Thinking About How In Gof, Sirius Says “ever Since I Found Out Snape Was Teaching Here, I’ve Wondered

Thinking of Lily who learned Potions under her mentor Slughorn who obviously adored her...yeah, it's a little weird that Slughorn operated the way he did, but Lily knew right from the start that half of Sev's complaints about him stemmed from pure envy

And even as Lily draws further and further away from Severus and their potions' discussions together, she still loves the subject and ol' Sluggie still believes in her despite her bloodstatus...she finds more of a mentor in strange Sluggie than even the stern Gryffindor head McGonagall

“You shouldn’t have favorites as a teacher, of course, but she was one of mine. Your mother, Lily Evans. One of the brightest I ever taught. Vivacious, you know. Charming girl. I used to tell her she ought to have been in my House. Very cheeky answers I used to get back too.”

“You liked her, didn’t you?”

“Liked her?” said Slughorn, his eyes brimming with tears once more. “I don’t imagine anyone who met her wouldn’t have liked her. Very brave. Very funny.”

Fic Rec: Post-War Canon

There are so many long epics that deal with the fallout of post-war canon. This exact moment, right after the war stops, is for me not something I read often. Believe me, there are many wonderful stories, but I prefer stories on the shorter side here apparently. 

The Grown Up Driver by Pocketfullof

Ugh, oh man, this story. This story. It’s so well written, full of beautiful lyrical prose. It gives Harry and Ginny the break from everything and everyone, just leaving the two of them to find themselves, find each other, and heal. Yes in all the ways possible. It makes my ache for the two of them in the best ways.

as the morning steals upon the night by @could-have-beens

I still cannot believe could-have-beens wrote me this story because I was going through a tough time at work. It is so heart-wrenchingly beautiful. This is my favorite canon reuniting after the battle story, and I am not just saying that because she wrote it for me. Read it, love it. Cry tears of joy that it exists.

Too Good To Be True by @remedial-potions

Askjdsdfghj ugh the feels I get from this amazing story! Ginny’s not feeling well, and Harry can’t stop thinking the worst. Harry is so in character, it hurts (in a good way). Wonderful combination of angst and fluff.

Romania by @clarensjoy

The first piece from Clarensjoy I read. It made my heart sing. After the war, Charlie keeps watching Harry and Ginny; it makes Harry nervous. The descriptions of the earth, the way Harry and Ginny are curled into one another, the way Ginny addresses the problem head-on, and Charlie’s musings on what he sees. It’s delightful, as is her continue-on piece.

There Your Heart Also Lies by @deadwoodpecker

Harry and Ginny need to work through an unforeseen relationship issue. I love how true this story feels, both the residual feelings that Ginny grapples with, and Harry’s response, showing how they’ve grown as a couple and a team.

Echoes by agreatwave

I love when we get outsider views of Harry and Ginny being their glorious selves, where they emit sunlit days, even to those who have long been stuck in the shade.

Compromise: A Love Story by femmenerd

Ginny needs to be more than the Boy Who Lived’s girlfriend. I like the messiness of this, the hard edges of their relationship. They’re nowhere near perfect, certainly not Ginny, but they wouldn’t have it any other way.

Homerun by @fightfortherightsofhouseelves

An amazing story of how Harry and Ginny makes it through each of the bases until they make it all the way to home. Wonderfully passionate and innocent at the same time.

Now You’re Mine by tosca1390

So, so beautiful… The tone, the feel, the way the two are together. A short, lovely piece that makes me feel safe and warm in the glow of Harry and Ginny’s love.

After the Leaves Have Fallen by tosca1390

Harry being his usual overprotective self, and Ginny having none of it. The passion, the description, such a lovely piece by tosca!

i just really need you here right now by @annerbhp

Harry misses things from sometimes, but that doesn’t mean he stops trying. No surprise here that I love Annerb’s beautiful one-shot about how Harry and Ginny, like all couples, have things they need to work on. That doesn’t mean they give up. Annerb is such a fantastic writer. I never knew I could feel so much about something like a towel. 

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Want more recommendations? Check out my:

All-time Favorite recs

Muggle AU / Coffee AU recs

The Death Eaters: a contradictory anti-State narrative in the HP universe

From Prisoner of Azkaban onward, the Death Eaters (formally introduced in Goblet of Fire) emerge as a violent, prejudiced force; primarily against the Ministry of Magic. However, instead of being an anti-state organization, as initially presented, the Death Eaters are more concerned with maintaining existing power structures, albeit with a more extreme, blood-supremacist agenda (that's basically Deathly Hallows). Indeed, the Ministry of Magic itself is already prejudiced and violent, even before Voldemort.

