I'm a sixteen year old living in Texas, whose friends got into fan fiction bug so I did too; fortunately they recovered slightly but I've been marked permanently! I enjoy writing in general, but Harry Potter fan fiction is an endless sort of entertainment for me - plus I'm lazy and creating characters and settings for them is hard work reserved for times when I'm in a serious mood...which I'm generally not. :)
My favorite characters are without a doubt the Marauders, Lily, & Dobby. (Oh my goodness... I love dead people. Not that it's hard to do when J.K. Rowling kills everyone off!)
I love reviews and I can handle criticism, so feel free to rant and rave. I like nice comments too, though....;)
This is my drabble titled "A Real Gryffindor" submitted to the Gryffindor Drabble Challenge:
It was my first year. What a year to go. I almost felt guilty; I had had no share of the turmoil that most had to face. My family had gone into hiding before the real conflict had broken the surface. My parents were non-magical, but Granddad and me were wizards. Granddad said he had seen the conditions of war before, and recognized the signs; he told us it was time to lay low.
That’s the way he felt. Me, I felt like a coward. Being cooped up in a hidden apartment was no vacation, though. We had had two other families in hiding with us.
Platform 9 ¾ was alive that day. All the old faces were there, joyful with reunion to their friends. Although, that was from my perspective. There were single-parent families; even orphans present, looking sad and alone.
I found a compartment with some other boys. A few were older than me in the same year, prevented from going earlier by the previous circumstances.
All anybody could talk about was the fall of Voldemort. Harry Potter was the chiefest topic – his defeat of the most powerful dark wizard that ever lived. I’d never seen him, but Robby Brighton said he had, so they were gibbering about that, but I kept feeling pangs of guilt. To me it almost seemed as if they’d all been at the front – friends of friends harmed or missing; at least they had been awake to the scene. I’d been in my hole.
Then, looking out the window, past the smiling faces of my parents and Granddad, I saw him. Harry Potter! I was sure it was him. He had turned just for a split second, and I had glimpsed the scar! I hobbled through the other kids’ legs. I had to get out. I raced out onto the platform. It was him! He looked young. With no small trace of disgust I realized he was snogging a girl. That didn’t stop me. I marched right up to them. They broke apart. I started to say to Harry Potter everything I had always want to – how much I admired him. The words caught in my throat. All I managed to say was,
“I’m sorry!” I started sobbing like a baby.
He gazed down at me with confusion.
In between wails, I cried, “I couldn’t help. But I would have, Harry Potter! I would have been brave! I just c-couldn’t help!”
He bent and looked at me earnestly, placing his scarred hands on my shoulders, just like one man does to another.
“That’s all that counts, anyways – that you wanted to,” he said to me, smiling. I think he was a bit scared, too. “That’s what makes a real Gryffindor. It’s the heart.”
After that I boarded the train again. Harry Potter said I was a real Gryffindor – saying the words over and over washed away the guilt. I would have if I could have.
*cheers* One gigantic round of applause for Pussycat123! I have to say I was smiling and giggling like crazy as I read this aloud to myself. I noticed it in the forums and was so intrigued I had to click on it. I was so glad I did! I love Janey as much as I love Fred and George. I will definitely check out the sequels.
A few notes: You wrote it extremely well, and the way you left out exactly what she did was genius, I loved that too. And I did like the beginning, where you had the whole rumor thing going on, I never thought about the swamp after book 5. All in all, fascinatingly entertaining story, my hat is off to you.
Author's Response: :D Thanks so much, I'm glad you clicked on it too! This was a lovely review, I hope you enjoy the others if you decide to read them!
Haha!!! This was a great idea! I'm glad you wrote it, and it's making me laugh my head off.
All right! It was vastly entertaining, I was laughing my poor head off. (Its mad at you now) My favorite part was the part where the were putting the blame on the 'other,' it was pure genius, really. Seemed like they were being horrible but really they were so selfless. :)
The ending was rather corny, but I'm not complaining...I like happy endings. I'm glad I was able to follow this one to the end. Wonderfully clever. Loved it.
This story keeps live-entertaining. I'm really addicted to it. A seemingly un-original idea, but made into a hilarious, unique, well-put story. Love it! If i see any problems I will let you know.
