To be honest, I wasn't really looking for a story about Sprout, but this one caught my eye and interested me so much that I decided to read it, and I most definitely don't regret it - reading this was lovely, and you showed Pomona in a way no one has ever done before. I don't even know if her family in this was canon, but I don't care, as this sums it up so well I don't really need to look it up. Keep up the good work, and thanks for writing this lovely story!

Author's Response: hi! i don't know if i was even looking forward to writing about sprout--it was for a challenge and was definitely a challenge. as far as i know we don't know much about sprout's fam from canon, so this is my conception of it.

i'm glad you did not regret reading, haha, i never aim to make people regret they checked out my page :P i also appreciate your compliments and of course i will keep writing, thank YOU for reading and reviewing!!

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Eee, and it's over! And I shall miss the absolute joy that is this adorable story.

So, Lumina...dies?! D: She dies, but she actually isn't Mrs. Lovegood, right? Because there's a line that says Xeno also lost his wife. Seriously, that's so depressing and sad that he lost two women he loved. But at least he got Luna. Which, I suppose doesn't actually make Pomona an aunt. A pity :P

This's a lovely story, the parts about Gilderoy losing his memory were sweet yet funny and I totally shipped Glideroy/Pomona for a bit before I remembered what an unbearable idiot he is in canon and she deserves better.

On the whole, this short story collection has been very cute, very realistic and lovely to read. I hope you write more on minor characters, Lily. You give insight to them and do them complete justice.

Author's Response: HEEE HEEE the end! It took me long enough ><

Yes--she dies. And no, she isn't Mrs. Lovegood. I wanted to get a little into Xeno's psychology--I know there's a love that you have for a child that would force you to sacrifice Harry Potter to get her back, but it has to be a /special/ kind of desperation, to turn in the savior of humanity, when you believe he is that. It seems fitting, that he'd lost /so much/ that Luna was literally the only person he cared for enough to put the whole world at stake.

Hahah, I sometimes forget Gilderoy is actually insufferable, too, but I guess that helps me get into Po's mindset :) I loved reading him in the second book, and I became fascinated with him--there aren't many people who can get to be that way without having a notable past, in this case, his severe lack of spotlight as a child and his previously-present insecurities.

Thank you so much for reading this collection--I enjoy writing minor characters for, I guess, the same reason that I like Next Gen--you have the basics, but the rest of their world is, as it were, entirely up to you :)

MUCHOS LOVE (H)

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Can I just say how much I love your banner? Amoretti makes some seriously gorgeous banners. Okay, fangirling over.

MORE CUTENESS. I think the cuteness was almost at an overload when Henry gave Po the Snapdragons and she thought it'd be cockroach cluster. XD She's special to him, aww! The whole sibling relationship is barely touched upon in other stories and it's so sweet and genuine.

Which got me thinking about Po's stress about not being a Sprout. It wasn't just Slytherins and purebloods who must've felt pressure to remain loyal to their families and to their Houses, it could've easily been any wizard or witch. Like Lumina going into Ravenclaw and having awkwardness with her family. It's odd, but so true. Since you never quite answered it, I'm guessing that the Sprouts are either a Gryffindor or Hufflepuff family. I'll go with Hufflepuff, since Gryffindor is overrated. ;D

I just wanna hug Po and her nervousness. So adorable!

Author's Response: I LOVE THE BANNER. It's perfect for this story :)

Baw it's funny, because while I was writing this I thought it was going to come off as a little bit too sad--just because each of the chapters doesn't end on an uplifting tone, I suppose.

AND I FLAIL AT YOUR NEXT PARAGRAPH BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH YOU THEY /ARE/ SLYTHERINS. I hinted at 'green and silver' a couple times.

I sit ashamed before you at having gone the most predictable route in the house sense, but it did have, at least in my mind, a specific plan--the family is pleasant, nice, not in the least bit evil. Henry is chivalrous despite his being Slytherin, the parents aren't neglectful, and even though Pomona feels estranged from her two oldest sisters, the family dynamic works. I guess I wanted to write a Slytherin family that wasn't like the Malfoy family...weak, generally unappealing, filled with nasty, bleak childhoods, etc.

THANKS FOR REVIEWING -HUGS-

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Lily, I finally got down here to review and by far, this is the cutest story I've ever read. IT'S SO CUTE I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH THE CUTENESS.

Pomona is the most adorable female lead any short story has ever had; she's so harmless and she loves plants and guh. It's so refreshing to see such a young lead and we know nothing about Sprout in canon, and you've done such a lovely job with this! Seriously, I'm a bit surprised you got inspired to write a story on her, but I'm obviously glad that you did.

And can I just say that I love all the little details? The loving family - and the names! Wren and Wyborn, Lumina and Bonnie and Sloane. They all sound so adorable together that I just want to hug them. :D

Moving onwards to more adorableness, more Mandrake-y backstory, and obviously more Pomona!

Author's Response: SUCH A COMPLIMENT YOU GIVE ME!

