Reviews for A Lonely Path
Tigerz2000 chapter 30 . 17h
This story is amazing! I feel like I started this years ago cause it definitely seemed familiar at first! I’m so happy Sirius’ name was cleared, he deserves justice! And goddammit Harry EVERYONE JUST WANTS TO LOVE YOU. COME BACK. I’ve enjoyed every moment of this story and am eagerly awaiting more.

In terms of Sirius dealing with the Dursley’s, I think maybe Sirius is triggered by something and has an episode, and sets out to kill the Dursley’s. But then has a change of heart and just ends up terrifying them instead. I think that would show he’s still struggling to come to terms with “normal” life, but he’s ultimately winning that battle as he realises Harry and Remus wouldn’t want him to sink that low and become the criminal he was accused of being.
grumpygrim chapter 1 . 7/28
Awesome story! I'm pretty sure I read the start many years ago, but I see you've updated recently so I'm going to do my best to stay up to date
elleay sahbel chapter 30 . 7/19
Amazing story!
a pair of ragged claws chapter 30 . 7/18
This is a great story, and I was happy to see that you updated fairly recently! Your depictions of Harry’s trust issues and Remus’s self-confidence issues seem very realistic, and I was glad you showed how long it took for Harry (and Remus) to open up about the past. I also appreciate that you are continuing with Harry’s trust and independence issues by having him preparing to run away instead of being docile and going with the Weasleys. Even if Harry has appreciated Ron’s treacle tart smuggling and the twins’ brotherly treatment, that doesn’t mean that your version of his character would feel safe going home to live with them: after all, in Harry’s experience, the Dursleys treated their own son well (assuming Harry doesn’t understand that it is also child abuse when one kid has to witness another child being mistreated), so just because the Weasleys are nice to their own kids doesn’t mean they would be nice to Harry (in his mindset, at least). I am just saying this in case some readers (who are also reading reviews) don’t understand why Harry would rather run away than to stay with an apparently nice family. I am looking forward to more trouble and angst as Harry makes his attempt to run away again. Is his Trace still blocked? Does he have his bank key with him?

You left the story at a place where it’s still possible that Harry will be apprehended or change his mind before he gets away. Buy I kind of hope that he manages to escape, because I would like to see him try to blend back into the Muggle world. With the whole six-month trial period (or “sentence”), I kind of think that Harry wouldn’t ever really accept staying in the wizarding world unless he gets to experience living on his own again for awhile. I am guessing he would be kind of sad to start over and that he would miss his friends and Remus, but he is stubborn enough (and has enough trust issues) that I bet he would stay on his own for a long time if he could do that without being caught. Yet after being back on his own and being lonely for awhile, I also bet he wouldn’t be quite as angry to be caught again. This could also lead to an interesting semi-canon run-in with Umbridge and a hearing (since he is a minor trying to live without guardians, and it is also unclear from your story whether he is aware of the Underage Magic Restriction, since he did magic with Remus at home and no one ever mentioned the Restriction to him in a scene). But whether he gets apprehended before leaving the castle or not, I am looking forward to seeing what happens with these characters!

One solution for dealing with the Dursleys is to have Snape do the dirty work. I like your Snape a lot. He cares about Lily (and Harry, even if he would never admit it), but he can’t get over his own psychological issues enough to break his mean attitude. Very in-character, and I approve. But Snape has a history of child abuse of his own, and he saw the marks on Harry’s back in the hospital wing. He is a double-agent spy, knows rare Dark magic, and is Slytherin enough to come up with a sly and evil way to get some retribution and revenge on the Dursleys without anyone suspecting him (except maybe Dumbledore). Unlike Sirius, who is understandably still struggling with sanity (another character of yours that I like very much—I think we don’t get to see enough of his post-incarceration struggles in canon), Snape would be able to come up with a devious plan, execute it flawlessly, and cover his tracks. I don’t imagine he would ever admit his actions to anyone, but it would be best if Remus and Sirius somehow end up hearing that something happened to the Dursleys so that Sirius doesn’t do anything stupid. It could also be possible that a deranged Sirius would show up at the Dursleys with a half-assed plan and find the results of Snape’s ire—or to add even more drama, he could walk in on Snape and they could have a grudging little distrustful bonding moment over the Dursleys while Snape would also get to deride Sirius’s idiotic plan (I’m just assuming Sirius is not sane enough to get revenge on the Dursleys without leaving a magical trail that would lead straight back to him and land him in Azkaban all over again, as Remus has already noted). Anyway, you asked for ideas about the Dursleys, so this is just one possible route. Plus I would enjoy seeing that scene with Snape and it would allow you to develop his character more fully.

Thanks for writing! I have read hundreds or thousands of fanfics, and this is a plot that I’ve never quite seen, which I appreciate, and again, I’m looking forward to seeing where you take it! With coronavirus, fan fictions have become my life (embarrassing but true), so I hope you will update again soon!
Kimberly T chapter 30 . 6/8
This is a heart-wrenching story and it is somehow exactly what I wanted to read today. It must have been, because I just plowed through all thirty chapters without hardly coming up for air!

Looks like Harry has decided to leave Hogwarts early, in order to escape the Ministry's grasp. The Weasleys will be very disappointed and probably more than a bit hurt, but hopefully it won't take long for them to understand why-especially if a furious Cornelius lets slip some of the plans he'd had for Harry while ranting about his disappearance, and they realize they would eventually had had to choose between watching Harry get used by the political machine, or watching Arthur scuttle his own career trying to protect him from the worst.

