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Sacrifices Arc #6
A Song In Time of Revolution
Fandom: Harry Potter
Relationship: Draco Malfoy/Harry Potter
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AU of HBP, HPDM slash. Revolution is never an easy choice—and worse when you’re trying to respect the free will of everyone, wizard and magical creature alike. Prophecy and politics and the Ministry... Harry doesn’t need any more complications.
Relationship: Draco Malfoy/Harry Potter
--------------------------------------------------
AU of HBP, HPDM slash. Revolution is never an easy choice—and worse when you’re trying to respect the free will of everyone, wizard and magical creature alike. Prophecy and politics and the Ministry... Harry doesn’t need any more complications.
2839 pages, ebook
First published October 4, 2006
20 people are currently reading
158 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
May 27, 2013
This is the first of the later stories that I think might have benefited from a good editor. It was still good--REALLY good--but it definitely didn't need to be 700k words long.
I appreciate the description of Harry and Draco and their progress both as individuals and as a couple as a spiral--that they're always moving forward (or upward, I suppose, depending on the direction of the spiral) but that they're still working on some things along the way. I felt like, by this point, I was familiar enough with both Harry's and Draco's issues that I could have done with a few less examples.
The only other thing I didn't enjoy about this was that at the end of the 5th story, I remember thinking how remarkable it was that Harry and Draco's relationship felt so adult. It didn't at all feel like a relationship between fifteen-year-olds.... And then this story begins. And Harry, Connor, Padma, and Draco begin to squabble and bicker--exactly like fifteen-year-olds. Again, it just felt like regressing. And like it diminished what I'd thought they'd had.
Okay, so negatives out of the way, this story was every bit as vast and detailed and enthralling and vivid as all of the others. Getting to witness Harry and Draco and Snape and all of the other characters overcome their individual issues and work toward their potential is spectacular. Harry especially, as he becomes more comfortable and confident in his power is so much fun to read about.
I'm nervous about starting the 7th story, since it's billed as the darkest of the set, but there's no way I can stop now.
Favorite Quotes:
"One nice thing about being a Lord-level wizard is that magical temper tantrums pale next to what I can do in battle."
Harry actually snorted at him. "What the fuck does fair have to do with any of it?" he asked. "We live in the world as it is."
Life doesn't stop moving while you try to learn to live it.
It did not force. It did not push. It simply danced, and showed off how beautiful the world was, and asked the listener if she really wanted to give that up.
"I swear to hold the space of my own mind sacred, to make decisions as best as I can based on thought instead of reaction, to test my own beliefs until they shatter or until they prove themselves solid."
He had accepted that there was no direction he could move in that was free of mistakes.... He had to be willing to make those mistakes, and bear the consequences of them, and keep moving forward with a little more knowledge under his belt, eyes a little more open.
Whatever he picked, he was going to be different from now on. This choice was going to prune more of his childhood away from him. It was already doing so.
"You threatened to disown me if I chose Harry's rebellion. And now I am sitting in the same house as Harry, eating the same breakfast, after having slept in the same bed last night. When one chooses a side, it's always best to do it thoroughly, don't you agree?"
Connor, though, thought that the best way to get rid of a monster hiding under the bed was to challenge it to a duel.
You cannot change the past. You can live for the future and try never to make those mistakes again, but if you once begin to think that you can pay for the past, then you will be paying the price for the rest of your life, until you begin thinking that even breathing is too selfish.
the world full of glorious souls packed with glorious possibility
Connor sighed. ... "We'll see."
Parvati gave him a brilliant smile and reached out to clasp his arm. "And we'll argue about it until you do see."
because flying was the only way he knew how to deal with joy this extreme.
For the first time he could remember, Harry had the sense that life was there to be tasted, and taken, and sampled, and he wanted to live as intensely as he had ever wanted anything.
said Hermione, and then stuck her nose pointedly in the book and headed down the corridor towards the Great Hall, avoiding bags and feet by means of specially-trained Hermione senses.
"Fuck you," said Harry pleasantly, and turned away. "I am, as you reminded me today, a Lord-level wizard, Mr. Apollonis. I have no need to crawl."
Connor tried zipping very fast in several directions, on the off-chance that if he flew away from the thought, he didn't have to think it.
Malfoys do not show their emotions in public, because their wills trump their desires. What they wish, passionately, is always more important than what they may want in any one, fleeting, childish moment.
"Must he be so public in everything he does?" Juniper demanded, leaning over Rufus's shoulder to frown out the window. "The other Ministries are going to think we're holding a damn festival for the Muggles. Come learn about dragons! Come see that phoenixes are real!" He waved a disgusted hand.
