Query - Opinions, please?

[queendiablo]

I'm starting to write a Harry Potter fic, which is Alternate Universe. Lily and James are still alive. Sirius lives, and Peter never went over to the Dark Side. Remus Lupin was the Potter's Secret Keeper.

It's a dark fic, even though it's still only in the planning stages. I'd really like to hear what you think of this idea.

Basically, it starts off with Remus taking Lily and Harry to Diagon Alley. James is working, Sirius is working and Peter is with his wife Lindsay at St Mungo's. Lindsay gave birth two weeks ago, but was very ill.

Remus is captured by Death Eaters who ambush Lily and baby Harry. He basically saved the two Potters' lives.

Now, three years on, where the story picks up, everyone's given up thinking he's alive. Everyone but Sirius, James and Peter, that is. Lily is eventually convinced that he didn't die a horrible gruesome death.

I'd really appreciate your ideas and comments on how I could improve the storyline - there's going to be lots of big battles, and a showdown between Sirius and Voldemort.

It's going to be long, but I'll probably skip some years of Harry's childhood after Remus is taken, to make it a bit easier to read. Hopefully I'll be able to explore what Harry may have thought as a teenager, finally hearing the truth about his other godfather that he never knew.

Thanks!

[LuthienElentari]

I think that the best way to write a fanfic or any story for the matter is to write down three to five main events, then write all the unimportant happenings in the story as you continue writing.

Always think through the events and reread and rewrite before posting your fanfics on the internet. Never post a story or chapter until you are completely satisfied by the way it has turned out

So far I think your idea is interesting and well developed, all I would do if I were you is create some twists & turns to accommodate your ideas. The Remus/Captured idea for example. You could turn that idea into something different like say he never really was captured and faked it all for some odd reason that you can create.

[lithorose]

Well, it would change a lot of things about the HP universe if Lily hadn't died. And if Sirius hadn't been blamed for it. For example, if Lily lived (not knowing anything about what you have planned except what you've written here), then Harry wouldn't have grown up at the Dursley's. That in itself is a major change from the story. Changing it wouldn't necessarily make it a bad story, but would it still be a Harry Potter story (this is just a rhetorical question, something to ask yourself)? A lot of what makes the characters who they are is their past, including the tragic parts. Eliminating a lot of the tragedy of past events also undercuts the conflict between the followers of Voldemort and the good guys. You would have to find a way to replace it. We know Voldie is a baddie because he killed Harry's parents. We know Sirius is somewhat tragic because he was wrongly imprisoned for a number of years. We know Pettigrew is cowardly and two-faced because of what he did to the Potters. To a certain extent, plot events enlighten us to the characters. So if you change the plot points, you have (if you want them to be the same characters) to find something that will show us how the characters behave in certain situations. Does that make sense?:)

It's good to have a few main ideas, and an outline to work from. I find a lot of ideas come from actually writing the story, even if they start as something small. Just let your imagination run loose a bit, and see what comes!:cool:

[queendiablo]

Thanks! I realise that the huge changes in plot and character would mean an awful lot of explaining, but I've got an example...

We know that Voldemort is a bad guy because of what he did to Harry's parents. However, in this (extremely) AU fic, we know he's a bad guy because he kidnaps Remus for three years, and when Remus returns (urk, spoiler) he's in very bad shape. I'm prepared to explain loads of stuff, and the Dursleys will make a pretty big impact on Harry's life too. Hopefully I'll still be able to include many major characters, and I'm contemplating on whether to make Peter turn traitor anyway.

Thanks again :D :hug: