I love Harry Potter fan fiction, because it allows my imagination to run free!
I probably could be doing something more productive, but since I love to read and write, and hope to be an author one day, this doesn't seem like a whole waste of time!!!!
I love this site so much. It really let's me challenge my mind and see things in a whole new light.
Go fan fiction!!!!!
EDIT: I am a poetry nut! So watch out for all my poetry and you can even check some of my poetry out on Poetry Anyone? in the Beta Forums, if you are able to get an account. :) Also watch out if you write poetry, too! I am sure to review it, and possibly leave behind a critique!
Stages of Grief by Eliza Lupin
Rated: 1st-2nd Years [Reviews - 4]
Summary: A short poem from George to his Twin.
This is a very nice poem, especially for a first one. :) Keep it up!
Author's Response: Thank you I'm planning on writing some more now :) EL
Winters by hestiajones
Rated: 3rd-5th Years [Reviews - 4]
Summary: A series of vignettes taken from Sirius' mind when he is in Azkaban, and the threads that hold them together.
Expanded from a drabble written for an SBBC Challenge.LOVE! Wow, I absolutely enjoyed the contrast of Sirius' different mentalities. He was hopeless, and serious, then crazy and silly... Made me enjoy his character all the more! I really liked the little flash back, and am still pondering if the question James asked was meant to be asking Sirius to join him in death... There were several instances where I saw double meanings, and it made this stroy have so much depth. Really great job!!!!!! I have enjoyed all your work. Keep it up!
Author's Response: Kaylee, thank you for this lovely review! It really makes me want to write more!!!! :D
To Fear the Flame by Acacia Carter
Rated: 3rd-5th Years [Reviews - 4]
Summary: Neville hadn't expected his boggart to ever change. Perhaps he should have done.
I am very impressed with this piece! What a smart way to incorporate boggarts!!! I actually felt like I was there, and Tobias felt like he belonged. How do you do it? Gah! I love how Neville's Boggart made sense, and the juxtaposition of him being in Snape's dungeons made it even better!
If I had to find anything to change, it might be Professor McGonagall's character. She needs to be a bit more brisk and stern in manner. Perhaps add in things like her bun being tight, or looking none to pleased at the prospect of banishing boggarts. You have great attention to detail, so I know you can strengthen McGonagall a little more. I realize the story isn't about her, but rounding her out a little more in the beginning will help make the situation seem even more real!
Overall, though, I really enjoyed this story! Good luck on the challenge. :D
~Nagini Riddle, a fellow Boggart challenger
Relativity by Padfoot11333
Rated: 3rd-5th Years [Reviews - 6]
Summary: 
Failure: fail·ure: a fracturing or giving way under stress, a falling short.
Hermione has faced a boggart before. The problem is, she didn't succeed.
This is Padfoot11333 of Hufflepuff writing for the Great Hall Mini-Challenge: The Boggart Challenge.
IT WONNN--alongside Gmariam's Afraid of the Dark. I am shocked :)
Ooh!!! I am rather jealous of how you wrote this! Very beautiful in how you rummaged through hermione's mind. It fit so well, the idea of failure. I think, in a way, we all fear that same relative concept.
Good luck on the challenge! This is eons better than my two entries!!!
~Nagini Riddle, a fellow challenger
Author's Response: Oooh, thank you so much for the review. I really wasn't happy with the way this story turned out--it was written rather quickly, and I haven't written something that fast since the Great Hall Cotillion! But I'm glad you liked it at any rate. Good luck on the challenge!
Lily xxx
Afraid of the Dark by Gmariam
Rated: 3rd-5th Years [Reviews - 7]
Summary: The fears of one's youth are often quite different than the fears of adulthood. For some, it remains the same, simply shifting form as one's fear moves from without to within.
For Sirius Black, light will always conquer any fear of the dark.
This is Gmariam of Ravenclaw writing for the Great Hall Boggart Challenge.
I don't even know what to say. I felt as though I was Sirius. And suddenly, he didn't seem like an arrogant, careless person like he is often made out to be by those around him. I connected to him, strongly felt the fears and inner feelings. In fact, I think his Boggart would be mine- to see myself consumed by darkness. It would be a failure of myself, and I don't think I could live with that.
Anyways, I was really impressed. I think you need to trade brains with me for a day so I can write something this good. :)
Good luck on the challenge!
