Name: justawillowtree (Signed) · Date: 17 Jul 2018 12:21 AM · For: Chai, Carrots, and a Surprise

OH HEY I’VE READ THIS ONE BEFORE.

 

And oh my goodness, it’s as amazing and beautiful as I remember!! Seriously, it’s like 12:11 a.m. where I am and instead of feeling sleepy and drowsy, I’m just full of happiness and love for this fic because it’s so good.

 

I love how in the beginning Neville tried his very best to bake a cake for Hannah just because he liked her so much and wanted to impress her. I mean, imagine a guy who just wants to bake a cake for his girl. That’s literally the best type of guy right there.

 

My favorite thing is how we know that Neville sees Hannah as this ray of sunshine in his life (once again, I’d like to screech my happiness at how Hufflepuffley she is!!!) and that you also write her so well that we get to feel that golden, positive influence from Hannah as well. Literally as soon as she appeared in the story, I felt ten times happier (and I was quite happy already), and when she disappeared to go get the ghee, everything felt a little dimmer. Which just goes to show how talented you are! Your Hannah is amazing and I just want to show everyone I know your adorable stories featuring her.

 

Once again I felt extremely, extremely hungry while reading this. I really need to go and find some halwa because it sounds sooo delicious. Also I love carrots. (When Hannah was all confused about why Neville had so many carrots, it was so cute and so adorable that I was just smiling myself silly.)

 

You write romances so well!!!! I don’t know how you always have me instantly shipping the two, but that’s what always happens. I think it might be because, with these two, we see how happy they make each other? And sometimes I feel like romances try too hard to make the story more ‘interesting’ by adding a lot of jealousy, or fighting, or whatever, and obviously that exists in real life, but having a story full of that can be exhausting sometimes. (I actually don’t really mind if a story has that, but I need cute fluffy happiness as well otherwise I’ll be sad haha.) But here we see the good parts of both of them, and how they bring out each other’s best parts, as well!! When Neville was noting how Hannah was super chatty with him, I was pretty much aww-ing left and right because that’s literally the sweetest thing ever.

 

I also thought you handled Neville’s transition into the Herbology professor at Hogwarts super well. His reasoning made sense, and the fact that Hannah supported him all the way, even though she’d get to see him less, was even better!

 

WHEN NEVILLE KISSED HER DIMPLE I WAS SCREAMING INTERNALLY. IT WAS SO CUTE.

 

I love these two. I love this series. <3

 

~Eva

Author's Response:

Eee! Thank you so much! If there was a chance that you'd read a Chai story, it would be this one - it's the most popular story in the series.

 

I really wanted to show things from Neville's side for a change. He's so genuine and earnest, so of course he'd try to bake Hannah a cake, especially since he was planning to ask her out, too! And of course it goes terribly wrong, because baking is a lot like Potions, and he had the worst Potions teacher ever. He is the best, though.

 

What's better than writing Hannah as the Puffiest of Hufflepuffs, is writing Neville head over heels in love with the Puffiest of Hufflepuffs. He's such a sweetheart, I can't even - and I write him! A large motivation for writing these stories is so that they're there for those days when you just need a little fluff and sunshine in your life. I love the idea that Hannah, despite leaving her Healing career behind, still continues to heal in this way. And for me, as a student doctor, I like the idea that I can make someone's day a little better with my writing.

 

Another motivation, is obviously to make people as hungry as possible, mostly for Indian food. It's winter in Australia at the moment, and carrot halwa is like the best thing ever on these cold, windy nights! And you just know that Neville's the kind of Auror to cease contraband vegetables.

 

I'm very pleased that my love for romances shines through my writing! If people ship the people I want them to ship, I feel like I'm paying my dues to the genre. Every story needs at least some conflict - and for Neville and Hannah in this one it's Neville's decision to apply for a teaching job at Hogwarts. I couldn't see these two really being jealous of past flames, you know? There's is a quiet romance, but nonetheless it's just as epic and enduring as any other. I hope that sort of comes through.

 

Career changes accidentally became a theme in this series, haha! I find people who change careers to be so courageous. And of course Hannah's just there for Neville. That's why I think they work so well together -  there's all this unconditional support.

 

The dimple kiss, for me, is so much more sexually charged than the kiss on the lips. That's really the moment this story builds up to, and I wanted it to be a super sweet moment, because Neville and Hannah are super sweet. I am very happy to hear that it made you scream internally!

 

Thanks so much for this wonderful review, Eva :)

xx 800

Name: Crimson Quill (Signed) · Date: 05 Dec 2017 12:25 PM · For: Chai, Carrots, and a Surprise

Hello!

 

I was in the need for some fluff so I got recommendation this to read and it's lightened my mood! I think it's so cute, sweet and perfect!

