Name: RonsGirlFriday (Signed) · Date: 18 May 2021 01:20 AM · For: Fun for the Whole Family

Dan, I'm here for our swap, and oh my god how have I not read this one before?? It's absolutely brilliant. And hysterical.

 

Like okay, first of all. The puzzle itself -- not only how the pictures were enchanted like any other wizarding picture, but how the picture being in pieces actually had an effect on the people in the picture and determined their "story." Like the wizard losing his legs, OH MY GOD, that is so fucking dark and hilarious. And everyone appearing to plan his funeral after he's faded away, and meanwhile the kids are just being utterly traumatized by this, I am cackling. It's so wrong and demented and I love it.

 

And while the kids are being thoroughly freaked out, Harry has just gone full Clark Griswold, "jolliest bunch of assholes this side of the nuthouse," we're going to have fun and get along and we're going to LIKE it. It just struck that balance of funny and cringey. Unfortunately for Lily, this party is no longer about her. I have to imagine Harry really truly meant it as a genuine gesture at first, but as all these stressors and conflicts piled up he just became obsessed and it morphed into this metaphor for his entire life -- putting the pieces together literally and figuratively.

 

God bless Ron. "Reparo." He is 100% a problem-solver.

 

Ok so Dudley. This is great handling of him, honestly. He's turned out to be a decent guy who actually makes an effort to stay connected with Harry, but he's far from perfect. This is not your typical reformed Dudley who's seen the light and done a total 180 from his jackass parents. He's still got some of those prejudices ingrained in him, still uneasy with magic and imagines that even the water in a wizarding house is affecting him weirdly -- and consequently, he's raised his kids to be all freaked out and pearl-clutchy about magic as well (even if it wasn't a conscious decision). And clearly this is not helping Ginny or any of the other Weasleys forgive Dudley any faster for his role in Harry's terrible childhood.

 

LOL at Harry and Ginny's agreement concerning who gets to drink according to which relatives are in attendance -- and the rescheduling to a less convenient date if both Dudley and Muriel plan to attend. Teamwork makes the dream work.

 

Arthur running around with a power saw (jesus christ, no) and Molly and Kreacher struggling for domestic dominance just brings everything to the right level of chaos as a backdrop for Harry's little breakdown.

 

Like I would watch this fic as an entire movie. It's so clever.

 

Melanie

Name: dirtydeedsdonedirtcheap (Signed) · Date: 10 May 2017 08:04 PM · For: Fun for the Whole Family

Freddie was about to enter his fourth year at Hogwarts, and thus had become too image-conscious to share hugs with his younger cousins.

^ This reminds me of my younger cousin. He was always trying to act tougher than he appeared and would refuse to hug any of us. My family consists of mostly girls and he would get so offended if any of us tried to hug him. Now that he’s a little older he gets offended if we don’t hug him. The joys of puberty. 

If Ginny’s Aunt Muriel was coming, Harry was allowed to drink as much as he liked. If Harry’s cousin Dudley was coming, Ginny was allowed to drink as much as she liked. If Muriel and Dudley both RSVPed, the event was moved to a less convenient date.

I like this understanding. I might have to partake in this. Except it would be more at every family gathering regardless of who is there I will have to drink as much as I like. HAHA! Aunt Muriel and Dudley have nothing on my family. 

Hey, now that I think about it I’m happy you included a mention of Dudley in this. We know they tried to have a little relationship after this but why would Harry genuinely want to be around him for more than the length of a lunch or dinner? 

“Thanks for the help, Mister ‘It’ll Be Funny and Nanna Can Reattach Their Toes’!”

^ That got a really unattractive snort out of me. 

Wait, wait, here’s another line I like. I’m in tears.

Nothing to worry about, really. When we were little, there wasn’t a week went by where Mum didn’t have to put somebody’s nose or ear back on. Just be sure to hold still if you don’t want it all crook

Ron! Always so helpful. 

“You mean when he wasn’t making fun of you or beating you up?”

I should not laughed so hard at this. I think Ginny takes the cake in this story. I love me a tipsy Ginny. Oh and Rose! How adorable is she? A mini-Hermione! Plus, Albus and James, those two remind me of Fred and George with their antics and conversations. I also really love Dudley’s children. They fit in and yet they stick out like sore thumbs. 

Would love to see more interaction between Molly and Kreacher. I think there’s a one-shot there. 

A moment later, Arthur emerged into the dining room, holding a cordless muggle power saw in one hand and half a table leg in the other.

Why Harry would let Arthur near Dudley’s car is beyond me. Why anyone would let Arthur out of their sight or use a power saw…

Very amusing. 

Kreacher emerged from the kitchen brandishing a large carving knife and wearing an upside down saucepan on his head.

