12/19/11
I'm an American by birth but an Anglophile by desire. As an English lit. teacher I happily don't need to defend my love of Harry Potter to others.
When it comes to all things Potter, I prefer all things canon. J. K. Rowling did such a beautiful job with the universe that it seems right to play with the toys just as she made them.
Currently, I've got various stories set across the Potterverse. Though not connected, the chronology is:
Hogwarts: A History: In any sport there are winners and losers. Set over nearly fifty years, three separate Gryffindor captains deal with Quidditch losses.
The Heart's Translation: Somehow, James Potter and Lily evans fell in love sometime before they left Hogwarts. How did it happen? This is a work-in-progress.
Mortal Thoughts: After the Battle of the Astronomy Tower, Remus Lupin decides that it's okay for him to love Tonks. (See my beautiful banner by majestic_ginny.)
Bloody Hell: Sometime in October 1997, Ron abandoned his best friend and the love of his life. Through trials of his own, he eventually made his way back to them.
Forever Broken: Ginny deals with the Battle of Hogwarts as it rages around her.
Mourning: Molly Weasley attempts to put herself back together after the Battle of Hogwarts.
Drowning In It: Dudley Dursley regrets much of what's become of his life, especially his family.
The Truth Will Set You Free: At some point, everyone learns about the past. James Sirius Potter learns the truth about his parents not at home but in a Hogwarts classroom.
The Difference Between Knowing and Understanding: This is a companion to "The Truth Will Set You Free." While James learns about his parents from other adults, Albus uses Hogwarts's vast library to teach himself all he thinks he needs to know.
Any writer uses reviews to grow, and I will do my best to reply to any that you are generous enough to leave me.
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Slaughter-Dew by Wings of the Morning
Rated: 3rd-5th Years •
Summary: The first time it happens, he is fourteen. Sitting at the Gryffindor table, Peter thinks of murder. (What's wrong with him?)
[Peter Pettigrew, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, and the logic of fives. Dark, some disturbing imagery. One shot.]
Date: 05/22/12 Title: Chapter 1: Chapter 1
You treated OCD exceptionally well, the struggle, the compulsion, the idea that the pattern makes things safer. I also liked your take on Peter. He's not a bad guy, not even accidentally evil, he's stuck because he can't see away out of the mental hell he's in. You've made him sympathetic in a way I've never seen anyone else be able to do. Kudos on the story!
He Loves Him by Celestial Melody
Rated: 1st-2nd Years • Summary: When you love someone, the last thing you expect them to do is break your heart ... but it frequently happens. Salt-tears cannot express the pain that a heart crying blood feels. Yet, even though our torn and tattered hearts are in pieces, rattling sonorously around in the emptiness of our chests, we still love that 'someone' because no one and nothing can predict love ... It just happens.
For Rose Weasley, her impressions of her own “love” were shattered when she found out something she shouldn't have, something that made her wish for revenge ... something that made her unable to take it.
Date: 04/13/12 Title: Chapter 1: He Loves Him
I adore next-gen stories about Albus, and this was beautifully crafted. The little hints that Albus was in love, the careful way Rose interpreted what she saw; readers knew what was coming, but it was such a lovely surprise when it all finally came together. Also, I appreciated your use of italics to distinguish which boy Rose was thinking about. Kudos to you for tackling 2nd person and doing such a stunning job with it.
Strangers at Drakeshaugh by Northumbrian
Rated: 3rd-5th Years •Summary:
The locals in a sleepy corner of the Cheviot Hills are surprised to discover that they have new neighbours.
Who are the strangers at Drakeshaugh?
Nominated for: Best Post-Hogwarts (Chaptered) story - Quicksilver Quills 2011 and
Nominated for: Best Post-Hogwarts (Chaptered) story - Quicksilver Quills 2012
Date: 04/26/12 Title: Chapter 14: Interlude: Three Families
As much as I love the overarching story, I look forward to the interludes even more because it's where the story about the Werewolf killer is really pieced together. I think it's fantastic that you're able to weave all of the magical elements of The Potters lives into such non-magical elements, but these chapters where you allow them to use magic openly feel like coming home.
