Week #3 Voting
Read the voting rules, please!
1. Please don’t vote for yourself or ask/coerce/blackmail others into voting for you.
2. If you submitted a drabble, you are required to vote.
3. Please vote for a Most and Second Favorite drabble. If you do not vote for both, your vote will not be counted.
4. Vote for the NUMBER, not the name. For the ease of the mods, please! I made a polls this time. So be jealous proud of me.
5. Don’t forget the prompt: “It is one of my rules in life, never to notice what I don't understand.” -The Moonstone
Feel free to comment about a given drabble; we’ll be sending out feedback from now on.
1. Author: benebu
Title: Missing Moments
Word Count: 300
Rating: G
Warnings: none
Funny, Minerva thought, setting down her empty cup, how people you'd be happy to chat with over tea and biscuits could become dull and tiresome as a crowd. Still, she couldn't exactly escape her own retirement party, could she?
Oh, Merlin, someone else was coming over. If she heard the phrases 'time for herself' or 'well-deserved rest' one more time, she was going to scream.
"Good evening, Headmistress," greeted a very pregnant Luna Scamander. "What a lovely party you are having here!"
Minerva gave a half-hearted nod, resigning herself already to another round of the only conversation she had been having all night long. "Would you mind terribly missing fifteen minutes of it?" Luna asked, a smile in her voice. "It's only that I'd fancy seeing the rose garden again, but I find my husband is quite busy catching up with old friends," she explained, with a nod in the direction of a happily chatting group.
Though surprised, Minerva smiled and rose, thinking that only Mrs Scamander would dare asking the guest of honour to step out of her own party with her.
They did walk down to Hogwarts' rose garden, and sat there in almost silence for the longest time, content with the fragrance and the odd comment about this or that.
Out of the blue, Luna even offered Minerva a Portkey out to Hogsmeade, in case she didn't want to go back to the party at all, but Minerva declined.
In the end, they went back after about an hour and half, and nobody commented on their being away for quite that long, as Minerva had secretly feared.
It had all been so simple.
Seeing Luna walk back to her husband, Minerva wondered if she would one day feel as free as the young woman seemed to be.
2. Author: valkyriekat
Title: Truly Original
Word Count: 215
Rating: G
Warnings: None
Luna was listening to a symphony in her mind. She was drifting off into a land of music and trying to pay full attention to her first ever Transfiguration lesson, because her mind worked quickly, but in spurts. Nothing ever fazed her, not even the jarring note of impatience in Professor McGonagall's voice.
“Miss Lovegood, how will you understand what is going on around you if you don't pay any notice?” she asked sternly. Luna looked at her, her protuberant eyes silvery-grey. “I tend not to notice what I don't understand,” Luna said in a faraway voice.
“You will now focus, and show the class how to Transfigure a matchstick into a needle, as we have been discussing for the past half hour,” Professor McGonagall said severely. Her hair was as ever in its tight bun, and her lips were just as tightly bound.
“Oh, all right.” Luna remembered her Mum doing this spell when she was nine. Luna focused, and what she understood was made manifest. There was her matchstick, transfigured into a pine needle.
Minerva McGonagall was taken aback. “An interesting interpretation, Lovegood, certainly unique in my classes. You make take five points to Ravenclaw.” Minerva's thin lips curved upward in a small smile. “For sheer originality.”
3. Author: illusionrain
Title: Didn’t See Anything
Word Count: 395
Rating: G
Warnings: Minerva’s questionable grading methods.
I do not believe in fairytales, Minerva muses as she sips her wine one evening, grading papers, but I suppose Miss Lovegood has a different idea. She holds up the paper to the light, squinting at the small, cursive the young woman was known for when it came to writing essays and notes. Minerva sighs and put the parchment back down on her desk, leaning back in her chair.
While she has to admit the girl has a very imaginative mind, she isn’t too sure what these creatures called Worblesnugglers had to do with the assignment. The essay had been specific: Write a foot and a half on the Third Law of Amentia. The idea being that if the students were to actually research and study the information, they would better apply the Law. It wasn’t a hard one, either, considering some of Abigail Amentia’s more difficult theories and Laws of Magic. This one focused on group Transfigurations that turned an inanimate object into a flying creature. Group Transfigurations were hard, but the Laws of Amentia helped explain the processes as well as elaborating on the limitations even magic had.
