New Chapter for Harbinger
Harbinger
Bambu179 Reviews | 6.72/10 (179 Ratings, 0 Likes, 151 Favorites )
Severus Snape has been pardoned by Ministry decree, but not everyone is pleased that he has returned to teaching at Hogwarts.
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About Bambu
Author
Bambu
Member Since 2005 | 27 Stories | Favorited by 542 | 117 Reviews Written | 1,029 Review Responses
I have loved the written word since watching my mother’s fingers trace the lines of a book, luxuriating in riveting tales and well-turned phrases. Many a night I read until dawn, a plastic flashlight hidden under the covers to light the pages as I raced the rising sun to finish my latest must-read.
Since joining the HP fandom, I've been privileged to receive more than 50 awards, including Best Author (Quill to Parchment Awards) and Best Classic Author (Most Potente Passions). Among others, my stories have won awards for Best Hurt/Comfort (Spoils of War, Morning Has Broken), Best Novel Length (Calling Card, Guard…Check…Mate), Best One Shot (A Beach in Ireland), Best WIP (Saving a Death Eater, The Summoning), Favorite Overall Story (Complexities), and Readers’ Choice (A Quest of Paladins).
Aside from a judicious polish for formatting and egregious typos, I don't plan on revising my early work. Those stories are the stepping stones of my writing journey. Please note some stories contain adult content. None is more graphic than equivalent scenes in the television shows True Blood or Game of Thrones, and age appropriate warnings are posted.
I no longer write fanfiction prolifically. Like many fanfic authors, my focus has shifted to original work. A member of the Romance Writers of America and the Southern California Writers Association, I write under my name: Lin Thornhill.
My original story Verisimilitude published in Thoroughly Modern Monsters (Story Spring Publishing, 2013) reached the top 100 fantasy anthologies and broke into the top 10 in the UK the first month of release. Ben and Christine’s story will continue in 2016.
Fixation, my latest short story, slated for publication in J. Aldis’ anthology Immanence, with a winter 2015-2016 release, is particularly exciting as it anchors the Messengers of Inari novel series I’ve been developing for the past year.
9/2015
Reviews for Harbinger
I loved the reunions and the interactions between Hermione and her former professors, particularly McGonagall. Especially Minerva's observation that, without the boys as a tempering influence, that Hermione could have been a female Percy... "EWWW" is right!!! One Percy Weasley is quite enough, thank you.The bit with Severus at the end was intriguing and makes me suspect that Severus does consider Hermione a friend on some level and was a bit hurt that Hermione would not be so "presumptuous" to consider him the same. And the bit with the owl at the end... could that have been Severus in his animagus form? I know that in some cultures the owl has been (undeservingly) considered a harbinger of the dark...Great update!
Response from Bambu (Author of Harbinger)
I'm very pleased you liked that bit about Percy. I remembered how kind he was to her that first year, and I remember they seemed to have got along very well at that point. A little extrapolation later and ... voila!I think you've aptly described Severus' reaction to Hermione. As for the bit with the owl, I can't quite comment or the entire story will unfold too easily, but I'm blessed with a perceptive and discerning audience.Thank you.
Loved all the reminiscing in this chapter, and how Hermione's relationships with her former professors is shifting to one of mutual respect and adulthood. Minerva's frank assessment of Hermione's personality as a student and her agreement of it was wonderful to read. I can't help but think Hermione impressed everyone (even Severus) with how she's matured since her graduation from Hogwarts.Interesting to note that Severus, Septima and Irma all joined the staff the same year. I'm sure we will learn its importance as the story continues, and I'm eager to find out more!
Response from Bambu (Author of Harbinger)
Thank you very much. I'm pleased you liked the changing relationships and Minerva's rather blunt assessment. You know the staff would've discussed her, and I like that Hermione could take the teasing with a smile. I think most of us look back at our younger selves with something of a rueful smile and shake of our heads.As for the potential clue, well, I can't say yay or nay, but I hiope you'll continue to be intriguied.
I'm enjoying reading your story. I like the less acerbic Snape and I bet Hermione will, too.
Response from Bambu (Author of Harbinger)
Thank you.Aside from the natural easing time would create, there are reasons for his less-than-vicious demeanor, which do come out later on. I hope you enjoy the rest of the story.
I like this very much. I'm eager to see it's progression.
Response from Bambu (Author of Harbinger)
Thank you so much.
Excellently named gameskeeper. Mellors? Someone has read Lady Chatterley's Lover!
Response from Bambu (Author of Harbinger)
::laughs:: I actually have read Lady Chatterley's Lover, and it just seemed like a fitting tribute (Besides ... have you seen Sean Bean in the role?)Thank you for stopping to leave me a review.
wonderful chapter! You've given us a lot of interesting stuff to think about. a new favourite for me. (Is that a clue, that Snape and Pince joined the faculty the same year?)
Response from Bambu (Author of Harbinger)
Thank you, thank you. I'm delighted you're engaged in the story, and it might be a clue ... it might not be.
Anonymous
Your story is absolutely awesome. I honestly don't know how to put it in better words. So delightful the plot, the way you draw your characters, the not-so-fanfiction-mainstream you let things happen... I absolutely hate to leave for holidays now and have two wait three long weeks for any update you might post in the meantime... *sobs*
Too bad I didn't know about Snape being over here, too ;o) - I live rather close to the Black Forest and wouldn't have missed the chance to meet him for anything! *lol*
Author's Response: Thank you so much for your gorgeous review. You're lucky to live where you do; parts of the Black Forest are beautiful and still wild. I'm sure Severus would've been civil if you'd met him, but perhaps a little caustic.
