08/29/09
I am a recent member of the Harry Potter fandom, but I have always had a passion for the written word, and I hope to fulfill it here. I live in a relatively boring corner of Idaho, and I like Kokanee and a good book!
So, I suppose you're wondering what's up with my username. Even if you're not, this is how that happened. No, I was not aspiring to be a Gryffindor. I can't think of any house to which I would belong less than Gryffindor, in fact. It was a moment of clarity that I got while I was battling with myself about whether I should want to be Sorted into Gryffindor to be like Harry or to be Sorted elsewhere and follow my own path. I thought it to be much like the contemplative scene in Hamlet when he weighed taking his own life. I'm not trying to be melodramatic. That's simply is what popped into my head when I was trying to sign up to leave a review. :D
Any questions or comments about my work? Please shoot me an email at: tobeornottobeagryffindor@mugglenet.com — I'd love to hear from you!
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Vampire - Ghost Child! by Equinox Chick
Rated: 1st-2nd Years •Summary: Rosalburga Aphrodite Black is no ordinary Hogwarts student. First - she's American. Second - she's only just discovered she's a witch. Third - her mother is a Vampire. Fourth - her father is Sex!God Sirius Black.
Things are about to get very exciting for the new R.A.B.
This is a tale of high dram and passion. This is a tale of extreme cliche's. This is a tale that may never be seen again.
Disclaimer: I'm not JK Rowling or even Stephanie Meyer
Date: 04/03/10 Title: Chapter 1: Prologue - How they met.
Haha, Carole, you cheeky thing!
I can't believe I didn't find this the last time I trolled your author page. You should write a new chapter every time a new movie comes out. I'm sure some mod will let you. This story is hilarious.
I love how you used every stereotype in the book to make the Marauders so wonderfully ridiculous. I especially adore Sirius the Sex!God. He is just such a doll. :D
Not sure if Rosalie is bitchy enough, but then again, there were 'supposed' to be further chapters. I was waiting for her to kick one of the Marauders in the junk, lol.
All in all, this was brilliantly funny, and I'm glad you pointed it out. I wish I'd read it sooner.
Lubs,
Jess :D
Author's Response: Ah, well you see this was supposed to be their love-child's styory. Rosalburga Aphrodte Black (RAB) who had a magical sp[arkly fingernail ... or something. She goes to Hogwarts, seduces Teddy Lupin and is strangely beautiful as only an America Exchange Mary-Sue can be. I was actually worried that the vamps weren't sparkly enought *frets*
My Daddy Says by RedChequeredConverse
Rated: 3rd-5th Years •Summary: My daddy’s been acting strange. He won’t tell me why he’s so worried about Harry Potter. He won’t tell me who my mum is. He won’t tell me anything anymore.
Told from the POV of Felicity, Draco Malfoy’s daughter. Disregards the Epilogue. Contains slash, though nothing graphic.
Date: 12/02/09 Title: Chapter 1: Chapter 1
I really love your portrayal of Draco. He's different, which is the way I like him. I also adore the first person storytelling from a child's standpoint, because she notices things that some do not, such as how to pet the peacocks, and also, children are extremely perceptive of others' emotions and fears, even when they think they're not.
All in all, I will definitely keep reading.
Date: 12/02/09 Title: Chapter 2: Chapter 2
Ooh, I am hooked! First, I'm dying to know who Fee's mother is, and second, I want to know how the Harry/Draco started. My curiousity is well and truly piqued. :D
~Jess
In the Stillness of Night by cassie123
Rated: 6th-7th Years •
Summary:
The night is still, crisp, unforgiving. I take my time to walk the stone path, staring down at the rough detail on every circular rock. This is my preparation for my own self-exposure. I’m composing myself before the time comes for me to unravel.
To tell the truth isn't always easy, not even for the ones you love.
A Scorpius Malfoy/Lily Potter one shot.
Date: 10/08/09 Title: Chapter 1: In the Stillness of Night
The first to second person concept is a fascinating choice. It seems like something that she was writing to him, or maybe she's telling him a story. I somehow never pictured Lily to be the noncommittal one, that role being more suited to Scorpius, but you make it work.
Running into the friend was a good touch, because sometimes our friends worm things out of us that we're too scared to even tell ourselves, and it was good for her.