Author's Response: Thanks.
The Werewolf killer thread of this story is becoming more important, and you will see more of it. After all, the next full moon is only a week away. The Potters are, of course, always using magic. Jacqui will continue to wonder.-N-
Waiting by Aria_Aurora1
Rated: 1st-2nd Years •Summary: … When you look in her eyes and she's looking back in yours... everything... feels... not quite normal. Because you feel stronger and weaker at the same time. You feel excited and at the same time, terrified. The truth is... you don't know what you feel except you know what kind of man you want to be. It's as if you've reached the unreachable and you weren't ready for it.”
James Potter is waiting. He’s standing on the street he grew up on, waiting for the person who changed his life forever.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: This quotation is taken from Spider hyphen Man. I'm not trying to steal it, but I've always loved that moment in the film, and I realised it fitted quite nicely with a certain James and Lily :)
Date: 04/29/12 Title: Chapter 1: Waiting
While I was a little leary of your use of both James's and Emily's thoughts, the way you wove Emily's view of the relationship in at the end made their love that much more beautiful. We've had most of the story with James thinking on his love for Lily, but to see it through Emily's eyes made it that much more precious. Thank you for the lovely little slice of James and Lily's relationship.
Incorrigible by Gmariam
Rated: 3rd-5th Years •Summary: It's Halloween and the Head Boy and Head Girl are stuck in the greenhouses for detention. Will they escape the clutches of the deadly Devil's Snare…or worse, one another?
A lighthearted tale for Halloween, not to be read in the greenhouse.
Date: 04/29/12 Title: Chapter 1: One-Shot
I've read much of your James/Lily but hadn't come across this one before. You tend to both them both in such dark situations that this was a refreshing change. I'd never really paid attention to the plants in Herbology, but the way you treated them made me much more interested in them. It also seems that there's already some history, some chemistry between James and Lily here, otherwise it doesn't seem plausable that he'd be quite so bold (straddling her, kissing her neck). I also think this would be a fun story to do from James's point of view too. Thank you for the wonderful escape into James and Lily's life.
Author's Response: Thank you so much for the lovely review! I have to admit I sort of chuckled to myself about your comment regarding me putting them in dark situations. It's true, I admit. And yet, for each of those fics, I do have more lighthearted ones like this one. I wrote a Christmas one for them as well. Yes, I'd say there is some history here. I almost always assume that going into my stories. ;) And yes, it would be fun from James's point of view. I've written a few from his point of view set seventh year, including Friendly Competition and One to Remember. I'd say they are similar. They are my OTP, what can I say, lol! Thanks again for the wonderful review, I really appreciate it! ~Gina :)
Today Is Victory Day by Maple_and_PheonixFeather
Rated: 1st-2nd Years • Summary: Victory Day. A day of celebration and remembrance . For Lily, it is also a day of confusion and sadness. She wants to understand in a world that knows no terror. This year, she'll discover exactly what Victory Day means to her.
Winner of the 2012 Next-Gen QSQ Award
Date: 04/26/12 Title: Chapter 1: Victory Day
I think this is the most human portrayal of Lily Luna I've ever seen. She seems so much her father's daughter, and it seems that her concerns about people forgetting the stories behind the names is the sort of thing Harry would do. I appreciate that in just a short glance you give readers a true sense of who she is and the world she lives in.
Author's Response: Thanks so much! I'm glad she seemed real to you :) Maple
A Pair of Thick, Woollen Socks by hestiajones
Rated: 3rd-5th Years •Summary: "What do you see when you look in the Mirror?" Harry asked him. This is hestiajones of Hufflepuff House writing for the Rosmerta's Mini-Gauntlet at TTB. These words are not my own - they are J.K.Rowling's property - but they are from my heart flown :3
Date: 05/13/12 Title: Chapter 1: Chapter 1
That's was beautiful and tragic. I appreciate how you pulled in what we know about Dumbledore from Deathly Hallows to create a fuller picture of his character.
