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okayy you know i love astoria but i love her even more now because i love that she stands up for people! not all slytherins are bad is something parents should probably teach their children because it’s such a ridiculous notion but oh well
i’m not surprised that remus didn’t want to talk to iris about sirius considering he thinks he was a traitor and all that bad stuff but he’s going to have to at some point…which will be an interesting conversation :eyes:
and also i’m just really excited to read about when iris first meets harry! maybe it won’t be in this chapter but honestly my cold lil heart warms at the thought of harry finding out he has some family after all, it’s just wonderful!
her conversation with the sorting hat was both funny and adorable and i love that the hat seemed just a tiny lil bit annoyed but in a good way at being asked all these questions by a first year he was supposed to be sorting haahha
and a cameo of the famed bulletin board made me smile. i also love that the lil first years solved the riddle with teamwork, it was really nice.
kris / ss voyager
Author's Response:Hi, Kris!
Astoria just not having Romilda's shit. Honestly, Iris just doesn't like Romilda, but it's Astoria who has the more rival-y relationship with Romilda. Iris' rival will be popping up within the next few chapters of Iris pallida. She's not the one I have trouble with in that fic. It definitely is something that parents should teach their children, and I wanted to have people who came from a long line of Slytherins (Astoria) and/or were sorted into Slytherin (Sylvia) to show that they're not all terrible people. Actually, the most bigoted/mean character in Iris' year is a Gryffindor, but it's not Romilda. I haven't had a chance to include her yet, but she's more important later on.
Remus has a lot of thoughts about the whole Sirius situation, but he really does try to avoid conflict. It's an interesting conversation that I wish had happened when Iris was a bit older so it would be a bit more complex, as she still very much hero-worships Remus to an extent.
One of my favorite relationships to write in this series is Harry and Iris, and I'm disappointed in myself for not having a lot of it in this fic. There is a lot more in the next one, I promise. It's a really great relationship, and they're surprisingly more alike than most people think. Also, the Potter snark is genetic.
The sorting hat both loves and hates these kinds of sortings. He loves it because it wasn't that hard to figure out where she should go because of them, but also because he doesn't like spending too much time on one head. That being said, there was another house that the sorting hat was considering for her, but the questions really sealed it. She fits perfectly into Ravenclaw, and she really is adorable during all of that.
These little first years are such good friends?? I'll squee about that a bit more later, but I wanted them to be close-knit, and this is the start of that? Like, they're a little family, and I love them very much. I have more thoughts I want to save until later, but they're just really sweet and I love them, even Sterling.
Thanks for stopping by, and I hope you have a lovely day!
-A
Hi, LostRobin!
I appreciate your Author's Note about how it's hard to write the debate. Kudos to you for doing it!
I really liked this chapter. Probably the chapter that I will remember most vividly out of this entire story. I can see that you worked hard on it. It is very cohesive because it covers just one topic, one scene, in one locale. The asssembling of the Ravenclaw students (and their guests from different Houses) to be the audience The physical layout. The eager chatter of the people milling around. The air of expectation.
And then it starts! The debaters do well, especially since they have mutually agreed that they don't really care that much about Quidditch, and they just want to do their best. Plus the notes on index cards (to prevent brain freeze) and the other paraphernalia that makes the event run smoothly. You have put in a little moment of crisis for Iris, when she suddenly encounters an idea she had not been prepared for, but because she is staying calm, she doesn't panic and is able to come up with an adequate answer.
The results? A tie in the debate voting, so there are no winners and losers (the best outcome for these two first-time debaters), and what''s even more important, Iris has learned that she can face a daunting task and complete it with study, hard work, and the support of other people. That's an important lesson for this chapter to present.
Well written! Worth all the effort.
Vicki
Review Drive Voyageer
Hi, LostRobin.
I like how you weave little bits of daily life into your chapters (most of them) to keep the feeling current that the setting here is a school, and school-ish things go on. So you talk a little bit about Snape's Potions class (where I am glad to see that Iris is learning how to adapt to Snape's perpetual bad humor) and a little bit about the first years' being able to pass, in a group, from one class to another without the help of their prefects, and a bit about Peeves's frequent pranks.
That was an interesting conversation between Iris and Yukata, in which they each revealed that they were nervous about the upcoming debate and had assumed that the other was feeling as cool as a cucumber. A good addition -- it really takes the pressure off of both of them.
I also liked the planning that some of the Ravenclaw students (Yukata, Iris, and, as it turns out, some others also) did in order to sneak their friends from other Houses into the Ravenclaw common room to hear the debate. In many fics, and sometimes in the books, the Houses are very strict about not letting people from other Houses into their common room, but maybe the Ravenclaws like to 'show off' their intellectual debates to the extent of turning a blind eye when outsiders sneak in. And we always love the interchanges with Knocker. :)
Another great chapter!
Vicki
Review Drive Voyager
Hi, LostRobin,
Oh, goody! We're starting on the group of three chapters that cover one of Ravenclaw's famous debates! I hope you realize how great this idea of the Ravenclaw debates is! When I finish with this story, I will start on its sequel, and maybe there will be a debate there also. I love the way you make Ravenclaw House so distinctive.
I'm not ceertain if the tradition of debates in Ravenclaw House is canon or fanon. Probably the latter, since Harry Potter had rather little to do with Ravenclaw House in the books; they were the House about whom I had very little impression or understanding by the time I got to the end of the books, so you are doing us all a big favor by writing about them.
Debating is something that the Ravenclaws would naturally do and would take very seriously. You do an excellent job of showing how the debating is an important part of Ravenclaw culture (i.e. a "big deal"). You also begin to show us their methods of preparing and running a debate.
Iris's terror at public speaking is understandable. I think there are lots of people, a surprisingly high percentage, who have a strong emotional reaction to the prospect of getting up in front of a group, for fear of making a fool of themselves. It is too bad that she expects results such as being thrown out of Ravenclaw House for not winning a debate. Now that's not rational, but after all, she's only eleven, and she stands in awe of the older Ravenclaws.
A well-written chapter. I love your imagination.
