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Title: The Well-Groomed Mind
Author:![[fanfiction.net profile]](/img/userheads/ff-icon-192.png)
Lady_Khali aka ![[archiveofourown.org profile]](https://p2.dreamwidth.org/b164c54b26e4/-/archiveofourown.org/favicon.ico)
Lady_Khali
Fandom: Harry Potter
Genre: Manipulative!Dumbledore/Independent!Harry
Length: Very Long (Words:182,905 and counting)
Author's Summary:
On Halloween 1994, Harry learns his mind isn't his own. On Samhain morn, he vows to question everything. Armed with logic and an unlikely ally, Harry makes a last ditch bid to reclaim his life. The goal: survive at all costs.
Review:
In some ways this is a typical manipulative!Dumbledore fic; in others, it's creative, well-reasoned, and avoids several of the overdosed tropes common in this genre in HP fic. This is a Barty-mentors-Harry fic, which isn't rare, exactly, but it's a plot I'd read more of if I could. Because of that, this is a story where Harry has a more Slytherin personality (typical of this genre in HP fic) without him suddenly pining after various Slytherin characters. This fic is well-written in general terms - the spelling and grammar, the formatting, and even the plot development. I particularly like Hermione's characterization in this and Tom, Barty, and Moody are enjoyable characters to read about too even if they aren't insane like in canon. However, at times, Harry's new personality can be a bit overbearing and this is a first person fic so we never really get out of his head. even when we could maybe use a break from him. Plus, that also means the plot advances are based on what Harry knows rather than what is happening (realistic, I suppose, but obviously there's other stuff going on in this world, related to this plot but not to Harry, that could be discussed for the benefit of drama and pacing). That said, I absolutely recommend this fic. It's clever and enjoyable to read.
The Well-Groomed Mind (on ff.net) (on AO3)
Cover:
Author:
Lady_Khali aka Fandom: Harry Potter
Genre: Manipulative!Dumbledore/Independent!Harry
Length: Very Long (Words:182,905 and counting)
Author's Summary:
On Halloween 1994, Harry learns his mind isn't his own. On Samhain morn, he vows to question everything. Armed with logic and an unlikely ally, Harry makes a last ditch bid to reclaim his life. The goal: survive at all costs.
Review:
In some ways this is a typical manipulative!Dumbledore fic; in others, it's creative, well-reasoned, and avoids several of the overdosed tropes common in this genre in HP fic. This is a Barty-mentors-Harry fic, which isn't rare, exactly, but it's a plot I'd read more of if I could. Because of that, this is a story where Harry has a more Slytherin personality (typical of this genre in HP fic) without him suddenly pining after various Slytherin characters. This fic is well-written in general terms - the spelling and grammar, the formatting, and even the plot development. I particularly like Hermione's characterization in this and Tom, Barty, and Moody are enjoyable characters to read about too even if they aren't insane like in canon. However, at times, Harry's new personality can be a bit overbearing and this is a first person fic so we never really get out of his head. even when we could maybe use a break from him. Plus, that also means the plot advances are based on what Harry knows rather than what is happening (realistic, I suppose, but obviously there's other stuff going on in this world, related to this plot but not to Harry, that could be discussed for the benefit of drama and pacing). That said, I absolutely recommend this fic. It's clever and enjoyable to read.
The Well-Groomed Mind (on ff.net) (on AO3)
Cover: