My heart broke when I finished reading book 7. These wonderful characters JK Rowling created were a blessed gift to me. They had become such a part of my life and vanished in an instant with the turn of the final page. My fanfiction is an attempt to keep these characters with me. They have become my companions and friends. Thank you, Ms. Rowling, for your deeply beautiful stories which continue to delight, encourage, comfort, and inspire so many.
So I'm sitting here on Sunday afternoon, bored out of my mind. I decided to read a few fanfics, but I've read all the recent ones, So I figured I'd go digging through the oldies to find a hidden gem or two. I began searching through Draco stories and ran across this intriguing summary about Draco falling for a Muggle. Now there's a story!
It's been four years since you've updated this and three since you've had any entries at all. What happened to you? Did you tire of Harry? Did you just move on with life, go off to school, get married? I'm so curious. If you do read this review, definitely respond as I'd love to know why you let such a great storyline die.
You completely got me hooked. First off, I am fascinated by fanfic authors who were writing back before DH was even published! The amount of creativity is mindboggling. Thank you for this inventive piece that now has me wondering whatever will happen to Draco with the Ministry and with this Muggle. If you ever find yourself bored on a Sunday afternoon, please write. There are fans out there who are still reading and enjoying it, and we'd love to see how your wonderful plot turns out.
I just loved the plot! Of all people who wouldn't know what to do in Muggledom ... Draco Malfoy! I so enjoyed reading your first few chapters ... will there be more? There are so many places you could take this. Very well done.
As always, WeasleyMom, I LOVE your story. No one, outside of Rowling, writes her characters better.
Best fanfic line ever: "Ten galleons if you snog her while she looks like that." Priceless!
Author's Response: You are too kind. I'm glad you liked that line, and the story! Thanks, as always, for taking the time to review. I really appreciate that!
I know I've already submitted a review on this wonderful fanfic, but I thought you'd be pleased to know that I've now seen HP7pt2 a number of times, and everytime I see Hermione approaching the boys, looking like Bellatrix, I actually hear Harry say your line: "Ten galleons if you snog her while she looks like that.". It will forever be a part of the movie for me.
Author's Response: You have absolutely made my night. :D :D :D Look how I'm grinning from ear to ear!
Loved it! This is the first review I've ever written. I just discovered HP last summer ... read the series in a month. Been addicted to anything HP ever since. I've been reading fanfiction, sort of keeping the characters alive. And I finally decided to start writing my own. I've one chapter written and a few in progress. I haven't been able to submit yet because I find myself writing my story from the end to the beginning. Never a fan of Draco, he somehow became my favorite character to write. I came up with a penname the other day when I started getting more serious about fanfiction. And then I noticed another "Thestral" out there. I figured I'd check out your work to see what the other Thestral was writing about. Low and behold: Draco. Rowling gives us glimpses of his "tortured soul" and I find myself craving more. Your poem expresses in a few short words what I've been trying to get across as I write my prose. Thank you for the wonderful picture you created with your poetry. Keep an eye out for my fanfic! I'd love to know what my fellow Thestral (and Draco fan) thinks.
Author's Response: Thank you so much!
I'm really glad that you discovered HP because a life without Harry Potter seems rather empty.
And I will certainly look out for your work!
I can't wait until you start posting!
Don't you love awesome coincidences like this?
~ the other Thestral
OK ... this is my third attempt at submitting this review. I continue to have technical glitches every time I write it, and I have to rewrite every time!
Here we go: this has got to be my favorite fanfic. After reading hundreds of stories, I find that the most enjoyable ones for me are the ones in which the characters are written as true to the books as possible. Sometimes I wonder if Ms. Rowling ever hops on to Mugglenet and reads fanfics just to see what avid fans are doing with her characters. I imagine her laughing at some and reading others aghast. I truly believe, however, that she would fall in love with this story. Every line seems to capture the Hermione and Ron we grew to love in the 4000 page gift we were given in HP. The story line is like no other fanfic I've read. Not only did you capture the beautiful qualities of these characters, but you gave readers yet another cherished glimpse into their souls.
I've submitted a fanfic about Draco, where I've attempted to do the same. It's doubtful I can accomplish what you have, but hopefully it will get posted soon, and you can let me know.
By the way, it's refreshing to see other Moms out there as HP-crazed as I am. At least I'm not alone!
