Name: Predictable Chaos (Signed) · Date: 09 Mar 2024 12:28 PM · For: as time goes by

So, I’m reading through this, trying to determine who this mystery girl is that Neville is obviously infatuated with. Then you name is as Cassie Borgin and my mind tracks thinks back to Noelle’s worldbuilding where she is helping Draco Malfoy with the cabinet. What are the chances she’s use the same name. . . until I realize it’s a story of a fanfiction. (I wrote one too of Noelle’s world, but it’s of Miranda when she is a child doing accidental magic.)

However, to the story. You’ve set up Neville here nicely. We can tell he’s comfortable at his bar. It reminded a bit of the old story, Cheers, as various people he knows pass by and interact with him. The bit about the pixies in the greenery was a nice quick comical moment. I wouldn’t trust Aberforth to have fully eradicated them.

I like how you started with a mention of her in the first sentence, but then talking about Neville within the context of the bar and then have him survey his surroundings. It created the angst as I wondered who is this girl?

I like how you just touch on their relationship while at Hogwarts, giving the reader smallest of glimpses but just enough to realize that Cassie is really impacted Neville. (Tweedledee and Tweedledum (Dirk and Archie) were annoying and nosey. Thank goodness, they finally drifted off so Neville and the reader could marvel about her in peace.)

Neville is stlll Neville, so sweet, but puts his foot in his mouth. I like the part about carrying baggage because it’s true of everyone in the war, but Cassie’s is, no doubt, heavier than most people’s. Neville might be the perfect person for her and I like how you opened the door to that possibility.

Name: Owlpost68 (Signed) · Date: 12 Dec 2023 09:17 PM · For: as time goes by

This was really sweet, I feel like I might have started reading about Cassie in another story, of course I didn't get to a point she became friends with Neville so I didn't know about the pairing but it's a great idea! I can see why you ship it so hard. I have a WIP where I write about Sirius and a relative of the McKinnons during his time on the run. That's my ship :) I really need to get another chapter out for that one. Anyway, I loved the magical instruments and the nosy old men. One thing that confused me was the women who were all dolled up at the Hogshead, who would get dressed up for the Hogshead?? LOL Yes, they could have been traveling, but I just found it funny.

Am I right there's more of a story with Cassie? I'd like to read it I just forget which one :)

Thanks for the swap!

-Heather

Author's Response:

Cassie exists in Noelle's "Moonlight," universe. She does not make an appearance until "Kairos in Retrograde," (book 2), and she is just a friend of Neville's....though there is subtext to suggest more. 

 

About the dolled up women...I suppose all types exist everywhere, yeah? And as Aberforth sort of alludes to...the bar's going under a sort of 'rebranding,' post-War...what with having the live musicians and all. Piano definitely classes a lot of things up. ;)

 

I'm so glad you enjoyed this! Thank you for the review!

 

<3 Courtney

Name: Predictable Chaos (Signed) · Date: 19 Feb 2023 01:01 PM · For: as time goes by

Hi, I'm here for the FFT Review Fest

 

This story left me with more questions than answers. Mainly, what exactly happened with these two that fateful year at Hogwarts? Still, I think we have enough hints to understand the basis of their relationship.

You did a nice job building the scene as Neville surveys the bar. This is Neville’s relaxation time and he thinks he’s happy with the life he has and then he sees the freckles. I like how you build it up as he approaches her, the reflection back. One thinks, this is it. They’ll look into each other eyes and. . . . We get hesitancy and clumsiness of their interactions, exactly what we should get from two people who haven’t talked to each in a while and not sure they have anything to say.  I particularly like the line about her heavy load to carry-great double meaning and warning to Neville, but then again, I’m sure he has his own baggage.

Author's Response:

Hi there! Thanks for checking this story out! And yes, omgawsh, I too, have questions about Neville/Cassie and how things end for them during the war and after the war. But we'll just have to see how Kairos in Retrograde ends because I know nothing beyond what Noelle has written of their friendship/maybe something more ship. :) I did the best I could, assuming what I knew from how Noelle portrays them. But I am glad you enjoyed the setting and deep dive into Neville's head. He's a character I never wrote before, but alwyas wanted to. 

 

Ahh yes, the line at the end had me pretty proud of myself! It was definitely meant to hold double meaning, just as it was implied that Neville would finally be brave and "go for it," when he hadn't in the past. 

 

Anyway, thank you for your review of this! I am glad you enjoyed it! Best of luck during the review event!

 

<3 Courtney

Name: RonsGirlFriday (Signed) · Date: 04 Feb 2023 01:18 AM · For: as time goes by

AHHHHHH oh my god this is GORGEOUS. *weeps*

 

So I'm obsessed with Noelle's Cassie, and Cassie/Neville, and I'm so happy to be able to read MORE of them thanks to you. It's such a special, heart-rending relationship in so many ways, and you capture it all here.

 

And I mean, first and foremost, the Casablanca inspiration and theme is *chefskiss* Neville may be the furthest thing from Rick Blaine, but he does have that baggage and palpable loneliness that you get the feeling is largely self-imposed.

 

I just have to remark on how gorgeous and striking that whole sequence was where we see Cassie playing as Neville notices her. It was beautifully described, and so sensual, the way she plays, she was she moves. And I found myself just as captivated as Neville in looking at her through his eyes.

 

And then their whole interaction, everything they're saying and everything they're not saying. The way she reduces the great Neville Longbottom to this kind of fear again. And the LONGING from both of them.

 

Legit when he started noticing her rings I was like OH NO, IS SHE... but it seems she's not. GOOD. lmao. XD

 

"I have a heavy load to carry" -- perfect, just perfect

 

And that last line, ugh. All the things it could mean.

 

I'm obsessed. Thank you for writing this. <3

 

Melanie

 

(tag!)

Author's Response:

Hi Melanie, thanks for stopping by! I am glad to hear I did these characters justice hah. The challenge with this is, I don't really know where things end up for Nev/Cassie in the Moonlight Universe, so I had to dance around that. But I'm glad you found them enjoyable here. And naturally, I struggle not to make some kind of OH reference...particularly nearer to the holidays lol. :) 

 

<3 Courtney

Name: Felpata_Lupin (Signed) · Date: 29 Jan 2023 08:15 PM · For: as time goes by

Hi, Courtney! Here for some tag (if nobody jumps in before me :P)

That, and I had to check out this piece, even if it isn't an official entry... I love Cassie, and I love her and Neville's friendship (or something more? ;) ) so I was very excited to read your take on that! :D

And I love how this is another chance encounter years later <3 I loved Neville's observations of the pub and the people in it, and the bit of background you gave on him through his thoughts of previous frequentations of the pub. It was a great way to set the scene and where Neville's character is now while keeping the flow natural and lively. You have a real talent for that! :D

And... I know it's only an aside, but can I say how adorable Archie and Dick were? <3 The teasing and the obvious affection between them made me smile, and Archie asking Neville if he was waiting for someone was just so cute, if a little intrusive... :P "The girl playing, that's who you were waiting for, isn't it?" I mean, he wasn't exactly waiting for her, but in a certain sense Archie's not wrong? ;)

I loved how you described Cassie's music, btw! It's been a while since I read Libera nos a malo and I'd almost forgot the bit about the piano playing, but it immediately came back to mind as soon as Neville noticed the piano there, and so did all those details you included in this, like the tarots' bit... and it was lovely to be reminded of all those elements!

Poor Neville, he was going through so many emotions and that made it hard to express himself... and of course, with all the past history between them and the way they parted when the Death Eaters invaded the school, she must've thought he still judged her, while he'd been simply worried about her destiny... there's so much emotion packed in this encounter, and I love it! But mostly I love how Neville managed to communicate his care in the end and was brave enough to finally cross that subtle line between friendship and something different... And tonight, if she desired it, he would be brave. Such a wonderful, wonderful closing line! <3

I'm not sure I'm making this justice, I just really, really loved this piece! And I'm so glad that, even if you didn't make it in time to enter this for the challenge, you were inspired to write it! <3

Big snowball hug,

Chiara

Author's Response:

Ahhh thank you so much for checking this story out! And yeah, the challenge with writing Neville and Cassie is that I have no idea what happens to them in Noelle's universe. So I sort of had to dance around that and write about what we do know happens between them lol. Anyway, this is such a kind review and I also appreciate the shout out on your challenge results! Thank you so much for stopping by!

