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Hi Chiara! Here for your review request!
I loved the opening of us and how soft and sweet it feels. We get a good sense that the Lupins are truly loving family who enjoy teasing one another and just one another's company in general. Moments in the kitchen with your family are also especially sweet when you're creating things together.
But then we are reminded of the sad times that befall them. Remus has a condition that needs extra care and attention, and I can't even imagine the amount of stress it likely caused them. You do well to show there's a strain on the marriage as well as in the family in general as a result of it.
But I do love that you returned to the sweetness of family. In spite of their hardship, the Lupins are finding ways to make the best of their situation. I think, for having no knowledge of how to cook fried artichokes (me either tbh xD), you did a great job showing this! The actions they took with cooking were very well described along with showing this need for mother and son to bond over something.
Also, your tone of Remus as a kid is totally spot on! I feel like it can be hard writing kids in a realistic fashion and I feel like you did that here!
As always, I love whenever you included snippets of Italian. The songs were delightful and I think added to the mood of this piece because we're reminded there's music playing while they're cooking. And there is just something nice about listening to music while cooking.
Thank you for pointing me in the direction of this piece! It was absolutely lovely!
<3 Courtney
Author's Response:Hi, Courtney, my love! <3
So glad you enjoyed the opening, and got this feeling of a loving family who enjoy their time together! That's definitely what I was trying to portray for the Lupins! <3 And yes, working together in the kitchen as a family is always so special! <3
Yes, I imagine it would be so hard for the parents, having to deal with Remus' lycanthropy and everything it implied... glad it felt realistic and that you could feel the strain on their relationship, too...
But yes, there is still love and happy moments! <3 Glad you liked the cooking process as well! :D
Glad little Remus' voice felt authentic, too! <3
I have to include bits of Italian in my stories... :P Glad you liked the songs! And I agree, listening to music while cooking is the best thing! <3
Thank you so much for the wonderful review, I'm so glad you liked this fic! <3
Love,
Chiara
Hello Chiara, I'm back with another review!
What a quiet, sweet story. I absolutely adore stories like this, that are just moments/glimpses in time. And, of course, with a story about Lupin as a child, cooking in the kitchen with his mum... how could I resist?
The beginning is very soft, which I loved. Just the three of them spending quality time together as a family, and it's nice to see Remus with parents who accept and love him and want to have him have as normal of a life as possible. That they can have moments in the kitchen, cooking as if there's not a care in the world. The dynamic between John and Silivia was truly wonderful and it was cleaer that they've been together a long time, but they still love each other and can joke and tease each other. It's a great example for Remus to have, especially at a young age, even as things get harder.
And then, like most of your stories, there's the slightest dark turn and things have changed. It must be so incredibly hard for Remus, growing up and having to move from house to house. But I love that he has this constant of his mum cooking with him, and that there even has to be music -- like he needs to set the mood and the tone as they work in the kitchen. And I loved the line about Silivia protecting him; that even if she couldn't protect his inner demons, she could provent outside harm. It was just a quiet, sweet moment that showed how much she really loved her son.
And all the details with the food! I know this was the point of the story, but I think you did a great job; especially from looking primarily at recipes and such online. I could clearly see everything happening in the kitchen, and I love that Remus compares it to magic. Because really, cooking is it's very own form of magic, creating things from scratch and finding the right measures of ingredients to make something taste delicious.
And I loved that this ended with a soft, heartwarming moment of the three of them sitting around the table again. It's nice that while a lot can change, and there's a lot of tragedy in the world, and things can be grim - you can still have a quiet dinner with your family and the world can seem like a not so scary place.
Another fantastic story, but that's no surprise from you! This was another one that had me feeling all of the warm fuzzies by the end.
I hope you continue to have a warm and snuggly holiday season, my dear! Many hugs to you ♥
Author's Response:You really spoiled me for Secret Hufflepuff! <3
I'm so glad you liked this quiet moment between little Remus and his mum! Child Remus is the cutest, right? <3
I like to imagine that Remus had a loving, supportive family. I'm glad you liked the opening scene, with them just joking and teasing each other in the kitchen! Glad you liked the dynamic between John and Silvia, I do love them a lot! <3
Of course, the atmosphere would change after the bite... it is very hard for Remus, having to deal with that at such a young age, and feeling like he's ruining things for his family, poor thing... :/ But there still is love, and cooking together, and the music! :) It would be hard for Silvia, not being able to help her child with lycanthropy, but at least she can protect him from outside harm and I feel she would do anything to keep her son as safe as possible... <3
So glad you liked the food descriptions as well! And yes, cooking is a sort of magic! :)
Being able to just sit around the table with your family can make everything better! <3
So glad you enjoyed this little fic, too! <3
Love you!
so i've been feeling kinda nostalgic recently and this story sounded like the type to fit my mood and it was ,,,just!! so!! good!! i loved it!
first - i love your headcanon that remus' mum was italian bc hello, his name?? and little remus singing in a lil bit butchered italian is an adorable sight to imagine/read about.
but honestly, i just really loved your depiction of family in this, and how at first obviously, they're all very happy and carefree until...they're not. and it's because of remus being a werewolf and things are *hard* and of course the little boy feels it but in this particular moment that you wrote about you managed to capture the bittersweetness of remus and his mother cooking an italian dish, listening to italian songs and then his dad comes home and they all enjoy it but ...kinda like fried artichokes there's a bitter undercurrent (and it's not that obvious but it's still there) because all of it happens in the aftermath of a full moon :IIIII
i loved the symbolism of the dish and the content of the story, it was so well done! :D
also, i liked how you described the food, especially the artichoke leaves curling and turning golden, it was so easy to imagine and ahh kinda beautiful?? idk why i'm getting this soft over the story but i mean, it's adorable and lovable and well written so there :p
the fact that you chose the italian songs to perfectly follow the plot was something i loved and it just gave the entire setting this nostalgic feeling *_* it was awesome
thanks for swapping!
kris
Author's Response:Hey, Kris, lovely! <3
Thank you so much for swapping! <3
Ah, I feel you... nostalgic is my second name... :/ I guess this fits the mood completely! I'm so glad you liked the story! <3
I'm definitely a bit biased there... but I do think that Remus being half-Italian is fitting, considering the origin of his name :P And yes, that's a really sweet image! <3
I just adore the Lupins (or my headcanon for them, at least) so, so, so much! There's so much love there, but also so much suffering of course... And Remus being himself, he would obviously blame himself for the lost carefreeness :( But they can still cut themselves moments of happiness, like in this moment when they are cooking together <3 I'm glad you liked the metaphore of the bitter hint of the artichokes!
I'm so, so glad you liked the food descriptions too! And the way I included the songs in the narration/plot! <3
Thank you so much for the swap and the wonderful review! <3
Love,
Chiara
--- for the battleship event ---
hellooo chiara I am here for you review! <3
I am a big fan of baby Remus, so I was definitely excited when you requested for this because any excuse to read one of my favorites :')
Okay so first off, this story made me hungry I need to get a snack, but second I really loved all of the little details you put into it like: "Salt, pepper, pecorino cheese, mix it all up with the eggs while singing softly Arrivederci, Roma. For a while Remus genuinely believed that without the song the taste wouldn't have been so good." - so good?? I can almost smell/taste the ingredients myself and it's a very evocative piece of imagery that reminds me of cooking with my grandma when I was young (my mom less so, but same idea).
and then.... you hit me with the EMOTIONS "It was his fault, just like it was his fault that they had to move towns four times in a year because eventually someone would figure out what was wrong with him." honestly I think I avoid thinking about little Remus a lot because it's genuinely so heartbreaking to imagine how his life must have changed so much because of one horrible tragedy, and then he was expected to shoulder the weight of everything at such a young age - it just changes someone so much. ;-; but I love how you're writing this because it's making me really feel, and tear up. ;-;
and it's so clear in your writing as well how much his mother at least (though I hope his father as well) genuinely and truly cares for him: "maybe she couldn't protect her son from his inner demons, but she could prevent rebellious oil drops from hurting him." I'm not a parent, but the way you're writing this really puts me in her position and her feelings and what it must be like to live knowing there's so little you can do for your child.
and I loved how the ending allowed their family a little normalcy because??? they deserve it tbh their lives are so hard, and Remus is obviously in so much pain from what he can't control/do anything about, but I think that showing that, and then showing that this family is still capable of having a good moment with each other is really lovely and I really enjoyed reading this, so thank you so much for questing the review <3
Julie
Author's Response:Hey, Julie! Thank you for stopping by! <3
I thought you might like baby Remus! ;)
I'm glad I made you hungry! :P And that this brought back memories of cooking with your grandma, that's sweet! <3
Ah, yes, I know... it's so sad that Remus had to go through so much pain and hardship when he was so little... :( I'm glad I could make you feel for him, though, even if it's a bit heartbreaking... <3
I'm not a parent either, but I imagine it would be so hard to see your child suffer and not being able to do much to help them... but at least Remus' parents truly love him, so at least he has that good thing! <3
They definitely deserved that little moment of normalcy! <3 I'm so glad you enjoyed seeing them happy, if only for a little while! <3
So glad you enjoyed this story! Thank you so much for the lovely review! <3
Snowball hug,
Chiara
not only did you make me insanely hungry, but also i am now bursting with love for remus and his mum! your descriptions were so wonderful, i could smell the food sizzling and almost the music playing, there were all these little details to the scenes you set up. fics about remus are so often quite sad and even those there were subtle hints of his condition and sadness there already, it was wonderful to see him happy, content and safe at home with loving parents.
remus also felt like the little kid he was when you told the story from his perspective. i think it can be difficult to write from the point of view of a child and somehow preserve the child like view of the world, but the language that you were using was, i thought, very accurate for a boy his age, intelligent but still young and innocent, too.
It was like eating chips, only better, because of that bitter hint that made you appreciate the sweetness all the more.
Maybe I'm reading too much into that, but that almost seems like the perfect metaphor for his life. It turned out to be pretty bitter for the most part - being a werewolf, losing all his friends, being alone all those years - but there was also sweetness, right? Reconnecting with Sirius, meeting Harry, being with Tonks, having a son...and so he loved and appreciated that sweetness of life even more, including these lovely moments with his parents. Now I'm not only hungry but also emotional.
Very sweet and well-written short piece, thank you for writing this!
Eli :)
Author's Response:Eli!!! <3
First of all, thank you so much for stopping by my AP! It was such a lovely surprise! Also, I'm so honoured that you wrote a story rec for this on the forums! Really, thank you so, so much! <3
Ahahah! I'm so proud that I made you hungry? :P And so happy that you could feel for Remus and Silvia! <3 I'm so glad you enjoyed the descriptions, especially since description is not generally my strongest suit! I'm so glad you could almost smell the food and hear the music, it's such a great compliment! <3
Remus' stories are often angsty, and this one is probably too, partly, but I wanted to show some sweetness as well and I'm glad you could appreciate it! I do believe Remus' parents would love him deeply! I'm glad you liked the familiar atmosphere! <3
I'm so glad Remus felt age-appropriate! To be honest, I don't find that difficult writing from the perspective of children... I love writing children and it comes to me quite natural... probably I never grew up... :P
Everyone loves that line! And yes, it is sort of a metaphore for life... every hardship we have to face only helps us appreciate the good and sweet even more! Remus' life had so much bitterness in it, but there were also happy moments, and I think he would cherish them all the more because they were so rare and so special! <3
I'm so glad you stopped by here and that you enjoyed this story so much! You truly made my day with this review! <3
Snowball hug, and thank you so much again!
Chiara
Chiara! Here for our swap!
I absolutely adore this fic! Food has an incredible way of bringing people together, and I love all the teasing, the regret, the healing that comes throughout this piece. This fic works on so many emotional levels. First, it's the love of family: spouse-spouse and child-parent. When it comes to cooking (and in John's case, eating), they are closely knit. Remus uses cooking as a refuge after his werewolf bite, trying to find a bit of normalcy and excitement, too. Silvia is reminded of her home, her childhood, her family. All of these emotions are elegantly displayed, and there are so many good lines throughout the whole piece.
Like how Remus imagines himself as a father who cooks--my HEART! In your Jimmy-verse, this doesn't necessarily come true (as of now, lol). In canon, Remus doesn't live long enough to teach old family recipes to Teddy. For such a seemingly innocently hopeful line, you reap heartbreak and tears, Chiara! Lol, which is why lines like this are phenomenal!
And then this line: It was like a jump back in time, a time when full moons were source of wonder and not of pain, a time when it was normal and easy and alright to play and joke and laugh.
Food does that, doesn't it? Brings you back to an older time, hopefully bringing some sort of joy. The way you describe the cooking made me hungry and want to try the recipe (though I've never cooked with artichokes in my life). And another aspect of the story that I absolutely loved was how you wove in music. Music is hard to capture in writing, because its sounds are complex to capture in a way that reflects the emotion of music. Your clever use of lyrics was a great way to tie in the hearing sense with the smelling sense--and then taste, too, since Remus eats this meal with his family. I love how all the sense work here in such a meaningul way--cooking is so multisensory and you did a wonderful job capturing that with your description and with your characterization. Well done! :D
Author's Response:Abby!!! <3 <3 <3
Ah, I'm so glad you liked this story! <3 Yes, food truly does bring people together and help them forget all the pain... I'm so glad you could feel the family love and how the cooking process helps the characters find a bit of happiness and normalcy and reconnect to their origins (at least in Silvia's case).
Aww... yes, Remus never got that chance... :( but maybe he will in the Jimmy-verse? (I'm not guaranteeing anything, because while I have ideas, I might change my mind a hundred times before I get that far... but I'm not excluding it either?) Anyway, yes, it's sad... :(
Yeah, food does that, brings back joyful memories and gives comfort in hard times! <3 I don't really like artichokes, but you should totally try it! :P
I'm so glad you liked the inclusion of the songs, too, and that they tied well within the fic! I'm so glad it worked as a multisensory experience, too, since I normally find it so hard to use all the senses in description well!
Thank you so, so much for this beautiful review! <3
Snowball hug,
Chiara
Hi Chiara! I'm actually back again to leave a little review on Paula's podfic of this story - congratulations to you both for the well-deserved nominations for this story!
Paula's narration of this story was so much fun to listen to - she really brought the story to life with the podfic, and I loved the way that she was able to capture the warm, comforting feeling that was threaded throughout your story in her narration. I was really impressed with the different voices that she managed to use for the different characters, too. I thought she caught the youthful excitement of Remus's tone and the more maternal voice that I imagined Silvia to have here. It was really lovely to hear the interactions between the characters narrated.
This must have been a difficult story to podfic for a non-native speaker of Italian, so I have to say I'm impressed with Paula (again) for tackling the Italian that was used throughout this story. I really enjoyed the singing at the end (again, way braver than I am!). When I read this the first time, it was a really sweet note to end on, but the singing in the podfic captured the nostalgic sense of the story and the way that Silvia's Italian heritage was brought forward to the present day and shared with her son, and it was a lovely touch to end the podfic on!
Sian :)
Author's Response:Hey, Sian! You're back! :P
Okay, technically I guess Paula should reply to this, but I don't think she can, so... :P
I absolutely agree with you, the way Paula captured the characters' voice and brought life to the story was incredible! And yes, it must've been such I struggle with all the Italian (I felt so guilty...) And the singing! I'm so incredibly impressed! <3
Hi Chiara!
Ah, what a lovely story! I don't think I've had chance to read about your head canon for Remus and his family before, but I really loved this. Given how much of a strain his lycanthropy must have placed on his parents, I can imagine it would be difficult for them to portray a happy family life and have time for moments like this, too, so this felt really special.
I also loved that Silvia Lupin is Italian here! I don't think I've seen a story where Remus's mum isn't British before, but I really loved the extra element that Silvia's heritage brought to this story - and of course, you're the perfect person to write about her!
The way that you set this up was really warming and sweet. I liked seeing the way that John teased Silvia for her cooking, because she doesn't live up to her country's reputation (and honestly, that reputation is very real over here, and earned, I think). But the fact that she then cooked a really delicious dish with Remus was even more poignant and happy because of that. I loved seeing the interactions between Remus and Silvia - I thought you did a wonderful job of showing their relationship and the love there, and of writing Remus as a child as well. I was so happy when the meal worked out, and the soundtrack with the old Italian songs created this lovely, heartwarming atmosphere that you conveyed really well in this story.
I loved reading this!
Sian :)
Author's Response:Sian! <3
Thank you for stopping by, your reviews are always delightful! <3
I'm so glad you liked this story, and my headcanon for Remus' family! They are all suffering a lot, of course, but they love each other deeply and that's what gets them through! <3 Yes, moments like this are rare, but that's what makes them extra special! <3
I've had this headcanon of Remus being half Italian for a while... of course I'm partial, but I love it, and I'm glad you appreciated it, too! <3
Ahahah! John just enjoys teasing his wife, I think Silvia is a good cook, if a bit messy! :P (Again, I'm partial, but I love Italian food... :P) But yes, it is a very special moment she shares with her son, and I'm so glad you enjoyed seeing their interactions! <3 I'm so glad you liked the final scene, with the family enjoying the meal and the music in the background!
Thank you so much for this lovely review! <3
Chiara
Hi, I’m here for the CMDC, round #3. Congrats on your nomination.
Little Remus is so adorable. I love the interaction between himself and his family, particularly his mother. You’ve really set the tone for a loving, caring family.
Then everything changed three years later. It’s obvious the family still loves and cares for their son, but you’ve also established how much a disease can suck the energy and lightnesses from a family.
At least they still have cooking to bring back the joy. I’m honestly not a fan of artichokes, but your descriptions of the food preparation (and the joy and concentration in little Remus’s face as he focuses on his task) created a beautiful dish, both to eat and as a loving, vibrant, family. I love the idea that cooking can bring them back together despite all the despair that they have had to deal with. I also liked the lightness at the end to suggest that they, as a family, will conquer this disease and nothing will break them apart.
Author's Response:Hey, Barbara! Thank you so much for stopping by here! :)
Yes, little Remus is adorable, I agree! <3 I'm so glad you liked the relationship with his parents and his mum in particular! They are a lovely family! <3
Yes, a disease can truly suck the energy and lightness from a family, and I can imagine how deeply Remus' lycanthropy would affect all of them... :( but the love is still there and just as strong and that's what matters, right? <3
I do believe that cooking can bring people together and make them forget the despair, if only for a little while, and I'm so glad you appreciated that in this story! (I'm not a fan of artichokes either, no worries :P) I'm glad you liked the hopeful note at the end! <3
Thank you so much for the review!
Love,
Chiara
Hi Chiara! Here for CMDC Round 3!
This is such, such a sweet story! I really love how you write young Remus, having read Liar and now this. This is such a wholesome family, and I adore the relationship between Remus and his mum, how much he loves not only her cooking but also the process of her cooking. There’s something I think many of us can relate to in this nostalgic story, memories of being kids, watching our parents, grandparents, etc, while they’re cooking, what their habits are -- listening to music, singing, letting you help as a kid. And you capture all of that so well in the line, “For a while Remus genuinely believed that without the song the taste wouldn't have been so good.” Perfect! I love it.
You do such a good job of creating this tender, charming scene, and the way this story ends just warms my heart. It’s a beautiful image, and I love that Remus has such a loving family. His mum seems like she has such a sparkling personality, and you can tell everyone loves each other so much. For at least this moment, Remus can forget his troubles and just eat his delicious dinner with his family and beautiful old songs playing in the background.
And since this fic is nominated for Best Podfic, I must of course give attention to Paula’s wonderful podfic of this! Paula is a joy to listen to, and I especially love her singing at the end!!