I will explore key instances that highlight the contradictory nature of the Death Eaters and their relationship with the wizarding state’s power structures.

1. The conflict in DEs’ aims and their misrepresentation through real-world historical parallels

The Death Eaters' role as villans is evident in their modus operandi and in their belief system, particularly blood supremacy. This is why, while their ideology resembles Nazism, they operate as a terrorist organization.

For clarity: terrorist organizations operate outside the framework of a formal state structure, relying on violence, fear; their focus: undermining established power, creating instability, mistrust, etc. This is essentially the First Wizarding War:

"...this wizard, about twenty years ago now, started lookin' fer followers. Got 'em, too — some were afraid, some just wanted a bit o' his power, 'cause he was gettin' himself power, all right. Dark days, Harry. " - Rubeus Hagrid, PS "You don't know who his supporters are, you don't know who's working for him and who isn't; (...) Every week, news comes of more deaths, more disappearances, more torturing... The Ministry of Magic's in disarray, they don't know what to do, (...). Terror everywhere... panic... confusion... that's how it used to be." - Sirius Black, GoF "...You-Know-Who and his followers sent the Dark Mark into the air whenever they killed. The terror it inspired... you have no idea, you're too young. Just picture coming home and finding the Dark Mark hovering over your house, and knowing what you're about to find inside... Everyone's worst fear... the very worst." - Arthur Weasley, GoF

On the contrary, institutionalized authoritarian regimes align more closely with the description we have of the Ministry of Magic (although I don’t believe it is a totalitarian regime in the FWW). However, if one thinks about it, in a completely corrupted Ministry of Magic, power is concentrated in the hands of a small elite (purebloods) that controls state institutions, including the military (Aurors), law enforcement (The Department of Magical Law Enforcement, Hitwizards), and the legal system (Wizengamot), enabling them to enforce their policies (e.g., the Statue of Secrecy), maintain order, etc. Voldemort and the Death Eaters are far more dangerous in such a structure (see DH).

(Had Hitler remained the leader of a violent terrorist group and never risen to power as the dictator of a nation, he could never have been responsible for the deaths of six million people in CC, nor would his expansionist war have led to the deaths of over 30 million.)

That being said, while most authors base their world-building on a singular historical event (e.g., the rise of Fascism in Italy) or comparable historical events (e.g., the rise of totalitarisms), JKR mixes terrorist organizations with institutionalized authoritarian regimes. This blend leads to a disjointed narrative, and it is deeply problematic.

The IRA parallel

i. Historical accuracy (for historical background, check here):

Voldemort’s rise to power in the late 1960s, his decline in the late 1980s, and his resurgence in the 1990s closely parallel the timeline of The Troubles—a complex conflict between factions in the Republic of Ireland and the big island. To put it very, very simply, this period of unrest stemmed from centuries of English colonialism, during which the English conquered and subjugated Northern Ireland. This colonization led to widespread violence, cultural destruction, and systemic repression of the Irish people. As a result of the poverty, exclusion, and repression, a reprehensible terrorist organization rose: the IRA (Irish Republican Army).

Mirroring the timeline of the First Wizarding War, the conflict in the 1970s was marked by street fighting, bombings, kidnappings, and the assassination of both civilians and high-ranking figures. The arguments about the Ministry becoming nearly as vicious as the terrorists they were fighting—using torture and murder (Aurors casting Unforgivable Curses) and internment without trial (as seen with Sirius Black)—parallel real-life arguments about the British security services' brutal response to the IRA.

ii. Contrasting ideologies

The IRA emerged from decades of oppression faced by Irish Catholics, aiming to challenge a discriminatory system, while the Death Eaters seek to reinforce and perpetuate existing power structures. By positioning the Death Eaters as anti-state, it obscures the fact that they are objectively fighting to preserve and enforce the status quo. The parallel with the IRA oversimplifies, and arguably dangerously misrepresents, political movements and conflicts.

The Hitler parallel

i. Convergence in worldview

There are several reasons why many people, JKR included, associate DEs with Nazism, one of which is the unambiguous nature of their ideology. Both Nazism and the DEs' ideology are grounded in notions of racial supremacy and purity, with the premise that a person’s worth is determined by their ancestry. For the Death Eaters, this belief is reflected in their conviction that pure-blood wizards are inherently superior to Muggle-borns and Muggles. But DEs are not terrorists because of their belief system; they are blood supremacists who carry out terrorism to impose their belief system. If you want to impose your belief system, institutions are the answer, as true dominance is easely maintained through ideological control, which is exactly how wizarding society already operates. Here, DEs modus operandi fails.

ii. Historical inaccurancy

A key distinction between the DEs and the Nazis lies in the structural dynamics of their respective rises to power. Hitler's ascent was marked by the systematic institutionalization of mass violence and control. Once in power, Hitler's government passed laws (e.g., Nuremberg Laws) and engaged in legal political moves (e.g., Munich Agreement). The Nazi leadership was public and institutional, with high-ranking officials known to the public (Göring, Himmler, Goebbels, etc.). The DEs never sought or achieved official political power in the same way. They never formed party, they operated in secrecy (using masks) and they kept their membership a secret within their own ranks. As the terrorists they are.

In Deathly Hallows, when the they take formal control of the Ministry of Magic, they maintain this secretive approach. The coup is swift and quiet, with Voldemort not openly declaring himself as Minister. He imperiused key figures (like Pius Thicknesse) to create distrust and prevent some form of rebellion (this doen't make sense btw, rebellion from who, at this point? Only the Order would have continued its resistance activities.... but whatever....).

When, in HBP, Slughorn says, "I confidently expect you to rise to Minister for Magic within twenty years," and Tom Riddle responds, "I don't know that politics would suit me, sir. I don't have the right kind of background, for one thing," it's clear that Riddle has his own agenda (which sometimes conflicts with the DEs' aim, but that's a different discussion). However, this alone doesn’t explain why pure-blood supremacists like Lucius Malfoy don’t leverage their influence to establish a more radicalized and enduring power structure (such as totalitarianism), especially given the entrenchment of their ideology within society. Again, why would Lucius Malfoy act like a terrorist, risking his reputation, life, and endangering his family, when he could already do whatever he pleases? It's still not clear.

KKK paralel (I swear is the last one, here for historical background)

While the DE' ideology echoes Nazism, it also resembles many other supremacist and bigoted ideologies. Our final group (which also inspired the aesthetics of Goblet of Fire) is the violent, white supremacist terrorist group called Ku Klux Klan.

i. Historical context and differences with DE

The KKK expanded into almost every southern state by 1870 and became a vehicle for white southern “resistance” (forgive the word) to the Reconstruction-era policies, which aimed at establishing political and economic equality for Black Americans. While some leaders later attributed KKK violence to poorer southern white people, the group did attract people from across the socioeconomic spectrum.

By comparison, the DEs were not a response to a period of social progress or societal change (but more on that later). It is also arguable that the Death Eaters were not a heterogeneous group. Aside from Snape, who was a half-blood with a working-class background (though he obviously repudiated his origins, that's the bloody point of HBP), the rest were rich purebloods— one might even say the purest of purebloods, as many of them were Sacred 28, (part of what seems to be) an aristocracy akin to feudalism.

The KKK never started a civil war (basically FWW and SWW), and in terms of proportion, it never had the numbers that the Death Eaters did. (However, KKK violence is real and it did contribute to an ongoing racial conflict, so it’s hard for me to say that DEs were “bigger”). One can only imagine what would have happened if it had reached a 50/50, or one could think that a more domesticated version it's currently seated in the White House (see: the point made earlier about institutions...).

2. DEs and the inconsistency of their portrayal as anti-State

The Death Eaters do not fit neatly into any real-world ideological or political framework. They don’t represent a subversive anti-state movement, as they seek to reinforce and uphold the existing power structures within the canon, making them both ideologically and narratively inconsistent with the groups they are meant to represent. Their violence and blood-supremacist ideology do not stem from institutionalised oppression or inequality, nor are they based on misinformation. This mess is rooted in JKR’s limited understanding of politics and discrimination (I will never forgive her for having Hermione shout "I'm proud to be Muggle-born" and stop, as pride is the problem when it comes to discrimination and racism).

3. Adjusting mess with extra-canon

I firmly believe that, unless you delve into supplementary materials, there is little to prevent these lunatics from operating in board daylight. DEs make sense in a political climate where their power feels threatened, even if it's made up. That's why...

What happened when HP ended: Pottermore

...at some point, JKR (or her team) must have realized these inconsistencies. On Pottermore, new information surfaced that contradicted the canon. When woman, gays, Black people and other marginalized groups gain greater social equality, those who have traditionally held power by birthright see their unjust dominance begin to crumble, and suddenly they have to do something. This aligns with Rowling’s portrayal of Muggle persecution, suggesting that historical anti-Muggle sentiment was largely unfounded (Fantastic Beasts movies). Again, by what is implied in the tale of The Wizard and the Hopping Pot, she suggests that wizarding society had little to fear from Muggles, thus minimizing the historical violence and oppression wizards may have faced. Other examples that come from extra-canon are Nobby Leach and hints of progressivenes. In 1962, Leach became the first Muggle-born to be appointed Minister for Magic (in canon, this would be absurd. Is there a Muggle-born working in the Ministry? Is there any Muggle-born working at all?). Then, there were Squib Rights marches in 1968-1969 (a parallel to the Civil Rights marches in the real world).