Vicki
Review Drive Voyager
Hi, LostRobin,
I really liked this chapter in which Harry and Iris, after an awkward start, get to talking with each other, thanks to Hermione's mother-hen attitude of bringing the two of them together, whether they wanted that or not. That was good thinking on your part to arrange it that way, because without a determined intermediary, Harry and Iris would have remained unacquainted, and who better to play the mother-hen role than Hermiione, who always thinks she knows what everyone should do!
But again Iris is faced with the fact that Remus is stonewalling, not only her, but Harry also, by not telling Harry that he knew the Potter family, much less that he was Iris's godfather. Such family secrets!
I was very glad when you had Harry and Iris go out to the lake (at Harry's suggestion, which surprised me since I didn't think he was ready to pursue this subject) . I like how you have Harry say, "This whole family thing is a bit of a surprise," because that line clearly states what Harry thinks about all these revelations, where his head is right now. Then the two of them talk about having cousins that they don't know well or are not close to, aand they end up bonding somewhat. Blood really is thicker than water.
Very nice job. I am enjoying this story.
Vicki
Review Drive Voyager
Hi, LostRobin,
Another fine chapter! In the seven books, Remus believed that Sirius had betrayed James and Lily, but he wasn't so adamant about leaving Hogwarts because in canon he didn't have a god-daughter at the school. Now, in this chapter, when we see his strong reaction, we see how firmly he believes in Sirius's guilt., so strongly that he wants to flee to the continent, to anywhere, to keep Iris safe.
Iris ha crossed the line from merely wondering who her father is to being fairly sure, thanks to Madam Pince's suggestion that she look in Herbert Thorne's book. Now Iris has no doubt that she is a descendant of the Black family because she and they look so similar. I like the way you depict Madam Pince, strict and crusty, but not unfriendly. She knew what was in that book when she made that reccomendation.
"There was homework she should have been doing..." Great line. We all know how this is, when pursuing something we need/want to know takes precedence over other duties and screws up our plan for the day.
But when Iris tries to ask Remus straight out about her mysterious father, Remus sonewalls her. This is frustrating, not only to Iris, but also to us readers. She (and we) keep asking and keep getting the brush-off.
But his refussal to answer her questions forces her to uncover the truth by herself, which is good for the plot of the story. Our heroine must struggle a little to get what she wants. And does Remus really think he can keep her in the dark forever?
She won't remain a little child forever.
Nicely done. Progress bit by bit.
Vicki
Review Drive Voyager
Ahahah! I loved how both Iris and Yukata were super nervous and convinced the other was perfectly calm... sometimes we see things the opposite as they are... it was cute, anyway! And it's so nice how finding out that the other was also nervous helped them both feeling more at ease! Sometimes just opening up helps! <3
Oh... okay, I forgot (or didn't realize) that Iris knew who her father is and that Remus was aware of that? :O That was another very cute moment! Poor Iris, so much stress on her shoulder, and she really thought that Remus was angry at her... :/ I loved him hugging her like that, and telling her that he was never angry, just worried, and that whoever her father is doesn't make her a bad person or anything like that... <3
"Why did he betray them?" she asked. / "I don't know," Remus replied with a sigh. "I have been asking myself that very question for over a decade, and I still do not know the answer. James was his best friend. We were all best friends, yet he betrayed us without a word." Uhm... maybe you can't explain it because it isn't true, Remus? You know, just a suggestion... *whistling*
I love that Harry found them in that moment! :D Oh, are we already at the Patronus lessons? I have to confess, it's been a little while since I read PoA in full and I can't remember the exact timeline... anyway, interesting! :D
Cute kids, sneaking their friends from other houses in to listen to the debate! <3 This chapter was just so full of cuteness, I really enjoyed it a lot! :D
I'll leave for now, but I'll probably be back at some point before the end of the event! ;)
Snowball hug,
Chiara
Hi! I'm doing some reviewing for the rising through the ranks event and I thought I'd profit and read a couple chapters of this :D
Oh, poor Iris... I don't envy her at all... I'm definitely not at all good at speaking in public, and honestly, forcing first years into these debates seems a bit cruel... :/ On the other hand, I suppose it's a way to push them out of their comfort zone a little and build their confidence... and debates seem like a very Ravenclaw activity, I really loved the idea in Notes and I'm excited to see it here, too! :) Still, not very nice to force people to do something like this if they aren't feeling comfortable? Especially children? I'd rather play Quidditch, personally... :P (Okay, that's a lie, it was a joke... :P)
Speaking of the debate's theme... I agree that the first-year's rule doesn't make much sense? Quidditch is dangerous, and there's no doubt there, but why would eleven year olds be more at risk than twelve year olds? If Hogwarts staff are so worried about security, there are a lot of other things they should work on... and the rule has already been broken for Harry, so why is it even still standing? Hogwarts and its contradictions... *rolls eyes*
I really enjoyed watching Evan and Roger trying to help Iris prepare for the debate. Especially Roger was so hilarious, trying to be encouraging but just being sort of brutally honest... I mean, I get what he was trying to communicate there, but he could use a bit more tact, just saying... :P
A nice chapter, I'll see you on the next in a moment! :)
Snowball hug,
Chiara
Hi, LostRobin,
I really like how you are taking some of the familiar events from The Prisoner of Azkaban and reimagining them from the point of view of other people, namely (mostly) the Ravenclaws. In PoA, the Ravenclaws are barely mentioned.
For example,Iris at first assumes that the late-night evacuation to sleep in sleeping bags on the floor of the Great Hall is some kind of Hallowe'en tradition, like a giant sleepover. The Ravenclaws have not see the slashed portrait as the Gryffindors have done. All they get is the cock-and-bull story about Floo Network maintenance, which a total lie. But once the students are all bedded down in the Great Hall, the truth spreads throught the crowd from person to person, and that's how everyone else who's not a Gryffindor finds out. I like seeing this event from a different viewpoint.
In other matters, It was a disappointment that Penelope Clearwater did not discuss Iris's difficulties with Professor Snape more at length with her, rather than simply saying, "Try harder." But by including that unsatisfactory little verbal exchange, you provide a person gllimpse into the general fact that Iris was still on the receiving end of Snape's unfairness, and there sti does not sseem to be a solution for that problem.
