FloreatCastellum Fanfic

Canon compliant Harry Potter fanfic writer, she/her. 

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An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

I mean, I had to end it like this, really. What more did you expect from me?

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When you publish your original fiction will you come back to Tumblr to let us know where to buy it?

That's very kind of you, I think I'm a long way off that yet! But I will always keep this door open ❤

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You're still here, kindly answering our final questions, and I already miss you terribly 😔

I will definitely find it hard to let go ❤

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Why do you think Harry was suffering from severe PTSD as Henry was suffering? As they both saw morbid things, death of loved ones, etc. but Harry looked more mentally stable?

I think Harry definitely shows signs of struggling with trauma in canon and would after the war too. But in addition, Harry has solid support after the war, professional help, and was particularly resilient. I think the war Henry experienced was also particularly psychologically damaging and relentless, and he was in an era where it would have been frowned upon to talk about it. I mention in the story that Monty never knows the names of his uncles, and in the fic I wrote where Harry is named, James mentions that his grandfather never spoke about his experiences.

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I always imagined Hermione as an Eliza Hamilton type figure - towards the end of her life spending a lot of time writing a comprehensive history of their childhood, if for no other reason that it not be repeated. Just imagining Hermione Granger’s “History of Magic” - late 20th and 21st century edition basically.

I can definitely see her taking over where Bathilda left off!

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Did Ron or Hermione go before or after Harry? And how do you think there experiences were?

Well, Ron is mentioned in the story so he is definitely still there. I didn't mention Hermione so it's up to the reader how much suffering they want to put Ron and Harry through. Either way, I think all of them were granted good, peaceful deaths.

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How do you imagine Ginny coping after his death? And how long do you reckon before they're reunited?

Not very well, and I think it would have been within a year. I can't bear to separate them for too long, and I think having her wake up next to him is mean enough of me!

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Who has the invisibility cloak by the time harry dies?

I think it becomes a bit of a family tradition that it's gifted to the next when they go to Hogwarts, rather than when someone dies. Harry has no great grandchildren in Hogwarts yet at this point so I suppose Kit would still have it.

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I know you thought about writing Lily Luna, but you're leaving, and I respect that, but could you tell about the story line you're thinking about?

It was going to be a coming of age Hogwarts based fic, heavily inspired by Derry Girls. Mumdungus's great niece was going to be like a Michelle equivalent. I had random little scenes in my head but was struggling to anchor down a plot, which is why it kept getting delayed, sorry.

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When Ginny will die who would meet her and where in afterlife? I hope it's not much far and she can meet Harry again..

Definitely could be Harry, definitely could be her mother. Hard to say!

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Did you ever mention James kissing Dee? Or I just made it up my own?

I did! They had a little baby relationship when they were 12, and a very awkward kiss. I hc that James spent it counting because he wasn't sure how long a kiss was meant to last.

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I just saw you answering asks about you leaving - whoa!!!! I didn't know that!! Happy to hear that you are going to be persuing original fiction now! Thank you for everything you have written so far, I truly enjoyed them all! But really, I am so shocked, I logged on like normal and all of a sudden I find out this! I scrolled down but couldn't find a post about it, could you please link it for me??

There wasn't a big announcement or anything, I've been really (pleasantly!) surprised by the response from everyone. I think this is when I first mentioned it on tumblr. I have said that I will linger for this weekend and then I'm going to delete the tumblr app from my phone, log out on my laptop and just avoid it for a while. So I'll do that tonight before I get to bed - last call for anyone who wants to stay in touch to drop me a message and grab my email! X

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In your hc do think the legendary green eyes continued in the Potter family? Or was Albus S the last one to have them seeing as he (maybe?) didn't have kids of his own

Oh I haven't thought about that! Perhaps? Or can recessive genes skip? I don't know enough about it, just enough to know it's more complicated than my GCSE suggested.

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I know it’s a sensitive subject so if it’s hard to answer on anon feel free to skip it but is the reason why Hazel hates the word pretty/ her boggart because she was Sx assaulted ? And was it by someone random or a family member in Brazil?

Yes, it's linked to that, but it was a neighbour from when she lived in Ipswich as a child. She's never lived in Brazil. This is mostly detailed in chapter 34, Magic.

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What made you come up with the title 'Wood for the Trees'?

The idea was that James cannot see the bigger picture, that he was chasing an ideal and getting bogged down in details of what his life should be when he was missing what was right in front of him. This is what the expression can't see the wood for the trees means.

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Hi Flo

I'm really crappy at leaving reviews or comments, but I couldn't let you leave without thanking you for every single word you have shared with the fandom all this years.

Your writing is beautiful and your characters feel real, and your dialogue is so natural it feels like I'm in the scene. Your fics have been a source of laughter and tears, an anti-stress in some rough times. A place to go to, with my favorite characters, to rest my mind.

I'm particulary fond of WFTT (I reread a lot), particularly Hazel.

I still remember the effect the chapter "Pretty" had on me, all that went through Hazels head when she was alone on the cubicle... I don't think I've ever related to words more. You made me relate to Hazel in a way that I haven't felt for any fictional character in years. And not just because I'm portuguese! 😊

This just to say, that I'm really sad to see you go, but I'm really grateful for the time you gave us, and really happy that you found other (more real) sources of joy.

May that joy follow you everywhere you go. Thank you for everything. ❤️

S

What a gorgeous message, thank you so much. I really appreciate all the kind words I've been getting over the last few days, and so humbled by the amount of people that have clearly read my stories for a really long time.

Thank you also for talking about relating to Hazel in that moment. I think many of us can relate to spiralling emotionally like that, struggling to regulate in that way, and it felt so cathartic to write some of the stuff that bombards my head in emotional situations. I'm really glad it spoke to others, makes me feel a little less ridiculous.