I'm delighted you're enjoying the beginning, and there should be six more chapters up by the time you return. I do hope you enjoy them. Have a wonderful holiday.
This is great. I can't wait for the rest.
Response from Bambu (Author of Harbinger)
Thanks so much.
Wow, you made the librarian cool!
Response from Bambu (Author of Harbinger)
Now that is a great compliment. Thank you.
You scared me when AD said he was going to visit Severus. I thought Severus was in a portrait somewhere. What a relief. He was standing in the entrance hall almost as if he was waiting to see Hermione. ~laughs quietly~ Loved the chapter and your Severus.
Response from Bambu (Author of Harbinger)
I'm very pleased you enjoyed the chapter, even though I scared you about Severus. I did want you to wonder, even as he showed up later on. Thanks for the review.
Loving this! Anything to keep me busy until the movie tonight is welcome, of course, but this one has caught my interest. Hope Hermione takes the job - she'd be crazy not to, right? *g*
Response from Bambu (Author of Harbinger)
Thank you very much. We're not seeing the movie tonight, but tomorrow morning will see us queuing up! I do hope you continue to enjoy the story. As for Hermione's choice, well, there might be other things at work. You'll see.
Ooo, a mystery! Where is Severus? And just what was Madam Pince doing in the Shack? She seems to know something she's not telling, but Hermione and Harry are both too exhausted to catch on to that at the moment...
Can't wait to see how things develop!
Response from Bambu (Author of Harbinger)
You're so right about Harry and Hermione. They've done what they can to set things right, but are too depleted to think beyond leaving the seemingly Snape-less shack to someone in authority.I do hope you continue to enjoy the story, and thank you.
A mystery waiting to be solved! :)
Response from Bambu (Author of Harbinger)
I do hope so. Really. Thanks for commenting.
I love the ending bit... it brings such a resolution to so many different conflicts :D
Response from Bambu (Author of Harbinger)
Oh, thank you so much. I'm delighted you've enjoyed the story and the resolution.
and a superb ending to a superb story! thanks so much for sharing your vision and talent. smoochies forever!
Response from Bambu (Author of Harbinger)
You've made my evening. Thank you very, very much.
very nice. I'm glad things worked out for them!
Response from Bambu (Author of Harbinger)
Thank you very much. I'm delighted you enjoyed it.
so.....sequel?
Response from Bambu (Author of Harbinger)
::laughs:: Er ... no, at least not at the moment. It's absolutely encouraging that you might want one. Thank you!
Harry influencing Snape - I think the world has shifted on its axis. :)
Response from Bambu (Author of Harbinger)
::laughs uproariously::Yes, indeed. The post-war world has shifted.Thanks.
Thank you so much for this story! For a good part, it felt like reading a thriller, never giving away the suspect too soon and concealing the outcome expertly, yet following a logical chronology. I really loved how the end of your story felt more like opening a door rather than closing it. Great work!
Response from Bambu (Author of Harbinger)
What an absolutely gratifying review. I can't adequately express how much it means to me that you thought the mystery worked, especially as it was my first attempt at one, and I'm delighted you liked the ending. Thank you very much!
That was wonderful.
Response from Bambu (Author of Harbinger)
I'm so pleased you liked it. Thank you.
Once again, WONDERFUL,WONDERFUL,WONDERFUL!!! I am adding this to my favorites where it will be savored over and over again. Shell~
Response from Bambu (Author of Harbinger)
You've made me blush, but I'm quite happy to do so. Thank you, again and again.
Thank you so much for this truly brilliant story. I must confess I am deeply saddened to see we've reached the end. I was hoping so see more of Severus in this chapter but I enjoyed it all the same.If you ever do a follow-up, I'd really like to know more about Snape's new life as a sortof Vampire - about how it affects his day-to-day life as well as his relationship with Hermione. But if you never write another word in this universe you've created, I'm happy with where you left off.Well done!
Response from Bambu (Author of Harbinger)
You are most welcome, and what a spectacular compliment (that you didn't want it to end).I've never dabbled in vampire lore before, so it took a lot of research to get to this point. I might just be tempted to delve some more. Hmmm. Maybe.In any event, thank you so much for your kind words.
Well done. Intelligently written. I have truly enjoyed this intriguing tale.And as you stated earlier, not an end so much as a beginning. (?) ;)
Response from Bambu (Author of Harbinger)
Thank you very much. I'm so pleased you see it as a beginning (although I'm afraid that story will be told ... off-screen).
Lovely ending to a compelling story. A budding romance between Severus and Hermione, endorsed by her best friends. And the career she has always wanted. You gave her the cake and allowed her to eat it, too, Bambu. Well done. Bravo!
Response from Bambu (Author of Harbinger)
::curtseys::Thank you for such a wonderful compliment. I don't often give my heroines their cake with frosting, but Severus deserves all the frosting he can eat!
Sorry to see it ended, but well done!
Response from Bambu (Author of Harbinger)
And you've been a gracious and wonderful reviewer. Thank you, too!