Name: Renacera (Signed) · Date: 23 Feb 2021 10:50 PM · For: Deleted Scene: I didn’t know you were seeing someone …?

This was adorable and so very Harry that it was painful. xD

The scene you ended up using (with the wedding invitation) was perfect for the narrative, I agree, but this was also a good moment of just sheer Harry Potter Obliviousness. Like...Harry. Come on.

Even in canon, there's something so...dumb...about Harry. Like, he isn't stupid. But sometimes the way he reaches conclusions is just straight-up baffling. Like, jumping from "Draco Malfoy is being suspicious..." to "I should actively stalk him all hours of the day and night, almost miss a Quidditch game, and talk about him so often that my friends starting getting A Bit Concerned." Oof. Harry. My guy. Even when you're right you handle things so wrong sometimes.

But this was a great way to show that Harry can be hellz oblivious. We love him anyway (as does Neville!), so we accept him dumb moments. We'll just shake our heads and smile fondly at him. :)

Great job, Jo! You're the best.


*for the Fairyland review event*

Name: Renacera (Signed) · Date: 23 Feb 2021 10:43 PM · For: Chapter 1

Hi Jo!

I'd never read a Neville/Harry story until now, but you know how much I love your writing, so I had to check this out. Rare pairs are kind of my thing, too, so I'm excited to review this!

I have to say: you did a fabulous job setting up the Neville/Harry ship, and an even more fabulous job showing how it changed and grew over the years. There's such depth to their interactions and the things that bring them together or push them apart. This was a beautiful depiction of growing up.

I love that you started when they were just connecting, but you made it so clear that the war changed them and hurt them in really significant ways. I may have mentioned it before, but post-war stories that actually deal with that trauma are some of my absolute favorites. These characters were children when they fought in a war. That leaves scars that can't be seen.

And then you're able to bring Harry and Neville back together and show that, though things have changed, their love hasn't. I really adored the line, "But perhaps we have turned into cowards without noticing." and the subsequent explanation that that isn't what's happened.

This was just really lovely, Jo. The ending was so sweet. I'm so glad I was able to see the breadth of their relationship in this one-shot. Your grasp of emotions and the human experience is, as always, so impressive.

Sincerely,
Emily


*for the Fairyland review event*

Name: prideofprewett (Signed) · Date: 13 Jan 2021 08:19 PM · For: Chapter 1

Hi Jo! I am here for your Hufflepuff review request! :) But don't worry, if you post something else this month, I'll try and check it out too <3

 

Your writing is so lovely and poetic in this piece! You accentuate this relationship with such meaningful scenes that stir up all kinds of feelings.

 

I loved the progression of Harry and Neville's relationship in this. I love that you took the time to explore Harry's post-war mindset in depth and how it didn't have him jumping into a relationship straightaway. I think that level of childhood trauma would require some individual reflection and self-discovery and you really showcase that brilliantly here!

 

I love that it's not just post-war stress, but it's also a story about questioning sexual identity. I think you do it in such a believable manner, in the sense that it feels like canon Harry, but it's your version of canon Harry, who just also happens to be LGBTQ+. And the discovery and acceptance of this who I love part of this wasn't done in a self-tortorous sort of way. It was expressed quite lovely in a slow, mature progression. Almost like as Harry's discovering this is who he has always been, he's growing up in a sense as well. I felt his hesitation came from a place of: "I'm not sure we should because I'm a mess, because of our friendship, because was it just a youthful daliance and you don't feel as strongly as me?" And having all of those things kind of hanging out there just makes it all the more sweeter whenever Harry moves in and we see pieces of them together as a couple. Getting to that part of the story was like taking in a deep breath and really just appreciating it. :) 

 

I loved the snippy moment over the wedding invitation. It's a realistic couply thing, and given Harry's relationship with Ron/Hermione, of course his response is totally justified. But Neville's wry "it's Hermione Granger, do you really think she wouldn't have noticed something?" was just adorable and I loved it!