 

Neville's point of view comes across perfectly here. All his feelings are so realistic in the beginning while he was waiting for Hannah. I think most people have been in the position when they don't want to ruin that friendship but still desperately want more, it's such a relateable feeling and you've caught it perfectly here. I thought that neville wanted to make her a cake was just wonderful to try an 'impress' her was just wonderful. Your characterisation of Neville is just lovely, I can totally imagine what we see from canon that this is what he would be like with a girl he likes. 

 

I like that we can get to see a bit of what Neville's life is like outside of cooking with Hannah when he thinks about how his job is getting him down. it's just charming to see the difference that Hannah has on him when she arrives back. I really like this line 'Neville loved it when she said "we". something about it is just so heart warming. I like that you've established this connection between the two that Hannah can just tell that Neville has something on his mind. The rapport between the two is just amazing especially as he feels that he can chat to her about anything.

 

I'm so rooting for Neville to get his kiss! I adore how awkward it is that he talks himself into it then asks her to be his valentine. aww! it's so adorable and perfect ending to their cooking session. I loved seeing Hannah's reaction, it was just so beautiful. There is something so pure about Neville in this. I seriously needed to read this! I'm totally going to be checking out the rest of them now! thank you so much for writing this gorgeous innocent and sweet piece! I loved it!

 

- Abbi xo

 

 

 

Author's Response:

Haha, my page is basically all fluff - even the more angsty stuff is pretty fluffy :P If you're ever in need of more fluff, you know where to find it ;)

 

This is the first time I wrote in Neville's point of view, and I was really nervous about getting his voice right. I'm pleased that you found it realistic. Baking a cake for someone isn't the grandest of gestures, but for these two, it's just perfect. Hannah definitely thought so :P

 

I really invested a lot in Neville and Hannah's friendship. To me, that's what defines their relationship, and what carries them through. It's one of the major reasons why I included "and a friend" in each of the titles of the stories in the series. Good friendship is so hard to find, and when it is found, I didn't want them to lose it amongst all their romance shenanigans.

 

Yay! I'm glad you enjoyed that ending! It feels like I'd been building towards it for three whole stories, haha! Thanks for the wonderful review, Abbi :)

Name: Stella Blue (Signed) · Date: 08 Jun 2017 08:40 PM · For: Chai, Carrots, and a Surprise

*Transferred from HPFF, originally posted anonymously as 'The Hanukkah Dreidel'*

 

Good evening, I am the Hanukkah Dreidel, spinning my way through the archives to spread some holiday cheer and I happened to land here on this marvelous story.

What a sweet story. Pun totally intended, as the relationship between the two of them is so adorable, and the carrot halwa dessert sounded really delicious. I love how you write both of them, how they're both kind of introverted and how comfortable silence is the norm between them. The fact that they regularly meet up to make some delicious food and chai and listen to one another speaks volumes about how close they are. I just adore how they interact with one another and how supportive they are.

You also did really well portraying how nervous they were - Neville was a bit more obvious because the reader is in his head, but all his stuttering and fumbling for words really showed that - and Hannah interrupting him when she got nervous I think was deliberate too - even without being in Hannah's head I can understand what's going on in there, haha. The end was so cute and I couldn't get the smile off my face. Ah, they're just too adorable together ♥

I can certainly see why this won the Dobby for best Romance. Congratulations once again on that achievement :D

Happy holidays, whichever one(s) you celebrate this time of year!

Author's Response:

*Transferred from HPFF*

 

Hello Hanukkah Dreidel! I am honoured that you have showered my story with such praise and holiday-themed good cheer!

 

Teehee. Pun totally acknowledged. Carrot halwa is very delicious. If you ever get the chance, do try some. It's perfect for the cold winter months. And Neville and Hannah, of course. My heart. I love them so much.

 

Ah, you picked up on Hannah's nervousness, too! I am so so pleased! Yes, she is very nervous. And yay for all the smiles!

 

Thank you! I am still so surprised at that win. I was totally not expecting it.

 

Thanks for the lovely review :)

Name: greisful (Signed) · Date: 14 May 2017 07:11 PM · For: Chai, Carrots, and a Surprise

There are no words to express how cute this story is and how much I enjoy reading it but I'm going to try!

The cutest thing is watching Neville worry about gaining a few pounds, that's just so cute and it made me laugh because I can just picture Neville thinking about something like that. Even now that Neville is a big Auror, he's still envious of how other people are more courageous than he is when he's an Auror for God's sake. But I guess it takes a different type of bravery to do what Hannah did.

It's so cute how excited Neville is to have Hannah to visit. The way that he hugs her and thinks about her, Hannah has already become home for Neville. He really does have it bad. I can't stop smiling.    

Author's Response:

Haha, I'm very happy that you enjoyed it! Cute is what I aim for!

 

Neville is the sweetest. You're right. He's like this super successful, super accomplished person, but he's still the same Neville sometimes. And yes, he totally has it bad ;)

 

Thanks for the lovely review :)