~Nagini Riddle, a fellow challenger
Author's Response: Thanks for reading this, Nagini! I'm glad you liked it. :) It was tricky at times, trying to suss out just what Sirius's boggart would be. I'm glad it made sense and came across well enough. I'll keep my brain--you wouldn't want it anyway, there is also a lot of useless fluff floating around, lol. Thanks again for the lovely review - and good luck yourself! ~Gina :)
When Dreams Become Nightmares by alex13
Rated: 1st-2nd Years [Reviews - 1]
Summary: Even though Harry has had a good life after Hogwarts, he still thinks what if...
Hello!
I really enjoyed getting to read this, and there are some things you did really well, especially with your metaphors.
I would have liked to see less of the ellipses, because they were somewhat distracting. They worked well for the lines "And I hope," and "Let it take you home," and maybe even "And I sink," but in the other areas, it really made me try to slow down and understand what you were going for, and I think it works far better without the ellipses.
I also would have liked a little more repetition of certain phrases. One more time for "Warm sunny days," would have really helped to tie the poem together. I also feel like perhaps your title doesn't fit for the poem because of the certain phrases you emphasized. I would title it "Nostalgia," or "Reminiscence." Or, to make it fit even more, I would title it "One Last Shining Moment." Your title makes me think of something happier, but here you have a memory turning to something dark and then the hope to be able to return to those memories. At least, that's how I interpreted it. I may be wrong.
Overall, though, I think you did very well. :) If you want to get better feedback on poetry, join Poetry Anyone? in the beta forums. They are super helpful and a delightful group to share poetry with.
Keep writing! :)
~Nagini
Author's Response: Hi Nagini! Thank you for the throughly amazing review!! You have definitely given me a lot of things to think about! I hope I can take this and apply it to get better.
You didn't interpret it wrong it all. I did fear that that might be the case, concerning the title I mean. What do you think about "When Dreams Become Nightmares" or "A Beautiful Lie"? But can I still change the title?
Anyways, you're suggestions will be rattling in my noggin for awhile, and I will definitely check that club out. Thank you again for the amazing review! It really made my day! :)
More Than Just You by opti
Rated: 3rd-5th Years [Reviews - 6]
Summary: Some things are worse than losing someone, like never having them at all. A short Shell Cottage missing moment.
Warning is for implication, just to be safe.
Can I just say wow? :)
This narrative was exquisite, and I could really feel the pain and anguish Hermione felt. I really liked the nightmare she had- it felt and read like a nightmare, and I was rather impressed. I think, Joe, that you need to have more nightmares and write! *crickets* Okay, maybe not nightmares... :)
Anyways, this was awesome! I haven't read much of your work (and am regretting it), but from the little I've read, I can see that you are a great writer! Keep it up. I want to see more! I want to read more! So appease me, opti. *chuckles* Goodness, when did I become so demanding?
I'll be sure to help you out in appeasing my demand. Maybe I'll come up with some ridiculous prompt and pm you later. :)
~Nagini Riddle
Author's Response: First of all, thanks so much for the review!
I've so far wrote two stories based on dreams and both of them went over pretty well, so maybe I'll have to look in that wellspring more often. Or not, whatever I'll play by ear. And yes, a challenge would do me good - especially since all I can seem to write these days is either R/Hr fluff or 'oh, woe is me!' from either Hermione's or Draco's perspective.
An Oath Forsworn by Equinox Chick
Rated: 1st-2nd Years [Reviews - 3]
Summary: Firenze ponders his loyalty to the herd against his knowledge of what is right.
Disclaimer: I am not JK Rowling. I suspect her poetry, like her prose, is far better than mine.
Thank you, Minna for the crit in Poetry, Anyone? and Julia for setting the challenge.
It does get so little love! Why do people not like it???? Especially when you have this beautiful piece that I was just dying to read and review here on the archives after seeing it in the PA. :)
Anyways, what more can I say after my critique? It's such a great subject to write a poem on, and I was rather surprised to see that you thought outside the box. :) Plus, the words you choose are very elegant and graceful and just plain awesome. I really need your vocabulary list!
Best Potter villanelle I've read to date. And poor Firenze. I wonder what happened to him after the war...
~Nagini
Author's Response: I was quite stuck with the prompt, but knew I wanted to write about Centaurs. the thing is, they don;t think of themselves as discriminated against because they know they're better - ha.
Thank you very much for the lovely review. I'm not sure where my vocab comes from, years on this earth perhaps, butI pick up new ones every week by reading prose and poetry from different people, I guess.
Thanks again ~Carole~
Lights Go Out by ToBeOrNotToBeAGryffindor
Rated: 3rd-5th Years [Reviews - 4]
Summary: And such is the madness of the woman who so craves the approval of her Lord.