 

Also, omgawsh...Neville with his plants. I love seeing that so much! Also you took so much care in describing the plant in the greenhouse (and the fact that he has a greenhouse in their backyard SUPER CUTE), which I loved all that detail around that plant. I also loved this line so much too: "You don’t answer right away, but your kiss tastes of places to see and discoveries to make." That was just so touching and swoon worthy! <3

 

And Jo, seeing them growing old together. I was all *hearts in eyes* for it. I love all the old people ships, so seeing old people together, still loving and caring deeply for one another...gahhh it just kills me in the best way possible! 

 

This was an absolutely lovely piece! I really hope you decide to write more because you have such a beautiful way of writing things. 

<3 Courtney  

Author's Response:

Hi Courtney!

I love how you phrased this "but it's your version of canon Harry, who just also happens to be LGBTQ+", because that's exactly what my original premise for this AU was! I'm so happy you got that feeling from the story.

Not just with this, but generally your review gave me a comfortable warm feeling of "you get me"/you get what I wanted to say, and is there anything more we could ask for as writers?

Thank you for such a lovely review!

Love,
Jo

Name: justawillowtree (Signed) · Date: 27 Jul 2020 11:00 PM · For: Chapter 1

HI JO. You posted about this story in the Hufflepuff chapter updates thread, and I realized that I haven’t even read the original one-shot! And it’s amazing -- the form of this !! The short, fragmented snapshots of Harry and Neville’s life! The beautiful use of the second person! I adore everything, how you manage to capture their entire relationship in such a short amount of space. The part that particularly melted my heart was when Harry realized that Hermione invited both him and Neville on the same card -- she is quite an observant one, isn’t she? :P

Anyway, I think this is utterly beautiful. I’ve never read a Harry/Neville story before, I believe, but I absolutely adored this one! <333

 

Love, Eva

Author's Response:

Thank you so much for this review, Eva!

I loved it so much on the first read and then when I was trying to make progress on my unanswered reviews I noticed that you'd already left me such a lovely review on this.

So thank you for making the effort to leave a review twice!

Love,
Jo

Name: Your Obliviator (Anonymous) · Date: 08 May 2018 12:05 AM · For: Chapter 1

Transferred from offsite at request of the author

Originally left on 08/21/2016

What a beautiful and poetic story.

One thing I really love about this story is the way you've brought to light the contrast between how Harry is coping post-war and how Neville is coping. Neville is doing well, he's surviving day to day, even thriving. Harry is struggling between the unresolved feelings, the toll that war takes, and the feeling of being a killer. Harry says he sometimes resents the fact that it could have just as well been Neville and Harry could have had the nice normal life. I can't imagine how hard it would be to be in love with someone but also have that underlying feeling of resentment (however so small).

It's interesting, but also very realistic to me, that one of the things he found so miserable was standing on stage with him with all the applause while getting his Order of Merlin. I think besides the obvious issue of being in love with someone and being in such close proximity, some of that must be a bit of survivor's guilt too. I can't imagine Harry being all that proud of the accolade considering all the lives lost to obtain it.

I like that you had Neville being the one that kissed first. The one that was so very Gryffindor bold. He was, as you say, Gryffindor for a reason! That's such a pleasant touch!

The invitation was such a nice touch. It was incredibly sweet but more than that it establishes their relationship more firmly and it establishes that their friends love and accept them (even though we totally knew they would anyway).

I find that I like the idea of Ginny and Dean together in this story. In my heart it somehow complements Harry and Neville. I'm not sure exactly why that is.

I love that Harry takes an interest in Neville's passions. He asks about his plants and recognizing which ones are new and what they act like. He allowed the greenhouse to be installed in his yard which I imagine would have been very delightful at keeping Neville around even more so. He's doing such a good job being loving and supportive. Telling him to go chase his dreams, go research the Wattieza Nova. *Sigh* They have such a sweet, dreamy relationship.

