Summary:

This ficfest adopted from IronDad is all about fall and cozy vibes. Think the smell of the earth after it rains, wearing fuzzy socks and warm hoodies, drinking a mug of your favorite hot drink, and cuddling up with loved ones. At the same time, October is spooky season, so think about haunted houses, ghosts, and things that freak people out. Fall is also the time many kids go back to school. The fun part of this event is that you can turn any of the prompts into cozy, comforting vibes, or turn any of them into creepy ones. Welcome to Cozytober.

Answer one prompt, or answer them all. Answer them in any order you want. Also mention which prompt or prompts you’re using in your starting author's note.

Cozy Vibes

1. Hoodie/Sweater | Hoodie/PJs/Socks still warm from the dryer.
2. Sharing a blanket | Blanket burrito | Blanket cape
3. Knitting/Crocheting | Crafting Project | Tree sweaters
4. Pretty fall leaves | Fall Colors | Crunchy leaves underfoot
5. Family/Team talent show | Putting together a puzzle | Group games
6. Looking through old photo albums together | Family photos | Reminiscing
7. Boots lined with soft fleece | Rain boots | Mismatched fuzzy socks

Cozy Spaces

8. A blanket and a book by the fire/heater | Boots drying near the cabin door
9. Cozy coffee shop | Coffee date
10. A pile of pillows and the softest blankets | Relaxing in the most cozy, safe bedroom
11. Hidden nook | Secret hideaway | Favorite spot to disappear to
12. Library smell of old paper and ink | Bookstore date on a rainy afternoon | New book smell

Ultimate Comfort

13. Pulled into the safety of a warm blanket | A blanket wrapped around cold shoulders
14. "I've got you." | Being carried somewhere safe
15. A steady hand grounding trembling fingers | "You don't have to talk about it. But if you want to, I'm here."
16. Sharing headphones while curled up together | Falling asleep on someone's shoulder
17. Noticing they're not okay before they say anything | "You can stay as long as you need." | Quiet comfort

Fall Weather

18. Petrichor | Sharing an umbrella | Watching raindrops dribble down the window
19. Morning breath visible in the chilly air | Early snow/frost
20. Freezing rain making the sidewalks treacherous | Wind stealing your scarf/hat/breath
21. Cold hands tucked into someone else's pockets

Flavors of the Season

21.2 Cranberry Orange Muffins | Fresh Bread | Caramel Apples | Pie
22. Apple | Pumpkin | Cinnamon | Caramel | Squash
23. Hot chocolate | Tea | Pumpkin spice latte
24. "Why would anyone put that in coffee?" | "I've waited all year for this." | "Tastes like home."

Spooky/Halloween

25. Pumpkin patch | Carving pumpkins | Trick or treating
26. Halloween decor | Glowing eyes in the dark | String lights
27. Reading scary stories | Watching scary movies
28. Cobwebs | Murder mystery (game or real) | Haunted house
29. Touched a ghost | Seen a ghost | Colluding with the dead
30. Worst fear come true | Nightmare fuel | Lingering dread
31. Vampires | Werewolves | Witches | Zombies
32. "Something's out there." | "Tell me you heard that too." | "They keep whispering, but I can't hear the words."

Back To School

33. Not having the needed school supplies | In need of new shoes/coat
34. Nurse's Office | Relief at finally crawling into bed at home
35. Spirit week | Bake sale | Book fair | Field trip gone wrong
36. New school | Fresh start
37. Haunted classroom/locker room | Lights flickering during a lesson
38. Bullies | Comfort after a bad day at school
39. School rally | Asked to join a sports team | School club
40. Sent to the principal's office for unexpected reasons | Best day ever | Worst day ever

The Cozytober 2025 collection on AO3 is found here.

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Summary:

Twin idea:  You know how fanon at least says Harry has a saving people complex?   What if it wasn’t putting his neck out but healing?   Because of future plans of being a doctor, he resists any attempts to go to Hogwarts, or any other magical main school for lack of muggle subjects/help in his future career and is quite content at attending Stonewall High…this can also make Petunia & Vernon treat him better when they learn he chooses to forsake magic or, just one relative since he’s 1. Lived without magic for 10 years, 2. Has no real attachment to his parents, 3. thinking about his future.    If…when…they press it (ministry and dumbledore), Vernon and/or petunia can question about his muggle education or future beyond Hogwarts if/when he chooses to go back to the muggle world.    Maybe petunia, as he gets near Hogwarts age has to tell Harry what happened to his mother (aka she went to Hogwarts and was killed by a madman).  Or, if it’s Vernon being treated normally, he says this as well as why he hates magic (possibly scared of it, James ‘bragging’ about being rich when they met).  Now for the sake of plot, Harry is forced to go and not surprisingly, Snape is sent to fetch potter and bring him back by any means necessary (or the aurors on ministry orders) to attend Hogwarts.   Oh and he clashes with Hermione because she loves magic and thinks it’s the best thing ever and obviously has no plans of ever returning to the muggle world, so they aren’t friends but rivals.    Because of these changes, Harry and his aunt and uncle or Harry and Vernon at least are in good terms with each other through Harry’s education. What role would Snape play besides possibly kidnapping Harry?  He could be put as Harry’s magical guardian at Hogwarts or mentor?  Ron, being a pureblood, doesn’t understand why the ‘famous Harry potter’ doesn’t think magic is amazing. You can also give him a side muggle career as well (always good to have at least 2 future plans in place if one doesn’t work out).  So Harry is allowed to do better in school and doesn’t get in trouble for it.  If Vernon is chosen to be the caring one, could lead to a divorce with petunia getting her ‘Ickle diddydums’ and Vernon getting ‘that nasty boy’.

