#c_reviews

Hello!

Welcome to Part 2 of Chapter 5 analysis where we will cover all things plants!

The format will look a bit different because there is a lot to go over!

If you're looking for tea analysis and other details → Part 1.

Please note, as of the date of this posting, I have only read up to Chapter 31. This analysis may not be the most accurate or relevant.

DISCLAIMER: This is all meant for fun, these thoughts are purely based on personal observations and a bit of research. It is not intended as criticism or critique in any shape or form. I have no idea if these are inadaze22‘s intentions and any confirmation(s) from her will be noted. If you have corrections or inputs, do send them my way. All I ask is that we are kind to one another.

Spoilers ahead! You have been warned!

Hello!

Here’s some more symbolism and a few interesting details thrown in the mix! Spoilers ahead, you have been warned! (again, I have no idea if any of this is @inadaze22′s intention)

The Teas:

Lemon in Earl Grey

A British classic and according to the internet, the best way to take the tea. Earl Grey is a blended tea known for its citrus notes from the use of bergamot orange. The addition of lemon is supposed to enhance and brighten the flavour.

This is the second time Hermione drinks a tea with lemon (refer to Chapter 3 for the first). It’s important to note that in both of these incidents, she is drinking tea with someone else, first with Narcissa and now with Molly.

There’s many comparisons/contrasts that can be drawn between Narcissa and Molly, but I’m going to focus on the conversation as a whole. In both conversations, singleness is brought up. Although both of these women have drastically different perspectives on other topics, they agree that their children (biological or not) must have a partner to be fulfilled in life.

Their perspective is largely influenced by pureblood traditions, but it’s also coming from a place of love. Both of their children are struggling and as mothers it is difficult to watch from the sidelines. They may not understand their difficulties but they want to relieve the pain, so they offer the only remedy they know – a partner to share the burden with.

Please correct me if I’m wrong, but this may be the first time direct parallels are drawn between Draco and Hermione.

Circling back to the significance of lemons, it serves as a glimpse of what is to come and it ties everything together. At the moment, it’s unclear if there is a direct meaning (other than smut), but I have strong feeling that we will see more lemons (take it as you will) as the story progresses.

For those who have read the recent chapter, take note that Molly is the only one that made Hermione a perfect cup of tea up until that point. As an additional tidbit, Earl Grey teas traditionally uses black tea such as keemun, but sometimes oolong is used instead. (how interesting…) Also, most black teas need a little lemon too. *wink wink nudge nudge*

Take two of Chapter 3!

Let’s talk symbolism! (I honestly have no idea if this was @inadaze22‘s intention, but hopefully it is?) 

The Teas:

Peppermint with no sugar or honey

Peppermint tea generally has soothing and refreshing properties, which would be fitting as Hermione drinks this tea during a tense conversation with Tiberius McLaggen. But the most important detail, is that she drinks it without sugar or honey. Peppermint tea is rarely taken without some additive because the peppermint taste/smell can be quite overwhelming and slightly numbing to the senses.

Perhaps she chose the tea not only to soothe herself, but also to reign in her emotions and possibly her words. Or perhaps needed something to grip onto as she is forced to relive her time in the Ministry once again. 

It’s mentioned in the first chapter that she frequently drinks peppermint tea, but with rosemary. In the same chapter it mentions that she prefers her teas to be blends with some additive. So her tea choice with McLaggen is out of routine and preference. [EDIT: inadaze reminded me that “his appearance in her office is out of routine and preference”]

There is a few parallels in the first and third chapter. In Chapter 1, she drinks the peppermint blend with Theo, in that same scene it’s the first time Hermione’s Ministry experience and Narcissa is mentioned. It is also briefly mentioned that the Ministry is interested in hiring her again. In Chapter 3,  she drinks the tea while her Ministry experience is discussed in more detail and as McLaggen attempts to hire her. Later in the chapter, Hermione meets Narcissa in person. 

Lemon balm, kava, and valerian root (This one contains spoilers for later chapters!)

Lemon balm is a herb and mint like. Interestingly, lemon balm is often added to peppermint tea to compliment the flavour (taken from good ol’ wikipedia). I honestly have no idea what to do with this information, anyone got any ideas? 

