Name: Lacey Black (Signed) · Date: 08 May 2019 04:31 PM · For: Chapter 1

Hey there Carrie! I am here for the EvS Battle for Team silver

The thing I like most about you as an author is how you find such interesting points of view to write from and go with it.  I don’t think I have ever read a story from the point of view of a Hogwarts Ghost!  I am glad I came across this story though because it is such an interesting read! 

I was intrigued by the Friars desire to stay just so he could help and try to do good in what little ways he could! It actually strikes me quite plausible since he is a man of God likely had a strong desire to be as good as possible he would find Hogwarts to be a good place to do that away from muggles and adults who would find him likely annoying he could be around children who he could entertain and enjoy.  

It made me sad when he thought about how he was so careful about touching people because of what his touch does to humans.  And it’s actually quite sad the way he described the isolation it creates as a ghost.  I cannot imagine never touching another human creature or ghost for all of eternity. 

The ending where the girl and her brother are reunited and how happy it makes him really made me feel warm inside, that even if he cannot so much he could do something to help even one person in the times of war at hogwarts. 

Great writing carrie!

XOXOXO 

LB

Name: ReillyJade (Signed) · Date: 26 Jan 2019 05:57 PM · For: Chapter 1

Hi there! I'm dropping by for the Magical Menagerie! :)

 

I thought this was a beautiful exploration of a character we know next to nothing about canonically. I feel like the Hogwarts ghosts are, as a whole, underappreciated, which is a shame because of their likely fascinating backstories. I like that you took the one thing we know about the Fat Friar (...that he was a friar, lol) and used that to craft a plausible demeanor for him. Obviously in the books he is depicted as friendly and helpful, but I love how you showed how his unwavering faith played a big role in shaping who he was.

 

I also really admired that the Friar found ways to help in the Battle of Hogwarts. After all, he's already dead, so he really has no reason to care much about what happens; the outcome's not going to affect him all that much. But, his caring nature prompted him to assist the innocent students, and I thought that was really beautiful. Often, people tend to think of and recognize only those who do actual fighting in the war while forgetting the supporting players. I thought it was great that this story took a look at just how important one of those supporting players were.

 

Also, three cheers to the Friar for remaining cool, calm, and collected as he led the students to safety. Given the emotional turmoil he was grappling with himself, this just shows how strong of a person (er, ghost) he is.

 

All in all, this was a great piece that added a lot of layers to a character I've honestly neve given much thought to. Well done!

 

Cheers,

Reilly

 

Author's Response:

Thank you for such a lovely review Reilly.  This was something I truly enjoyed writing the first time.  It was nice exploring a different character and looking at the Battle of Hogwarts in a different light to see what another would do to help or hinder the efforts in the battle.  I firmly believe the ghosts all played a part in the story so I had to tell the Fat Friar's story.  I admit upon first writing this tale I didn't have a lot of detail just the actions but it was fun coming back to the story and exploring added details such as more of the Friar's faith and why he choose to be a ghost which I alluded to. It is fun exploring character with little too them and making them come to life.

Name: TreacleTart (Signed) · Date: 14 Aug 2018 09:06 PM · For: Chapter 1

Hey there!

 

I’m here to drop off a review for Quodpot Match 2 which features themes of war.

 

I really loved this story. I thought choosing to show the war through the eyes of a ghost was very clever. Of course, The Fat Friar would stay behind to comfort frightened children. It is very fitting.

 

I liked how you delicately weaved religion into the story as well. You make his beliefs quite clear, but do a good job of keeping it from getting preachy. It’s a nice subtle touch.

 

The way he talks to the little girl is very endearing. He can’t fix her immediate worry, but I know his words helped her feel calmer. I’m sure she was incredibly appreciative when he was able to reunite her with her brother. 

 

I have to say, sometimes reading war stories can be a bit depressing, especially when you consider parallels to modern day situations. It was nice that you decided to go a more positive route. It’s a good reminder that even in the darkness, there is some light.

 

Good work! 

 

 

~Kaitlin

Author's Response:

Hey Kaitlin,

I am way over due for responding.  Thank you for reviewing this story.  This was a fun one to write the first time through and it was a joy to re-write and improve upon.  This story was a dear one to my heart.  I always love telling tells from unique perspective and Fat Friar was just one of them.  He's a dear soul in my opinion and I couldn't not include his faith in this as that is part of his identity.  However, not being Catholic myself I had to do a little bit of research to give this story a bit of authenticity.  

Name: starbuck (Signed) · Date: 31 Jul 2018 02:22 PM · For: Chapter 1

when i saw the summary for this i knew i had to read it! the fat friar is a ghost that's sometimes overlooked, at least i think, so i think the whole idea of writing him/from his perspective is a very original one. :D

 

you incorporated the fat friar's faith so well in this. the fact that he prays for the children and hopes for the saints to save them and help them is something i liked reading because it truly shows how much he cares for all the students. and how he leads them to the kitchens and the house elves are working with him is lovely and something i could easily imagine.

 

what made me really feel for him was reading how he always did his best not to touch people but how it ultimately made him feel so so lonely.

 

and how he gave the girl hope for her brother was wonderful. even though he's a ghost and can't help much in a battle, i imagine he could help a little! a ghost passing through them would certainly distract a death eater.

 

this was a great moment from the battle of hogwarts, i love reading about those, especially about people who wouldn't come to mind when thinking about a battle (like the fat friar or even the house elves).