Author's Response: Thank you! Writing Dumbledore is so tricky. I fretted far too much over this fic, so it's nice to know it came across well. :)
Smoke and Mirrors by Gmariam
Rated: 3rd-5th Years •Summary: As they finish their last two years at Hogwarts, the Marauders each gaze into the Mirror of Erised. And they each see something vastly different that will affect the rest of their lives.
This is Gmariam of Ravenclaw writing for the Inspiration for Illustration Challenge in the Great Hall.
Date: 06/12/12 Title: Chapter 1: I show not your face but your heart's desire.
I thought this was beautifully done, and I love that it fits in with other stories you've done (and other OCs you've created). I thought your portrayal of Peter was beautiful because you made him human in a way so many others struggle with. I enjoyed, but was saddened by, your Remus; I'm sure he was upset about his condition, but I'd never really considered him bitter before. Overall, it was a lovely piece of work.
Author's Response: Thank you so much for the lovely review! I'm glad you enjoyed it! The more I write, the more I keep borrowing my OCs and linking everything together. 'Tis fun (and easier, lol) I'm glad you liked Peter (if like is the right word?) because when i finished his part I was like "Whoa." And yes, imagining Remus as bitter is sad, but I see him reconciling it quickly. And relapsing - he had a hard life. Poor guy. Thanks again for the review! ~Gina :)
Flicker by majestic_ginny
Rated: 3rd-5th Years •Summary: Through the tiny, barred windows of Azkaban, Sirius Black sees a man approaching the prison.
This is majestic_ginny of Hufflepuff writing for the Illustration for Inspiration Challenge 2012 over at the Great Hall.
Date: 06/02/12 Title: Chapter 1: Chapter 1
I may be reading too much into this, but I loved the symbolism of the candle. And the parallel of it flickering to the faces in the window and their flickering souls. This is a more vengeful Sirius that I had the impression of from the book, but I think it fits beautifully. Overall, this was nicely done.
Author's Response: Thank you! This is probably the most angsty thing I've done so far, hehe. The symbolism and parallels were intended; in the books we see him surrounded by his loved ones, so he's usually quite happy, but I've noticed that everytime the Ministry comes up he gets bitter. I imagine that this is how he'd be in Azkaban. Anyway, thanks again for the review! :D I really enjoyed writing this fic. --Nadia
As the Hyacinth Blooms by epiphany212
Rated: 3rd-5th Years •Summary: She had loved Draco Malfoy since she was 13 years old, had studied him alongside her books when she was a Hogwarts student--but the War has destroyed more than just the lives of those who were gone. Her seven year betrothal broken, she must now learn to understand the man whose ring she wears. [Pansy/Theo]
Date: 06/24/12 Title: Chapter 1: Chapter 1
Beautiful! Everything - the relationships, the history we know from canon, the story of Hyacinth and Apollo - all work together so perfectly. Your portrayal of Pansy is fantastic and gives us a completely new spin on someone we feel we might know. Kudos on a job well done.
Author's Response: Thanks for this sweet review, and of course, for the beta job. :)
Marked by Gmariam
Rated: 6th-7th Years •Summary: Written for the 2012 Character Challenge, a missing moment in which Draco Malfoy receives the Dark Mark before returning to school for his sixth year. Several years later, he violently regrets his choice.
Date: 06/24/12 Title: Chapter 1: Marked
Before I hit the end I recognized the elements of "Uncommon Friends" woven into Part Two. I adore how you connected these two stories even though both could easily stand on their own.
Author's Response: Thank you so much for the review! I really appreciate it and am glad you enjoyed this one as the 'prequel' to Uncommon Friends. I so did not set out to do that--I never even anticipated a story about Neville and Draco, yet alone a stand-alone about Draco and his Dark Mark--but they both came rather easily, so I guess it was meant to be. Thanks so much for reading them! ~Gina :)