Mind Over Magic
by MysticSam

Rating: PG
Ship: Harry & Hermione
Canon: Books 1 - 5
Genre: Action/Adventure, Drama
Status: In progress
Length: 5,523 words in 2 chapters
Published: 30 Apr 2004
Last updated: 30 Apr 2004

***PLEASE SEE AUTHOR NOTE!!*** Harry Potter/Heralds of Valdemar crossover. A telepathy potion goes awry with unexpected
results. Voldemort pairs up with a new enemy, and someone is poisoned--although not who or by whom you may think. H/Hr
Draco/Blaise, although that may change.

From the Unofficial Portkey Archive: https://portkey-archive.org/story/2134/

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1. I am not a figment of your imagination, a deranged Dark Lord

Chapter 1: I am not a figment of your imagination, a deranged Dark Lord, or a HORSE!

Usually Hermione Granger was quite disdainful of Muggle science fiction and fantasy novels. She didn’t like the way they
usually portrayed witches and wizards in a negative or Dark light. But when she wandered into her favorite bookshop that
lovely Saturday morning a week into her sixth summer at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Bernard was lying in
wait for her.

“Ah, Miss Granger!” he exclaimed happily, jumping nimbly down from his step ladder and hurrying to meet her. “I hoped
you would stop in today!”

“Hello Bernard,” she laughed. “You knew perfectly well I would be in here today! You and Serena have been teasing me all
year about this birthday surprise! Well, it’s the first weekend of summer, like you promised, so here I am!”

Bernard was a Muggle born wizard, like Hermione, and thus comfortable in both worlds. He was also a Squib, meaning he
had very little magical ability. However, his sister just happened to be Serena Flourish of Flourish and Blotts, so he,
following family tradition, opened a bookshop. While he, to all visible accounts, was purely a Muggle bookshop owner, he
also carried many magic-related novels as well. The only stipulation he held was that the authors must submit their
works under a pseudo-pen name and the books would be shelved under Muggle science fiction so as to forestall any
uncomfortable questions that might be raised by Muggle customers.

Hermione Granger was a favorite customer of his, witch or Muggle. However, he hadn’t yet told her about his secret,
instead delighting in teasing her and making her wait until the first weekend of summer. She took it in good humor,
knowing he had her best interests at heart. But enough was enough!

Bernard chuckled at her impatience. “Na, lass, a promise is a promise. Come with me.”

Bewildered, her curiosity high, she followed him…to the Muggle science fiction section. Her face fell as he stopped and
turned to her.

“Just wait a moment, lass, let me explain before you jump to conclusions, “ he implored before she could speak. “Not all
of these books are by Muggle authors—and not all of them are fantasy, either.” His eyes twinkled as her jaw dropped.
“Some, like Mercedes Lackey here,” he gestured at a set of books, “are actually from a world just as magical as this
one, with the cultures, customs, and histories to go along with it.”

“But how-where-“

“When I say world, technically I mean dimension, since we’re all on the same planet.” He answered the first of thousands
of questions running through her mind. “The ‘world’ of Velgarth, with the country of Valdemar, among others, is very
real and runs on a parallel timeline to our own, for the most part. Of course, we wizards are a vain and narrow minded
lot, so we usually like to pretend that other worlds don’t exist, which is why you haven’t learned about any of this in
History of Magic.” He paused. “Of course, that might be our biggest problem,” he mused, staring off over Hermione’s
shoulder. ‘We have treaties and allies within other worlds, but we’re bound and determined to win the fight ourselves.
Not to mention an ‘outside perspective’ might be helpful…”

“Sir?” Hermione questioned with a frown.

He shook his head and smiled brightly. “Sorry, lass. Excuse an old man his meanderings. Now, the point of my surprise:
these, my dear, are for you.” He piled a stack of books into her arms.

“Bernard!” She gasped.

“Velgarth history parallels our own close enough that I believe you’ll find it interesting and useful,” he ignored her
protest, steering her toward the door. “Remember lass, this is true history, which means that there’s always something
to learn from it.”

“Bernard—“

“Happy early sixteenth birthday, lass” he said cheerfully, pushing her out the door and closing it firmly behind her.