The hair-cutting episode was interesting also. Nobody in this first-year group owns any scissors, even though they have doubtless used scissors for cutting all their lives, and are only just now beginning to learn how to cut magically. But it does present a funny scene, all the girls clustered around, but nobody dares to try to do the deed, so they all vote that Iris shall be the barber. Do these girls think that the prefects will fail to notice, the next morning, that Ophelia appears to have gotten a haircut? Just the sort of thing that girls that age might do.
Bit by bit, you show us that Iris is picking up tiny clues of connections between her Uncle Remus, the Potters, and their friends. One by one, names and hints are given out inadvertently. You have to feel sorry for Iris, trying to make sense of it all.
By the way, I Googled Iris albicans because it looked like a scientific name, and I learned that it iis a white iris often planted in graveyards.
Vicki
Review Drive Voyager.
Hi, LostRobin. I'll do one more for the night,
Now the plot is thickening! Snape knows who iris's father is (or at least he thinks he knows), and I am cudgeling my brain trying to think who it could be. Did James Potter have a brother whom we never knew about?
I don't yet see what difference it would make to Iris to know who her mysterious father was, except that if she knew, perhaps Snape would be less able to use her father's identity as a cudgel over her.
But now she is formulating a plan of some vague sort. Maybe there's something in the Potter genome that causes the bearers of that name to creep around the castle at night. I have the feeling that some scandal will eventually be uncovered. I looked at the list of chapter titles to see if they gave me any advance clues, but no, not really.
I liked the section, early in the chapter, where Percy brought Iris over to the Gryffindor table to meet Harry Potter. It was an awkward moment for all of them; neither Harry nor Iris knew what to say, and now Harry does not seem eager to follow up on this possible familial relationship. But mayvb he, in the end, wil be sucked into the solving of the mystery because it will involve him also. Who knows?
Now I'm curious. I'll have to keep reading!
Vicki
Review Drive Voyager
Author's Response:Hi Vicki!
Snape hasn't been told who Iris' father is, but he figured it out very quickly during their class. I know you've already read the rest of this fic and as much of pallida as there is published, but I'll leave a hint in case someone who hasn't finished it yet is reading this review: Iris is related to James on her maternal side. I think I left breadcrumbs to sort of help people figure out who Iris' father is alongside Iris, but there is a very big hint to her father's identity within the setting of this fic itself, namely what year it takes place.
Oh, definitely. It's the Potter troublemaking gene, along with the Potter sassiness gene and the Potter hair gene. She really does take too much after her cousin, doesn't she?
That section was a bit awkward to write too, if I'm being honest. I was trying to figure out how to have Harry and Iris meet without it being a little forced, and then I decided to just let Percy be my force. Unfortunately, Harry doesn't play a huge role in this book. He doesn't really play a huge role in most of them, at least when it comes to Iris' little mystery du jour (or, rather, du book). I didn't want him overshadowing Iris in her own books, and I wanted Iris to have something of her own. That being said, as certain things progress, he'll start playing a larger part. Sadly, he's more of a cameo in this one, but he'll be playing a somewhat bigger role in the later ones. These are a bit more slice-of-life than Harry's books, though that does change a little bit as the series goes on.
Thanks for stopping by, and I hope you have a lovely day!
-A
Hi, LostRobin,
I am continuing to enjoy your story. I liked how you put an explanation into your story for why Remus went to Hogwarts on the train that year instead of whatever the other teachers always did (Floo powder?) You tell us that Dumbledore asked Remus to ride the train that year, just incase there might be trouble. And there was trouble when the dementors accosted the train. So it wasn't a coincidence that Remus was there when he was needed. Thank you for clearing that up for us! :)
I always enjoy the speculation amog the not-yet-sorted first years about what they have heard about the Houses, which House they'e like to be in, and their parents' attitudes about which House they or their siblings end up in. I like Astoria's parents' attitude, and Astoria seems to be a friendly, put-together girl. In the canon books we never know very much about her at all, which means you can depict her as whatever you want her to be. Isn't that nice?
I liked the dialogue that filled this chapter. It sounded very natural. The students are a little nervous, but not excessively so, and they are making friends. There is an advantge that so many of the ones we see in contact with Iris want to be in Ravenclaw also. Now if that can just be arranged, then Iris will have a ready-made social group to help her settle in to Hogwarts comfortably from the very start.
Although you are covering ground that all Hogwarts students experienced, and many Hogwarts Fanfic writers have written about, you manage to make it sound fresh and new by the power of your characters, not only Iris but the other students also. This will be a good story because of that.
Vicki
Review Drive Voyager.
Author's Response:Hi, Vicki!
I felt like there needed to be a reason why Remus was on the train. In this story, there are two. The first is, as you said, to make sure that there was no trouble (as while Dumbledore doesn't know about the whole Animagus thing, he does know that Remus would be more than willing to take down his former best friend if it meant protecting Harry). The second, which is specific to this series, is because Remus wanted to be there in case Iris needed anything. This is the farthest she's ever gone from Caer Sidi, and he is a little overprotective. I don't blame him, especially with the Dementors at Hogwarts, but he does want to make sure that if she needs anything, he's there.
It's really nice that I can depict Astoria in a way that canon might not have. She's a bit of a blank slate, which means that I can use her in different ways. I wanted some Slytherins who aren't treated as evil incarnate, and the Greengrasses are rather nice people. Daphne isn't as nice as her sister, but she's not evil in this. And, of course, there are a few rude Gryffindors in this series, along with very rude Slytherins.
Yeah, funny how a lot of the ones that Iris met want to be in Ravenclaw... Except Liam, but he and Yukata are best friends, so we'll probably see him around a bit. I really wanted the wonder to get through, especially since the first time I saw the Great Hall in the movie, it was probably the coolest thing I had seen. They're eleven year olds who are going to be spending the next seven years here, and they're in awe that this is where they get to learn. I imagine that it's a bit terrifying while also wonderful.
Thanks for stopping by, and I hope you have a lovely day!
-A
Hi, LostRobin,
So here we see the Ravenclaw first years' first day of classes, and they're kept pretty busy -- Potions, Charms, and Transfiguration before lunch, Flying and History of Magic after lunch.
You write Professor Snape very well -- his out-and-out cruelty to the students is hard to endure while reading it. I always shake my head at the fact that Dumbledore know how Snape was treating the students and kept him on the faculty anyway. He should have transferred him to some research and development position where he didn't interact with students, don't you think?
