scrape_r_rational/data/cache2/2s69a3.md

## Following the Phoenix, final chapter: The Man Who Lived

* Author: u/philip1201 *
* URL: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10636246/36/Following-the-Phoenix
* Score: 41

* Created: 2015-01-12T15:51:52

### Post:

[Link to content](https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10636246/36/Following-the-Phoenix)

### Comments:

> **u/JackStargazer** [+11]  *Primordial Apologist* (5 hours later)
> 
> Great. Now we just need a third level recursive fanfiction to cover what happens next.

>> **u/xamueljones** [+6]  *My arch-enemy is entropy* (9 hours later)
>> 
>> Considering how popular HPMOR and this fanfic is, I will bet 75% or greater probability that someone, within the next three months, will do so. Conditions for winning: a fanfic of any length greater than 2,000 words explicitly stated to be based on *Following the Phoenix* published before 4/12/2015.
>> 
>> Propose your stakes for this most glorious bet! It's win-win for anyone going against me, since my opponent will either win, or receive a new HPMOR fanfic as a consolation prize.

>>> **u/eaglejarl** [+1]  (12 hours later)
>>> 
>>> Proposed stakes: the writer gets Reddit Gold for two months. 
>>> 
>>> If so, I'm betting that it happens. ;>

>>>> **u/xamueljones** [+1]  *My arch-enemy is entropy* (12 hours later)
>>>> 
>>>> So...if I'm right, my theoretical opponent loses and pays the writer Reddit Gold. But if I'm wrong, who do I pay the Reddit Gold to since no one has actually written the story?

>>>>> **u/eaglejarl** [+3]  (13 hours later)
>>>>> 
>>>>> Yeah, that was unclear.  Ok, here's the bet I'm offering:
>>>>> 
>>>>> If a 2000+ word metafic of FTP is published on or before 11:59pmUTC on April 12, 2015, then you pay the author two months of Reddit Gold.
>>>>> 
>>>>> If such a story is NOT published by that datetime, then I'll pay you 2 months of Reddit Gold.
>>>>> 
>>>>> Do you take the bet?
>>>>> 
>>>>> EDIT:  To cover some corner cases:
>>>>> 
>>>>> * The metafic only needs to be based on FTP content that is up as of today -- that is, things up to and including Chapter 36.  If  /u/heiligeezel publishes more after this and the metafic happens to overlap with / contradict events in those new sections, then the metafic is still considered acceptable.
>>>>> *  /u/heiligeezel is excluded from winning this bet.  :P
>>>>> * You only need to pay out on the first such metafic published.

>>>>>> **u/heiligeEzel** [+6]  (17 hours later)
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> > /u/heiligeezel is excluded from winning this bet. :P
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Aw. :(

>>>>>>> **u/eaglejarl** [+2]  (a day later)
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> Hey, we'd all love it if you'd keep writing in this world.   If you publish at least another 5,000 words of FtP and/or sequels / prequels / etc I'm happy to pony up a month of Gold.
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> Quick question for you -- is there anything in canon about a weight limit on what phoenixes / phoenix owners can bring along on a teleport?  You had Xare carrying fifty schoolkids which says the limit is pretty high -- was that your call, or was that based on something canonical?

>>>>>>>> **u/heiligeEzel** [+1]  (a day later)
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> > Hey, we'd all love it if you'd keep writing in this world. If you publish at least another 5,000 words of FtP and/or sequels / prequels / etc I'm happy to pony up a month of Gold.
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> Hehe, thanks. :)
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> (I don't actually use reddit enough to have any use for that, so you won't need to, but it's about the principle of winning the bet. ;))
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> > Quick question for you -- is there anything in canon about a weight limit on what phoenixes / phoenix owners can bring along on a teleport?
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> Not in HPMoR or HP as far as I know. In FtP, there's only these rules:
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> > "Now, Miss Granger, phoenixes can carry incredible weights. In fact, anything they carry gets lighter. You can transport up to fifty people at once, as long as they all hold each other tightly."
>>>>>>>> > 
>>>>>>>> > She grabbed Harry's hand. She was a bit nervous about this one. She'd never traveled by phoenix before, and it would be Xare's first time, too. "And then?"
>>>>>>>> > 
>>>>>>>> > "Just picture the place where you want to go in your head, and ask your phoenix to take you. They accept mental commands. You must hold her too."

