Name: WriteYourHeartOut (Signed) · Date: 16 Feb 2024 02:29 PM · For: real

Wow, this is beautifully written, and absolutely heartbreaking. I love the way you write this, the very bare and raw feeling to, where we don't really understand fully what's going on or what's happened, but we can feel the devastation left in its wake regardless. It's absolutely gutwrenching to see Sirius so despondent, when he's someone you usually equate with center of attention, prankster, larger than life, loudest in the room, golden retriever energy. I have so many questions, too, but the feeling of them being left hanging is part of what makes this story so impactful. Like what has actually happened to Charlotte? Why did it happen? Why is Sirius being kept in the dark about it, while everyone else gets to know still? Who stole his full memory and why? Why won't anyone talk to him about her? Was it somehow his fault? Sirius is such a lost puppy in this, he is grappling so hard to understand and getting nowhere. And you've made Charlotte feel so important, even though we don't even know her outside of this story! She feels so real, so significant, so desperately needed, but somehow just gone. Just beautiful work, start to finish.

Name: Ameripuff (Signed) · Date: 19 Feb 2022 09:23 PM · For: real

Reviewed for the ‘Race around the Galazy’ event

Hi Catherine.  The event prompted me to review things that I might not have otherwise and this little gem was a nice discovery.

You’ve done a wonderful job at setting up this mystery…what happened to Charlotte? Missing, dead, home? And then you drop the wonderful twist of her obliviating the last day that her and Sirius had together so that the lack of knowledge haunts him throughout this whole chapter.  The mystery of it all is enhanced in the way that you have him understand who to talk to and who not to talk to, but still feeling unease – chain smoking with Peter and having night terrors.  It really adds some darkness to his whole experience.

I also love how you are able to describe so much of Charlotte without her being present at all.  How she’d be valedictorian, but at the same time awful at addressing the class.  It makes me connect on a more visceral level to that last cliffhanger – that the person dying in Sirius’ arms (a vision of the future, perhaps?) is a complex person, and one whom he cares about deeply.

Thanks for writing and sharing this.

 

-Drew 

Name: RogueSlytherin (Signed) · Date: 19 Feb 2022 02:41 PM · For: real

Here for more Gala-z reviews :D :D :D 

Oh our angsty and tragic boys. This story is so so sad. And it's so simple - but like in the best way! I love the minimilism in it. That we just get these glimpses of the different seasons and these snippets of conversations. It's like we're living it alongside Sirius, who's just drifting through his life once whatever happened happened. 

 

AND WHAT THE FUCK HAPPENED?!?! I mean is Charlotte dead or is she alive like Mary said? What does it mean that she's someone else?! Is she in hiding or is she on the other side of the war?! 


I seriously just love that we never even meet this OC Charlotte, but I have such a sense of her as a character. You've done a great job of bringing her to life through these moments Sirius remembers. It's such a fun (fun as in like cool and unique - obvs it's devestating) concept and you've executed it really well!! 


- Jacquelin 

Name: PinsandKneazles (Signed) · Date: 19 Sep 2021 06:28 PM · For: real

Hello! Here for our swap :)

 

I love the colourful, chaotic description that you open this story with; I don't know whether there are any preceding stories to this one, but this moment of sky-break and waves and pine-needles makes me imagine someone's sorrow or anger that Charlotte has gone. Oh Sirius :(

 

And I WANT to know where she's gone too. Home? Neurological affliction? Is the affliction a cover-up for something else? Has Sirius really been Obliviated or is the pain of uncertainty causing a memory lapse? 

 

I love the reference to Mad-Eye Moody by James, and the effort he makes to encourage Sirius to laugh. Only it's empty humour, it seems; he's only laughing to fill the void of silence in his head. I can identify with the need to laugh too loudly and for too long in an attempt to drown out the sorrow. Also smoking the pain away. Been there too. Such great imagery in your writing <3 

 

The use of the seasons gives a sense of timing to this chapter and brings home just how long Sirius is grieving for Charlotte. I really feel Sirius's lonely despair and fear here; Hell, if I knew where Charlotte was, I'd bring her to him right now :((((

 

Thank you for this awesome first chapter; I can't wait to read more <3

 

Pins x

 

 

 

 

Name: DanyFire (Signed) · Date: 19 Sep 2021 05:31 PM · For: real

Hi Catherine! Meg aka DanyFire here for a review!

I love how you started this story. It immediately drew me in. I am intrigued and eager to see how it all plays out. Your work is so beautifully written. I hope you update this story soon. I am officially hooked! :)

Thanks

Meg <3

Author's Response:

Hi Meg!

Thanks for your review! I am so glad you enjoyed my writing here, it really took a lot out of me :)