Now that Harry's leaving Hogwarts, will we see Hedwig again? It did seem like she just disappeared from the story, as suddenly as she'd arrived.
ranger of east chapter 1 . 5/25
I love your story, Baguette. Thank you so much for writing it!
It was so heart warming to witness Harry opening up to Remus to the point of wondering if this is what having a parent feels like. And also Remus caring for Harry like his own son. Sometimes I want to smack the both of them, tho. I feel like they both underestimate their relationship and I do understand why they would think that but I still wanna smack them to their sensesI mean for the love of god Remus! Harry loves you and needs you! and Harry, how can you think that Remus is angry at you? My Goooood these two...
And the part where Harry defended Sirius even tho he wasn't sure of his innocence because the punishment was just cruel.
I feel so bad for Sirius he went through so much! At first I didn't know what to think of him for wanting to kill Remus only bacause he didn't give him the benefit of the doubt. but when we got to see things from his point of view I feel so bad for him. I hate Azkaban how can they treat the prisoners like that! Poor Sirius couldn't even think, his mind was so damaged.
I can't wait to see Remus and Sirius helping each other healpoor thempoor the three of themokay I'm rambling now... BUT HOW CAN HARRY LEAVE WITHOUT SEEING REMUS NOOOOOOOOOOO. I mean he even went to see Sirius for the last time but not Remus? I understand of course but I still wanna strangle him :
I am thoroughly enjoying my time in lockdown :D
Guest chapter 24 . 5/25
This is getting so maudlin.
Teufel1987 chapter 30 . 5/21
I see you have gone with the movie rendition of Sirius Black instead of the better more well-rounded book (canon) version... canon Sirius had never confused Harry with James at any point of his life. He knew who he was talking to.

I do not get why Harry would be against getting back at the Dursleys. His life has been quite hard. You'd think he'd be quite used to taking every opportunity to get back at people.
Either way, if you want a good way to take care of the Dursleys: well, to them social standing is everything. Take that away, take away their sterling reputation, the false image of perfection that they love to project, make the people in their social circle hate them, and you've really got back at them.
Vernon was supposed to be the director of a company. Having that job taken away from him (while not easy) will be quite a blow to the man.
Petunia being seen by her neighbours as a freak would be a serious blow to her.

And the best way anyone who wants to get retribution against the Dursleys can do that is to simply make the world aware of the truth; Let everyone know that Vernon and Petunia abused their nephew and even perhaps killed him off. Harry need not be present to testify because he will be presumed dead. With no proof of him being alive, what recourse do the Muggles have but to charge the Durselys with murder?
But before that, expose Dudley's actions of juvenile delinquency and bullying to all, with solid proof.
Vernon and Petunia should know how much they failed as parents before being hauled off to jail.
But whatever is done, one thing should be clear; there should be no evidence to the Dursleys that it was a wizard/witch who did all this to them. Because that will give them something to hang onto, and make their new lives more bearable. We don't want that, do we?
Ermengarde de Neustrie chapter 30 . 5/14
I just read your entire story and really enjoy it. I love how you have portrayed Harry and his pain, his unwillingness to allow anybody to get too close. I love how you portrayed Remus and Sirius. As a matter of fact, I love how you portrayed all the characters here.

I really do hope that Harry finds happiness. It seems that he wants to stay with Remus, but Remus won't allow it because he's terrified he will hurt him.

As for the retribution against the Dursleys. I feel that Sirius would be angry that the Dursleys hurt Harry and would do something rash, but on the other hand, I don't see him going in without having a plan. He'd most likely get the Dursleys to confess to the abuse. I don't really see him going in and blasting curses at them, but he'd be really angry because Harry should have been loved by his aunt and uncle, and their abuse clearly did a lot of damage.

I do hope that you upload another chapter soon, but understand that you are busy.
Guest chapter 30 . 5/13
Please update soon! I'm so bored and lonely in self-isolation, and this fanfic is literally my favourite ! X
Sunset74 chapter 30 . 5/9
So glad you updated-really enjoyed the chapter, even though my heart hurts for everyone at this point! This story is one that has stuck with me over the years, and I am always happy to see an update!
Guest chapter 30 . 5/9
This is an amazing story.
C chapter 30 . 5/8
Loved the chapter, an unexpected treat and I'm already looking forward to the next
Melindaleo chapter 30 . 5/7
Wow, heavy chapter! From the tone, I'm guessing Harry won't end up with the Weasleys, which really makes me sad because I honestly think Arthur would be the best possible role model. Remus won't fight for Harry, and Sirius fought the wrong battle. That's my take, anyway, and I really do like both flawed characters - I just don't think they're what Harry really needs.

As for the Dursleys, I agree with you that Sirius wouldn't let them get away with it. What matters most is appearances with them, so I think he should do something to have all the neighbors talking about them and pointing fingers, much as they did to Harry. I agree that a trial would cause far more harm than good to Harry.

So, now that I'm thoroughly bummed out, I'm still going to grin and tell you what a wonderful job you're doing with this story!
rowenasheir chapter 30 . 5/6
Have Dudley removed from their care. The ay they treat him is as much abuse as the way they treat HP although in a different way. Then, they are so obsessed with being regarded as pillars of the community, normal. Destroy that. Have PD removed from the community clubs and teas. have her the topic of the local gossips and scandle-mongers. have them sell up their house and move to make a new start. (Being away from that house will also prevent AD from having any ideas of returning HP there!)
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