mhalachai | FIC: Inevitable 30: Middle Ground

Very evil, but I like it. Sledgehammers are good, useful tools. ;)

-Sonya

I get that a lot. The evil, not the sledgehammer.

SQUEE! About to put nose to thesis-writing grindstone, but at least I go to it with a new chapter of Inevitable singing in my veins...(if that makes any sense at all)

Prophecies are always tricky, and usually self-fulfilling. It's good that Nathaniel's made Harry *think* about it for a minute.

(also, spelling catch: There are differences between Voldemort and me, big one)

Anything to facilitate thesis writing. I know how hard that can be. (Okay, I've heard from friends how hard that can be).

We will be returning to the prophecy a lot in future chapters. Fun times ahead.

I always thought the prophecy meant that in order to kill Voldemorte, Harry would have to die too. I see now that I'm not the only one to think it. I just hope it's not true hhehe. Is the next chapter going to be Anita and Dumbledore's conversation? Ooo and see now I'm thinking how is the last word of the story going to be "home" if Harry has to die. Hm....thinking.....Dammit I don't know. Your too good a writer for me to guess. Well anyway another great chapter.

The next chapter will be the Anita and Dumbledore conversation, yes. Although it's more of an Anita, Dumbledore and Richard conversation.

Our interpretation of the procphecy has gotten quite a boost from a plot device introduced in HBP. All I can say is poor, poor Harry.

Our interpretation of the procphecy has gotten quite a boost from a plot device introduced in HBP.
Did I miss something? Please elaborate on this...

*cough*horcrux*cough*

I don't see how that has anything to do with either Harry lives or dies... unless he is one of the Horcruxes, of course. Hmmm...

It can be argued either way. Voldie did kill Harry's parents before he got to Harry, that night. On the other hand, Voldie's tried to kill Harry several times since then. The question therefore becomes whether or not Voldie would willingly destroy one of his own Horcruxes.

The Apprentice

That is one way of viewing things, yes. Myself, I'm inclined (when I'm thinking positively) to view what we discovered in HBP in a different light; especially when we remember various things from the previous books.

First, remember the following from Half-Blood Prince: Who Riddle went to in order to some questions about horcruxes, as well as what he learns; How rare horcruxes are; What Slughorn tells Harry in order to show that he doesn't have (in his opinion) any prejudice against Muggleborns. (It also doesn't hurt to think about why Dumbledore chose to teach/show *Harry* about the horcruxes.)

Second, remember how much stronger Harry's mental bond with Voldemort seemed to become, during Order of the Phoenix.

Third, remember the following from Goblet of Fire: That Voldemorte used Harry's blood in his rebirth ritual, specifically, as a way of (and this is my interpretation) "getting inside" of the protections Lily gave Harry; Also remember just how pleased Dumbledore seemed, if only for a moment or two, that Voldemorte *did* use Harry's blood.

Fourth, remember the following from PS/SS: That Harry is the first, and only, known person to ever survive the Killing Curse; That Harry survived due to protections Lily gave him, and that still exist.

Even if you don't think (as I do) that the process of creating a horcrux would require you to link your soul to your intended victim before murdering them, the information I refer to from above gives a different possible reason for the prophesy.

Of course, I could be wrong. If so, Harry really could be up the creek, without a paddle in sight, in Book 7. ^_^

The Apprentice.

And if anyone wants to be less coy with my idea, just say so.

Bear in mind, though, that in HBP Dumbledore tells Harry flat-out that the only reason the Prophecy is such a Big Deal is because Voldemort thinks it is.

But I'm not HBP compliant :) Siriusly, though, I've got a plan, damnit, and I need Harry to be thinking about this stuff, and planning ahead, just in case

But I'm not HBP compliant :)

Which is fine with me. I like my Albuses above ground and above room temperature. :)

I have to admit, that is an added bonus.

