Great Story!

I think Carol's feedback needs some public acknowledgement so:
I recognise that my fic treads a very grey line, but that is why I have been very careful to include trigger warnings at all points. I know at my lowest points, actually reading this kind of fanfic was helpful to me - it let me know that I was not alone in my feelings. One of the fics I first read on this site was actually called Giving Notice by dontgiveahoot and despite its dark tone, it provided solace in a time of deep depression. I have been careful not to romanticise suicide - instead showing the impact it has on those around you who love and care for you, and Giving Up actually finishes on a far lighter note in an effort to bring it round full circle and show that even in the darkest of times there is light if you hold on and wait.

Suicide by it's definition is not 'normal' and the mind frame you have to be in to get to that point of despair is not 'normal'. So are Harry's thoughts and actions those of a well adjusted young man living a happy life? Of course not. The fic is very self-absorbed, because from my own personal experience and from a great deal of research around the topic, that is exactly how many suicidal individuals view the world. They see themselves as a burden and a chore to others, thinking that the world would be better for everyone else if they were not around.

And when they go bang, then everyone else's world suddenly revolves around them as well. The world seems to stop turning, even as everyone else goes on living around you. I've been on both sides of this equation and it is a horrific situation to be in - constantly watching someone, afraid that the moment you turn your back they will hurt themselves. Harry's suicide note is actually a fictionalised version of one of my own from thankfully many, many years past. McGonagall's rude awakening and subsequent fears and reactions have a basis in my vicar's experience, although in a different world and with a whole heap of fictionalised world building to bolster it.

The anger, the pain, the guilt and the shame residing in these chapters is all real, even if I have used fictional characters to depict them.

If nobody writes about the things we don't like to talk about, then those suffering feel they are suffering alone.

It's maybe a good idea to remove your fic. It's especially dangerous because you write it so well.

I assume you don't want to provide a trigger to those poor people taking their own lives, don't you?

And the way how you view your world view in this fic is not normal, and factually untrue.

Sorry. This fic is potentially very dangerous. For those in mental crisis, this might be the trigger to takes their lives by suicide or at least in self-harm.

Well you had me fooled. I didn't think this would turn into sunshine and kittens. Why can't Harry be allowed to give up and let it all implode?

Great ending-thank you so much for this story.

Oh, splendid! I am glad that all four houses (because surely there was a Ravenclaw somewhere in that group, I hope) have shown their loyalty to Harry Potter.

I adore how Neville stood up for him, and how Augusta silently passed him the torch. Vulture hat and all.

And why is Umbridge not in trouble over a Blood Quill? Really? And who is the power behind her that forces Scrimgeour to accept her at his side?

My heart goes out to Minerva who weeps for her boys. And to all the others who weep for their boys.

What a pity no one ever wept for Severus.

But then, Slytherins aren't really people to many at Hogwarts.

There are very few fics that can bring me to tears, this is one. This was beautifully written. Thank you.

As an overall review I will say I cried openly in three parts of this. If you couldn't tell from the stats you are an amazing author and you have shown the ultimate skill of an author, the ability control readers emotions. This is the first of your works I have read and I anticipate reading and falling in love with many more.

As someone who struggles with suicidal ideation, I cried most over Amos here. The only thing that holds most of us here is the thought of others’ suffering. Honestly, Hermione and Ron and Minerva’s reactions don’t bother me. What do they know? But Amos knows. People like him are the anchor to this world that people like me need.

That should have been Remus instead of Severus as Godfather - vowing to protect Harry Potter when Voldemort has to believe you're loyal to him is... not wise. Might get him killed.

Also, it's Dolores, with two Os.

James and Lily were very young when they had Harry - how likely is it that Amos and his wife were also only 20 when they had Cedric? Why not make him a few years younger than Arthur, then comment he looks much older than Arthur now? That makes him about 25 when Cedric was born.

Sorry to be whining about such details, but hey, that means your story is good or I'd find bigger stuff to whine about ;-)

Sirius turned 22 the next month - does that count as 'barely twenty'?

Given how young 36 is for a wizard, certainly from the perspective of a woman in her seventies, it's not immediately clear which young man starts crying silently, certainly bc everyone was looking at Severus and he was talking about Lily, and he too would have been a child who had to learn to cry silently.

Die or kill / kill or be killed, surely