Fanfiction has played a unique role in our pop culture ecosystem. It has introduced romantic pairings of characters that fans might not have even been able to fathom, and often helped breathe new life into certain fandoms, far beyond the scope of their original texts.
Harry Potter has been a unique case study of that, as fans have taken the general concept and/or cast of characters and tried to appreciate them in their own context, often to distance themselves from the real-life controversies surrounding franchise author J.K. Rowling. The massive Marauders-era fanfic All the Young Dudes, and even the enigmatic ancient Internet text that is My Immortal, both come to mind. And now, another story that began as Harry Potter fanfiction is fully taking on a life of its own.