Haha! I just performed the original version of this song, but I'm kinda wishin' I could have performed this one (although the audience wouldn't have thought it was as funny as I do)! It's hilarious, and very clever. ;)
(Just wondering, if it doesn't infringe on copyrights I could sing it as an opening or something for audiofictions...i even have the karaoke. haha)
Author's Response: Ah, it was on our first ever episode - and I sang it *eeep!*
Oh ha, sorry, I knew you'd recorded it but I couldn't find it and I wasn't sure if you'd read it or sung it. Just kidding. I would like to hear it though, I just can't seem to find it!
Author's Response: It was the first episode I think
The founders put some brains in me
So I could choose instead!Now slip me snug about your ears,
I’ve never yet been wrong…Again in the tradition of You-and-Me Nuggets. Four drabbles. Four people. Four destinies.
The Four Houses.
Wow, I love these. They're extremely well-written...and one from each house, all put together. Great little moments in time to hone in on. Thanks!
First of all, I loved it! I had never thought of writing about that moment, but I do remember wondering what it would have been like. You did it very well! Vernon's dialogue is extremely well-characterized. I'm guessing you stuck to dialogue only for a reason, because at first I was like 'there's not much description' but then I realized that there was none at all and found that it was quite interesting to read it that way. I'm sure it was a challenge, good job!
Only a few things I have to point out - Petunia kept saying 'okay' and for some reason I never thought of her saying that. I think it would be a good idea to subsitute just a few of them with 'all right' simply for variety if nothing else. I think for the most part Petunia's dialogue was in character but at times I felt she was too loose and indecisive, if you get my meaning. I view her as quite an uptight person who is quick to snap out responses and contradictions. Perhaps that's just the actress in the movies' portrayal of her, though. Anyway, just my two cents, and once again, I enjoyed it immensely! Wonderful fic!
Author's Response: Thank you Hannah :D And it was for a challenge-the bookbasilisk one this summer. i was kind of under time pressure and it didn't get a beta-but now that I think of it, does one even say okay in Great Britain as much as here? In Germany no one really does... I'll change that, thank you for pointing it out!
Andrea
Brilliant! Ingenious idea, to pick this moment for a one-shot.
I agree with some of the other reviewers - I read McGonagall's advice to Peter twice. It really touched me. I want to say fantastic job characterizing Peter, I so frequently tend to tune him out of my stories - I suppose I have the same hill to get over; the fact that he betrayed my favorite characters. I'm so sad this is the last one you'll do; you're incredible at it.
After Peter's interview, James', not Remus' was my favorite. Because I love him. But also because it WAS JAMES. Oh my goodness you captured him perfectly.
Definitely would have nominated this for Best Marauder Era in QSQ but I didn't read in time. :( It's very deserving of it!
Author's Response: Thank you very much for the review. I am so pleased you enjoyed the story - especially the Peter interview because I also have trouble seeing him as more than the traitor. I won't be adding to this story as it's a one shot, but I do have a Marauder chaptered fic on the site called The Lions of Gryffindor which this could be seen as a prequel too. (plug plug). Thank you for the best wishes for the QSQ - fingers crossed but there are some amazing fics already nominated. ~Carole~
Wow you paid really good attention to detail. Even the password at the end! And a birthday too. Nice! Very well done. Was River Lee Jordan? Obviously Royal was Kingsley Shacklebolt. Question here, wouldn't him saying he's been a bodyguard for the Muggle ninister kind of give him away if a death eater had been listening? Just wondering. Maybe he regretted saying it afterward. :P
Anyhow it was wonderful -good writing- so so fun to read!!!
Author's Response: lol, thank you so much Hannah! I wasn't really sure about this fic... I should work on it more often, lol. And you're right, it would sorta give him away a bit. I'll make it more general! Thank you again. I hope reading my sad fics doesn't make you wonder about my beta capability, lol.
Andrea
WOW! This was AMAZING! You fleshed out Rita so well! And really gave an extremely plausible explanation for why she's so nasty! I even felt a little bit sorry for that woman, and it's not because I'm going insane.
I loved all the characters you placed around her, and the early history you gave her. I just can't stop saying wow! It was genius!
Author's Response: *grins happily* Thank you! It was very hard though. I mean, I still don't like her even after writing all that. :(
Hahaha! Very entertaining. I felt sorry for them until the end, little devils...:P
Author's Response: Thank you, I'm glad you enjoyed it! I didn't feel sorry for them myself, I think they probably deserved it. ;) Thanks for the review! :)