Melanie
Author's Response:Melanie!!! <3 <3 <3
Ah, I'm so so glad you enjoyed this story, and that you like the way I write Remus as a child! <3 They are a lovely family, and I'm so glad you liked Remus' relationship with his mum in particular, and how much he loves her cooking (both the food and the process)! I'm so glad it rang true and felt relatable, also the singing bit! And I really, really love that line as well! <3
I'm glad you like all the loveful relationships and the happy note the story ends on, how they can all forget all the trouble and hardship and enjoy their meal together, even if only for a little while... <3
Paula did a brilliant job with the podfic, and that's all I can say about it! <3
Thank you so much for the review!!! <3 <3 <3
Hey Chiara, my dearest! (And Paula)
I'm here to drop off a review for the CDMC - Round 3 event! Congratulations on your nomination for the FROGs! I know I reviewed this awhile back for one of my challenges, but I'm here to review the podfic of it this time.
So you already know how much I adore this story. I appreciate not only the bonding moment between Lupin and his mother, but also the fact that it takes place in the kitchen. Furthermore, I love that you've linked that moment in the kitchen to so much cultural history. I had no idea that fried artichokes came from Jewish Italians way back when, so I was excited to learn something new while reading this.
I also love that you include so much of Lupin's mum's Italian heritage from the music she listens to to her attitude towards her cooking. It really permeates the story and gives it a unique feel. I absolutely love seeing people write HP fanfic involving people from outside of the UK because that's how the world is. Diverse and wonderfully mixed up.
I also love the little moments that you write for his mum that show how much she loves and cares for him, but in small ways. The protective arm around him when he's getting close to the oil, the shield charm to keep him safe from splatters. These are all things a good mum does to keep her child safe.
On the podfic front, I thought Paula did a lovely job narrating this. She balanced the different voices of the characters well and did a great job of capturing a young Remus Lupin's childlike enthusiasm for time spent with his mum. I also have to say that I'm really impressed that Paula took on trying to pronounce Italian and that she even tried to sing in it. As a non-native speaker of a language, I thought that was very impressive and I thought she did pretty well getting through the words. Her pacing and flow of the story was really nice as well. It kind of meandered on at a leisurely pace, the same way one meanders about the kitchen, cooking and experimenting. It matched the story nicely.
Good work to you both Chiara and Paula!
~Kaitlin
Author's Response:Kaitlin! <3
Thank you for coming back again, my dear! <3
I'm so glad you loved this story, the relatioships among the characters, but also the food bits! Coming from you is a great compliment! <3 And I didn't know much about the history of "carciofi alla giudia" either, it's all Emma's merit, tbh! :P But I'm glad you liked the cultural aspects as well! <3
I can't help but sneak in some Italian culture in my stories here and there, and I certainly couldn't avoid it in a story that focuses on food... I've had this headcanon of Remus' mum being Italian for a while and I love it a bit too much... :P But, yeah, I really, really love seeing different cultures in HP fanfic so much, too! <3
I'm glad you liked the small gestures Silvia did to protect her child! She's a great mum! <3
Paula did such a stunning job with the podfic! I'm so, so, so impressed by it! Her voice was simply perfect, and I'm so impressed by the way she tackled the Italian and by the singing at the end! I can't thank her enough! <3 <3 <3
Thank you so much for the great review, Kaitlin! <3
Hi Chiara and Paula! I’m here for CMDC Round 2 :D
Chiara, this story is so full of sunshine and bittersweet moments. I love the way that you capture young Remus and his parents. It’s really wonderful to think about him coming from this wholesome environment—I also love that his mom is Italian :)
His parents really seem to love each other, and I am certain from what we see of them that they don’t blame their son at all for the moves, or the treatments that never work. I bet their hearts break for him—and if they knew at all that he blamed himself for all these troubles they would be even more heartbroken.
But the best part of this story is the FOOD! I love how sensually you described the whole delicious experience of cooking it and eating it. And how Sylvia is so patient in letting Remus help cook! I love her casual approach to it—it’s no big deal—we just look in the pantry and see what we have and make something delicious.
I do wish that I had the ability to cast a shield charm to protect my kids when we are cooking, like she does here.
The soundtrack of the old Italian songs adds this dreamy, cozy atmosphere to the whole piece.
Paula, many kudos to you for tackling all the Italian!! There was a lot of it in this story and you handled it as thought it wasn’t a big deal at all. I think my favorite part was you singing at the end—I thought it really captured the nostalgic tone of the story and was a great way to let it hang in the air for a moment, suspended for a while even after the story was over.
Nice work!
Yours,
Noelle
Author's Response:Noelle!!! <3 <3 <3
Aww, thank you so much! I'm so glad you liked little Remus and his parents and the bittersweetness of this story! <3 I do believe that Remus had a lovely, supportive family behind, or he wouldn't have turned out the beautiful soul he was, would he? And well, I've had this headcanon of his mum being Italian for a while, and I love it too much (I'm obviously partial, but, you know... :P)
John and Silvia do love each other and their son a lot! <3 And obviously they don't blame Remus in the slightest for the moves and all their difficulties, even if he blames himself (but that's Remus, what can I say?)
Italians love food :P I'm glad you liked the descriptions of the food and the cooking process! Glad you liked Silvia's casual approach, too! I didn't really think about it, but I love that you pointed that out! <3
Ah, I suppose every mother would like that...
I'm so glad you liked the songs and the atmosphere they created! <3
Paula did an incredible job with the podfic of this! I'm so impressed by the way she tackled the Italian, and the singing at the end! Her recording was absolutely stunning!!! <3 <3 <3
Thank you so much for stopping by with this wonderful review!!!
Love,
Chiara
--- for the sandcastle event ---
Hey Chiara,
I think this first section is so cute! I love the dynamic that you've created between John and Silvia. I love that we are able to tease each other, they seem really happy. I always think that you are so good at writing age in characters, you always really nail how children think and interact. I like how you are able to show Remus' understanding of his parents relationship. I think fics that are just everyday events are always fun but underrated. Remus is so adorable that he thinks his mother's singing improves her food. bless his heart. I can tell that you really care about his character because you always have such a really lovely characterization for him at all stages of his life.
So from being so happy to him getting older and believing himself to be the problem is so sad especially you said he doesn't laugh that much enough more. You've really turned up the angst in this piece. When you write Remus so happy and full of life. I think you make me forget that he has had such a tough life then bang pouring all that angst again. The fact that he is only 9 at this point is the story is beyond sad.
I like you're rollin' in with the cuteness again with his relationship with his mother. They seem really close like she makes his life so much better. There is something so familiar about the music too which is such a sweet like touch. There is something so comforting about this fic too. The description of the cooking is really good! I know you've said in your author note that you haven't cooked it yourself before but honestly you would never know!
I love how this fic has come full circle like they are spending a bit more time together. They are happier again for that one day. I really enjoyed that little description about the bitterness against the sweet because it relates so perfectly to their situation. I thought that was a really clever imagery. I love this family and I want to protect them at all costs! Congratulations on a beautiful piece <3
Abbi xx
Author's Response:Abbi!!! <3 <3 <3
I'm so glad you liked John and Silvia in the opening scene and the way they tease each other, they do have a lovely relationship! :) And I'm so glad you liked my characterization of child Remus, too! He is the sweetest, isn't he? <3
It always breaks my heart to think about how young Remus was when he was bitten and had to deal with lycanthropy... :( and of course blaming himself for all the family's troubles... but that's just so him... although no child should feel that way... :(
I do believe Silvia (and John) loved her son deeply and would do anything to make his life at least a bit more serene! And food has a magical way of bringing people together and giving joy, doesn't it? I'm so glad you liked to see the process of Silvia and Remus cooking together, and the background music too! <3
I do believe that even in the hardest times we can find some moments of happiness. And yes, that metaphore was sort of accidental, but I do love it, too! I'm so glad you liked this little story and that you could feel for the characters! <3
Love,
Chiara
Ciao, bella! The Fata di Capodanno is here at last with your review for the Huffepuff mystery swap.
In all honesty, reading this story is like reading a smile, if a smile could be made of words. It's so beautiful, both in the use of language and in the events depicted.
You characterization of each member of the Lupin family is spot on, as always. I absolutely love your head canons for them! Silvia is so spirited and fun, and she embraces etradition in a way that is lighthearted rather than nagging. I suppose with the holidays just past, the potential of some traditions to come to feel like a chore is something I've been thinking of, so it's nice to see tradition used in such a joyful way. John is a great foil for her. He's still fun, still has a sense of humor, but he's a bit more stern than his wife. Or, stern might be the wrong word. But he gives me this sense of stength and stability. Like he keeps every promise and always gets the job done. I really appreciate that contrast between them because in it we see two sides of Remus, who is honestly such a wonderful character. He has a devilish sense of humor - he was best mates with Sirius and James, after all - an he is immensely clever and quick witted. But, like his father, he has a backbone of solid steel, and is the most disciplined, reliable person I can imagine. I am so impressed, and also very happy, to see how you have created his parents to be such belivable and beautiful predecessors to these traits.
Another thing I loved was the way you used the experience of cooking to show how joy had faded from their lives over time - and how the experience of cooking together could help to recapture the memories of earlier times and return that happiness to them for a little while. It is just so beautiful. And it really resonates, because food is such an integral part of family tradition in pretty much every culture. I have memories of my own that resurface when eating traditional foods and make me feel sentimantal and bring my comfort. It's so easy to connect emotionally with this story!
ALSO, the song lyrics! I think it can be hard to incorporate song lyrics in a natural way, but you've achieved perfection with that! In general, you used Italian language so artifully. It is easy to understand the story without knowledge of the Italian words, but knowing them also brings a truly rich depth to the story and helps create a sense of history. Like, it makes these experiences seem deeply rooted for the family.
I would really like to eat some fried artichokes now!
This story simply could not be sweeter. You are a master and writing Remus, and also a master at creating resonant scenes and characters with emotional depth. You have so much to e proud of in this story, and in all your work.
con tanto amore,
Fata di Capodanno
Author's Response:Ciao, Fata di Capodanno (or should I say Renee... :P) <3
Thank you so, so much for this lovely review!!!
Aww... I'm so glad you liked this story! I wanted it to be mostly warm and fluffy (although there is a lot of angst there, too...) <3
I'm so glad you like my interpretation of the Lupin family and I love your analysis of them all here and the way you recognize different traits of Remus in his parents! <3 <3 <3
Cooking together and sharing food can be a great way to reconnect and bring comfort in hard times! I'm so glad you liked that aspect of the story and that you could relate to it! <3
I'm glad the song lyrics worked too! I must admit, I enjoy a bit too much throwing some Italian in my fanfic... :P
Ahahah! I know a place in Milan where they do roman cooking... next time you visit... :P
Aww... you are too sweet... thank you so, so much again!!!
Un abbraccio,
Chiara
Hey Chiara!
I'm here to finally review this story for my Play With Your Food Challenge! Sorry it's taken me ages to get here. I promise the results will be up soonish. I'll be breaking this review down by the criteria I used to judge it.
Plot: I love this sweet little moment between Remus and his mom. It reminded me a bit of my own childhood. My mother didn't cook a ton, but she did love to bake and we always would make tons of goodies at the holidays. I think you really captured that feeling of how food can heal people in tense moments. Great job.
Characterization: Baby Lupin is just so sweet. He's exactly as I imagine him. And his mom and dad are a sweet pair as well. I love how they tease each other playfully over the cooking.
Food description: I really appreciated that you described more than one food in this. My mouth was definitely watering as I read about the carbonara. I could almost smell the jowl cooking. And the fried artichokes sounde delicious too!
Did it make me hungry?: I have a serious craving for a good bowl of carbonara now. I might have to put that on the dinner menu for tomorrow night.
Good work on this! Thank you for entering the challenge!
~Kaitlin
Author's Response:Hey, Kaitlin! :)
Thank you so much for this lovely review and for hosting such a great challenge! (And for inspiring me to write this little piece! <3)
I'm so glad you liked this! Baby Remus is the cutest, and I'm glad you liked the relationship with his parents, too, and the theme of food healing people in tense times! <3
So glad the food description was good as well, especially since I struggle with description a lot! And, well, who doesn't love carbonara? :P
Thank you so much again! <3
Hey Chiara, here for the review swap! Sorry I’m late!
I chose this story because it features Remus’ parents - I don’t think I’ve ever read a fic that features them, so this was really intriguing. The opening paragraphs were so sweet, with the family’s antics and Remus’ reflections on his parents, how they joke around but it’s never serious.
I love that this fic is centered on food, too, and that you use it to highlight the way it brings this family together. I also love that you use it to illuminate his mother’s Italian culture. Your descriptions are lovely - they really involve the senses. I can hear Silvia humming, the sizzling, the whisk pinging in the bowl as she whisks eggs. It certainly made me hungry, ha ha. And by delineating Silvia’s cooking process, you really show (instead of tell) how much attention Remus pays to his mother, and that attention registers as affection.
The shift in tone after Remus is bitten is very stark. I felt so sad as he blamed himself for “ending” his family’s harmony - but I like that you still give him this small nuance: he isn’t uniformly sad, and is able to find comfort in the sight of his mother cooking, as he always has.
