A/N: O.K., folks, we're off and running with this chapter. If I ever had the chance to utterly lose you, it'll be here.
Also, you'll notice that the chapter numbering gets a bit....odd. Nothing shows more how I write my stories than the next few chapters. I am a fanatic not to re-number. Don't ask me why, but it helps my organization if I don't. So when I write a story and start numbering chapters, then think up ideas that come inbetween.........well, you get the following situation.
And yes, I went to Nimbus 2003. Please see the review at the end of the chapter if I hold out interest in it that long.
And as always.....,
Enjoy.
Disclaimer: Despite the fact that I wrote it and you're reading it, all characters and anything herein related to the Harry Potter mania currently gripping the world is the sole expressed property of J.K. 'Get off my back already. I was upset about it too. I cried for heavens sake, what more do you want of me' Rowling and her dry-eyed publishers who we all know care only about the money.
Chapter Thirteen A: Who Your Friends Are
Charly sat in the dingy bar nursing his sixth scotch. All around him the hum of conversation blended in with the songs coming out of an old jukebox set in the corner. Outside he could just hear the lapping of the ocean waves coming up on the beach every time someone came into the bar. By the fifteenth person, he had stopped looking up to check if it was the person he had come to meet.
Charly quickly downed his drink and singled the bartender.
"One more, mate." Charly said, laying a few muggle coins on the bar counter. "Then I'm going to see myself home, I guess."
"Your girl ain't showing, hey?" The bartender offered with a sympathetic look as he poured Charly's drink.
"Ain't waiting for a bird." Charly sneered at the man. "All the trouble they make. You're better off without them."
The bartender chuckled as he set the bottle back on the shelf and turned back to his customer. "Well, that's one man's opinion. And probably shared by a great many more. But I can't say as I agree with you." The bartender answered. "Got myself a fine woman. Been married twelve years. Never been happier."
"Oy! Don't even mention the 'm' word." Charly blustered over his drink. He quickly grabbed a napkin and dabbed it over his shirt. "Here, maybe your girl is the finest in the world. But they ain't all like that. You take the bird my mate's hooked up with. She is so very, very, very...." Charly searched for the right word, but finally gave up, blaming the first five scotches, "...not right for him. But he's gone and gotten himself all mixed up with her now. And she'll be nothing but trouble. You mark my words."
"How do you know, mate?" The bartender ask. "She might be all right."
Charly gave the man a wide grin. "'Cause I know what birds are like. Dated enough of 'em in my time. And this one that's got her claws into my mate, she's got him all turned around. What was he thinkin'?"
"Well, maybe he wasn't." The bartender offered. "I mean, is she a looker or somethin'?"
Charly looked up at the man. "Don't know." He admitted with a shrug. "Ain't seen the bird myself. But she'd have to be to have lasted this long."
"Or maybe your mate's just found 'the one', hey?"
Charly cringed again and shook his head. "I hope not."
"So this man, he's a good friend of yours then?"
"A good friend?" Charly scoffed. "The man's my best friend. Best mate a person could have. In all our years, he ain't lied to me once. Don't care how drunk he was. And that's another thing." He added emphatically. "Soon as he meets up with this tart, suddenly he's lying like a carpet. And he doesn't think twice about it. Never thought I'd see the day."
"Men have done worse for the woman they love."
"Not lying to your mates." Charly replied. "That just.....right off the charts, that is. You don't lie to your mates. Not for some stupid bird."
"Well, I guess it's all in who you fall in love with." The bartender offered philosophically.
Charly shook his head as he leaned over the bar again. "No, mate. What it's all about....it's all about who your friends are. That's what. Who stands beside you through thick and thin. Who's there for you. Who's watching your back. Who takes care of you. Who looks after you. Who you can talk to." Charly slid back onto his bar stool. "That's what it's about. That's what matters. Not....not some stupid bird." Charly held his drink up for a minute as he studied the clear liquid rolling around in the bottom of the glass. "Nope. It's all about who your friends really are."
The bartender shrugged. "It's all in how you see it, mate. But I'd be careful if I was you."
Charly looked up from his glass. "How so?"
"Because, my friend, if your mate loves this bird, and you start trying to interfere, you wouldn't be the first 'friend' who found himself on the outside of the relationship, if you know what I mean."