It was inevitable that Snape would eventually notice that he had a first-year student surnamed Potter, and then determine which of the kids in his class was the Potter kid. So it appears as though Iris is going to be bullied and mistreated by Snape all year long. I hope she will be able to endure it.
That Welcome Seminar for the first-year students, in which they were introduced to the Head Booy and Head Girl, was a great idea. The kids need to know who the Head Boy and Girl are, the same as they know who the prefects are. I liked the way you described that whole event; Percy is right in character. And I'm glad you gave Percy the Head Boy title because he was always feeling that he was living in the shadow of his legendary older brothers Bill and Charlie. Now for one year, he can feels as if he shines. :)
Nice job. I will keep reading. Surely something bad is going to happen to or around Iris, but I have no idea what it will be!
Vicki
Review Drive Voyager
Author's Response:Hi, Vicki!
He definitely should have put Snape somewhere that Snape wasn't teaching children. Like, he very much should have. That being said, Snape has figured out something, and he figured it out more quickly than anyone else in this fic other than one other person, who shows up in a few chapters.
Iris will be able to endure. She is made of sterner stuff than people think, and she is not going to let Snape ruin her life. That, and Snape can't exactly go to the extremes that he does with Neville and Harry for one reason: Remus is at Hogwarts. You'll see how that plays out relatively soon, from what I remember.
I needed a way to introduce Percy, as he's somewhat important. Also, it just felt like something that Percy would do, especially as Head Boy. I'm fond of him, so that's probably why he's playing a slightly larger part in this series than he does in canon. That being said, he isn't the Weasley who shows up the most, but I'm not quite sure who that will be yet.
I was so worried about those two being in-character in this chapter, so I'm glad that you think that they are! That's probably what I worry about the most, and I really only feel comfortable writing one major canon character in-character: Hermione. There are reasons behind that, of course, but I'm glad that you think that Percy and Snape are in-character.
I promise that Iris won't get hurt in this fic! I can't make that promise for any other fics!
Thanks for stopping by, and I hope you have a lovely day!
-A
Hi, LostRobin,
You put a smile on my face whith your first three lines, where you had Romilda Vane (as we find out later) say "I think I'd rather be kicked out than end up in Slytherin," and Astoria replies, "I'd rather be in Slytherin than in any house you want." Perfect comeback!
I lalughed again at the line "McGonagall came in, and, luckily for Astoria, it seemed as though she hadn't heard any of the conversation." That is to say, the conversation in which Astoria had pointed out that the escaped criminal Sirius Black had been a member of Gryffindor House.
How nice that Iris and her friends all got sorted into the same House, the one that they wanted, except for Sylvia, of course, but she got what she wanted. And the rude and unpleasant people got sorted into other Houses. :)
I think that this is the first long story I have read that focuses on people in Ravenclaw House, and I expect to see a lot of detail about how the House is set up and how it runs. You have made a good start with the detailed description of the interior of Ravenclaw Tower, including the House library, which (of course!) would be extensive. I recognize Audrey and Evan from the Ravenclaw Bulletin Board, and if that story is any reflection on what Ravenclaw House is like, I predict that everyone is going to have a good time!
Vicki
Review Drive Voyager
Author's Response:Hi, Vicki!
The one thing that annoys me about this fic is that I did not have very much of Romilda in this. That will be fixed in the next one, but I was disappointed in myself for rushing this one a bit. A few things got cut that shouldn't have, including Romilda and someone who's sort of filling the Draco role in Iris' life. Well, not quite, but he comes pretty close. Astoria is very good at witty comebacks, and this won't be the last one you'll see. Funny that Astoria mentions Sirius...
Sylvia would probably fit better in Hufflpuff, but, alas, plot. She has traits that fit Slytherin, but personality-wise of the people currently in those two houses, she aligns much more closely with Hufflepuff. I can't take credit for Romilda being in Gryffindor (as that's canon), but I can take credit for keeping Iris from having to share a dorm with her. Funnily enough, Iris would never have been sorted into Gryffindor. I could make pretty solid arguments for the other two, but not Gryffindor.
Fun fact: Notes is set in this universe! If I ever get past a few chapters in Iris pallida, you'll see parts of it play out in the third fic in this series. I'm not quite sure what I'm going to title that one, but it will be another scientific name for an iris. And, yes, the specific irises are picked for reasons. I really like writing stuff in Ravenclaw because it's a bit self-indulgent. I made it what I wanted it to be, while still playing within the confines of the limited canon description.
Thanks for stopping by, and I hope you have a lovely day!
-A
Hi, LostRobin,
Here for the second chapter. Pretty soon I should start getting to chapters that i don't recognize from last year.
Again, the story flows smoothly and the mood is still gentle. The tiny village of Caer Sidi, if you can even call it a village, might be typical of many such tiny settlements in the wilds of rural Wales. It is fun to think about them and how long the've been stqnding in their respectives locations. A long time, I'll bet. Caer Sidi seems to have a Muggle/magical post office, a pub, and a bus station. And maybe some sort of general store, since Iris is allowed to walk there by herself to run errands.
Hogwarts is going to be such a change for her.
The things that caught my eye during the trip to Diagon Alley: her acquaintqance with Sylvia Selwyn and Sylvia's snooty older brother, and the fact that the question of her paternity came up during the visit to the wandmaker's shop. You toss out a tiny clue -- when the wandmaker asks her if she knows her father's name, and she say "No." She seems to be going by her mother's surname of Potter, but now that I come to think of it,I don't really know Iris's story at all -- who her parents were, or why she is living with Remus Lupin.
You are keeping a lot of this plot 'close to the vest" now, I can see. but I'm still curious as to what will happen when she get to Hogwarts.
The story has a good pace, with little teasers tossed out here and there, like little breadcrumbs that make a trail we are following.
Nice job.
Vicki
Review Drive Voyager
Author's Response:Hi, Vicki!
There is a story on my author page about the founding of Caer Sidi, but I'm not sure entirely how accurate it is. I've been thinking a bit about Caer Sidi, so I'm not sure how true to 'canon' that story is. You might enjoy it, though. I think that the shop is something like a general store, but it might lean a little more towards a grocer due to the fact that there are enough magical people here who can just pop to Diagon Alley or the equivalent in Wales (which they should probably have, tbh).