Hermione blinked twice at the door over the stack of books in her arms. An exasperated smile slowly curled her lips as
she shook her head. There was no use in arguing with Bernard, as she very well knew. She respected him too much to do
so, anyway. In the five years she had known him he had been as instrumental as his sister in suggesting books and
encouraging her book lore and education. If he wanted to read these particular histories, then she would do so, and
regard the information carefully.

Her path set, her decision made, she set off for home, weaving her way expertly through the crowds.

‘Wow.’ Hermione thought, overwhelmed by the enormity of what she had just learned. Bernard had given her the full set of
Velgarth histories, which dated all the way back to the Mage Wars, between the Dark Mage Ma’ar and the Good Adept Urtho,
to the present and the recent Mage Storms, which were an indirect result of the wars between Ma’ar and Urtho.

It was all very confusing. So, Hermione got out a sheet of parchment and began to align dates and events with her own
wizard history.

Velgarth time (as it relates to Valdemar)

1000 BF (Before Founding of Valdemar) Prehistory: The Mage Wars

Ma’ar (blood path mage) vs. Urtho (Mage of Silence)

Urtho sent Skandron (the Black Gryphon) with an extremely powerful weapon (equivalent of muggle nuclear bomb?), which
destroyed Ma’ar’s tower as well as Urtho’s, set off chain reaction-wave-mage storm rippling through time.

Hogwarts is founded by Godric Gryffindor, Helga Hufflepuff, Salazar Slytherin, and Rowena Ravenclaw

Slytherin eventually leaves when it is decided against his will that Muggle born witches and wizards are allowed to
attend as well

798 AF (After Founding) Reign of Elspeth the Peacemaker

Ma’ar is reincarnated as Lereath and begins killing off people with Mage-Talent and potential

Vanyel and his Companion defeat Lereath with a Final Strike

Tom Riddle is the heir of Salazar Slytherin; stylizes himself as Lord Voldemort and begins killing Muggle-borns

He is defeated by Albus Dumbledore

1376 AF to 1408 AF

Mornelithe Falconsbane appears (another reincarnation of Ma’ar) and continues his attack against the Tayledras and
Gryphons

He is eventually defeated by Herald-Mage Elspeth, Adept Darkwind, Healing Adept Firesong, and divine intervention

Voldemort reappears and resumes his reign of terror against wizards of the Light

He is defeated by 1 year old Harry Potter through love bond/spell cast by his mother (indirect divine intervention?)

Present time

No current information. Assumed dead/wiped out of existence.

Voldemort is resurrected by a blood ritual (4th year)

Prophecy—the one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches…Born to those who have thrice defied him, born as
the seventh month dies…and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not..
and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives…

Hermione nibbled on her quill as she regarded the information she had just written down. “But how did they defeat
Falconsbane, exactly?” she muttered. “I know they have different types of magic than we do…maybe another list will
help…”

General information about Valdemar

**note: Only Heralds have Gifts (magic). They are Chosen by Companions (guardian spirits—usually Heralds in a previous
life—in horse form).

Mind Magic (wandless magic)= Occulamency/telepathy

All magic in Valdemar (except, to an extent, Bardic Gifts and Healing Talent) is a variation of mind magic.

It is also a Gift within itself—the ability to speak mind to mind with another person and even animals (Animal
Mindspeech)

Foresight =Divination

The ability to see into the future. Especially useful on the battlefield (usually short-term into the future in this
case). Strong Foresight Gifts are usually vague, consisting of flashes of images and emotions.

Farsight

The ability to see things as they happen in another place.

No general equivalent; closest would be Harry’s connection with Voldemort

Empathy

The ability to read and sense the emotions of another person

No equivalent that I am aware of (ask Madame Pomphrey?)

Fetching

The ability to move objects from one place to another

Accico spell

Firestarting

The ability to start a fire with your mind

Mage-Gift

The ability to do spells; fairly rare in Valdemar.

Most similar to our type of magic.

Other information

Monarchy: Queen Selenay and Prince Darian

Heirs: Prince Kris and Princess Lyra (twins)

Religion: ‘There is no one true way’

Allies: Tayledras (Hawkbrothers), Rethwellan

Enemies: Hardorn, Karse

Other: proficient in weapons training, although archaic technology wise.

