03/22/06
Hello!
I'm Sunray, your resident hopelss romantic who would kill for a hopeless romance.
I am sorry in advance for the slow updates on my WIPs. School is murder.
My Series:
The Lily Trilogy:: A series of 3 fics surrounding Lily's choices, that later changed Harry's life.
The MMB Universe:: A series consisting of a WIP and several one-shots, surrounding my OCs, Rose and Alex, as well as their family and friends.
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Where Letters Lead by Oppungo
Rated: 1st-2nd Years •Summary: At the new year, Hermione decides it's the perfect time for a new start - most specifically with Ron. The only problem is, she has no idea where he is, what he's doing - he could even be married, for all she knows! But there's only one way to find out - so she writes him a letter. But where will her letters lead?
Date: 01/23/07 Title: Chapter 3: Chapter 3
Oh. my. god. Kiara, dear, that was amazing! I absalutly loved it! it even made me cry. I love how you ended it with a ketter from him. It makes the pain so much bigger. It reminds me of a book that I read, in which the main charcter's friend dies, and at the end of the letter (that includes him telling her not to blame himself) he reminds her to put the cream on her cuts :( it's like the saddest book ever...
a small figure could still be seen through the darkness, still knelt at the foot of a grave. She had been there so long you could no longer tell the rain from her tears. That paragraph is absalute genious!
Great job!!!
Author's Response: *hugs* Thank you so much Sunray! I am so so thrilled that you enjoyed it - and that it made even you cry! I haven\'t heard of that book I don\'t think - you\'ll have to give me the name of it sometime. Yes, that was one of my favourite paragraphs to write - I had that paragraph written before I\'d written half the fic, actually! I\'m so so glad that you liked it, thanks for reviewing!
A Black Destiny by Sly Severus
Rated: 3rd-5th Years •Summary: The time has come. Bellatrix is finally being initiated into the Death Eaters. But was it really what she wanted? Was she really meant to follow the Dark Lord?
Written by Sly Severus of Slytherin for the Gauntlet's 3rd run
Date: 04/19/07 Title: Chapter 1: Chapter 1
Wow! What to say? Well, I'll start by saying this is a really powerful piece. Bella's charcterisation as a helpless child at the beggining, her hesitation, Rodolphus's treatment of her. All those things come together in a perfect picture of a little child that is in distress. I especially liked how she could still sense the softness in Rodolphus's voice when he's pretending to be stern with her. That really emphasised for me how she's like a kid. And then in the end she's canon Bella, pushing away those who treat her as a child. But I believe deep inside she's still that kid - like when she whines to Voldy inm OotP.
To them, she was just the next link in a chain of pureblood. it's amazing how you can put years upon years of abuse behind such a short sentance. But it fits so well, I'm stupified. It's really amazing.
Great Job!
~Sunray
PS: I had a whole long review typed up, but the computer deleted it :( so I'm sorry if this one's lame...
Author's Response: Lame? No way. I loved it.
Thank you so much for all of your comments. I like what you said about Bella as a child. In a way, I agree that she still has childlike tendencies. I think it\'s because she would have never had a chance to be a child when she actually was one. She was the oldest child, and therefore would most likely receive the least coddling. And I doubt the Blacks would have been affectionate towards any of their children. I always thought she would have been forced to grow up really quickly, which left a lasting impact on her.
Thank you so much for the review, it really made my day. :D
Moments in the Dark by Vindictus Viridian
Rated: 3rd-5th Years •Summary: Tom Riddle awakens and extends his power, drawing Ginny into the Chamber of Secrets as she draws him into her own secret thoughts.
Date: 09/09/07 Title: Chapter 1: -----
>.< Now we all know why you used to teach DADA. VV, this is a beauty!
I liked the beggining, where you hint at the workings of a Hurcrox, the fact that he does not remember his life beyond the point of his making, the fact that it thirsts for re-birth.
I also loved how you described the conscience, the 'Parental Guidance', and how he explains his lack of it by saying that he grew up an orphan, when in fact he has just been repressing it, though it does exist.
I like how Ginny, whose innocence he stole is the one to awaken a little bit if innocence in him - a little bit of concience.
The fact that he had to learn of his death, and to pretend that he aproves of his destruction - that got me. I love this story, you captured it just right, in my opinion, at least.
The Last Black by Gmariam
Rated: 1st-2nd Years •Summary: A reflection on Sirius Black, this sonnet was written for the March poetry challenge by Gmariam of Ravenclaw.
Date: 03/31/07 Title: Chapter 1: Chapter 1
Gina, this is amazing! I like how the refrence to the pranks is what discribes the marauders, and not their love stories as it is in most fics. No mention to being a heart-throb *thank g-d!*.
