konnie macian posted a comment on Thursday 15th February 2007 6:18am for Flawed Assumptions

Oh god, Hillarious (sp) More please loved it.

JBern replied:

Glad you liked it.   More updates to my other stories first, but this one is in the rotation.~Jim

T.Zukumori posted a comment on Thursday 15th February 2007 5:49am for Flawed Assumptions

Haha! I love it! Everyone always makes the Sorting Hat out to be some kind of wise, patient, pedantic guru, but I thoroughly enjoyed the foulmouthed, brash, quasi-prisoner/ Cellmate-from-Jersey spin on it. And I the best part about Devious Harry is being able, as the reader, to follow his internal thought processes and dialogues.

My favorite Hat quote: "I’m in Potter, but I warn you. If you screw me over, I will skullfuck the living shit out of every piece of left over sperm your family ever sends to this school."

Looking forward to the next installment!
-T.Zukumori

JBern replied:

Thanks.   Glad you like this version of the Sorting Hat.   More updates to my other stories first, but this one is definitely in the rotation.~Jim

duke_bonez posted a comment on Thursday 15th February 2007 5:45am for Flawed Assumptions

Good chapter. Not sure I like the Potty Mouth Hat, but it's too soon to tell as of yet. Need a few more chapters to adjust. Dobby the psycho house elf is definately a nice touch - the guy is unbalanced and yet everyone assumes he is the best thing for Harry since sliced bread(slicing that stuff for the Dursley's had always been a royal pain!). Seer!Harry, now that was amusing.

I did track down the challenge, and I've gotta say it certainly fits in the spirit of the forum. I'm looking forward to seeing the two of you go head to head.

JBern replied:

Sorry the Hat hasn't grown on you.   Perhaps it will, perhaps it won't.   Dobby has always concerned me.   Seer Harry was the most obvious Flawed Assumption in the chapter.

We'll see how the challenge pans out.   I'll keep writing regardless.~Jim

Jason Karr posted a comment on Thursday 15th February 2007 5:38am for Flawed Assumptions

Is Harry going to tell Hermione what the heck is going on. Will he be able to get Hermione to help him to do the reseach that he is wanting to do, that will help with the withdraw form the libary.

JBern replied:

Mainly he alreardy did the research into the recommended method for treating Amnesia in the magical world.   Will he tell Hermione?   That's a good question.   The answer is coming soon.~Jim

coronal posted a comment on Thursday 15th February 2007 5:38am for Flawed Assumptions

wow. i can't remember how long it's been since i've heard someone called ass spackle!

um....if it's a situation of some of James' memories in Harry, it's one thing. But if it's really James again, I think I'm gonna freak.

Just so you know. :P

JBern replied:

The identity question may never be answered to your satisfaction.   Harry um James err lets just call him HJ may never get a firm answer.   After awhile he might not even care anymore.~Jim

Jeff1 posted a comment on Thursday 15th February 2007 5:09am for Flawed Assumptions

A bitchy imprisoned sorting hat. I don't think I have seen that before. This story still is a lot harder to follow than some of your other work, but I enjoy the strangeness of it. I look forward to your next update.

JBern replied:

Glad you are sticking with it.   More updates to my other stories first, but this one is in the rotation!~Jim

Charles Slone posted a comment on Thursday 15th February 2007 5:08am for Flawed Assumptions

"Traumatized some little tit-sucker by revealing that the current Dark Lord of the time was the bastard’s illegitimate father."

Ode to the Voldy is Harry's father cliches lol, and that is one pissed off sorting hat

JBern replied:

Glad you liked the nod to the cliches and yeah the Hat is one angry rag.     More updates to my other stories first and then back to this one.~Jim

Akhorahil posted a comment on Thursday 15th February 2007 5:07am for Flawed Assumptions

I realy Liked the Hat .....

JBern replied:

Thanks.   More coming soon.~Jim

Aaran St Vines posted a comment on Thursday 15th February 2007 5:05am for Flawed Assumptions

Jim, You know your Hat is crude by half, but you designed him that way so I guess you have reason.