Nicely done, as usual.
Tarot by DeadManSeven
Rated: 3rd-5th Years • Summary:
A reading that consists of only cards from the Major Arcana indicates the destiny of the querant lies outside their own control - possibly within the hands of Fate itself.
Nineteen years pass between the final chapter and the epilogue. Here are two days inside those nineteen years.
Date: 10/11/09 Title: Chapter 7: (XII) - 'The Hanged Man'
Well, after mainlining seven chapters, I have come to the conclusion that this fic is absolutely genius in the making! Ever since the introduction of the Felix Felicis in the Potterverse, I've known that something with such incredible benefits was sure to come with equally powerful downfalls, and weaving a story around that is excellent.
Your syntax and vocabulary selection are well played and easy to follow, which lends this fic to addictive reading, such as staying up until six in the morning, reading like there's nothing you'd rather do...like me, lol.
Awesome story, looking forward to the next installment!
Author's Response:
Thanks for the review. I enjoyed thinking up a backstory for Felix Felicis for this story, because I like to imagine that, if technology is like magic, then in some way magic must also be like technology - spells and potions have to be developed and tested and evolved over time. To wit, the magic in the Potterverse doesn't just work like magic, and that's one of the things I find so interesting about it. I read in the early days in the fandom a couple of stories that dealt with magic in a more technical way, like it was more a set of tools rather than any kind of mystical dogma, and ever since then I try to include that kind of mindset into my stories.
But as for the rest of the story... the seventh chapter is the end. If there's anything more to be said about this view of the universe, it's not for me to say. Sorry about that. But, you know, I have a couple of other stories uploaded here...
Oblivion by Nitwit Blubber Oddment Tweak x
Rated: 3rd-5th Years • Summary: Alice Longbottom lives in a terrifying world; a world surrounded by darkness and unknowingness. Occasionally, these rare moments occur where the fog is lifted and everything just makes sense. At least, until she is once again thrust into devastating oblivion.
Can now be found on Audiofictions - Episode 126!
Date: 02/19/10 Title: Chapter 1: Chapter 1
Ah, so Elene's propaganda has led me to read this, and I must say, though I generally dislike both second person and present tense, anything else for this fic would have made it much less potent. It fit Alice's world perfectly, confining her existence to the here and now, because she really doesn't remember anything else.
Poor Neville, to have to do this every year, even though he knows that it will never get any better. No one really thought that he was a brave boy, but not many knew that he had the gobstones to do something like this, when some would not have thought twice about simply leaving them in St. Mungo's.
Very nicely done, and yay for Miss Emma. :D
Jess
Author's Response: Haha, yes, Elené's propaganda is indeed very powerful :)
Thank you so much for the lovely review, Jess; your compliments and your general comments. It really means a lot to me :)
All For You by jenny b
Rated: 3rd-5th Years •Summary: ‘Do you think we can keep this a secret forever?’
Scorpius has met the person of his dreams. The only problem is, now he has to tell the world. The world that was expecting him to marry a pretty pure-blood girl one day- not Albus Potter.
Date: 11/30/10 Title: Chapter 2: Chapter Two
Hello!
Why, why, whyyyyyy have I never read this? I could have sworn that I’d stalked your author page before, and this would’ve been one of the first things I’d have clicked on. At any rate, it doesn’t matter, because I have it available in order to leave you a better review than the squeezing that I probably would have before.
Honestly, I don’t think I could specify what my absolute favourite part of this story is. There are just so many stunning elements to it. First, the characterisation is delicious. Having Scorpius question himself as to whether he wanted to be ‘normal’ and not be in love with Albus and how others would react to it if he was is so genuine. Recently, one of my best friends from school and I got back in touch via Facebook, and he told me that he had come out himself. He was so comfortable with it, yet only his immediate family and very, very few close acquaintances, because he wasn’t so at ease with it being openly homosexual. This reminds me so much of him, and I really think that you’ve captured those tremulous feelings of doubt and hesitance, despite the intensity of his feelings for Albus, so very well. Having delved into the realm of the odd and awkward aspects of coming out for Albus, I know how difficult it is to discern what is genuine and poignant from melodramatic and overstated. I don’t suppose I ever thought about how it would be if the roles were reversed, but in retrospect, it would be doubly difficult for Scorpius, who was saddled with so much social expectation, to overcome that doubt, which you did a brilliant job in illustrating. Also, the fact that he’s a bit of a coward like Draco adds a good bit of character as well as a nice canonical tie.
Albus, my favourite subject. I adore your Albus, even though he’s so different from your WWC characterisation, because he’s just so different. Often (guilty as charged), he’s troubled and angsty, but in this, he’s the one who just doesn’t get why Scorpius can’t simply say, “Hey, I’m gay. Yes, I’m dating the son of my father’s former nemesis, and I don’t care what you say.” He’s almost blithely ignorant to the social pressures that surround Scorpius, but I think that’s one of the things that Scorpius loves about him. And then there’s that floppy surfer hair and the sheer amount of cheek it would take to initiate a kiss with someone whom he honestly couldn’t have been sure to be gay. *sigh*
I will admit... I giggled a bit when Rose came into the picture. It has, upsettingly so, become cliché to make Albus and Rose friends, but I solidly believe that a cliché is only a cliché if it’s badly done. I do, however, think it was brilliantly done. She’s cranky and pushy, which is a stark contrast from Albus’s more amenable and playful nature. She’s almost a mother hen toward Scorpius when it comes to Al, and I think that is definitely a character trait that she would have learnt from being a Weasley.
Wow to Astoria. I suppose I’m more used to her crazy, alcoholic counterpart from WWC that I was surprised to see her as more of a Molly Weasley type. I don’t know if there is really a right or wrong answer to her characterisation, but the idea that Scorpius has parents who are to at least an extent loving and supporting gives me the feel-goods. That being said, I don’t know if I buy Draco’s day and night transition in such a short period of time. I suppose my reasoning behind this is the fact that it took him years to realise that being a Death Eater and a supporter of Voldemort is a really bad idea. He’s not stupid, but he is blind to things he doesn’t want to see, and he’s far too much a coward to change, I would think. I’m by no means saying that your portrayal of Draco isn’t valid, but I suppose I feel like I would need a bit more information about his change as a person to naysay the canon!Draco I know, or even the slightly frosty, judgmental Draco that Scorpius talked about in the first chapter. I suppose it’s just something for you to think about. It’s certainly given me something to think about.
I really like the completely random and unimpressive department that you picked for Scorpius and put it up against a job that Albus’s family had arranged for him to get. It seems like such a drastic reversal from what one would expect with a family who could probably buy their way in or out of anything, but a fitting one. Plus, the nature of their relationship at work is interesting. It just seems so normal, people from work dating and trying like hell to keep it a secret, even though there is nothing inherently wrong or against the rules about it. It’s endearing that they act so very different around one another in the company of their peers as compared to being around a bunch of nameless, faceless Muggles. There is just such a ring of truth about it.
Finally, the actual dynamics between Albus and Scorpius are simply amazing. Their camaraderie and ease with one another is fluid and seamless, yet I can still clearly discern one from the other. I think the best example of this is when they’re at the Muggle bar and half in the bag. It’s so easy to tell that they’re in love from the way they banter back and forth, and the sheer tactility between them when they finally did succumb to their feelings. It’s enough to make me go weak at the knees in delight. Slashy slash (I think you know what I mean) ruins what could have been a good pairing, and the fact that you didn’t do that and instead made it a beautiful coming together of souls made all the difference in the world. You rock so very hard for that.
I’m sure I’ve told you this before, but the way you write is so very nice. It lets me not have to think about the way you write and just concentrate on the story itself. I never realised how valuable this was until I ventured further into the depths of the archives and away from authors I knew to be trusted and talented. It makes each and every time I revisit, for example, your author page just that much more fulfilling. It’s hard not to take such things for granted, considering the talent of my f-list.
All in all, this story is completely fabulous, and I love, love, love it. I can’t wrap my head around any single element that pleases me the most about it, because there are simply so many. I just want to cuddle up with this fic and read it on a rainy day. Thank you for crafting such a fab story, and thank you for making me your SPEW buddy to give me an excuse (as well as proper motivation) to read it.
*hugs*
~Jess
Minor note: There is a small continuity error in the following passage:
‘You are so stubborn,’ she said, rolling her eyes. There was a resigned look on her face as she stood up and left me alone at the table again. I sighed. No matter what I said to them, they were only going to see it as an act of cowardice. Which, thinking about it, it was.
You have him sitting at a table, but they’re standing in the Atrium at the Ministry. Simply taking out ‘at the table’ would remedy that.
Thassal. XD
Love Story by Radcliffefan07
Rated: 6th-7th Years •Summary: This is the story of true love. Over the course of the summer the unexpected happens and many things change in the lives of our three favorite characters. This is my take on the the way things should have been. Follow the trio through the summer after the battle, their seventh year at Hogwarts and beyond. H/Hr. Enjoy!
Date: 02/27/10 Title: Chapter 2: Chapter One: The Flight
Helloooooo, Ash! :)
I was lurk/stalking on the beta boards and stumbled upon this in Fiction Junction, so I thought I'd give it a quick look see. First off, I love Harmony, so the subject is perfect for me.
I like your premise, because it is very Harry to spend a tonnes of money on a trip to get away before starting his Auror career (I'm assuming you're keeping as close to canon as possible). I can also see Ron having Horcrux Hell Redux, thinking about Harry and Hermione cheating behind his back. Being stuck on a plane for what had to be at least 12 hours couldn't have possibly been fun or conducive to peace between the Trio.
I really only have one nitpick, and it's not anything that you wrote so much as what you didn't write. I think it would have added a lot to your fic if you made the prologue about Harry and Ginny parting ways (show their conversations and their thoughts on the matter of splitting, or at least on Harry's end of the equation) and merged the current prologue with the first chapter. It would help make Harry's current nonchalance about his non-relationship with Ginny more solid and believable. Feel free to ignore me, though, as it is oh-so-easy to do, lol.
Overall, a nice read, and I look forward to another issue popping out of the queue soon (or whenever you can get to it).
Take care and happy writing!
Jess
Author's Response: Jess, thanks so much. Sorry it took so long for me to respond. The next chapter is in the queue. I'll message you when it's validated. The bit you're talking about, with harry and Ginny talking hasn't happened because they've been avoiding each other. It will come about in a later chapter. And Ginny is none too pleased. Trust me. Thanks for reading and reviewing. Keep a lookout for chapter two!
The Past Undone by padfoot_returns
Rated: 1st-2nd Years •Summary: After the war, Draco's life was devastated. So, he left behind his past and made a new life for himself but when his past catches up with him, it teaches him a lesson that would help to fix his future.
This is padfoot_returns of Hufflepuff writing for the Third Task of the Triwizard Tournament.
Date: 11/26/09 Title: Chapter 2: Say What You Need to Say
**SNIFF**
So sad! I always feel bad for Draco, when he had a bad go of it. I don't know whether its my personal opinion about who he eventually becomes or what his birthright had forced him to be.
I love that Hermione was the one that found him, because he probably disliked/disrespected her the most throughout school as the queen of the Mudbloods, yet she became his de facto saving grace.
I love it, it makes me happy in my NaNo crunchtime induced literary depression. Thank you. :D
The Torment Bred in the Race by paperrose
Rated: 3rd-5th Years •Summary: It's been twelve years since the Wizarding world saw Harry Potter after he mysteriously disappeared into the Forbidden Forest during the Final Battle in 1998. Now Lord Voldemort has conquered, extending his reach not just over Britain, but France, Germany, and Spain as well.
Meanwhile, hidden deep within the Canadian Rocky Mountains in British Columbia, a terrifying secret is brewing at the magic school that McGonagall herself founded just after the second battle for Hogwarts. It is at this school where Muggle-born Leah Andrews and her best friends, Gwen and Cory, will find themselves thrown into the search for the truth: What is a dead snake doing hung from a tree like a sacrificial lamb? Who really is the new DADA professor with the strange colour-changing eyes and bad mood swings? And just what does a gentle half-giant gamekeeper have to do with any of this?
One thing is for certain - all is definitely not well.
This is the sequel to Alternate Ending. I strongly recommend you read that one first, although I don't think it's necessary.
Excerpt from the Epilogue:
As he sidestepped them, he glanced down again at the wrinkled slip of parchment Charlie had handed him two days earlier with nothing more than a quiet word that there may still be one last loose end to tie.