A Bellatrix Lestrange poem.
Okay, why didn't I see this???? I must have been overly stressed and busy, because this should have caught my eye right away!
Wow, is all I can really say. This is a great sonnet, and is far better than my attempts. *chuckles* And I love how you interpreted the "prompt" given to us. :) You are a true genius with poetry.
My only complaint? I must see more! I want to read more! And also hear your thoughts, too. I'm not psychic, either...
Great job, Jess. I look forward to all your poetry, past, present, and future.
~Nagini
Defying Home by HumanHorcrux
Rated: 1st-2nd Years [Reviews - 2]
Summary: Sirius's sorting.
Hi! I just wanted to say first off that I commend you for delving into the mysterious world that is poetry. :P
I have to agree with Carole- I liked how this started off, because I really could sense the anticipation. I think, though, that you could play around with structure. You seem to have all the dialogue stay as one line, but I think by breaking them up so they stay the same length as the other lines would not only make the overall visual more appealing, but it would also help emphasize certain points of your poem.
As for ideas? I don't know what you like and don't like, but I think it would be interesting to see you write about insignificant things and make them have more importance, like nifflers or perhaps a certain spell that has some glory to it, like "expelliarmus." But keep writing! It really helps to do so if you want to improve. :)
Nagini
P.S. I wouldn't mind some reviews from you!
Author's Response: Nagini- Thanks for the review, I really appreciate it! The mysterious world of HP poetry has opened its doors. :P I'll try the out the visual appeal idea- constructive criticism FTW! I've got another idea, and I'm working on it, but I'll give your idea a go when life doesn't tie me down. Thanks again for the review! :D (I'll be around at your work in a mo. :D I've read some of your poems before, but I can't remember whether I've left you a review.)
Celestina's Songbook: Summer Lovin' by minnabird, Equinox Chick, Karaley Dargen, the opaleye, hestiajones, rachelnotrach, The owl, Nagini Riddle
Rated: 3rd-5th Years [Reviews - 11]
Summary:
Slide on in and kick off your shoes. Celestina’s Songbook is back! Here are the hits of the summer season, brought to you by the authors of MNFF.
Yay!!!!! :) I think we should all give a big virtual hug to Jess, who worked for over ten hours on submitting this alone. I don't think we appreciate the hard work she did enough. So thank you Jess!!!! And here are some virtual cookies, too, for your hard work. :)
As for everyone else, great job! I can hardly wait for the next songbook challenge...
~NAGINI, who will now go and review each individual one instead of all of them at once... :P
Author's Response: yes, it's fabulous. well done everyone for being fabulous and amazing and writing so fabulously fabulous.
I loved this so much, and I could really hear the rhythm of it in my head. What a great way to really get down on some summer fun. Gimme three steps... ;]
Great job, minna. I love your work.
-Nagini
Wow. I this computer let me use exclamation points, it would be all over this. ;] You incorporated the wizarding world really well in this song, and while parts of it were cheesy, I really enjoyed reading it and imagining Ginny singing it. ;] Cheers.
-Nagini
Author's Response: Thank you very much. I had fun writing this, not least because it meant I could keep listening to the song - ha ha.
Such wit. ;] I especially liked the end when you wrote [fade out]. It made me chuckle. Great job, fellow poet. We overcame the challenge. Mwahahahahaha.
-Nagini
Author's Response: Haha, thanks Nagini :) The challenge was good fun, although I'm not quite sure why you're cackling quite so ebilly...
~Sophie
Sing Me To Sleep by TheHarryPotterNerd
Rated: 1st-2nd Years [Reviews - 8]
Summary: Today is Lily's last day. Everyone she knows will soon be gone. Menkes had finally won, and she had lost.
Goodness! How could she face her death that way? This really hit me. My own brother died almost five years ago, but it wasn't in this manner. He died of natural causes during his sleep, almost like Lily here, but I didn't know he was going to die. I don't know what I would have done if I had known...
Thanks for the story. I guess it shows that death is going to come and instead of fearing it so much, we really should learn to just live out our lives and then embrace death. I noticed that same theme in Deathly Hallows, and I'm glad you capture it.
~Nagini
Cause and Effect by ToBeOrNotToBeAGryffindor
Rated: 6th-7th Years [Reviews - 12]
Summary:
Katie Bell fought hard to build a relationship with a difficult and reclusive Draco Malfoy, despite their dire past, but she felt like she was losing him more the closer they came to their wedding date. However, when Draco manages to strand himself far in the past with his newly-discovered Temporal Displacement Potion, Katie follows him back, only to find more than she bargained for.