This is a fascinating story concept, and a very different idea from most I've seen in this genre. I highly esteem originality and cleverness, and you possess them in spades.

Now, the Hat should calm down a bit since he's confessed his admiration for Harry's successes. Or is that all a rouse to leave the castle and he'll be a bad boy (hat) again once at #4?

Vernon and the Hat in a shouting match. The Hat declaring there is nothing inside Dudley's skull. Ew, Gross >> Somehow the Hat finding Petunia attractive and flirting with her. Grosser!! Petunia flirting back.

Tme to quit this - pass the brain bleach please.

JBern replied:

Well, I wanted to take a risk with this story and the Hat was that risk.   I really appreciate your compliments on the originality.   The Hat will most likely calm now that it has it's "Weekend Pass" - since it swears like a sailor anyway.

When I thought about the Hat, I considered that it was created 1000 years ago and it's personality is a 'fish out of water'.   Think about the mindset of the 10th century person for a minute and that's why I went with the angry at life passing it by version of the Hat.

Brain bleach - keep some on hand for when our hero encounters memories of James and Lily....Oedipus Simplex (It's not complex - it's simple, he has the memories.)~Jim

millercommamatt posted a comment on Thursday 15th February 2007 5:03am for Flawed Assumptions

I haven't seen profanity wielded with such polished craft since I saw Asses of Fire a la South Park. Well done. Thoes are the kinds of phrases that make master's of the art Ooo and Ahh. I don't know why, but it's nice to see someone who can use four letter words above a Junior Highschool level.

JBern replied:

Glad you liked it.   It was probably a bit too much, but with the competition rules for this story, I don't have my usual group to bounce the idea of how much is too much in this case.   It felt right to me.~Jim

Gioia posted a comment on Thursday 15th February 2007 5:02am for Flawed Assumptions

Sorry to be brief, but I'm sneaking a read while at work.

Very funny!!

JBern replied:

Hope you didn't get caught.   Glad you enjoyed it.   More coming soon.~Jim

PJ7 posted a comment on Thursday 15th February 2007 5:02am for Flawed Assumptions

"Take me back this instant! You sodding, idiot bird!" Instead, Fawkes drops the Hat onto your plate making certain that it lands on a dollop of mustard that had fallen from the first sandwich.

Fell back into second person for a sec there.

JBern replied:

Thanks for pointing that out.   I'll add it to the list of things that need to be corrected when the little contest this story is in is over.~Jim

DrT posted a comment on Thursday 15th February 2007 5:01am for Flawed Assumptions

My goodness, you folks have been busy on this site this week! Good thing I finished my article.

While I've seen lots of older!Harry's memories in younger!Harry (not to mention having written too many of them myself), I've always thought that Harry could rather easily assimilate his own memories. I don't recall seeing Harry having to take on many memories from someone else. Your take on that seems about right.

I would dislike this Harry's attitude towards Dobby, but it seems to be more James', so it's fine. As for the Hat, well, at least you haven't also made it an alcoholic, as in someone else's fic.

H'mm, it sounds like I don't like the story, but I do.

"T"

JBern replied:

Yes. Everyone appears to be updating recently.   Sounds like a win all around for fan fiction readers.   There have been a few Harry is a reincarnated Godric or Salazar fics and a few with the voice in the head (I really don't care for those.)  

As for the Hat it was created in the 10th century.   It may still have many of the personality traits of the people of the time.   People that had no problem with indentured servitude, serfdom, vassalge and what not.   Something to think about, yes?

I'll be updating my other stories first, but this one is now in the rotation.~Jim

Wonderbee31 posted a comment on Thursday 15th February 2007 4:57am for Flawed Assumptions

Well, you've definitely burned some images into my brain today, especially thinking about dust bunnies, with Albus and Minerva, LOL. The Sorting Hat in this story just rocks, and really going to be looking forward to this summer, and how things go at home, as well as what may happen by the time school starts again. Seeing what ship you have this under, I can't wait to see how you set it up, as well as what all the after-effects might be.

