This is really incredible; I just read it at Unknowable Room, and reviewed there, but on the chance that you don't get those reviews forwarded I wanted to review here too. I happened upon a rec for it on Coffee and Chocolate, and put off reading because of the length, and pesky revision, and my then-looming dissertation, and then I stumbled upon it on UR again and thought, I really have to read this! And I am so glad that I did. You've done a masterful job of expanding on a little explored idea - wizarding portraiture - as a lens to see glimpses of some of our favourite characters (Sirius, James, Harry, McGonagall, and Snape were all especially spot-on). And perhaps more importantly, you've really interrogated death and afterlife, an important theme in the series, through a new avenue. It flows, it fits - it's really, really well done. Thanks for sharing it with us!
Hello! I have seen all your reviews (thank you so much for all of them!), but I am still trying to figure out Unknowable Room. I know all about the dissertation kind of thing (I finished my senior thesis a few weeks ago, myself), and whenever I seem to write HP it seems to be 25 pages or bust.
Wizarding portraits fascinate me (still), because its a talking semi-living imprint of them. That and there is so much HP fic that I try to justify my forays into the fandom with stuff I haven't seen before. I'm especially happy to hear you liked my Harry...for some reason I feel he is very hard to characterize and I'm never sure if I've gotten him tacked down.
But I am very glad that you enjoyed it so and thank you again for all of your lovely comments!
I came here via a recommendation at crack_broom. Your tale is about a fascinating subject. I enjoyed your ideas about how wizarding portraits are created. I did think the piece could have been edited a bit. You seemed to try to include every character in DH and then some! The second half of the fic or so was excellent. The interview with Harry Potter about creating portraits of his parents was poignant but I'm glad that you didn't end the tale there. Your chosen ending was perfect so you ended at a high point!
I probably should go back and edit this again (its gone through about 3 edits that appear other places...but I don't know that I was with it enough to post it here...but your point is well taken and appreciated).
I was always wondering where portraitss of Merlin and Gryffindor and so people could ask random questions. That somehow got onto the mechanics of producing portraits and the sudden (kind of) realization that DH had killed off of the entire older generation.
You've chosen a really interesting subject for your fic. I've always wondered how exactly the portraits in the wizarding world worked and there wasn't a satisfactory explanation in the books. Your explanation is very creative and believable.
The artist who you created was well-written. It must be quite a fascinating profession to paint all those people and to hear so many stories.
The part I liked best was probably the one about the husband wasting away in front of his wife's portrait.
I think you have to be slightly insane to hear all those voices (perhaps my Artist, is).
And lastly, I'm really glad you like the little episode about the husband and his wife's portrait as that is my favorite part of this whole story as well, even though its a bit creepy.
And thank you again for your very lovely comments!
Wow. This is probably the most original fanfic I've ever read (and I've read a fair amount). So many stunning snippets that work wonderfully together- especially Harry wanting portraits of his parents.
I'm really glad I found this through the Coffee and Chocolate Recs that I discovered rather recently. (It saddens me that it stopped updating a few years ago
This is really amazing. I love the little details about how wizarding portraits come to life. The parts with the portraits of victims of the War (Colin, Fred especially) was really sweet, but it made me think that portraits will never truly replace the person who died.
"Hallows, horcruxes, ghosts, and portraits". Life, Death and The Afterlife are important themes in the series, and you have done a great job exploring them in your story :) The talk between the artist and Harry truly touched me, and oh, I love Harry. Especially when he realises that he doesn't need his parents portraits, because they are a part of him already.
Comments 34
Reply
Wizarding portraits fascinate me (still), because its a talking semi-living imprint of them. That and there is so much HP fic that I try to justify my forays into the fandom with stuff I haven't seen before. I'm especially happy to hear you liked my Harry...for some reason I feel he is very hard to characterize and I'm never sure if I've gotten him tacked down.
But I am very glad that you enjoyed it so and thank you again for all of your lovely comments!
Reply
Reply
I probably should go back and edit this again (its gone through about 3 edits that appear other places...but I don't know that I was with it enough to post it here...but your point is well taken and appreciated).
I was always wondering where portraitss of Merlin and Gryffindor and so people could ask random questions. That somehow got onto the mechanics of producing portraits and the sudden (kind of) realization that DH had killed off of the entire older generation.
But thank you again, I am glad you enjoyed it!
Reply
The artist who you created was well-written. It must be quite a fascinating profession to paint all those people and to hear so many stories.
The part I liked best was probably the one about the husband wasting away in front of his wife's portrait.
Reply
I think you have to be slightly insane to hear all those voices (perhaps my Artist, is).
And lastly, I'm really glad you like the little episode about the husband and his wife's portrait as that is my favorite part of this whole story as well, even though its a bit creepy.
And thank you again for your very lovely comments!
Reply
Reply
This is really amazing. I love the little details about how wizarding portraits come to life. The parts with the portraits of victims of the War (Colin, Fred especially) was really sweet, but it made me think that portraits will never truly replace the person who died.
"Hallows, horcruxes, ghosts, and portraits". Life, Death and The Afterlife are important themes in the series, and you have done a great job exploring them in your story :) The talk between the artist and Harry truly touched me, and oh, I love Harry. Especially when he realises that he doesn't need his parents portraits, because they are a part of him already.
Love this~~~
Reply
Leave a comment