Location: (my theory)—Hawkbrothers live in Pelgair Forest. Have large, intelligent birds, including owls. Our messenger
owls, according to Hogwarts, a History, came from the Forbidden Forest. There are no accounts of how big the Forbidden
Forest is. Could our Dark Forest be the Hawkbrother’s Pelgair forest? (Must ask Hagrid about boundaries. Also do
research on Gates)

Ma’ar---Lereath---Falconsbane---Tom Riddle---Voldemort?

Hermione stared at the words she had just written. It couldn’t be true. But there were too many similarities to deny…

Ma’ar

Hates Gryphons

Enemy-Urtho-created the first Gryphon

Created Makkar (combination of snake, greyhound, and other assorted creatures) to fight Gryphons

Reincarnated multiple times

Voldemort

Hates Gryffindors

Enemy-Godric Gryffindor (and descendents)

Used a Basilisk (cold drake) to hunt and kill Muggle-borns

Reincarnated multiple times

Theory: Mage Wars caused a “ripple” of magic. Mage Wars were before known wizard history. What if it carried through the
wizarding world, creating an “echo” of Velgarth before returning? Therefore, the wizarding world is like Velgarth but
not; having similar timelines and events and people, but by being a completely separate dimension, reacting and adapting
differently (and having slightly different memories). So, if Voldemort is an “echo” of Ma’ar, then Harry would be the
“echo” of Vanyel?

Herald Vanyel was the strongest Adept of his time, and Harry shares that potential. They both had troubled childhoods
(ignorant relatives), and came by their power via a tragedy (Vanyel’s lifebonded, Tylendel, committed suicide, passing
his powers on to Vanyel through their bond; Harry’s parents were killed, gaining him the scar, protection via his
mother’s sacrifice, and some of Voldemort’s powers (parselmouth)).

She regarded what she had written impassively for a moment before reaching for a fresh sheet of parchment.

Solutions

-Tell someone in the Order (McGonagall, Lupin, Dumbledore, Moody, Tonks)

-Tell Harry? Not until I have more definite information. He has enough to deal with right now.

-Write to Herald-Chronicler Morgana/Herald-Adept Elspeth/Adept Darkwind/Healing Adept Firesong/etc. and see if they will
give a more detailed account of what exactly they and Vanyel did to defeat Ma’ar/etc/etc through the years!

-Also research methods of mind shielding for Harry (can’t be worse than his lessons with Snape)

“Hermione! Come and eat!”

Satisfied with her notes, she yawned and rose, stacking them in a neat pile on her desk.

“Coming, Mum!”

She clattered downstairs, happy to focus for the moment on a mundane thing like eating dinner. But even as she piled her
plate high, two thoughts kept flitting through her mind:

I wonder how Harry’s doing? and I hope this isn’t turning into a ‘typical’ summer!

*~*~*~

:Harry, grieving is natural and expected, but don’t you think you’re carrying it a bit far?:

If either of his best friends or any of his school mates or teachers had dared to venture such an audacious question,
Harry Potter’s rather unpredictable temper would’ve made itself known. However, since the “person” in question was only
a voice inside his head, Harry merely gritted his teeth and concentrated on brushing the already spotless white coat of
the animal in front of him. Morgana turned her delicate head and nudged him in the arm as his strokes became harsher. He
immediately softened. “Sorry, Morgana.”

She raised her nose to his cheek in the equine form of a kiss before raising higher to nibble affectionately at his
hair.

“Hey! Geroff! Morgana! You little sneak!” He scolded, gently pushing her away from his head. “What your fascination is
with my hair, I’ll never understand. I only used that bottle of apple-scented shampoo once, and that was because it was
a present from Tonks. It was over two weeks ago, missy. ”

One blue eye blinked innocently at him as she turned her attention to her feed. Rolling his eyes, he resumed brushing.
“You’re as bad as Hedwig.”

The owl in question hooted sleepily from the rafters of the barn at the sound of her name, causing a reluctant smile to
appear despite his mood. When he had heard his Uncle’s plans for him his summer, his first reaction had been dismay.
After all, what did he know about regular Muggle animals like horses? Give him a hippogriff or a dragon any day. (Well,
maybe not the dragon…) But Vernon had “insisted”. “You’re lucky Mr. Anderson is willing to give you a chance,” he had
growled. “Freaky friends aside, I will not have you lazing around the house this summer or skulking around in the
flowerbeds where the neighbors can see you. You will do whatever Mr. Anderson wants for as long as he needs you.”

‘Whatever Mr. Anderson wants’ turned out to be mucking out stalls and taking care of the horses that none of his other
grooms would go near. As it turned out, Morgana, formally known as ‘Mystic Dreamer’, was not a race horse like the
others. She was a former project of Anderson’s daughter, Megan. Megan had desired a flashy riding horse to show off to
her snobby friends, and had immediately fallen in love with the beautiful white horse. However, Megan was now in college
and was more interested in her boyfriend’s flashy red convertible rather than her former stubborn white horse.

Anderson had the idea that the horse could be sold for a healthy profit if gentled properly. Usually he would not leave
such an important and potentially dangerous job to a green teenager, but he had seen the instant connection between boy
and horse. Harry was the only one who could safely approach the mare without fear of losing a hand or worse. A wise
business man, Anderson hadn’t questioned it, but simply directed boy and horse to a private barn reserved for ‘vicious’
horses and ordered that the boy do what he could to gentle the mare.

Nothing loath, Harry had pressed his advantage slightly and asked if he could set up the tack room into his personal
quarters-so that he could work with Morgana full time. To his astonishment, his boss had agreed without question,
knowing something of the Dursleys and having an educated guess as to why the teen would want to be out of the house as
much as possible. Harry had cleared it with the Order (he suspected Dumbledore was still feeling guilty for keeping
everything from him, but didn’t particularly care what the old man felt at the moment), and here he was. Living in a
barn, talking to a horse and a owl.

Morgana nudged his arm, breaking him out of his thoughts. Harry smiled ruefully as he noticed he had stopped brushing.
“Sorry girl,” he apologized. “Just thinking. I’m glad we’re out here all by our lonesome—between talking to a horse, an
owl, and the voice in my head—a female voice, no less!—I would’ve been carted off to the loony bin a long time ago if
anyone had heard me.”

:And I am not carrying anything too far,: he resumed his argument with the annoying voice. Damn Gryffindor pride—he just
couldn’t let it lie, even if it meant arguing with a figment of his imagination. At least he had learned to do it
internally, in case anyone did walk by. :It’s my fault. My fault that he’s dead. My fault that Ron still has to take two
potions a day for healing. My fault that Hermione nearly died…: He paused, unable to catch his breath for a moment.
:..And even now will have a nice scar to show for her supposed best friend’s unbelievable stupidity.:

The voice was silent. Apparently feeling his tension, Morgana turned to look at him again. Harry stared into her eyes;
one solid brown, the other half brown and half light blue; like a spell gone wrong, Harry thought idly.

“You’re a weird looking horse,” he said affectionately, not noticing how her ears lay flat on her head at his insult.
“Pure white, with those witchy eyes of yours. Everyone is afraid of you, you know. That’s why the assigned me to take
care of you. Freaky Potter and his witchy white horse.” He tapped her lightly on the forehead. “We’re two of a kind, you
and me. You’re the only one—well, besides Hedwig—who just listens without trying to offer sympathy or advice.” He
snorted. “I can’t even get away from the voices in my head, and they don’t even belong to deranged Dark Lords. At least
not unless ole’ Tommy turned on me and has been studying my memories of Hermione to sound like her. Next she’ll—the
voice—will be nagging me about my homework.”

:I’ll take that as a compliment, thank you. I happen to like Hermione. I know enough about her—you prattle on about her
enough, both in your head and outside, I might add. And for the record, I am not a figment of your imagination, a
deranged Dark Lord, or a HORSE!:

Startled at the outburst, Harry’s head snapped around to see Morgana watching him. If she had been human she would’ve
been glaring. His jaw dropped. “How…Morgana? When…What…How…”

A warm chuckle resounded inside his head. :Relax, Harry. It’s very simple, even while it’s extremely complicated at the
same time. But we’ll get to that in a minute. To make a very long story short, I am a Companion of Valdemar.:

“Valdemar?” Harry repeated incredulously. “But…you can’t be! Valdemar is a just a legend! It’s not real!”

:Ah, but witches and wizards aren’t real either, and yet here you are.:

Harry’s mind whirled, and he slowly sank to the straw.