Charly looked up from his drink quickly. "Oh no. That is not going to happen. If I have to take the man into an alley and beat some sense into him, I'll do it. But he's going to see that this bird is no good for him."
"What's the problem, Misser? Can Black still not live his life without supervision?"
Charly turned abruptly to the voice behind him.
Just within the dim illumination of the bar lights stood Johnathan Treaks.
Q&A
lilahp: I wanted to start off with you, Dear, because a while back you ask (like so many others) 'when is Charly going to sit Orion down and demand the truth?'.
Well, Dear, the answer to that is 'he doesn't need to'.
whitemudfounder: Glad you love the updates, Dear. Sorry this one is so long in coming.
Actually, no, Charly was not attacked by the Ministry of Magic.
I understand your problems with coherency. I don't think I could have said much that wasn't questioning Rowling's motives myself. But that's about as far as I could have gotten. Anything else would have just been mindless babbling on my part.
First off, what 'grief' are we talking about here, Dear? Angry? Yes. Upset? Yes. Annoying? Big yes. But grief? Didn't see it myself.
Second. No other character would have gotten the same reaction from Harry? What reaction? (See above.)
I'm sorry. To this day I stand by the believe the woman just can not write good emotions into her characters.
I think 'Armand' was the last book I read of here's. I think three or four books ago was the last one I actually bought. I can't even get up the enthusiasm to so that anymore. And I made a point of getting all of her books in first edition. Now I am having a hard time justifying the cost.
*PAR runs off and n\buys her first edition of Harry Potter.*
I think PoA will be the jewel in the crown, as it were. Rowling has stated that there will be more deaths and the series will get darker. Well, how much darned darker can she make it without turning off ALL the lights? I really do not expect to see many characters survive this series, not the least of which being Harry.
I just found OotP to be an overall disappointment. I did not think it had any of the nice plot twists she was so good at in the other four books. I guess what disappointed me the most was that I was looking for a nice little fun weekend read, and I got everything but.
skahducky: I have no idea what was her motivation in making Harry a genuinely unlikable character and Sirius just plain crazy acting. But she definitely could not have gone further from what I was hoping for than if I had written her a letter and outlined my wise list for what I wanted to see for a relationship between those two characters.
Ahhhh, good question. This takes place about a year before James and Lilly's murders. Maybe a little bit longer.
Silverfox: Of course Charly has house elves. Or, as he refers to them, drunken poker buddies. I'm sure, serving a half wizard to the degree Charly is was a dream come true for the house elves. He's really rather easy on them.
In American courts, you can 'plead the fifth', which means you do not have to answer the question because in doing so, you will incriminate yourself. However, it is sort of a catch 22. If you use that defense, people usually assume you either have something to do with what happened or you are guilty since you won't answer the question.
Yes, Tets will be back. Both here and in Family Relations. And the dragon will definitely be back soon. And Severus does make an appearance in this story, albeit brief.
Eva Phoenix Potter: Thickening like pea soup, Dear. And Charly is up to quite a bit, actually.
sweets: Hello, Sweets. So glad you enjoyed the convention, by the way.
Yes indeed. 'Old married couple' is starting to suit them more and more.
I debate that Orion is 'single minded'. He's just.......very dedicated to his job. And I am afraid that will not change much when he gets Harry.
Sailor Sol: Unfortunately, while PAR has good muses, they are currently otherwise engaged helping her clean her apartment.
I spread the hormone theory like butter all over Nimbus, Dear. They liked that one and felt it had merit.
I look forward to your story. It sounds very entertaining. I've been wondering why someone hasn't pursued that course yet.
You will have to see my 'Nimbus review' at the end. I hate to say 'father knows best', but Dear, listen to him. It was something of a scam. It was over-priced, not at all what they made it seem, and just over all a disappointment I felt. I would not attend it again. Just sit back, relax, and keep repeating 'but I still have my money'.
Charly's motives will either condemn or exonerate him. You'll just have to keep reading.
Voldemort finding out is quite an interesting chapter, and Katlin has some quick thinking to do in regards to that. But that's really all I can say.
But I like long reviews, Dear.
Werepup: Sadly, I think poor old Lupin has a great big bulls-eye on his back where Rowling is concerned. The whole thing with Peter's hand is too coincidental. However, as someone pointed out at Nimbus, nowhere has Rowling stated that silver effects werewolves in her universe.
