbaric uncivilized creatures.

I once happened to read a one-shot in Fanfiction.net where Harry tips the Death Eaters or Voldemort about Snape's true loyalities and he gets tortured to death. Harry and everyone else except Dumbledore probably is pleased.

Some of the comments there. It's unbelievable. They are so happy reading it. They said he deserved it and everything and how Harry did a good job (commending a literal child on his decision to be accomplice to torture and murder???). I had to take a minute and could not bear to even open that damn site for atleast a month.

Good God!

And all for the sake of fictional characters.

I shudder to think what these people concoct in their diseased brains of real life people they hate or donot like.

[ao3feed-romione]

Second Time Around

Second Time Around by Singing Siren

After the Final Battle at Hogwarts, the Golden Trio moves on. They live their lives best they can with the weight of the world on their shoulders and nightmares nipping at their heels, but soon another war starts. The Light side has had enough, and a Light Lord has risen. Everything considered Dark is banned, and all Dark creatures are hunted and killed, along with those fighting back. Harry and his coven manage to corner the Light Lord in one last battle after years of death. The only way to kill the Light Lord is to sacrifice themselves, and they do, because they've lost everything, everyone dear to them.

But death is not the end.

Harry wakes up in his eleven-year-old body in the Gryffindor common room, staring into the fire, sitting on a carpet that was destroyed years ago. Ron and Hermione wake up with him, memories intact. They have one last chance to right the wrongs that have come from the political war of light vs. dark, and they will fix the Wizarding world if it's the last thing they do. First, they have to deal with Quirrell and his hidden Lord.

Words: 30964, Chapters: 1/5, Language: English

Fandoms: Harry Potter - J. K. Rowling

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Categories: Gen

Characters: Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, Ron Weasley, Draco Malfoy, Andromeda Black Tonks, Neville Longbottom, Minerva McGonagall, Severus Snape, Albus Dumbledore, Luna Lovegood, Amelia Bones, Quirinus Quirrell, Tom Riddle | Voldemort, Narcissa Black Malfoy, Lucius Malfoy, Sirius Black, Ginny Weasley, Filius Flitwick, Poppy Pomfrey

Relationships: Hermione Granger & Harry Potter & Ron Weasley, Draco Malfoy & Harry Potter, Harry Potter & Andromeda Black Tonks, Hermione Granger/Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger & Andromeda Black Tonks

Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Time Travel, Time Travel, Good Draco Malfoy, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder - PTSD, Light Angst, Platonic Cuddling, Hogwarts First Year, Misguided Albus Dumbledore, Severus Snape Has a Heart, mostly, Wizarding Culture, Master of Death Harry Potter, Bigotry & Prejudice, The Dark Arts, Implied/Referenced Child Abuse, Implied/Referenced Character Death, No character bashing, but Harry has opinions, Legilimency, Occlumency, Animagus, Team as Family, Queer Themes

Read Here: https://archiveofourown.org/works/40799229

[carewyncromwell]

Okay, all...I promised an essay about this quest, so here it is!

In this TED talk, I will explain why this quest -- in direct opposition to what Jam City clearly intended -- actually has made me feel less sympathy for Ismelda Murk as a character, rather than more. 

Before we get started, though, a disclaimer -- if you like Ismelda as a character, then that’s cool! She’s just personally my least favorite character in the game Hogwarts Mystery, largely because of the ways I think the game’s writers have tried and failed to soften her, to my personal satisfaction. (This sidequest included.) I will try very hard to keep this analysis reasonable and not needlessly “bash-y,” but just be aware going in that this is going to be very Ismelda-critical. 

So for those of you who don’t know the set-up for this quest, basically Ismelda’s obnoxious and self-absorbed older sister Annalena is tasked by the Ministry of Magic to help organize a festival in Hogsmeade showcasing booths from the various businesses like the Three Broomsticks and Zonko’s. Ismelda -- out of a long-held resentment toward her “perfect” sister -- sabotages the festival and then tries to frame Annalena for the damage when MC does their own investigation into the matter. 

MC, of course, figures out the truth when they come across a letter from Annalena to Ismelda confirming that they’re sisters and that Ismelda knew she was hosting the festival, which Ismelda accidentally left on one of the long tables in the Great Hall. Then MC confronts Ismelda at the Hog’s Head. 

For the record, Ismelda, it’s only opening a letter addressed to someone else that’s considered a crime. If the letter is already open, which this letter was, then there’s really nothing saying you can’t read it. And even in cases where you open a letter by accident (which you could try to apply to the whole “Aparecium” thing -- though really, you could also compare it to emails, which actually aren’t protected under the law in the same way: you can read other people’s emails), you’re protected from criminal prosecution. It might be a bit rude for MC to have read your letter, but considering you left that letter behind and it was written on official Ministry letterhead when a Ministry witch was getting accused of destroying people’s property, there’s a perfectly innocent explanation about why someone would read it. 