:Velgarth, and all the countries it contains, including Valdemar, is very real, Harry. In fact, our Pelgair Forest is
the same as your Forbidden Forest. There is a reason beyond giant spiders as to why your Headmaster repeats his warnings
that you students are not allowed into the Forest without a supervised escort, you know.:

“How do you know Dumbledore?” Harry frowned. He was slowly beginning to calm down as curiosity took over astonishment.

:Albus Dumbledore is a very talented Mage, as well as a Hawkbrother,: she replied simply. :Think over your History
lessons. What do you know about Hawkbrothers?:

His eyes unfocused as he tried to bring back the lesson. Professor Binns had been droning on as usual, but it had
actually been a topic that interested Harry, so he had managed to stay awake for the first half hour before succumbing
to slumber.

“They Bond to what is known as a Bond-bird—usually an intelligent type of raptor—or owl…” he trailed off, glancing up at
Hedwig as his mind made the connection. “There was a tale of one Mage bonding with a firebird,” his eyes widened. “
Which is a relation of a phoenix, according to Hermione. Hawkbrothers also are extremely adept at, um, mind-magic.
Reading people’s minds and stuff. So is that how he always just happens to know when someone needs him?” He burst out
suddenly. “He’s reading people’s minds?”

:Not so black and white as that, but yes, in a way,: Morgana answered. :Say more that he can Sense intense emotions,
especially when they are associated directly with himself. Also, mind-magic is fairly rare in the wizarding world, so
your knowledge of mind-shielding is not even close to what it is in Velgarth. As such, most everyone’s emotions—and
surface thoughts—are open to him. But don’t go thinking that he abuses the privilege, Harry! Having such a Gift is a
curse even as it is a blessing. His shielding must be very strong to withstand the hurricane of emotions that is a
school full of adolescent children.:

Harry nodded. That made sense. “So why me?” He blurted. “And why are your eyes the way they are? I thought Companion’s
eyes were supposed to be pure blue. And don’t you guys only pick people from your own country-world-whatever? And—“

:Easy, Harry,: Morgana laughed. :I promise I will answer your questions as I may, but you must give me a chance to
answer them!:

“Sorry,” he mumbled sheepishly. He knew he should be angry or resentful at being tricked, but right now he was too
intrigued.

:Quite alright. Now, in answer to your first question, why you? Well, because you are who you are, for one,: she
answered matter-of-factly. :You really didn’t think that the Prophecy Dumbledore told you about was the only one about
you, did you?:

“Well…”

She snorted. :We have more in common with your wizarding world than you know. As it so happens, we have a personal
history with the being known as Lord Voldemort as well.:

His jaw dropped open. “WHAT?”

:Our history parallels your own. Suffice it to say that the being you know as Voldemort is, in a sense, a
descendent/relation of the Velgarth being formally known as Mornelithe Falconsbane.: She sighed. :Rather than try to go
through a few thousand years of history, would you mind if I showed you?:

“How?” he asked suspiciously.

:By dropping my memories in your mind, Harry. It would be like being in a Pensieve, only inside your mind. Do you trust
me?:

“Yes,” he answered without hesitation.

:Then relax your mind, and let me in. I won’t do anything without your consent.:

Taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes and deliberately relaxed. He immediately felt a foreign presence in his mind,
but unlike Voldemort, this was distinctly female and “felt” like Morgana.

:Good,: she praised. :While I am in here I can also reinforce your instinctive shielding until you are ready to learn
the proper way to do so yourself. You have a VERY strong Empathic Gift, Harry, as well as Forsight, and Farsight,
although they are not as strong. I suspect the Forsight and Farsight are more as a result of your connection to
Falcons---Voldemort. The Empathy is natural, however and already awake. It would not do to send you to school in
September as vulnerable as you are. May I do this?:

“Um, sure, go ahead,” he shrugged, slightly confused but still willing to trust her.

:Thank you. There. All done.:

For the first time in his life, his mind was silent. There were no murmurs in the back of his head, or random bursts of
thought that he had learned to ignore as best he could (unless they were particularly insistent, like the basilisk in
his second year). “Wow.”