She found the truth.
This is ToBeOrNotToBeAGryffindor of Ravenclaw, writing for the Ninth Round of the Gauntlet.
Gah, you have done so well with the prompts so far! I actually did not have to suspend my belief, Jess. :) I think the only thing I was skeptical of was the people burning Draco, because they normally didn't go after men for witchcraft, but I think it worked in this case so there was a sense of danger. Overall, I really enjoyed it! I was do excited to see this, and as I read, I tried to catch the prompts given to us. I was thrilled when she drank the potion, and equally impressed with how you incorporated the second prompt. I eagerly await the next chapter... :) In the meantime, would you mind reading my story and reviewing? It is sadly misrepresented with its zero reviews... :(
Great job Jess!
~Nagini
Author's Response:
Sorry for the epically late response!
Actually, they weren't burning Draco for being a witch; rather, he was caught stealing. Normally, they'd chop a hand, but if he tried to use magic at all to free himself, they very well might've tried burning him at the stake.
This story is weird. I still don't know if I'll ever be happy with it, and I'm pretty sure my Gauntlet fic from two years ago was better than this, but I had fun writing Draco and Katie, who are one of my OTPs. Thankfully, the endgame that I had planned for the story from the outset was more or less intact. When you know where you're going, it tends to be easier to get there.
Usually, I make it a policy not to review challenge fics I'm judging or stories I mod, but if I do happen to find the time, I will do my best to check out the competition!
Thanks for the visit!
~Jess
Hello! :) Before I say how fantastic this is, I want to point out that in your eighth paragraph, you wrote that they put the skin out in the sun to "try," instead of "dry." you may want to fix that. Also, I wasn't sure on your spelling of "maneuver" right after Draco and Katie escape Aelbert. Just an observation...
Anyways, I love it! The relationship feels so real, and I want to steal it so badly! Maybe my next piece will feature Draco/Katie... :) Great job! I can't wait to see what happens next. Keep it coming! ~Nagini
Author's Response:
Formalities first: I fixed the typo you pointed out, and the spelling in question is the British English spelling of 'maneuver'. Just weird, I guess. :)
Anyway, yayayayay at Draco/Katie shipping! Julia was happy when I told her (she's my Draco/Katie partner in crime). I fully endorse any Katico fic ventures, and I hope you enjoyed the rest of the story.
~Jess
Oh, Jess. :) Character death doesn't bother me one bit! I have to say that Draco is just having a horrible life, isn't he? Too bad he didn't get a child.
I have to say, this was a brilliant story! It makes my story seem weak in comparison. But don't worry about me. I like reading these stories that blow me away.
Good luck, Jess!
~Nagini
Author's Response:
And here we are again!
To be honest, I'm surprised anyone can follow this story, let alone find it blown-away material. However, I am glad you found enjoyment in it - certainly more than I found in writing it with all those beastly prompts. Anyway, I'm sure the end wasn't shocking, but I think if you felt anything like me, you kind of wished upon a star that it wasn't going to turn out that way. In this case, my author's prerogative was overridden by the laws of time and causality.
Thanks for reading. Good luck with your own entry, as well!
~Jess
The Lion's Son by Lost_Robin
Rated: 1st-2nd Years [Reviews - 3]
Summary: When Scorpius is staying with the Potters in Potter Manor, he suddenly disappears. It's up to Lily to find him and take them back to the right time. But what (or who) will she discover there? This is Lost_Robin of Ravenclaw writing for the Gauntlet Round 9.
Nice job! :) I am loving these gauntlet stories. Good luck on the challenge! ~Nagini, a fellow challenger
Author's Response: Thank you! Good luck to you too. -K
Teach Me How to Smile by Hokey
Rated: 1st-2nd Years [Reviews - 3]
Summary:
This is Hokey from Slytherin submitting for Round 9 of the Gauntlet.
Her mind was already set. Hermione had never abandoned Harry before, and she wasn’t very well going to start now.
Yay! Another gauntlet entry! :)I really enjoyed reading this and picking out the prompts. Good job! Nice way to incorporate what was given you, and I got to see Harry in a new light. Good luck! ~Nagini, a fellow challenger
P.S. Check out my gauntlet story- The Ghosts That Follow!!! :)
Author's Response: Thank you! I wasn't expecting all prompts to be pictures, so I was quite thrown by that :p Good luck to you, too!!
