06/01/09
Hello! I'm Julia and when I'm not cavorting with elves in Middle Earth, I'm a moderator for this archive, among other things.
Poetry, Anyone? I am the resident Poet Laureate over on the Beta Boards as leader of this fun little group. We have monthly challenges all with a Harry Potter twist. You can also find solid and comprehensive critique for any poems and help for all your archive-based concerns.
Susan Bones Book Club. I am the leader of this fun little group. Each month the SBBC chooses two to three fics from the archives to discuss. We also have monthly drabble activities and an incredibly lively chat thread. We accept new members at all times so if you're interested go and take a look. It's open to all members of the beta boards. If you have any questions or concerns then don't hesitate to PM me.
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Battlefields by Sapphire at Dawn
Rated: 1st-2nd Years •
Summary: Summary: Christmas 1976. Lily Evans is standing in the shadow of a war that for the first time is affecting her Christmas spirit. A reprieve from the gloom comes in the form of a Muggle boy from her hometown, someone who the war cannot touch and is unaffected by the fear it causes. However, dark times lie ahead, and Lily begins to realise that there are some things she just cannot escape, however hard she tries.
This came joint first in the December Great Hall Challenge! Thank you to the judges!
Also nominated for Best Marauder Story in the QSQs! Thank you!
Date: 02/12/12 Title: Chapter 1: Chapter 1
Oh I wasn't expecting Mark at all but he was a nice surprise and something different. This is an intriguing start, Sarah. I must admit I don't read much Marauder but I have been in a Marauder mood lately and remembered this fic from the banner ;) I'm really interested to see where this goes and Mark seems like such a refreshing character amidst all the gloom of the impending war.
I loved the way Lily was flustered about explaining her school. I've always been interested in the ways Muggle-borns have to tread the line between the Wizarding world and the world they grew up in. I thought you showed this really well.
Anyway, great start, Sarah! Adding this to my favourites :)
Author's Response: I am so terrible at responding to reviews. Sorry it's taken so long. Thanks for reviewing and I'm glad you like it! Can't really say much more thank thank you :)
Date: 02/12/12 Title: Chapter 2: Chapter 2
Oh Snape, you idiot. He's just so deluded and lost, I very nearly felt sorry for him, which makes me shudder. I thought you wrote that recruitment scene very well, Sarah, showing Snape's fascination and wonder with Voldemort's cause and then contrasting it with his conflicting feelings for Lily. I don't like Snape at all but he is a complex and interesting character all the same.
Looking forward to the next chapter :)
Author's Response: Once again, thanks so much! I found writing Snape very hard and was worried that the recruitment scene wasn't all that good, but you've reassured me a little.
Nothing More by Gmariam
Rated: 3rd-5th Years •Summary: James Potter shares a moment with one of his best friends the night before his wedding.
This is Gmariam of Ravenclaw writing for the Great Hall Cotillion Challenge.
Date: 01/25/12 Title: Chapter 1: One-shot
Oh Gina. This really took my breath away and I'm still a bit teary. This is just so beautiful and touching and sweet and funny and sad and heartbreaking and lovely and James and Remus. I'm really just speechless here because there is so much in this fic that I absolutely adore. The dynamic between James and Remus is just perfect. There is one particular line that stands out to me so much.
Because the answer you'll give me is different than what you'd tell the others, and I just wanted to know.
I felt myself nodding along to this because that's so Remus. He just seems like a character that you can confide in and trust with your deepest fears and secrets.
Okay, sorry for this flaily review but I really can't muster any sort of coherency right now. I'm in awe.
Julia x
Author's Response: Julia, a very late thank you for the amazing review! This made my day at the time and rereading it still makes me squee. It's not often I can pull flails out of the flist, so thank youuuuuu! I'm so glad you enjoyed it. It can be a lovely pairing, I think. I might have to try it again. Thank you for reading this, and for the wonderful review! ~Gina :)
Time and Tide by minnabird
Rated: 6th-7th Years • Summary: Filius has seen her all his life: the Woman. She has been drifting through time, drawn always towards him, never aging or changing.
She is the one thing he does not question.
Date: 02/07/12 Title: Chapter 1: Oneshot
Wow Minna. This is just beautifully sad. Apologies for the fangirl review but that's what you're going to get. I've been waiting to see how you manage this and... it's just perfect. The time-crossed lovers, one knowing so much more than the other... or does she really? Rowena is rather lost herself and the last line really sends that home.
I don't think I'm making any sense. Gah. I love this so much.
Julia x
Author's Response: <33 You made enough sense to make me smile. Yay, glad you like it.
