I don’t think Harry is too powerful, but Hermione’s reaction is definitely overdone. Eliezer’s taken her weakness from the books and actually magnified it, when it’s my understanding that the characters in this story are supposed to be better, more competent versions of their canon selves. Hermione has a lot of potential, so I hope he gives her some character development soon.
Seriously? Did you miss the part about “I think that the second degree of caution will suffice.”?
When Harry did the experiment under the supervision of an experienced, adult wizard, he had all sorts of safety precautions in place, that he did not have when he tried it on his own.
Hermione was right, Harry could have gotten them killed by trying novel tricks without any sort of precautions. And having seen the standard precautions, Harry understood this, which is why:
“Um, Hermione?” Harry said in a very small voice. “I think I owe you a really, really, really big apology.”
My problem wasn’t that Hermione advocated more caution, but that she seemed to be doing so only because they were going “against the rules” (without really understanding why the rule existed). But I reread the scene with her confrontation of Harry just now and I think I didn’t give her enough credit/ was confusing her with the canon version. Go Hermione ;)
That was my experience too. She was much more likable as well!
I also liked some emphasis on Harry’s cooperation with Hermione instead of more Harry-Draco stuff. Relying purely on trying to out-game a Malfoy for the purpose of developing godlike powers is a rather poor strategy.
This ability is at least as dangerous as the killing curse, if not more so. People are objects. Harry can now transfigure, say, a chunk of someone else’s brain into steel, or glass, or water. Turning someone else into a ferret is scary, yes, but they’ll turn back little the worse for wear.
This makes Harry very, very dangerous, especially because he hasn’t realized it yet.
I always thought the killing curse was overrated. Many of the spells that first years use in pranks on each other will get you a kill if you are carrying a knife in your pocket.
In 1 vs 1 combat stupefy beats avada kedavra. By about 3 syllables.
Don’t forget that Avada Kedavra has the advantage that it can’t be blocked/mitigated/etc, whereas spells like stupefy presumably can (or that advantage of AK wouldn’t be worth noting).
More specifically, most spells can be blocked by the “protego” charm. AK cannot be blocked in this matter although AK can be dodged or can have a large physical object block it.
Presumably that at least allows him to break through any locks. Mastering this wandlessly will make it impossible to effectively restrain him while leaving conscious. The choice to make it possible is still on the author, because the Magic could make it impossible regardless, as it holds lots of conceptual knowledge already and can impose map distinctions of its own, however the wizard conceptualizes the situation.
Chapter 28: IMO, worst chapter yet. Harry is overpowered, and Hermione’s reaction is overdone.
I’d dispute your claim about Hermione—I get that way about breaking rules sometimes, particularly when I am tired.
I don’t think Harry is too powerful, but Hermione’s reaction is definitely overdone. Eliezer’s taken her weakness from the books and actually magnified it, when it’s my understanding that the characters in this story are supposed to be better, more competent versions of their canon selves. Hermione has a lot of potential, so I hope he gives her some character development soon.
Seriously? Did you miss the part about “I think that the second degree of caution will suffice.”?
When Harry did the experiment under the supervision of an experienced, adult wizard, he had all sorts of safety precautions in place, that he did not have when he tried it on his own.
Hermione was right, Harry could have gotten them killed by trying novel tricks without any sort of precautions. And having seen the standard precautions, Harry understood this, which is why:
My problem wasn’t that Hermione advocated more caution, but that she seemed to be doing so only because they were going “against the rules” (without really understanding why the rule existed). But I reread the scene with her confrontation of Harry just now and I think I didn’t give her enough credit/ was confusing her with the canon version. Go Hermione ;)
Interesting—I think this chapter has the least unsatisfactory presentation of Hermione so far.
It’s at least plausible that she’d be less self-assured than the canon version—she’s in a much weirder situation.
That was my experience too. She was much more likable as well!
I also liked some emphasis on Harry’s cooperation with Hermione instead of more Harry-Draco stuff. Relying purely on trying to out-game a Malfoy for the purpose of developing godlike powers is a rather poor strategy.
Really? Because he can transfigure parts of objects? I took that as the rest of the wizarding world being incompetent.
This ability is at least as dangerous as the killing curse, if not more so. People are objects. Harry can now transfigure, say, a chunk of someone else’s brain into steel, or glass, or water. Turning someone else into a ferret is scary, yes, but they’ll turn back little the worse for wear.
This makes Harry very, very dangerous, especially because he hasn’t realized it yet.
I always thought the killing curse was overrated. Many of the spells that first years use in pranks on each other will get you a kill if you are carrying a knife in your pocket.
In 1 vs 1 combat stupefy beats avada kedavra. By about 3 syllables.
Don’t forget that Avada Kedavra has the advantage that it can’t be blocked/mitigated/etc, whereas spells like stupefy presumably can (or that advantage of AK wouldn’t be worth noting).
More specifically, most spells can be blocked by the “protego” charm. AK cannot be blocked in this matter although AK can be dodged or can have a large physical object block it.
It was already described in detail, when Transfiguration was introduced, that transfiguring a living thing kills it...
Transfiguring a whole person is very difficult though.
But does transfiguring a piece of a living thing kill it? I’m curious to see how that will work out.
Presumably that at least allows him to break through any locks. Mastering this wandlessly will make it impossible to effectively restrain him while leaving conscious. The choice to make it possible is still on the author, because the Magic could make it impossible regardless, as it holds lots of conceptual knowledge already and can impose map distinctions of its own, however the wizard conceptualizes the situation.
Unless the restraints are protected against transfiguration.
If the ability to transform just portions of objects is completely novel, those protections might or might not extend to it.
In other words: rejoice, Eliezer! Whichever you choose will be plausible! (As long as you remember to be consistent)
If you can prevent apparition by powerful wizards you can quite likely prevent transfiguration via a similar mechanism.