Hi, I'm CA. I used to be a college student studying (in a loose sense of the word) Genetics and Biotechnology with a minor in Music. Now I'm a part-time secretary with no delusions of grandeur whatsoever.
I am an avid reader. Sometimes I write. Other preferred activities include playing piano, dancing, singing, and generally loving life.
I'm a member of Hufflepuff House. One of those "we'll take the lot" cases more than hard work or loyalty, I'm afraid.
Before I started writing fanfiction seriously, I hated romance. I wouldn't even read it here. Then I discovered Other Pairings and I've unleashed a great power of fluff. I hope you enjoy my work. Feel free to drop me a review if you get the notion.
My favorites right now are "We Need All the Allies We Can Get" and "Catchphrase." "Gratification and Justification" has its moments. "Don't Get Caught" is my one featured story.
It’s amazing how initially I don’t understand the point of the chapter, but when I read it again, I see where it falls both in the story and in Remus’ life. The part where he imagines himself becoming like unto the older werewolves made me shiver. Ah, the power of grief. And the environment in which he’d been immersed lately probably had something to do with it. I can’t imagine my best friend dying and then having to go spend time with people that make it a point not to care about anything human.
Stream-of-consciousness is not the most difficult feat I’ve seen you pull off in this fic, but I still think you did a good job of it. It didn’t feel like you were totally jumping around from topic to topic – I could tell the way it flowed. The topics you passed through during the flashback/nightmare/dreams are often discussed in fanfiction. I especially liked the way you wrote the way James and Sirius found out about his lycanthropy. The rest was good, too, but most of it was JKR’s. The point is, the parts you actually wrote fit in just fine with hers.
Just one thing I would mention this time around:
he fought the urge to run by forcing myself down into the offered chair. The image that came to mind is actually almost amusing. Remus forces the author into a chair to keep himself from running.
Oh, I lied. I found one more thing to say. It’s very picky.
both willing himself to wake up from the nightmare or doze off to escape it If you’re going to use “both” your conjunction should be “and.” If you are really attached to your “or,” I might suggest replacing “both” with “either.” That way it makes better grammatical sense.
Good luck on the next chapter! I’m tempted to go look up the poem and try and guess what you’re going to write about, but I think I’d rather have the suspense. Have a nice day! *D*
Author's Response: \"Himself\", not \"myself\". Fixing...and I think I prefer the either/or structure, so I\'ll go with that.
If there was a point to the chapter (which, admittedly, there might not have been), it was entirely driven by the poem. It just seemed to scream \"flashbacks!\" at me. Those weren\'t original, no, and I did borrow the last three flashbacks entirely from JKR. Unfortunately, I can\'t even say the way I set it up was original. I did a one-shot of Sirius breaking out from Azkaban, except the flashbacks were exclusively depressing, and I used \"cold\" instead of \"hot\" for him. A confession. Hopefully you won\'t be too put out with me.
The last chapter is done. And it\'s not written like the other three. An odd, motley fanfiction, then. Just like Remus\' odd, motley life, I guess. Hopefully it will be a satisfactory ending *bites lip anxiously*
I\'m impressed by how much you perceive when you read. Your reviews are wonderful, it\'s been fantastic!
When I noticed you’d uploaded this story, I read it happily, but then I was confused. I was sure I’d read it before. I finally figured it out: it used to be the third chapter of your other Neville story with 007 prompts. I’m not sure how I feel about it being a stand-alone. I definitely understand it, though, because the first two chapters dealt mainly with his relationship with his Gran and this one is more about him than anything. So it was definitely a reasonable decision, even if I’m not sure about it.
I love this story. It’s so Neville. He doesn’t really believe in the talent he has – or rather, he does, he just doesn’t believe that anyone else will think of it the same way. “I — er — I’m honoured — it — did it really deserve that?” And he’s still clumsy and everything we know to be true of Neville, but he’s so redeeming in this story. He has confidence we didn’t know Neville to have until the last book.
Neville’s [plant] was quite remarkable in that he could pet it after only two. It’s not Neville at all that’s responsible for it, is it? Ha.
