The Midnight Poster posted a comment on Friday 4th July 2008 1:41pm for Sometimes, It's Good to be Me

Ok, just to be sure, this is a Harry and Fleur shipping right? Because it looks like this it turning into a sipping disaster.

Still loving the story though.

JBern replied:

Yup that's still the ship.   They're a pair of hot heads.   Glad you enjoy it.~Jim

Miles Hance posted a comment on Friday 4th July 2008 5:53am for Sometimes, It's Good to be Me

This chapter feels like a tipping point for the story. I liked the story before, but even though it was very interesting, it felt kind of slow to me. Maybe that was because of your update speed.

That said, great chapter!

The Dementor scene at the beginning was suitably chaotic, and the kicker was that HJ was not even the main target. It helps take the wind out of this story's sails and make everything not about HJ, which is a plus. The BWL is not the only high profile target in the world.

Moving on, the Dumbledore/HJ conversation was interesting. It reminds me of what you said a chapter or two before, about HJ questioning whether or not Dumbledore was still 'there' and if he still had his mojo.

Who knows?

In TML, Dumbledore is a schemer who probably was setting Harry up to take the fall and die. In TFtCD, Dumbledore was equal parts great man, and trusting fool. In this one, the strain may have finally gotten to the Mugwump. Perhaps this Dumbledore is simply a burned out old man trying to hold the center. Harry may have to see this through to the end on his own.

In closing, the Fleur scene was inspired, but to be fair, Ron did come out of left field asking Fleur out. One can only use the 'overcome by Veela aura' excuse so many times. Could you possibly expand on that motif in the future?

But that said, Fleur was still being a bitch when there was no call for it. Pulling a fast one on her and asking Aimee would leave her seeing stars, and may cause undue friction between Aimee and Fleur. Harry is unaffected by her aura, and is seemingly as cold as she is at times, not giving her an inch.

All I can hope is that Yule will be interesting.

JBern replied:

Well, I'll try to pick up my update pace.   I've put it on hiatus three times.   Once to finish Bungle.   Once to finish TFtCD .   Once to finish Dead Eye.   That's not going to happen again.   If anything TML will go on temporary hiatus so that I can finish this.

Glad you like the fact that it isn't always about HJ and I've got some ideas about how to make the winter holidays interesting.~Jim

thangmo posted a comment on Friday 4th July 2008 5:01am for Sometimes, It's Good to be Me

I wonder,when harry and fleur are togather?? I really hope for some sweet scene of them. please soon.

JBern replied:

Don't hold you breath.   I'm taking this one slow.~Jim

Black Dragon Knight posted a comment on Thursday 3rd July 2008 11:21am for Sometimes, It's Good to be Me

I don't know what I enjoy more, Harry and the Hat going back forth or the Harry/Fleur relationship/competition. Regardless, this is getting good.

Loved the swerve at the end where Harry asks Aimee instead of Fleur just to throw her.

JBern replied:

Glad you enjoyed it.   Next chapter in about 3-4 weeks on this story.   Hope it continues to get better.~Jim

Meteoricshipyards posted a comment on Thursday 3rd July 2008 8:46am for Sometimes, It's Good to be Me

You handled the resolution of the cliffhanger admirally. And Hagrid came out of it alive (yea!)

Asking Fleur out was priceless! That was so funny, both Ron's confession, and Harry switching to Aimee!

However there was one thing I didn't understand:

"I leave off the idea that when I let it slip that I’m the one forcing old Snivellus to step down, there’s no way in hell he’s going to do it, but by then Dumbledore will have had to listen to the other three Heads and he’ll be faced with his needs of the many versus needs of the one problem all over again."

Is Harry saying that he's going to let Snape know that he (Harry) has instigated getting him removed as Head of House to screw with Dumbledore? I'm not sure what he's doing here.

And finally, the next line after the part I quoted above:
"Following that assessment, maybe this time Spock will stay dead this time." Too many "this time"s.

Love the story! Thanks.

Tom A.