*spoiler*

Chapter 3!

Happy New Year! Not sure why this review took me so long to write because this chapter was amazing! There was honestly a lot to unpack so I’ve split it into two parts. (this review is gonna have a few spoilers, you have been warned :))

We get a better glimpse into Hermione’s life prior to leaving the Ministry. I may have missed some details here or there, but her decision to leave the Ministry was a culmination of various events and stressors with the final straw being a mental breakdown. 

On a personal note, as much as I hate seeing characters crash and burn, this event seemed oddly natural? Canonically, Hermione has always been an overachiever and always placed others before herself. Alongside being a war hero, it was only natural that she would eventually reach her limit. 

As mentioned in Hermione’s heated exchange with the Chief Warlock, the Ministry dealt with this incident poorly. I’m not sure if this was @inadaze22​‘s intention, but it reflects many work/school environments especially during the pandemic. 

I love that Hermione continues to stand her ground against going back to Ministry despite the offers that come her way. One could say that she is standing her ground out of fear, but I think for once in her life she chose herself over others. She is finally in a place where she feels (moderately) happy and satisfied with her life and career. 

Narcissa Malfoy, a force to be reckoned with. Her demeanour is what you would expect from someone raised under a strict Pureblood household, but there is something else to her. I can’t quite pinpoint the exact word to describe (any suggestions?). 

Anyhow, I love her conversation with Hermione. Even though it is expected that the conversation would entail some tension with a dash of hostility, you can’t deny that both women internally respect each other. I’m pretty excited to review their other conversations as the story progresses. 

Can we talk about Pansy Parkinson? Pansy has quickly become one of my favourite characters in this story. She is a fireball and a brilliant witch! I love that her and Hermione find companionship with each other later in life. They are both such strong characters with drastically different stories, but it just works.  (Their relationship does remind me a bit of @inadaze22​‘s Broken. It’s a great read!)

Favourite Quote: “What the—you've got me defending Potter, for fuck's sake! You owe me a drink when I stop being mad at you. Shite, that didn't even feel right.”

Here we go! Chapter 4!

This chapter is a bit of a filler, nonetheless the writing is high calibre. There’s quite a few details sprinkled throughout that are interesting in both their placement and wording. But more on that in Part 2!

Once again, we get to see Hermione’s relationships in more depth and breadth. I enjoy Hermione and Ron’s scene as frustrating as it is because it shows how unreliable Hermione is as a narrator. We only see their relationship from her perspective so it’s easy to dislike Ron or place the blame on him. There is much more to their relationship then what Hermione is letting on, and perhaps Ron isn’t the villain in their story. 

Since this is a Dramione story, I have no doubt that Hermione will compare these two relationships. It will be interesting to see how her narration of it shifts as the story and her character development progresses. 

It doesn’t come as a surprise that she confides in Harry and Molly about Narcissa. However, their responses are unexpected. Up until this point, Hermione is the ideal character. She stands her own ground and she’s picked herself up time after time. She has a good support system and she’s fairly content with life. But Harry and Molly not only question her reasonings but arguably her character in each of their conversations. 

It shows that Hermione is flawed as she holds onto preconceived notions about Narcissa and purebloods. By no means am I trying to devalue her traumatic experience in Malfoy Manor and the war or the blatant racism she received from these same individuals, or even justify some of Narcissa’s opinions; however it cannot be ignored that Hermione’s time in the wizarding world is limited and so is her understanding of it. 

Hermione’s perspective is that of an outsider, both literally and figuratively. From this position, she is able to freely interrogate the pureblood traditions that are so deeply entrenched in the wizarding world. She is able to see the issues that others may not be able to see, hence why she is considered to be an asset. However, this perspective can easily lead to oversimplification because she is not subjected to the traditions. 

Hermione is blinded by her preconceptions and she fails to see who Narcissa is and why she had made the choices she has. Perhaps if she took a small step back, she would see the similarities between the two of them. That being said, it’s easier said than done. 

*spoiler*

Hey! 

The conditioning part of “air conditioning” here!

