Some Short Ficlets
I haven't posted anything in awhile, so... here's some ficlets I wrote for people for Hogsmeade. The quality is variable and they are short and written quickly for points, but I'm fond of a couple of them, particularly the first one. If you only read one, read that one! I need to write more Founders fic. (I hope it doesn't break some etiquette code to post these to my personal journal. D:)
Rowena pulled her warming cloak tighter around her body. Even through the cloak, she could still feel the furious wind, trying to pull her apart and make every warm part of her cold. Snow was obscuring her line of sight but her spell held and it didn't fall on her. It was just a little farther to the castle, she told herself, bending her head down against the weather.
After what seemed like eons, though it was not very far in good weather, she reached the doors of Hogwarts. With a touch of her hand, they flew open, welcoming her into the castle, and swung closed with a thunk when she had stepped inside.
She stomped her feet twice on the stone floor of the entryway, and made her way into what they had begun to call the Great Hall. Her friends were sitting at a long table with the dozen students they had arranged to teach so far. Godric was waving a cup of wine as he gestured, telling some apparently hilarious story in his loud, booming voice. Helga and all the students were laughing helplessly, and even typically stoic Salazar had cracked a smile.
"Rowena!" Helga called, still half-laughing, as she spotted her. "Dear friend, come join us. You must be chilled to the bone."
Rowena felt a smile tugging at her lips, despite herself, as Helga stood and beckoned her over.
"Well, Rowena," Godric said, growing formal as she approached. "You have returned. And what has our young friend said?"
Rowena glanced at the students' curious faces, before continuing. "Callidus Peverell says he will fund us further."
"And the conditions?" Salazar said dryly, speaking for the first time.
"He wants complete access to Salazar's notes on hiding the castle and Muggle-repelling spells. He has heard that none can parallel you in the field."
"Absolutely not," Salazar said calmly.
"Now see here," said Godric, in an impatient voice. "We can't continue the West Wing without more funding. You know that."
"Please do reconsider, Salazar," Helga agreed. "He is a nice young man, and I'm sure he has nothing but the best intentions."
"Not everybody has good attentions, my dear Helga," Salazar replied, but he was smiling slightly, in recognition of their many debates on the nature of mankind. "However," he continued, "I will copy over the information I believe he will find useful. Some information will remain for my eyes only, but he need never know the difference." He nodded his head in Godric's direction. "There. Are you happy now, old friend?"
"Yes, I am, old friend. Now, I believe this calls for a celebration!" He raised his wine cup and the students started a cheer. "More wine for everyone!"
"Neville." Ginny's voice was cold and bleak, and Neville looked up, startled. Her face was equally devoid of her usual warmth and hope, which had continued even through the long months they had spent so far at an occupied Hogwarts. A trickling of fear curled into Neville's heart, and he stood up from where he was sitting at one of the fireplaces in the common room. Seamus, Lavender and Parvati, gathered around him, also looked up.
"What's happened now?" he asked, wasting no words.
"It's Luna," Ginny said, and he felt his face pale.
"Where is she?" he demanded. "What happened to her? Is she-"
"Captured," Ginny said. "Terry Boot told me. They came to Ravenclaw Tower and took her away in the night. I don't know where they've taken her." She smiled a grim smile with no humor in it then. "But I hear she put up a fight. Good for her."
"Ginny, come with me," Neville said, and walked forward, grabbing her hand. "Let's go to my dorm." It was a mark of how serious the moment was that Seamus didn't snicker when he said this, as he usually did.
They sat next to each other on Neville's bed, and, painstakingly, Ginny told the story as she had heard it. Nobody knew why they had taken her, but her dorm mates, Anna and Talia, said she fought them furiously and there was a scorched hole next to the door. They were amazed at her courage and power. "Of course," Ginny added bitterly. "Neither of them helped her. They just huddled under their beds. What are we going to do?" she added, true despair entering her voice. "If they're starting to take us from our beds, that means nobody is safe. They've moved from torture to kidnapping and, for all we know, murder."
Neville put an arm around her shoulder. "Ginny, I'm sure Luna's not dead. If anything, she's a hostage. They gain nothing from killing her." Even as he spoke the words, they seemed to come from another source, taking over his mouth and body because his own mind was too numb from shock. He uncomfortably wondered who this Neville Longbottom was, that could so coolly talk about the possible murder of one of his best friends, could calmly face the situation instead of dissolving into panic and blubbering. But that was not the matter at hand... "Ginny?" he said, in surprise. "Are you... are you crying?"
"Of course I'm not crying," she said, in an attempt at indignance, but it was weak as she shook with sobs. She threw herself forward against his chest and buried her head in his shoulder, her sobs growing audible.
Neville sat there in shock for a moment. He had never seen Ginny cry - had never expected to. If this brave, clever, loyal, wonderful, strong girl had fallen to despair... but no. He would not let himself go down that path. He stilled his mind with effort, and slowly wrapped his arms around her shoulders. "It's going to be okay," he mumbled against her hair. "It's going to be okay."
"Wotcher, Andie," Ted said, stepping up beside Andromeda. He raised his eyebrows at her. "You look angry."
"Bellatrix is on the war trail again," she said crossly. "And anyway, you shouldn't be talking to me in public. You know better."