JBern replied:

Thanks for this and all your other reviews.   HJ will make certain Snape knows who is behind his demotion.   HJ thinks that knowledge will be enough to make Snape quit.

Good point about the "times" thing.

Regards,

Jim

Muggleborn Prince posted a comment on Thursday 3rd July 2008 5:46am for Sometimes, It's Good to be Me

Excellent. Drama, comedy, action, perfect chapter.

JBern replied:

Thanks.   I do my best to provide quality entertainment.~Jim

Mark Safransky posted a comment on Wednesday 2nd July 2008 3:28pm for Sometimes, It's Good to be Me

Now that was funny! Keep up the great work!

JBern replied:

Thanks for the review.   I'm glad you are enjoying the story.   Next up is TML chapter 8 due out in about 2 weeks.   Lie chapter 15 is 3-4 weeks out.

Regards,
Jim

bauer posted a comment on Wednesday 2nd July 2008 7:05am for Sometimes, It's Good to be Me

Gotta love the Hat. The story is interesting and attention grabbing, but it is Hat that makes me want to come back for more. Will he be able to bring Hat with him into the puzzle room if he adds the fire-proofing to it? Thank you JBern.

JBern replied:

Nope.   Only what HJ has enchanted and made.   I think you'll like what I have in mind.~Jim

Wonderbee31 posted a comment on Wednesday 2nd July 2008 3:09am for Sometimes, It's Good to be Me

Wonderful part there, and really liked the twist at the end with Harry and Aimee, and looking forward to the Yule Ball with them, and will be curious to see how Fleur reacts next time. Great to see how things went with the Dementors, and cannot wait to see the build up to the next task.

JBern replied:

Thanks for the review.   Next up is TML 8 in 2 weeks and Lie 15 in 3-4 weeks.   I hope my chapters continue to impress you.

Regards,
Jim

razor_M posted a comment on Wednesday 2nd July 2008 2:51am for Sometimes, It's Good to be Me

oh, shit.... perhaps i'll go and grap some ice for ickle fleur...

JBern replied:

Well, HJ had a decision to make.   Bros before hos and all that nonsense.~Jim

Prince Charon posted a comment on Wednesday 2nd July 2008 2:40am for Sometimes, It's Good to be Me

LMAO!! You're seriously very good at this... speaking of whom, I wonder if Manos will contact Black, when/if he learns what Sirius is doing for Harry.

Thank you for updating.

More soon, please.

JBern replied:

Thanks for the review.   Next up is TML 8 in 2 weeks and Lie 15 in 3-4 weeks.   I hope my chapters continue to impress you.

We'll see if there is any room for a Manos connection with what Sirius is doing in France - perhaps in the sequel.

Regards,
Jim

Spidey posted a comment on Wednesday 2nd July 2008 2:29am for Sometimes, It's Good to be Me

The bit with Fleur,Aimee and Ron was some piece work man, Good Chapter there but a little short compared to your others.

JBern replied:

Well, it was still over 8000 words.   That's actually my preferred length.   Glad you liked it anyway.~Jim

Stone Cold posted a comment on Wednesday 2nd July 2008 2:09am for Sometimes, It's Good to be Me

Excellent Chapter and well done. I'm glad Harry didn't get penalized for another member of the Hogwarts blowing the task for him.

Well done with the battle, and the "reconciliation" with Dumbledore. I like this balanced view of Dumbledore a bit more than in "Turn Me Loose" but I like both equally as well.

It was a master stroke with Harry asking out Aimee. I was disappointed that Skeeter didn't use her poison quill to slam Krum for leaving Harry all alone to defend three innocents against 6 Dementors.

JBern replied:

Well, Rita would have ended up skewering Fleur as well in that scenario.   I try to do different facets of characters in my stories.   This Dumbledore isn't the cold hearted bastard in TML.~Jim

Rebel Goddess posted a comment on Tuesday 1st July 2008 10:55pm for Sometimes, It's Good to be Me

So good to see this continued so quickly. I quite like Aimee's tactic, though I'm not sure it would work for long. I was wondering if the Hat had enough soul for it to be sucked out. Loved the balloon animals joke. Poor Fawkes! The Hat's arm joke was superb.