That, however, was where Luna Lovegood had gotten the idea to create her own theory on the matter, even going as far as to quote resource material. Minerva could give her a high grade easily for her effort alone, but then there was the small matter of imaginary creatures included in the otherwise very clever, very Ravenclaw essay. Apparently Luna thought Worblesnugglers fell under the ‘flying creatures’ department, describing them as furry kingfishers with extra long beaks.
Minerva shakes her head in disbelief. It seems impossible that such a brilliant student could be so, as the students would say (and not that she approves), loony. She reaches for her wine again just as an idea strikes her and she fights back a smile.
She may not be able to grade the paper in good conscious with things like Worblesnugglers written here and there in that strikingly honest way, but there is one way to give a fair grade. She dips the end of her quill in her wine and accidentally lets some of it drip over the essay.
If she can’t see what she doesn’t believe, surely that is enough. She marks a red O at the top, a smudge of blueberry wine beside it.
4. Author: starduchess
Title: Trust
Word Count: 483
Rating: G
Warnings: none
Knock. Knock.
"Oh, Ms. Lovegood. Thank you for coming. Please, have a seat." Professor McGonagall overtly watched this student as the slight fourth-year entered her office. As Deputy Headmistress, it was her duty to investigate any student's strange behavior, especially now that Voldemort had started terrorizing the populace again, and this girl was strange. "Would you care for some tea?"
"Yes, please, although the house-elves don't make it right. It really should have Wisp Willow Root infused in it."
McGonagall paused to examine the chit, but there was nothing amiss in either her demeanor or posture. She would have to dig deeper.
"I called you here because I've noticed you hanging out largely with my Gryffindors. I've questioned Professor Flitwick about this and he confirms that you don't spend much time with your fellow housemates. Although there is nothing wrong with making friends in the other Houses, I can't help but feel odd that you would estrange those to whom you should be closest. I have my concerns and reservations, for your well-being, you understand." She made her voice as non-threatening as possible.
Luna shrugged. "I'm around my dorm mates enough when I need to be, but many of them read books or play games."
"And you don't?"
"I much prefer reading nature."
"I see," said McGonagall, even though she didn't. "This reading involves my lions, does it?" she asked a little bit sharply.
"Oh, yes. They are fascinating."
McGonagall's look intensified. "You do not appear to study the other Houses."
"No. The Hufflepuffs are a too simple--kind, caring and hard-working, but straight-forward. The Slytherins, well, they don't make much sense to me. It is one of my rules in life, never to notice what I don't understand."
"But, you notice Harry."
"Yes, I understand him. We both see death." Luna stated this without any negative feelings or snide facial expressions to suggest allegiance to the Dark Lord, but the sentiment still made the Gryffindor Head feel uncomfortable.
"What are your intentions?" Even to her own ears, this sounded a little cold and abrupt. She hoped the girl wouldn't take offence.
"I think we could become friends. I've never had a friend. The pixies usually scare them off, but Harry doesn't seem to mind."
McGonagall pursed her lips at this, but still she could find nothing wrong in the girl's testimony. She released her from interrogation but was still wary.
As she did not yet trust the Ravenclaw, McGonagall would have to find someone to keep an eye on Ms. Lovegood. Some of her own lions could do it, but maybe she should recruit a fellow raven as well, someone who also had contact with the Golden Trio, like Marietta Edgecombe, who appeared to have a good head on her shoulders. She hated suspecting the students, but with events as they were, trust was going to be hard to come by.
5.Author: deirdre_aithne
Title: Loony Lovegood
Word Count: 224
Rating: G
Warnings: None
“Miss Lovegood?” Minerva's voice was gentle as she said the young girl's name before she was able to close her office door. Turning, the blonde turned her grey eyes towards her with the same distant smile she always seemed to wear.
“Yes, Professor?” It was clear the girl was a little off. Still, after finding that one group of students or another had stolen several of her items again, she felt obligated to apologize on their behalf.
“I am sorry for the behavior of your classmates this evening. It was inappropriate for them to take your things.”
Luna's mouth quirked slightly and she inclined her head, as if accepting the sentiment. “I find it is not so surprising, Professor. They believe I am rather mad.”
Schooling her features to avoid letting on she shared the belief, at least to some degree, Minerva nodded sadly. “They don't understand you is all, dear.”
A soft, tinkling sort of laugh left the girl's lips as she shook her head gently. “It is one of our unspoken rules in life, never to notice what we don't understand. They understand me as much as they need to, truly.” Turning back towards the door, Luna gave the Headmistress one final smile before striding into the hall with the usual hardly-restrained skip in her step.
