LDWS Final Drabble WRAPUP
So I am the last drabble writer standing, apparently. Yay, me.
So here are all the drabbles I wrote for this contest. One of these is my favorite drabble of all the drabbles I've ever written, but I'm not going to tell you which. :) All 100 words exactly:
This is the latest, and hasn't been posted here before. For the"Black Family and Voldemort" challenge:
SO MANY THINGS I COULD HAVE DONE (BUT CLOUDS GOT IN MY WAY)
Sirius hates Voldemort.
Before Voldemort Sirius could ignore his family’s darker leanings. Could glide through a charmed life, smiling his way into the best homes; into high marks; into the arms and beds of the prettiest witches at Hogwarts.
Before Voldemort Sirius could look forward to an existence where his worst tribulations would be bothersome house-elves, where choosing fashionable clothing would be the biggest decision of his day.
Before Voldemort no one counted on Sirius. No one expected him to rise above himself, to be better than he was.
Sirius hates Voldemort. He’ll never tell anyone he’s grateful to him.
***
So whaddya think? And the rest...
For the "After the Battle" challenge:
BFF
“Stop that, Harry.” Hermione sounded cross.
“I’m a ghost. I can finally do whatever I want.”
“Well, you’re not the bloody Cheshire Cat.” She lunged, disconcerted as always when her hands closed around emptiness.
He’d left a smile hanging in mid-air. “Oh yes, very funny,” she muttered.
She returned to her Ministry paperwork. Harry had to learn he couldn’t monopolize all her time, noncorporeal or not.
“Harry...?”
Silence.
“Harry! I didn’t mean it. Come back!”
She felt his presence. He smiled. “I’ll always be here, Hermione, if you need me.”
The last thing to disappear this time was his scar.
***
For the "Hogwarts Express/Humor" challenge:
FORTUNE
Tom Riddle believes in destiny, not fate.
A quick Locking Charm. A suddenly private train compartment. A ripped-open package of Bertie Bott’s Every-Flavor Beans.
Lay them out in a row.
Strawberry. Raspberry. Dirty sock.
Chocolate. Butterscotch. Mothball.
Eww. Raisin.
What does it all mean? What had the gypsy said? She’d been difficult to understand after the Cruciatus.
It all comes down to the final bean. Lemon: he’ll play nice.
Anything else: the Wizarding World will be on its knees.
And... Lemon.
Huh.
A furtive glance around, and it’s dissolving in his mouth.
Tom smiles.
Take over the world it is.
***
For the "Rare Pairs" challenge:
UNTAMED
She walks the halls at night. Poised, haughty perfection. Sleek lines and shining hair.
She is watchful, but she never sees me. Her mind is on other things. Dangerous things. She is soft, but she has claws.
Tonight will be different. Tonight I have had enough of her careless grace, her thoughtless beauty.
I am so close I can smell her. My body yearns, responding unthinkingly. A low rumble starts deep within me.
Voices in the hall. No! I am caught. Figures loom above, freakishly large.
The fuzzy-headed one grabs me. “Crookshanks,” she exclaims, shocked. “Leave Filch’s nasty cat alone.”
***
For the "Use the line 'When Everything's Made to be Broken'" challenge:
YOUR HEART IN PIECES ON THE GROUND
"Everything breaks." Narcissa touches her sister's hand. "Plates. Hearts. Eggs."
"Promises." Bellatrix moves away.
"People. Dreams. Me."
"No."
Again: "No. You have a choice."
"The Dark Lord wishes it."
"We swore we'd never marry."
"We were children."
"It was a promise."
"Lucius is kind to me."
The crack of the slap surprises both girls. Narcissa's cheek blooms red.
Bellatrix hates the Dark Lord for this. Rage spills through her fingertips. She feels something shattering, slicing her insides with shards of glass.
It stops.
She breathes, opens her eyes. Regards Narcissa.
When everything's made to be broken, what's one more girl?
***
And finally, for the "Mirror of Erised" challenge:
BEFORE THE BATTLE
“What do you see, Hermione?” Harry’s voice was soft, waiting.
“C’mon, tell us. World’s record for O.W.L.s? Youngest headmistress in Hogwarts history? Ooh-- two heads to read faster.”
She ignored them, staring forward, entranced.
Harry placed a hand on her shoulder. “I guess this wasn’t a good idea.”
Even Ron sounded worried. “Sorry, Hermione. Thought we could all use a last laugh. Before...”
“Before what’s coming.” Harry finished firmly.
At first she’d thought the Mirror was broken-- nothing reflected but themselves and the room. She almost told them, before she realized.
What she desired most.
Her boys. Together. Smiling.
Alive.
***
Thanks to everyone who voted. ldws is a great community to join or watch, and if you act soon you can still be a writer for the new round. (kendas, I'm looking at you. You want some inspiration? One drabble a week, you can do it.) I'm not writing in this round, but you should all keep voting. :)
Now I have a ton of drabbles lying around. I'll have to get myself organized and archive them.
So the Spawn of Satan just had a birthday, and turns out to have been FOUR all this time. (Now he's five.) Sheesh.
My Dodgers are in the playoffs!!!!! GO BLUE!!! (Hey can somebody tell me how to make this in blue?)