:Nice, isn’t it? Your teachers will show you the correct way to shield, but this will do for now. Also, there’s no need
to speak out loud. You are a proficient mind-speaker—in part from arguing with me all summer, I suspect. Simply think
what you wish to know, and I will answer you as best I can.:

:Like this?: He thought, trying it out. It was strange, not vocalizing his thoughts. :This could be handy…:

:Exactly. And it is,: she replied. :Although not just purely for the mischief I can tell you’re already contemplating
with your friends at school. Back to the topic at hand though. Take a look at those memories, and tell me what you make
of them.:

Harry obediently turned his mind to his new memories. He was silent for a while, and Morgana let him be, knowing what he
was thinking. Finally he spoke.

“It’s Voldemort…but it’s not,” he said aloud, needing to vocalize it. “He feels the same, but there are differences that
I can’t explain. It’s like…” he shook his head, frustrated. “Voldemort is a, a, relation of Falconsbane. They’re
parallel selves, like but not.”

:That’s as close as anyone could come to a plausible explanation.: Morgana said somberly. :Our theory is that during one
of his ‘lives’ Ma’ar somehow discovered the wizarding world and its magic. As you saw, he spread his bloodline far and
wide so that his descendents would inherit his Talent. I believe that one of his descendents was your Salazar Slytherin.
From the research we’ve done, all of his ‘children’ who inherited his mage-talent also inherited his obsessions, the two
main ones being his hatred of Gryphons and his interest in blood-magic.:

Harry’s mind was working furiously, putting the pieces together. “And Slytherin hated Godric Gryffindor and wanted only
pure-bloods residing in his school. Like, but not. According to your history and what I’ve been able to grasp, our
worlds mirror each other pretty closely. Each time Ma’ar was reincarnated, so was Slytherin/Voldemort. But
Falconsbane—Ma’ar—was wiped out of existence by…Firesong, was it? Voldemort is still here.” He grimaced. “Believe me, I
know.”

:Firesong also had the help of others, as well as a magical artifact and a bit of divine intervention.: Morgana winked
at him. :Which brings me to the next part-- why I’m here…:

*~*~*~*~*~

Author’s notes: Whew. That was a LOT of information for chapter one, wasn’t it? Well, it couldn’t really be helped. This
is my first time writing a crossover, and with all the background information the Heralds of Valdemar series has, this
was the only feasible way I could get the information straight in my head, as well as in yours. In case you are still
confused, I’ll say this: the charts above are Hermione’s theories, while the conversation between Morgana and Harry is
fact. Thus, they indirectly confirm most of Hermione’s theories, although she wasn’t quite correct about Voldemort being
a reincarnation of Ma’ar (etc. etc.).

Also, I know the whole eyes thing will come up, so I’ll say right now that no, Morgana’s eyes are not really half brown
and half blue. There’s a hint in the chapter, if you read carefully. Also, think about Alberich and ‘Silver’.

Another question I’ll forestall is ‘Why didn’t Morgana Choose Harry right off?’ *grin* That will be explained in the
next chapter as well. *whispers* There’s also a hint in this chapter, if you look closely.

General plans—This will be an eventual Harry/Hermione story. Other characters involved will be: Draco Malfoy, Ginny
Weasley and Blaise Zabini, as well as others. Don’t want to give away all my plans, do I?

All other questions will be answered in future chapters or in AN’s at the end of next chapter. Next update should
be…soon. Ya’ll know how sporadic I am with my updating. The only thing I can suggest is sign up for chapter alerts
either on PK or ff.net. *shrug* I have every intention of finishing this story, but as we all know, life can get in the
way. I’m paying too much for school for it to be jeopardized by fan fiction, for crying out. This is me being blunt. You
have been warned.

Thanks for reading! *waves*

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2. Author's note

Reviews from Portkey:

Very nifty. I've read the Heralds series, and Falconsbane is definitely a nasty fellow. Just a word, though...

Unfortunately, Mercede Lackey is not exactly a fanfic-friendly author. She keeps tight hold on her copyrights, and no
fanfiction is allowed outside her fanclub, 'The Queen's Own.' Every time you write fanfiction based on her work, you're
supposed to file a legal release form.

Details are here:
http://www.dragonlordsnet.com/qofanfic.htm

I'm a fan of your work as a HP fanfic author, and just wanted you to know the details before you wrote a fantastic story
that you couldn't legally post on the internet.---Anonymous

My response: Thank you for the heads up, and the compliment. However, there's a whole section on ff.net based on her
work and no one has done anything about that yet, so while I don't believe I'm in personal danger of being singled out
and sued, I will keep it in mind.