Again, you create such a comforting atmosphere, with the old Italian record playing as Silvia cooks with Remus. You manage to make me see and hear everything without over-describing. And I love the detail of the bitter hint Remus tastes while eating - how it subtly underlines his feelings as his condition complicates this domestic peace.
This is such a lovely piece! Thank you for the swap! c:
Author's Response:Hey, Caro! Thank you so much for swapping and for the lovely review! <3
I love Remus' parents!!! Or at least, I love my headcanon for them... :P I'm glad you found their antics and Remus' reflections sweet! :)
Food does bring people together, doesn't it? I'm glad you liked Silvia's Italian background and the description of her cooking process! I'm usually not particularly good at description, so I'm glad it worked well in this story! And that it also helped showing Remus' affection for his mum! <3
I know... poor Remus... :( blaming himself is something that he does, though, isn't it? And yes, at least he can still find comfort in his mum's cooking! <3
I'm so glad you liked the comforting atmosphere as Silvia cooks with Remus. And the little metaphore of the bitter hint (which was kind of accidental, actually, but it does work pretty well... :P)
Thank you so much again for the lovely review!!!
Chiara
This was so cute!
I loved the be beginning, and how nice and pure it was to see Remus and his family before he got bit. I was naively hopeful that the story would stay that way, and got very worried at the time jump, but I like how you showed that even after things hot bad, cooking was still something that could ground and connect the family.
It was such a gut punch to know that Remus was transforming while he was still young enough to call his mother Mummy. How terrifying and isolating that must have been for all of them.
The line of Sylvia realizing she could still protect her son from some things was touching.
You did a great job of subtlety showing the shift in the family during the different times. They still loved each other very much, but there was a kind of cautious distance.
I like that you made Sylvia Italian, and all of the songs you included. The line about Remus thinking the songs made the food taste better was so adorable.
This story was a perfect mix of cute and subtlety heartbreaking.
(I also don’t eat artichokes)
Sam.
Author's Response:SAM!!! <3 <3 <3
I'm so glad you enjoyed this little one-shot! Thank you for stopping by! <3
I love the Lupins from the bottom of my heart! I do believe they would have a sweet relationship before the bite, and that while things got definitely complicated after that, their love for each other would stay the same! And cooking, too, of course! :P
It is horrible... poor child... it always makes me so sad, thinking how young he was... :( Yes, it would be so terrifying and isolating for them all... :(
All Silvia wants is to keep her child safe... and she can't do that from lycanthropy, but she can at least protect him from hot oil! <3
I'm glad the shift in tone worked well!
I've had this headcanon of Remus being half-Italian for a while (am I biased? Yes, of course I am, but I don't care... :P) Glad you liked it, and all the songs! <3
Thank you so much for the lovely review!!!
Snowball hug,
Chiara
Ciao cara!
Sorry this is so late. I'm super excited for this right off the bat, carciofi, yay!
Aw, man, and I already have feels two paragraphs in. Silvia and John Lupin's relationship is ADORABLE. Give me all the kitchen-heckling and mock irritation. I LOVE IT.
The inclusion of the real carbonara recipe is hilarious to me for some reason (I know how pernickety Italians get about it), and then you had to go ahead and make it sweet with Remus thinking the song is what makes it so good, my heart. Remus Lupin stories should come with a trigger warning for emotions.
"Remus didn't laugh that much anymore.
But he still enjoyed watching his mum at work in the kitchen."
WAAAHHH these two lines! They're so simple but they carry so, so much; what a gem you've treated your readers to here.
"Mamma, sono tanto felice" oh man. Oh man oh man oh man, Chiara, your Remus makes me so sad and so happy at the same time, and here I naively thought my reputation as a stone-cold witch would make it through this story unscathed.
HIS DAD IS HERE TOO, AW. "'I had no doubt,' John replied, shuffling Remus' hair. And then he reached out for another leaf." The fact that the dynamic between Remus' parents doesn't appear to have changed is so heart-warming, they're too cute.
And that final line, ugh, such an on-point analogy. I'm sorry, this really isn't the most constructive of reviews because all I've done is flail and emote all over the place but my god, your writing is so good and beautiful. Thank you for offering to swap, I'm really glad I got to read this!
Author's Response:Val!!! Ciao, bella! <3
I'm so glad you like John and Silvia and their kitchen teasing! :P I love them a lot!!! <3 <3 <3
Ahahah! Yes, we are very nitpicky when it comes to food and recipes... :P And the fun thing about carbonara is that even inside Italy there are different interpretations... and someone from Rome would probably have a heart attack at the way some people make carbonara in northern Italy... (we had a lot of heated discussions about this at work... :P)
Aww... yes, little Remus and his belief about music... he's adorable, isn't he? <3
My poor child... it's so sad what he had to go through... but that's the reason I love him so much... I'm sorry for your reputation... but not really sorry :P *hug*
John is the best! Things aren't perfect, but yes, they still love each other! And some things just don't change! <3 <3 <3
I don't know what you are talking about! This review is everything and it made me so, so happy and I love it and I love you!!! Thank you so much!!! <3 <3 <3
Snowball hug,
Chiara
CHIARAAA <3
So since the HC finale reviewing event hijacked my reviews of Jimmy, I’m here to make up the two that got cut off! (And since I reviewed all of Jimmy and the sequel during the reviewing event, I hope it’s okay that I’m picking two random one-shots from your AP! <3)
And this was so cute Chiara omg; I don’t have the words! I love the general concept of food bringing a family together in rough times, especially types of food with lonnggg histories and interesting cultural origins as with the dish you chose, carciofi alla giudia (a name that I cannot pronounce but that looks beautiful and sounds absolutely tasty haha). I love the idea of Kaitlin’s challenge, and the fact that you tied it into a larger theme involving Remus and his struggling family makes me love this story even more! I mean, hard times will put stress on any sort of family, no matter how happy they are, and I think especially being unable to support a child who needs potions and more in order to stop hurting during the full moons would really make life hard…though I wish poor Remus wouldn’t blame himself. It’s not his fault; he deserves every effort his parents are putting in. :(
I have to be honest, though, haha, I’ve never eaten an artichoke, so I don’t actually have any experience with the kind of food you’re describing, but it sounds so good. I’ve never considered frying artichokes before (though, I suppose technically you should be able to fry everything so I don’t know why I didn’t consider it before; after all, fried seaweed rolls exist :P), but you made it sound absolutely delicious. I love how you wrote about the cooking process—"Remus stared in fascination as the leaves started to curl up and turn golden.” That’s just beautiful. It reminds me of a pretty golden flower opening its petals for the first time, which is a very pretty image to have when making food haha.
