Name: dreamgazer220 (Signed) · Date: 15 Mar 2018 04:32 PM · For: Pandora's Secret

Hiya! I'm here for judging the Say Goodbye challenge! ♥

Whoa. I wasn't really sure what I was expecting when I opened this story up, but this story totally surprised me in the best way.  You took a character we didn't really know much about and expanded her in such a way that by the end of the story, even though I knew it was coming, my reaction was still 'no'.

You opened with a really unique premise.  Spell making is curious work, and I love that it was Luna's mother and that it was her career and her passion, from even when she was a little kid.  It was heartbreaking that she accidentally created a spell that would eventually end her own life; but she knew the risks, didn't she? But that just makes it worse. 

I love non-linear stories, so I love that you took us back to when she was a child and her years throughout Hogwarts. And omg, that she friended the Fat Friar-- how freaking adorable was that?! It was a total twist that that was who she was making the spell for, that that was her best friend.  It was so cute watching them talk as they got older, and that he took her to Flitwick to mend her book and that's what made her confess her dreams of creating spells.

I also love that she fell in love with Xenophilius and of course didn't think he was weird or anything, but because she remembered what it was like to be different, and their relationship in this just comes across as really sweet. 

And omg, poor Luna for finding her mother like that. I don't know if that's canon or not, but it brings so much to her character and I just. Ugh.

This was really well written, and I think you did a really, really great job here. I definitely felt for Pandora and for Luna and the Fat Friar; I loved their non-goodbye and how it circled to the end.  

Nice work. Thank you so much for entering the challenge! ♥

Author's Response:

I'm glad you found the story unique! It's always fun to write stories about characters that are barely mentioned in the original series and really flesh them out.

 

Since it was never explained in the books, I developed my own method for spell making. It was quite enjoyable (and hard, because of the research of Latin involved) to write those opening paragraphs.

 

The relationship of Pandora and the Fat Friar is really the heart of the story- I'm glad you enjoyed their friendship!

 

Xenophilius really took a backseat in this story, as I didn't think I could develop their relationship thoroughly with everything else I already had going on, but I do think she wouldn't find him weird. Their relationship is sweet and pure.

 

Thanks for reviewing, and thanks for putting on the challenge! I wouldn't have written this otherwise.