So here are all the drabbles I wrote for this contest. One of these is my favorite drabble of all the drabbles I've ever written, but I'm not going to tell you which. :) All 100 words exactly:
This is the latest, and hasn't been posted here before. For the"Black Family and Voldemort" challenge:
SO MANY THINGS I COULD HAVE DONE (BUT CLOUDS GOT IN MY WAY)
Sirius hates Voldemort.
Before Voldemort Sirius could ignore his family’s darker leanings. Could glide through a charmed life, smiling his way into the best homes; into high marks; into the arms and beds of the prettiest witches at Hogwarts.
Before Voldemort Sirius could look forward to an existence where his worst tribulations would be bothersome house-elves, where choosing fashionable clothing would be the biggest decision of his day.
Before Voldemort no one counted on Sirius. No one expected him to rise above himself, to be better than he was.
Sirius hates Voldemort. He’ll never tell anyone he’s grateful to him.
***
So whaddya think? And the rest...
For the "After the Battle" challenge:
BFF
“Stop that, Harry.” Hermione sounded cross.
“I’m a ghost. I can finally do whatever I want.”
“Well, you’re not the bloody Cheshire Cat.” She lunged, disconcerted as always when her hands closed around emptiness.
He’d left a smile hanging in mid-air. “Oh yes, very funny,” she muttered.
She returned to her Ministry paperwork. Harry had to learn he couldn’t monopolize all her time, noncorporeal or not.
“Harry...?”
Silence.
“Harry! I didn’t mean it. Come back!”
She felt his presence. He smiled. “I’ll always be here, Hermione, if you need me.”
The last thing to disappear this time was his scar.
***
For the "Hogwarts Express/Humor" challenge:
FORTUNE
Tom Riddle believes in destiny, not fate.
A quick Locking Charm. A suddenly private train compartment. A ripped-open package of Bertie Bott’s Every-Flavor Beans.
Lay them out in a row.
Strawberry. Raspberry. Dirty sock.
Chocolate. Butterscotch. Mothball.
Eww. Raisin.
What does it all mean? What had the gypsy said? She’d been difficult to understand after the Cruciatus.
It all comes down to the final bean. Lemon: he’ll play nice.
Anything else: the Wizarding World will be on its knees.
And... Lemon.
Huh.
A furtive glance around, and it’s dissolving in his mouth.
Tom smiles.
Take over the world it is.
***
For the "Rare Pairs" challenge:
UNTAMED
She walks the halls at night. Poised, haughty perfection. Sleek lines and shining hair.
She is watchful, but she never sees me. Her mind is on other things. Dangerous things. She is soft, but she has claws.
Tonight will be different. Tonight I have had enough of her careless grace, her thoughtless beauty.
I am so close I can smell her. My body yearns, responding unthinkingly. A low rumble starts deep within me.
Voices in the hall. No! I am caught. Figures loom above, freakishly large.
The fuzzy-headed one grabs me. “Crookshanks,” she exclaims, shocked. “Leave Filch’s nasty cat alone.”
***
For the "Use the line 'When Everything's Made to be Broken'" challenge:
YOUR HEART IN PIECES ON THE GROUND
"Everything breaks." Narcissa touches her sister's hand. "Plates. Hearts. Eggs."
"Promises." Bellatrix moves away.
"People. Dreams. Me."
"No."
Again: "No. You have a choice."
"The Dark Lord wishes it."
"We swore we'd never marry."
"We were children."
"It was a promise."
"Lucius is kind to me."
The crack of the slap surprises both girls. Narcissa's cheek blooms red.
Bellatrix hates the Dark Lord for this. Rage spills through her fingertips. She feels something shattering, slicing her insides with shards of glass.
It stops.
She breathes, opens her eyes. Regards Narcissa.
When everything's made to be broken, what's one more girl?
***
And finally, for the "Mirror of Erised" challenge:
BEFORE THE BATTLE
“What do you see, Hermione?” Harry’s voice was soft, waiting.
“C’mon, tell us. World’s record for O.W.L.s? Youngest headmistress in Hogwarts history? Ooh-- two heads to read faster.”
She ignored them, staring forward, entranced.
Harry placed a hand on her shoulder. “I guess this wasn’t a good idea.”
Even Ron sounded worried. “Sorry, Hermione. Thought we could all use a last laugh. Before...”
“Before what’s coming.” Harry finished firmly.
At first she’d thought the Mirror was broken-- nothing reflected but themselves and the room. She almost told them, before she realized.
What she desired most.
Her boys. Together. Smiling.
Alive.
***
Thanks to everyone who voted. ldws is a great community to join or watch, and if you act soon you can still be a writer for the new round. (kendas, I'm looking at you. You want some inspiration? One drabble a week, you can do it.) I'm not writing in this round, but you should all keep voting. :)
Now I have a ton of drabbles lying around. I'll have to get myself organized and archive them.
So the Spawn of Satan just had a birthday, and turns out to have been FOUR all this time. (Now he's five.) Sheesh.
My Dodgers are in the playoffs!!!!! GO BLUE!!! (Hey can somebody tell me how to make this in blue?)