Harry Potter and the Burden of Becoming

A Behind the Scenes Look (Chapters 2 & 3)

Chapter 2 - Hogwarts Forgotten

General

Hermione's voice. "Harry, you're worse than Ron."

Is a Hermione quote taken from OOP.

"Asha!" she exclaimed, an accent slipping into her words. "Your cousin is a fool."

Our first introduction to the famous dragon.

Geography

"On a good night, by the shores of the Mediterranean, you can watch the sun plunge into the sea flashing a million colours."

Tripoli, Lebanon is on the Mediterranean.

Mars

"Uh, yes. Yes, they do." He pointed to a bright red star directly over his head. "There, that's Mars."

"It's the brightest it's been for fifteen years," she whispered. Then pointing to another portion of the sky, "And there?"

Firenze spoke of Mars in OOP, and I thought it'd play a larger role in HBP, but it didn't. In this story Mars is a thread throughout (a symbol of Voldemort's rise), ultimately giving way to the coming of Ebyrth.

Venus

"Venus is the, uh, the uhm…." and before he could finish they had kissed their first kiss.

For those that don't know, Venus is the goddess of love.

Grigor

Grigor seemed never to be home. Tonight, he looked intently at Harry for some time, until Harry waved his hand, and Grigor waved back, turned, and went into the house.

At this point in the writing, it wasn't clear if Grigor was a DE, a foreign agent for Dumbledore, or something else. I knew I wanted him to be dark and mysterious. Soon Gabriella had a brother, and I knew Grigor was there to find the murderer. It took some time to pick the killer.

"Well," he thought smiling to himself, "perhaps I am a bit of a criminal."

I was going to go with the 'bad-boy' Harry here, and have that be an attraction for Gab, who has a dark streak herself. Bad-boy Harry never materialized more than long hair, drinking, and an earring.

Hints

"A journal, or perhaps a diary, and she appeared to be having trouble with her pen. A candle flickering on a stand near by was the only light in the room."

Every good witch prefers candlelight, and the reason she's having trouble with the pen is because she's only ever used a quill.

When Gabriella enters his room she notes that he's had a special pet (Hedwig) for six years, that he writes with a quill, that another owl enters, and Hogwarts a History is sitting near his door. At this point she pretty much knows what Harry is, not who.

Chapter 3 - Shattered Glass

The chapter introduces 'bigotry' outside of the Dursleys, and places it in a much more open context. Is it racist to single out someone because of the colour of their skin to search their bag?

"Papa's timing has never been that great; of all the times to move to England."

I took a lot of heat (I do love reviews) because the racism displayed was very American, and not at all British, certainly if placed into a 1996 context. A quick search of Times editorials and activities in the Middle East and Lebanon in 1996 as well as my own aged perspective would suggest that Britain was not exactly warm and fuzzy with the Lebanese. While the scene at the pool where Gabriella has her bag searched is much more "2005", I don't think it's beyond the realm of possibility for a pool in Britain in 1996.

Emma & Duncan

"Around the bicep of his large right arm was a tattoo of thorns that matched, somewhat, the earring on his left ear."

The thorns are a symbol of bondage, and represent Emma's hold over Duncan. We see that Emma has "piercing green eyes". This is mentioned again on the train, just before she blows it up.

The Pool

Water plays, obviously, a tremendous role in this story: a symbol of cleansing, and baptism.

Malcolm Smelt

"…it wasn't dripping to the ground; instead, it started to spread like some slowly creeping vine." Mint ice cream is my son's favorite.

Liquor

Sprinkled throughout are stories that are meant to illicit discussion. Was it okay for Harry to take a sip from Duncan's flask, it was only a little sip anyway?

Earring

Tonks is the girl that pierces Harry's ear. One has to wonder what she thought when he walked into the store she was using as a cover to watch him from.

End

I though about writing a booklet of vignettes that describe each of the… er, more intimate moments. But I think you have your own memories of what can be done in a parked car, and, if you don't, I bet you will one day. ;)