Charly's side of this is something that will indeed be very interesting.
It is not jealousy. Although, oddly enough, whenever I write Charly, I have the tune 'Jesse's Girl' running through my head. No idea why.
Nicky: Ohhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love that you caught that!!!!!!!!!
And no, I can't answer it. However, the fact that Charly can use a wand is explained in an up-coming chapter. For now, suffice to say just accept that the man can do nearly anything Orion can do. And there is a reason for that.
Out of curiosity, how many of you are tired of hearing that? 'There is a reason for that'.
*Many hands go up.*
Thought so. Just thought I'd ask.
Man, if I were internet connected, I would swear you've been hacking my computer. You are SO close on some of this. (Won't tell you were, just that you are.)
The effect of current situation as well as up-coming events on Orion and Charly's friendship have yet to be played out fully. It will, however, test a lot of the ties between them.
Oddly enough, I've heard that very same statement from several people. Not 'I really enjoyed the whole book', but 'the last 200 or so pages were good'. The first 600 seemed to bore people silly.
Too abrupt? This books changes in characters was like someone saying here's some more ice cream, then slipping you tabasco sauce.
I totally agree with you r analysis of the book in the terms that as a whole, there isn't a single scene in that book I would care to read again any time soon. Whereas with the others, I read the book, listened to the tapes, and saw what movies are out and still enjoy going back to the books.
If Sirius is truly gone from the series, I find it simply pointless and unnecessary for her to bother finishing it.
I still have problems with Sirius' characterization in this book. He went from being a strong, sharp-minded, guiding force in Harry's life to being......well, barely likable. Much like Harry. I guess a large part of the problem is that I had such high hopes for the character, only to see them take such a drastic turn away from where I was previously being led. As I stated earlier, I picked up OotP expecting a happy little weekend read, and ended up with everything but.
As for the prophecy, I'll lay odds the way Rowling seems to be taking the books. She said there will be more deaths, and the books will get darker. Quite frankly, if there's anyone left standing by the end of Book 7, knock me over with a feather.
The big running 'inside joke' at the convention was, 'if that was Snape's worst memory, he really needs to get over it'.
As for James, this is simply another of those 'I hate being taken in one direction only to be jerked abruptly in another' things. I have been led to believe, without any hint to the contrary, for four books, that Harry's father was, as you say, 'holier than thou', and I liked him that way. Now, suddenly, I'm being handed this totally contradictory view of him without any explanation, forewarning, or relevance to the plot. I find that very annoying. I mean, what's next? Lilly was the school slut? At this point, it seems almost anything is possible.
For me OotP will never fit smoothly into the series as the other books did in their proper succession, simply because it was such a violent switch from the other books. There was little character continuity for the reader to hold onto, and we were basically told, 'this is the way it is because I say so'. It didn't fit with the other books, it didn't fit, advance, or hold true to the plot, and I felt it was not at all what we were led to expect from this series. I basically feel like I was lied to and am not happy about it.
purple water: I am sorry you've lost respect for my two main characters, Dear.
I am sure Charly would like nothing better than to kill Katlin. After all, he's an Auror, she's a Deatheater. Kinda works that way.
The original appearance of Katlin in The Bonds That Tie was AU. It has no bearing whatsoever on this story. Sirius, in fact, has no point in coming into this story as that he is not yet in Azkaban even. He is merrily out there in AU land playing with his godson.
I don't know about your assessment of Katlin's sense of integrity. She simply does what she needs to to get the job done. Integrity, or lack there of, rarely enters into it.
Oh great! Someone else hacking into my computer! You're close, Dear, but let all your passengers get on board before you leave the station.
By the way, when are you going to update? 09022002 is a long time between chapters.
UnrepentantReader: Thank you, Dear. I don't get bowed to very often.
Indeed, the safe is going to blow. The question is 'when' (as much as 'why').
I actually had someone tell me that another person had read Family Life and told them they felt there were a lot of similarities between that story and OotP. I don't see that myself AT all, but...oh well.
I have heard the story both ways. Yes, she reads fanfiction sites, and no, she doesn't. Which is true we'll likely never know for sure. But does she plagiarize fanfiction stories? Well, come on, fair is fair, isn't it? Just look at what we do! I say 'Plagiarize away, Ms. Rowling. Just allow me to return the compliment'.