Date: 07/28/10 Title: Chapter 14: Epilogue
Aww, yay! Harry is going to be okay. Though I know you said you wouldn't do it, I was worried that he'd plummet into the lake or something in despair. I never thought of him picking up as Teddy's godfather. In a way, it all came full circle, with Harry coming into Teddy's life at 13, just as Sirius had come into his. I think the effect on both of them will be positive.
Wow, what a lovely story. It really is a great read, and I hope you feel accomplished for finishing it. Just look at the number of stories that are started and never finished, and you can safely say that no, it wasn't you in there. :D
Welcome to the club!
It's been a great ride, and I'm glad I picked your story out of so many to read, because it's extraordinary. Take care and happy writing,
Jess
Author's Response: Aww ... thanks!! :D I do feel accomplished, although I CAN actually call myself a member of the Abandoned Stories club. My first attempt at a chapter fan fiction got to chapter 10 and no further, and has been steadily collecting dust on my Author's page. I don't think I'll ever take it down 'cuz it shows a lot of my development as a writer ... but I doubt it'll ever get finished either. :P
Amber
Date: 02/23/10 Title: Chapter 8: The Tip of the Iceberg
Yay! Plot fleshing. :)
I was wondering how 'Masen' could possibly have a weak Patronus until I read the last bit.
The tale is well and truly afoot now. I can't wait to find out what our dastardly villain has planned for our lil' firsties. Well done.
Take care and happy writing!
Jess
Author's Response: Thanks! The next chapter is a bit harder to write than I'd hoped, but I'll try to get it out soon! The story is coming to its climax within a chapter or two now.
Date: 07/24/10 Title: Chapter 11: The Beginning of the End
Hmm, old Moldy Shorts is playing his hand now. This is very intriguing, and the idea for the dementor is great. How better to suck out a soul than to use one of them?
I'd leave a more substantial review, but I'm eager to get to teh next chapter. Wondeful, as usual.
~Jess
Date: 07/24/10 Title: Chapter 12: In Fate's Hands
So, um...WOW. To think that Voldie's soul could even give a dementor indigestion is interesting, but I would like to ask how it was that Voldemort's body just, you know, reappeared. Last time, it required that ritual in GoF, but this time, a body just appeared out of thinair. I woldn't mind knowing what your thought process is behind it.
Yay, Harry's alive!!! The idea that he was dead dead made me sad inside, but he's alive, thank merlin. That does beg the question of where Harry's mind whas during all of this. In DH, it was in King's Cross with Dumbledore. It would be interesting to know where you have him during the time between 'death' and when he started breathing again. I suppose I have to keep reading to find out, eh?
One more chapter plus an epilogue? Well, there's one chapter, so I suppose I can't wait for the epilogue. :D
~Jess
Author's Response: Thanks for reviewing!! About Voldemort reappearing ... it probably doesn't make much sense .... but my idea was that he didn't HAVE his own body, and he didn't just regain it when he reappeared here. That body was destroyed during the first Hogwarts battle when Harry walked to his death, and so essentially, Harry was a Horcrux whose conscious mind had been pushed back by Voldie overload. Like in CoS, young Voldie could materialize out of his diary, but he wasn't 100% solid person either. Same idea. In this case however, the Dementor drew out the soul but Voldie didn't have enough happy memories for the Dementor to contain him, so he spit Voldie's soul back out. Voldie probably could've gone back in Harry - nothing was stopping him - he just decided to vent his anger instead.
Hope that makes sense LOL!
Date: 07/24/10 Title: Chapter 13: Aftermath
Oh, I heart heart heart your CAPSLOCK!Harry. I never really thought about it, but he would end up being empty and hollow like Sirius. After that much time in Azkaban, there would be no way of him properly adjusting to anything resembling normalcy. In fact, I think that Harry's position would be even worse. It was said that wizards lose their magic after years in Azkaban, and I sort of think that it would happen to Harry, as well. He would basically be one pissed off Muggle/Squib with nowhere to go and no one to turn to.
I cant wait for the epilogue, because I sort of think Harry's gonna end up killing himself, and I want to know if I'm right.
Happy writing, and very well done!