Author's Response: I hardly know how to respond to this except to say that you really made my day, possibly my week, with this review. I'm so glad you enjoyed the story so much and that the characters rand true to you. This may seem silly to say on a HP fan site (because we are all fans here), but the way you talk about the books really connects with me... that's how I feel, too. I love writing Ron and Hermione, both together and separately (but neither of them with anyone else--haha), and I'm glad you find them recognizable.
Keep it coming! You've got me hooked.
Author's Response: Thanks, I'm glad to hear it! I've been really surprised and pleased with the response I've gotten for this story in just a few days, so I definitely plan to keep updating. Stay tuned :)
I just loved this! What a creative storyline and well written, too! I have always loved the Dursleys and have missed them ever since Harry said goodbye and watched them drive away. I can't wait to read more!
Author's Response: I've been fascinated with Dudley ever since he shook Harry's hand in Deathly Hallows. There are so many un-mined storylines there... I'm glad you liked it, and thanks for taking the time to leave feedback! Another update is on the way.
Thank you for the sweet story. I love that the one headmaster Harry wanted to see was Snape. And I love Snape's response. I think it was perfectly in character. Well done.
Author's Response: That you, TW. I tried to stay as true as i could to JK Rowling's imagination. It's the only way to honor her amazing world. I only hope I did alright.
As the war progresses, Percy begins to have doubts - doubts that will, eventually, lead him back towards his family.
Thank you for this great one-shot. I always find myself drawn to the stories which could fit right in to Rowling's original creation. You did a wonderful job filling in this little gap she left to our imagination.
Author's Response: Thanks for reading and reviewing. I'm glad you enjoyed it. =)
I absolutely love this. I always knew Snape reacted when he first saw Harry. It never occurred to me that he was anticipating his arrival. But, you're right. He obviously would have been. And I believe you captured his emotions perfectly. I particularly like that Dumbledore knew how his friend was feeling. Thanks for the wonderful fanfic.
Author's Response: Thank you so much for reading and reviewing! I'm so happy you liked it!
I was so excited to see another chapter posted tonight! Thank you, again, for another wonderful read. I love how Snape sees commonalities in Lily and Ginny. And my favorite part: the last two lines. I read them a few times to soak them in. Just perfect.
Author's Response: Thanks so much! The last two lines were actually the first thing that I wrote when starting this chapter, and they were the idea that inspired the rest. So I'm really happy that you noticed them in particular!
Wow! I think you've got Ginny down perfectly. My favorite fanfics are the ones that seem to fill in the blanks that Ms. Rowling left to the imagination. I could very much see this happening ... Molly, Ginny, her brothers ... all of it. My favorite part was when she saw the look on Harry's face when he let a bit slip about their plans with Voldemort ... when she saw in his eyes something deeper than anyone else understood. Very nice.
I'm trying to go through the same process with Draco ... filling in blanks Ms. Rowling left for us. While the books focus primarily on Harry, I think there are plenty of gaps in which to play around with other characters. Well done. I look forward to more!
Author's Response: Thanks very much! I love to fill in the blanks as well--it's fun to challenge yourself to work within the framework of an existing story, while still coming up with something new. This is my first time writing Ginny and we don't see as much of her in the books, so I'm glad you thought this stayed true to her character.
Good luck with your own writing, I'll make sure to keep an eye out for your Draco piece! Thanks again!
I just loved this! I particularly liked that Snape's final thoughts were of others. This is not the Snape we grew to hate for so long but the Snape Rowling finally revealed to us. He had already died to himself several years earlier. Now, at his death, his only concerns are for the plan he failed to carry out for his friend, Dumbledore, and for those left behind to deal with Voldemort. Well done. I think I'll read it again.
Author's Response: So glad you enjoyed it. Yes, I agree that he had died long ago in spirit. I suspected Snape was deeper than we at first were shown, and no one was better to play that than Alan Rickman. Something about the way he shows emotion in his eyes even with very little speaking part is just incredible for this character. I missed him asking repeatedly to go find Harry, as he did in the book version of the scene, but other than that I feel it was a well acted scene, tho I would've preferred to see his eyes remain open and go unfocussed as he died instead of closing, but that's a small detail. I treid to capture both his self loathing and his dedication to the plan all at once.
So, I sent you an email this morning then hopped over to my fanfic most recents, and lo and behold, what did I find but another wonderful story by WeasleyMom. You've done it again. You've so beautifully captured one of those missing moments from the books. After reading, I feel like I know a secret part of the story most folks never get to hear. Thanks again.