I almost referred to this brother as Edward, but Edward is the nice Selwyn brother. We might see him later on. This one is definitely not nice, especially compared to Sylvia. Compared to Sylvia, however, most people aren't nice. Sylvia's family will be explored a little more in later stories, so we will get to see Edward at some point.
Ollivander suspects that he knows who Iris' father is, but he has no proof. A lot of the adults who know Anne, Iris' mother, and Iris' father can figure it out pretty quickly, but some have to do a little thinking. There is someone who figures it out within five minutes of meeting Iris, however. There's also a really funny bit in a chapter that I haven't added yet. I've been revising this fic a bit, and there is a chapter that sort of fills in the gaps later in the story. Not very big gaps, but it will be added at some point.
Thank you so much! It's so nice to hear that you're enjoying this, and I hope you keep enjoying it!
Thanks for stopping by, and I hope you have a lovely day!
-A
Hi, LostRobin,
I think I read some of this delightful story when it first came out, but that was a while ago, and I don't remember it, so here I am at the beginning, starting over.
It is such a gentle story, with gentle people in a gentle place. Reading it, I wonder how it will be for Iris in a hustle-bustle place like Hogwarts, surrounded by strangers. I hope she will be okay, since she wants to go there so desperately.
The descriptions of the house and gardens, the forest, the magical creatures that live around iris's house, and even her familiarity with Paddington Bear (which makes me feel she has had a lot of children's books during her young years) paint such an idyllic, peaceful picture. Iris says "Of course, Unce Remus, I'll stay out of trouble," and we certainly hope that that will prove to be true. But probably not, or there might not be any story.
I like the fact that Professor McGonagall came in person to give Iris her Hogwarts letter. I was under the impression that she always did that for Muggleborn students, but that students from wizarding famiies generally just received their letter by owl post. Perhaps that means that Iris is special in some way, or maybe it's just because the Professor wanted to talk with Remus face to face about other matters.
Given the kinds of things that happened at Hogwarts during the year that Professor Lupin was there, we readers can expect that Iris wil be mixed up in the goings-on somehow. Little does she know...
This is a sweet story with a sweet heroine, and we hope that she will do okay, with her Uncle there to protect her. I am enjoying it.
Thank you for writing.
Vixki
Review Drive Voyager
Author's Response:Hey, Vicki!
I really hope that the 'when it first came out' is in reference to on this site instead of on MNFF because the first version of this was, uh, terrible. I do like how it started, and I wish that had fit in this, but other than that, it was very not-great writing.
I certainly hope that Iris will stay out of trouble, though it's not looking very likely. She has definitely read a lot of children's books, as Remus is a firm believer in reading (much like I am). Caer Sidi is really peaceful, and I wish that I could live in that cottage. It was sort of a self-indulgence, writing somewhere that pretty and peaceful. I would love to live in an attic like Iris', with a view of apple trees and a nice windowseat.
McGonagall came foremost to speak to Remus about taking the job at Hogwarts, but she did bring Iris' letter to make the occasion a bit nicer. McGonagall has a soft spot for Remus, so I feel like this was her way of making Iris' first Hogwarts letter special. I am a bit disappointed in myself for not having more McGonagall in this one, but there wasn't anywhere good to put scenes in that didn't feel like they were just being shoved into the story.
Thanks for stopping by, and I hope you have a nice day!
-A
Hello! Just dropping by with a gift review for you! <3
Firstly, I want to say that I absolutely love love love the idea of an Uncle/godfather Remus - it's such an adorable thought - I bet he makes a brilliant Uncle and godfather to Iris! The idea of Iris living in a little cottage in a forest - not in the forest itself, haha! - with lots of books and surrounding nature for company sounds very idyllic. That's so sweet that she's picking flowers for Remus because he hasn't been 'well' - I wonder if Iris knows or suspects the real reason behind Remus's 'illness'?
I love all the great details in this chapter, such as the lopsided door of the cottage that doesn't quite fit the frame, the way that the air felt a little bit thicker - all these little observations really add to the imagery and atmosphere of the story! Also love Iris's inner monologue about oranges and Paddington Bear, and the way she likens her attic bedroom to a bird's nest haha!
So Remus is also going to Hogwarts as the new Defence Against the Dark Arts professor - I'm guessing this story is set during Harry's third year at school? I can't wait to see what house Iris will end up in when she starts Hogwarts, although I'm fairly sure she's right and will end up in Ravenclaw :)
What a lovely opening chapter to this story! Looking forward to reading more. Happy holidays to you <3
Pins x
Author's Response:Thanks for stopping by, Pins!
Iris does not know about Remus' 'illness' just yet. Don't worry. It gets discussed later in the fic. I thought about having her know from the beginning, but that didn't feel like something that Remus would do. He tries to keep it hidden, and I do think that he would just tell her that he was getting treatments for a mysterious illness when she's at the Abbotts' for a week a month. That being said, Remus loves her very much, and he tries to be the best godfather and guardian he can be.
I think this is actually the chapter I've spent the most time on in this entire series. I'm glad you enjoy the details because I worried that they would bog down the story. I will admit that Iris shares my opinion of marmalade, and she found it out in almost the same way I did. It really does feel like a bird's nest, and, tbh, that's a tiny bit of foreshadowing a little thing in the future. Well, a couple things. I haven't written it yet, but Iris' Patronus will make sense when looking at this chapter. I feel like that's really ominous-sounding, but it's not meant to be! She's just more... I guess bird-like?? I don't know how to explain it, but a tiny motif of hers is birds. I know, a character of mine who doesn't have frogs as their motif? Strange, yes, but Iris and birds go together much like Iris and, well, irises go together.
It is the third year! It's really confusing because I have these fics split up into school years/summers (so like First Year, Second Year, etc), but I think of them in terms of Harry's years, so when I was going to work on Iris pallida today, I accidentally opened the Fourth Year folder, which is, uh, HBP time.
I don't want to spoil it for you, but I hope you enjoy the rest of the fic! I won't confirm where Iris ends up, but fun fact: the Sorting Hat almost put her in a different house, and it's not the one people expect.