I loved the chapter. Although I sincerely hope that Harry doesn't need to die to vanquish Voldemort. But maybe that isn't necessary with him being part werewolf and part vampire? *wishfull look on face*

All I can say is that Harry's trip to St. Louis has given him a step up in surviving this whole mess ;D

Great chapter. It also makes me happy to wake up to Inevitable! I really love Harry's relationship with Nathaniel. Harry's already grown so much since he's been with Anita and company. He sees things now that he was too immature to notice before, like Nathaniel's relationship with Anita. (And I agree about sledgehammers. Sometimes subtlety just doesn't get it done.)

In school, all the relationships Harry sees are teenage ones, and the only healthy adult relationship he has seen is the Weasleys (very parental). Seeing a healthy adult relationship in someone he considers a friend (Nathaniel... did I really just call Anita and Nate's relationship healthy? Break out the ice skates) is a real eye opener for Harry. In this setting, he's the youngest of the bunch, and that's a very different sitution from Hogwarts. It's good for him.

I was so happy when I checked my flist and saw this here! Wonderful chapter. I think you captured Harry's reaction very realistically.

You know, when I first read the prophecy in HP, I came to the same conclusion that Nathaniel came to. Of course, JKR wouldn't do that because everyone would scream bloody murder if Harry died in canon, but I like seeing it explored in this context.

Can't wait for more. :)

Thank you. I was worried about how to express his OMG!Angst! without descending into Capslock Harry of Rage!!!! but I think it came off quite well.

You know, JKR's been so adamant about not writing more books after the seventh that I think she might actually kill off Harry. I sure hope not, but still...

Well now .. if only Harry hadn't become a Vampire intead of a werewolf he would have died yet lived. :)

A nice update, I like the angle you gave us on Nathaniel. It felt very real and I can see him vibrating with anxiety on some level when asked his opinion directly.

Thanks!

Thanks. Writing Nathaniel is a tricky art. We'll see more of his reaction to this (with Anita) in coming chapters.

You know, I never thought about that prophesy interpretation... although it does make sense. *shudders* Please don't kill Harry?

Also, I absolutely love your Nathaniel, and the relationship Anita has with her men. It feels very real. I just can't wait to see your take on Edwards reaction to Anitas "harem" - and to Harry of course.

I will make no promises.

At first, I thought it would be hard to write Anita's relationships, but it's turning out to be surprisingly easy. Well, except with Richard. He's always a pain.

He's always a pain.
Yes, but at least he's consistent...

I'd alway's interpreted the prophecy a little different. That one would kill the other because events, life and their friends opinions would make them want to kill the other (and not that is was absolutely necessarily vital for them to do so). Or that Harry would simply inspire the people to do it.

I've also wondered if the true saviour of prophecy could be a person from another dimension, [whose parents were HP fanatics, who cursed the name of LV three times], [who has a tattoo saying 'Dark Lord's Equal'], [Who travels dimensions, just for fun, and kills LV with some unknown technology]. Hey! It could happen. Don't you think?

I enjoyed this chapter. The characterizations, yet again, seem perfect.

You know...*long suffering sigh*...that's the problem with the absolutely fantastic, but long and in progress, stories. It's difficult to review them without repeating yourself, over and over and over and over.

Ergo, I say:
Thanks for writing...I don't see how you do it, and I could never hope to do it, but somehow you do, and I am so very green with envy. And you do a very good job of it.

Besos,
E.A.V.

Don't worry, the prophecy hasn't been interpreted by Harry quite right, just yet. As usual, he'll probably get it about five seconds before total anahilation.

Thank you for your kind words :)

It all come's clear just before the end? That is truly evil of you...so are all of the other brilliant teasers you've been putting out lately.

E.A.V.

Nate is very good at hiding his emotions from people who... well, everyone. He's upset by the idea of Harry dying, of course, but Harry isn't going to know that, or even see how Nate really reacts. We will, soon.

I think Harry's still in denial. After all, he's had two years of thinking all he has to do is off Voldemort, not to steel himself for dying.

:)

One interesting thing: Most every one of the adult decisionmakers in Harry's life sees him, first and foremost, as a means to an end.

Richard sees him as a potential asset to the pack. Jean Claude sees him as someone who would make a useful bodyguard for Anita. Dumbledore sees him as Voldemort's bane (though at the end of OoP he shows remorse over this, and how he distanced himself from Harry because of it).

