lavivi | Freedom and Unity (Reply)

Why haven't I mentioned Freedom and Unity yet?

It's difficult to come up with an adequate description. For one, it's not the plot that draws you in. It's the setting, the background, the circumstances, the situation. It's placed in America, the year 1959. One main character is a congressman for Magical Vermont.

The story...it's more realistic than the books themselves, and that is no exaggeration. It's about the politics, how everything works, the controversies...what a challenge. I highly respect the author, Narcissa Malfoy, and only wish she had given us a better penname. It's about a woman of the time being thrown into American wizarding society, the political battles, and with references to how wizards came and started in America.

i.e. Ever wondered what really happened with Roanoke? The Salem witch trials?

In essence, it's such a real insight on how the wizarding world works.

Now for an appropriate review someone gave:

I'm completely blown away.

One can tell that a tremendous effort has been put into this fic. The background and historical references are so diverse and realistic that the story takes on a life of its own.

It's so refreshing to find a story that takes such leaps and bounds away from the conventional HP settings, making it fit within JKR's frame and yet exploring the picture you've created so thoroughly.

I love it.

And now, quotes that basically give a shortened version of the story:

She looked about the apartment desperately. "All right," she said. "Do you have a flying carpet up your sleeve?"
"Flying carpets are illegal in the District of Columbia," he said. "We'll go by portkey."

"My great-uncle used to live here," said Quentin. "He was a Squib. Squibs are wizard-born people who can't do magic. Anyway, Uncle Lewis prided himself at being at home in both worlds. Until the automobile ran him over."

"When were you here last?"
"Two months ago."
"The food will have rotted!"
"No... preservation charms."
"I'm not eating anything that's been here two month," she protested.
"Oh good. Don't eat. We'll write on your death certificate: Cause of Death: Muggle Stupidity."

"I'm not bigoted, Alexia. I'm just telling you what others think. You have to know. You'll meet people like my father."
"Your father thinks we're vermin?"
"No. He thinks you're powerful enemies bent on destroying us. He's a little senile."

"This is real life, Alexia. Not a romance. The Douglases have one of the few truly pure lineages in North America. Not a single Muggle among my ancestors for five centuries."
"Five centuries ago someone married a Muggle?"
"No," he said sharply. "Lack of records. Anyway...."

"Or there weren't until now, Theo. I'm going to be remarrying."
Theo's stare grew more intense.
"I'm very sorry," said Quentin quickly.
"No! You don't have to be! It's... Congratulations!" Despite his hasty assurances, Theo looked ready to faint.

"Well, you can't wear Muggle clothes anymore. My father would take it as a declaration of war, for one thing."
"He'd take me in these clothes as a spy then, don't you think?"

"And who is Alexia?" demanded his father.
"She's a Muggle woman from..." he began but was cut off.
"MUGGLE?" shouted his father.
"Yes," said Quentin, focusing on a flower arrangement near the middle of the table.
"Have you gone mad, boy?" demanded his father.
"Dad, considering I'm forty-seven, you might want to reconsider calling me boy," said Quentin.

"What will Fanny say?" cried his mother.
"Mom, if you will notice, Fanny divorced me. I fail to see how her opinion matters."

The door opened to admit his mother. "Your wife is arguing with your father," she announced.
Quentin rubbed his eyes and sat up. "Who's winning?"

The library lacked the character and history it had once had, Quentin thought. He had nightmares from time to time about missing his mother's funeral because he was too absorbed in tearing down the wallpaper.