The way you tie in the Claudio Villa songs is amazing, as well. Even though I’ve never heard the music, I could still easily imagine the atmosphere it gave, and the sounds of the old disc playing music, and the wonder of it all. It’s amazing, how music can transport people back to wonderful places and times, and I’m glad that the music, along with the food, reminded the Lupin family of all the good moments they used to have. It’s really touching, and I think you did such a wonderful job with this challenge! <3
(My mouth is watering now, by the way. I’m soo hungry omg. <3)
I love you!
Love,
Eva
Author's Response:Eva!!! You are the best! I love you! <3
(And you totally didn't have to review anything more, but I'm not going to complain... :P)
I'm so glad you found this cute! Cuteness is definitely what I was going for! <3 Food can definitely bring a family together (we Italians have a very strong food culture... :P) I'm so glad you liked what I did here, with Remus' family! Kaitlin did have a great idea for this challenge! ;)
Remus would always blame himself, you know him... but yes, it is so hard for his parents... :(
I think it's pretty ridicolous that I chose this dish but I've never actually tried it... :P I am very bad with food, I have very difficult tastes... :P I chose artichokes because... well, first of all it was fitting since I have this headcanon of Silvia being Roman, and second, Emma was talking to me about how Israel wanted to ban artichokes and Italian Jews were like "No way!" and I loved that story and it inspired me somehow :P I'm glad you liked the image! :D
Music can have a great effect, just like food, right? I'm so glad the inclusion of the songs worked too! <3
Thank you so much, this review just made me super happy!!! <3
Snowball hug,
Chiara
Hey Chiara! Here with your requested review!
Chiaraaa. This fic kinda read like what a hug feels like, if that makes sense? It was so easy for me to immediately settle into it and be embraced by its warmth immediately--right from the start, with the establihsment of John and Silvia's relationship (they are SO cute omg), and the depiction of the obvious love in the Lupin family. This fic kind of feels like home for me. (Sorry for all the abstract similies haha. I'm sort of drowning in my feelings rn :P)
I'm really glad that you chose to write about Remus. His story is so tragic, and I've never actually thought about his pre-Hogwarts days. This fic really put in perspective for me exactly how young Remus was when he was bit, and my heart breaks for him--especially when he described his self-hate, like he's destroying his own family. His thoughts contrast deeply, in my opinion, with what we actually see: I see Silvia protecting her son at all costs (I loved how she cast a protective charm on him; you captured her materalness super well) and surrounding him with as much love as possible, as he strengthens and draws the Lupin family closer together.
I also see Remus as a way for Silvia to connect to her culture, to the traditions and love there. I loved how you used food to show Silvia's connection to that and Remus's connection to her. I think that's the most powerful quality of food and I'm really happy that you chose to highlight.
Finally, sometimes I like to pick out my favorite line in fics when I review them. One line that struck me especially hard in this fic was Remus's description of the fried artichokes: "like...chips, only better, because of that bitter hint that made you appreciate the sweetness all the more." I feel that just captures this fic entirely, and gives me a new perspective for thinking about struggle and pain. Maybe it's just the hint of bitterness that makes the sweetness even better.
Also, I loved the inclusion of the Italian phrases and lyrics! I love reading about other people's cultures, and this was a beautiful, immersive peek into Italian culture that I appreciated so much <3 And now I really want some fried artichokes hehe.
Thank you so much for sharing this beautiful, wonderful fic!
<3 Shreya
Author's Response:SHREYA!!! <3 <3 <3
Thank you so much for stopping by, dear!
Aww... I'm so glad you could feel the warmth in this story... I have such a deep love for the Lupin family and I really wanted to express the love they have for each other here, so I'm glad it worked! <3
Remus is just the most adorable child and the fact that he to suffer so much is just so sad... and blaming himself is just a part of his character? Of course, his family loves him deeply and they only want him to be safe and happy, for what is possible...
I can't help to put some Italian culture in my stories... :P Food does that, doesn't it? I'm glad you liked that aspect, too! :D
I'm not even sure if I had that metaphore in mind, but it is a great way to interpret it. Maybe our struggles in life are what make the happy moments even more special. It's a lovely perspective! <3
Thank you for this absolutely stunning review!!!
Chiara, this was just the sweetest but most heart-wrenching story!
I love the dynamic between John and Silvia; I’m an absolute sucker for a bit of friendly banter and teasing, so reading about their kitchen antics made me very happy! And Remus is just the sweetest child, I adore him! I love that he holds a special fondness for his grandmother’s recipes, even at such a young age. I’ve got a few recipes passed down from my grandmother as well, and whenever I make them – which is mostly Christmas because they’re all for biscuits – I feel very connected to her, too, so that detail really resonated with me, and I found it very endearing in young Remus!
And the sudden change, though I guess it’s not really sudden for the Lupins, is so deeply sad. It’s heart-breaking to see how they lost this thing they used to enjoy as a family, and of course Remus finds a way to convince himself that’s his fault. I know that that’s part of his character, and really those tendencies play a big part in why I love Remus so much but reading about it never gets any easier. But I loved that cooking together hasn’t completely disappeared in the Lupin household, and that Remus and his Mum can still take some comfort from it, even if it happens a lot less frequently now. (Also, “maybe she couldn’t protect her son from his inner demons, but she could prevent rebellious oil drops from hurting him” – that’s such a deeply sad line, and I feel so sorry for Silvia, who sees her child suffer, but is helpless nonetheless.)
I’m so glad this ended on a happy note, and I absolutely loved how they got to bond over food again, like they used to when Remus was younger!
Much Love,
Julia
Author's Response:JULIA!!!
Thank you so much for this super sweet review, you are the best! <3
I love John and Silvia so much! I'm so glad you enjoyed their kitchen banter! And, well... little Remus is just the sweetest and I suppose that's no surprise for anyone, right? I think recipes passed down in the family are really precious and I'm so glad you liked that detail! <3
Remus suffering through lycanthropy at such a young age never ceases to break my heart... and yes, of course he would blame himself for his family's difficulties... that's just him, isn't it? :(
Glad you liked Remus and Silvia cooking together and taking some comfort from it! <3 Yes, poor Silvia, it must be so hard not being able to actually help her child... :(
Thank you so much for the lovely review!
Snowball hug,
Chiara
Hey Chiara!
I am here for the HC reviee Finale!
You really paint a lovely picture of domestic happiness in this story! You bring together little things that are often what we remember most as a child, touch (his father’s hand on his head), taste (his mother’s delicious salty, sweet etc foods), smells etc . You create this beautiful scene using imagery and descriptive language that helps us to capture what we are looking at, what the characters are truly like. The excitement and cheekiness of Remus at such a young age, the adoration and teasing from a loving husband, the protectiveness and love of an adoring mother, and you bring it all together to show the reader how happy and normal their lives are.
