Back in 2004 it seemed to me that every Remus fan knew and adored Stealing Harry, but I don’t think I read much more than the first chapter. I wasn’t so eager to invest my time in famous fics like that one or in the Shoebox Project, because I preferred seeking interaction with writers who were not too popular and therefore unable for mutual reviewing relationships with their readers. But I think I later enjoyed a shorter story by Copperbadge, and that he even replied to my comment. Anyway, Stealing Harry must have been an AU when he started it, as the first thing we learn about Sirius in canon (except that Hagrid got the motorbike from him) is that he’d been to Azkaban. But I can imagine how later canon could frustrate Copperbadge in any case.
In fact, it now seems to me that I’ve had a rather similar trajectory to yours – just enjoying the delightful challenge of delving deeper into a character, but making it work within the framework of what we already knew from canon on the basis of the five books, not all seven. The pleasure of this challenge must actually be the reason why I – having spent years of my life devoted to Revolt and related short stories, and after a long break – still write fanfiction instead of something totally new. I love continuing to build up the story without ever contradicting Rowling’s five books or anything I’ve written about my Remus’s world before (or what we’ve called head canon here). For the short stories I’ve written this year, I’ve also researched the calendar, the weather and details of the culture so as not to contradict the reality of 1970’s Britain either.
Even though Remus was not (in my view) made into a travesty in OotP yet, I was disappointed with how little we saw of him, having missed him since PoA. I wanted to know him better, and after HBP I was just more determined to make something better and more important of his role – and to stick to my version of werewolves, not allowing a completely repulsive monster to represent them. I’ve already figured out you’ve done something along those lines, too – making not only the R/T romance better but also minor characters (including not-fully-human ones) and the wider plot dealing with social and political issues more nuanced.
I’m thrilled I’ve met you. I believe I could love your Tonks in addition to your Remus and Sirius. The two of us certainly share a few things in common – also accidentally long comments.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2019-12-03 07:46 pm (UTC)In fact, it now seems to me that I’ve had a rather similar trajectory to yours – just enjoying the delightful challenge of delving deeper into a character, but making it work within the framework of what we already knew from canon on the basis of the five books, not all seven. The pleasure of this challenge must actually be the reason why I – having spent years of my life devoted to Revolt and related short stories, and after a long break – still write fanfiction instead of something totally new. I love continuing to build up the story without ever contradicting Rowling’s five books or anything I’ve written about my Remus’s world before (or what we’ve called head canon here). For the short stories I’ve written this year, I’ve also researched the calendar, the weather and details of the culture so as not to contradict the reality of 1970’s Britain either.
Even though Remus was not (in my view) made into a travesty in OotP yet, I was disappointed with how little we saw of him, having missed him since PoA. I wanted to know him better, and after HBP I was just more determined to make something better and more important of his role – and to stick to my version of werewolves, not allowing a completely repulsive monster to represent them. I’ve already figured out you’ve done something along those lines, too – making not only the R/T romance better but also minor characters (including not-fully-human ones) and the wider plot dealing with social and political issues more nuanced.
I’m thrilled I’ve met you. I believe I could love your Tonks in addition to your Remus and Sirius. The two of us certainly share a few things in common – also accidentally long comments.