_______________________
Poll :)
1. Please don’t vote for yourself or ask/coerce/blackmail others into voting for you.
2. If you submitted a drabble, you are required to vote.
3. Please vote for a Most and Second Favorite drabble. If you do not vote for both, your vote will not be counted.
4. Vote for the NUMBER, not the name. For the ease of the mods, please! I made a polls this time. So be jealous proud of me.
5. Don’t forget the prompt: “It is one of my rules in life, never to notice what I don't understand.” -The Moonstone
Feel free to comment about a given drabble; we’ll be sending out feedback from now on.
1. Author: benebu
Title: Missing Moments
Word Count: 300
Rating: G
Warnings: none
Funny, Minerva thought, setting down her empty cup, how people you'd be happy to chat with over tea and biscuits could become dull and tiresome as a crowd. Still, she couldn't exactly escape her own retirement party, could she?
Oh, Merlin, someone else was coming over. If she heard the phrases 'time for herself' or 'well-deserved rest' one more time, she was going to scream.
"Good evening, Headmistress," greeted a very pregnant Luna Scamander. "What a lovely party you are having here!"
Minerva gave a half-hearted nod, resigning herself already to another round of the only conversation she had been having all night long. "Would you mind terribly missing fifteen minutes of it?" Luna asked, a smile in her voice. "It's only that I'd fancy seeing the rose garden again, but I find my husband is quite busy catching up with old friends," she explained, with a nod in the direction of a happily chatting group.
Though surprised, Minerva smiled and rose, thinking that only Mrs Scamander would dare asking the guest of honour to step out of her own party with her.
They did walk down to Hogwarts' rose garden, and sat there in almost silence for the longest time, content with the fragrance and the odd comment about this or that.
Out of the blue, Luna even offered Minerva a Portkey out to Hogsmeade, in case she didn't want to go back to the party at all, but Minerva declined.
In the end, they went back after about an hour and half, and nobody commented on their being away for quite that long, as Minerva had secretly feared.
It had all been so simple.
Seeing Luna walk back to her husband, Minerva wondered if she would one day feel as free as the young woman seemed to be.
2. Author: valkyriekat
Title: Truly Original
Word Count: 215
Rating: G
Warnings: None
Luna was listening to a symphony in her mind. She was drifting off into a land of music and trying to pay full attention to her first ever Transfiguration lesson, because her mind worked quickly, but in spurts. Nothing ever fazed her, not even the jarring note of impatience in Professor McGonagall's voice.
“Miss Lovegood, how will you understand what is going on around you if you don't pay any notice?” she asked sternly. Luna looked at her, her protuberant eyes silvery-grey. “I tend not to notice what I don't understand,” Luna said in a faraway voice.
“You will now focus, and show the class how to Transfigure a matchstick into a needle, as we have been discussing for the past half hour,” Professor McGonagall said severely. Her hair was as ever in its tight bun, and her lips were just as tightly bound.
“Oh, all right.” Luna remembered her Mum doing this spell when she was nine. Luna focused, and what she understood was made manifest. There was her matchstick, transfigured into a pine needle.
Minerva McGonagall was taken aback. “An interesting interpretation, Lovegood, certainly unique in my classes. You make take five points to Ravenclaw.” Minerva's thin lips curved upward in a small smile. “For sheer originality.”
3. Author: illusionrain
Title: Didn’t See Anything
Word Count: 395
Rating: G
Warnings: Minerva’s questionable grading methods.
I do not believe in fairytales, Minerva muses as she sips her wine one evening, grading papers, but I suppose Miss Lovegood has a different idea. She holds up the paper to the light, squinting at the small, cursive the young woman was known for when it came to writing essays and notes. Minerva sighs and put the parchment back down on her desk, leaning back in her chair.
While she has to admit the girl has a very imaginative mind, she isn’t too sure what these creatures called Worblesnugglers had to do with the assignment. The essay had been specific: Write a foot and a half on the Third Law of Amentia. The idea being that if the students were to actually research and study the information, they would better apply the Law. It wasn’t a hard one, either, considering some of Abigail Amentia’s more difficult theories and Laws of Magic. This one focused on group Transfigurations that turned an inanimate object into a flying creature. Group Transfigurations were hard, but the Laws of Amentia helped explain the processes as well as elaborating on the limitations even magic had.
