TOM RIDDLE – THE SELF-STYLED LORD VOLDEMORT
Editors Note: At the request of the Ministry for Magic this Official Statement issued by the Office of the Minister is produced full and unedited.
OFFICIAL MINISTRY STATEMENT
This official statement has been compiled with the assistance and co-operation of Mr Harry Potter.
“Lord Voldemort†was, in fact a man named Tom M. Riddle, son of a witch, Merope Gaunt and a Muggle, Tom Riddle Senior. The Ministry has decided that in all future official publications Riddle will be referred to by his given name.
There has already been much speculation and wild rumour regarding the events at Hogwarts School. The Ministry can confirm that Tom M. Riddle was killed at dawn on the morning of Saturday, 2 May. Riddle was disarmed by Harry Potter while in the act of firing a killing curse at Mr Potter. The curse killed Riddle rather than its intended target.
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WHERE IS HARRY POTTER?
Despite the Official Ministry Statement (published above) we are no closer to receiving an answer to the question on the lips of every witch and wizard in the country. Where is Harry Potter?
It appears that Mr Potter left Hogwarts School early yesterday morning, apparently in the company of his close associates Hermione Granger and Ronald Weasley. An attractive young Ministry clerk, who did not wish to be named, told The Prophet “He’s at the Ministry, having an important meeting with the Minister. My friends and I saw him. He asked us out to the pub, but we had to turn him down.†This statement is at odds with a report from the Portkey Office that Mr Potter has fled the country, travelling to Australia with his companions.
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The days after the battle were days of grief and mourning. Grave Days.I first delved into fan fiction to read stories about the fall out of the battle. Often writers skip it. Perhaps because it is too sad. Even JKR herself left it all and jumped 19 years into the future.
I loved this story. It was realistic and felt like a continuation of the book.
This story is what made me love you as an author. It had everything. The proper amount of angst, humour, fluff and action. I cried during the funerals. Fan fiction is never that good.
My only complaint is how it ended. The postscripts were cute snippets at their lives in the next few months, but I disliked the whole concept because so much of what was mentioned could have been their own one shots or chapters of a story. I for one would love to read about Ron and Harry’s first days training, or about Hermione and her parents being visited by Kingsley or about Ginny helping George while dealing with the sudden fame of being the Chosen One’s Chosen One. Perhaps one day when you get more time you could actually write those scenes.
Author's Response:
Like you, I first delved into fan fiction to read stories about the fall out of the battle, and like you, I discovered that writers often skip it. The ones I’ve tried to read (even, recently, on this site) concentrate on romantic angst and don’t mention the rebuilding. I started writing this because I couldn’t find a post-battle story I liked.
I tried my best tto make this a continuation of the book. I read and reread JKR’s interviews and tried to make sense of what she saw happening to her characters.
When I originally planned this story I intended to end it with the funerals. I thought that it needed a postscript, a happy ever after. To be honest, at the time I didn’t think that I’d still be writing the same storyline. It wasn’t until I started aurors and Schoolgirls that I realised I needed a master plan. You are correct, there is a lot I could write about (and you’ve mentioned several things I’ve considered), but I’m trying to finish at least one of my chaptered stories. Perhaps one day.
-N-
ps This is review 100! Thanks for that. :-D
One thing I like about your stories are how there is more to them than just fluff. The plot could have just been: Harry finds out Ginny is pregnant; he surprises her with the news. But you still weave in some Auror action and details about the lives of so many of the other characters. It isn’t necessary, but it adds so much depth to your stories.
Author's Response: Thanks. Fluff with substance, perhaps? I need to have something more than the romance (at least usually I do). In this particular case, the Auror action came about because an injury was the easiest way to 1) get Harry to St Mungo's so he could find out, and 2) face him with one of the realities of parenthood. -N-
This had me laughing out loud. But it does bring up a question I would like answered in one of your stories. In several of your stories, it seems that Bill dislikes Harry. Why?
Author's Response: Thanks for the review. Dislikes is probably too strong a word. I’ll try to explain my reasoning in a story sometime.
-N-
I think this story is one of your best works. It is obviously well thought out and planned. It takes talent to maintain the two timelines and not give too much away when jumping back and forth. The intrigue in both Harry’s solo mission and what was going on with Ginny made me yearn for each chapter.