>>>>>>>>> **u/eaglejarl** [+1]  (a day later)
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> Shiny, thanks.
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> Is "fifty people" a numerical limit (there is something about people that means you can't take more than 50 of them) or is it a weight limit based on average weight?  Could you take 50 morbidly obese people?

>>>>>>>>>> **u/heiligeEzel** [+1]  (a day later)
>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>> I was thinking of roughly the "this elevator holds 10 people" kind of restriction, so pure weight (otherwise you'd get the interesting qestion of what a person is).

>>>>>>>>>>> **u/eaglejarl** [+1]  (a day later)
>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>> Ok, that works.  IIRC, the 50 people that Xaremione teleported were all students, and mostly younger students.  Assume an average weight of 100 pounds, that means that Xare can move 5,000 pounds (2.5 tons) in a single go.  That sound about right?

>>>>>>>>>>>> **u/heiligeEzel** [+1]  (a day later)
>>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>>> Hermione was exceedingly careful, because she only knew the 50 people rule, not what kind of people Dumbledore had in mind. I'd guess 4000 kilo is closer to the real rule.

>>>>>>>>>>>>> **u/eaglejarl** [+2]  (a day later)
>>>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>>>> "4,000 kilos" is an oddly specific number. Not a nice round 5,000? And if I do the math out as a metrically challenged Amuriken, I find that it means 50 people each of whom weigh 176 pounds which is (assuming average height Amurikens) a really fit male adult or a slightly heavy female adult but either way is an insanely obese 11-year-old...oh, wait, that's what you meant by "she was being very cautious ". Ok. 
>>>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>>>> Still, where did 4000kg come from?

>>>>>>>>>>>>>> **u/heiligeEzel** [+2]  (2 days later)
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 50 * 80 kilo, the average (although perhaps high-end) weight I'd assume for a human. I never had specific numbers in mind, though!

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> **u/eaglejarl** [+2]  (2 days later)
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Well that was ridiculously simple.  
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Feh.  I was hoping there was some sort of mystical significance to the number 4000 in the HP canon.  *sadface* ;>

>>>>>> **u/xamueljones** [+2]  *My arch-enemy is entropy* (15 hours later)
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Accepted!
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Two last caveats to clear up though.
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> * Both of us are not eligible to write the story and claim the Reddit Gold. We are betting on someone else doing so.
>>>>>> * If the author is not someone who has a reddit account, then I'll pay you the two months of Reddit Gold instead.
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> P.S. I currently rate my odds of winning this bet to be at 80% since people on this subreddit now know they can earn Reddit Gold to by writing a measly 2000 words.
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> *nudges /u/alexanderwales*
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> But it's an acceptable loss to get more recursive fanfics of HPMOR. ;~>

>>>>>>> **u/eaglejarl** [+1]  (15 hours later)
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> > Both of us are not eligible to write the story and claim the Reddit Gold. We are betting on someone else doing so.
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> Maybe that's what *you* were betting on.  I just wanted the Gold, man.  ;P
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> No bet, I'm afraid.  [I could just sockpuppet to win, but I'd rather just not make the bet.]

>>>>>>>> **u/xamueljones** [+2]  *My arch-enemy is entropy* (a day later)
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> Huh?
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> ....
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> *Rereads comment*
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> ....
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> Ooooooo!!! You were planning on tricking me for gold?!?! You sir, have a fantastic career ahead of you as a pirate. Can I join your crew?
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> Hmmm....I really do want to see someone write it and I did love *Two Year Emperor* which is a rather high recommendation of your writing skills.
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> Alright, I'm willing to pay just **YOU** two months of Reddit Gold if you post a fanfic of *Following the Phoenix* within the next three months by 4/13/2015. Don't worry about rushing it though. I know that you need to finish up a couple of other stories for your Kickstarter first.
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> Disclaimer: Since the bet no longer applies, I will not be paying anyone else if they happen to write one. Sorry!

>>>>>>>>> **u/eaglejarl** [+2]  (a day later)
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> You absolutely *may* join my crew.  Arrrr!
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> Okay, once I finish the Kickstarter stories, I'm up for doing a FtP metafic.  Noted!

