Chapter 35: Closing Thoughts (Not A Chapter)
The first volume has come to an end.
At around 100,000 words, the pace of this first arc might feel a little fast to some readers, as some have pointed out. But don't worry—this story won't be rushed to a conclusion. There's plenty left to explore. The first volume's quicker tempo is simply because there wasn't as much to delve into at this stage.
Harry, after all, is a seasoned Witcher. While his curiosity remains keen, he's no longer the reckless youngster he once was—getting skewered by a pitchfork taught him a thing or two about caution.
As a result, certain storylines typical of the first year at Hogwarts didn't naturally develop.
Draco Malfoy, for instance, might be a little slow at times, but he's not stupid enough to provoke an opponent so far beyond his reach. In later chapters, this oily-haired young man will get his moment to shine.
Similarly, Harry wouldn't bother engaging with the petty provocations of a young wizard.
As for Quidditch, Harry didn't join the team in his first year, but don't worry—he absolutely will in later years. That said, I don't plan to focus too much on Quidditch matches in the story—Harry is still Harry, even as he matures and grows.
A Look Back
Now that this volume is done, let me reflect a bit on what worked and what didn't.
I'm not entirely satisfied with how it turned out. The pacing on a macro level was fine—everything progressed as planned—but I fumbled some of the smaller beats.
For example, the chapter set in Hogsmeade lacked proper buildup. That's on me for changing the direction of the story mid-stream.
The climaxes didn't hit as hard as I wanted.
The Forbidden Forest scene was a minor peak, while the confrontation over the Philosopher's Stone should have been the big emotional crescendo—especially when Harry pointed his sword at Dumbledore. That moment should have been an explosion of emotion.
I regret not capturing it more powerfully.
The writing came across too restrained. I'll need to carefully rethink and design the pacing and emotional arcs for the second volume.
On Writing Quality
I'll admit the prose wasn't as polished as I'd like.
It's been a long time since I've written, and I felt a bit rusty at the start. But the groove is slowly coming back. I think the segment covering the potion assessment and Snape's emotional moments was at least passable.
In any case, I'm committed to improving as I go.
Thank you all for your continued support. Let's keep this journey going!
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