Got to love the crossover characters with Bungle. Nice to see Kwan is still working here too. As always, the Hat gets the last and best laugh. Nice power politics.

Vernon's IRA statement was originally made by the Inquisition about the Cathars "Kill them all. God will know his own" right before they murdered an entire village of "heretics". Good to see nothing changes! The Hat expresses his disgustingly, filthy dirty, hilarious humour as brilliantly as always. I like the Dance line particularly.

The power play between Dumbledore, the politicians and Harry is always fun to watch. I like the way he manipulates him into partially removing Snape. I sense that Fleur is more than a little happier about Harry's place in the Tournament, though when she realises his animagus form, there will be real fireworks again. I absolutely loved that ending. You pulled the rug out - twice! Brilliant chapter. Can't wait for more. I'm grinning now.

JBern replied:

Well Vernon would seem like the type of person to say that.   Glad you enjoyed it.   Gotta run.~Jim

Bob Officer posted a comment on Tuesday 1st July 2008 10:33pm for Sometimes, It's Good to be Me

Bravo!

A New update about the 15th? Just about right.

I like the fact he asked Aimee. Fuer isn't that nice, really. I recall he being called flem, don't I.

JBern replied:

TML chapter 8 in about 2 weeks.   Lie chapter 15 in 3-4 weeks.~Jim

skasin posted a comment on Tuesday 1st July 2008 4:10pm for Sometimes, It's Good to be Me

great chapter as always,
you really are dancing around the HP/FD, but then again it makes it all the more interesting.
and as always, hope u update soon

JBern replied:

Thanks.   The romance will be slow going, but good things come to those who wait.~Jim

jzysman posted a comment on Tuesday 1st July 2008 3:11pm for Sometimes, It's Good to be Me

Dude... Just where do you come up with these lines. I mean dance for me for hairless sperm burping monkey. I damn near fell off my chair when I got to that one. Once again I am truly in awe of your talent. I really can't wait to see some of your original work in print.
Thank you for the entertainment.

JBern replied:

Thanks for the review.   Most of Hat's lines come from my dark and twisted imagination, but I also have to credit the folks at Alpha Fight Club.   They come up with their fair share as well.

Jim_xinu posted a comment on Tuesday 1st July 2008 1:50pm for Sometimes, It's Good to be Me

Kwan and Collins? Cool cameo. :-)

Nice bit with Ron & Fleur.

Good chapter, thanks for sharing it with us.

JBern replied:

Thanks.~Jim

HalfBloodHarp posted a comment on Tuesday 1st July 2008 1:46pm for Sometimes, It's Good to be Me

Thank you *soooooooooooooooooooooo* much. That was torture, absolute agony. I was so happy to read it today, especially after a long, tiring day. A very nice last scene; I especially liked Fleur's dismissal of Ron. It was disappointing to be deprived of the actual scene in the books.

Can't wait for the next!!

A much happier
halfbloodharp

JBern replied:

Glad I could give a pick me up after a long day.~Jim

Merle Corey posted a comment on Tuesday 1st July 2008 1:44pm for Sometimes, It's Good to be Me

Great action at the start. Harry just powerful enough to survive but not over the top. Nice move on the hat insulting Manos before reattaching the arm! I wonder if you are changing up Hermione's date for the ball? Krum seems a little meaner than JKR's. Wicked zinger for Fleur. I'm sure Aimee and Harry will have a great time, and Aimee will be happy to be out of Fleur's shadow for a little while. Do you ever have trouble keeping different version of the characters from different stories straight? Thanks for sharing.

JBern replied:

Hermione does have a different date for the ball.   Actually the character I have the hardest time keeping straight is Harry/HJ.   Right now Harry in TML has a big chip on his shoulder.   HJ, is a bit more carefree and ready to take on all comers.

Thanks for the review.~Jim