 

kris

Author's Response: Kris, Thank you for yet another wonderful review. I'm usually surprised when people pick one of my small moment stories to read. The Fat Friar was a fun character to write. I originally wrote it for a bit collaboration project on a now deceased site. I decided to liven the tale up and give it more life partly for my own sake and partly for the re-work challenge. I admit that I had to do some research for the Friar's faith as I am not familiar with the saints at all. While I am of the Christian faith, I am not Catholic and only have vague memories of attending a service once as a child as some extended family are Catholic, so I'm glad it flowed well. I knew faith was important and wanted to include it as the ghost is a friar. Eventually, I need to edit and add in a few more of my small moment stories for the Battle of Hogwarts. They are just old and very poorly written considering they are over 10 years old. (I've grown as a writer since then). Still I am glad you enjoyed!

Name: Dojh167 (Signed) · Date: 27 Apr 2017 10:17 PM · For: Chapter 1

Hufflepuff CtF Review

 

I love that you have chosen to focus on the friar here - he gets so little love! And I must admit, I never considered what the battle of Hogwarts would be like from his perspective. It’s really interesting, because unlike for everyone else, the stakes are not mortal for him.Still, he is highly invested in the lives of everyone around him, which probably puts him itn a very unique place - I would be surprised if any other ghosts cared as much as he did.

 

I do wish that you were able to do a bit more showing than telling in this piece. There is quite a bit of summing things up that I would have enjoyed seeing captured through action or dialogue.

 

I really like that you have him questioning whether his prayers made any difference since he was already dead. That is another really interesting aspect of the Friar - that he obviously believes in god, but his very existence as a ghost is at odds with that faith.

 

In ”he had heard many a roomer” it should be rumor (or rumour) nnt roomer

 

I love how you showed the Friar’s consideration for others, even to the point of making extra effort to avoid passing through students and causing them that discomfort.

 

That was such a small moment that you chose to portray between the friar and the girl at the end there. I imagine there were probably bigger more exciting things that happened that night, but the fact that that is what stuck with the Friar as the most significant worth telling really says something about the friar and his priorities.

 

I really enjoyed this - it was a great original little idea!

 

Off to read more of your work, O flag author!

 

Sam.

Author's Response:

Hi Sam!

 

Sorry my response is late in the coming.  I suffered a major burn out after CtF and then life swamped me but I figured it was time I slowly got responses up.  Anyway, I am glad you liked the concept and thought behind the story.  I will not argue that there is a certain level of weakness in this story.  This was written oh about 10 years ago, and I think we can all say that our writing from that long ago probably needs som TLC particularly if we were in the bad habit of not using a beta or editing much at all like I was then.  I may have only giving this a quick glance over before posting here for CtF.  I do think it would be worth while to give this a good strong edit to show and not tell and to clean up spelling error like roomer vs rumor.  Anyway glad you liked the general idea of the tale, particularly the bit about the friar still being a man of faith even in his death.

Name: MuggleMaybe (Signed) · Date: 27 Apr 2017 09:24 PM · For: Chapter 1

Hello! Here for CtF game 4. =)

 

I have never read anything from the Fat Friar's point of view before. I'm excited! Also, I get some lovely Hufflepuff feels from this story.

 

I never really thought about the amount of destruction the Hogwarts ghosts must have witnessed, but you make a good point. It's pretty horrible, really. And to watch people fighting over the same things for decades and never seeming to learn... that would be really sad.

 

I love how you characterize the Firar. He's the sort of character who can be hard to write without either overdoing in or becoming to generalized in the voice, but you do a nice job of walking that line, particularly in the dialogue. He's so clearly goodhearted and kind. He would be, as you suggest, a very interesting character to follow during the events of book 7. How sad to think of all the missing Hufflepuff students - but very on point. His more ambiguous opinion on Harry is interesting. He's against war, against bigotry nd violence, but not necessarily sold on the idea of the chosen one. I think it's true but often ignored that those are not necessarily coexisting ideas. 

 

Aw, and he's leading students during the evacuation, and being all cheerful when there's so much danger and I just want to hug him. I wonder who that girl is? I suppose an unknown, but now I want to know about her and her brother. Sequel, perhaps? ;)

 

A good read, thank you!

xoxo Renee

I was surprised when the Friar offered to protect her brother. That is a huge promise to make, and there was so much risk of failure. But it was also very generous and self-less, especially knowing he could fail. I'm sure he would not take such a promise lightly. Thank you SO much for giving this a happy ending because otherwise that would be too sad.

Author's Response:

Hello Renee,

My response has been a long time in the comming.  I was so massvily burnt out after CtF and then life decided it wanted to drown me so I am just now looking at slowing doing my review responses.  I am very glad you liked this story.  It is one of my older pieces cleaned up only marginally from when I wrote it almost 10 years ago (dang - how time flies!).  This was a one shot written for the HPFF final battle challenge and I decided Fat Friar was an interesting character.  I've always been fond of small characters in the books there is a lot of freedom and yet a direction to go with at the same time.  With the Friar he was a clear character in my head, with his house and his faith.  He was fun to explore and I think it would be interesting to explore more stories with him.  As for the girl and her brother they were and are nameless characters they exist only to help show the character of the Friar.  As for the happy ending, it couldn't do anything but when it came to the Friar (he needed andd deserved one) and I was maybe a little less dark with my writing all those years ago compared to now.