By Ruskbyte
Reviews
epsilon posted a comment on Tuesday 1st April 2008 3:43am
Interesting chapter. A lot of stuff I didn't expect. I am seriously surprised at how bad the intelligence gathered was, though. Yes, they have only outside observation, but I would think they're peeping in just about every window in the wizarding world around the globe. They should have seen moving pictures and various magical creatures (and such things like the Knight Bus) before. Especially the Knight Bus should have been detected (and tracked afterwards). I could see those observations being dismissed at some level, but the mind chat made it clear that it wasn't detected in the first place... and that's just strange with the level of interest directed at the Wizarding World.
Well, Sorting is near, and I'm really looking forward to what you'll do with the Sorting Hat.
I wonder how Sma will react to the stupidity that's about to happen in the Great Hall (i.e. sending the students away from safety before even checking if everyone is present). I wonder what she'll do about it... I can't see her accepting that degree of reckless endangering of the students without comment.
Oh, and whimsical007, Harry is already sexually active. So I don't really think he'd stop for two or three years just because Earth morals are different. And I don't think there'd be a lack of upper years willing to entertain the BWL. Especially once it becomes known that he's more skilled than any of the older boys.
On the other hand I don't think the minds would encourage him to have children with random witches... unless they took the children, there'd be no gain for the Culture. Recruiting his friends and then encouraging them to have children, sure. But not the other way around.
Does anyone know what policy the Culture has for recruiting from less developed planets? I already mentioned it in my review for the last chapter, but I think the minds would try to determine what makes Harry magical (now with more samples to study they should succeed), and then locate young children and offer their families a place in the Culture to get more people with the power to access the Hyperspace Grid. IMHO they'd try to build a class much like the Referers that uses their special ability for the good of the Culture... and the things they can do with high tech and magic...
Anyway, I'm really looking forward to more of this story.
The_Warden posted a comment on Tuesday 1st April 2008 2:50am
Excellent, I was wondering last night if this story was abandoned, you have no idea how happy I am to see that such is not the case.
Can't wait to see how Harry will deal with the troll and save the maiden. :-)
The Midnight Poster posted a comment on Tuesday 1st April 2008 2:36am
You just had to go and end it there, didn't you. Looking forward to see how Harry handel's the Troll.
Beonid posted a comment on Tuesday 1st April 2008 1:09am
I'm glad you're continuing with this - any clue on how many chapters there will be?
In my explorations of fan fiction sites, I have not come across a fanfic that is like yours. It's refreshing to read something different.
whimsical007 posted a comment on Tuesday 1st April 2008 12:34am
Forgot to mention - IMOHO, as soon as the Minds become acquainted with Luna's unusual yet often insightful perspectives (she's almost certainly a Referrer), they will have Luna brought into Culture and urge Harry to have lots of children with her - a human female who is a Referrer and can access the hyperspace grid. Hopefully, the children would take after the parents and have both abilities.
If ghosts aren't baffling enough, the Minds are going to be in a tizzy over werewolves and vampires.
whimsical007 posted a comment on Tuesday 1st April 2008 12:17am
Hopefully, you will find the next chapter easier. As usual, you've created a funny and intriguing crossover that few others would have even thought of trying much less succeeding with. (Now when will we see more of "Flying Without a Broom"?)
Now for the host of questions:
Whatever will the Sorting Hat think of Harry and what would keep it from telling others?
When was the last time DD found himself outmaneuvered, and by an apparently much younger woman? How will Skaffen and the Minds react to meeting the ghosts? Can AIs like Skaffen "see" Thestrals? Does it make a difference that Skaffen has seen others die? Would Sylvester and Butch be able to detect them?
What will the Minds think of Transfiguration - How are these primitives able to play fast and loose with normal mass-energy conservation? What keeps them from blowing up the planet (1 kg total mass conversion = approx the energy of a 25 megaton bomb).
Will Hermione still be in the bathroom with the troll? She is a very bright girl albeit only 12, so what would she think if the troll was suddenly sliced and diced, had its head vaporized or killed in some other creative manner without Harry using a wand or any other evidence of magic?
Does the neural lace give Harry eidetic memory? Will he be able to read the books once and recall everything? Won't Hermione be incredibly jealous? How will Snape react to a Harry who doesn't feel the need to take notes because he can remember everything Snape says word-for-word? For that matter, how will Snape react to an 11 yr old Harry who is so self assured that he can't be bullied?
On the matter of Harry and sex, while he is only 11, he is mature for his age and I would not be surprised if he engaged in sex by his fourth year if not sooner. Since girls generally mature faster than boys and Hermione is almost a year older than Harry, it would not be unreasonable for her to be a partner and the Minds would be pleased at the possibility of Harry having a child with a very intelligent (by Earth standards) young woman who can also link to the hyperspace grid.
OTOH, because of Harry's maturity, training, and being able to receive coaching through his neural lace, it would be amusing to see a 3rd year Harry taking up with or even seducing a 6th or 7th year, e.g. Penelope Clearwater (I'd like to see Percy's reaction to that). However, Harry probably wouldn't feel the need to limit himself to one partner both from not being raised with the concept of monogamy as an inherent good and the desire of the Minds for Harry to have lots of children presumably by plenty of other women for genetic diversity and comparison.
When will Harry meet the malferret?
ladyimmortal posted a comment on Monday 31st March 2008 11:40pm
Hallucinogenic...
::snickers::
I do find Sma and Harry's disbelief of magic to be... amusing.