I wanted to write someone a bit like me when I was younger--so many young children in stories I read seem too precocious, too widely-skilled, and too grown-up to me. When I was younger, I had a highly-specialized mind. I was interested in learning, mostly, drawing, and reading. Po is interested in Herbology, and reading. It seems pretty kid-like to me that way, instead of being wonder-child who reads and writes and sings and plays quidditch and bakes in his spare time.

I RESEARCH NAMES LIKE A MENACE WHEN I BEGIN NEW FICS! It's different for whatever reason in FF for me than in my OF writings, for which I don't think I've researched half the names I've chosen. In shorter stories there's just an essence that the right name carries; in this one, the names are direct reflections of the personalities of the cast :)

Thank you for reviewing, and I'm so glad you like this little story!

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Le sigh! Oh Pomona! I really liked how you incorporated the quote in this chapter, it really worked with her emotions and what was happening around her! This was such a lovely chapter and i love your writers voice, you have a really lovely way of describing things and putting words together.

I really liked having Gilderoy in this story and i think you really characterized him well and being annoyed that he couldn't get any attention, not only because of the Mauarders, but also the house deal. I think this really put in perspective his future self.

And LUMINA and XENO!! wow, i didn't see that coming! that was pretty mental! I think i liked it, but it was crazy thinking of Sprout as Luna's aunt. I think i like it actually. Anyway, i hope you have more to write for this =D

Author's Response: ooh i am sooo flattered by your praise! it's very nice to know that things come together like i hoped they would!
and gilderoy, gilderoy...he was a tough one, and i was so nervous to write him! but i'm glad that it seems to make sense to you :)
yesssh i know i have some explaining to do about the whole "aunt" business, but the next chapter should hopefully cover that!
THANKS AGAIN FOR THE REVIEWS, i really appreciate them ! :)))

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I really liked this chapter, it was very sweet! Although so far it's a pretty simple story and so far it doesn't seem as if there is an major happenings i think it really portray's Pomona herself and i really enjoyed learning more about her character. I think this really shows her personality though! Her character is so casual, and she seems like a serious and quiet yet hopeful girl who seems to be okay with herself and has some real battles she facing (like not meeting her family's expectations). I think her whole relationship with her family though is very real and this is shown so well through your writing.

I think you integrated the quote a little bit better this time and i felt like the meaning of it worked better then the text itself. Although, if i were to suggest anything, i'd say maybe try putting text around the quote or something so it feels more like part of the story rather than a separate entity. I realize though that putting song lyrics into a story is hard, and i think you're doing a good job anyway ;D

Author's Response: hi! thank you so much :) yes, it's pretty simple...i was definitely attempting to focus on character interaction.
i think you've got her character down, which makes me happy!
oooh and i'm glad i did better with the quote! i will consider making the changes...i'm just not sure if it's technically allowed to have the characters say copyrighted things. i can ask someone though to be safe :)
thanks so much for the reviews!!

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HI! I've finally come for the promised review! Thank you so much for entering my challenge, i really like this first chapter and how it has turned out.

I really liked the description and how it all flowed really nicely together. I'm really attached to this Pomona in your story she seems very sweet and kind of like a bit of an outsider in her family. I don't know if you wanted her to be that way, but that's what it felt like, i don't think this is bad though. I really like Henry though and his brotherly attitude toward Po, i really liked the connection you have between them, i think it's really sweet.

I never really thought too much about her home life and i think it's interesting that you've made her parents a little unsupportive of her herbology love.

I felt though that the end was really quick and i felt like i was missing something. The quote felt a little forced to me as well and i think it could have been integrated into it a little more and if the ending was reworked a little i think it could be quite brilliant. 9/10 =D great job!

Author's Response: you're welcome! it was a good one :)
i'm glad that you liked it! i understand what you mean about the quote...my life is so crazy but i want to go back and fix this--lucky for me your challenge deadline is pretty generous so i will be able to go back and work it in better :)
thanks so much for the review, i love knowing what you liked about it.
also, yes, i did mean for pomona to feel like an outsider :)
thanks for the review!!

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Hey there,

I really love the idea for this story - it's really sweet, and I enjoy the look into Pomona's mind for it :)

PLOT; It's only small bits of her life, but I really love this because it shows just what was important to Pomona through that. Her family seem very real, and it's the details that make it a really lovely piece. Her plant-love being born from a young age was a really nice one, and already you can see how she's a bit apart from the rest of her family; how she's different, how it will affect her.

CHARACTERISATION; You've painted Mona in a really nice way, just in her casual acceptance of who she is; in looks, what she likes, etc. She already knows that she probably won't be living up to expectations, but is trying hard to live up to them all the same, and she is just a very real person. The details of her plants really make us see that plants are really important to her, too, and you can really empathise with her through that. The dialogue really reveals her relationships with other people, which is great.

DESCRIPTION; The family life really helps you to get a grip on Pomona, and what she's starting from. Their quirks are really well described, and help you to imagine them too.

If I had to say anything against it, it would just be that I'm not quite sure how the Coldplay quotes fit in. It works really well as a fic, but sometimes the quotes seem a little OOC.