>>>>>>>>>> **u/Timewinders** [+1]  (3 days later)
>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>> Speaking of the kickstarter, I really liked Baby Blues. Very interesting take on vampires and I found the setting plausible. [](#s "I'd like to believe that most people would oppose a system that cruel in real life, but it was an excellent commentary on the American prison system and the fact that it took place after a war made sense. It was more of a cerebral moral horror than the usual "fear for your life" horror, which I think would appeal to a lot of people here on /r/rational. Organ donor shortages are a problem now and that aspect of the story, along with the sense of moral horror, reminded me a lot of the YA novel Unwind, which I think you would like since it had many similar themes. I guess it's pretty ironic who the real monsters were in the end.") Anyway, that was my interpretation of it. I'm looking forward to reading the other story when it's out.

>>>>>>>>>>> **u/eaglejarl** [+2]  (3 days later)
>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>> Thank you!   I was really happy with how Baby Blues came out.  It flowed out of the keys with very little effort, needed some revision but not a massive amount, and I was proud of the result.
>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>> "Pay Attention," on the other hand, is the single hardest thing I've ever written.  I've already written it once and then thrown out 80% of it and started over.  The entire planned setting of the second half has gone out the window.  I'm currently at 12,439 words, I expect to hit 15,000 easy before I finish it (it was only supposed to be 9,000!) and I keep re-reading what I have and thinking "this has the impact of a wet noodle," so I suspect it will need major editing once I finish it again.  If you (singular and generic) end up liking it, I am going to end up patting myself on the back so hard I'll break my arm.

>>>>>>> **u/JackStargazer** [+1]  *Primordial Apologist* (22 hours later)
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> Really, all those conditions combined with the old ones guarantee is a very mediocre 2000 words out as fast as possible, and then people giving up on actually writing a sequel.
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> Think about it, you are incentivising speed (only the first one wins) over all other potential values, and then removing any potential reward afterward so that even people who have 1999 *good* words have lost direct reward for sharing them.

>>>>>>>> **u/xamueljones** [+1]  *My arch-enemy is entropy* (a day later)
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> That's true except for one thing. I wanted to see someone write something based on *Following the Phoenix* **before** Eliezer publishes the next chapter to HPMOR. Even though I gave a deadline well after his prediction of when the next chapter is coming out (which is stated to possibly be on 1/28/2015), I disguised this fact by agreeing to eaglejarl's condition that I would only pay out the first metafic written to incentivize speed (I would have included that condition if eaglejarl hadn't mentioned it first).
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> I'm actually mildly surprised that anyone accepted the bet at all. Of course the bet's now off, but I'm willing to wait and hope eaglejarl accepts my "terms of surrender" in exchange for some HPMOR fiction written by him (even if he publishes it after Eliezer starts updating again).

>>>>>>>>> **u/Pluvialis** [+1]  *Second Age Sauron* (a day later)
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> My personal probability of a substantial (like not some piece of crap ejaculated with half a second's effort) recursive fanfic being published before HPMOR continues is far lower than 75%. More like 30%, I guess.
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> So we should both be willing to bet on odds between those values, given that it should appear favourable to both of us. Say 50:50 - you give me 1 month of Reddit gold if no such fanfic appears, I give you 1 month of Reddit gold if it does (providing it's neither of us who writes it).

>>>>>>>>>> **u/xamueljones** [+1]  *My arch-enemy is entropy* (a day later)
>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>> Thanks for the offer, but /u/eaglejarl just agreed to write the metafic in exchange for two months of Reddit Gold. See the above comments. Sorry, but I will not be accepting the bet.

>>>>>>>> **u/scruiser** [+1]  *CYOA* (a day later)
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> > Really, all those conditions combined with the old ones guarantee is a very mediocre 2000 words out as fast as possible, and then people giving up on actually writing a sequel.
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> I wouldn't call the effort mediocre, I've only ever written snippets in the past so writing a mediocre 2000 words for Reddit Gold would actually be a stretch for me.

>>>>>> **u/E-o_o-3** [+1]  (a day later)
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> >/u/heiligeezel is excluded from winning this bet. :P
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Nooo....incentivize /u/heiligeezel ...