That was great.Thought the story was stoped glad to see it back.Chapter two was not there it said that the chapter did
not excest(spelling?).Thank you for this story and the time and effort that you have put in to it.Please ignore any and
all flames.Enjoy your self when you write and have fun in life when you can.—destroyerdrt

My response: Yeah—I made a mistake when uploading it, and had to delete the original first chapter. I will do my best 
Thanks for the encouragement.

While the idea of a crossover between the Heralds of Valdemar series and Harry Potter has potential, I think you're
struggling too hard to set it up. It would be far better to reveal all the differences between the magical systems over
time, rather than cramming it in all at once.

Also, I noticed a rather serious glitch in your parallel timelines. You have Vanyel's confrontation with Leareth set up
as being parallel to Voldemort's first reign, and Mournelithe's rise as parallel to Voldemort's return. First, there's
around a five hundred year gap in the Valdemar timeline between Leareth and Mournelithe, and a maximum of fifty years
for Voldemort if you count to his second rise, and only thrity if you count to his first fall. You also mention
Dumbledore defeating Riddle, which is incorrect; Albus never defeated Tom. True, he decided to keep a low profile at
school, but he was never actually caught. Tom graduated and went on to start his reign of terror, and didn't stop until
the confrontation with Harry.

I know it sounds like I'm being really critical, but you have a good basic premise, and it desrves to be fleshed out in
a manner that allows the reader to say, 'Hey, that could happen.' As it stands, you're likely to get more people going
'Huh?'

My advice is to try again, and maybe find a few betas who are famliar with Vlademar to brainstorm with. Good
luck!—fenriswolf

My response: Thank you SO much for pointing those out—I've read both series multiple times, but I've always been
horrible at getting history timelines straight. I will definitely go back and fix my time line. Would you like to be my
beta? *grin* I am really excited about this story and agree that it does deserve the time taken to make the details line
up correctly.

Interesting idea, though I have only read of Vanyel sequence in the Valdemar.

One point, you have Hermione listing Tom Riddle as being defeated by Dumbledore. I think you meant Grindlewald in that
spot.—nurray

My response: See my comment about me and history timelines to fenriswolf above. *sheepish grin* I do appreciate all the
constructive criticism and comments that you guys make, and try to the advice with a grain of salt and keep it in mind
when revising. I understand that we are on the internet, and what may be intended as friendly criticism can come across
as harsher than it was originally meant to be. (note: this is not personal toward you, nurray, it's a general comment )

Fanfiction.net Reviews

You better take this down.
Lackey has said any fan fiction involving her works, and the author gets sued.

BTW: Heralds are 'not' the only ones with Gifts. Healers and Bards also have them. Also, others have gifts. It's just
that they usually aren't detected.—the Dragon Bard

My response: I find it interesting that you're commenting to me about Mercedes Lackey's policy on fan fiction when
there's a whole SECTION on ff.net involving her work and characters. I am aware of her policy. Thanks for your concern
though.

Also—I didn't say that Heralds are the “only ones with Gifts”. Here's the quote: “All magic in Valdemar (except, to an
extent, Bardic Gifts and Healing Talent) is a variation of mind magic.” I was trying to show that there is a distinct
difference between Heraldic Gifts and Healing and Baric Gifts. I obviously didn't get my point across, and will look to
that when I revise. Also, I know others have Gifts. It wasn't relevant to the story, so I didn't put it in.

General author comments: I'm pulling the story for now—not because I'm not going to work on it, but because I want to
take the advice given and flesh out a couple of bugs . Also, for the record, I am perfectly aware of Mercedes Lackey's
policy on fan fiction, but guys, siriusly. There's an entire SECTION devoted to this specific series, and I honestly
doubt that every single one of those authors submits a request for a legal release form. However, when I am ready to
post this story again, I will do so first on my own site and then on ff.net and possibly PK, thus taking responsibility
if needed.

Thank you to everyone who commented—I really do appreciate that you took the time to leave a review.

So. Mind Over Magic is on hiatus for now (again). Guess that means I have to go back and look at `The Bodyguard', eh?

I've got Spring Break next week, so I may get something done. But then, I may not…

Thanks again for your patience and support.

Mystic