I am in college, American, and in love with God. I enjoy reading, writing, music (playing, singing, listening), my friends and family.
I am a compulsive editor. This means that while new chapters may come infrequently (translation: I write slowly), the older chapters are always under revision. Check back now and again to read the new and improved versions! Also, I've been working on Britishisms, but as an American, my knowledge is limited. Please, feel free to (gently) Britpick.
I also write a lot of drabbles, which you can find by following that link to my website, along with some poetry and original fiction.
Lovely banner thanks to GinnyPotter!
This banner is thanks to the wonderful TheVanishingAct!
At The Ceili: This is a Christmas gift for Cinderella Angelina, a beloved fellow SPEW member. The title comes from the song it is based on, performed by the very excellent group Celtic Woman. Enjoy, Leslie!
Gold: This was originally the third chapter of In His Own Right, but I felt that it really didn’t fit with the others, so now it is a sequel.
Hide and Seek: This slightly lengthy one-shot deals with the choice between good and evil. It’s under Romance only because it didn’t fit in any of the General categories.
Home To Stay: Based on and set around a song by Josh Groban (same title), Hermione goes travelling Europe, trying to find what she’s lost during the War. Ron waits for her, living for the short notes that she sends to Ginny, waiting for the day when Hermione will be ready to come home for good.
In His Own Right: It was after writing my SPEW 007 challenge (seven prompts, one character) that I really came to appreciate Neville. He’s been through a lot, but he is strong and capable—he just needs a chance to show it. (It has a sequel in Gold.)
Left, Right, and Centre: This began as an attempt to understand why the relationship between Bill Weasley and Fleur Delacour seems to work, though no one else understands why. The reason? Fleur isn’t the idiot everyone thinks she is.
Love Is Not a Simple Thing: For now, this is a one-shot (its continuation is unlikely, and depends on the revival of a long-dormant plot bunny). It is a Remus/Hermione romance, but features no time travel. Instead, the setup comes during Hermione’s school years. Following chapters (if they appear) will follow their growing relationship during the war and post-war years.
So She Dances: One of my personal favourites. It's based on the Josh Groban song of the same name, and is a Neville/Ginny missing moment from GoF. It was the first atmosphere-based piece I wrote, and it came out quite nicely.
The Unknown: Also Neville-based, I consider this the best thing I have yet written. It's a little darker, but very real, with hope at its end.
Transformations: This is a Remus/Tonks, my first—and most ambitious—project. It began back in August 2005 and has been heavily rewritten and edited in preparation for the long-awaited finish. It will be around 11 or 12 chapters when finished
Waiting: This is a post-HBP one-shot, now AU. It was written for the S.P.E.W. Anniversary Challenge: Friends discussing changes since the one-year anniversary of an event (in this case, the death of Dumbledore).
How terribly sad. My highest compliments on capturing the relationship of grandmother-to-son. I have found myself wondering why she tries to force Neville into becoming his father; this explains it very nicely. It's also a cute view of Neville from another side.
You've already gotten about a dozen compliments on her voice, so I'll stick to saying that I agree with them and that I understand her much better now. Very well done. 10/10
It's a fun idea. Your grammar is a bit offin places, especially the commas. There are some places where sentences should be strung together:
The Healers and crew moved to the next bed. She walked toward him. Her friends followed. He heard her dress ruffling. He closed his eyes tightly for a minute. Opened them and bent down to check the patient.
It would be a lot smoother if you did something like this: "The Healers and crew moved to the next bed, Hermione and her friends following. He could hear her dress rustling. He closed his eyes tightly for a minute, opened them and bent down to check the patient."
There are also some sentences that are really long and slightly confusing:
He had his back to her ,Ronald Weasley, his red hair having been cut short since before he became one of the most famous healers of their time, Neville , who was also a healer was standing next to him, bending over the patient, there were two nurses next to them.
It would clear up a lot if you separated the various ideas that are part of this sentence. For instance: "Ronald Weasley had his back to her, his long hair cut shorter than it had been before he became one of the most famous Healers of their time. Neville, also a Healer, was standing next to him, bending over the patient. There were two nurses next to them." See where I moved the commas? You don't need to put a space between a word and the following punctuation. Check out the Mugglenet FF Help stuff, especially the dialogue section. It's got some great stuff on commas and quote marks and the like.
Your depiction of emotion is pretty good, and your explanation of what happened to get Hermione to this point. I rather like the way it ends, so that you see a lot of back history just in the way Ron reacts.
In short: I like the story; the grammar could use a bit of work; but you've got something worth working at. Don't stop writing!