But yes, on that note -- Annalena Gleam (nee Murk) was accused of destroying other people’s property. Something that instead was done by Ismelda, all in an attempt to tear down her sister.

Here’s the thing, though. Being mad at your sister? Fair. Resenting that she got all your parents’ attention when you were growing up? Justified. Wanting to get back at your sister for how badly she’s treated you? Understandable.

But here’s the problem -- THIS is how you went about it, Ismelda. 

You destroyed other people’s property.

The festival wasn’t just your sister’s thing -- it involved the entire community of Hogsmeade. All of the businesses in the area invested time and money into the event, both of which they now have to invest twice over, because you destroyed their wares and stalls. If you want to pay your sister back for treating you badly, fine, but by sabotaging the festival, you roped innocent people who had done NOTHING to you into this stupid feud you have with Annalena, punishing them for absolutely no reason at all. 

Fortunately Ismelda does work to clean up the damage she’s done, but only AFTER being threatened by MC that they’ll tell Dumbledore if she doesn’t. This pretty much proves that Ismelda truly doesn’t care how much trouble she caused everyone else -- how unsettled and possibly scared the residents of Hogsmeade would be by someone trashing their festival grounds, how much money the business owners would’ve lost, how many people would be disappointed that the festival couldn’t go on...none of that mattered to Ismelda. All that she saw or cared about was that it would give her the chance to make Annalena look bad. Sure, it might ruin her whole career and endanger her financial livelihood, but hey, at least you got to take some petty revenge for your sister being a b*tch when you were kids, right, Ismelda? 

I’ll be fair, though -- Annalena is a pretty awful sister. She literally claimed she was an only child around her peers, just to try to be better liked.

Even that “attempt” to mend fences in her letter to Ismelda really came across as very condescending and self-absorbed. 

I frankly wouldn’t blame Ismelda at all for not wanting to make amends with Annalena. One doesn’t even really have to make up with one’s family members, if they don’t want to. Sometimes relationships truly can’t be saved or shouldn’t be saved, regardless of how we might feel about it. But regardless of whether or not the Murk sisters can come together, that’s THEIR business. They should not be involving innocent bystanders in their drama. MC admittedly does tend to get involved in a lot of stuff that really isn’t their business purely due to the game’s plot, but that’s not what happened here. Ismelda roped innocent people into her feud with Annalena, and that’s just not acceptable. So forgive me if I see Ismelda trying to avoid apologizing at first by pulling crap like this --

-- and have to bury my face in my pillow and scream because “SHE DIDN’T MAKE YOU DO A DAMN THING, ISMELDA -- TAKE SOME GODDAMN RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR ACTIONS, YOU SELFISH TWIT.” 

Ugh!! 😣 

Look -- as I said, I do truly feel for Ismelda to the extent that Annalena should not have treated her that way, when they were young. But if Ismelda truly wanted to get proper revenge on Annalena, then the best approach would be to succeed in her own way: to outshine Annalena on her own merits, and also go “screw my sister” and cut her out of your life if she’s really such a toxic influence. Because let’s be honest, in the end, Ismelda’s plan was never going to work. No Ministry official or professor would’ve believed Ismelda’s version of events over Annalena’s, especially since those people would know Annalena and Ismelda were sisters. Her lies only worked with MC and crew until they confirmed that fact. And yeah, Ismelda, clearly when your plan was revealed, it would only serve to make you look even worse, victimizing your own sister as well as everyone else in Hogsmeade. So yeah -- way to just make things even harder for yourself. 

In conclusion, Ismelda Murk sadly remains a character I just cannot sympathize with, regardless of how Jam City has tried to soften me to her. 

We see she has a crush on Barnaby and doesn’t think he’ll ever like her. ...Then she decides to try to take away all chance for him to give consent by almost drugging him with a Love Potion.

We see she’s one of the few who actually reacts excitedly to what she sees in the Mirror of Erised. ...Then we find out her greatest desire is telling people what to do and them doing it without question. 

We see her sister Annalena was objectively pretty awful to her as a kid and she resents that she’s always been stuck in her shadow. ...Then she almost ruins everything for everyone else in an ill-conceived, thoroughly selfish attempt to hurt Annalena’s career and Annalena by extension. 

Sorry, Jam City -- but maybe the next time you want to try to give me a reason to sympathize with Ismelda, you could do it by finishing up that awesome development you laid out for her through her relationship with Beatrice (and by extension Penny), rather than just prove once again that this girl upholds the selfish, callous, mean-spirited Slytherin stereotype that we’re all sick of at this point? We know Ismelda can care about people other than herself -- let’s show more of that, please. 