JBern replied:

Sorry about the images.   More mental trauma coming soon.   Glad you are enjoying the story.~Jim

IceBlades posted a comment on Thursday 15th February 2007 4:53am for Flawed Assumptions

Interesting way to go about this chapter. It worked out quite nicely. I cant wait to see if the Dursleys react to the hat or Dobby at all...that is, if they see/hear either of them. Anywhoo, good chapter...can't wait for the next one!

JBern replied:

Yeah that should be a good one   I've got a while to think about it.   I'm updating my other stories first.~Jim

Ravenclawchaser68 posted a comment on Thursday 15th February 2007 4:51am for Flawed Assumptions

Overall I enjoyed this. The sorting hat was maybe a little bit over the top, but I suppose if he calms down once he's away from Hogwarts and Dumbledore that'd be alright. I'm glad Harry's not just automatically incorporating everything James knew. I'm looking forward to seeing how you deal with that. Your version of the Triwizard Tournament sounds pretty good too.

JBern replied:

Thanks for your comments.   I hope to deliver more soon.~Jim

nezza posted a comment on Thursday 15th February 2007 4:41am for Flawed Assumptions

I love the thought of the hat being a nasty piece of work but i think his insults are a little too much.
sure its hilarious when he's arguing with harry and the threats it makes about his children, but you need to tone him down a notch.
Maybe you could work it so that he was letting off steam beacuse albus wont let anyone talk to him or somethng like that so that it stays in charcter(if thats possible for a hat).

i love the way your working the whole memory thing in this story. and i agree with your theory on dobby.

i agree that much that me and my girlfriend had an argument about it after she finished reading book 2 and i was left on the couch for a week for my efforts!! i will recomend her reading this story as it runs in tune with many of my thoughts about the crazy lunatic.

good work and keep it up!!

ps one slip i think you made was when fawkes flashed the hat into the kitchens it sounded (to me at least) like it came from the bungle harry's 2nd person rather than your stated goal of 1st person for this one, but still without your usual beta's working on it one slip is very damn good.

pps could you tell me where the challenge for this story was posted as i would like to read that and then see who your competing aganist and judge it aganist your work. thanks for the quick update as well you said friday but its thursday!!! does that mean the next update for bungle will be coming out sooner?

JBern replied:

He'll probably tone it down over the summer.   Thanks for pointing out the slip into 2nd person.   I'll fix it when I am allowed to correct the story.

To find the challenge go to darklordpotter(dot)net and look under the General Discussion thread for a thread titled "A Challenge for Next Year's Awards".   If you're bored it's entertaining reading featuring people behaving badly (including myself).   My competitor is Vash, who is a capable writer.   I look forward to seeing what he will come up with.~Jim

ThadiusZho posted a comment on Thursday 15th February 2007 4:37am for Flawed Assumptions

Great chapter.

Loved the Hat. He's such a caring fellow, and well mannered. Oh hello, Sarcasm! (patts Sarcasm in the head) How are you today, my little 30 feet long Infernal Hound! Happy today? Want some biscuits? Yes you do, yes... Hey, let go! Give me my arm back! Sarcaaaaaasm (voice fading while running after Sarcasm)...

O_o ... Sorry about that, long day at work...

Zho

JBern replied:

Yeah, I wanted to take the Hat on a path not taken at least to my knowledge.   Hopefully, you could really see it.   Good luck with that Sarcasm thing you got going there.~Jim

justblaise posted a comment on Thursday 15th February 2007 4:28am for Flawed Assumptions

Intruiging story so far. Only complaint is the Sorting Hat; I like how he's characterized, basically the headwear version of Rainbow Randolph (from Death to Smoochy), but he's vulgar to the point where it's almost unnecessary, and kind of takes away from his (its ?) humor. I also agree with the slow build up of Harry's assimilation with his memories - most other stories are too fast for my taste. Keep up the good work.

JBern replied:

Thanks.   I barely remember Death to Smoochy, but I get your reference.   He is vulgar and it is unneccessary, but that's the way I envisioned his character in this one.~Jim