Too Late, Too Soon by hestiajones
Rated: 1st-2nd Years •Summary: When he thought it had come at last, what struck Remus about the end of his youth was the abruptness.
DISCLAIMER: I am not J K Rowling.
Date: 02/09/12 Title: Chapter 1: Chapter 1
Beautiful. Simply beautiful.
Author's Response: Thanks for reading and reviewing :) <3
Susan by hestiajones
Rated: 3rd-5th Years •Summary: The fireworks are imprinted on her features with such clarity that she’s all but glimpses of sunlight.
This is hestiajones' bazillionth entry for the GH Cotillion Challenge. To be honest, she's more bewildered than you, and what's more, she's not J.K.Rowling.
Date: 02/12/12 Title: Chapter 1: Chapter 1
Ah this matches the song so well! There was the whole melancholic tone all the way through and I was quite unsure how it would end, in fact I was almost convinced that Alicia wouldn't show. But you sort of flipped the whole fic on it's head at the end and it just worked perfectly. You give them hope.
I also loved the way you fleshed out Susan and Alicia. Susan is so busy living her life, fighting for her passions that she has little time to look at herself and understand her own needs, wants, and limitations. Alicia is the opposite, her life seems more disordered, and I could see the qualities in her that put her in Gryffindor at Hogwarts. Just... so, so well done. I'm in awe.
And the way you used Susan's name as this sort of anchor all the way through, it just made the structure of the fic all the more interesting. It just fit the song so well. Gah.
Thank you so much for writing this. You're a star.
Greenleaf x
Author's Response: Glad you enjoyed it! :D It started really gloomy originally, but I just couldn't do it. :/ I made sure the melancholy of the song could still be seen in Alicia's dilemma, though. Really happy you thought it fitted. <3333
Heat of Life by Equinox Chick
Rated: Professors •Summary: Katie Bell was surprised to receive an official note from Harry Potter. Usually he just popped his head around the door when he wanted a chat, but then he tells her he needs her help tracking down a dangerous Dark wizard who is targeting Muggle girls.
She can't possibly refuse, especially not when it's Harry asking her.
Disclaimer: It is pointless me pretending any more. Look, I'm not JK Rowling, and never have been.
This is Equinox Chick of the Mighty House of Badgers, writing for the Inaugural Great Hall Cotillion thingy.
Date: 02/25/12 Title: Chapter 2: TWO
“SCORE!†Roger’s shout echoed through the flat.
OMG. Dyinggggggg right now. Alicia, how can you put up with that? He must be bloody good at... scoring a goal.
Author's Response: snigger - heh heh heh. BTW, in the final chapter, there's a little something especially for you. Thank youuuuuuuuuu, Juliaaaaaaaa. ~Croll~
Date: 02/11/12 Title: Chapter 1: One
Oh Harry, you plonker (yes, I do realise it wasn't his fault :P) This is a fabulous start to the fic, Croll. You're always so good at building up a story, including small details that may not seem significant but they really do add to the fullness to the fic and make it such a satisfying read. I loved the little Harry and Ron scene. Contrary to popular belief, I do love the Harry/Ron friendship and little scenes like that, just hanging out together having a bit of fun is just so nice to see. Aw.
I can't wait to see where this goes. You've set up an interesting premise and I'm intrigued with the mystery involved. Who is behind the date rape drug? Why is Harry single? And was Katie wearing a black bra? Hmmmm. So many questions...
Anyway, great first chapter!
Julia x
Author's Response: Of course she'swearing a black bra because she's a hot, smexy witch, natch.
JULIAAAAA, thank you so much for the review. I did struggle a little with the plotting of this, so I hope it comes off when you read the rest of the story. UGH! and there were some other details that I loved and had to cut because of word count. However, I had to keep Ron in this because he makes me laugh - heh heh.
Thnaks again ~Carole~
The Weaver by Gmariam
Rated: 3rd-5th Years • Summary: A short poem about a love that did not ring true.
Date: 02/15/12 Title: Chapter 1: The Weaver
Gina, this is amazing! I love the rhyme scheme you used and the actual premise is wonderful, too. I love the idea of her needlework coming to life... but not really having any life at all. Guh.
What a gem!
Author's Response: Thanks so much, Julia! I'm glad you liked it. I think I wrote this about the same time I wrote another poem with the same rhyme scheme, Sure on This Shining Night. I think. It was a while ago, lol! Thanks so much for reading it. Not sure how much of a gem it is but it was fun and I'm glad I finally shared it here! ~Gina :)
Picture of You by ToBeOrNotToBeAGryffindor
Rated: 3rd-5th Years • Summary:
A photograph and a slew of memories were all that remained of Remus Lupin's schoolboy romance with Marlene McKinnon. But she was gone, and he gagged on all the things he never said.