>>> **u/heiligeEzel** [+1]  (17 hours later)
>>> 
>>> I *was* actually planning to challenge people to write a recursive fanfic just for the sake of getting to third level, but decided against it given the proimity of an HPMoR update. :P
>>> 
>>> Possibilities with a lot of potential include Sirius Black's trial (Dumbledore promised he would *get* one, but it never made its way into FtP - although I suspect EY is already going to be doing something with that, so this may not be a good option), Michael Verres-Evans' first lesson (he *was* teaching for a week, so he got several lessons done, and there were some great suggestions on the reddit about it), and Hermione's summer job for the British space program (although some of that may already make its way into the epilogue - I'm just not familiar enough with the physics and progress of space travel to really do this justice; do we actually have sufficiently clear photographs of anything out of the solar system so Hermione and Xare could use them?).

>>>> **u/JackStargazer** [+1]  *Primordial Apologist* (22 hours later)
>>>> 
>>>> I was thinking about how Ignotus' burial chamber could actually be a lost remnant of Atlantis, and Harry's likely response to finding out that other such remnants could exist. Draw some parallels from nWoD's Mage: The Awakening. 
>>>> 
>>>> Followed by an adventure story with significant timeskips, involving alternated research into HPMOR things and Indiana Jones-esque lost artifact hunting. 
>>>> 
>>>> I mean, think about it, what are the good guys most powerful tools, things which have so far been used to save the day over and over and over again? Only one of them is a spell (True Patronus). The others are *all* artifacts.
>>>> 
>>>> The Elder Wand, the Philosopher's Stone, The Resurrection Stone, Time Turners, the Cloak. Some actually able to be engineered today or copied, others not. 
>>>> 
>>>> Then there are the old legends of Merlin being frozen by Nimue in a cave, in a very similar manner to Ignotus, or similarly to what you would expect modern cryonics to suggest...
>>>> 
>>>> You can get a lot of high-level adventures out of this world.

>>>> **u/eaglejarl** [+1]  (a day later)
>>>> 
>>>> Nope.  Although one thing we COULD do is use Xaremione to get to Mars.
>>>> 
>>>> Or, alternatively, the moon.  We build a giant telescope there (no atmosphere, great for telescopes) then use that to study one of the nearer earth-crossing asteroids.  Hop to that, build another telescope, hop to another asteroid farther out, then to one of the moons of Jupiter, etc.  We could island-hop our way pretty far like that.  And, since we could launch telescope-equipped probes from each location, the "phoenix-able" zone would expand quickly.

>>>>> **u/sephlington** [+1]  (a day later)
>>>>> 
>>>>> If we're going magic-assisted space tech, you could rapidly assemble the parts of a [space-based Very-long-baseline interferometry telescope](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Very-long-baseline_interferometry#Space_VLBI) that would have an effective diameter of most of the solar system, giving you the resolution to image exo-planets and so island-hop interstellar distances. 
>>>>> 
>>>>> Also, did HPMoR or FtP ever establish how Floo networks work? Because, theoretically, phoenix-hopping  a Floo engineer to another solar system could be exploited horrifyingly well.