Aside from Remus, and perhaps Molly and Arthur Weasley, who are the only two adults who value Harry just for being Harry? Anita and Nathaniel.

You've made very good points, but I want to add someone else to your end list (to fill out the trio): Damian. All the adults you mention are on their way to being all the family Harry has. Sirus would also have been in that list.

What I find interesting is that Harry's family, if you want to call it this, has come to him after he was pegged by the Powers That Be (Voldemort, Dumbledore) to be Important. He wasn't valued for himself until before the beginning of second year, when he stayed with the Weasleys. Poor kid.

I want to add someone else to your end list (to fill out the trio): Damian.

A-yep. I thought of that, oh, about two seconds after hitting "Post Comment".

So, we've got people who care about him, simply because he's Harry: Anita, Nathaniel, Damian, Ron, Hermione (and possibly Remus, but he's offstage for now). And people who see him, either largely or totally, in utilitarian terms: Dumbledore (though this is changing), Jean Claude, Richard, Meng Die, and pretty much all the other adults not already mentioned. How Harry handles this should be interesting.

I literally squealed when I saw that you updated I'm not kidding either. Wow, that was short but damn. Poor Harry, he just can't win. I really love how the story is going it's just so good. So will the question of harry staying or going be answered in the next one? Personally I hope he goes to Hogwarts for the year and then comes back to St.Louis. But that's just me. And I think anything you write I'll love, because your just good like that. Hope to read the next one soon, the suspense is killing me but it's so good anyway. Thanks for updating!

Thanks for your kind words. The "will he stay or will be go now" question will be answered eventually, I promise :P

And I'm writing as fast as I can.... I just have so much on my plate right now. *back to typing*

Take your time writing, you defintely deserve a break I know RL can really suck sometimes. I meant what I said you are a brilliant writer. So I guess I can wait a little longer. lol.

You are an evil person. As retaliation, I must tell you that I'm now getting an idea for an Albus/Anita ficlet (all the boys are away, and somebody has to help her raise the ardeur...)

As for how Jean-Claude would know so much about the wizarding world: Would, perhaps, he have some distant relations in the wizarding world that shared his French blood?

an Albus/Anita ficlet

*brain explody*

Are you by chance suggesting that our dear Master might be related to that family of bad faith? I can tell you that this will not be occuring, although I had to stop myself from making our dear Edward a Malfoy squib. That was a close plot call on my part.

Thanks for your review on Skyhawke, it made me grin like a mad fool :)

Heh! It would tread a bit too close to Clichéville to make Jean-Claude a Malfoy, wouldn't it? ;-) (Or, as Jean-Claude would see it, to make the Malfoys a cadet branch of his family.)

As for Albus/Anita -- just be glad I didn't suggest Severus/Anita. Or, better yet, Rubeus/Anita.

(passes Mhalachai a bottle of BrainSuperGlue)

I'd be better able to wrap my mind around the Snape/Anita, even though it's disturbing.

The Malfoys would never admit to being dirt-poor peasants, ever. No kin of theirs was ever a whipping boy.

Thanks for the glue.

Your story was recommended by

catherinecookmn and I've just read up to the last chapter. I must congratulate you on a very riveting story! Personally, I think you do Anita better than the original author herself *cough* and I love how you've managed to mix the two worlds together so seamlessly.

Dumbledore arriving onto the scene in the last few chapters was awesome and I'm looking forward to his conversation with Anita & co.

Now, the only other thing this fic needs is for Snape to be thrown into the mix *g*

*blushes* thank you so much. I think I'm thinking too much on thie Anita and Dumbledore confrontation... I keep reworking it. I just need to get it out.

Snape.... trust me, there will be Snape. Just not soon :P

Awesome! Just one more bit of incentive to keep on reading. *g* I really don't care how you write him - good, bad or ugly (or all three) but I think reading about him interacting with the Anita Blake universe and characters will be delicious.

FIC: Inevitable 30: Middle Ground

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Harry's Fate

Blood will tell

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Yay!!!!

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