The Bonds That Tie
Sailor Sol: My favorite 'going back to read again' has got to be Clam Chowder's The Ultimate Harry Potter Cliche Catalogue. I never fail to find something to laugh at in that thing. It's hysterical.
Let me set your mind at ease. (I think we could all do with a bit of that.) No, Sirius not being in Family Relations (much) has nothing to do with the 'incident' in Book 5. Do I look like Rowling? Honestly!
As Orion stated, 'Whenever I piss you off, I'm Mr. Black. When we're just having a conversation, I'm Orion.' (That was actually quite an astute observation on his part.) She's always talking about him. It's just a not too subtle hint at what her emotions are at the time.
A Dog's Day
Starlette: I'm glad you enjoyed the story, Dear. This was one of those PWP stories people keep referring to. Just a little idea I decided to expand on one day.
Diamond:
alamarang: Thank you, Dear. I am glad you enjoyed the story and thought it was cute.
Fever
NightShadow: Thank you, Dear. I am glad you enjoyed it.
Alamarang: Thank you.
Sailor Sol: AU, Dear. Two best letters in the English alphabet. It's amazing how happy you can be once you accept AU as your universe.
Honestly, I would have thought the woman could have come up with a LITTLE more interesting family for Sirius than what she gave him. I'm sorry to say I was VERY disappointed in that part of the book. When I saw the chapter title, I was very excite. That naturally all dissipated within the first few pages. I'll stick with my own history for his family if it's all the same to everyone.
Since this story is OC, and therefore not really Canon, I suppose I can play around with the characters all I want, right? Whooo-hoooooo! Long live AU!!!!!
I am trying to move this along and get chapters out as quickly as possible. But I am also working out a story on FictionAlley (Family Life), and the two keep me quite busy. Especially when people start posting questions on the other site.
Family Life
wellduh: I know how you feel, Dear. AU is a much better place to be these days.
Demon-Child: Thank you, Dear.
Erika: Well, Dear. I'm impressed. You made it to the end and reviewed nearly every chapter.
I only answered if the question or comment wasn't addressed in the story.
Chapter 15: I liked Moody's description too.
Chapter 16: Definitely one of my favorites.
Chapter 17: Onset of illness.
Chapter 18: He did. At dinner. However, Remes never confirmed what Harry had was a virus or food poisoning.
Chapter 20: What small part, Dear?
Chapter 24: It is not my intention to deprive anyone of sleep, Dear.
Chapter 29: Who, Dear? Sirius? He's worried due tot eh fact they can be quite unsettling not only for him but for anyone around him.
Chapter 43: The injury is far more serious (no pun intended). This wasn't just injury to the bones, but complete decimation of the leg itself.
Chapter 49: Whether he was freed is a matter taken up in the sequel, Family Relations.
All reviews are as of 07282003. If I missed you, you know what to do.
NIMBUS 2003 REVIEW
Folks, aside from being four figures shorter in my bank account, more than mildly disappointed, and the proud owner of a $421.00 banner, what more can I say?
I had people at work ask me how it went.
Tough question.
I have tended to describe this event in these terms. 'The only thing that still surprised me after four days was that there weren't coin slots on the stall doors in the woman's restrooms.'
Basically, here's what it came down to. You had a bunch of people running a fan-site who, one dark day in the annals of history, sat up and said 'Hey! Wouldn't it be fun to have a convention?'.
Things just sort of went downhill from there.
Here you had a bunch of people who, to the best of my knowledge, have never run a convention before, and it showed.
The Warner Brothers lawyers mopped up the floor with them. The hotel used and abused them. And they took it out on the convention goers.
This was touted as an A-C-A-D-E-M-I-C convention. People, avoid any convention with that word in it.
Next, their website was so convoluted, the CIA would have been proud of the mis-information it gave. I was under the impression from the website that the registration fee covered you top to bottom, as it does with most conventions I go to. (And believe me, I've been to a 'few'.). I do not expect, when I get there, to find out that the convention fee covers only the panels and a few 'continental' breakfasts (although the Sunday brunch was excellent. Still, it was a darned expensive brunch based on what I paid and what I got.). Basically, for nearly two hundred dollars I got coffee and donuts and bread, one full breakfast, and panels. ANYTHING else I wanted to do at the convention....was extra. This included the luncheon (which I heard was nothing to write home about, but the presenter was good), the Saturday night dinner ($45.00 for poor service and Sheppard's Pie), the dance that night (which was a $10.00 cover charge and cash bar), and the pillows they eluded would be at the double feature as take home souvenirs turned out to be for sale.
