Reviews For How to Take Care of Your Head Girl


Name: RonsGirlFriday (Signed) · Date: 28 Dec 2022 07:50 AM · For: Chapter 1

Oh my gosh, why have I never read this? I love everything about it. Some of the dynamics are maybe things I might have commented on in Ravenclaw Bulletin Board previously. I feel like in the first paragraph we get a very good sense of Audrey's voice, particularly with the parentheticals. Like I can sort of hear her not pausing to take a breath. XD  She's probably constantly thinking, especially at this time more than ever. Poor thing, being so busy and tired she forgot her own birthday!! I've been there.

 

I have to say, I LOVE seeing the twins depicted interacting with their peers in other Houses. I feel like so much of their personalities that we see in canon are kind of like... a performance they're putting on? Like not disingenuous, it's just that they're always ON. And they seem to always be trying to harass or tease someone, but noticeably in canon we see them do this to younger kids (especially Ron) and to Percy who is older and really being annoying younger brothers is just like a thing they're legally obligated to do. XD The point is, it's nice to see them just hanging out with friends. Still being funny, but also chill. And sweet!

 

I laughed at "You wished for justice?" I feel like I could hear exactly the tone in which he would have said that.

 

Also, the fact that the knocker is referred to simply as "Knocker" as a name, for it is an entity unto itself! Makes me wonder what Knocker's dynamics are like with different students.



Author's Response:

Hi! Thanks for stopping by!

 

Okay, not going to lie, I was really hoping that you would read this. Irrational inspired me to include Audrey in more stuff, so thank you! Without Irrational, I don't think this fic would exist. So, um, thank you!

 

Audrey's parentheticals are based on how I sometimes speak, but she manages to fit a lot more in her parentheticals. She's kind of always stressed, which is funny to think about because, much like your Audrey, this is the Audrey who marries Percy. She does grow up a bit during and after the war, but I feel like she kind of always has this air of everything's really chill on the surface, but it's really not chill on the inside, even when she grows up.

 

I'm glad that it came across that way because I was so worried that the twins would seem a bit too low-key? I agree with your point that they're always on in-canon, and I felt that they wouldn't be trying so hard around people that they've gone to school with for six years now. The original idea for this fic was going to be this group meeting on September first of their first year. I'm still vaguely trying to play around with it to see how it would work out, but the twins are mostly chill in that one too. Well, mostly. It is Fred and George we're talking about. In this, they don't have to entertain anyone or babysit or hang out with their siblings. They just get to exist.

 

Roger is probably one of my favorite characters to write, but that's because I made him a Ravenclaw Oliver Wood. He and Audrey really shouldn't be best friends, but they are. I don't know why or how their friendship works, but I'm not going to question it. Also, I absolutely love giving the fun lines (like 'You wished for justice?') to Roger because in my head, he has this very theatrical way of speaking. Like, imagine the cool older brother figure who does a lot of sports and is great at debating and also is the sweetest guy ever. I think it's just that when Roger cares about something, he cares with his whole heart.

 

Knocker has their favorites. Knocker is also very chaotic and contradictory. I love Knocker so much, and Knocker loves Fred and George so much. Knocker doesn't really emote in a way that people would understand, other than the Ravenclaws, obviously, but I think that the common room guardians all care for their houses. And also, Knocker can be a spiteful meanie who changes the difficulty of riddles if not appeased with oil and whatever else a bronze eagle requires.

 

Thanks for stopping by, and I hope you have a lovely day!

 

-A



Name: Oregonian (Signed) · Date: 20 Dec 2022 10:09 PM · For: Chapter 1

Hi, Robin.  Here is a little gift for you during our Winter in Town, a review for your Wish List and a wish for a very happy Christmas.

 

This is such a sweet, gentle story.  In the midst of the stress and turmoil caused by the presence of Dolores Umbridge at Hogwarts and her attempts to mismanage the school at the behest of a corrupt Ministry, Audrey's good friends are conniving to celebrate her birthday, to let her know that they love her and don't want her special day to pass unnoticed.

 

I love the tiny details you slip in so effortlessly (...her parents..would never have done anything like this, and besides, they didn't even know if this woman had credentials...)   Just a tiny aside to the main storyline, but it sparkles like a dewdrop on a leaf.

 

Audrey is notably calm during a year of turmoil ("Audrey doubted that Umbridge would cancel Quidditch yet again.  Audrey tried not to...think about Umbridge running the school now that Dumbledore was gone.")  Audrey has great character, control of her emotions, can see the wider, larger picture, not distressing herself with imagining the worst, keeping her eyes on the prize (her N.E.W.T.S.)  Within just a few paragraphs, we have a clear picture of what she is like.