This story is dedicated to the gorgeous and always-inspiring Equinox Chick/Carole/Croll of the Dungeon. May your minions never stray in their worship of you. It was inspired by a rather gorgeous song by The Cure, called Pictures of You.
This story has been nominated for a 2012 Quicksilver Quill Award: Best Marauder Era.
Date: 02/23/12 Title: Chapter 1: Hold for the last time, then slip away quietly
Oh Jess this is so beautiful! The present tense works so well with your style. It's amazing. The flow, the language, the characterisation, it's all gorgeous. You really caught the tragic atmosphere.
I especially loved this part.
And wars don’t stop to grieve for the people they take.
Remus only wishes that it didn’t feel like the sky was falling in on him.
Guh. It's so poignant and lovely and sad and just brilliant. Sorry for this incoherent review but I can only gush.
Julz xoxo
Author's Response:
Oh, hello!
I was not really expecting to see you up in here, considering how much Marauder Era stuff you read on purpose (which is about the same amount as I do, lol). I'm so glad you like it, because I feel like I was far too mean to Remus. But in my head, I don't think he would be as guarded about being with Tonks unless he felt like his affections could be dangerous, that perhaps he could be using his lycanthropy as an excuse not to get his heart broken like this again.
Present tense isn't a friend of mine, but when we meet, I think we can have a party. It's...tricky to keep from being repetitive, as you'll already know, since you've already got a black belt in present tense-onomics. But overall, I just wanted to capture the amount of pain that still festered for these days that had passed, having been dragged back into the open by the funeral. Hopefully that worked out.
Thank you so much for the visit and the review, as well as the glee-inducing nice words. :D
~Jess
Whisper to the Dying Walls by hestiajones
Rated: 6th-7th Years • Summary: Viktor is thankful for uniforms; they make it difficult for him to identify individuals while flying at breakneck speed. But right now, he has to shake her hand. He dreads it, and hates himself for dreading it, so he doesn’t look into her eyes when their skin comes into contact, or when her fingers grip his a little more tightly than necessary.
This is hestiajones' seventh entry for the GH Cotillion Challenge. Thank you, Croll, for your support and ideas and jokes! I am not J.K. Rowling.
Date: 01/11/13 Title: Chapter 3: Chapter 3
Oh just go and break my heart, why don't you?!
This is so sad but it goes to show how well you built up the characters and their relationships in just two chapters, really, because otherwise I wouldn't be feeling so heartbroken :'( They had such good chemistry. Obviously from the Prologue I knew something was going to happen but it was still so sad. *sobs*
I hope Viktor is going to be okay :S
Julia x
Date: 01/11/13 Title: Chapter 4: Epilogue
Don’t curse the river with your cowardice. I love this!
Oh I am so glad for this ending. I love that you don't name the woman, and that she is so vivid despite not knowing who she is. You're brilliant.
Okay, really, thank Merlin this was featured otherwise I might not have never read it.
Julia x
Author's Response: <3
Truth or Dare by Equinox Chick
Rated: 6th-7th Years •Summary: Cormac McLaggen, a sports journalist for The Daily Prophet is looking for a scoop to make his name.
Zacharias Smith, Chaser for the Falmouth Falcons is looking for acceptance and respect.
Will a game of 'Truth or Dare' get both of them what they want? Or will this collision of two colossal egos leave both licking their wounds?
This is Equinox Chick writing for The Inaugural Great Hall Cotillion Challenge.
This story is dedicated to Ariana (lucca4) because she dared me.
Thanks to Natalie (hestiajones) for betaing this story and also to ma flist for encouraging the impossible.
Disclaimer: I am not JK Rowling. I hope she doesn't mind what I've done to two of her 'most-loved' characters.
Completely and utterly overjoyed that this won the award for the Best SSP One-shot in the 2012 QSQ's. I suspect my pairing will grab the glory, which is as it should be ;)
Date: 04/29/12 Title: Chapter 1: Truth or Dare
How... how did you... how did you do that? Carole, I am speechless. This is brilliant! I've no idea how you managed to take two fairly repulsive characters and redeem them but you did it. Yes, I'm getting around to making that banner you requested months ago and realised I hadn't read this yet. And I am SO glad I now have because this was such a compelling, funny, sweet (oh my did I just describe a fic about Cormac and Zacharias Snit 'sweet'???) and touching read.