[fanficspringboard]

FeS2

Status: complete

Wordcount: 119k

Rating: Mature

This fic is heavily inspired by Xerosis, on of my favorite master of death/ time travel fics. Harry learns about the duplicity of his friends, Ginny being after his money and dosing him with love potions, Dumbledore leading him to slaughter for the greater good and James Potter being despicable human being and denying his inheritance due to positive homosexuality magical test at birth. The first chapters are full of bashing and clichés

The angry, seeking revenge Harry is reborn is his younger body and makes the life of his wrongdoers into hell. Perhaps being an immortal entity sets him free of the constraints of morality, but I cannot see the acts of revenge different than cruel and petty. His former school friends and acquaintances meet their untimely demise in most horrific, gruesome or bizarre ways. Some of the death were simply nauseating to read.

Xeroris introduced the light vs dark conflict in the shade of greys with both sides having believable motives with people capable of complex reasoning and putting grudges aside. FeS2 presents a much edgier, white-black world with most of the Dumbledore followers and ministry portrait as bigoted idiots or bumbling fools.

As often with MoD/ time travel tropes Harry and Voldemort join forces and work towards separating wizards from the muggle world to maintain secrecy and independency. Their partnership becomes romantic as some point. We see them starting a new world for magical beings and creatures only where all the laws including school rulebook are approved or designed by them. Harry and Lord Voldemort are the only capable, smart and knowledgeable wizards making decisions for the whole wizardkind and of course its their way or highway.

There are some redeemable elements - the fic is well written and introduces some original elements of worldbuilding like wizards - goblins relations. However they are not enough for me to consider this fic as enjoyable.

Read it if you want to see vengeful Harry set the world on fire without much thought about consequences

4/10

AO3 link: click

Image from Unspalsh by Timothy Dykes

[oxydiane]

Harry doesn’t know whether this will quell the storm raging in his chest, but he still tries.

‘So you knew? From the start? That I had to… die?’

Dumbledore gives him a gentle smile that makes his stomach churn and just nods.

‘And you were fine with that?’

King’s Cross is way too bright, way too clean and unsettling but the peaceful expression on Dumbledore’s face was what disturbed him the most.

‘I thought you understood, Harry, it was for the greater good.’

‘The greater good… yeah…’ he mutters looking down at his bare feet and suddenly Dumbledore’s hand is on his shoulder. ‘I understand.’

‘I am sorry, truly sorry I had to put you through that.’

The words ring in his ears.

‘You’re sorry?’

‘Most certainly.’

‘You’re… apologising?’

‘Yes, for everything.’

‘Oh…’ Harry bites his lip. ‘Okay, I… I don’t forgive you.’

Dumbledore’s smile falls.

‘Harry, I said I’m sorry,’

‘Yeah,’ he clenches his fist and with one deep breath musters the courage to look up, into Dumbledore’s clear eyes. At least in his head, he could do this. ‘And I do not forgive you.’

[ao3feed-tomarry-harrymort]

The Descendant of Death and the Heir of a Snake

The Descendant of Death and the Heir of a Snake

by EnbyAzure

After the defeat of the Dark Lord Voldemort, Harry goes to the Ministry of Magic to ensure that his destiny had been fulfilled, only to find out that his prophecy never existed in the first place.

Distraught, he goes to find comfort in his friends, only to overhear a gut-wreathing conversation between them and the man he considered to be his mentor, a man he thought was dead, Albus Dumbledore. In his grief, he runs away, ends up in the Department of Mysteries and knocks down the hundreds of Time-Turners sending spirrinling through time and space.

The young man end up in the domain of the Gods who give him the opportunity to change the past so that the war never happen to begin with. He changes his name to Harrison Peverell, is tutored by the founders, some deities and even Merlin himself.

Harry James Potter, now Harrison Antares Peverell, born on July 31st 1927, is a new student at Hogwarts in 1942. Sorted in Slytherin he must now deal with nosy housemates, and manipulative old coot and pureblood society.

or

I want to write a Harry Potter power fantasy with time-travel, bad Dumbledore and good Slytherins.