And his tragedies did definatly come in bundles. Great Character! Your focus on them is not misplaced. I can see plenty of people focussing on the happy, but that's just not his life *is an optimistic gone wrong*
~Sunray
Author's Response: Hi there! Thank you so much for coming to read this and for leaving such a nice review! I really appreciate it. I\'m so glad you enjoyed it. It didn\'t seem appropriate to refer to the Maruaders\' love lives, somehow; that was not the focus of what happened in Sirius\'s short and tragic life, after all. I\'m so glad you agreed. Thanks again, and good luck on your own!! ~Gina :)
An Old Joke by merav potter
Rated: 1st-2nd Years •Summary: Sirius is convinced by Loki to do something that will haunt him for the rest of his life.
Date: 04/23/07 Title: Chapter 1: Chapter 1
Heehee. Very Kyprioth, Merav. Great characterisation. I find Loki amusing. And I do wish Voldy hadn't heard the prophecy. But then again, if that were o, we wouldn't have the HP series....*sigh* difficult question. I'll contemplate it later.
Once again, the dance in the ceremony was awsome, I'll talk to you later and remind you to check your reviews!
~Sunray
Author's Response: Yeah, the question is kinda like the Fang/Max complex....We can contemplate that, too, later. On the way home from my grandmother\'s. Other than that, thank you.
Brothers by megan_lupin
Rated: 6th-7th Years •Summary: “He would never see James smile again. Sirius knew he would never again hear the voice of his best friend – his brother. Brothers look out for each other. They would never joke about anything again. They would never again have a “little too much” to drink and then have to try and explain it to Lily afterwards. Never again would he have his brother to remember the “good old days” when they both grew too old to do anything. Never again would the Marauders be together . . .”
Sirius had the perfect plan to protect James. But what happens when a flawless idea isn’t so flawless?
Written by megan_lupin of Gryffindor House, this is the final assignment for Professor Talon's DADA: Introduction to Dark/Angst class.
Validator's Pick of the Week (26 May 2007) on HPFF!
Date: 05/17/07 Title: Chapter 1: Brothers
OMG Megan! I can't believe you don't have more reviews than this. It is such an awsome fic! For starters, the memory in the beggining, and then James' apearance. Briliance! The replacement of his blood brother, with his soul brother. The replacement of dark with light. The replacement of wrong with right.
I also liked how Sirius is refusing to help his mother with something, then wonders if he should clean his living room in honor of his friend's apearance - he respects him more than he respected his mother, let alone his 'puppet' brother.
Sirius is entirely in charcter throughtout the entire story, which I find amazing, because it's hard to do (I've seen too many horrid OOCness in Sirius...).
Those two words — “I’m sorry” — were spoken more times than Sirius remembered. They seemed so pointless, really, but it was all he could think of to say. Pleading for his friend to wake up wouldn’t do any good; it was impossible, Sirius knew. Laughing and joking no longer held any sort of purpose for him, either. All he could do was apologise for what he believed to be his failure.
I can't get over this paragraph, and the following one. They are so wonderfully phrased they could bring anyone to tears. The image of Sirius holding James to his chest...*shudders* it won't go out of my head for days!
Great job!
~Sunray
Author's Response: Oh, Sunray! Thanks you so much for such a wonderful review! I absolutely loved it.
I\'m glad that this story turned out as well as it did, as it was really the first time I\'d written Sirius\'s character so deeply. He\'s been a favourite of mine for a LONG time, but I hadn\'t written him until \'Brothers,\' so it makes me extremely happy to hear that you thought he remained in character through the whole thing.
And oh, Sunray mentioned the symbolism bits! Yeah, that whole thing with James vs. Rest of Black Family was meant to be a main supporting thing with Sirius\'s character.
Those paragraphs came out of nowhere, to be honest, and I couldn\'t believe that I wrote them. There\'s several parts of this story that I loved, personally, but those final scenes with Sirius and James were actually what started the whole fic. I saw those bits vividly in my mind, and low and behold, they worked out!
Thank you SO MUCH once again for such a great review.
~Megan
Starlight and Shadows by Disappearance_26
Rated: 3rd-5th Years •Summary: Ginny recalls the night Harry slipped away...
Date: 05/05/07 Title: Chapter 1: Chapter 1
Priz! Woah! This is so amazing!I don't know where to begin. Well, I'll start by saying that it really got to me (ask anyone, that's saying something.)
As she allowed her loneliness to keep her company
I don't think that sentance will go out of my head for weeks now. I really like it! It's such a smart sentance, so...*is lost for the right word*
I really like how Harry faded, like starlight, and thenher life is dark, with no light. The analogy between Harry's eyes, and celestrail diamonds, stars.
Also, the feeling of abondonment is so well placed, it's amazing.
Great Job!
~Sunray
Author's Response: Aww! Thanks for the amazing review, Sunray! I\'m glad you liked the analogies and my word choice. I\'m pleasantly surprised by how my readers seem to like it :D Thanks!