I feel like you really caught both characters so well. Cormac as the journalist whose success is merely the result of nepotism recalled his days in the Slug Club nicely, his arrogance, his need to be on top, his regret at missing the battle... it was just fabulous characterisation all round. And Zach... a very different Zach to a certain QWC fic... He was different and yet still very recognisable. You kept his arrogance, but you also brought out many layers which felt so right. His regret, and his resentment at the world for still holding something he did (as a child, really, let's be honest) against him.
Basically you had me gaping at the screen by the time I reached the bottom of the page. This is such a wonderfully structured and characterised fic. I loved the ending.
Keep on being brilliant, Carole.
Julia x
Author's Response: Thank youuuuuu. Like Cormac, I can't resist a dare so when Ariana suggested it, then Nat double-dared, who was I to refuse? Actually, it was hard not to think of it as a crack fic until I watched something on TV about a man feeling guilty for sleeping through 9/11 and thought that could apply to Cormac, plus we all know about Smith - heh heh.
Not much else to say except thank you,again. I really did enjoy writing this fic - there's something about horrible characters that gives you far more scope for fun - ha! ~Croll~
The Unbreakable Curse by Karaley Dargen
Rated: 6th-7th Years • Summary: In 1993, Bill Weasley is working on a tomb in Egypt with a team of Magiarchaeologists and Curse-Breakers. It is a job like any other ... or so it seems, until members of the expedition start dying, and Bill has to race against time to figure out what exactly it is that they awakened in the tomb of Mentuhotep, and how it can be stopped before it reaches him.
The following are characters from JKR’s creations: Bill Weasley, Ragnok, Agatha Chubb (QttA), and the last names of Deverill and Pilliwickle. I don’t own them and never will!
I owe a large debt to Hannah (coolh5000), Carole (EquinoxChick), and Natalie (hestiajones) for their constant encouragement and help at various stages of this story.
Fair Warning: Some of the reviews (naturally) contain spoilers, especially those towards the end. So if you want to be safe, don't read those before you read the story.
This story just WON a 2012 QSQ Award in the General category, as best chaptered story. THANK YOU!!!
¸.·ˆˆˆ(ºvº)ˆˆˆ·.¸
m m
So here we are, at last, at our journey’s end,
And it’s time for some sweets; come on, bring a friend!
Simply search for the holiday and the first thing you’ll see
Is a familiar character’s first Halloween.
Date: 03/03/12 Title: Chapter 7: Horrors
OH MY! I knew what the dripping was going to be! But arghhhh that was really intense, Kara. You wrote this chapter so well, keeping up the tension, and even though you didn't go into a large description of what Bill saw, the imagery was vivid in my mind and made me squeamish. And so I guess my feeling that something would happen to her wasn't just nothing... okay, I have a new suspect now.
Author's Response: JULIAAAAAAA dream, dreamboat queen, queen of all my dreams! (This always pops into my head whenever I read your name - glad I finally got it out)
Ah thank you thank you thank you. This was actually one of the first parts that I wrote when I knew what the story was going to be about. I actually did this in a very boring class at uni, and got myself all worked up because I tried getting myself into this panicky mood and sort of succeeded, so it must have been a strange sight for everyone else in that class...
Yeah, sadly, it wasn't her. I would have loved to reveal her as the unhinged psychopath that she definitely had in her, with a great big scene of screaming in the end, but it was not to be...
Date: 03/03/12 Title: Chapter 8: Darkness
Oh wow another tense and wonderfully disconcerting chapter. This reminded me a little of Lilly Kane appearing to D and V. I'm trying to work out what clues can be gleaned from his dreams now... or are they just dreams? Gahhhh I need to know more now.
Keep on being fab, Kara.
Author's Response: Ooh yes, Lilly might have influenced me a bit subconsciously... I did feel sorry for Bill while writing it, because he could use a good night's sleep so badly...
As always, thank you so so much for the review! I'm always ecstatic about every one of them :D
Date: 03/17/12 Title: Chapter 11: Storm
Oh my goodness this is getting intense. There are so many thoughts running around my mind right now! Is Deverill really suspicious? Or is he just odd and Natasha is trying to throw suspicion onto someone else... Who really triggered the tomb collapse? What is Ragnok going to tell Bill? And why is Marcus such a shifty bugger? Guhhhhh you are so good at this mystery stuff, Kara. The pacing is brilliant, the intrigue great. I can't wait to see how this starts to unravel.
Author's Response: All I've been able to think for the past days is... I REALLY hope the next chapter holds up! ... yikes.
But for now, I'm really really really glad that it's making you curious and that you're wondering about who might have done/be doing what. That's always the part I love most about reading a mystery myself, so it's brilliant to hear that my story can somewhat produce that effect as well!
Thank you so much for the review and the compliments. I'm feeling very glowy and stuff inside.