~Jess
Author's Response: Oooh, I don't want Harry to kill himself! *shudders* In my universe, Harry doesn't lose his magic (Sirius didn't either, so maybe it happens if the prisoner loses his mind? Maybe he's cut off from his magic when the prisoner's no longer themselves?) But you're right, Harry can never be the same as he was. He still has friends though, and a place to go; McGonagall n the Weasleys especially make sure of that. I also think Harry is very resilient - he's always dealt with a lot - and I love writing and reading angsty Harry, but I love happy endings more :P
Amber
P.S. The epilogue will be in the queue very soon! I'm ready to put this story to rest.
Date: 12/17/09 Title: Chapter 1: The Journey Begins
Ah, very interesting! I've been wanting to read this one for quite some time, but since I'm impatient once I start reading, I leave it percolate, so to speak, until I have a good number chapters through which I can read all at once. I love the premise of your story, and I'll probably pick up Alternate Ending (ironically) after I get into this one.
I take it that all the 'good guys' from the Second War made a mass exodus to the wilds of Canada, which is a brilliant place to hide, as there is so much unpopulated space.
Well, anyway, I'll stick with you, so good luck and happy writing!
~Jess
Author's Response: Thanks for the great review! It's so uplifting to hear something nice about this story since it's not very popular and I've gotten quite a few 'not-so-great' reviews. BC really is a great place to hide. I've only visited it once but parts of it are so beautiful and peaceful and isolated - it could do wonders for a damaged soul. We'll see a few of our old friends over time, and a lot of big characters who didn't make it past the 2nd battle are mentioned in Alternate Ending because there were a lot. Again, thanks for reviewing and enjoy!
Date: 12/17/09 Title: Chapter 2: The Sorting
So far, I'm completely hooked! I wouldn't want to change anything. I was 99% sure that the dark-haired, cranky professor was actually Harry, but now my mind is racing with thoughts, slight confusion, and an innate desire to learn more, which I believe would be the desired effect.
Keep up the good work, and I'll try to snap my annoying habit of not reviewing frequently and leave one every chapter.
~Jess
Author's Response: *Evil laughter* because oh, how very much I love keeping people guessing!
Date: 12/17/09 Title: Chapter 3: A Rough Start for Some
Wowsers, poor kid! I know what preconceived notions at school are all about, though in my case, it was the complete opposite. The teachers all expected me to be a trouble-maker and/or permanent fixture in detention. I guess I was as pleasant a surprise as Cory was an unpleasant one to Masen and even to 'Professor' Thomas (assuming it's Dean).
So far, I'm still on board. I can't honestly see why anyone would say anything bad about this story, because it's really interesting. Then again, my first story has tons of great reviews and one bad one, and I'm sure you can guess which one sticks in my mind. :-/
~Jess
Date: 12/17/09 Title: Chapter 4: Flying and Fire
Ooh, I think I'm getting it now! The story is finally starting to click into place, and it's looking to be a good one. I really hope your muse doesn't abandon you (I hate it when that happens to me).
Still excellent work, and happy writing!
~Jess
Author's Response: Thanks! :D
Date: 12/17/09 Title: Chapter 5: The Sword of Gryffindor
Yikes! This is a good development, and HA! (purposely chosen) Take that, Nagini.
I like the dynamic of Leah, Cory and Gwen becoming a sort of new Trio, which makes me wonder if Cory and Gwen will end up having kids someday, lol.
Still extremely interested!
~Jess
Author's Response: LOL! And do you think a Cory/Gwen pairing would ever work? Because that's always been a secret thought of mine that would never make it into the story. I would also be interested in hearing your thoughts about Masen.
Date: 12/17/09 Title: Chapter 6: Eyes of the Past
Oh, wow, now I'm sure of it. Masen isn't Masen at all! He's two very recognizable characters, not at once, but the one the kids see is the less than desirable one (not trying to ruin it for anyone that reads reviews before the story). He's such an angry jerk to them, but Hagrid could not possibly be lying when he said that Masen was perfectly nice to him.
Ah, the plot is afoot! I can't wait to see how it shakes out.
~Jess
PS-You could totally ship Cory/Gwen in later years. They rub each other in just enough ways to be a perfect match. Leah, on the other hand, I think will end up being more of a loner until she falls for an older man (look at me, letting my imagination run away with your characters...I'm pretentious like that)