Basically, every time I turned around, these people were trying to recoup their loses through my wallet. If they could sell it, they did. (Oh, the concert by someone I have never heard of was free.)
At the wrap-up party, where they stated 'Come and give us your opinion', they should have added, '....only if it's favorable to us.' Many people got up to speak and tell these people what they thought of the convention. If you started with 'First off, the convention was great!', you got to talk. If you started with 'Let me get my list out.', and then proceeded to suggest ways they could improve next time, you were basically argued with until you got disgusted and sat back down, realizing you were wasting your time with these people.
And they had a standard answer for everything you didn't like. It was the lawyers fault, you see. One person stated they were disappointed there was no costume contest.
'Well,' we were told, 'Warner Brothers lawyers said we couldn't do that.' (We could hold a Quidditch match, but no costume contest.)
'There was no filking scheduled'.
'Well, the Warner Brothers lawyers said we couldn't do that.'
'There wasn't enough variety in the panels.'
'Well, the Warner Brothers lawyers were very specific about what we could and could not present.'
Apparently Warner Brothers has too many lawyers with too much time on their hands if you ask me.
I will say this for Chris, the game-master for the convention, he did a fantastic job organizing the Quidditch game. I had my doubts about this one being pulled off even mildly successful. But it was highly entertaining. Even if they were selling snacks at ridiculously high prices. ($1.00 for a cup of Lemonade?)
The complaint of the people hosting the convention was that they could not get enough volunteers. I have a suggestion. GIVE them something for their time and trouble. I have NEVER been to a convention were volunteers didn't get SOMETHING! A free day. A t-shirt. Food. SOMETHING. Do not stand there and tell me, 'Well, we can't give them anything because then we are paying them and we have to fill out work forms and such.' PLEASE!
Ah, I mustn't forget the t-shirts. Man, I loved this one. It went like this, folks:
(Highly irritated convention goer) Hi. Have the t-shirts come in yet? (They didn't arrive until Saturday.)
(Convention-working person, commonly referred to as 'mercenary') Yes.
Can I buy one?
Did you pre-register?
Yes.
Did you pre-register for a t-shirt?
What?
Did you pre-register for a t-shirt?
I pre-registered. I wasn't aware I had to also pre-register for a t-shirt.
Yes. Only those people who pre-registered for a t-shirt can buy one now. The others have to wait until 2:00PM. Oh, and cash only, please.
Folks, trust me, PAR did NOT wait until 2:00PM to buy her t-shirt, and they took a check.
I was just THAT hacked at this point, that PAR raised a little cane.
Is there anything good I have to say about this convention? *Thinks for a loooooooooooong time.* Ahhh, no. Not really.
It was over-priced.
They nickle and dimed you every chance they got.
It was over-priced.
Almost nothing was as it was advertised.
It was over-priced.
Some of the moderators were just plain rude.
It was over-priced.
The organizers rarely seemed to have control of the convention.
Did I mention it was over-priced?
Just let me say this in regards to the pricing. I have been going to a convention that started in a small upstairs room of a college campus. The price then was $10.00 for the weekend. I am still going to this convention some 23 years later. The grand price now is $30.00 for all three days. This convention brings in top-of-the-line guests. It averages in the thousands of attendees. (They have actually had to close registration because of the number of people attending.). It is well run. It is controlled. The film rooms are always good. The panels are excellent. The games, contests, parties, and extra events are great. All for $30.00, folks. All inclusive. No surprise extras.
The Nimbus people could learn a few things from the organizers of this convention.
The convention I am speaking of, by the way, is Necronomicon in Tampa, Florida every October. I have gone since its inception and have never missed a single one. And I always have a outstanding time. Bravo, Stonehill Launch, who organize and run this wonderful convention every year. You deserve all your praise and we hope to never lose you. You are a treasure.
So folks, if you missed it, pat yourself on the back, open up your wallet and say 'hello' to the $200.00 that is still there, and go treat yourself to dinner with your favorite Potter fan and spend the evening discussing why you hated OotP. You'll get as much out of your evening as I got out of the whole weekend!