>>>>>> **u/autowikibot** [+1]  (a day later)
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> #####	
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> ######	
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> ####	
>>>>>> Section 4. [**Space VLBI**](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Very-long-baseline_interferometry#Space_VLBI) of article  [**Very-long-baseline interferometry**](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Very-long-baseline%20interferometry): [](#sfw) 
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> ---
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> >
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> >In the quest for even greater angular resolution, dedicated VLBI satellites have been placed in Earth orbit to provide greatly extended baselines. Experiments incorporating such space-borne array elements are termed Space Very Long Baseline Interferometry (SVLBI).
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> >The first such dedicated VLBI mission was [HALCA](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HALCA), an 8 meter [radio telescope](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radio_telescope), which was launched in February 1997 and made observations until October 2003, but due to the small size of the dish only very strong radio sources could be observed with SVLBI arrays incorporating it.
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> >Another space VLBI mission, [Spektr-R (or RadioAstron)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RadioAstron), was launched in July 2011.
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> >
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> ---
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> ^Interesting: [^Radio ^astronomy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radio_astronomy) ^| [^Astro-G](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astro-G) ^| [^Australia ^Telescope ^Compact ^Array](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australia_Telescope_Compact_Array) ^| [^Simeiz ^Observatory](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simeiz_Observatory) 
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> ^Parent ^commenter ^can [^toggle ^NSFW](/message/compose?to=autowikibot&subject=AutoWikibot NSFW toggle&message=%2Btoggle-nsfw+cno0tqx) ^or[](#or) [^delete](/message/compose?to=autowikibot&subject=AutoWikibot Deletion&message=%2Bdelete+cno0tqx)^. ^Will ^also ^delete ^on ^comment ^score ^of ^-1 ^or ^less. ^| [^(FAQs)](http://www.np.reddit.com/r/autowikibot/wiki/index) ^| [^Mods](http://www.np.reddit.com/r/autowikibot/comments/1x013o/for_moderators_switches_commands_and_css/) ^| [^Magic ^Words](http://www.np.reddit.com/r/autowikibot/comments/1ux484/ask_wikibot/)

> **u/Noir_Bass** [+5]  (50 minutes later)
> 
> I loved this story, it's been a really fun read. So glad there might still be an epilogue chapter! I really want to see some of the results of Harry's work in the future.

>> **u/MoralRelativity** [+1]  (3 hours later)
>> 
>> Me too.

> **u/SvalbardCaretaker** [+4]  *Mouse Army* (55 minutes later)
> 
> Heiligeezel, thanks for everything. Quite a ride! Just wanted to express gratitude, your first chapters had me spilling tears, it was so right for Hermione to get a phoenix. Keep up the good work!

> **u/None** [+3]  (3 hours later)
> 
> On the one hand, a bit abrupt of an ending; I would have liked to know *why* we keep hearing that Harry can off-handedly destroy the world.  On the other hand, "go and study" is certainly a fine point to end the story at.

>> **u/heiligeEzel** [+1]  (a day later)
>> 
>> > I would have liked to know why we keep hearing that Harry can off-handedly destroy the world.
>> 
>> I suspect the final chapters of HPMoR will provide an answer to that. :P
>> 
>> The simple reason: magic + technology is *really really powerful*. Harry is giving away all the control he has, and for example, some well-meaning scientist might end up discovering and publishing a way to end world hunger, without realising (because they don't *quite* have the eperience with power and cynicism that powerful wizards have) that the exact same magic / technology combination with a few small tweaks will destroy all crops in a country beyond magical repair. Add some terrorists who use that on, say, all western countries, and we're in for a fair bit of trouble.
>> 
>> (Of course, that risk exists even without scientists having magic, which is why Riddle dislikes them so much. However, without magic it will generally be harder.)

>>> **u/eaglejarl** [+1]  (a day later)
>>> 
>>> > I suspect the final chapters of HPMoR will provide an answer to that. :P
>>> 
>>> Hang on, *final* chapters?  How many more do we have?

>>>> **u/heiligeEzel** [+1]  (a day later)
>>>> 
>>>> Well. Last arc. :P According to the author's notes there's something like 18 coming.
>>>> 
>>>> (Of course, if Harry *actually* manages to end the world, that may be the final chapter. ;))

>>>>> **u/eaglejarl** [+1]  (a day later)
>>>>> 
>>>>> > (Of course, if Harry actually manages to end the world, that may be the final chapter. ;))
>>>>> 
>>>>> One would hope so, yes.  :P

> **u/jalapeno_dude** [+2]  (9 days later)
> 
> The general reaction, both on FF.net and here, seems to be that this was a happy ending. Are we really sure about that? The setup of this last chapter really reads to me like Harry has just started talking to the boxed AI, and is just about to happily let it out of the box. Maybe this is just me being paranoid, but we've got a number of quotes from previous chapters related to existential risk that suggest Harry is...very bad, to be kind...at managing it.
> 
> > "If there was a one in a thousand chance that the ritual did not do what you expected, that it might have summoned an unstoppable horror that could have ended all human life, then you should not have even *considered* it. All turned out for the best yesterday, but what will happen the next time you make such a gamble?" [Ch 112]
> 
> > "have you managed to destroy civilization yet?" There was no anger in the question, merely resignation. [Ch 115]
> 
> >*Note to self: think before acting.* [Also Ch 115]
> 
> What does Harry do in the last chapter? Just a partial list: he enters the tomb before anyone else, he meets the eyes of the *insanely powerful person* from an *entirely different culture with potentially alien values* without thinking twice, and as the story ends he's just about to give Ignotus the ability to possess the most powerful wizard currently alive today, with access to a phoenix and the Elder Wand!