Thanks for stopping by, and I hope you have a lovely day!
-A
Well, this was cute! Maybe not the thorough heart-to-heart I was hoping for, but still cute (and to be fair, they are kind of strangers to each other, and neither of them has many family experience, so it makes sense that it would be a bit awkward...)
And they both have so much they just don't know... and that's a bit sad, to be honest... but it's nice that they have each other now! :D
I loved the Golden Trio dynamic you wrote, btw! Ron asking the wrong thing, Hermione sending daggers at him but also making Iris feel like she's under exam at the same time... and Harry just being there all awkward and attempting to mind his business... it's just all so perfect! :P
How hasn't Iris put the pieces together about Remus' illness yet? But I suppose when you live with someone for so long you just don't stop to wonder about these things... but how sad that she thinks Remus might be dying... I'm not sure all these secrets are really helping anyone, although I do understand why Remus prefers to keep them...
Another lovely chapter!
Big snowball hug and happy holidays!
Chiara
Author's Response:Thanks for stopping by, Chiara
I would just like to apologize for this chapter being so short! I wasn't quite sure how to write this whole thing, and I figured I should err on the side of being shorter rather than draw out the awkwardness. There is more interaction between the cousins in later fics in the series, don't worry! I was also very worried about writing them incorrectly, though, funnily enough, Hermione is the one I'm most comfortable writing. Ron, however, I need to practice a bit more.
I get why Remus does, but I agree with you. Iris has just kind of accepted that Remus will die while she is young, and she just wants to spend a lot of time with him. That being said, if Iris' mother were alive, Iris would probably know that Remus is a werewolf. Then again, if Anne were alive, she probably would have sued the Dursleys for custody of Harry, so, uh, there's a reason why she's not in these stories.
The secrets definitely don't help, and Iris does get tired of them. That being said, maybe she takes after her godfather a little more than anyone thinks...
Thanks for reading, and I hope you have a lovely day!
-A
Hi! Here for the arctic adventure! And for more of this story! :D
I was already excited just by the title of this chapter... go, Iris! Seek some answers! (Even if Remus is not enthusiastic about it... but that's understandable, I suppose... :/)
And so she finally knows... or strongly suspects, at least... I love the idea of the book on Pureblood families, and that she recognized herself in Walburga's features, I wasn't expecting that but it makes sense, of course! And yes, kind of ironic how both her uncles (James and Regulus, who would've ever thought about it?) died because of Voldemort... well, technically Regulus died on his own accord, but she can't know that, and it's beside the point... and of course Sirius didn't do what everyone thinks he did, but that's beside the point as well... I wonder why Remus had that reaction about Peter? Is it just painful to think about him, or is there something more? I hope they'll manage to properly talk after the full moon, it makes no sense to keep keeping secrets at this point, right? Although I suppose Remus is not looking forward to that conversation...
Also, Remus... Ilvermorny? Are you being Sirius (sorry, couldn't help myself :P)? But I'm quite sure he'll change his mind once the truth comes out! ;)
Oh, look! Crookshanks is back! :D Ahahah! He sounded so cute the way you were describing him... <3 But of course Iris wasn't going to be fooled by it... :P
But yes! She's going to have a proper talk with Harry! Finally! I've been looking forward to this! I guess I'll need to check out the next chapter, too, because I want to see how that goes! :D
Side note: Hermione got a gleam in her eyes that Iris had only ever seen before when the nice ladies in Caer Sidi tried to set Remus up with the newest young lady to move there. That was a worrying gleam, one that had led to her poor godfather being shuffled off onto dates. Oh, my! I love this mental image! :P
Other side note: Snape taking points just for the sake of it is at the same time hilarious and frustrating... really, Sev, get over yourself and grow up a little! :P
Wonderful chapter! <3
Snowball hug,
Chiara
Author's Response:Hi, Chiara!
So Regulus is not the member of the Black family that Iris most closely resembles. That would be someone blonde who doesn't show up for a bit. She shows up in a chapter of Iris pallida, but not really as more than just a cameo.
Remus is... Remus still thinks that Peter was innocent, so he's a bit conflicted about telling Iris about this because he wants to keep her as innocent about the war as possible. Obviously, that's going to start changing, and Remus really doesn't want to think about that. Also, unfortunately, Remus is being Sirius (I love the pun). I wouldn't be too worried about that, though, to be honestly. I know it's kind of a dangling plot thread in this, and I am doing edits to fix some of those.
I love Crookshanks. I honestly love Crookshanks, and I feel bad that he's merely a means to an end in this chapter. That's probably why he gets to shine so much in Notes, but don't worry! Some of those instances will be shown in this series. Once I get past Iris pallida.
Snape does not know how to deal with this child other than take points. There is a funny bit in the beginning of the third story, when they're somewhere that's not Hogwarts, and Iris comes to the realization that Snape can't take points. It's probably the most immature she's ever been, to be honest, but it is hilarious. Well, for a few minutes.
Thanks for stopping by, and I hope you have a lovely day!
-A
Hi! Here for our swap! Hope it wasn't too long of a wait...
I've missed this story, btw, so thank you for giving me an excuse to come back! :P
Well, wow... Snape is really vindictive, isn't he? Not that this is a surprise to anyone... I love that little note about Hannah, very Hufflepuffy! Of course, if Hannah feels like criticizing someone, they must be truly horrible, right? :P
And, frankly, fifty-seven points in two months is a lot... and Penelope should be a bit more understanding... surely she knows how Snape is when he decides he has it for someone, blaming Iris is not at all fair... (I guess Iris should still be grateful if Snape is mostly ignoring her at this point, though...)
Aww, Remus... I'm not surprised that he would spend Halloween locked up in his room crying, but it's so sad... I want to give him a big hug, poor guy... :( There are quite a lot of things he's hidden from Iris, yeah... I wonder why he did? :P I feel like there's a sort of parallel with Harry there... like everyone seems to know about Iris' family history much more than she herself does... poor Iris... (I'm looking forward to her finding out stuff!)