Author's Response: Funny timing. :) I laughed at what you said about your son and comiserate with your need for school to start so you have some writing time. I feel the same way. Thanks so much for reading this and for the kind words. I think from things you've said before, that you enjoy missing moments fics as much as I do. Thanks again, and take care. ~ Lori
This was delightful. I have been anxiously awaiting the Fanfic site to start working again so I'd have some new stories to read, and this one did not let me down. I look forward to the fic you wrote this one for.
Author's Response: Thank you!! You have no idea how much this inspired me to get to work writing!
I've been following your epitaph series for a few months, and I have to say I am a fan. It is such a creative approach to our favorite series. This one particularly struck me, not so much by Harry's final word selection (though it was profound) but by the thought process you took Harry through. It was so realistic and flowed from one thought to the next seemlessly. Thank you for the great read!
Author's Response: Thank you for the review, I'm glad you've enjoyed the series!
This is my third attempt today to resubmit my review which I have to keep rewriting because the system keeps logging me out before I can finish typing it. How frustrating!
I'll try to do this quickly. I love your poem. I can't believe you are only 14 and have such skill as a writer. When I was your age, I loved to write poetry, and I was always to scared to share it with anyone, so I didn't. My best friend used the only poem of mine that I ever let her see as the opening page of our senior yearbook. I made her put "anonymous" next to it. Pathetic, I know.
But I'm trying to raise my daughter differently, I want her never to be ashamed of who she is. I want her, as you gave the words to Luna, to be able to say: "I know who I am. I like who I am." It is so simple, yet it conveys so much. And it is very Luna-like.
The other line that struck me was this: "But I wear my radish earrings with pride and flaunt my butterbeer cork necklace. I made them myself." I almost asked my daughter to refrain from wearing her homemade necklace in her school pic this year, but I decided to let her. I am so glad as this is now my favorite picture of her. It is 100% her. I hope she continues to keep her Luna qualities that you describe so beautifully.
I think JK Rowling would love to read this poem. It reminds me of a piece she wrote on her website (under extra stuff, misc, for girls only). It's all about girls needing to love who they are and not what other girls tell them they should be. You got it down pat with words from the character she created. And they sound like they came from Luna herself. Well done. And keep writing. You're good at it!
Author's Response: Thank you so much for your review and your praise!
I think it’s really neat that you can relate you and your daughter to this poem.
I’m so glad that you thought I captured Luan’s character well because I was worried I didn’t. Luna is such a wonderful character, but complicated, and it proved to be a little challenging to write about her.
Thanks again! Reviews like these make me smile:)
I just wrote quite a heartfelt, praise-filled review of this lovely poem. But I am on my iPhone, and it took me so long that my login timed out, and the review disappeared when I tried to submit it. So sorry. I'll rewrite when I'm on my computer. Until then, let me say that I absolutely loved this. I read it to my daughter immediately and loved it even more aloud. Thank you for sharing it with us.
Author's Response: Oh this makes me so happy!: That you liked the poem so much, and that you shared it with your daughter It's wonderful to know that something you've written has been loved and shared. Thank you so much!
I would love to be able to read your other review if you get a chance to write it on your computer.
(I also really like your username/pen-name.)
When Regulus steps into the cave by the sea, he knows it is a mission that could very well be the end of him, but it is in something he has lost that he finds the strength to do what is right and not what is easy.
This story was nominated for a 2012 Quicksilver Quill Award: Best Dark/Angst.
This is outstanding! I was stopped at a light today and, as I often do, I selected the "most recent" stories on my iPhone to pass the time. I saw this one right at the top of the page and was completely upset when my light turned green, and I had to wait to read the story attached to the summary that had just captured me. It was well worth the drive home to be able to sit back and relax with such an intriguing story. I loved every word. I was especially struck by the line: "I have come to realize, it is blacker than I could ever be." This was a clever use of "black" referring to the darkness of his soul as well as the family name he now hated.
And the final paragraph was worth reading multiple times over. I hung on every word. This is one of those stories that will go in my head as canon. The writing is beautifully descriptive and stays so completely true to the story and its characters. I think I'll go read it again. Thank you so very much for a wonderful read!
Author's Response:
I'm really glad you enjoyed the story. My original draft for this was around 1500 words, but I read through it with a fine tooth comb and a chopping axe and it ended up shorter and, I believe, better. What I really wanted was to show why Regulus made his decision to try and destroy the Dark Lord, someone who he had once revered. I'm glad I captured that well. :)
Thanks for the lovely review. It made a fine breakfast, hehe.
~Jess