Overall, I LOVED it - 10/10 :)
~TGK

Author's Response: wow, thanks for the lovely review! i have also had a problem with the integration of the quotes...i see, erm, heh heh, that you have realised that...
cause i think in my head i already see Pomona as an adult. when i write her younger, it seems not too out of place to also see her older--I KNOW THIS MAKES NO SENSEEE--so i put them in. but i am going to think about reworking them after i finish the last story.
but i'm so glad that other things worked in your opinion--i'm fond of these little stories, and i love minor characters because you do get to invent a lot of their world. i'm glad that it seems like important things i attempted *cough* to get across about Mona you actually got through reading the stories. i find that to be really cool, actually!
thank you SO SO much for this, it's very helpful!


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Hi, BrightStar here with your review!

LOVED it. Such an intersting story, I was hooked from the summary, please feel free to rerequest for later chapters!

I liked the descriptions of all the charaters, Henry was my favourite - he was supportive, but like a real brother, sheltered her too much.

I was very touched by this little girl who did not think she was special, merely because she did not have what was considered to be outer beauty - though she had something much more interesting, and longer lasting than looks.

Loved the Coldplay reference. Really felt excited with Pomona, and guilty with her - well done on that!

Just one thing - you said she was the last of four children - but werent there five? Henry, the three sisters, Pomona?

In any case, great story and I'd like to read more, as a request or otherwise :)

- B

Author's Response: meehhh yes there are five. silly me! i'll be sure to edit this, thanks for pointing it out!

and thank you so much for the review! i'm really pleased that you were invested in pomona's character and that she was interesting to you :)

hm i'll probably come back and rerequest when i can! thanks again, i really appreciate you taking the time to let me know what you're thinking! :D

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Hi! this is AditiDraco95 from the forums with the review you requested for.

All in all, it was a very sweet and nice chapter, perfectly written from the eyes of a nine-year-old. The tone works really well with the small girl, and it is quite realistic =)

I found the part towards the end kind of abrupt and you could elaborate more and improve on it a bit more.

Then it would be really good =)

All was good otherwise.

Hope I was of help!

9/10

Cheers!
AD

P.S. I only review one chapter from a story each, so if you want me to review the rest of the chps of your story, feel free to re-request :)

Author's Response: hi!! :) i'm so glad it works for a nine-year-old! that's one of my major concerns for this chapter!

erm yeah, i agree, the end is abrupt...and i meant it to be, but i suppose that i could expand it a bit. i'll look into that, thanks so much for the advice!

you were much of help, thanks again! i'll probably be back to re-request when i find time!! :D

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Hooray! A longer chapter!

It was fantastic, just like all the others, but I was surprised that Pomona went to school at the same time as the Marauders; that being said, I was ecstatic that Gilderoy was there. He was so perfectly Gilderoy! Everything about his characterization was wonderfully in keeping with canon, I think.

How awkward must the staff meetings have been later? Probably not much; Pomona doesn't seem anxious and Gilderoy promised they'd stay friends. I can see Pomona visiting him at St. Mungo's after his 'accident' - I'd dearly love it if they'd remain fast friends all throughout their lifetime.

Lumina as Luna's mother? If this is what's being implied then my mind is blown; this would mean Sprout is Luna's aunt!

Alright, I think this review is long enough but I just want to add my favorite line which was this: 'He was, always, a fan of colour-coordination.'

I expect more soon. ;)

Author's Response: i'm so glad that you liked this! i wanted really badly to write about Gilderoy when he was young, and showcase his uncertainty and desperation to be noticed, but the way that he covered it up and created a pretense of confidence.
i actually have in the next, and final chapter, another, later reunion planned with gilderoy and pomona--i won't tell you beforehand how it turns out! :)
and i don't want to say anything about lumina either, i'm not sure yet if that's something that i'm going to incorporate into the last chapter!
thank you so, so much for leaving the reviews! i really appreciate you taking the time to let me know what you think of each chapter :)

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Still wonderful.

It's odd to think of the Sprout family wanting little to do with Herbology; or being so proud of being in Slytherin. That's one of the reasons I like this so much, I think; it opens up the possibility that there's more to Professor Sprout than the Professor Sprout I've previously read about. In fact, that's one of the main reasons I like fanfiction, in general.

Good chapter, although I would love for the chapters to be longer. ;)

10/10

Author's Response: aww thank you! i don't think there are any canon facts about pomona's family, so it all just sort of came into my head while i was writing! i'm glad it isn't too unbelievable though, and i'm so glad that you're enjoying it!
thanks so much again for the review :) (p.s. the third chapter is a bit longer!)

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This was lovely; it's a shame no one has left any reviews. :(

That's alright, I'll be the first to say I absolutely love this. It's well written and thoughtful and just the fact that it's about Pomona Sprout makes it interesting (well to me anyway).

10/10

Author's Response: aww thank you! i can understand, though, i don't think there are too many people out there searching pomona sprout stories ;)
i'm so grateful for your compliments! i'm fairly pleased with this myself and i'm glad that you're enjoying them as well. thanks so much for leaving a review!! :)

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