"I don't think he means to be," said Rufus, and sat back with a little sigh to wait for the end of the display. "He's saving the world again, Elder, and that is sometimes a rather noisy endeavor."
The hatred pulled against the love, the revenge against the impulse to live life as he would, and Snape/Severus knew they were both strong in him, both too strong to simply be defeated. If he turned against either, then he would lose a part of himself. Voldemort would have him, or Harry would.
No. I will have myself.
I appreciate the description of Harry and Draco and their progress both as individuals and as a couple as a spiral--that they're always moving forward (or upward, I suppose, depending on the direction of the spiral) but that they're still working on some things along the way. I felt like, by this point, I was familiar enough with both Harry's and Draco's issues that I could have done with a few less examples.
The only other thing I didn't enjoy about this was that at the end of the 5th story, I remember thinking how remarkable it was that Harry and Draco's relationship felt so adult. It didn't at all feel like a relationship between fifteen-year-olds.... And then this story begins. And Harry, Connor, Padma, and Draco begin to squabble and bicker--exactly like fifteen-year-olds. Again, it just felt like regressing. And like it diminished what I'd thought they'd had.
Okay, so negatives out of the way, this story was every bit as vast and detailed and enthralling and vivid as all of the others. Getting to witness Harry and Draco and Snape and all of the other characters overcome their individual issues and work toward their potential is spectacular. Harry especially, as he becomes more comfortable and confident in his power is so much fun to read about.
I'm nervous about starting the 7th story, since it's billed as the darkest of the set, but there's no way I can stop now.
Favorite Quotes:
"One nice thing about being a Lord-level wizard is that magical temper tantrums pale next to what I can do in battle."
Harry actually snorted at him. "What the fuck does fair have to do with any of it?" he asked. "We live in the world as it is."
Life doesn't stop moving while you try to learn to live it.
It did not force. It did not push. It simply danced, and showed off how beautiful the world was, and asked the listener if she really wanted to give that up.
"I swear to hold the space of my own mind sacred, to make decisions as best as I can based on thought instead of reaction, to test my own beliefs until they shatter or until they prove themselves solid."
He had accepted that there was no direction he could move in that was free of mistakes.... He had to be willing to make those mistakes, and bear the consequences of them, and keep moving forward with a little more knowledge under his belt, eyes a little more open.
Whatever he picked, he was going to be different from now on. This choice was going to prune more of his childhood away from him. It was already doing so.
"You threatened to disown me if I chose Harry's rebellion. And now I am sitting in the same house as Harry, eating the same breakfast, after having slept in the same bed last night. When one chooses a side, it's always best to do it thoroughly, don't you agree?"
Connor, though, thought that the best way to get rid of a monster hiding under the bed was to challenge it to a duel.
You cannot change the past. You can live for the future and try never to make those mistakes again, but if you once begin to think that you can pay for the past, then you will be paying the price for the rest of your life, until you begin thinking that even breathing is too selfish.
the world full of glorious souls packed with glorious possibility
Connor sighed. ... "We'll see."
Parvati gave him a brilliant smile and reached out to clasp his arm. "And we'll argue about it until you do see."
because flying was the only way he knew how to deal with joy this extreme.
For the first time he could remember, Harry had the sense that life was there to be tasted, and taken, and sampled, and he wanted to live as intensely as he had ever wanted anything.
said Hermione, and then stuck her nose pointedly in the book and headed down the corridor towards the Great Hall, avoiding bags and feet by means of specially-trained Hermione senses.
"Fuck you," said Harry pleasantly, and turned away. "I am, as you reminded me today, a Lord-level wizard, Mr. Apollonis. I have no need to crawl."
Connor tried zipping very fast in several directions, on the off-chance that if he flew away from the thought, he didn't have to think it.
Malfoys do not show their emotions in public, because their wills trump their desires. What they wish, passionately, is always more important than what they may want in any one, fleeting, childish moment.
"Must he be so public in everything he does?" Juniper demanded, leaning over Rufus's shoulder to frown out the window. "The other Ministries are going to think we're holding a damn festival for the Muggles. Come learn about dragons! Come see that phoenixes are real!" He waved a disgusted hand.
"I don't think he means to be," said Rufus, and sat back with a little sigh to wait for the end of the display. "He's saving the world again, Elder, and that is sometimes a rather noisy endeavor."
The hatred pulled against the love, the revenge against the impulse to live life as he would, and Snape/Severus knew they were both strong in him, both too strong to simply be defeated. If he turned against either, then he would lose a part of himself. Voldemort would have him, or Harry would.
