The snake is so wonderful. I love animals and reptiles so I'm always charmed and delighted when fics give Harry a snake friend. I always have so much sympathy for the basilisk and I'm always sad and disappointed when Harry kills it in fics and in Canon, but I really appreciate how you never fail to add compassion for sentient animals despite their fates. I was hoping Harry's parseltongue would extend partially to dragons too , I've only seen this in one other fic, though it is pretty overpowered. I love how you've built up tree slider as a character with a personality and not just a convenient plot tool. I hope to see more animals in this storyno pressure though, you just do a nice job of being considerate of them.

I've figured it out. All this time I was wondering why you would post this fic in ff and not ao3 when the reason is obvious. You're an industry plant. You've been selected to upturn the fanfiction community by posting a fic so good, so irresistible, so addicting, that you singlehandedly revive ff from its stagnation and cause turmoil in the community while readers across the world revive accounts that haven't seen the light of day since 2012. Just kidding, but seriously, I had no idea people still posted here much less such huge works of fiction. I have to thank you for that as I was running out of material to read on ao3!

I was hoping and hoping the last few chapters that Harry/rigel would switch places with Archie and enter the tournament as herself, half blood Harry Potter. As this possibility became less and less likely I told myself that if you did not make this happen, you'd have a good reason. You did not disappoint! Time and time again I predict or hope for something to happen that does not but I am never disappointed because you always have a good reason which I hadn't considered or a better alternative. I truly commend you for such cleverness and ingenuity as a a writer. I'm absolutely obsessed with this series so far. I love how your tone of language is a little hightened/antiquated, it lends a sense of archaic nobility to the pureblood characters and cultures that is distinguish and enjoyable to read aesthetically, while also conveying a kind of exclusivity and cultural pride. I gather I'm not alone in having been skeptical of this story's premisea genderbent HP, but you have truly elevated this genre above superficial concepts of gender issues. I've read many Harry Potter rewrites on AO3 and have found that he tends to become quite an OC as he developes differently than the original character and this does not bother me at all. In all honestly I find the original character of Harry Potter to be a little bit unexceptional, which I suppose is part of his everyman appeal. While there have been many times when Rigels skills, behaviors, and decisions stretched the limits of believable precociousness, it's not so impossible that it's not still enjoyable to read, and I remember often thinking how underestimated I was at that age too. It's also well balanced, as Rigel does not behave overgrown in all areas, and I appreciate that she has a rather underdeveloped sense of romance and sexuality. This is often quite a turn off for me with hp fanfiction as I cannot comfortably believe a 12 year old having sexual interests. That being said, I do enjoy the harem of beautiful older men you have constructed around herdon't think we haven't noticed! It did disturb me at first to think of 16-18 year olds having an interest in a 12 year old but it's not completely unbelievable. I did (very innocently) date an 18 year old when I was 14 in high school and I suppose if the school had younger students around it wouldn't be impossible for older students to at least have a passing interest in someone younger, though anything sexual would still be disturbing in my opinion. You've done a good job so far or carefully navigating such a delicate age group. So much changes in the four short years between 12 and 16 yet a 4 year age gap in itself is nothing unusual, making that time of adolescence as confusing and volatile as it often is. Anyway, I must keep reading! I'm excited to read the rest of this exceptional work and I just want to add that I hope you feel no pressure from your readers. (I know it's impossible not to), as a writer I understand the pressure and know how at a point it can become prohibitive to continuing to write. I hope it never gets that bad for you. We understand the demands of the real world. Every contribution to make to fanfiction is a public service, it's a gift that we receive for free from your hard work, and our appreciation can never be understated. You have no obligation to us, no contact or payroll or anything else binding you to share your work with us, yet you do it all the same. So it doesn't matter if it takes you months to update, every update is a gift, and no one has the right to make demands of you. Thank you so much for sharing this incredible work. Might I recommend you bring it to AO3? I didn't even realize people still used this site, I'm sure you will receive many more excited readers if you publish there!

As someone who has experience with drugs. That was immersive.

One last birthday before kicking the bucket? Welp here’s to hoping that wasn’t a foreshadowing of Sirius’s death...

Reading this chapter again for the Marauders and how the parents went from 'where is my child' to 'how much magic does my child know'
and James is just (）︵
Also for the sad endingಥ‿ಥ

Loved the Animagus reveal with Archie and Harry. the Animagus "first transformations" you usually see in the HP verse are usually from the Maruaders or the Golden Trio, so this was a fresh and welcome perspective. Loved Archies first reaction to seeing his form. *chases his own tail* delightful. and Archie not seeing Harry as prey was wonderfully in character for Archie, and just builds more on Archie and Harry's large foundation of trust between each other.

I have a critique. Harry changes a whole lot at Hogwarts, goes through trials and character building. there's been a lot of that with Archie, too, but Archie's character building is always a direct consequence of keeping the Ruse or his life long goal of being a Healer intersecting with his crush on Hermione... all I'm saying is, don't hold back on the character building when it comes to Archie. I know he needs to be a bit of a constant in order for the Ruse to work, but imagine how much more complex the story could be if things were happening on Archie's side too?

I've thought about writing that, actually, so this isn't a /totally/ selfless critique. /or at all. whispers*

it seems like you're irl is pretty busy rn tho, so I won't count on it. one other thing.

you probably don't know this (which is fine! being ignorant isn't the same as being offensive on purpose!) but if "Harry" is a trans boy then Hermioneas a crusader of social justiceshould consider him male, in all the ways that matter. when a baby is born and people announce, "it's a boy!" they're basically predetermining that baby's gender, because what if that baby grows up and decides they want to be a girl instead?

to preclude, the predetermined sex shouldn't matter with "Harry", only the gender he presents himself as.

did I write all this up even though Archie isn't even trans?

yes. yes I did.

Thank you for writing!

~erasedpink

A tremendous epic collection of fics. I see book 5 is in progress too, hooray! Just wanted to pop in to say what a great story you have created!

This is my 5th or 6th time reading this series through since I first discovered it more than half a decade ago.

It remains the most inspired, well-written, delightful, and satisfying HP fanfic I have ever read (and I've read more than I'd like to admit).

Thank you for sticking with this series, and for giving us an incredible work that will not reach even half the audience it deserves.

This chapter was beyond brilliant. You've opened up another line of questioning and I can see Hermione becoming more front and central to the story going forwards now.

Dom was my favourite today. Always thinking, helping and being his best self truly. I hope he /it stays royal to Harry till the end of this spectacular series.

Ok so, love the story. And on third reading since first posted, I’ve come to appreciate the vocabulary. It’s beautiful and varied.

미쳤다 진짜 찢었다...
violet you are genious..l love your fic so much!

Why not simply give the statistics about The Fade to Mme Pomfrey. She can figure it out all by herself. Then tell about it in sex ed. This will encourage the students to think about marrying a half blood wizard all by them selves. (Like Daphnes mother did, problably.) No marriage law. No problem.
Thank you for writing the story.
Happy new year.
:-)

This book was definitely your best yet. Your talent amazes me. I can’t wait for more!

Wow! You. Are. Awesome!