MetaFic

A good start.

I like the premise for this. I notice the category says romance, but from this prologue it seems that you may be delving into politics and Wizarding culture as well.

- A good novel is an indivisible sum; every scene, sequence and passage of a good novel has to involve, contribute to and advance all three of its major attributes: theme, plot, characterization.
Ayn Rand - The Romantic Manifesto p. 74 (pb 93)

Not the first time I've seen the idea of putting Harry and Ginny under some kind of contract (who could forget "Seeking the Silver", and "The Unbreakable Vow" still WIP?) but this puts a different twist on it. Who would have thought, a Potter as a villain (or at the very least, not quite a dyed-in-the-wool hero)?

So you're putting Harry into Slytherin, and redeeming Bella? This should be good...

Roll on, my friend, I look forward to an entertaining ride. If it's half as good as "Eighth Day" we're in for a cracker ;-)

This story is just so fascinating. You've written a story that is contemporary in date, but dated into the victorian era of social mores. It's a world in which bloodlines and class status is more important then anything. This is something that was hinted in Rowling's books, but you've brought this out so wonderfully.

There are great lines in here. Dumbledore? "I might have guessed that old fruit would have known" Here we see Aunt Bella telling Harry in a condesceding manner how to live up to his marital duties in order to continue the Potter line. Bellatraix? Too funny. She informs with lines like "....by all accounts, fair of skin and comely to behold." and "Given the plethora of siblings that share the same surname, I have no doubt that she will produce enough heirs to ensure the continuance of the Potter name." Nobody talks like that, but in this world they do. Bella's rulling the roost in this house. Poor Ginny. Not only does she get Harry, but Aunt Bellatrix too.

Your Live Journal post sent me over here. Really looking forward to the next chapter.

Poor Ginny. Not only does she get Harry, but Aunt Bellatrix too.

Actually, I wonder whether Bella would be rather more sympathetic than you suggest. She might not work against the system, but she might work within the system and show Harry and Ginny how they can turn things to their advantage. After all, it's not as if the system has done anything to her for which she ought to be grateful.

I am looking forward to seeing more back-story, though. Like how Harry defeated Voldemort, and how Bellatrix was rescued from durance vile. And are we going to meet Hermione, and many other characters we've grown to love? Maybe in this story, focussed on pure-blood society, we might get a chance to see Daphne and some of those others at less of a disadvantage (at a stretch, we might see Pansy or Draco being less of an arse, but I'm not holding my breath ;-).

Chapter 1 should have been marked as chapter 2. That's what caused the error. Since the story has a prologue it was marked as 1. So, the next chapter (even if it's the first actual chapter) should've been marked as chapter 2

my mistake.

'Wow, what an interesting take on the arranged marriage storyline! This was a great first chapter! I can't wait to read more! Keep up the great work!'

Thanks!

I am looking forward to seeing more back-story, though. Like how Harry defeated Voldemort, and how Bellatrix was rescued from durance vile. And are we going to meet Hermione, and many other characters we've grown to love? Maybe in this story, focussed on pure-blood society, we might get a chance to see Daphne and some of those others at less of a disadvantage (at a stretch, we might see Pansy or Draco being less of an arse, but I'm not holding my breath ;-).

As befits my style of AU you get to see a lot of familiar names in familiar roles. For example, if you take Harry out of Ron, Hermione and Neville's lives, what sort of people do they grow up to be?