Never Take Advantage

(1) "I'll Never Take Advantage" (Harry Potter)

By Annie Talbot
Reviewed by Kathryn A on 21st May 2011 (1)
(70K)

Summary: The bedtime ritual of a conflicted man.
The opening of this story knocks you off your feet with its tenderness and sadness.

After Voldemort's defeat, Hermione is in a coma, being looked after by Snape and Pomfrey and her friends. (Note that this story is AU after HBP.) Yes, similar stories have been written by others, but this one adds freshness to the tale by eschewing conventional narrative. Instead, each chapter gives a different point of view in a different style, whether that be monologue, journals, letters, stream-of-consciousness, or newspaper articles. The most affecting ones are from Snape and Hermione, but I also like how the other chapters reveal things bit-by-bit.

The chief frustration is that there are a lot of loose ends, some of which are resolved by the sequel, and some are not. Note, however, that the sequel is Adult rated, so let the reader beware.