I don’t really have very many picky comments, only that I think this story would benefit from being a bit longer. It really is very short. The unfortunate thing is, I don’t know where you’d add anything. Perhaps at the end you could add Neville thinking just briefly about his Gran, and how she’d feel about it – that would also make it fit better with the other two chapters, and remind us of her presence in his life. We do have the part about the wealthiness, but there’s a difference, I think. But it’s just a random suggestion.
That’s all! I really liked this story – simple yet sweet, and very in character. Have a nice day! *D*
Author's Response: Thanks! This story...well...I think I did really well with the other two chapters. This one...I forced out. I couldn\'t find the right \"meaningful\" angle, as with the rest. I couldn\'t bear having it there as such an anti-climax--at least, that\'s what it felt like to me. *shrugs*
Thanks for your suggestion about his Gran. This is why I need a really good beta >.< I could use that. I probably will (eventually).
I love your feedback! Thanks so much!
Hmph. Let it be known that I reviewed this story before Jenna did, so any repeat of stuff in there is ... not my fault. It's my stupid internet's fault. Anyway.
This story is mine. And I love it. My favorite part is definitely the characterization. All of the kids are definitely the same characters we saw in the books, but they’re still clearly children. And children are not always the easiest characters to pull off. Congratulations.
For example: Bill is obviously the oldest. He tells Percy what to do and negotiates with all the little kids. And he and Charlie, being somewhat close in age and temperament, think a lot of the same things, and glance amusedly at each other the way close friends/siblings do. And Percy! Still such a stickler for rules! “Are you sure this is okay?”
And Fred and George are totally the same. Slashing one’s arm and forcing Percy to drink it...oh man. Such a little boy thing to do. And...being jealous of cooler costumes.
Ron and Ginny were easy to characterize. They were babies. Good job making them babies.
The parents were good, too. I don’t know what to say about them, because everything they said was exactly what we saw in the books. I liked how Arthur made the costumes mostly out of Muggle things, complete with an acetylene torch. Somehow, all the dragons I’ve ever seen at Halloween never have that particular feature.
I thought the concept of this was very cute. :) I’m just curious as to why Arthur had never heard of it before, but I suppose some things don’t often come up in conversation. Also...in Deathly Hallows there are a bunch of Muggles dressed up in costumes on the Halloween the year before where your story is set. So the idea might not be totally foreign to all British Muggles. But you did have a good source for that, and I don’t want to completely undermine your whole story. Just wanted to point out to you...that.
The one thing that distracted me about this story was where your point of view was. It looked like it was third-person omniscient. We get in the heads of Molly, Arthur, Bill and Charlie, and a Muggle man. It’s a valid way to write, but it’s a little bit confusing. I suggest that in general you stick with one person and just tell it from their point of view. But...that might just be an opinion that you don’t need to share.
But I still love it! My favorite part is where Charlie sets the door on fire. *shakes head* But it’s all so cute. Thank you again for it. :)
Have a nice day! *D*
Yay! I don't even like this story as much as your other ones and I'm still so happy that you updated, because you, Miss, are funny. And can tell a good story. Earlier this year I was sad because it seemed certain you'd abandoned this, but apparently you haven't! Yay!
Can't wait to see what happens next...
Author's Response: Thank you so much! I'm not as big a fan of this because I don't like romance much at all... but luckily, then again neither does Emma! Which makes writing as her a lot more painless because she's such a non-sappy goofball. I could NEVER write a story from, say, Ivy's perspective.
TOM RIDDLE – THE SELF-STYLED LORD VOLDEMORT
Editors Note: At the request of the Ministry for Magic this Official Statement issued by the Office of the Minister is produced full and unedited.
OFFICIAL MINISTRY STATEMENT
This official statement has been compiled with the assistance and co-operation of Mr Harry Potter.
“Lord Voldemort†was, in fact a man named Tom M. Riddle, son of a witch, Merope Gaunt and a Muggle, Tom Riddle Senior. The Ministry has decided that in all future official publications Riddle will be referred to by his given name.
There has already been much speculation and wild rumour regarding the events at Hogwarts School. The Ministry can confirm that Tom M. Riddle was killed at dawn on the morning of Saturday, 2 May. Riddle was disarmed by Harry Potter while in the act of firing a killing curse at Mr Potter. The curse killed Riddle rather than its intended target.
Continued on page 4
WHERE IS HARRY POTTER?
Despite the Official Ministry Statement (published above) we are no closer to receiving an answer to the question on the lips of every witch and wizard in the country. Where is Harry Potter?
