I'm a longtime fan of the Harry Potter universe, but haven't written much in the way of fanfiction before.

I hope that everyone enjoys my stories, but I know that trying to please everyone is a foolish endeavor; therefore, I'll be content with a minimum of flames.

~ August 7, 2007

Okay, I've been getting a lot of people asking if I'm going to be updating anytime soon, and I thought I'd answer those questions now:

Has the series been abandoned?

NO!! I'm still working on it.

When will the next update be?

I'll post the next update once I've finished writing it out and having it betaed; hopefully by the beginning of October.

How come it's been so long since the last update?

I got sick - mono - and that set my real life work back almost a full two months. Then it was suddenly summer and I had family commitments to deal with. Now that school is back in session and my life has calmed somewhat, I hope to be able to devote more time to my writing. For the curious, it took almost two years for me to write the first four 'books' to the story-arc, so delays, especially since the computer crash, are to be expected.

I hope that answers some of your more pressing concerns.

Raising Harry Summary and Warnings

Part One: La Vida Muggle - Harry is found by an American muggle 'witch' before Petunia Dursley realizes he is there. This tale encompasses Harry's life until right before he begins his magical education. Rated 'T' for language. Covers muggle school, bullies, what being a muggle 'witch' is all about, finding family, and learning how to fight, ride, and fly. Accidental magic pops up every now and then, and Harry has a couple of talents that he didn't in canon. I've been told that Harry comes across as being much too smart, but I defend this with saying that it all boils down to how he is raised in this story. Complete.

Part Two, Year One: Hogwarts is a Strange Place - Covers Harry's first year at Hogwarts. Many things will be the same as canon, but I firmly believe that much of what Harry goes through is Fate; many other things will be different, though. Rated 'T' for language and a background slash pairing of Remus and Sirius - the slash will be mostly off-screen, so to speak. To my knowledge, there is only a simple kiss between them and a snuggly-cute scene of them sleeping. Complete.

Part Two, Year Two: Curiouser and Curiouser, as Alice Once Said - Following the events of Harry's first year at Hogwarts, Harry returns home to face an irate Aurilia, a nutty house-elf, and another mystery. Rated 'T' for language. Complete.

Part Two, Year Three: Of Marbles Lost and Found - Considering I condensed most of the major plot points of canon books one and three into 'Hogwarts is a Strange Place', this is my first attempt at completely original plot... Please don't be too harsh with me. This book covers Harry's third year at Hogwarts, wherein Lucius Malfoy presents Harry with what is likely to be his oddest mystery to date. Rated 'T' for language and background slash. Complete.

Part Two, Year Four: International Magical Cooperation - The Quidditch World Cup was just the beginning of it all; Harry's fourth year at Hogwarts has him leaping through loopholes, having fun with all his friends, and suffering more than just the average nightmare allotment. Story is currently finished, and will begin posting once the beta has given it her okay - the beta is getting ready for a cross-country move, and I refuse to use anyone else because I am happy with her work. We are both also working on National Novel Writer's Month projects, and what with her moving preparations, this is delaying the betaing process somewhat. I apologize for the delay and hope to bring the next installment to you soon. (Story was sacrificed to the gods of temperamental computers and needed to be rewritten, so please be patient with me.)

Part Two, Year Five: Hunted - currently in notes only.

Part Two, Year Six: Balance of Power - currently in notes only.

Part Two, Year Seven: (To Be Announced) - currently in notes only.

Part Three: (To Be Announced) - currently in notes only.

Bonus Features - outtakes, cut scenes, bits and pieces of how the story was developed. Mostly a series of things that didn't make the final cut for the actual stories. Perpetually completed, though updated from time to time.

Questions:

Will this ever be finished?

I hope so. I've already worked on it for going on three years now.

Will slash become a predominant theme?

Not likely. Though I like to make background characters for stories I write gay, I don't think that any of the major players in 'Raising Harry' will end up as such.

Who will Harry end up with?

Umm... I don't know. I honestly hadn't really thought about it. I know who he takes to the Yule Ball, and who he dates in three of the stories, but... I agree with Aurilia's (the author, not the character) opinion - no one finds their 'soul-mate' as a teenager.

Wasn't the accidental magic concerning the tornado rather large for it to have gone unnoticed?

Yeah, it was and I know it. I have a scene that has been posted as an OMAKE concerning just that. It didn't really belong in the story, though, so it was cut from the final production.

What about the diary?

As of the writing of 'International Magical Cooperation', yes, Harry still has the diary. I have notes on what he's going to do when he realizes what it really is, but I don't know if I'll be including that information in year four or not. Through the end of what I have totally written ('Of Marbles', or Hogwarts Year Three) Harry has no reason to try to destroy it - it's proven to be a valuable source of information, even though he doesn't trust Riddle.

Is this a horcrux story?

Yes, but that's not all it's about. There is going to be more involved than merely the magical creations of a megalomaniacal half-blood with a thirst for pain and a fear of dying, but you'll have to keep reading to find out what!

Will Harry end up with Hermione, Ginny, or Tonks?

I'll repeat that I don't know precisely who Harry will ultimately end up with, though I do know it won't be either of these three girls. Sorry to all you die-hard shippers out there. I believe Tonks is too old for him (and her relationship with Remus in canon is just wrong on so many levels!). Though Harry and Hermione have quite a bit in common in this tale, I know they are just going to be friends (and I know that because I know who Hermione ends up with, and no, it isn't Ron!) And Ginny... Poor girl. I almost feel sorry for her. True, she had a huge crush on first the Boy-Who-Lived, and later in the story, on Harry himself, but we seldom get what we want out of life. I don't see why this story should be any different.

If you're really all that interested in the potential romantic relationships that will begin to surface in Harry's fourth year at Hogwarts, I'll ease your curiosity and release a few hints. First hint: Harry takes a Slytherin to the Yule Ball, though it's not going to be quite what you think. Second hint: Harry will briefly date a Hufflepuff in his fifth year. Third hint: Harry will find himself in a relationship with a Ravenclaw without knowing how it got that way in his seventh year. Fourth and final hint: Harry's not going to marry anybody until Part Three of the story arc, and I promise it won't be an OC.

What's with the Latin Remus and Sirius use?

I know it can be somewhat tedious to read through, but I felt they needed some way to communicate that was solely theirs. There is another reason for this particular quirk, but I haven't decided yet whether or not it will be explained in the story or if it will be a scene regulated to the Bonus Features.

I'll try to keep this extended summary/warning/QA up to date. Hit me with a brick if I don't.

Last update: September 4, 2008