>> **u/note-to-self-bot** [+1]  (10 days later)
>> 
>> A friendly reminder:
>> 
>> think before acting.

>> **u/eaglejarl** [+1]  (a month later)
>> 
>> I just realized from chapter 119 of HPMOR:  when it says that Harry will "destroy the stars" (or whatever the exact words are) it's talking about [star lifting](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_lifting).  So, the prophecy isn't really a bad thing.

>>> **u/autowikibot** [+1]  (a month later)
>>> 
>>> #####	
>>> 
>>> ######	
>>> 
>>> ####	
>>>  [**Star lifting**](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star%20lifting): [](#sfw) 
>>> 
>>> ---
>>> 
>>> >
>>> 
>>> >__Star lifting__ is any of several hypothetical processes by which a sufficiently advanced civilization (specifically, one of [Kardashev-II](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kardashev_scale) or higher) could remove a substantial portion of a [star](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star) matter for any number of purposes. The term appears to have been coined by [David Criswell](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Criswell).
>>> 
>>> >Stars already lose a small flow of mass via [solar wind](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_wind), [coronal mass ejections](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coronal_mass_ejection), and other natural processes. Over the course of a star's life on the [main sequence](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_sequence) this loss is usually negligible compared to the star's total mass; only at the end of a star's life when it becomes a [red giant](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_giant) or a [supernova](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supernova) is a large amount of material ejected. The star lifting techniques that have been proposed would operate by increasing this natural [plasma](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plasma_(physics\)) flow and manipulating it with [magnetic fields](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnetic_field).
>>> 
>>> >Stars have deep [gravity wells](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravity_well), so the energy required for such operations is large. For example, lifting solar material from the surface of the [Sun](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun) to infinity requires 2.1 [× 10^11](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientific_notation) [J](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joule)/[kg](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kilogram). This energy could be supplied by the star itself, collected by a [Dyson sphere](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dyson_sphere); using only 10% of the Sun's total power output would allow 5.9 × 10^21 kilograms of matter to be lifted per year (0.0000003% of the Sun's total mass), or 8% of the mass of [Earth](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth)'s [moon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Moon).
>>> 
>>> >====
>>> 
>>> >[**Image**](https://i.imgur.com/A34f5f9.png) [^(i)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Star_lifting_1.svg)
>>> 
>>> ---
>>> 
>>> ^Interesting: [^Fictional ^technology](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fictional_technology) ^| [^Stellar ^engineering](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stellar_engineering) ^| [^Astroengineering](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astroengineering) ^| [^Lockheed ^C-141 ^Starlifter](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_C-141_Starlifter) 
>>> 
>>> ^Parent ^commenter ^can [^toggle ^NSFW](/message/compose?to=autowikibot&subject=AutoWikibot NSFW toggle&message=%2Btoggle-nsfw+cpc7ziv) ^or[](#or) [^delete](/message/compose?to=autowikibot&subject=AutoWikibot Deletion&message=%2Bdelete+cpc7ziv)^. ^Will ^also ^delete ^on ^comment ^score ^of ^-1 ^or ^less. ^| [^(FAQs)](http://www.np.reddit.com/r/autowikibot/wiki/index) ^| [^Mods](http://www.np.reddit.com/r/autowikibot/comments/1x013o/for_moderators_switches_commands_and_css/) ^| [^Magic ^Words](http://www.np.reddit.com/r/autowikibot/comments/1ux484/ask_wikibot/)

> **u/shupack** [+1]  (50 minutes later)
> 
> YAY!!

> **u/elevul** [+1]  *Cyoria Observer* (8 hours later)
> 
> Now that it's over, would you mind releasing an .epub, please?