It appears that Mr Potter left Hogwarts School early yesterday morning, apparently in the company of his close associates Hermione Granger and Ronald Weasley. An attractive young Ministry clerk, who did not wish to be named, told The Prophet “He’s at the Ministry, having an important meeting with the Minister. My friends and I saw him. He asked us out to the pub, but we had to turn him down.†This statement is at odds with a report from the Portkey Office that Mr Potter has fled the country, travelling to Australia with his companions.
Continued on page 2
The days after the battle were days of grief and mourning. Grave Days.I accidentally read this story again yesterday. (I do that.) Your writing has improved since this early story, but I still like it for things that have been strong throughout -- the characterization and attention to detail.
This morning I was scrabbling around my nightstand for my glasses and I remembered this chapter and how Harry did the same thing -- of course he did!
And, while it doesn't relate to this chapter specifically, I was on the bus yesterday and the thought came to mind, "People who don't like Ginny in the real books would not like this Ginny."
(actually, that portion of the review should probably go with A&S, which I was also accidentally reading yesterday.)
Anyway, I admire your work. I'll try to leave more reviews so that you know.
Author's Response:
I think I know what you mean by "accidentally" reading something. I sometimes click on a story, or pick up a book, not intending to read it, but I end up getting sucked in. I keep looking at this story , spotting errors and thinking, I must fix that... Perhaps one day i will.
My Ginny is, I hope as close to canon as I can make her. I've honestly never understood the Ginny-haters, even by the end of CoS it's obvious that she's strong and self reliant.
There are a few times when it's the reviews which keep me writing, or at least, push me into writing more quickly.
-N-
I am so intrigued by this story! Great job with the Marauder interactions; I thought the characterization of each was quite well-executed. The only thing odd about the scene was when James shoots back "Wendy Foster" at Sirius in response to "still a sore spot". It just felt like it needed a little more of a transition. Like, maybe if James had said "Sore spot, huh? Wendy Foster!" or something.
I liked reading Lily and James' banter, but it mostly made me more curious. Why is Lily flying? It seems to me to be more important than James realizes.
I look forward to reading the rest of the story!
Author's Response: Hi there! Thank you so much for stopping to read this story. I'm glad you enjoyed it. I see your point about that one reference being slightly confusing. It's probably stuck in my head and I'll see if I can't edit it a bit sometime. I hope you enjoy the rest of the story. Thank you so much for leaving such a nice review, I really appreciate it. ~Gina :)
Yay, it's back! And I'm logged in right now! So I can hurry and leave a review before it disappears again. (I did figure out that ff.net had it, but I want to leave a review here.)
I don't really have a lot to say about this chapter, except that I love it. Things are moving forward with the case! (I wonder how Harry feels about Bobbie being called Rab. I can imagine he might have associations with that...)
This isn't the chapter 26 I was looking for. (I don't mean to sound whiny. I guess I'm glad chapter 25 is still there...even though I'll have to leave another review because mine has disappeared. Your story is sort of having some technical complications, I think.)
Yay, it's back! And I'm logged in so I can leave a review. (Another review.)
I am so interested in this story; you do a great job balancing the mystery plot with the Charltons' Muggleness.
(I wonder how Harry feels about Bobbie being called Rab. I can imagine he has some different associations with that name...)
Author's Response: Thanks, and apologies for the issues with this chapter. Hopefully it's fixed now, we'll see what happens when I upload chapter 26.
I'm not sure that Hary knows what Ollie's pet name for Bobbie is. :-D
-N-
This is my favorite story of all the ones you're working on. I love the Muggle perspective and all the dramatic irony it presents to the reader.
Also, it's just a lot of fun!
Author's Response: Thanks for the review.
The Muggle perspective is fun to write, too. However, Harry won't be having fun for much longer.-N-
This is one of my favorite stories of yours. I'm appreciating the opportunity to read it again as you re-submit with all the changes! (Haven't noticed any major ones but I'm not reading as closely as some of your other readers are sure to.)
One tiny note, though: you still have the chapter end notes at the end of your first chapter which _kind of_ could give away certain plot points in upcoming chapters. I'll make you a deal: you remove those, and I'll do a better job reviewing. You in?