Conclusion

It's absurd for me to write something like this, but it's obviously NOT pointless to examine the motivations of prejudiced groups that seek power through violence. Take that moment in Order of the Phoenix, where Harry and Sirius talk about Dolores Umbridge:

"I know [Umbridge] by reputation and I’m sure she’s no Death Eater—" "She's foul enough to be one…" "Yes, but the world isn’t split into good people and Death Eaters," said Sirius with a wry smile. "I know she’s a nasty piece of work though."

Someone like Umbridge, though not a literal Death Eater (for now, but it's not the point), exhibits similar traits—prejudice, abuse of power—which can be just as damaging. But Sirius isn't suggesting that she occupies some middle ground between good and evil (I blame the movies for this shit). Rather, he’s acknowledging that Evil takes many forms and expresses itself in different ways. This is the core difference between prejudice and terrorism: the latter is a violent, organized force, whereas the former usually manifests in a less overt, everyday bitch. While racial slurs or internalized discriminatory tendencies are undeniably harmful—the cancer of our society, if you ask me—these groups actively unite to fight. People risk their lives, they believe themselves heroes of a greater cause.

If you oversimplify the rationale behind why a bigoted terrorist group holds such views and acts on them, thinking it's not as complicated as it truly is, you're part of the problem. History repeats itself because we often dismiss the importance of understanding our past. We rely on our moral superiority, believing that others are or were easily manipulated by forces we are too righteous to fall victim to. But this is exactly why they thrive.

Anyway thank you @artemisia-black and @tedwardremus, you'll find some of your words here.

Which hp book is your favorite and why?

personal favourite is probably ootp. because it’s just so long and messy and filled with teen angst. you get harry at his most vulnerable, and you also get so much of the school life like exams and harry’s first dalliance with romance on top of all the actual story (the order, voldemort’s rise, dumbledore’s army, the ministry propaganda etc).

but i think hbp is probably a PERFECT book, and the BEST book in the series. it’s got mystery, comedy, romance, teen angst / drama, coming of age, action, lots of backstory and explanation. it’s just perfect. it’s got a little bit of everything.

I've always liked the idea of magic working in whimsical and mysterious ways, more than the school of thought that makes magic more 'technical'. The way Harry Potter's story is, I feel like I've been conditioned to enjoy the interplay between "magic" and "luck".

This to say, I'd always imagined Peter as a powerful wizard that few recognized until Voldemort. I imagine Dumbledore never had a clue-- he makes mistakes, he misses things. I like to imagine either James or Lily had a subconscious inkling, but never really thought about it. James just knew Peter was a self-conscious little fool at times, when he didn't need to be, really, see Peter! you became a freakin animagus! idk why you doubt yourself...

Voldemort canonically sought out the Potters at first (the motivations of which, is a whole other topic to whcih I want insight). Peter was a last resort, a means to end, but I imagine Voldemort was clever enough to realize that Peter was meant for the inner circle. Of course, anyone close to his plans for immortality automatically were held close out of necessity. No doubt, Snape initially entered that inner circle not for his Sectumsempra, but because he had been attracted to 'prophecy'/'destiny'. Both Voldie and Harry gradually develop a "sixth sense" for these things.

I personally subscribe to the headcanon of Peter deliberately blasting a nearby gas plant that fateful Nov day. Not only does that theory satisfy my personal belief that Peter was the creative escape-artist of the Marauders (james was most creative at inventing problems, sirius at getting into problems, remus at avoiding problems, peter at getting out of problems), but also allows the Muggles a shred of truth. It's both logical and 'lucky'. (Did Peter set the location of their confrontation deliberately, or was he drawn near to a gas plant through magic?)

Anyway, great Peter meta. Yes to Voldemort negging Peter. GoF Peter is a disgusting pitiful mess. It's fascinating to imagine a 'toxic relationship' there

Voldemort constantly belittling Peter throughout GoF is so interesting because he, Voldemort, is probably the person who best knows Peter's abilities at this point. He expresses surprise at Peter being able to convince Bertha Jorkins to go with him. And like...dude, you of all people KNOW how much of a manipulative snake Peter is, you Know how he convinced Lily and James and Sirius to trust him...why are you acting so surprised? Like Voldemort is the last person who should underestimate Peter. But he does: I think because he knows full well Peter is actually competent but belittles him to keep him loyal. Ohhhh the psychology of these two. It's so fascinating.

