Letter to all of you

[author_by_night]

Dear Harry Potter fandom friends,

Five years and one month ago, I started delving into fandom.

It's funny how far I've come.

Now the end is near; we're approaching book six, and after that, there will be only one left.

I'd love to think that we'll all keep in touch, but I know that's not going to be true. I've already lost touch with quite a few people - either due to RL, or due to changing as people. While I really don't want it to happen, I know there may be a few of you I'll never speak to again after a certain period of time. It may not be book seven, it'll more likely be RL, but still... :(

So, I want to let you all know now that I love you guys, and that I'm sincerely grateful for having been in this fandom. I may rant, I may scoff, and I may even get stressed over odd things (like RPG's and fanfics), but I'm appreciative of you all the same. Heck, some of you were among the first I came across.

And besides that... yesterday made me realize even further the impact of this fandom. We all came together, helped one another find friends, and notified one another of news. The same thing happened with a lot of tragedies, and a lot of other tough events - we're all in this together, and if one of us is hurt, so are the rest. A few weeks ago, a LJer was unable to get emergency attention she needed, so someone got her help. Someone else at a yahoo group I belong to attempted suicide; she too recieved help, thanks to people who know who they are, and who'd better realize that being willing to call 20 people in Pennsylvania until they reached the right people makes the fic title Promises Unbroken even deeper.

People who say "online friends" aren't real friends haven't a clue what they mean; real friends love  one another, will go at ends to help each other, and can also laugh at (and with) one another. They also share strange obsessions (such as Werewolves and the number 87).

Friendship isn't defined by way of meeting. It is defined by caring.

That's a lesson I might not have learned, had I never been in this fandom.

So... thanks. I'll miss you guys when it's over. *Hugs*

Love,

Amy

(aka Azaelia, Author by Night, Ayla Lupin - not anywhere anymore- and amyeliza385 on the old AOL HP boards).

P.S.

Because I knew you... I have been changed for good.

Elphaba, For Good (From Wicked.)

Comments

[purple-ladybug1.livejournal.com]

*hugs* You too, Amy. You were my first lj friend who I didn't know from RL or have some connection through RL (like the friend and girlfriend of my stepcousin). The past year has been great, getting to know you through your posts, your fics, and the occasional IM. And even though they're virtual, I love all the hugs my lj friends give me as much as real ones. *hugs again* You rock.

[author-by-night.livejournal.com]

*Hugs back* Thanks... you rock too!

[talimeeka.livejournal.com]

Aw...Amy! *hugs* I may not have known you as long as some but I still feel pretty close to you. You're such a sweetheart and as good as any RL friend. I promise that I'm not going anywhere for awhile.

[author-by-night.livejournal.com]

*Hugs* I feel close to you too.

[jiminyc.livejournal.com]

*hugs*

People who say "online friends" aren't real friends haven't a clue what they mean.

This is SO true!!

[author-by-night.livejournal.com]

I love your avatar!

[mafdet.livejournal.com]

*hugs* I wonder what Ayla would think of Lupin. At any rate, I've no doubt she would be the ONE person who could get Snape to wash his hair. *g*

[author-by-night.livejournal.com]

I've always wanted to write something Ayla/Remus, to be honest with you. The problem is - what of Jondalar?

(If you have any ideas, do let me know).

[h311ybean]

Friendship isn't defined by way of meeting. It is defined by caring.

That is a lovely, lovely thought. Thanks so much for sharing it, and for being my friend!

[author-by-night.livejournal.com]

Of course! Thanks for being mine!

[amberdiceless.livejournal.com]

Word, and likewise. :)

[author-by-night.livejournal.com]

Thanks! :)

[feylin17.livejournal.com]

aww, that's a really nice letter. :)
:wub:

[author-by-night.livejournal.com]

:wub:'s back.

[zmedlebum.livejournal.com]

*sniff*

[author-by-night.livejournal.com]

*Hands tissue*

[lizer-nibbler.livejournal.com]

awwwww. It's funny how something silly (though we all know HP isn't silly, but that's not the point) like a book can bring people together and change their lives.

[author-by-night.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I know. Literally sometimes, too. I call it fate.

[lee-calafalas.livejournal.com]

yeah, fandom's like a really good way of making great friends!

*hugs fandom*
*hugs Amy*

[author-by-night.livejournal.com]

*Hugs back*

[genesse.livejournal.com]

*hugs* I don't think anyone could have put it better!

[author-by-night.livejournal.com]

:) Thanks.

[tiny-wings.livejournal.com]

I think it's so contradictory that people say the Internet is a window on the world, a way to keep in touch with people, meet new people and learn about other cultures, then as soon as someone says they've found friendship or even love online, people dismiss that and say it's crazy/not safe/not real.

I have some really great friends thank to HP and the net! You are the newest one!

[author-by-night.livejournal.com]

I know! I've had people say "your online friends aren't real", and yet, they ARE real.

[farting-nora.livejournal.com]

*hugs*

[author-by-night.livejournal.com]

*Hugs back*

And this is unrelated, but I love your icon.

[ginnyhaha.livejournal.com]

^^ Absolutely.

Still, there's probably a couple more years before book 7 comes out, so no need to worry about the fandom dissipating just yet!

[author-by-night.livejournal.com]

Its not really about book seven - at least, that's not all. It's just that in general... we're all miles away, some of us are three oceans away. And when RL comes more into play, things'll get hard, not to mention when we get more responsibilities.

[bisforbecky.livejournal.com]

*love*

[author-by-night.livejournal.com]

*Hugs*

[irised.livejournal.com]

Very, very nicely said. Thanks for writing that! :)

[author-by-night.livejournal.com]

You're welcome :)

[locked-door998.livejournal.com]

Loosing touch with my fandom friends is totally out of the question. It's just not going to happen because RL is so much worse and without my online friends, I would be miserable.

[author-by-night.livejournal.com]

*Hugs*

[gryfny.livejournal.com]

That was beutifully written. Thanks!

[author-by-night.livejournal.com]

But of course, Cap'n.

[linda-lupos.livejournal.com]

*Gives Amy a big Hagrid-hug* Love you too! And of course we won't loose touch after HP7 - I reckon our friendship has grown beyond that!

[author-by-night.livejournal.com]

*Hugs bacck* I know.