Words: 2944, Chapters: 1/?, Language: English

Fandoms: Harry Potter - J. K. Rowling

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings, Graphic Depictions Of Violence

Categories: F/F, F/M, M/M, Other

Characters: Harry Potter, Tom Riddle, Abraxas Malfoy, Orion Black, Slytherin Students, Knights of Walpurgis (Harry Potter) - Character, Hogwarts Students, Hogwarts Staff, House-Elves (Harry Potter), Hedwig (Harry Potter), Death (Harry Potter)

Relationships: Harry Potter/Tom Riddle, Abraxas Malfoy/Original Female Character(s), Harry Potter & Tom Riddle, Abraxas Malfoy & Harry Potter, Orion Black & Harry Potter, Harry Potter & Knights of Walpurgis, Albus Dumbledore/Gellert Grindelwald

Additional Tags: Smart Harry Potter, Magically Powerful Harry Potter, Powerful Harry Potter, Harry Potter is Lord Peverell, Harry Potter is Lord of Multiple Noble Houses, Slytherin Harry Potter, Sane Tom Riddle, Tom Riddle is Not Voldemort, Albus Dumbledore Bashing, Manipulative Albus Dumbledore, Knights of Walpurgis (Harry Potter), Good Tom Riddle, Master of Death Harry Potter, Master of Death (Harry Potter)

Read Here: https://archiveofourown.org/works/48039970

[loud-fandom-thoughts]

I’ve been thinking. This isn’t my opinion or facts as it’s just something I’ve thought of lately, so feel free to have your say otherwise.

Character bashing. It’s terrible. But lately I’ve been considering, not outright bashing itself, but that a character who’s done bad but is otherwise good - would it be character bashing to write a fic when the victim/the one who was wronged ended up not forgiving them?

If Harry didn’t forgive Dumbledore for manipulating him into dying to defeat Voldemort, for not telling him about why Voldemort was after him and for avoiding him for most of a year - would that be character bashing?

If Harry hadn’t of forgiven Ron in fourth book?

If Hermione had decided to not stay friends with Harry and/or Ron after the many times they go against her. Book 3 being one of the biggest examples. Maybe after the Yule Ball with Ron would be her cut-off point?

Because part of me says it wouldn’t be character bashing. Even if character canonically apologised / did lots of good, understandably the writer may not be forgivable when it comes to betrayal of a best friend or avoidance from a grandfatherly adult figure or being attacked for trying to do something to protect a friend.

[ao3feed-rarry]

Unmasked

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/uw0z6oW

by princessallura052

Things had never been great for Harry Potter at the Dursleys. But when his uncle nearly murders him, he is forced to flee. Feeling as if he has no real family, where will Harry go? Dumbledore Bashing, Molly bashing, maybe slight Hermione bashing.

Words: 2284, Chapters: 1/?, Language: English

Fandoms: Harry Potter - J. K. Rowling

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence

Categories: Gen, M/M

Characters: Harry Potter, Sirius Black, Ron Weasley, Remus Lupin, Hermione Granger

Relationships: Sirius Black & Harry Potter, Harry Potter/Ron Weasley, Remus Lupin & Harry Potter, Hermione Granger & Harry Potter & Ron Weasley

Additional Tags: Sirius Black Lives, Sirius Black Raises Harry Potter, Protective Sirius Black, Abused Harry Potter, Abusive Dursley Family (Harry Potter), Albus Dumbledore Bashing, Manipulative Albus Dumbledore, Molly Weasley Bashing, Hermione Granger Bashing, Just slight bashing as fans might consider it, Harry Potter Has PTSD

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/uw0z6oW

[ao3feed-snape]

My wounds are yours (and yours are mine)

read it on AO3 at https://ift.tt/AeIUm8N

by kcalbydotblack

Harry had never been happier that she decided to keep diary Riddle alive in her second year than now, it might be a weird thing to say, considering he was the memory of her parent's murderer, but hey, when she saw the chance of striking a deal that would keep her friend alive and avoid the whole killing the basilisk thing, she took it.

Words: 1916, Chapters: 1/?, Language: English

Fandoms: Harry Potter - J. K. Rowling

Rating: Explicit

Warnings: Underage

Categories: F/M

Characters: Harry Potter, Tom Riddle | Voldemort, Hermione Granger, Ron Weasley, Severus Snape, Albus Dumbledore

Relationships: Harry Potter/Tom Riddle | Voldemort, fem!Harry Potter/Tom Riddle, Harry Potter/Tom Riddle

Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Soulmates, soulmates get each others wounds, sentinent horcruxes, physical manifestations of horcruxes, starts kinda unhealthy but it gets better, Smut, Eventual Fluff, Protective Voldemort (Harry Potter), No character bashing, actually gradfatherly dumbledore, Harry Needs a Hug, Fem!Harry, Female Harry Potter, soul containers used in odd erotic ways, english isn't the auhors first language

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/AeIUm8N

[out-of-context-fanfics]

This is just adorable.

From - The Boogeyman, a nearly 70k Harry Potter fanfic with Ron as a great focus.

If like me you like excellent takes on Ron Weasley's character and his family's dynamic i highly suggest you read Stay Standing by the same author, Windschild8178. Just browsing their profile will cure you of all the unfair bashing you might have tripped on.