Great chapter, as usual. Post more when you can! :D (as long as when you can is, say... tomorrow? <G>)
GinnyLover posted a comment on Monday 31st March 2008 11:24pm
Please have Snape's brain melt!
Wolfric posted a comment on Monday 31st March 2008 11:02pm
I hope your creative process smooths out as well. After all the easier it is for you, likely, the quicker it will be for us both. As I am continuing to enjoy your fine story; sooner is preferable to later from my point of view. Thank you for writing. W.
Ben10 posted a comment on Saturday 29th March 2008 3:13pm
This story is very interesting. If you do continue to write it, I would eagerly read it.
morriganscrow posted a comment on Saturday 29th March 2008 10:44am
Excellent!
I can't wait to see what Harry and Dumbles make of each other.
I must admit I'd love to see Hermione made aware of the Culture, and perhaps even begin the process of integrating into it, either as Harry's friend or lover.
Harry and the Weasley Twins? Woah....
power214063 posted a comment on Thursday 27th March 2008 2:34pm
when r u going to update?
Minerva Granger posted a comment on Monday 24th March 2008 10:58am
I seriously think I may have busted a lung, laughing at this story. This is a great fic, and I can't wait for the next installment. Update, please.
RebelHottie19 posted a comment on Friday 21st March 2008 9:18pm
I love your story and its stirring to read a story based on sci-fi/magical. I was wondering if you would be able to put a new chapter, like soon? Because, I am agiated to read more of this fabulous story, and please respond to me through my e-mail futurearchaeologist01@gmail.com
oximoron posted a comment on Wednesday 19th March 2008 7:16pm
excellent chapter, my only fault with it involves it not being longer.
here's the obligatory rant regarding Hogwarts population:
Blah blah blah. Its not like you made Hogwarts pink so who cares.
Longreach posted a comment on Friday 14th March 2008 12:04am
I must say that this 'Cultured' Harry brings some interesting questions to mind as to what will happen when he gets sorted. The shift in personality towards those shown in the Culture novels in my opinion would pull him vastly away from the Slytherin choice that was in cannon now that it seems that he has nothing to prove and/or little need for ambition but at the same time put him well in line for either a Hufflepuff choice for his sheer lack of prejudice and probably even more likely Ravenclaw for the sheer depth of information he has access to.
Altogether a very entertaining fic. Keep up the good work!
epsilon posted a comment on Sunday 9th March 2008 12:41pm
Well, I have to say I love this story. Great work.
A reviewer criticised setting the story after the Culture Shock timeline, but I think it's a good decision, since it would take far too much effort to deal with the situation in a fashion that those not familiar with the crossover can understand.
I'd love to see a scene about Snape trying to read Harry's mind. He should be able to resist, but what if he instead uses his link to feed Snape decades or more worth of (useless) memories at extremely high speed? I doubt his mind could handle that.
As for the Sorting Hat... I think it would want to stay with Harry and chat with the minds/learn about the wider universe. Depending on how well it is made, I can see it being accepted as a mind itself. Lots of interesting possibilities.
I can see a few interesting ways how Draco and Harry will interact. I'm looking forward to see which obne you choose.
That said, I don't think Harry would (or should) try to conform to Earth morals. The reactions when he shows up nude in the common room should be interesting. And I don't see him hiding that he's sexually active either. Given his fame and strong believe that he is right, I can see him bringing about a social revolution in the wizarding world. This'd of course drive a lot of support towards Voldemort and his followers, but at the same time it would shift the aim of the good guys towards a far more benevolent society. I wonder if Harry is a good public speaker? Lots of possibilities. Also lots fo conflict potential between Harry and Dumbledore.
And I'm really looking forward to what Harry makes with his magic. I mean he can already apparate himself and a person he's not touching to two different locations at the same time. What else can he do?
Something that I'm surprised hasn't come up yet is recruitment. The minds want more people with Harry's powers, so what about recruiting some students (or even future students - I'd assume the minds can find mugglebornes years before they get the Hogwarts letter)? While not all families would accept, some would - and they're not limited to the UK, so we're talking about several scores. Or you could go the way some other fics do and say that many mugglebornes die from accidents (read: attacks by purebloods) before they get their Hogwarts letter. I a mind notices that, maybe they could return the child to life and recruit him/her?
I wouldn't think that it would be part of Harry's mission during the first year, but a mind chat about what students might be recruitable and how to go about it could be interesting.
Last, the mindless familiars are an interesting touch, but at the same time unrealistic. I'd assume that the minds would fit them with superior transmission equipment and then directly control them, to have a permanent eye in the Wizarding World near Harry.
I'm really looking forward to more.
Joel posted a comment on Sunday 9th March 2008 7:06am
Wow. I've never read, or even heard of, the novels that you are crossing HP with in this story, but your narrative has given me a quite clear picture of the society without any obvious info-dumps. Even the notes aren't needed to follow what's going on. This is a really inventive cross, and it's very well done. I especially love the relatively light tone of the story so far.
I'm going to add you to my update notification list so I can more easily keep track of this fic. Thanks for sharing it with us!
One minor mechanical point is that you consistently use the incorrect word (bare) in referring to pregnancy and childbirth. The correct word is "bear." I just double-checked in at Merriam-Webster online.
Terdwilicker posted a comment on Friday 7th March 2008 2:32pm
Gee, I sure hope you'll be writing more for this. Because its been weeks with no updates. Long enough to read "Matter" and write a couple chapters, even.
MarinePotterfan posted a comment on Tuesday 1st April 2008 5:38am