Oh Julia, this was so very, very worth the (short) wait. I love the way you've constructed this story. The backwards structure works really well, and makes the ending (of the story)/beginning (of the catastrophe) so much more meaningful.

I loved your characters. Hermione, who just functions, even though she's overwhelmed. Ron, who has hope, but is broken because he lost his friends and family – those would have been so important to him, since he's always had someone around him at all times. Harry, who is reduced to a creature, and who has to be left behind. Ginny, who is so brave and practical and so very very stubborn. She doesn't bargain, she just knows what has to happen. And poor Draco, not only abandoned by his mother for possibly the first time ever, but basically assaulted by her. I loved the part from his POV – that was hilarious. Xenophilius going to the Weasleys for help, because Luna trusts her friends... wow. That was so well thought out. I loved how it wasn't random at all, but everything was connected.

Every section had its own voice, and that just worked perfectly. (Also the dates really helped me place things.) I had a fairly vague picture in my head the whole time, and the only reason it was vague was that I never lingered for very long but had to read on.

There's so much I loved about this, but I feel like I can't go on forever, and I don't know how to phrase my amazement anyway :x One thing I have to say though is that I loved the gaps you left. There's so much other stuff that is possible, other people, fates, events... and that engages my own brain, which always makes stories very very cool. People should write missing moments fanfiction for this fanfiction.

I can picture them living at Malfoy Manor so well. It's a huge place, and they could set up those large rooms to accommodate hundreds of people, probably. It's fenced and walled in, so they'd just need guards to make sure nothing climbs the walls, and they might work with slashing hexes or whatever. Apparition could make things easier if you needed special supplies, but considering they can multiply their medical supplies and even food to an extent, that might not be necessary at all. They can grow food in a garden, and if they're very lucky, there's something like hunting grounds attached to the estate...

One last thing I wonder is whether other countries would ever take them in as refugees or whether they'd be too scared of an infection that might already have taken place. Probably a good thing that they were on an island :x

Wow, Julia. This was such a fast and thrilling read. I don't see any way this story could be improved.

Author's Response: Kara, Kara, Kara. Thank you so much. Really. You might not realise it but your enthusiasm for this fic is what kept me going, especially when I felt like I was going around in circles. So thank you. And thank you for this amazing review. It was so important to keep everyone in characters. AUs are much maligned because of their reputation for poor characterisation, so I'm really glad you loved them. I do have this weird little backstory with their life at Malfoy Manor. Maybe I will write it down sometime but it is very similar to the way you imagine it - like a commune. As for other countries taking them in, I imagine that other nations blocked the British Isles off with anti-Apparition wards, like a quarantine, to make sure infected people didn't try to escape. In my mind, the wards would eventually be lifted but not for many, many years so survivors would have to make do and try to rebuild their lives in constant fear. It's a very bleak world :\ But how could a zombie apocalypse be anything but bleak, let's be honest hahaha! Anyway, thank you so much for this review! It means so much.

Julia x

PSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSST Natatatatatatalie my eternal love and sunshine!

I really, really love this. I never thought I could get into a prose poem as much as this, but there you are! The more I look at this poem, the more I realise how structured and how poetry-like it is. The repetition of the date, for one, gives it such clear structure.

But most of all, what I love about this is the language. It's very VERY rhythmical, and just so touching in its simplicity. I felt so, SO sorry for Petunia, because deep down, she's not a terrible person. We saw glimpses of that in the books, and she would have changed after the war as well. Especially since Dudley changed. So yes, I was incredibly sad that she was alone on her birthday, that she had to eat on her own - and then of course so happy and relieved when Dudley and Harry arrived! And yes, there was a tear in the corner of my eye!

The language paints such a beautiful picture of Petunia's neat and orderly life, how she's built it forever, and works so hard to maintain it. All that makes the emotions so much stronger.

I can't properly talk about poetry, but I want you to know that this is great, and it's so deserving of the joint win! Congraaaatulations on that and well done!!! I'm glad I got to read this.

Author's Response: THANK YOU! :D I am glad I won (along with Her Excellence) and that brought you here! This review gives me so much happinesssss <333

Julia! This poem! *gasps* I'll try to put my feelings into words, but I can't promis that I will be coherent.

It's just so... incredible. I love how the structure of the poem sort of echoes the fragmented and torn fabric of Cedric's robes, which in turn echoes the broken family, the pain, the hole that can't be mended. It's not a perfect poem structurally, but that's the beauty about it. Nothing is whole here. Almost every line is an enjambement, because everything has been pushed into chaos.

Your choice of words is just so beautiful as well. "Please please: fix them." - that's almost my favourite line. But it'd be impossible to pick, since it's all so perfect. Especially the actions of the characters: "The girl tilts her head this way and that in a shake that / clearly means no, I’m sorry, I wish I could"

I can't coherently express how much I love this, especially the contrast between the grieving parents and the girl that sympathises but doesn't understand. She shows them the new robes, but the hole in their family can't be filled because Cedric can't be replaced.

The robes are fantastic as a metaphor and a stand-in for Cedric both in terms of the poem and the poetic language and in terms of the parents' grief, holding on to this one thing, if this can be fixed, then everything can....


I feel sort of stupid reviewing your poem, because you're so good at this, and I know you know everything I've said above, because you clearly thought this through incredibly well. Before I make more of a fool of myself, I just want you to know that I am completely in love with this and I admire your breathtakingly beautiful use of language - not just here, but in everything that you write.

Author's Response: Ahhh thank you so much, Kara! I was so excited to see this win alongside The Absent Guests, which is one of my favourites. It was quite emotional writing this poem so it's great to see that translate onto the readers, as well. Don't feel stupid!!! I love getting reviews from everybody, and this one has left a huge grin on my face. Thanks again xoxo