Awww, how sweet! Oh wait -- sequel? yippee! *runs off to read it*
Author's Response: Are these log in things getting worse or is it just me? I SO appreciate all of you reviewers who take the time to leave your reviews even with the stupid log-in thingy. And thank you so much for reading and reviewing! I'm glad you enjoyed and I hope you like the sequel just as much!
This is good. A little bit OOC, but not too much. I'd like to see the rest?
Author's Response: Thanks for reading and reviewing!
Cute. And no one figured out what would happen! I like it.
Author's Response: thanks!
I love it! Let me see...Ginny will do the only thing she really can and sit down, although I'm guessing she'll stutter and blush and all that fun stuff first. And, and, and... and she'll pretend to be all haughty and collected once she starts blushing. Okay, someone has to have got it, next chapter SOON? please??
Author's Response: nope but I'll post anyways
"Caught": Let's see... how about this: Harry goes to Hogwarts to visit Ginny and Winky comes in to clean her room when Harry's there and runs home to tell Mrs Weasley. Not likely, but hey, if it makes the next chapter come faster!
Author's Response: hehe....i like that one...i submitted the next chapter a couple days ago so we are all hoping it is accepted soon....
That's sweet. A little out of character, but it's a songfic, so hey. Well done.
This is good. You've managed to keep it fairly close to the canon characters. Are we gonna get to see more?
Wow. I know I got hooked, because I read eighteen of the twenty chapters yesterday and stopped only because my internet shut off.
This is amazing. I love about sixty million things, but I'll list a few:
- the Fred-George twin connection
- the way all characters are included, in all generations
- the plot! I cannot write a thoroughly original plot to save my life, but yours is excellent. I love how I never know what's happening!
- and most of all:
The fascinating ways you've kept or changed characters. Hermione still loves books, but she really is savage, born of being mistreated all her life. Harry's pretty content, but very, very ambitious -- more so, I think, than in canon. Draco is interesting, as is Lisa -- the named-but-faceless character who is now an integral part. Remus (agh. Remus. I LOVE your Remus) and "Nyt" (hee hee) and Snape! I wasn't expecting Remus to kill him, but it was a great touch. Dumbledore, McGonagall, James and Lily! And I love how the role of the Marauders shifted, but their parts are essentially the same.
The Reapers are themselves brilliant. They're immortal, sort of, but what does happen to their bodies? Poor Cedric, though. I like Cedric.
Anyway. Fantastic story. Don't let this next chapter get to you! Whatever you write, I'm sure it'll be brilliant!
Author's Response: Thank you for your kind review. :)
I am in awe of your ability to keep all these characters and plots and sub-plots straight. I really enjoy this story and I'm so glad you're working on it again!
Author's Response: Many thanks. Glad you're still reading!
I like it! You're going to finish it, right? *big pleading eyes*
Author's Response: Thanks, and yes I will :)
Wow. I wasn't expecting it to go this direction! How exciting!
Tonks stomped her foot. It made distressingly little sound against the cold stone rock beneath her.
I like this. It conveys very well the feeling of being lost in a vast place. Not necessarily open, but much, much bigger than one's self.
Nice touch, Professor "Emrys." The first name of Merlin... [/geeky mythology note]
Good job with the whole ring story. It fits well with what we know of the Founders' personalities and it's got such a convincing backstory. Really cool.
Tonks split her friendship fairly evenly between Charlie and Kevin, Justine and Marianne. In both groups she felt somewhat like a third wheel; they accepted her, but also seemed content in their own company.
Well done. I've been there. Most of us have, I think; you got the feeling perfectly.
This story's gotten more and more interesting as it goes. I like it a lot!
Author's Response: You caught my geeky mythology reference! Yay and huggles! I don\'t know whether or not it has any significance, but it was intentional, so make of that what you will...perhaps my subconscious has plans. Glad I\'m keeping your interest, despite the slow writing process. Thanks!
Ooh, wow. Very good. Makes sense. More please! 10!
Author's Response: Thanks. Chapter seven is still in the works, but hopefully it won't be too much longer.
I’m glad you updated! I have to admit that it took me a while to get into this story, but I do enjoy it very much.
Your opening incident is very…Tonksian. To take a very simple task, such as puncturing a fruit, and explode it? Hee. Charlie’s remark:
“You should go for pink, though — purple makes you look peaky.”
XD
I was fascinated by how suddenly and how smoothly the story went from purple goo to Nanette’s loneliness to her family history.
Tonks started out envying Nanette’s beauty, but it’s now Nanette who envies Tonks’ outgoing, happy nature. As she herself says,
That was the problem, she thought rather bitterly. She did not know how to do anything besides dance.