A question, why was Ophelia so eager to have her hair cut? I don't think I'd ever trust my eleven-year-old schoolmates to cut my hair... :P Then, again, I've never been a big fan of haircuts to begin with, so... :P
Another question (if the answer is obvious from previous chapters forgive me, it's been too long since I've been here...) If Iris doesn't know that Sirius was previously a friend of her uncle and of Remus, why was she wondering if the man in the picture was him? Also, did Remus charmed the photo so that Sirius would appear out of focus and non recognizable because he couldn't stand the sight? I suppose that's something he would do... or maybe it wasn't about his feelings and he was worried Iris would see a resemblance? Or maybe both things? Okay, I'm overfocusing on that, sorry...
I liked the way you wrote this canon scene from Iris' pov, and I especially liked the way the Prefects handled it, trying not to scare the kids, it felt very thoughtful. I like the way you are using the Ravenclaw Prefect team in this story!
I still want Iris to talk to Harry at some point, just so you know... and I sort of want her to go pester Remus with questions, because it's only fair... :P
Great chapter! Thank you for the swap! :D
Chiara
Author's Response:Hey, Chiara!
I will have your review done today, sorry! I had it written, but I accidentally refreshed the page, so I have to remember what I said about your wonderful fic.
I had a hard time figuring out how many points Iris should lose, and I felt that something under one-hundred would be best, seeing as I didn't want it to be enough that someone would have called Remus in. Penelope is a little stressed about the whole Dementors and Sirius Black thing, but that's no reason she should be stern towards the firsties. That being said, Iris should probably make sure she's on her best behavior in her other classes. I didn't include how many points Iris had won Ravenclaw during those two months, but it almost balances it out.
I feel so bad for Remus during all of this. I also feel really bad about having him be so sad on Halloween, but, alas, it was necessary for the plot. I'm just going to accept your explanation for why Iris doesn't recognize him because I honestly messed up. Also, I have a feeling that Remus sent a lot of the pictures he had of James and Lily to Harry when Hagrid put that photo album together. That, and I doubt that Remus would have told Iris who the man in the photo was, as he really doesn't like to think about Sirius. It's kind of sad, actually, but don't worry. Iris will get something a little better than a photo of Sirius later. It was mostly about his feelings, to be honest, but also that Anne died thinking that Sirius had betrayed her brother, so she was the one who hid a lot of the photos. Remus just carried on with it. Iris does resemble Sirius, but there is another relative who she resembles a bit more. We meet that person next fic, so I'm excited to see what you think of that.
Ophelia has had really long hair her entire life, and she wanted short hair. Should she have gone to a salon? Probably, but her parents wouldn't have let her. She actually likes the really choppy haircut. I am the complete opposite in that I too don't like getting my hair cut. Iris is of a similar opinion, but, alas, Mrs. Abbott takes care of that for her. Maybe she'll get to grow her hair out one of these days...
Hannah is a bit more judgy than she looks. I don't want to spoil future things, but she's not as sweet and nice as people think. She's not evil, just well-rounded. I felt like making her be judgmental is both keeping with canon and a flaw that would be realistic for a Hufflepuff to have. We see shades of it in CoS, but it gets a little more fleshed out here. So in this case, yes, the person is very horrible, but sometimes, Hannah might just be a little judgy.
I admit that I haven't reread this chapter, so please don't take this next bit as super firm or entirely accurate unless it accidentally is, in which case, go for it. I needed some sort of authority figure in this fic, and I was writing these chapters when I was also writing Notes, so I just used Audrey and Evan. I mean, I would have used them anyway, seeing as they are the prefects in charge of Iris' year, but Notes helped develop them to the point where I felt comfortable using them as more than just an easter egg. They do show up a bit during this series, and I hope you'll continue to like how they're used.
She will talk to Harry soon! I apologize in advance because Harry doesn't show up a lot in this fic, but he will play a larger part in later fics in the series. I know that it's not exactly hard for him to play a larger part than he already does, but it will be bigger than just showing up once in a while. I didn't want this to turn into a rehash of canon, but certain circumstances that come up in the next fic do allow for there to be some wiggle room. That being said, of the Golden Trio, Crookshanks is probably the one who is the most present, plot-wise, in this series. He also happens to be my favorite character, so take that how you will.
Thanks for stopping by, and I hope you have a nice day!
-A
ayyy i love astoria already, i don't have any particular reason for it but i just really love what you're doing with her character. i'm an astoria stan so :P i'm very excited to see what happens when iris finally meets harry :EYES:
Author's Response:kris, i love your reviews!!!!
I think you're gonna love what I do with Astoria later. I had a lot of fun thinking about her, and while she does occasionally nag Iris about misbehaving, there are definitely some fun aspects to Astoria that you'll like. Harry and Iris' meeting is... interesting. You'll see what I mean when you get there, but it's not necessarily indicative of how their relationship will be later on. I will say one thing: they have both inherited the Potter sass.
Thank you for reviewing and :kittenheart:!! I hope you have a really nice day!!
-A
Ahahah! Sly Crookshanks! :P
I wonder if Iris' quest to figure out her father's identity will be successful (and in how much trouble she'll end up...)
And so Snape knows??? Not good... but that explains why he's so nasty to her... And honestly, she's right. Why should you respect someone who so clearly doesn't respect you? Even if he is a Professor?
And yes, a first encounter with Harry! I hope they'll manage to properly talk soon! :D
Another fun chapter! :)
Author's Response:Thanks for reviewing!
I really love Crookshanks, which is why he shows up here. He is one of my favorite characters in the whole series, so, of course, I had to introduce him. This is not the last time he gets to see Iris, luckily.
There is a reason why Snape really does not like Iris, and Iris is just done with his shit. She is just truly done with it, and it's only been a few weeks. Snape knows, but he also knows that Remus is watching.
I am so sorry for how it's going to be with Harry. I promise that there will be more of him in the next fic. I am editing some of these chapters, but Harry will still not be in a lot of them. I didn't want to overly focus on Harry, as it is Iris' story, so I kind of left him out. That does get fixed in Iris pallida, but I do wish I had introduced him slightly earlier in this fic.
Thanks for reading, and I hope you have a lovely day!
-A
This was another really cute chapter, nice to see the kids taking their first lessons! I really liked your idea of the Prefects accompanying them to class, makes much more sense than the children getting lost while they try to navigate on their own... :P
Snape is just as insufferable as always... and yes, he is sooooo bitter! I wonder why he was so nasty to Iris, only because she's James Potter's niece? Or did he have a bad relationship with her mum, too? Or does he know who her dad is? Mmmh, questions...
