Loose Cannon is my first fanfic, and it's taken on a life of its own. I started it with a vague outline, but I quickly discovered that the best scenes and subplots write themselves. I've lost count of how many times the characters have surprised me with a plot twist, and I've learned to trust where they're taking the story. But this means I can't say with confidence who the final pairings will be. I'd intended Harry/Hermione, but I'm not going to shoehorn them into a relationship that doesn't work, so I'll just have to see what they decide.

One of my biggest frustrations with HP canon is that the main characters experience years of trauma, and then they immediately pair up with the British equivalent of their high school sweethearts, which seems like a recipe for stunted emotional development. Personally, I experienced huge emotional growth during my university years, and I wanted to depict something analogous. I've also woven in elements of a spiritual path, including transcendence of the conventional sense of self, which IMO is invaluable for overcoming past trauma.

As of May 2020, Loose Cannon is 880K words, and it's likely to pass 1M. Frankly, I never could have foreseen writing anything this long, but since the start the story has simply poured out of me. I enjoy writing dialogue in particular, since the characters always have their own agenda. The result, I hope, is an entertaining and emotionally-rich fanfic.

Updates posted on Wednesday and Saturday. I've done my best to write it in British English, but I welcome feedback from actual Britons.

Roster of Original Characters

indicates Muggle

Alistair - Vampire proprietor of Penumbra, former Gryffindor

Allie Hobbs - Holyhead Harpies starting Seeker

Althea - Shop assistant to Benedict Thimble

Andrew Gilstrap - Montrose Magpies starting Seeker

Annie - School friend of Ryan Bellamy

Benedict Thimble - Official tailor to the Chudley Cannons

Bruce - Chudley Cannons flying trainer

Candice* - Server at the Muggle pub near the Cannons training grounds

Carl Wainwright - Tutshill Tornados starting Seeker

Cassia Dexter - Mind Healer, author of Be Your Own Niffler: Finding the Treasure Within

Celia - Teenage Squib who writes to Harry for advice

Charles Selwyn - Lydia's brother-in-law

Connor - Lyle’s best mate, werewolf

Daniel Granger* - Hermione’s father

Darren Rogers - Chudley Cannons starting Chaser

Darius Sprott - Chudley Cannons team manager

Davina Hampton - Light Arts instructor

Desmond Travers - Lydia's father

Ekantika Singh - Wigtown Wanderers starting Seeker

Elizabeth - A witch Harry takes home

Emily Granger* - Hermione’s mother

Eric* - Laetitia's fiancé

Errol Reddington* - Former classmate/bully of Hermione

Esme (Travers) Selwyn - Pure-blood princess, Lydia's older sister

Fiona Dunning - School friend of Owen and Joanne Barrowmaker

Gary Wisenborn - Chudley Cannons starting Beater

Gemma Rees - Chudley Cannons reserve Seeker

Gillian - Chudley Cannons art director

Harper - Auror trainee

Healer MacAlister - Chudley Cannons team healer

Helena Strauss - A witch Harry takes home ...

Isla Preston - Caerphilly Catapults starting Seeker

Janet Lindhurst - Chudley Cannons starting Keeper

Jerome Wither - Wimbourne Wasps starting Seeker

Joanne Barrowmaker - Owen’s wife

Julian Barnwistle - Appleby Arrows starting Seeker

Kammy - Lydia's house-elf

Kate Barrowmaker - Owen's daughter, twin to Liza

Kieran Sheppard - Ballycastle Bats starting Seeker

Laetitia Weston - Fashion model, friend of Harry

Lara - Chudley Cannons staff assistant

Liza Barrowmaker - Owen's daughter, twin to Kate

Louisa Gesso - Portrait artist

Lucinda Bellamy - Ryan’s mother (née Spoonwocket)

Lyle - Chudley Cannons reserve Beater

Lydia Travers - Pure-blood princess, great-niece to Death Eater Ursinus Travers

Lythian - Centaur, former boyfriend to Luna

Magnus Travers - Lydia's grandfather, Lord of the Wizengamot, brother to Death Eater Ursinus Travers

Marjorie Tuttle - Chudley Cannons head coach

Murdoch - Auror trainer

Octavia Wind - Hermione’s mentor at the Ministry

Owen Barrowmaker - Chudley Cannons reserve Seeker

Penelope* - Muggle who Harry spends two nights with

Phil Routledge - Puddlemere United starting Seeker

Ragnok - Director of Gringotts London

Rebecca - Helena’s friend, dates George Weasley

Redblade - Gringotts goblin

Renée Vickers - Chudley Cannons starting Chaser

Romulus Wynter - Lord of the Wizengamot

Ryan Bellamy - Chudley Cannons starting Chaser

Sandra - Chudley Cannons legal staff

Sarah Trent - Pride of Portree starting Seeker

Selden Puttick - Banchory Bangers starting Seeker

Simon Longclaw - Harry's tutor, werewolf

Sophie Tavernier - French fashion model

Speartooth - Gringotts goblin

Spencer - Former Chudley Cannons starting Seeker

Susanna Montfort - Chudley Cannons head of publicity

Tertius Squint - Optimancer

Thaddeus - Chudley Cannons publicity staff

Mrs Thwip - Harry's private secretary, employed by the Cannons

Titus Kilbourne - Chudley Cannons reserve Beater

Trapskin - Gringotts goblin

Trevor Underhill - Falmouth Falcons starting Seeker

Suresh Dhawan - Chudley Cannons starting Beater

Sylvester Chiffle - Montrose Magpies team manager

Vanessa Waite - Friend of Helena Strauss, threesome participant

Vera Chappell - A witch Harry takes home (AKA "The Sorceress witch")

Victor Squabble - Chudley Cannons team solicitor

Walter Bellamy* - Ryan’s father

Wendy - Holyhead Harpies reserve Chaser

Woodbridge - Auror trainer