Poor girl’s been squished into a mold so her bitter aunt can live vicariously through her. What terrible thing to do to a child. This quote really captured it for me:
…white hands against green pod, going sedately about their business as if nothing in the world was wrong. They could have belonged to anyone. They might have been the hands of a doll.
And then you continue to refer to her doll’s hands. It’s a perfect touch – it emphasizes Nanette’s separation from the happy life that her classmates have. An unhappy life is only half living, and she’s feeling the pain of that now.
You switch so effortlessly from voice to voice. We start with Tonks and then slide into Nanette’s voice so well that I didn’t quite realize it had changed until a couple paragraphs in! The transition from Nanette staring at Charlie to Nanette’s inner voice was excellent.
This chapter does the most to advance Nanette’s journey, but you manage to keep the main plot going by sticking Rosier in. She comes in, helps solidify Professor Snith’s character, shows her own irritating sense of superiority, and leaves Tonks arguing about tunnels. Amazing!
I love your Professor Snith. Her name fits her personality perfectly, poor nervous thing. I like how in the end, Nanette sees beyond her twitchiness to the kindness inside. I had forgotten how little we know (well, how little your readers know) about Nanette’s family. I’m so glad she’ll get to find out soon!
And it’s lovely to see Nanette get out of her shell, if only a little. Any friend, even if it’s a teacher, will be good for her.
I’m curious to see the friendship that I’m sure is going to develop between Tonks and Nanette. I can see how they’re learning a little bit about each other and I’m eager to see it come to fruition!
Wonderful chapter – I’ll be back for the rest!
This is very good. I like the way you've done the Young Tonks. She makes sense. Waiting for more!
Author's Response: I've always loved Tonks, and I've enjoyed writing her as a child; glad you like her too. Chapter Five is in the queue, so more is coming soon. Thanks for reviewing!
First review, yay! I like this. You're doing a very good job of keeping them in character and it makes sense. Waiting for the rest!
Author's Response: Thanks :-) The story will get going in the next chapter, that was just to set the scene!
I finally finished your story and I am really enjoying it. I love how well you capture the stupid-teenaged-boy syndrome, and I actually like Remus' hormones -- it makes him a lot more real. Even his snogging-girl-he-barely-knows bit emphasizes that he was a teenager once, and that, as a Marauder, he was not at all perfect.
Lindi is interesting. She could be a Mary-Sue, but she isn't, and I still haven't figured out quite why. I think it's because you've got her as perfect as she could be without actually making her flawless. I like her. I like Remus better, of course, but you can't blame me for that. :D
Author's Response: Oh, Starmaiden, you have made me so happy. Lindi isn’t a Mary-Sue! LOL I have a couple of reviewers at another site that would probably argue with you. But, she does seem to be something of a mystery to them as well. One informed me that she was definitely a Sue but they still liked her and that was quote: “amazing, considering normally MS’s are the most irritating things on earth.”/quote. I took it as a compliment and got a good laugh. When I started writing this, I had no idea such a thing as Mary-Sue existed, but once into the story, I discovered this and became a bit paranoid about her as I am well aware of her Sueish qualities. I have no doubt that some readers have probably taken one glance and run off screaming, but she is written this way for plot reasons and I’m glad you and my other readers have given her the benefit of the doubt. Maybe you don’t see her as a Sue because I as her writer don’t, and maybe that comes through somehow. Trust me, I know her and she is far from flawless. I’m glad you like her.
I’m even more glad you like Remus because he is the STAR and that is as it should be. To me, his imperfections (more importantly, how he responds to them) are what make him so wonderful. "Stupid-teenaged-boy syndrome"? *giggles* Now, I don’t know how many teenaged-boys are reading my story, but it has crossed my mind that they might get offended by my depiction, but they should realize it isn’t meant as an offense. (Plus, not all teenaged boys suffer from this affliction.;) ) On the contrary, while we roll our eyes at them, it is part of what makes them intriguing and what draws us writers and readers into the Marauder era, isn’t it? Gosh, another longwinded response. I just love the *interaction* with my readers. So, thanks for a lovely review. I’m glad to know you are enjoying the story so far.
I thought this was the best chapter so far. I like your slow growing of the Marauders' friendship. The part about Remus' wand is really unique, nice touch. It showcases each of their personalities in the reactions. Really good.
Author's Response: Thank you, Starmaiden. I’m glad you enjoyed the Marauders’ development. I was hoping it wouldn’t be too rushed as it happens within one chapter. I like growing relationships slowly *winks at some of readers who think romance is growing really slowly!* Glad you like Remus’ wand; I had fun with that. Well, I’ve had fun with it all, really. I hope you continue to enjoy it and thanks for letting me know. I really appreciate it.