For Death, We Part by Colores
Rated: 1st-2nd Years •Summary: A Rondeau poem of the true nature of everlasting love, as Harry realizes Ginny's death has not changed everything.
I am Colores of the Hufflepuff House, and this is my entry for the Rondeau challenge.
Date: 10/11/07 Title: Chapter 1: Chapter 1
Ooh! Fresca, this is amazing. One of my favorite poems on here. The imagery is outstanding, as is the grief. Great job!
I Don't Really Know What To Say by bertiebott12
Rated: 1st-2nd Years •Summary: Lily Potter is pregnant with a son, both she and her husband thrilled. One night, while she is sleeping, James has a touching talk with his son in Lily's belly.
Date: 12/07/08 Title: Chapter 1: Chapter 1
So, here's the thing. I saw your poem, and read your author's page, and I'm thinking to myself, hmmm, how is it that I've never read one of her stories? So I decided to read it.
WOW. It's so purrrty!! I'm reading what James is saying to Harry and thinking - now that, ladies and gentlemen, is ironic. If Harry had only remembered what James had said...
And when he says I will always be there for you...and that he and Lily would die *coughcough* for Harry...*sniff* so sad! The foreshadowing was very well done!
The one part where I rebelled against what you wrote was when James was talking about Peter. I don;t think he would say something like that against one of the marauders - even if it's wormtail. He wouldn't let Wormtail be secret keeper if he really felt that way---the whole significance of Peter's betrayal is that they did like him, and did trust him.
Though I can understand where you;re coming from - that Peter had to feel unappreciated.
And again - Foreshadowing with "He'd never tell"...You just want to lynch Peter. Wring his filthy little neck.
James not knowing what Lily feels like is pure magic, and hits such a true chord. All in all, it a truly touching fic. Kudos!
~Sunray
Fragmentary Blue by Hatusu
Rated: 3rd-5th Years •
Summary:
The whole world has gone crazy, tipped on its side, changes happening so quickly that Harry can’t keep track of them all. He isn’t at the centre of it anymore – he’s drifting peacefully somewhere on the very outer rim, and he likes it this way, and he never wants to go back.
He has a dream one night. Soft hands lift him out of his bed. He opens his eyes and their faces are like maps of a country he’s never been to but has always wanted to go. They say they’ll take him to a place where all he has to is breathe.
He says okay.
After Voldemort's defeat, Harry struggles to come to terms with love, death, and the end of innocence. One-shot. Rated for very, very mild sexual implications.
Date: 05/19/08 Title: Chapter 1: Fragmentary Blue
Maddy love, this story is pure brilliance! Everything is exactly as it should be, the trauma Harry has suffered translates perfectly into your lines. So does his love for Ginny. Also, in the end, when Ginny is talking about only ever living in one house, the emotions from that one sentence are - wow. That seems to be all I can say. Its brilliant. Truly.
Challah and Pumpkin Juice by Calico
Rated: 1st-2nd Years •Summary: Tzipporah Stein, a Jew living in Vienna, Austria on the eve of WWII, is shocked when she gets a letter telling her she is a witch. The volatile state of Europe as it waits for both a muggle and a wizarding war to begin has prompted Hogwarts to take in students from many countries. How will Tzipporah handle magic, mischief, and even a little romance while trying to be true to her religion and culture at the same time?
Date: 03/19/08 Title: Chapter 2: Chapter One: The Letter
So far - marvelously written, the era falls just right, and I feel so priviledged understanding the Yiddish >.o. The enviromant does seem very jewish to me. Perefect. Waiting for more!
Facing Death by bertiebott12, Hansolohpfrk
Rated: 3rd-5th Years •Summary: The curtains call, beckoning a man to his death.
Date: 12/02/08 Title: Chapter 1: Chapter 1
Wow! First off - Claire I didn't know you wrote it with Hanni! Hey Hanni! That being said - OMFG!!!!! It's so puuurrrrty!
The poem is very well built, and from the descriptions in it, you can practically be in this person's place and hear the veil swishing and beckoning.
I've got a couple of knitpicks though...You were very repetitive with the use of 'him' and 'call/ing". In my opinion- and this is my opinion only, it kind of distracts from the general feeling. You use of repetition in "Calling him/Entrancing him" Is very good, but after that, every time the word him is in the poem it kinda jumps out at you. The same can be said for calling - try synonyms, like beckon and summon.
The second knitpick is that it confused me slightly that on the one hand he knew he would die at the hands of another - and then he turns towards the curtains - to a death that would be caused by his own hands (well, feet, technically, but w/e).
For without inevitable death,
Cherishable life would not exist.
I love this sentence. It's such a beautiful way of reconstructing a universal truth. Really, really, well done.
In the final stanza, when he smiles as he turns to the veil - OMG chills! Really well written. Generally, the entire poem is, too.
Kudos!