Instead of a comment...

[thistlechaser]

Instead of making this a comment, I'm making it a post. I want everyone to see this. I want to take out ad space in the New York Times and make sure everyone knows.

In reply to amanuensis1's offer of a shoulder to cry on upon my finish of If You Are Prepared, I wrote:

This reply probably won't make much sense. I can't hardly string two words together at the moment.

I finished the story some amount of time ago, some number of minutes. Not sure how long. I cried through... I guess somewhere in chapter 18 right on through to the end. About two hours of crying and it keeps on starting back up.

Poor, stupid, wonderful Harry. She got me to do something that the books failed: Liked and admired him. Poor, wonderful, beautiful Snape.

If Rowling doesn't do something like this with her storyline, she'll be a fool. I'm expecting that she's going to be a fool.

It just... "amazes" isn't a strong enough word. I can't understand that fanfic writers do this for free and get paid nothing for their work. Knowing what I know now, I would have paid a lot of money to be permitted to read that.

I have a headache from crying so much. I need to go outside now and say goodbye to someone who never even really existed.

Comments

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

*HUG HUG HUG HUG HUG HUG HUG HUG HUG HUG HUG HUG*

It feels like it doesn't matter what fanfic you ever read any more, does it? He'll be gone.

It feels like the coming of OOtP doesn't matter any more, does it? He's really, really gone.

It feels like it doesn't matter what people write about these two major characters, ever again, because we know what REALLY happened, and all the other stories are just let's-try-to-pretend AU fics, from now on, doesn't it?

You feel like you have to become the character that was left behind in order to properly honor the one who's gone, don't you?

'Cuz that's what it was for me, I can tell you.

(It will get better. You will enjoy fic again. Don't be afraid to feel on this one. That's what all the joy is about.)

*HUG HUG HUG HUG HUG HUG HUG HUG HUG HUG HUG*

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

It feels like it doesn't matter what people write about these two major characters, ever again, because we know what REALLY happened, and all the other stories are just let's-try-to-pretend AU fics, from now on, doesn't it?

That's it exactly. Everything else seems rather moot. It's not even a really sad thing, it just feels like... the truth.

On the other side of that coin, I want her to write more on this! I suppose there's not much story left, but I'd like to revisit Snape and make sure he's okay. (That sounds really silly, I know...)

You feel like you have to become the character that was left behind in order to properly honor the one who's gone, don't you?

Like it'd be disloyal, yeah.

I really feel bad about Snape. I know he's strong and that he'll go on, but... he deserves to be happy. For more than just the short time they had together. Part of me really wanted Harry to return in the end -- Snape deserved it.

Sigh. Such a nice story. I'm not even bothered that I'm not looking forward to the next book anymore; I've already read the better tale.

[cybele-san.livejournal.com]

*comforts you*

thank you for the kind words and i'm sorry.

i actually went back to read the last three chapters today and found myself crying again as well. i don't know if it will ever get easier. i suspect after OotP i'll remember that it really was just a piece of fanfic and harry isn't dead nor is he going to die, because dammit...he just can't. *sigh*

i'm glad you liked the story. and i'll try to fulfil your wish to revisit snape again...just as soon as he agrees to speak to me again. heh

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

i suspect after OotP i'll remember that it really was just a piece of fanfic and harry isn't dead nor is he going to die...

Bah! It's not "just" anything. :) If she was smart, she'd have seen this path and will be following it as well... but I strongly question if she has the balls (so to speak) to kill off Harry. I think that'd give the books a powerful ending, but... Well, I guess we'll see in ten years or so.

and i'll try to fulfil your wish to revisit snape again...just as soon as he agrees to speak to me again.

Thanks, and heehee. Maybe leave him some scotch and a plate of cookies, kind of as if he was some sort of odd Santa? Snerk, now that'd be something to see: Him all dressed up in a Santa suit and forced to play the role one year.

[tersa.livejournal.com]

but I strongly question if she has the balls (so to speak) to kill off Harry

I have heard someone else voice the opinion that they think Harry is going to die at the end of the series--and since I don't believe she's reading the fanfic, I suspect this indicates that the author of the fanfic story and you aren't the only one to think that's the logical path this is going...