I cannot wait to read the conclusion of this story.
Author's Response:
Thanks.
I think that it takes a touch of madness to believe that writing a story across two timelines. However, it certainly meant that I had to do a lot of very tight plotting before I started (unlike A&S, where I thought getting to the destination would be easy and I didn’t need to worry about the minor dertails).
The next chapter is 6000 words, unfinished, and doesn’t feature Harry, or Ginny, or Ron, or Hermione, or Neville, or Hannah.
-N-
Well written, humorous. I love the 'logical' conclusions Luna came up with to explain her hang over.
Luna is also quite a bit of a flirt, isn't she? She dates quite a bit of people before she settles down with Rolf, and it seems like she is always the one to make the first move. if there is one thing that can be said about Luna, it's she's not afraid to do what she wants and be herself.
Author's Response:
Thanks
Describing a hangover from Luna’s perspective was a lot of fun.
I think that Dean asked her out, but after that, she probably decided to take the initiative. Terry isn’t the man for her, either.
-N-
Neville and Hannah are two very independent people who must have an incredible strong relationship to withstand such lengths of time apart. Good on them.
Another good story. I loved the intro with Luna.
Author's Response: Thank you.
I'm pretty sure that they make up for it when they get together. :-DI wanted to keep Luna in this story, because, to my surprise, she and Neville do, in fact, have quite a lot in common.
-N-
Another great story. I like how, although the story was told from Ron’s perspective.
I’d like to see what happens with Neville's house when he chooses Hannah.
Author's Response:
Thanks
In your Grave Days review you suggested that I could have added more to that story. This is one such missing moment.
Not many people read my Neville/Hannah stories. But even so I will, one day, write the story of her visit to the vaults.
-N-
I always found it odd that George landed up with Angelina when Fred and Angelina dated in Goblet of Fire.
But for some reason JKR decided George would marry Angelina. In this, and in Angelina’s chapter in Tales of the Battle, you established that Angelina always fancied George. I’ve read stories where the two only get together because of their mutual mourning for Fred, which seems wrong. Your take on things, even though they make Fred seem like a prat, makes more sense.
I like how pragmatic Angelina was about things. She told it like it was. Just because Fred died it doesn’t make him perfect.
George was still in a bad place here, stumbling through life without his twin. In your other stories, you’ve made it known that without Ron his business would have failed. I imagine that Ginny helped him keep it together that first summer before she went off to school. But of course, George still went through women like they were Kleenex and drank too much and didn’t cope well. I do hope that this is the turning point for George where he gets his head on straight. But not because he gets together with Angelina, but because her harsh honesty allowed him to see things the way they really were.
BTW, I think you made a mistake in your story. Dennis was a year behind Romilda in school.
Author's Response:
Thanks for the review.
I don't think that shared grief is a good basis for a relationship. But I don't think that Fred was a total prat, either. I think that, had he lived, he would have tried to put things right.
Angelina was, I think, always forthright. She certainly seemed to have a lot more to say than either Katie or Alicia. George was, I believe, functioning but not really living, for quite some time. This is, in my timeline, a turning point for George (as you'll see in the sequel to Hunters and Prey, whenever I actually get it written). Angelina will tell it as it is, because that's what George needs.
You're right about Dennis. How embarassing. I'll change that when I get the chance.
-N-
I’m not turned off by foul language, though I did cringe in the Muggle scene. It was unpleasant to read, but that was the point. I think you did a good job.
Millicent and Marcus aren’t one hundred percent horrible people. They are crude, inconsiderate and incredibly prejudiced, but they do love each other, so I suppose that’s something.
Their ignorance on Muggle society reminds me of Arthur’s in a way. Yet where Arthur chooses to believe that Muggles are great and fascinating, Millicent and Marcus use the little they know as excuses to hate them more. Muggles don’t even work for their money, they just put a plastic card in a machine and it comes out!
Perhaps following DH, the Muggle studies course could be taught by an actual Muggle born. Oh, and it should be a mandatory subject. Also, I think that once Hermione’s laws for sentient entities are formed, there should also be mandatory teaching about the other creatures: house elves, goblins, centaurs, etc.