Date: 02/28/12 Title: Chapter 5: Passion
Kara! This is so gripping. It was another dead night at work yesterday so I read this on my phone and couldn't stop! Everything about it is fab. Your attention to detail and the way you've created the world of curse-breaking is amazing. I have such a vivid picture of everything in my head. You've also set a great pace. So many things keep jumping out at me as clues and it kept me on the edge of my seat just waiting for something to happen. And then when it did... I don't know why but I thought it might happen to Althea but of course I was wrong... I'm not sure why I thought that, especially after the things she said to Roger. Anyway, I really can't wait to see where this goes next. My new fanfic obsession has been found lol.
Oh and. Bill is hot. And his chemistry with Natasha is hot. Basically, this story is also very sexy. But I don't think I trust her yet... hmmmm so many thoughts, so many feelings!
Sorry for this bizarre and incoherent review.
Julia x
Author's Response: Juliaaaa! Thank you so so much for the perfect review!
Wow, I genuinely don't know what to say. Well, first of all a gazillion thanks for all the compliments! I have grown quite attached to this story (especially as a mystery), and it's really great to hear that others are enjoying it as well.
I might be posting the next chapter tonight, and I hope that the plot is getting noticeably denser!
Thank you so much for reading and reviewing, it really means the world to me and absolutely made my evening!
Two Negatives by hestiajones
Rated: 6th-7th Years •Summary:
This is hestiajones of Hufflepuff submitting her eighth entry for the GH Cotillion Challenge. Thank you, Lea, for reading the chapter and giving me confidence! I am not J.K.Rowling. And thank you, Kara, for your ninja betaing skills and all the giggles! (I know this pairing sounds kind of dire, but please give them a chance. Lol. The story is not as dark as the warnings are making it sound like :D)
Date: 03/30/12 Title: Chapter 2: Chapter 2
Oh hahahaha! What a vile pair! And yet you made me like them in a weird, twisted way... your influence knows no bounds. I loved your Millicent, with her insecurities and yet a quiet confidence in her strength. What happened to her hag of a mother did shock me but the way you had already mentioned her thinking about snapping Pansy's neck was a great allusion to what was to come. And your Marcus is such a helpless little lamb. I couldn't help but giggling at him being overwhelmed during the sex scene :P I can't help but think they deserve each other. Anyway, this is a fabulously entertaining read, Lafonna. I'm not sure if I should really be smiling at this but I guess that's the Slytherin in me coming through.
Author's Response: Heh. I appealed to your Snakiness to come and enjoy this. I'm glad it worked! :D Thanks for reading and reviewing.
Where We Started From by Equinox Chick
Rated: 6th-7th Years •Summary: Dean Thomas slaves hard in the Department of Magical Sports and Games (or rather he doodles on his blotter and ignores his ever expanding in tray). But the work is deathly dull, until one day his boss hands him a pair of tickets for the Appleby Arrows V Holyhead Harpies game.
He's delighted to be going until he realises that Ginny Weasley will be flying.
For although she's now single, Dean isn't sure they can ever go back.
Disclaimer: I'm not JK Rowling. For one thing I've disregarded her epilogue - ooopsie
Thank you, thank you, to mah flist, especially Kara who has listened to me moan, Natalie who urged me to write Dean!Smut, Alex for commiserating with spiralling word counts, Emmah for 'langered' and Jess for cheerleading.
This is that annoying Equinox person writing her eighth story for the GH Cotillion thingie. *wibble*
To my utter delight and complete surprise, this story won Best Chaptered Story in the 2012 QSQ's ~ Non-Canon Romance.
Date: 03/04/12 Title: Chapter 3: Thinking of the Roar
Little Miss Vixen! Hahaha oh this was great, Croll. You know Ginny isn't my favourite character (really I don't mind her much at all tbh) but this was so enjoyable. Hmmm I actually thought there was a bit of a Zach/Summer/Seth dynamic going on there with Harry/Ginny/Dean... just to add another reference lol.
I really loved your characterisation of both Ginny and Dean. The way the war has taken it's toll on them made a lot of sense. They are still recognisably themselves but there are scars. I also liked how you interwove Deans family into it. His mum and Gary felt real despite being very much secondary characters. That's always something you manage to do so well in all of your fics, and another reason why I adore reading them :)
This is such a gem.
Julia x
Author's Response: Thank you!
I had fun writing this at first, then Seamus took over and I had to delete a shedload. *sigh* It went far too off my OC tangent - heh heh heh. I didn't think of the Zach reference, actually. OOOH missed a trick. Thank you for liking Grace. She's in some of my other Dean stories so she's fully formed in my head which is why she popped up in this - ha! Thanks again ~Carole~