 

I greatly enjoyed your stories of "Notes From The Ravenclaw Bulletin Board."  Those notes really displayed what is unique about the Ravenclaws' thought processes.  And I smiled to see it again in this story:  "he wanted to do an experiment to prove his theory," and "...Peeves, who no one was sure  was living or not; the debate had been inconclusive."

 

An interesting concept, your statement that the Ministry forbade the study of Muggle technology beyond a certain level for fear that the wizards would be overcome by the nifty Muggle technology and actually *gasp* admire and envy it, even want to adopt it.  I can see that Ravenclaws would like to know how modern inventions worked.  It was easy for wizards to feel superior in the Middle Ages, but less so in modern times.

 

The party could have been a lot more over-the-top if Fred and George had really let themselves go, but as it was, there was just a candle that created golden-colored bubbles and an indelible paint job on the outside of Ravenclaw Tower which was spectacular when viewed from out-of-doors, but didn't actually disrupt anything.  I get the feeling that it was really "the thought that counted," because they knew that Audrey was focused on passing her N.E.W.T.S. and outlasting Umbridge, and they didn't want to make things harder for her because they were fond of her.

 

A lovely story, and a nice example of when "less is more."  Good job.  I enjoyed this story.  <3

 

Vicki



Name: la_topolina (Signed) · Date: 02 Apr 2021 08:52 PM · For: Chapter 1

Hi Robin! I’m here for your Challenge Entry Review :D

 

While this story is set during a point of canon that isn’t fluffy (UMBRIDGE, grr) I think that was a great choice. Everyone needed a bit of fluff at that point in time, and I loved seeing Roger, Fred and George, and the other Ravenclaws giving Audrey a lovely birthday surprise. 

 

You did a good job setting Audrey’s mood at the beginning of the fic—she’s so stressed about N.E.W.T.s and Umbridge and she hasn’t slept in long enough that she’s confused about which day it is. And then Roger comes in and coaxes her to sneak out of the tower. I think I would risk Umbridge’s wrath for home made ice cream too. 

 

It’s cool in your fics to see how smart Fred and George really are. They may be mischief makers, but they’re as clever as any Ravenclaw, and you really highlight that. Their special wish candle was so neat! I loved that the bubble changed color based on the wish. 

 

This was a lovely fluffy tale! Thank you for writing and for entering my challenge :D

 

Yours,

Noelle



Author's Response:

Thanks for hosting the challenge, Noelle!

 

This was sort of written as a present to myself because I was just so burned out when I was writing this. Unfortunately, it shows a bit more than I would like, but I think that it still ends up a little bit fluffy. I like to put bits of light in the dark, and I think this is a nice bit of fluff for OOTP.

 

I just really like the idea of Fred and George having friends that are a bit more responsible, though they and Roger do not talk all that much during Quidditch season. It's mutual, and Audrey and Evan find it a bit ridiculous. I realize now that I completely forgot to put Lee Jordan in, so, uh, my b. I was a bit exhausted when I wrote this, and I had a major brain fart.

 

Fred and George are Ravenclaws at heart! Well, more cunning than anything else, but they are easily able to get into the tower. Honestly, now that I think about it, most of the Weasleys are able to get in. The only exceptions might be Charlie because he'd argue and Ron because he seems a bit more straight-forward than Knocker would prefer for riddles. They're both clever, but Knocker is a bit of a jerk.

 

Thank you so much for hosting the challenge! I wish I had been able to write something a little fluffier, but, alas, I feel very much like Audrey. That being said, at some point, I might write how she and Percy get together, which will be a bit happier. Well, after the first bit. But they'll get together!

 

Thanks for reviewing, and I hope you have a lovely day!

 

-A



Name: Hawksquill (Signed) · Date: 03 Feb 2021 01:17 AM · For: Chapter 1

I saw that Audrey's surname in this is Clearwater and I was hooked, the implications are just so juicy! And this is exactly the sort of fic I love - getting a glimpse of life in the castle for people other than the trio.  The idea of the Ravenclaw team continuing to stress about Quidditch is just perfect, like of COURSE that would happen!  But we never see even a glimpse of that in canon, because it doesn't directly involve Harry & co.

Ha, the image of her letting the twins get away with a prank as a birthday present made me smile!  And Audrey forgetting her own birthday in the leadup to NEWTs, god that sounds like something I would do.  Aww Audrey wishing for Umbridge's downfall!  I love her so much already and it's such a short fic.  And the idea of having the candle color change based on what you wish for is so clever.  

All in all I loved this fic! It was a perfect slice of life, I love fics about friendship and this was exactly that, with a realistic amount of darkness thrown in given the point in the timeline it's set.  You really get the sense that they're all hanging on for dear life, clinging to what they can so they can make it through together.  Good job!