>> **u/eaglejarl** [+1]  (12 hours later)
>> 
>> You can actually make an ePub really easily using [calibre](http://calibre-ebook.com). Granted it would help if  /u/heiligeezel would make the raw HTML available, but you could download the individual chapters yourself and book them from there.

>> **u/None** [+1]  (16 hours later)
>> 
>> There's plenty of sites offering fanfic downloading.

> **u/lolhaibai** [+1]  (a day later)
> 
> > Call in your teacher, who is waiting outside, and his phoenix. I shall read him, and pass him the spells he needs to rebuild your school.
> 
> Dawwww, happy endings are great.

> **u/sparr** [-5]  (3 hours later)
> 
> Downvoting for "final chapter" in the post title here. Spoiler much?

>> **u/Zephyr1011** [+7]  *Potentially Unfriendly Aspiring Divinity* (4 hours later)
>> 
>> It's a spoiler in the same sense that if you're reading a book and notice that you're on the last chapter you have then been spoiled. The fic is even tagged as complete on fanfiction.net, meaning that anyone who gets to the fic through there will know it's the last chapter

>>> **u/sparr** [-1]  (4 hours later)
>>> 
>>> Not seeing the last paper page coming is one of the reasons I prefer e-books. I don't watch commercials, so I don't know when the last episode of a tv show series or season is coming. Just because it's a spoiler that you're used to accepting doesn't make it not a spoiler.

>>>> **u/alexanderwales** [+9]  *Time flies like an arrow* (5 hours later)
>>>> 
>>>> Spoiler is in the eye of the beholder. I don't think it spoils anything to know that you're reading the last chapter of a work, and thus I don't consider it a spoiler. You're operating under a very restrictive definition of the term, and using it in a somewhat non-standard way. The fact that this is the last chapter is something that ff.net would "spoil" for you once this piece was marked complete, and we can infer that they don't consider it to be a spoiler. The author herself has said repeatedly that this is the last chapter, and I can conclude that she doesn't consider that information to be a spoiler either.
>>>> 
>>>> Calling something a spoiler doesn't mean that it's a spoiler.

>>>>> **u/sparr** [-4]  (6 hours later)
>>>>> 
>>>>> > The author herself has said repeatedly that this is the last chapter, and I can conclude that she doesn't consider that information to be a spoiler either.
>>>>> 
>>>>> Based on what? Her actions? You're making the assumption that she would never share something she considers to be a spoiler?

>>>>>> **u/alexanderwales** [+6]  *Time flies like an arrow* (6 hours later)
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Yes, that's the assumption that I'm making - at least in a public forum prior to the chapter being posted. Though I guess I could just ask. /u/heiligeezel, do you consider saying that this chapter is the final one to be a spoiler?

>>>>>>> **u/heiligeEzel** [+5]  (17 hours later)
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> I suppose in general it could go either way. For Harry Potter and the Natural 20, the ending of book 2 deliberately came as a surprise.
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> For FtP, if it is indeed a spoiler it's not a spoiler I minded spoiling, though - which is why I announced it beforehand. I don't really think it adds to the story if people get their hopes up that we're going to see awesome death-defeating shenanigans.
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> Speaking of spoilers, did anyone at all notice that [Spoiler for apparently-too-subtle-hints](#s "Dumbledore deliberately dropped an atomic bomb on Azkaban")?

>>>>>>>> **u/kaukamieli** [+1]  (20 hours later)
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> o.O Did he now? o.O I didn't notice... Really? Dude...

>>>>>>>> **u/eaglejarl** [+1]  (22 hours later)
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> Wow. I totally missed that. Can you give the chapter where it happened?

>>>>>>>>> **u/JackStargazer** [+3]  *Primordial Apologist* (22 hours later)
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> When he and Harry talking to the Muggles in Parliament, he mentions that the bomb he diverted detonated on ["A small island in the North Sea"](http://harrypotter.wikia.com/wiki/Azkaban), away from any other human habitation.
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> Then he mentions in a previous chapter that it was completely and utterly destroyed, and it was in fact a good sight for him, that he might share the Pensive thoughts with others.
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> So, yes, I noticed that! It wasn't entirely clear that it was Dumbledore that destroyed it in the first instance, but the subtle little hint int the other chapter suggested it.