(....petermort? someone stop me.)

Gonna get real close to the mic when I say this, but friends that disagree are not suddenly bad friends. It's weird to think that friends have to be on the same page at all times or they become toxic.

We all looked at Draco with Crabbe and Goyle and understood that them blindly following him as his "yes" men wasn't the same type of friendship that Harry had with Hermione and Ron. In fact, it wasn't a friendship at all because surrounding yourself with people who would never disagree with you is cowardly. It's a cop out.

Draco dug himself into a hole so that the only thing that could ever ricochet around in his head was his own thoughts. He wasn't truly confident in what he believed in, so he just settled for regurgitating the shit he heard at the dinner table. Like an echo chamber.

Meanwhile, the Wizarding World tossed little Harry headfirst into the "Chosen One" hole and the only reason he ever escaped that suffocating self-fulfilling prophecy was because Ron and Hermione reached their hands in and yanked his skinny ass out.

So, no, Ron isn't a bad friend because they got into a few petty arguments. And no, Harry doesn't secretly hate Hermione because she can annoy him sometimes. Harry isn't perfect, so don't expect Hermione or Ron to be.

"this female character is underdeveloped" TO YOU. I can read subtext and I know all about her backstory and her rich inner life. also she told me personally

i love this bit sm in deathly hallows bc they were all so sad and yk scared that seeing hermione being "back to normal" in a way made them both smile at the normality.

ps. a little before this harry points out that hermione was so focused in what was happening in the moment and debating with ron that she forgot she was mad at ron and harry also was relieved by that lmao by boi loves them both sm i wanna cry.

this book has so many tiny moments like this that i love sm.

Can’t wait for the Dean fic! Can we as a collective acknowledge that Dean and Ginny got together very shortly after she dumped Michael. That means he must’ve been flirting with her while they were still together. Dean ‘steal your girl’ Thomas

Dean Thomas when he sees Ginny giving Michael Corner the time of day:

Dean has rizz it’s canon soooo I had to drop a sneak peek of him in action 👀

First DA meeting back after Christmas, he’d asked how her dad was doing. She’d let him know the good news in her typical Ginny way, quick joke, shut down need for further questions (‘he’s doing alright. Not dead, that’s the main thing. What’s a couple of snake bites between friends?’) But he’d wanted to keep her there, keep chatting before she drifted back over to the Ravenclaws, so had pressed it a bit, asked if they’d spent the holidays between Devon and St Mungo’s. Whenever he’d pictured wizard hospital, it’d been a bit like an episode of Casualty but with more owls, and when he’d pictured Devon it was the proper seaside, like when his primary school did that trip to Southampton and his mate Liam threw that crisp packet at a seagull. Of course, then his brain had conjured up Ginny on a beach, bikini, licking something. There’d been something extra daring about imagining it when she’d been right there, chatting to him, her boyfriend stood five yards away, chatting with all the other Ravenclaws who wouldn’t know a good laugh if it hit them round the face.

‘Oh, we weren’t in Devon in the end,’ she’d said. ‘We ended up staying in London.’

‘Really? D’you have family in London, or something?’ We could’ve met up, he’d thought. Imagined taking her - somewhere. Wherever people take girls — he’d have to ask one of his cousins. Maybe go central, or use that Christmas money from his auntie to take her to the cinema or the good chicken shop in Forest Gate, hold her hand on the bus. He’d glanced over at Michael, who’d started eyeing the two of them suspiciously from over by the crash dummy, and resisted the urge to wave.

‘It’s a bit complicated,’ she’d said. Her smile was apologetic, curving its way out of her bottom lip. He’d wanted to ask more but didn’t know how, and her tone sounded final, so he’d dropped it. It would be ages til he’d learn what that smile meant — all cover, hiding things he’d had no hope of ever asking about. ‘Sorry to be cryptic.’

‘Nah,’ he’d said. ‘Keeping it mysterious, I like it.’

Little glint in her eye, mischief. ‘Well, you know. A girl’s got to keep her secrets close to her chest.’

‘Good place for them.’ Alright. Doing it? Yeah? Ok, he’s doing it: ‘Maybe I could have a look sometime.’

For a second he’d really thought he’d fucked it. But a new smile had crept up her face, then, like she’s intrigued, impressed, by the sheer audacity of it.

‘Ginny.’ Of course, then Corner had shown up, face like thunder, come to claim what’s his. ‘We’re pairing up, Harry’s just said. Thomas, you get your own partner, yeah?’

ah well, people can be a bit stupid about their pets.

- hagrid