Your characterization of the pair of them is completely unparalleled. Especially Neville. He's a bit of a silly goose, but he's so passionate and brilliant. I could easily see this progression of him from the books themselves. My favorite line of the entire story was ""I picture you in your greenhouse, humming and completely oblivious to the fact you are standing on a sock."" I can completely see Neville humming along shoeless, totally immersed in his work.

The end was so very sweet and I'm so pleased I had the opportunity to read this beautiful piece, filled with a perfect amount of angst and fluff.

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Reviews for Ten Dances by Jo Raskoph

Available online at http://www.harrypotterfanfiction.com/viewstory.php?psid=336444

Author's Response:

Oh my Obliviator, what an absolutely lovely review! I'm in awe.

You made the effort to point so many details out about stays the same, I feel like I just re-read it myself. And it makes me feel very proud of this little fic, which was the first one I ever shared publicly, and that's such a precious gift. Reading the work itself it's to easy to get caught up in stuff I'd change today, but your review makes me really appreciate the things I did get right back then… Thank you.

Love,
Jo

Name: Marshal (Anonymous) · Date: 08 May 2018 12:05 AM · For: Chapter 1

Transferred from offsite at request of the author

Originally left on 06/18/2016

For the LGBTQA+ Review Event

This is an interesting take on the original story, the little changes that brought Harry and Neville together is interesting. I like how you show how life can cause people to change. How they may not have stayed together if it weren't for the war but they eventually found comfort and solace together. You wrote a very cute couple and relationship that is different and unique and yet works. One wouldn't think of putting Neville and Harry together but at the same time you made it work so a job well done.

Author's Response:

Hi Marshal,

thank you for leaving a review and I hope you can forgive the aaaages it took me to reply. it's awesome to hear you liked Harry and Neville as a couple and that they worked for you - in their own way.

Love, Jo

Name: filledwithwonder (Anonymous) · Date: 08 May 2018 12:05 AM · For: Chapter 1

Transferred from offsite at request of the author

Originally left on 03/19/2016

Hi Jo! It's Rach here with your requested review.

I really enjoyed this fic! Harry/Neville is a ship I've never even considered before, as I usually stick to canon pairings. That being said, I think you made it work really well! The nature of their relationship really did feel realistic, and their pairing was easier to get behind than I originally thought it would be. I enjoyed how you mentioned Ginny's life with Dean, and that they were still in each other's lives (and I adored Neville's commentary on the plants). It made it easier for me to ignore the canon H/G pairing altogether.

I especially liked Harry's POV. I love first-person stories, and I just adored how it felt like he was talking to Neville directly, or leaving him a love note almost. I liked the lack of dialogue. I thought the story and Harry's thoughts stood alone well and didn't need the addition of dialogue.

My favorite line was this: ""Youíve never had to be a killer and sometimes I hate how easy it is for you. Sometimes I hate that it was me when it could have been you."" It struck me because I always forget that it could have been Neville, and the comment is just so distinctly Harry. Harry is a really hard character to get right as we've heard his voice from JKR so thoroughly, but I think you characterized him really well and got that Harry essence.

I also enjoyed your pacing. You gave us glimpses of Harry and Neville's lives both together and separately, like little snapshots. I enjoyed following them through their journey. I liked that you started in the middle of their story. And I loved how the ending brought us back to the beginning snapshot that we hadn't gotten to see yet.

All in all, I think you did a wonderful job making us wish this ship was canon. I can't say I won't still be shipping H/G, as I'm old fashioned in my canon ways ;). However, I think you made the relationship very believable, which I'd say is the biggest obstacle in making a non-canon pairing.

I feel honored to be reviewing your first fic; you knocked it out of the park. Keep writing!

-R

Author's Response: Hi Rach :)

Thank you so much for your lovely review.

I love ""or leaving him a love note almost"" this so much because it was exactly what I was trying to do and I'm amazed that you picked up on it.

And I'm glad you enjoyed reading even though you ship H/G :)

Lots of love,

Jo

Name: Felpata Lupin (Anonymous) · Date: 08 May 2018 12:05 AM · For: Chapter 1

Transferred from offsite at request of the author

Originally left on 03/17/2016

Hey, Jo!

