His Marked Equal

by lvidler.op

AU. OOC. Starts at the end of the Tri-Wizard Tournament, with Harry and Cedric being transported to the grave yard. Harry changes things by rescuing Cedric and calling in Pettigrew's life debt. Harry can still burn things with his hands when he's desperate enough, and Cedric is feeling protective of the younger boy. "And the Dark Lord shall mark him as his equal..." Complete.

60. Author's Ending Notes and Response

Dear Readers and Reviewers,

This is my longest work so far. Things that made it very long:

1. Losing my notes immediately after writing chapter three, and only randomly finding them.

2. Losing my spot in my story.

3. Just wanting to write fluff.

4. Using this story as an excuse to figure out how different events in history could have affected the Wizarding World.

5. Trying to figure out the various power dynamics in the Ministry.

6. Finding my notes and finding that they didn't fit the plot well.

7. Scrapping my planned redemption arc for Snape, and deciding to make him fit canon better.

Things I don't understand about the whole thing:

1? Why did I drop Neville and Luna?

Things that I used my experiences with younger siblings for: Every single one of the interactions between any of the younger characters, as well as how long can an eighteen year-old go before going stir crazy.

I once hated my youngest brother. However, we could absolutely get along one minute because we're trying to keep the piece, and then an hour or more I am storming away to keep from yelling at him or I was yelling. It seemed reciprocal. It took God grabbing me by the ear and twisting it metaphorically to see that I was wrong, and took over a year and many mistakes on my part for my baby brother (there's a large age difference) to see that I was actually trying and sincere, and for me to gain that trust on his part for him to befriend me. Hatred doesn't necessarily mean always snarling at another person. It's an attitude and very much a decision.

Things that I constantly ask questions about in Harry Potter canon:

1. Why does Albus Dumbledore constantly put his games before the kids?

2. Why does Albus Dumbledore hold so many jobs if it seems he doesn't actually do any of them?

3. What does Albus Dumbledore do all day?

4. The whole problem of Sirius' disappearance when at Grim Auld Place or Grimmauld Place. Does the house just kidnap him sometimes?

5. Why do none of the Death Eaters other than Dolohov and Bellatrix use anything other than the three Unforgivables offensively when they are supposedly this trained army?

6. Why does Harry not use more than two spells offensively?

7. Is the reason why there is no heavy repercussions because the belief of everyone is so strong that it actually influences magic a bit?