Notice-Me-Not is just a fanon thing? Noooo :-O

[birdsofshore]

I was just searching for info on the Notice-Me-Not charm, and there isn't any, because it's a FANON INVENTION. NOOO! Really? The first webpage I found where someone was asking about it, had some smartarse saying "I think you'll find that's just a sad FAN FICTION thing, you poor deluded fool", I was smirking away: "heh, that's what you think, I have seen it in LOADS OF.....er.... loads of fics. Err. Ahem."

Did you all know this? Who made it up? What other fanon things have become so widespread that they can fool us like this? I know about Tempus, but can you tell me any others?

Comments

[hollys_tree]

There's also the way people use "silencing charms" like Silencio and Muffliato in fic, for example to hide what the characters are doing behind the curtains of their beds. This doesn't work that way.

Silencio is used on someone to make them mute, and Muffliato creates a buzzing sound in someone's ear, so they can't eavesdrop. (personally I would be super suspicious if suddenly there was that sound in my ear... just saying)

I don't think a canon charm to sound-proof yourself against surroundings exist.

[birdsofshore]

You're right - I've used Muffliato like that (er, I mean in fic, I'm sadly not actually a wizard in RL) but I did look it up and remember that it made a buzzing noise. It would sort of alert you to the fact that someone was shagging 3 foot away, wouldn't it? Like a sex alarm going off, in fact :D

[hollys_tree]

Like a sex alarm going off, in fact

LOL, now I'm imagining Ron getting all "NOT AGAIN!!!" when he hears the buzzing! :D

[birdsofshore]

LOL, I always like to imagine Ron going 'NOT AGAIN!"

We ought to write fic of the characters responding to all these fanon things. It would be hilarious.

"Harry ducked behind a pillar and cast a Notice-me-Not.

"I can see you perfectly well, Potter. I must have told you a hundred times that spell does not exist," said Snape."

[fantasyfiend09.livejournal.com]

I want this fic! Please write this! Pleeeeeeease!

[mab.livejournal.com]

I second this!!!

[birdsofshore]

LOL! OK

*puts in the garden to hop with all the other plot bunnies*

[melusinahp.livejournal.com]

lmao

[mab.livejournal.com]

One thing I've been pondering after reading this earlier.. is Does muffliato really only do that? My reasoning behind this question is complicated.. It's my opinion that in canon Muffliato comes about as close to "notice-me-not" as any other spell...

*Snape invented this spell... it's likely that it is not widespread in use, nor Ministry approved.
*Hermione uses it on herself, Harry and Ron in Flitwick's class... nobody seems to notice a buzzing, but they do cease to hear what the trio is saying..
*Hermione uses it on their tent in DH as in addition to the Muggle Repelling Charms and other things... so she actually casts it on the tent or rather in a circle around the tent, their campsite, rather than at the person who would overhear...

I sort of like that it's used in different ways in canon and that the explanation given in canon, may not be the truth or only half of it... because that allows us more wiggle room in fandom.

[talithan.livejournal.com]

Oooh, yes, silencing charms are definitely used very differently in fanon, haha. It's so widespread that it doesn't bother me in fic, but I do appreciate when the characters have to figure out a private place to have sex/secret conversations and the chance of being overheard is a real inconvenience. Silencing charms are too easy, I want them to have to deal with these practicalities!

[hollys_tree]

Silencing charms are too easy, I want them to have to deal with these practicalities!

This. Sometimes it's nice to see that magic doesn't solve everything, and finding a quiet place to make out is part of the fun. :D