 

Required:

 

• Harry decides to attend Stonewall and forsake magic, even rejecting attempts to get him to Hogwarts
• Snape (orders from Albus) or Aurors (order of Ministry)-one  or the other-retrieve Harry from Stonewall and force him to go to Hogwarts 
• Harry having good relationship with uncle Vernon and/or Petunia.  At least Vernon where they wrote letters, Snape gets to help Vernon see a Qudditch match
• Harry fighting being taken from his friends/school.   
• Harry not forsaking his Muggle career/careeers and future plans just he says he had to come to Hogwarts 
• Harry does well in school.  Furthermore Harry is good at something besides or in addition to DADA.  
• Harry must have a backup career but main is being a doctor.  Not a healer or an Auror, a doctor.  Two Muggle career options.   
• Harry must have at least one hobby.  Art? Fencing? Swimming? Esquatarian?  Dance? Music? Theater?  Martial Arts of some kind? Hunting?   Gardening? Baking?   Show this hobby or hobbies in the story?
• Harry, if/when he finds out his 'destiny'/the prophecy rejecting it and refusing to fight.  
• Must include the following lines: "She left to be in that world and was killed for not being pure! What about his education? His muggle education? How is he supposed to function in the world, the real world, if he has no record after his primary schooling?!  You...you wizards take children away from their families and they either flounder if they can't find work in the magical world or they leave their parents, their family behind!  Harry has said no!  Why must you keep hounding us?!  I don't lose my nephew like his mother was lost!"
• If Vernon is the caring one, Dumbledore objecting due to Vernon not being a blood relative, since Harry 'must be with a blood relative to be safe'.
• Harry running away from Hogwarts after being taken by force. 
• Harry willingly going home for holidays/vacations
• Explore the wizard world inside and outside UK.  

Optional:

 

If Vernon is the caring adult, he divorces Petunia and takes custody of Harry with Dudley being in Petunia's custody

Harry and Hermione having a rivalry at school 

Creature inheritance; if so how does Vernon and/or Petunia deal with this? Preferably different from vampire, elf, werewolf, demon, Angel. If Gargoyle for example, he turns to stone when his gargoyle inheritance activates. If half goblin, he shrinks in size.  If he is a half giant he grows in size/can no longer fly and has trouble sitting at desks, going down narrow stairs, sleeping in a small bed, appetite gets bigger, etc.   Harry must learn about his creature race by meeting them and spending time with them. If he is a dark creature, he must he registered at the ministry. 

Slash or Harems are fine. Unusual or rare pairings.  If you want him straight go ahead.  If you want a slash harem go ahead.  

Harry isn't interested in quidditch or chooses not to do so in 1st year.  

Crossovers

James and/or Lily not being his parents. If this is the case no blood/magical or muggle adoption, meaning Harry is not the heir to potter/peverell.  Prophecy doesn't apply to Harry in this case.  

Forbidden/Don't want to see:

• Snape adopting Harry be it blood, magical or muggle adoption
• Harry being Snape's bio kid
• Harry being son /descendant of founders/merlin/mordred/morgana/Pendragon and no filthy rich Harry 
• No lordships/aristrocracy like in fanon
• Op/super powered Harry 
• Genderbend Harry 
• Romantic involvement with Ginny, Luna, Draco, Daphne, Hermione, Susan, Tracey, Pansy, Bellatrix, either Lestrange brother, Blaise, Theodore
• Sirius and/or Remus getting custody of Harry  
• No stag animagus or patronus. Remember he had never seen his parents and it's been 10 or so years. He has no attachment to them.  

 

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Summary: Create a non-traditional fanwork that fits the theme of this site!
Examples:

• epistolary (letter/journal-entry-based fic)
• poetry
• audio script
• podfic (audio-narrated fanwork)
• filk (fan song, both to the tune of existing music and with original tune)
• fanvideo
• playlist
• comic/manga
• bookbinding
• cross stitch/embroidery
• sculptures
• pottery
• and many others...

For the closer-to-comprehensive list see this website: https://unconventionalfanworkex.dreamwidth.org/14316.html
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Summary: Harry decides to stay at Hogwarts for the summer, with permission or not. He can get into the Chamber of Secrets and hide out there, he's the only one who could get into it. And with Dobby's help he could survive, right?
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Summary: Dudley is also a freak! Harry can do magic, but what happens when their precious Dudders also starts making weird stuff happen? Only rules are Dudley MUST be treated the same way Harry is treated (no nice dursleys either; canon or worse-- they cant suddenly be okay with wizards or abnormal things). Harry isn't alone in his cupboard anymore (metaphorically speaking or literally, up to you). Do the dursleys hide both away and pretend they dont have any kids? Do they put them both in an orphanage? Does Vernon divorce petunia for having a magical child? When they go to Hogwarts, how does dudley take it knowing his cousin is famous and he's considered a mud blood? Does harry stick with dudley? Is Dudley still a bully at all? Do the dursleys even allow dudley to attend Hogwarts in the first place? Just a few bits to think on as you write
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