**Review left for the winter in fairyland event**



Author's Response:

Good news! Audrey is in the first Notes fic as the kind of main character. This is actually set during that, and, well, during OOTP.

 

I know that this was supposed to be fluffy, and it is, I promise, but I wrote this while just really exhausted, both physically and mentally, and I'm afraid that it shows way too well. Audrey is just so stressed with the whole NEWTS and Umbridge thing. Honestly everything that's been going on this past year sort of influenced this fic, and I really did mean for it to be a lot fluffier, but, alas, Audrey was just Done with everything.

 

I really love Audrey too! And, yes, she is the Audrey that Percy marries. If I ever write the fic of how they get together, I will let you know! I have not reread this fic in a while, so I do not remember if I said what she wished for, but if she did, there was a specific thing she wished for.

 

Thank you so much for reviewing, and have a lovely day!

 

-A



Name: shadowycorner (Signed) · Date: 27 Jan 2021 03:58 PM · For: Chapter 1

This was so sweet and fun to read. I loved meeting and getting to know Audrey and her friends. She must be a sweet person if they all went to the effort, UNDER CURFEW, to prepare such a nice surprise. I spat out my tea when her reaction to her brithday being that day was 'fuck'. It's going to get even worse, love, as you get older, lol.

 

I loved her stream of consciousness type of thoughts, just rambling in her head when she was upset about Umbridge, I can very much relate and I thought it also served as a nice touch to flesh out her character. I keep wondering if this is the Audrey that will eventually marry percy...it must be! (?) and that makes it very exciting, especially since she seems to be so well acquainted with fred and george and their antics.

 

lol, how they all prepare to put out fires when she's about to blow out candles from F and G, that was so funny. Thanks for writing this, it really made me smile, it has such a nice playful Hogwarts atmosphere. I'd love to know more about this Audrey. I also love the title, lol.

 

Eli for Team Snow Fox



Author's Response:

Hi, Eli!

 

I'm going to address this out of order. Yep, it's the Audrey that marries Percy! She also happens to be Penelope Clearwater's younger sister, which makes everything super fun. George, later on, claims he had dibs on her once she and Percy are married, but in a friend way. They met on the train their very first year, which is almost what this fic was, but I can't write eleven year olds all that well. Fred and George love her very much, and she is the only prefect they sometimes listen to.

 

I wrote a lot of the first bit of this when I was just mentally exhausted, and I think that shows in Audrey's reactionto everything. She's very much done with everything, especially being Head Girl while Umbridge is a thing. This is meant to be a bit of a missing moment from Notes, so it was nice to get to flesh her out in something where we actually see her and she gets to talk.

 

Thanks for reviewing, and I hope you have a nice day!

 

-A



Name: prideofprewett (Signed) · Date: 03 Dec 2020 01:04 AM · For: Chapter 1

Hiya Robin! I saw this one-shot lacked reviews & decided that that wouldn't do. ;) 

 

First of all, what an interesting concept: "...apparently, there was a Ministry law prohibiting the study of Muggle technology beyond a certain level, for fear that the Muggles would take over..." I mean, this could serve to explain why everything in the Wizarding World feels slightly out of date when compared to the Muggle one. Nice little detail there! 

 

And LOL "writing Mrs. Weasley," is a sure fire way to keep those twins in line. I loved this one-shot! I thought it was so humorous and it definitely fulfills a fluff prompt. :) I am a sucker for good friendships and you definitely convey that well in this. I also like how you portray Audrey as Head Girl, studious, etc., it all feels like a very good set up for her becoming Percy's future wife. :) But of course, this is just a sweet, slice of life during her time at school. Thanks for writing!

<3 Courtney  



Author's Response:

Thank you for stopping by, Courtney!

 

So if you like Audrey in this, then I high-key recommend Notes from the Ravenclaw Bulletin Board. She was fleshed out a bit with that, but she's a recurring side character in most of the stuff that I write during the Golden Trio era. I also just really like writing her, which might be apparent. And, yes, she is Percy's future wife. Fun fact: they don't date at Hogwarts. Audrey is actually Penelope Clearwater's younger sister, and how Percy and Audrey get together is very interesting (I might write a whole story about it, or it might show up in the background of another fic; we'll see).

 

I had some trouble with the fluff challenge because I wasn't sure how fluffy it needed to be. I liked this premise because the sweet is contrasted with the sheer exhaustion Audrey has at the beginning. She's Head Girl while Umbridge has taken control of Hogwarts, and it's nice that her friends are doing sometihng sweet for her birthday. I love her friendship with Fred and George because it's kind of an opposites attract thing on the outside, but Audrey has her own impish side, which never gets to show quite that much.

 

Thank you again for reviewing, and happy holidays!!

 

-A



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