It Was I Who Invented Them I, The Half-Blood Prince!

“It was I who invented them — I, the Half-Blood Prince!”

(Raffle prize for @snapientia)

A few notes from our DMs that are relevant to wider discourse:

The boxing of POC characters as a monolith is something that is prevalent irl as well.

For example, on reality dating shows such as the Bachelor, there is a huge discrepancy between the number of white leads vs POC leads. Even when the average audience states they’re on board with a POC lead, said lead must still caveat to the status quo. Those who question it—discussing racism within the franchise or problematic behavior—are called to be disassociated from the show. (There was a wonderful Variety article published last year on this).

Another episode which points out the realities POC face in the entertainment industry is “Indians at Work” from the Master of None Netflix series. The Indians who auditioned for a certain role needed to adopt a stereotypical accent for the role. Furthermore, one of the people who auditioned received a leaked email about how the show would accept only one Indian actor. In this, the actor is stuck with either fitting a stereotype in order to pursue opportunities or to fight back against an unjust system where the opportunity would be lost.

The same episode later introduces a new producer who is “progressive,” and is interested in the original actor who auditioned-but to play a role in a spinoff of “Fresh off the Boat.” While the new producer may be “progressive,” the idea of their spinoff—which would still require stereotypical portrayals—and new methods of inclusion only serve to feed the same loophole. In that, it reminds me of people who register as “liberals” and tend to “vote correctly,” but have no concept of systemic racism.

An observation: I wonder if the same people complaining about inclusion ruining their fantasy shows are the same people who are ok with POC actors appearing in fantasy as long as it fits their racist narrative?

If you’re ok with the people of Mereeen being brown ( a city conquered by the white Danerys Targaryen), but not ok with Corlys Velaryon. And ok with the Hadradim (who are rooted in Orientalist stereotypes) but not ok with Princess Disa, you need to ask yourself some hard questions.

Thanks for the tag @turanga4:)

Hardcover or paperback, romantic story or thriller, fantasy or science-fiction , audiobook or ebook, slow burn or crush at first sight, happy ending or open ending, childhood friends to lovers or enemies to lovers (I can’t choose between these two lol) exes to lovers or fake dating, forbidden love or soulmates, au or crossover ?

Tagging: @snapesnailtape @alohaemora @ailec-12 and anyone else who wants to do it I guess?

hardcover or paperback, romantic story or thriller, fantasy or science fiction, audiobook or ebook, slow burn or crush at first sight, happy ending or open ending, childhood friends to lovers or enemies to lovers, exes to lovers or fake dating, forbidden love or soul mate, au or crossover?

@oneway-closet @chaserofstarsandtheabyss @somanydreams @abtyouandme @autistic-ace-bee @alonetogethermp3 @magalaga-buckley @elle-argents-pencilcase @anyone who wants to do this!

🚨| Puerto Rico was hit by Hurricane Fiona with strong winds, causing devastating flooding and landslides throughout the country. Leaving on its path catastrophic damages and 100% of their citizens without power.

News articles:

In English: here

In Spanish: here

Here are some links and threads that provide different organizations where you can donate to help the people of Puerto Rico: ❤️💙🤍

Mrs. Evans One-Shot

Mrs. Evans's second pregnancy was... strange. Different. It seemed to announce itself not through nausea or tenderness or any of the usual signs: for these nine months, Lily's mother had had magic in her body and life had just become subtly and inexplicably easier. The car seemed to park itself, the groceries felt lighter, her eldest even seemed more disciplined and her husband more helpful. She would never forget those months, she knew - when Lily turned out to be a witch, it almost made sense. Her mother had experienced it to a minor degree first hand, and she had felt almost validated when the witch came from the school to explain it all, and she felt relieved when it came to pass, soon after, that Lily had known for two years, that she had made a magical friend.

When Lily was born, almost on the very second, before she even started crying, there was a blackout that nearly gave them all a heart attack - the first manifestation of magic by a terrified new-born, experiencing cold, hunger, and separation for the first time. Mrs. Evans had felt, then, that something had been taken from her, something more than just the baby. Life had become difficult again. Not bad, by any means – she had considered herself blessed and fortunate – but the easy-going smoothness was gone. She had lost the unconscious control she had exerted over the minor frustrations and nuisances, and with two daughters, an infant who seemed to have a supernatural ability to get her way (as it would turn out, she did), Mrs. Evans could not help but to feel the lack. Even so, it was worth it, of course it was, to watch her daughters growing into toddlers, children, girls, to watch the sisters learning they were sisters.

It had not been the same for Eileen Prince, it turned out. Eager to talk to another woman who had carried a magical baby in her womb, Mrs. Evans tried to do the unthinkable and make a friend at Spinner's End. “He's been a pain since he was conceived,” Mr. Snape – on the dole, rotting on the threadbare sofa – answered for his wife. It seemed to Mrs. Evans that the man possessed supernatural hearing: the women were in the kitchen, and Mrs. Snape spoke in a very hushed tone. “Toby didn’t want him to be magical,” Eileen explained, stirring her tea for way too long. “It hurt him to be near me, when I was pregnant. The child must have felt it. And then of course, traveling to London so it wouldn’t cause a stir at the Muggle – the regular hospital, lest something strange happen....”

There seemed to be an inverse correlation between the two mothers’ experience, and Mrs. Evans couldn’t help but think something must be wrong with this woman. She had to be either stupid or wicked to be here, live like this, when she had the power Mrs. Evans had only glimpsed at and still missed.

“A man works and breaks his back to raise a family, and what does he get? A freak who looks down on him for having to work, owl droppings on his countertops!” Mr. Snape butted into the conversation from the other side of the house. How thin were those walls? Mrs. Evans thought it was a bit rich to complain about “breaking his back” whilst sitting on his sofa at midday, or worry about hygiene when the stench from the factory and the garbage strike meant everything had attracted flies.

She knew it was important for Lily to have other friends like her, especially if she was to go to a new school where she would be all alone, but she wished it had been another family – any other family. For the sake of her daughter, she swore she’d be cordial and correct, if nothing else. She would not keep the boy away from Lily until Lily had made new friends, better friends, who could show her how to use magic to improve herself. She was proud of her daughter, and she trusted her to make the best choices as soon as good choices presented themselves.

Fic rec: A silly but very in character Riddler fic involving a confrontation with hypothetical rat emoji discord mods. 🐀

With the encouragement of @dementedlollipop and @indihpblog, I have actually posted some Riddler fic! 😳

I doubt it would be interesting to most of you, but if you want some Dano!Riddler crack, check it out here!