I noticed that in your stories, Harry, Ron and Hermione are all instrumental in revolutionizing the ministry. But in order to truly change the way people think, you have to get to them when they are young. Prejudice is learned at an early age and so is tolerance. I believe that McGonagall would be open to the idea of changing the curriculum at Hogwarts and I imagine that after Neville becomes a professor, he too would be instrumental in change.
Author's Response:
Thanks for the review.
The Muggle scene was difficult for me to write, but essential, in my opinion.
I’m not sure that their love for each other is enough to redeem them.
There are always two ways to look at ignorance. Arthur chooses to think “I neither know nor understand these people, aren’t they fascinating. What can I learn?†Marcus and Millicent choose “I neither know nor understand these people, they are therefore beneath my contempt.†The second is, unfortunately, the default setting for many politicians and some religious groups.
Muggle Studies was made compulsory during Snapes time as Headmaster. Would McGonagall remove the requirement?
JKR said in an interview that Harry, Ron and Hermione were instrumental in revolutionising the ministry, so that’s what happens.
-N-
When you first introduced Rolf as someone much younger than Luna, it was the first thing you’d ever done that I didn’t agree with. I always thought Rolf would be much older than Luna, mostly because Luna is such a free spirit and so unusual that it would take an older soul to really appreciate her.
After reading this story, I’ve changed my mind. Your Rolf and Luna seem really well suited to each other. I would love to read more about their relationship as it plays out.
Author's Response:
Thanks for the review
I will admit that, when I first thought about it, I assumed that Rolf was a lot older, too, but the more I thought about it, making him a lot younger made sense to me. First, it gave me a good twist at the end of ECCENTRIC, and it also showed why Luna married "later in life".
One day i'll write a sequel to this.
-N-
This is different than your other works; a lot darker in context and in tone. The relationship between Tom and Camelia is creepy, and once again, even as a youth, Tom Riddle is frightening. Something makes me wonder if Tom had something to do with the bomb hitting the church that just happened to house the remaining children from “that orphanageâ€.
I didn’t think the killing curse would work on a Vampire, seeing she was already dead, and I am surprised that Tom wouldn’t have realized that. Or perhaps he did, and just didn’t care, knowing he had frightened Camelia enough that she would never be a threat to him.
Author's Response: Thanks for the review.
I've recently reread Dracula, and I've just been reading a collection of MR James ghost stories. That made me want to try creepy. I wondered about that bomb, too. But that would be underage magic. Nevertheles, I think he had something to do with it.Did Tom make a mistake, or did he simply want to panic her? Of course, if he has destroyed all her resting places, she'll be severely wekened, and will have to flee to Transylvania.
-N-
I was saddened that the Charltons weren’t magical. I thought Annie would at least be. I just wish the Charltons would be able to be in on the secret. But if Annie marries James, she will know, but will her family?
As for Rose, you state that she got into Muggle University and is studying the mathematics of how impossible things happen. So basically, she’s trying to figure out a scientific explanation for magic, correct? If that’s the case, no wonder Hermione is so excited about it.
This was the second time ‘Hockey’ was used for Quidditch. When you refer to hockey, you mean field hockey not ice hockey, right?
I have to say I learn a little more about British culture every time I read one of your stories. This is another new idiom for me: Playing gooseberry. I looked it up and it means the same things as a third wheel; I had thought so from the context, but I had to make sure.
I liked Annie, and I found her liberal use of swear words endearing, mostly because it makes her seem real. Who wouldn't curse in that situation? It's also nice to see James all grown up and finally getting things together.
This story makes me want you to write more Next Gen, but I know you have other stories that need to be finished first, so I won't ask.
Author's Response: Thanks for the review.
So many questions. :-D I have ideas about when Annabel will discover the truth (soon), and ideas about her parents, too. Unfortunately, I won’t be writing those stories for some time.I have my reasons for sending Rose to University, too. Will I ever get to write those next-gen stories? I have no idea. The only thing I will say is that my stories won’t have any Rose/Scorpius (or in fact anybody/Scorpius) romance in them.
I really should try to remember to write field hockey. In the UK ice hockey is ice kockey, and “field†hockey is simply hockey. And also with gooseberry. When I wrote that line, I wondered if a translation would be required. I’m glad that the context was enough for you to make sense of it Third wheel isn’t a term I’ve heard.
Annabel was having a bad day, and her swearing was, I hope, entirely appropriate. She doesn’t normally swear so much.-N-