I think I never properly talked to you or welcomed you to Hufflepuff... So, to make amends a little, I've decided to come take a peek at your writing...

By the way... Wow! Am I leaving you your first review? I feel sort of honoured by it! :)

But onto the story!

So, this was interesting! Probably not the sort of thing I would usually read, but I enjoyed it just the same!

Something I really liked a lot was how you showed the development of the relationship through the years and how it wasn't a they-were-soulmates-and-perfect-for-each-other-and-everything-was-always-perfect sort of thing. They had their hardship, their ups and downs, just like real life is, but they got through together and found their dimension in the end. I loved it.

I also loved the circularity of the story, how it ends with the memories of where it started. That final scene, with Harry reviving his childhood memories, the first years in Hogwarts, up to that first kiss. So sweet, so lovely!

By the way, I found sort of amusing how you took scenes from canon and reinterpreted them changing the actors, substituting Neville to Cho and Ginny. It was a cute way to introduce their romance.

I loved your descriptions, too. You did a great job in setting the scenes and showing us what's happening. I would've loved some more dialogue (just because I'm a dialogue person... :P) but that wasn't what you wanted to do, and your story worked brilliantly the way it was! Also, I find first-person perspective to be incredibly tricky, and you managed it really well. Harry's POV came out very spot on. Congrats.

My only CC (but maybe it's just me... after all I read your story this morning on the underground when I was still trying to wake up...) is that the chapter felt a bit long. Have you considered breaking it in more than one chapter? It would make the reading a bit lighter (but, as I said, that's only the opinion of a sleepy IT consultant heading to work...)

All in all, this was a really well written, really interesting story, and I enjoyed reading it a lot!

Lots of love,

Chiara

Author's Response: Hi Chiara.

Yes, this is my very first review and I was so surprised finding it this morning, thank you so much for stopping by. This is so exciting!

Hehe, I'm glad you liked the Cho and Ginny scenes. I was working on the premise that in this AU the only thing that changed was Neville and Harry's sexuality, so it felt right to change as little as possible.

In fact I never thought of breaking the story into chapters, mainly because the units I would have liked to split it up into/the different scenes would be too short to be validated as separate chapters. But I see where you are coming from - with this much happening in relatively few words I can imaging it feels long. I'll keep this in mind for future one-shots :)

Concerning dialogue: I'd love to say that it's sprase because it fits the story (because both Harry and Neville are not really good at expressing emotions, and also that at the begining their bad times after the war are kind of silent and later on they get comfortable and start talking freely until in the end they can share a comfortable silence) BUT that only works for this story and you are rightt. Dialogue is more difficult for me than the rest.

I'm glad that you enjoyed it and thank you again for taking the time to give such thoughtful and most of all really helpful feedback.

Lots of love to you too,

Jo

Name: justawillowtree (Signed) · Date: 16 Dec 2017 11:06 PM · For: Chapter 1

Your prose reads like poetry. I loved the usage of second person in this piece, which was skillfully and delicately done. It gave this piece a super poetic feel, and it made it very personal, as well. I felt as though I was living and breathing Harry's emotions all throughout this work.

 

(I'm on a rarepair roll today, and I have loved all of them so far. Maybe I should find more rarepairs to read on a more regular basis, because these have all been hits with me. It helps that they are all written so beautifully.)

 

Reading about Harry and Neville growing old together, and struggling through the trauma, and taking care of each other touched me. I was just really, really emotional throughout all of this. Thank you so much for writing something so beautiful! I'm so, so thankful that I stumbled across this today.

Author's Response:

Hey there WillowTree.

 

You said in your review on hope that it was the first of my stories you read and I felt I didn't deserve that review because you'd already left me this lovely one.
I'm happy you found the viewport relatable and even poetic. It was my sneaky way of trying to make you "wish it were canon" ;-)

 

You should definitely read more rare pairs! And I'm very happy you enjoyed this one.
Thank you for stopping by and leaving a review and such a kind one at that!

 

Love,
Jo