Nice job so far! :D
Author's Response:Thanks for reviewing!
I felt like this chapter dragged a little bit, but I wanted to have the firsties go through their very first day of classes. Agreed about the getting lost, which is why I had them be accompanied by Audrey and Evan. Fun fact: Neville was originally going to make his first appearance in this chapter, helping Iris find the Transfiguration classroom. I changed his intro to be something a little more suitable for Neville, and I hope you'll enjoy it. Unfortunately, we haven't gotten to that chapter in Iris pallida quite yet.
It is not because of James, surprisingly enough. He wasn't told who Iris' dad is, but let's just say that she looks very much like a paternal relative, and Snape put two and two together. Some answers will come, I promise. Not soon, but they will come.
Thank you for reviewing, and I hope you have a wonderful day!
-A
I'm back (profiting of the fest :P)
I knew Iris would be in Ravenclaw! And Astoria, too! A bit sad about Sylvia, but I hope they'll still remain friends... and nice to meet Audrey and Evan, after reading bits of the Bulletin Board :D I like how the two stories merge together (I suppose it's the same universe?)
Fun fact, I used the same riddle in one of my stories as well :P
Ah, the old prejudice against Slytherin... good on Astoria to tell that girl off (also lol at the fact that it was Romilda... :P)
I loved Iris' Sorting and how argumentative she was with the Hat... there was no way she could end up anywhere else... :P
See you on the next chapter! ;)
Author's Response:Thanks for reviewing!
This isn't the last of Sylvia, don't worry! So, fun fact: Audrey and Evan were originally developed for this fic, and they ended up being the, if you will, main character of Notes because I needed prefects and they were the right age. They are, in fact, the same universe, and this series will show who, exactly, is behind Toadopolis.
Romilda is... Let's just say that Romilda will be showing up again. There is an antagonistic Slytherin (who we will not meet until the next fic, as I am currently writing his introduction in that), but Romilda is pretty close to being Iris' Draco, only she's not a Death Eater and just kind of mean. There are reasons, but I can't get into those here yet.
There was one other house that the Sorting Hat was thinking of for Iris, but I'll leave that for everyone to guess. And no, it's not Gryffindor. I just love how the hat kind of went 'okay, fine, be with the other eagles who won't stop arguing with me' because he was just so done.
Thanks for reviewing, and I hope you have a lovely day!
-A
ayy i giggled at iris' frustration about the hogwarts dress code (and lol at madam malkin suggesting iris' had the idea to go around naked under her robes) but omgggg the tiny lil cuddly owl won my heart and i am all :HEART EYES: for him i love him already.
also :EYES: at all the mystery
Author's Response:Hey, kris!
Roland is my absolute favorite character in this series. I am completely serious. And he is an angel and I love him and you will never have to worry about him. All he gets are snuggles, not struggles.
So I know in the books that they have just robes, but at the same time, I just really want them to have to wear ties because it's useful later on in the series. Also because I just vibe more with the movie uniforms?? Like, I kind of get robes, but at the same time, they're never really described, whereas this is a nice, clear image. And also because I have a purpose for it later on.
Ohohohohohohohohoh, the mystery. Don't worry. The mystery doesn't get solved for a long time, and Iris isn't actually the first person to solve it! I won't say who it is, but I think you might be able to put it together when you get to that chapter.
Thank you for reviewing, and I hope you have a lovely day!
-A
Hi! :)
Here for the guerrilla gift tag (well, that was the idea, but I saw that Deni just beat me...)! I wanted to see how Iris was doing, so... :P
Trips to Hogwarts are always so much fun! :D And always so nice to meet some new characters! Will Sylvia actually become a Slytherin, or will she be a Ravenclaw with Iris and Astoria (I'm assuming they'll both end up in Ravenclaw, although I guess that's still to be determined, too... :P) And I'm also very intrigued by Yukata and Liam... and Elena, too... I wonder if they'll all be friends or if there will be rivarlies among these kids. I guess we'll see later. ;) I'm also very curious about how the school will react to a new Potter, and if Iris will interact with Harry at all... I'm very curious about a lot of things... :P
It was nice to see the group of third year Hufflepuffs, too! Hufflepuffs are always very under represented, so it's always nice to see them making an appearence! :P Honestly, I agree with Susan... it would've made much more sense that they'd send Aurors to patrol the school for Sirius... isn't it their job? That, and putting Dementors in a school sounds very irresponsible... but I guess wizards have a strange concept of security anyway... :P
This was a fun chapter! I'll try to come back again at some point! :D
Snowball hug,
Chiara
Author's Response:Thanks for reviewing, Chiara!
So I know that I introduced Elena here as though she would be a main character and then pretty much ignored her, and I just want to say, from the bottom of my heart, my b. I am actually in the middle of revising this fic to make it a bit better, and while she may not end up being a main character, she'll definitely be in it a bit more. I'm not happy with how this fic turned out because I rushed it, so I'm going back and editing (and adding another chapter!) to make it a bit better. There isn't necessarily a rivalry, I'd say, between any of the people we met in this chapter. Iris and Yukata... I don't want to spoil it, but Yukata will become pretty much essential by the end of the series.
He does interact with Iris! Again, he will more once I've edited this, but he does in the current edition! It's a little strange for Harry, seeing as his only other cousin is Dudley, and Iris is most definitely not like Dudley in any way. They have a pretty sweet relationship once they get to know each other, and it's a bit more like siblings than cousins. Also, there is a lot of sass and snarkiness because Potter and Black family snarky genes.
I agree with Susan too, which is why I put her in here! I sort of get plot-wise why the Dementors are there, but as they are clearly uncontrollable, I don't think that the Ministry should have taken the risk to put them outside of Hogwarts. I think that Aurors like they did in HBP would have made a bit more sense. Fun fact: we have met two of the main trio's (Iris, Astoria, and Sylvia) husbands. The third, of course, is a canon husband, and we don't see him in this fic. Well, he's mentioned, but we don't see him yet. You get virtual cookies if you can figure out who they are and whose husbands they are.
Thank you so much for stopping by, and I hope you have a nice day!
-A
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