Then you bring in Remus’ lycanthropy and it’s bittersweet in a way, and I like how you touch on that without saying it. How Silvia’s concern for her sons lack of rest after his Moon cycle is over ridden by the desire to just let her son be normal and happy. How she had taught him that family is important, that passing down things through the family like heirlooms or in this case recipes is important and it means something. How sure Remus himself seems to be at a young age that he will have children, something that he doesn’t necessarily hold onto as age, and society change him over time. I think the fact that you wrote that in is really important, it shows how he wasn’t always so terrified of hope. Hope to have a family, the hope to be loved, the hope of a future. Adult Remus is so damaged by societal views, standards and pressures that he pushing people away and it’s very nice to see this side of the coin. Because we are not born to be fearful, we are eventually taught to be so.
I love how you bring in Italian language into your story further connecting Sylvia to her heritage and to show the comfort that Remus feels from that. How the music in the background is a part of this moment, and likely will be a part of what will help him to remember the times he had with his family that were good and peaceful and loving.
You captured this story so well. I loved this little take on remus’ childhood and it made me a bit misty.
You are a truly talented writer and I look forward to more!
xo
LB
Author's Response:Hey, Lexi! :)
I'm so glad you liked my portrayal of the Lupin family and the descriptions. Description is not my strongest suit, so it's great to know it worked here and helped getting a better picture of who the Lupins are and how they work as a family. :)
I've always felt so bad for Remus having to deal with lycanthropy at such a young age... I'm sure there was a time when he did have some hope for the future and it's so cruel that society views crashed them for him... :( Silvia is just the best mum, I love her so much!
I always love to bring some of my culture in my stories... :P I'm glad you liked the inclusion of the songs and how they highlight the moment! :)
Thank you so much for the lovely review, I'm so glad you enjoyed it! <3
Snowball hug,
Chiara
Howdy Chiara! Sorry for the delay in getting here for our swap, but I have arrived! I wanted to check out a new-ish story of yours and this one jumped as I've never read any of the entries from Kaitlin's challenge (I don't think).
One of my favorite parts of the story was also the saddest - the beginning. It's one of these things where a bright past fades to a dimmer or at least "tainted" future. It's particulary impactful the way your write it from Remus's perspective and I appreciated the way you handled it for sure. It's tough to capture from a child's perspective, but you do it well making it more of a perception on his part and the fact that he notices some of these details. It simultaneously manifests the thing that people often forget with kids: they understand things - and people - much better than we give them credit for most of the time.
I also liked the way that you integrated the songs into the story and the cooking and the relationship between Remus and his mom. It was good too to see that levity return - even if only for a moment between Remus and his parents and the each parent with the other. I'm interested whether this cooking connection between Remus and his mom becomes a staple of his post-transformation recovery.
All in all, I thought this was a really cool and unique story for a unique challenge and I'll be looking out for more of your recent works going forward! Thanks for the swap!
Author's Response:Hey, Kevin! :)
Sorry for the late reply... and thank you so much for swapping! :)
I've always found so sad how Remus' life took such a tragic turn when he was so young... I'm glad you felt I handled the switch well and that Remus' POV worked well here. I love writing children! And yes, I agree that they can be much more perceptive than adults imagine them to be.
I'm so glad you felt the integration of the songs and the cooking worked, too. I didn't think about it, but I love the idea that the cooking together might become a sort of post full moon tradition! It's such a sweet idea! <3
Aww... thank you so much! This review makes me so happy! So glad you liked this story!
Thank you so much again for stopping by!
Chiara
Hey, Chiara, here for our review swap! Thanks so much!
I loved this story. It's just a small vignette into Remus Lupin and his family's life, but it was a huge one. It showed how much they all loved each other, supported each other and how they stuck together when adversity (aka Remus' little furry problem) struck.
I'm glad he has a family as this. His father, John, is loving and caring. His mother, Silvia, the same. They didn't treat him any differently because of his permanent affliction. They went so far as to try and find him cures (futilely, of course) and made various moves to keep him protected. In that, they kept him with a childlike innocence that helped him grow up to be a caring, and loving adult that he was.
I'll tell you this though, artichokes are fantastic! You should really try one. You'd truly love it. My German Grandma (born in America, but both her parents were born in Germany) used to serve them all the time. Not fried, but boiled. But just... delicious.
Silvia teaching her son to cook just seemed so domestic and normal. It was beautiful showing her caring touches, but allowing her son to participate. It was an important lesson that he will need in adulthood, and she's just so wonderful.
Glad to see John come home and do the normal dad/husband thing of sampling. It was just so homey and terrific.
Also - you've created a lovely backstory for a little known character, Sylvia Lupin. Gave her own spin and fleshed her out superbly.
Thanks again for the swap! (Anytime, you know it. Though I think you've run out of things on my page!) <3juls
Author's Response:Juls! Hello, my love! :)
I'm so glad you enjoyed this story! I love Remus, and I especially love him as a child! I'm glad you enjoyed this little scene from his family life and the love between all of them! <3
I love John and Silvia so much! They are special! And yes, they would do anything to give Remus the happiest and most normal childhood possible!
I'm sure they are, I'm just very bad at eating vegetables in general... :P My dad used to cook them boiled, too.
Silvia is truly a wonderful mum! I'm so glad you liked seeing her teaching Remus to cook and the way she took care of him! I'm also glad you liked seeing John sampling! I guess it was a bit of a cliched scene, but I do love it! :P
I have a lot of headcanon for John and Silvia. I hope to write more about them at some point.
Thank you so much for swapping and for this adorable review! <3
Love,
Chiara
Oh, sweet little Remus. <3 I'm so glad you decided to take a stab (pun intended ;) ) at this challenge with a pre-Hogwarts days Remus. I felt so bad for him at times, between moving 4 times in one year and his secrets he must have been so lonely. But I also felt so happy for him. Despite everything, his parents were there for him and wanted the best for him and tried to make him happy. Without money or support, they just had a loving little family of 3.
The fact that you chose to toss in some genuine Italian touches was great. I feel like the wizarding world would likely have more immigration and be more interconnected earlier, given the joys of floo powder and portkeys and apparation, so to see a bit of another culture in the HP-verse was a nice touch.
Good luck with the challenge!!
Author's Response:Rebecca! Hello, my dear! <3
Little Remus is the sweetest, I agree! I'm glad you liked him in this little story!
It is so sad everything he had to go through... and yes, he would be so lonely, poor child... but yeah, at least he had two loving parents who tried their best to give him all the love and support! <3
I can't resist putting a bit of Italian culture in my stories and I love the idea of Remus' mum being Italian too much! I'm so glad you liked the Italian touches in this!
Thank you so much for the lovely review! <3
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