That, however, was where Luna Lovegood had gotten the idea to create her own theory on the matter, even going as far as to quote resource material. Minerva could give her a high grade easily for her effort alone, but then there was the small matter of imaginary creatures included in the otherwise very clever, very Ravenclaw essay. Apparently Luna thought Worblesnugglers fell under the ‘flying creatures’ department, describing them as furry kingfishers with extra long beaks.
Minerva shakes her head in disbelief. It seems impossible that such a brilliant student could be so, as the students would say (and not that she approves), loony. She reaches for her wine again just as an idea strikes her and she fights back a smile.
She may not be able to grade the paper in good conscious with things like Worblesnugglers written here and there in that strikingly honest way, but there is one way to give a fair grade. She dips the end of her quill in her wine and accidentally lets some of it drip over the essay.
If she can’t see what she doesn’t believe, surely that is enough. She marks a red O at the top, a smudge of blueberry wine beside it.
4. Author: starduchess
Title: Trust
Word Count: 483
Rating: G
Warnings: none
Knock. Knock.
"Oh, Ms. Lovegood. Thank you for coming. Please, have a seat." Professor McGonagall overtly watched this student as the slight fourth-year entered her office. As Deputy Headmistress, it was her duty to investigate any student's strange behavior, especially now that Voldemort had started terrorizing the populace again, and this girl was strange. "Would you care for some tea?"
"Yes, please, although the house-elves don't make it right. It really should have Wisp Willow Root infused in it."
McGonagall paused to examine the chit, but there was nothing amiss in either her demeanor or posture. She would have to dig deeper.
"I called you here because I've noticed you hanging out largely with my Gryffindors. I've questioned Professor Flitwick about this and he confirms that you don't spend much time with your fellow housemates. Although there is nothing wrong with making friends in the other Houses, I can't help but feel odd that you would estrange those to whom you should be closest. I have my concerns and reservations, for your well-being, you understand." She made her voice as non-threatening as possible.
Luna shrugged. "I'm around my dorm mates enough when I need to be, but many of them read books or play games."
"And you don't?"
"I much prefer reading nature."
"I see," said McGonagall, even though she didn't. "This reading involves my lions, does it?" she asked a little bit sharply.
"Oh, yes. They are fascinating."
McGonagall's look intensified. "You do not appear to study the other Houses."
"No. The Hufflepuffs are a too simple--kind, caring and hard-working, but straight-forward. The Slytherins, well, they don't make much sense to me. It is one of my rules in life, never to notice what I don't understand."
"But, you notice Harry."
"Yes, I understand him. We both see death." Luna stated this without any negative feelings or snide facial expressions to suggest allegiance to the Dark Lord, but the sentiment still made the Gryffindor Head feel uncomfortable.
"What are your intentions?" Even to her own ears, this sounded a little cold and abrupt. She hoped the girl wouldn't take offence.
"I think we could become friends. I've never had a friend. The pixies usually scare them off, but Harry doesn't seem to mind."
McGonagall pursed her lips at this, but still she could find nothing wrong in the girl's testimony. She released her from interrogation but was still wary.
As she did not yet trust the Ravenclaw, McGonagall would have to find someone to keep an eye on Ms. Lovegood. Some of her own lions could do it, but maybe she should recruit a fellow raven as well, someone who also had contact with the Golden Trio, like Marietta Edgecombe, who appeared to have a good head on her shoulders. She hated suspecting the students, but with events as they were, trust was going to be hard to come by.
5.Author: deirdre_aithne
Title: Loony Lovegood
Word Count: 224
Rating: G
Warnings: None
“Miss Lovegood?” Minerva's voice was gentle as she said the young girl's name before she was able to close her office door. Turning, the blonde turned her grey eyes towards her with the same distant smile she always seemed to wear.
“Yes, Professor?” It was clear the girl was a little off. Still, after finding that one group of students or another had stolen several of her items again, she felt obligated to apologize on their behalf.
“I am sorry for the behavior of your classmates this evening. It was inappropriate for them to take your things.”
Luna's mouth quirked slightly and she inclined her head, as if accepting the sentiment. “I find it is not so surprising, Professor. They believe I am rather mad.”
Schooling her features to avoid letting on she shared the belief, at least to some degree, Minerva nodded sadly. “They don't understand you is all, dear.”
A soft, tinkling sort of laugh left the girl's lips as she shook her head gently. “It is one of our unspoken rules in life, never to notice what we don't understand. They understand me as much as they need to, truly.” Turning back towards the door, Luna gave the Headmistress one final smile before striding into the hall with the usual hardly-restrained skip in her step.
_______________________
Poll :)