I'll be reviewing Measure of A Man by the lovely @indaze22 as it comes out! I’ve been a huge fan of her work, so I’m pretty stoked to read another Dramione fic! This is the first time I’ve openly shared my thoughts on a fic so bear with me as I figure it all out! 

For context (taken from ao3):

Tags: Post-Hogwarts, EWE, Hermione Granger/Draco Malfoy

Synopsis: To truly know someone is to differentiate between who they once were, who they are now, and who they're capable of being. Hermione realizes the duality of one man as she rectifies what she knows of the past and begins to understand the pieces of who Draco Malfoy is now: a father, a son, and a man.

I’m going to try to keep the reviews as spoiler free as possible, but no promises... Hope you’ll join me for the ride! :) 

Let’s unpack chapter two! 

I love how @inadaze22​ describes Hermione’s relationship with her father in particular. In those few paragraphs, it perfectly captures their simple yet complex relationship. There is a sense of detachment from both characters, and at the same time a dependency. There is something so poetic and layered about those few paragraphs. It’s beautiful!

I find Hermione’s relationship with her mother to be really interesting. In many fanficitions and books in general, female characters are shown to have strong bonds with their mother. In the cases where female characters are distant with their mother, it is of childhood traumas or because the mother is villainized. It’s refreshing to see this “norm” (for a lack of better words) challenged throughout this story. Her mother’s reaction to the obliviation and her daughter’s life feels normal and rational, especially in her concern for Hermione’s wellbeing and love life. 

I appreciate how @inadaze22​ doesn’t shy away from the reality that Hermione’s relationship with her parents would never be the same after the obliviation. It gives weight to the event and helps to shape Hermione’s character and to some extent the hesitancy to make any drastic changes in her life. 

Even though this is a Dramione story, I really like how all the secondary characters are fleshed out. No one is left behind. Even if they are briefly mentioned, there are always implications that the individual has a rich backstory and personality. 

Each character remains relatively true to their general canon characterizations (or what limited details we are given) with a sprinkle of time and maturity. Pansy is still snarky and dramatic, Ginny is still energetic and quick-witted, etc. Even though we don’t see the exact ins and outs of how many of them became friends/acquaintances (i.e. Pansy and Daphne with Hermione), it all feels natural. @inadaze22​ does an amazing job giving us little tid bits here and there that leave us wanting to know more about their relationships, but also equally satisfied with the given information. *chefs kiss*

Overall, this chapter is shorter than the first and is more filler-esque, but @inadaze22​ maintains such a good flow throughout the chapter. It never feels like it’s dragging because we get introduced to more characters and get to know others more intimately. :)

Favourite Quote: “They tore out unseen rot and carefully carved away the original stone, rebuilding it back to the point where the outside looked the same, but the inside was all new.”

Boom! What a great first chapter!

First things first, it’s refreshing to see other characters other than Harry, Draco and Ron introduced right off the bat. @inadaze22 does a great job dropping subtle details here and there about each character and their baggage. It makes things feel natural and keeps you wanting to know more as each detail is revealed!

The chapter is fairly lengthly because there is a lot to unpack, but also because @inadaze22 has a very detailed style of writing. Personally, I like this style because it makes everything feel tangible and real. That being said, sometimes the detailing seem a little excessive, especially on the first read. I definitely found myself asking "do I really need to know the exact blend of Hermione's tea?". Having read other works by @inadaze22, I have a feeling that these minute details will have some significance in the later chapters (but we'll have to see).

I appreciate how the impacts of the war (both positives and negatives) weaves in and out of the chapter. Each implication or mention is never forced and serves its purpose to contextualize the characters. 

This might be insignificant, but I really appreciate that dates were given. I find that dates helps place things into perspective and to set a pace for the chapter and overall story. (It also helps people like me that are super forgetful to keep track of what is happening *facepalm). 

Overall, it was quite the first chapter! @inadaze22 does a great job "showing not telling" how each of the characters are wrestling with themselves and the central problem. It was well paced and nicely set the stage for what's to come. :)

Favourite Quote: “Winters that should have been exclusively dark and desolate were light. Springs were promising and transformative. Summers were full of growth, life, and hard work. And autumns were crisp, yet refreshing enough to enjoy a hot tea while bundled in a blanket. Blending during the transition between seasons was even better.”