Name: Aurorofthelight (Signed) · Date: 29 Oct 2021 08:28 PM · For: Chapter 1

Enjoyable story!  Maybe the Dursleys learned something while in hiding!  Hope you are well and working on a seqel to "Lord of Tang"!  :D

Author's Response:

Glad you enjoyed it Aurorofthelight, many thanks for that. All my stories are available elsewhere on other sites (including a brand new one unrelated to this story arc), though not yet a sequel to Lord of Tang, which is still in planning stages. Although I pop in here from time to time, I am not here that often anymore, for various reasons.
Best wishes
Tgfoy

Name: RonsGirlFriday (Signed) · Date: 26 Jan 2021 01:08 AM · For: Chapter 1

Hello, I’m here for the fairyland reviewing event!

I don’t think I’ve ever read a fic that covered the whole year of the Dursleys in hiding, and it’s clear you really put a lot of thought into this, and I enjoyed how you kept Hestia and Dedalus front and center the entire time as well as the Dursleys. Dedalus in particular had some very funny little moments, like when he draws the circle around the stone to make it look like it turned, as a little prank, and the fact that he genuinely believes the chocolate oranges are produced by some guy name Terry.

We see Dudley in the beginning as we left him in DH, having come to the realization that Harry is not, in fact, a waste of space, and see him continue to form his own opinions thereafter, challenging his father’s opinions and attitudes, which is lovely to see (as is the trust and respect Dudley develops for the witch and wizard protecting them). In particular the things he realizes he has observed about Harry that contradict things he’s been raised to believe — such as one’s value being tied to what they have in terms of money or influence, and the fact that there are a great many people who do care about Harry, and that Harry in many ways is just a normal person with friends, and a girlfriend he’d like to go kiss in a park.

Vernon remains Vernon, and I think he always will — possibly just slightly more likeable (or less unlikeable, I should probably say) than Dolores Umbridge. And Petunia seems in character, with the nuances in emotion that we’ve spotted a couple of times buried under her surface.

It was really just wonderful how you made this a whole storyline and a journey for them, and especially Dudley, leading up to him seeking out Harry.

 

Melanie

Name: Chemical_Pixie (Signed) · Date: 15 Aug 2018 09:31 PM · For: Chapter 1

Quodpot review for match 2! (And for the Gryffindor story of the month!)

 

Wow! This is quite an impressive piece of writing, expanding from the time that Dursely's leave Privet Drive to the time after the Final Battle. You've chosen a very interesting point of view, something that isn't often covered. 

 

We all know the Dursely's, and I have a hard time reading them because of how incredibly awful they are to Harry. But you have taken Dudley and played with his characterization a little bit (in a canonical way, of course). You've made him quite likeable in this story. I like how you include the moment that he realizes that his father isn't perfect, that his father postively rewarded Dudley for being so cruel to Harry. Dudley's realization is a major milestone for him, I think. Unfortunately, he has to be cooped up with his dad during the War!

 

But I do like how you incorporated the Dursely's in this village life. I imagine Petunia wanting to return to that village after sometime. I think Vernon is the type of man who will always be unhappy with something--and that's how he'll always find his peace. In his own misery.

 

Dedalus makes not only a really good friend for Dudley but a really good father figure. I'm glad that you explored that relationship. I imagine this will be very beneficial to Dudley in the long run.

 

The ending: it's so cutely awkward for Dudley to stumble across Harry and Ginny when they're snogging! I smiled and chuckled at Dudley's surprise that yes, Harry has friends, and yes, he has a girlfriend. He's kind of outdone his Muggle cousin in that regard... but not in a malicious way. In a "this is who I truly am and you're only now seeing this" kind of way.

 

Overall, well done. You've taken a challenging concept of showing the Dursely's in a very human light.

Author's Response:

Many thanks for your review Chemical_Pixie, glad you enjoyed this story, which is continued as part of my Novels in this fandom. 
Best wishes
Tgfoy  

Name: StarFeather (Anonymous) · Date: 31 May 2018 10:39 AM · For: Chapter 1

Hi! Finally, I finished reading this story. It is very impressive that you described English scenery in detail as well as each character of Dursleys.

Vernon always gets angry concerned with the magical thing, he can't accept it at all. It's interesting that Dud thought his father had tried to let Harry behave in a normal way just like Muggles. Alas, he hadn't. He simply hated Harry, the magical thing. It's a good thing Dud realized the truth and tried to let Vernon see the things properly.

 

I love you set the new place for Dursleys in Village Green. I remember my friend named his pub the same name. It's good for Petunia that she could make real friends in the new community. How she endured her husband's rant is well written, too.

The scene, Dud could see the magical things made me think he might have a sort of the ability, I wondered he could be a Squib. Orange chocolates and butterscotch made me smile.  Big D. came to understand his cousin and Dedalus liked him, which let us imagine how it will be like after they meet Harry again. The expectation got high at the scene when Harry and Ginny popped up in front of Dud. I also expected Petunia might see her nephew and understand each other finally. But oh... yeah, it likely happens Ginny noticed Dud first before Harry did. I chuckled at their embarrassment, both Dud and Harry. I feel like reading chapter 2 to see how the conversation between Harry and his cousin will go.

 

Ah... potterwatch... I felt sad, Fred must have broadcast while they were listening to, and then he had gone forever.

K

Author's Response:

Many Thanks StarFeather, so glad you enjoyed it. I am sorry but there is no chapter 2. The good news is that more of the Dursleys story after the battle of Hogwarts, along with what happens next and beyond is part ofEssence of Revenge, currently being published on this site. Chapter one is up with the second of 36 in the queue. Even better, their story continues in the 21 chapter sequel to that, Lord of Tang. So there is lots more to come.

Thanks once again for your review.

Best wishes

Tom

Name: PendleWizard (Signed) · Date: 11 Apr 2018 08:08 AM · For: Chapter 1

An interesting and original idea for a story. It's one of the great unanswered questions isn't it: What happened to the Durlseys when they were in hiding and how did it affect them?

 

Your solution of hiding them in plain sight amongst their own is very clever. It was good to see Dudley developing a friendship with Dedalus and he and his mum enjoying their temporary life. I hope when they returned to Privet Drive it was to a New Normal.

 

It's always a bonus when a story is set in a real place, especially when it is one I know a little. Did you have a specific village in mind? In my head, it was Baslow.

 

Great stuff, anyway. I look forward to reading your novel.

Author's Response:

Hello PendleWizard
Many thanks for your your review, my first on this archive. I am glad you enjoyed the story, I didn't have anywhere in mind in particular, rather an amalgam of a number of villages in one of my favourite parts of Britain, though yes Baslow was one of them.
I shall be starting to put essence of revenge up soon so you will be able to find out what happens to them.
Best wishes.
Tgfoy