>>>>>>>>>> **u/autowikiabot** [+1]  (23 hours later)
>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>> #####	
>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>> ######	
>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>> ####	
>>>>>>>>>>  [**Azkaban**](https://harrypotter.wikia.com/wiki/Azkaban): [](#sfw) 
>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>> ---
>>>>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>>>>> >>"*Those who entered to investigate refused afterwards to talk of what they had found inside, but the least frightening part of it was that the place was infested with dementors.*"
>>>>>>>>>> >>—J.K. Rowling regarding the island Azkaban is located on  [src]
>>>>>>>>>> >>
>>>>>>>>>> >====
>>>>>>>>>> >[**Image**](https://i.imgur.com/LGHKCPz.jpg) [^(i)](http://vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net/harrypotter/images/c/c0/Daily_prophet_bellatrix.jpg/revision/latest/scale-to-width/145?cb=20140530153534)====
>>>>>>>>>> >[**Image**](https://i.imgur.com/3PJaFPC.jpg) [^(i)](http://vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net/harrypotter/images/c/c4/Kingsley_Shacklebolt_Profile.JPG/revision/latest/scale-to-width/125?cb=20081103140800)====
>>>>>>>>>> >[**Image**](https://i.imgur.com/hpwiRUD.jpg) [^(i)](http://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/harrypotter/images/7/7d/Azkaban-island-uk-cover.jpg/revision/latest/scale-to-width/250?cb=20070321004756)====
>>>>>>>>>> >[**Image**](https://i.imgur.com/Tr9ZvIR.png) [^(i)](http://img1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20141218013408/harrypotter/images/b/b6/Azkaban_concept_art.png)
>>>>>>>>>> ^Interesting: [^Azkaban ^escapes](https://harrypotter.wikia.com/wiki/azkaban escapes) ^| [^Category:Images ^of ^Azkaban](https://harrypotter.wikia.com/wiki/images of azkaban) ^| [^Azkaban ^burial ^ground](https://harrypotter.wikia.com/wiki/azkaban burial ground) ^| [^Harry ^Potter ^and ^the ^Prisoner ^of ^Azkaban](https://harrypotter.wikia.com/wiki/harry potter and the prisoner of azkaban) 
>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>> ^Parent ^commenter ^can [^toggle ^NSFW](http://www.np.reddit.com/message/compose?to=autowikiabot&subject=AutoWikibot NSFW toggle&message=%2Btoggle-nsfw+cnnksdg) ^or[](#or) [^delete](http://www.np.reddit.com/message/compose?to=autowikiabot&subject=AutoWikibot Deletion&message=%2Bdelete+cnnksdg)^. ^Will ^also ^delete ^on ^comment ^score ^of ^-1 ^or ^less. ^| [^(FAQs)](http://www.np.reddit.com/r/autowikiabot/wiki/index) ^|  [^Source](https://github.com/Timidger/autowikiabot-py)
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>>>>>>>> **u/eltegid** [+1]  (22 hours later)
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> Hah! Didn't notice it, but now that you say it... 'some point in the North Atlantic', huh?

>> **u/VorpalAuroch** [+4]  *Life before Death* (10 hours later)
>> 
>> The previous chapter said that this one would be the last, so anyone who's read up to this point would know. Not a spoiler.

>>> **u/sparr** [+1]  (a day later)
>>> 
>>> > The previous chapter said that this one would be the last
>>> 
>>> Where?

>>>> **u/VorpalAuroch** [+1]  *Life before Death* (a day later)
>>>> 
>>>> The bottom note. Looks like it's been removed. At least, I'm pretty sure it was there before; other ending notes I remember being present are also gone, which is consistent, but not necessarily correct.

>>>>> **u/heiligeEzel** [+1]  (a day later)
>>>>> 
>>>>> Yes, the "update note" stating when the next chapter is posted is always removed when the next chapter is in fact posted. :)

>>>>>> **u/VorpalAuroch** [+1]  *Life before Death* (a day later)
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> OK, good to know my memory isn't faulty here.

>> **u/Gurkenglas** [+1]  (a day later)
>> 
>> I agree. There is little cost to not saying it, and some like to not know.

---