Author's Response:
Ah, yes. Oops. The end notes were fine when this was a one-shot. Now they give too much away. So they've gone. Thanks for letting me know.-N-
I don't know if good will win!!!
This is stressful.
Author's Response: Well... good doesn't always win in real life, so I guess it is a good thing that you aren't sure if it will win in my story, either...?
I thought Mark did everything exactly right in this chapter. I love it when characters make the logical choice -- ask the receptionist out! Let go of Daphne when you grab her inappropriately! Put the card in your pocket!
I really hope Mark gets a nice date with Cara before being caught up in the Lavender whirlwind. Not too nice, though. And considering who he just ran to save from a burning building, my hopes aren't too high.
Oh yes. I also thought Mark's action to run toward the burning building was exactly right. I am so proud of him this chapter! (So, well done writing him.)
Also, for some reason I immediately understood that Erasmuson was saying to boil your head. I'm going to start calling people numpty.
Author's Response:
Thanks for the review.
Mark may regret some of his choices, but that’s life. He probably should have held on to Daphne, regardless of where he was holding, I’ve no doubt that Polly Protheroe would have.
According to my timeline it’s now March 2000, and Moon is set in March 2005, so Cara will have a nice time, and Mark will keep in touch with Rhys. Lavender has a lot of misadventures to get through, too.
I had a lot of fun writing Erasmuson, though I’m worried that a true Scot will find errors.
-N-
I love Susan! And I love Theo, and Terry, etc. But mostly Susan. I love that she had mixed feelings about Lavender being "cured" and the possibility of her being an Auror. (Not very mixed, just the idea that Lavender would always be cheerful and would accompany her on patrol -- But Susan didn't really even seem to mind that idea.)
Theodore acted exactly as I expected him to.
Back to Susan. I love that she is responsible enough that Philippa asks her to watch out for the other, senior Aurors.
I am excited for the conclusion that I think is coming soon...
Author's Response:
Thanks for the review.
I’ve written several stories about Auror Brown, it’s about time I wrote a bit more about Auror Bones. I’m glad you enjoyed the sudden sideways move in this story. There will be more from Terry, Susan, Polly and the others soon. As for Theodore, he’ll be scuttling back into the shadows.
There will certainly be three more chapters. There may be four, but three is, I suspect, more likely.
-N-
I've been doing something extra tiresome at work today, and this story kept me company this afternoon. I really think it may be your best, with the creative construction and the interrelated plots.
So thank you for writing it. I very much enjoyed reading the whole thing at once, after waiting for the new chapters to come out. :)
Author's Response:
Thanks for the review.
When I started to plot this one, i knew that I wanted to flash back and forwards in time. I soon discovered that it isn't easy. I learned a lot while writing this one, particularly about plotting and flashbacks.
Although this story doesn't get the reads that "Grave Days" and "Strangers at Drakeshaugh" get, it's a story I'm proud of.
-N-
I had no idea what to expect when I clicked on this (well, except that it was funny? Or would try to be funny?) but I'm so glad I took the leap! It was funny, sweet, and adorable!
Thanks for writing and posting it!
I really loved the George and Angelina parts. Just went back and read April Fool and Angelina again before rereading this chapter, just to remember how the story was progressing.
I also really, really like what you suggest of Percy and Audrey's relationship. I've surmised a lot from the little you say, and it amuses me greatly.
Looking forward to whatever comes next!
Author's Response: Thanks for the review.
This chapter is set two weeks after April Fool, and a week after Angelina (which I really must edit).I know how, when, and where Percy and Audrey got together, but that’s another story, and it’s one I won’t start for a long time.
-N-
Definitely one of my favorite things about your writing are the little canon details you mention that most people ignore or forget. Like that George is shorter than other Weasleys, or that Neville is blond.
Also, I love your Lavender a lot.
Author's Response: Thanks. Neville is fair-haired, and the Ron was taller than the twins when he was a first-year. Unlike the Phelps twins, they’re short and burly.
Lavender is a pain, but she’s fun to write.-N-
Whoa. I missed a bunch of chapters of this. Glad I got back to it when it's complete! I love all these M.I.T. stories and I liked the way this one resolved.
Very interesting! I'm enjoying the story so far. I like the glimpse into the past you're portraying.
Author's Response: Thanks! I can't truly promise historical authenticity, but I do my best.