Kreacher, our knight in shining armor 

When the going gets tough, they pull together and they get things done. Did we just give up when Voldemort took over the Ministry and tried to kill us all?

What a pep talk! GO TEAM! GO!

Dan that was marvelous. You are one funny man. I laughed. I cried. I howled. A lot of unnatural sounds are coming from my room. I’m surprised no one has barged in to find out what I’m doing. 

This was great because it was so relatable. Of course we don’t have books that bite or cursed power saws and what not but the family part. I think everyone has experienced trying to bring their family together, all ages, to do a task and it just never pans out properly. Harry was so determined and for such legitimate reasons I was convinced the puzzle would not work out! All the characters worked well together too. Really funny stuff. I have my work cut out for me when I/if I start writing anything humor related again.

Author's Response:

Deeds! I am determined to knock out some unanswered reviews today!

 

Adolescent boys are such goofs. Everyone should like hugs!

 

Drinking to dull the pain of family gatherings is a tradition as old as family events. Or as old as alcohol, whichever is older. I feel like Harry probably did try to maintain some sort of relationship with Dudley, if only out of a misplaced desire to not see his mother's family legacy die completely.

 

Yeah, Ron is usually at his least helpful when he's trying to be helpful. He's a good laugh, though.

 

Ginny was my absolute favorite part of this story. She's full of wine and attitude. Kreacher is a close second. He is so determined to safeguard his master's noble house.

 

I cribbed at least the flavor of Harry's big pep talk from John Belushi's speech in Animal House. It felt so apprpriate to the moment.

 

You know I love your humor. I do look forward to reading more.

 

Thanks for stopping by!

-Dan

Name: JonJon (Anonymous) · Date: 08 Mar 2017 12:51 PM · For: Fun for the Whole Family

Absolutley hillarious

Author's Response:

I'm pleased that you enjoyed it!

 

Thanks for letting me know.

Name: Felpata_Lupin (Signed) · Date: 19 Nov 2016 05:38 AM · For: Fun for the Whole Family

***Transferred from HPFF***

Hello!
I thought I was in debit with you of a decent review, so here I am!
And just so you know... When I said that you did a brilliant work with "Burning inside" I meant it. I suppose Bellatrix is just too foreign of a character for me to link to, which is only my problem... But I'm digressing... On to the story, now!

I loved this oneshot!!! It is by far one of the cutiest and funniest pieces I've read on here!!!

I loved the starting scene with Roxanne and Fred! Even if they appear for only a little moment, it is sufficient to grasp their character! And Fred being "too image-conscious to share hugs" is just so classic! I loved it (did I already say that?)

Then there are James and Albus, the troublemakers! Poor Dursley children, I felt bad for them... I would be terrorized too by two wizard cousins who love pranks and set a biting book after me...
The exchange between the two brothers was hilarious! I loved the Merlin's ghost bit!!!

One of my favourite lines in here:
"Harry momentarily entertained the thought that unemployed Dementors could find work counseling ill-mannered muggle children." Absolutely genius!

I loved pretty much everything! Your characterization of everyone was just perfect!
We got Kreacher and his grumpiness, Arthur with his crazy obsession for all that's Muggle (and all the consequent mess), Hermione and Rose and their know-it-all attitude, little overemotional Hugo...

Drunken Ginny was amazing, with her digs at poor Dudley and then acting all kittenish with Harry!
And then there was Harry himself, frustrated and melodramatic to the point of madness!

I loved the theme of the puzzle, too! Very original! And here comes another line I simply adored: "No matter your blood status, you still put a puzzle together one piece at a time."
It's kind of profound, given the context.
If Ron had just Reparo-ed it, it would've totally missed the point, right?

Poor Lily... Such a disaster of a birthday party... And having the puzzle stuck forever on her bedroom's wall... Putting a Sticking Charm on it was a bit cruel on Harry's part... But I suppose he believed he was doing something pleasing, Merlin bless him!

To cut it short, this was an absolutely entertaining and refreshing reading! I adored every single bit of it!
Thank you so much for this cute little present!
Chiara

Author's Response:

Hi, Chiara!

This story was so much fun to write. I took a big pile of random ideas for interactions between various HP characters and sort of smushed them into one story. I like to think it turned out basically alright.

I imagine James and Albus having a certain amount of the Fred and George dynamic, but with a strong dose of sibling rivalry thrown in. They work together well, but when the plan falls apart they will certainly turn on one another.

I loved every second of writing Kreacher. He's such an under-appreciated character. And I will never forgive WB for leaving him out of the final battle at Hogwarts.

It didn't turn out to be a great birthday party by Lily's standards, but she'll enjoy telling her children about it someday. Or possibly her therapist. Maybe both.

Thanks so much for stopping by!