 

<3 Courtney 

Name: Goatspeed (Signed) · Date: 18 Jan 2023 08:12 PM · For: as time goes by

While I don't doubt ypu could have riffed more on Casablanca, I think you really nailed it with a lighter touch.  I guess you could have tried something during the war, with Neville and Cassie waiting out their chance to escape the Death Eaters in some semi-neutral site, but your nostalgic mood piece captured the flashback element that makes for the romance in Casablanca more than an obvious riff on the main plot would have done (yeah, I know, I'm an opinionated old git - sorry).  Anyway, I agree with the lucky recipient of this gift - you did a great job with your characters and the atmosphere is, pardon the pun, a breath of fresh air.  Really well done.

Author's Response:

Oh my gawsh you are definitely spoiling me with all these reviews! And yeah...the Casablanca vibes just sort of started and then I forgot them so that I could focus on Neville and Cassie and the big, lingering "what if's." The trouble of borrowing other people's characters that are still firmly situated in another time and place is...trying to remain true to those characters/what could possibly happen to them, without doing too much of your own thing? So while Neville and Cassie are sort of on the verge of something in Noelle's universe, I was like "damn idk where Cassie ended during the war." We know Neville's storyline enough, but with hers...it's unclear. Anyway, I'm totally rambling and digressing from the point of this review response lol. 

 

But anyway, I really appreciate your remarks and I am glad you enjoyed this!

 

<3 Courtney

Name: inmyownlittlecorner (Signed) · Date: 17 Jan 2023 07:29 PM · For: as time goes by

COURTNEY THIS IS SO BEAUTIFUL I AM SCREAMING!!!!!!!! 

I ADORE that you are riffing on Casablanca for Neville and Cassie here. Though it definitely looks like this will lead to a happier ending for them than Casablanca has. The ending where Neville is promising himself to be brave made my heart EXPLODE! 

 

You set such a beautiful scene. Neville after the war, he's established in life, he's fully and adult, he has his favorite pub, and people know and respect him. I loved that Aberforth gives him tastes of special drinks, and that Neville gives Aberforth advice on plants for his goats. I loved the pixies in the garland biting the patrons and how Aberforth probably thinks it's funny, so he leaves a few of them.

 

And then CASSIE!!!! AHHHH I LOVE THIS CAREER FOR HER!!! And just the worldbuilding with her self-playing string insturments and how she's so calm and collected and sure of herself as she plays, it was beautiful. I loved the whole scene where Neville is watching her play, and remembering and wishing.

 

Their conversation together is perfect. They're overwhelmed and unsure, but they're both grown up, and they have a few false starts, but I really feel by the end of the story that they are DEFINITELY going to work things out.

 

When he caught her eyes this time, they gleamed like finely aged scotch. Like a brand that remained in a barrel for long enough that it had created its own distinct flavour, but not so long that it didn’t lose the notes of the barley it once was.

There were SO MANY excellent lines here, but this one was my favorite. This description of Cassie's eyes is so :chef's kiss:

 

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WRITING THIS!!!!!

Yours,

Noelle

Author's Response:

Aww omgawsh! I am so delighted you enjoyed it so much! I had a lot of fun exploring the "what if's," but also the "now we're going to because we made it through the worst of things." Because damn if you haven't made this ship sail for these little teenage kiddos in your stories already (pls don't kill themmm :sobs: hysterically about the prospect)! So really, I should also be thanking YOU for creating Cassie and making me love the crap out of them haha!

 

I could have riffed harder with Casablanca...I got a little lazy beyond the opening line, titles, etc. :skull: But anyway. I'm glad you enjoyed those little things! They definitely have a happy ending (with some smut hah) that will exist rent free in my brain hah. ;)

 

Ahhh...I love that you loved that description of her eyes. You have NO IDEA how much I searched for that detail just to get the look of Cassie right for this hah. It was a little insane, but it just HAD TO BE right! And yes, I made the girl a musician, thinking you'd love it! And I'm so glad it worked! You da best! Thank you for being a friend and I am so happy this brought you some cheer! :) 

 

<3 Courtney