No. I will have myself.
October 21, 2020
The middle and last quarter were a bit slow otherwise it was an okay read.
June 19, 2015
This one might just be so much fun in its own right because Voldemort is sidelined throughout so much of it, letting Harry just be Harry-tastic through much of it. The consequence is lots of fun politics and character growth.
July 30, 2025
Six Sacrifices Arc books down, one to go.
There was much to like about this one: lots of politics for my boy Scrimgeour, the rival newspaper subplot, and Harry accomplishing vates tasks, to start. We got a lot of Connor POV, which I found myself really enjoying; dude has really grown on me. There was also more slice of life than we tend to see to in this series; it was a welcome change of pace to focus on so many non-Voldemort aspects of this world. Also, the author matches the phases of the moon to the actual calendar; I’m blown away by such crazy attention to detail.
Not my favorite: Harry bouncing back to his old patterns of thought and behavior re: sacrifice and lack of self care is a major been there, done that; I can’t imagine how badly such repetition would have grated on me if I hadn’t taken a six-month break after WTStSaS. Snape was a giant baby for a huge chunk of the story, which I get was in part due to Voldemort’s influence, but that didn’t make it less annoying to read. The Stone and Falco Parkinson subplots resolved anticlimactically.
But the real detraction I’m levying comes from the pacing: July through Halloween took 50% of the book, while the second 50% covered November till June 6. While I appreciate how Harry’s rebellion affected his position in wizarding politics, I just can’t get behind the werewolf plot taking up so much of the story, especially considering it was only added very late in book five to begin with. I don’t think I’d want it to be dropped altogether, but a major scaling back would have been my preference.
Onto I Am Also Thy Brother! I remember extremely little from this one—only four scenes, in fact, and all but one are Connor focused—so I’m very much looking forward to it.
There was much to like about this one: lots of politics for my boy Scrimgeour, the rival newspaper subplot, and Harry accomplishing vates tasks, to start. We got a lot of Connor POV, which I found myself really enjoying; dude has really grown on me. There was also more slice of life than we tend to see to in this series; it was a welcome change of pace to focus on so many non-Voldemort aspects of this world. Also, the author matches the phases of the moon to the actual calendar; I’m blown away by such crazy attention to detail.
Not my favorite: Harry bouncing back to his old patterns of thought and behavior re: sacrifice and lack of self care is a major been there, done that; I can’t imagine how badly such repetition would have grated on me if I hadn’t taken a six-month break after WTStSaS. Snape was a giant baby for a huge chunk of the story, which I get was in part due to Voldemort’s influence, but that didn’t make it less annoying to read. The Stone and Falco Parkinson subplots resolved anticlimactically.
But the real detraction I’m levying comes from the pacing: July through Halloween took 50% of the book, while the second 50% covered November till June 6. While I appreciate how Harry’s rebellion affected his position in wizarding politics, I just can’t get behind the werewolf plot taking up so much of the story, especially considering it was only added very late in book five to begin with. I don’t think I’d want it to be dropped altogether, but a major scaling back would have been my preference.
Onto I Am Also Thy Brother! I remember extremely little from this one—only four scenes, in fact, and all but one are Connor focused—so I’m very much looking forward to it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 16, 2020
Claims to be darker than last book...but not feeling that. Last book was something I put down for MONTHS. Frustrated by uneven growth of Harry/Draco, but constant reminders that they are 16/17 helped.
June 1, 2020
I don't plan to write a review on such a long and complex book, but I will write some thoughts here about the story or the characters as I had them while I was reading the book:
- oh no, I can totally see how Snape is wrong and everything will catch up to him in due time. It will be huge. I'm excited.
- Lucius is just slowly preparing a rope to hang himself with, you can just see it. Too much self-centered behavior without regrets. I am sort of worried about what will happen. I wish he just stopped.
- Draco and Connor having another spat about who Harry likes more is just annoying. I totally understand that they're sort of jealous of each other but it does not explain the behavior they're showing ( I mean, obviously it's childish, but we knew they were not as much adults as Harry is), but this is just painful for Harry and I know that's what neither of them wants.... Please don't let it be as dumb as I think it will be.
- phew! I was really worried about Harry needing to make everyone into an absorbere or just a witch/wizard for a second there!!
- Jesus Christ, Parvati needs to stop being so annoying. I also think Connor deserves someone better, so fingers crossed they break up and he finds someone different.
- I have noticed something I didn't realize before -- the author sometimes spends a lot of time on some issue (internal, or an argument) and then there are times when some very important epic parts (when the kids died before Midsummer) was just too short! I wish there was sometimes more story and less talk (not always, the politics are interesting, but still!!).
