Crossovers. I love 'em.

[vaznetti]

I've been thinking about crossovers, because the Harry Potter/X-Files crossover (at least in parts) is a strange mix. In part because in HP many problems can still be solved, or at least helped, by chocolate, whereas in the X-Files even children know that that isn't true, but more because in HP life is still sacred and killing someone is a terrible terrible thing (mostly), but in the XFiles that just isn't so: the corpses are piled higher and deeper every week.

Some parts of the backstory (this is me, of course I've worked out a backstory) work well. I like the identification of WMM with Pansy Parkinson's grandfather. The magical world is a huge secret, and it seems reasonable that the people in charge of keeping it secret would need to know who else was involved in keeping (and finding out) secrets of their own. What I first thought was a problem--how old-fashioned the wizarding world is--matches well with certain old-fashioned aspects of the XF conspiracy. Both worlds run according to the rules of the ancien regime: patronage and personal connection rather than bureaucracy or merit. And WMM is one of the most old fashioned members of the conspiracy; Marita is another, and although I wasn't intending to involve her, the temptation is growing. It also occurs to me that the strict separation of magical and Muggle worlds seen in the HP books may be a consequence of a certain respect for privacy and secrecy which is typical of British society, and of the relative weakness of the British state over persons and property--that is, that they might not hold in, say, eastern Europe, or even on the continent.

Anyway, I'll be quite pleased with myself if I can pull this off. Because really, I think that the crossover is what fanfic is all about--it's the ultimate "what if?" It's the thing that really will never happen on the show, but illuminates what the show is all about. When it's good, anyway.

Comments

[juleskicks.livejournal.com]

Oh my god, that sounds so cool!

I am The Original Crossover Whore. Just as lizbee. Crossovers kick ass, and well-thought-out, well-written ones are even better. And this sounds awesome.

[vaznetti]

I love to think about crossovers, but I don't tend to write them up. This one, though, I really am going to write. Really. I already have text.

[maidenjedi]

I like the idea of adding Marita to the mix, especially given your ideas on the backstory and all. Are you planning to tackle the issue of the magical and Muggle separation in Britain (something I've thought of writing about myself, since reading about Cornelius Fudge talking to GB's Prime Minister in 'Prisoner of Azkaban')? Just wondering.

I'm really looking forward to this, just so you know. :-)

[vaznetti]

The problem with Marita is that I had the wacky idea of making her and Narcissa sisters. And now I can't get that idea out of my head, and although it cracks me up, I'm not sure it's what you'd call a good idea. Maybe I can make them cousins or something, instead?

Because making them sisters is just wrong.

I don't expect I'll do much about the magical/muggle thing; it was really just a way of figuring out how Viktor Krum's family might have ended up loosely connected to the conspiracy. But I think it's certainly telling that the magical institutions in Britain mimic Whitehall and the Cabinet rather than Parliament.