I RARELY read this pairing. To me, in most cases, it seems sort of like a Harry and a de-aged Draco. But not here. Not at all. This Scorpius is so real, such a person in his own right, and one that broke my heart a little. I found myself beginning to feel concerned about his safety with Flint, and I wanted to smack the crap out of James. In my mind, this boy probably is 15, and I'm not foolish enough to think they aren't having some sort of sexual contact at that point, but in my head I kept hearing 'too soon, too soon!' And not with someone he'd so idealized. Just... God. So wrong. I had a searing maternal reaction to it, like I was witnessing something I shouldn't have been, which is a testament to your writing, my dear.
And Harry... Mel, your Harry. He'll never be the same. He'll never be able to live with this. And his "I'm not asking you to keep this secret. That wouldn't be fair." and "I can't do something like this and not face the con--" It's so...him. He broke me, here. Not because he was having sex with a kid, but because he so clearly didn't want to hurt him, and was so gentle with him, and just fucking cared so much. Someday, when Scorpius grows up and realizes how he manipulated (and I think he did, honestly) this completely decent man into doing something he never would have done otherwise, I hope he's evolved enough to feel guilty. Until then, Harry will carry that burden around like a millstone around his neck. I find myself hoping it doesn't break him. And yes, Scorpius telling Rose... *sigh*. That can't end well.
You made this plot line so utterly believable, and so completely enthralling, that I was both fascinated and yet disturbed by it. And I hope you take that as the compliment that I mean it to be. Masterfully done.
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I RARELY read this pairing. To me, in most cases, it seems sort of like a Harry and a de-aged Draco. But not here. Not at all. This Scorpius is so real, such a person in his own right, and one that broke my heart a little. I found myself beginning to feel concerned about his safety with Flint, and I wanted to smack the crap out of James. In my mind, this boy probably is 15, and I'm not foolish enough to think they aren't having some sort of sexual contact at that point, but in my head I kept hearing 'too soon, too soon!' And not with someone he'd so idealized. Just... God. So wrong. I had a searing maternal reaction to it, like I was witnessing something I shouldn't have been, which is a testament to your writing, my dear.
And Harry... Mel, your Harry. He'll never be the same. He'll never be able to live with this. And his "I'm not asking you to keep this secret. That wouldn't be fair." and "I can't do something like this and not face the con--" It's so...him. He broke me, here. Not because he was having sex with a kid, but because he so clearly didn't want to hurt him, and was so gentle with him, and just fucking cared so much. Someday, when Scorpius grows up and realizes how he manipulated (and I think he did, honestly) this completely decent man into doing something he never would have done otherwise, I hope he's evolved enough to feel guilty. Until then, Harry will carry that burden around like a millstone around his neck. I find myself hoping it doesn't break him. And yes, Scorpius telling Rose... *sigh*. That can't end well.
You made this plot line so utterly believable, and so completely enthralling, that I was both fascinated and yet disturbed by it. And I hope you take that as the compliment that I mean it to be. Masterfully done.