- After reading the chapter about horcruxes, I am upset. I think the author is creating extra drama where there doesn't have to be such a large one. Okay, you have to sacrifice something to destroy them, but it really did not have to be a life. That's just overdoing it. There is enough people dying already and there will be much more in the actual war. So why more??
- I am not sure what to think of Snape's dreams. Half the time they are too short to really add anything to the story and the other half of the time, they are a mess of memories and fiction (lets call it a different reality) and those are completely useless. It also made it really confusing for no reason I can see. ......The intermissions really do not add anything besides me thinking Snape and Regulus should be lovers :D.
- oh no, I can totally see how Snape is wrong and everything will catch up to him in due time. It will be huge. I'm excited.
- Lucius is just slowly preparing a rope to hang himself with, you can just see it. Too much self-centered behavior without regrets. I am sort of worried about what will happen. I wish he just stopped.
- Draco and Connor having another spat about who Harry likes more is just annoying. I totally understand that they're sort of jealous of each other but it does not explain the behavior they're showing ( I mean, obviously it's childish, but we knew they were not as much adults as Harry is), but this is just painful for Harry and I know that's what neither of them wants.... Please don't let it be as dumb as I think it will be.
- phew! I was really worried about Harry needing to make everyone into an absorbere or just a witch/wizard for a second there!!
- Jesus Christ, Parvati needs to stop being so annoying. I also think Connor deserves someone better, so fingers crossed they break up and he finds someone different.
- I have noticed something I didn't realize before -- the author sometimes spends a lot of time on some issue (internal, or an argument) and then there are times when some very important epic parts (when the kids died before Midsummer) was just too short! I wish there was sometimes more story and less talk (not always, the politics are interesting, but still!!).
- After reading the chapter about horcruxes, I am upset. I think the author is creating extra drama where there doesn't have to be such a large one. Okay, you have to sacrifice something to destroy them, but it really did not have to be a life. That's just overdoing it. There is enough people dying already and there will be much more in the actual war. So why more??
- I am not sure what to think of Snape's dreams. Half the time they are too short to really add anything to the story and the other half of the time, they are a mess of memories and fiction (lets call it a different reality) and those are completely useless. It also made it really confusing for no reason I can see. ......The intermissions really do not add anything besides me thinking Snape and Regulus should be lovers :D.
December 15, 2013
This is the only one of the series that I feel unable to give 5 stars and was leaning a bit towards 3. It's a fantastic story all in all and this one is an important part of it all, but it would have benefited from some professional editing. It's just too long. Even though part 5 is much longer, it doesn't feel like it to me. And, it dwells too deeply on the characterization of all the main and even minorish characters. Which is great cause it all makes perfect sense and one gets such a thorough understanding of the motivations behind everyone's action. Nothing seems arbitrary or out of the loop. But, it does take some commitment to go along with it. And then there are all those beautiful moments and thrilling chapters in between that certainly make it worthwhile. I've read it all before and I will read it all again without a doubt. For now, I am looking forward to the last installment which is simply incredible (and ghastly). Just need to read a few "real" books first (though few real books can compare to this series in depth and imagination .. certainly not the original HP books. I fear I will never be able to read those again ...).
February 9, 2016
The saga continues.... So much happens again, I can't begin to describe it. Besides, if you have read the previous ones, you don't need a review of this one :-)
I think it would be a good idea to read another book in between (Maelstrom has been patiently waiting) but I don't know how long I will resist diving into the last part of this epic series....
I think it would be a good idea to read another book in between (Maelstrom has been patiently waiting) but I don't know how long I will resist diving into the last part of this epic series....
August 1, 2013
Well, so far, it's been the book I liked the least. The author sacrificed some of the story pace for the sake of characterization, which I don't think was the best option. The end is surprising enough and, though I liked the book, comparatively it's still the worst one.
August 5, 2013
*Alpha: I'm endlessly amused. WAS NOT expecting that -- Loki was a harsh ruler, but logical, so I was expecting him to keep being thorny and in Harry's way. This makes everything so much more complicated, and so much more exciting.
November 16, 2022
THIS ONE WAS SOO GOOD (a little predictable tho since 5/6 of my predictions on the book 6 bingo ended up being right) it was so exhilarating seeing regulus come back and honestly scary seeing Lucius snap
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 27, 2015
As always just awesome :)
February 2, 2025
WHAT THE FREAK
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oczywiście że było za spokojnie
oczywiście
.???@?@&•~♤nNn!@#nnzbZxAaJ?×
????????????
oczywiście że było za spokojnie
oczywiście
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