"This is hardly public," he replied, and settled into a chair next to her. She glared at him, annoyed, but he simply gave her a pleasant smile. They were sitting in one of the study alcoves in the library, somewhere behind the section on Goblin history. How did he find her here, anyway? He seemed to have some sort of radar for it. "Don't act like you're not happy to see me," he said. He gave her his usual lopsided grin and flicked the end of her dark hair. "You've been thinking about me all day, haven't you?"
"Don't be ridiculous, Tonks," she said in her best snotty voice. "I never think of you."
"Really?" he said in a soft voice, that made her look up in surprise. "Because I think about you." His eyes were focused on her face intently, and he suddenly seemed much too close.
"Don't tease, Ted," she said quietly.
"Who's teasing?" he asked, still smiling. He leaned forward, and her breath caught. It wasn't right, she knew. If Bella had any idea... if her family knew... But as he lowered his lips onto hers, soft and warm, she realized, with a sudden clarity, that she did not care.
"Why do Muggles do this again?" Ginny asked, looking up at Tonks from the ground, where she had just fell smack on her butt.
"It's fun!" Tonks said. She grinned unrepentantly at Ginny, and offered her a hand. "My dad taught me when I was a kid."
Ginny grasped Tonks' hand, which was warm and dry, smooth against Ginny's palm. She scrambled to her feet, grumbling under her breath. "Fine, let's try again."
"I can't believe I'm better at a sport than you," Tonks said, laughing.
"This is not a sport," Ginny said. "And what I can't believe is that you aren't falling down every five minutes."
"Come on," Tonks shot back. "Here," she said. "I'll hold your hand and keep you steady." Ginny took the hand gladly, and let Tonks pull her down the sidewalk. It was a bright, clear day, and the sky was so blue it was almost surreal. The change from Grimmauld Place, grim and dark, was so absolute it gave Ginny whiplash. Despite the indignity of falling over, she was glad she had let Tonks talk her into coming out. She smiled to herself, and followed after Tonks.
Going over a crack in the pavement, she felt herself lose her balance and slipped off the skates, pulling Tonks down with her. Or at least that was what she would expect to happen, but Tonks seemed to pop back up immediately. Almost magically, you might say... "Hey," she said suddenly, "you're using a steadying charm! You'll pay for this, you big cheat!"
Tonks threw her head back and laughed aloud. She winked at Ginny and took off again, flying down the road. "Come catch me, then!"
Harry was sitting in a corner of the room, looking out over the sea heads - mostly red. George and Percy were arguing about the Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes store accounts, which Percy had taken over in the last couple of months. Fleur and Bill were sitting on the couch, and Mrs Weasley was talking with them about baby clothes and the importance of being prepared. Fleur smiled softly, one hand rested on her pregnant stomach. He could see Charlie asking Hermione to explain exactly how the dragon ride went, with Ginny listening eagerly. Ron had somehow convinced Neville to play chess with him, and his brows were furrowed as he stared at the board, in seeming bafflement.
"Beautiful, aren't they? It makes me happy to watch," a gentle voice said beside him. He turned in startlement and saw Luna (of course) standing next to him. She was dressed in green and red robes and was wearing a hat shaped like a Christmas tree on her head. It was so large he was surprised it was managing to stay up at all. "It also makes me sad," she added thoughtfully. Her wide blue eyes had a characteristically knowing look to them.
"I didn't think I'd ever see a Christmas again," he said quietly. He hadn't shared this with many people other than Ron and Hermione, but suddenly it felt right to say it to Luna. He had a feeling that if anybody could understand, it would be her. She seemed to understand so much. "I expected to die, out there in the woods. I planned to die."
She smiled at him. "And that's why you lived."
He looked at her, surprised. How could she know about that? But no, he thought, as she looked away, back over the crowd, she was simply being Luna. Luna with her odd thoughts and her uncomfortably good intuition. He smiled, and was glad that she was there.
"Come on, Harry," Ginny said. "Let's get inside before the rain gets any worse!" She pulled her wet cloak tighter around her.
"I'm coming, I'm coming," Harry replied, following her up the steps. He fumbled with the keys, and managed to shove them into the keyhole. They both fell into the flat with relief when the door swung open, and he slammed it shut behind them.
"I wish we didn't have to have that Anti-Apparation jinx on our flat," Ginny moaned. "I'm so sick of getting caught in the rain." She set down her bags. "We must have bought a billion presents today."
"That's what you get for having so many friends and family," he said, teasing her, and dropped his shopping bags next to hers. He had been carrying two in one hand and one under his right arm, and they were all packed to the brim. Ginny's bags were in a similar situation. "Now, shall we wrap them?"
"I'd rather drink hot chocolate and watch that funny Muggle moving picture box," Ginny said. Harry grinned; she was still getting used to living in a Muggle flat.
"Come on," he said cheerfully. "It won't take long. We've got wands, don't we?"
"Oh, all right, if it makes you happy," Ginny replied easily, and gave him one of those sly smiles that still made his stomach do turns when it caught him by surprise.
"Right then," he said, and cleared his throat. He brandished his wand and pointed it at one of the bags. One by one, the presents came flying out. Books for Hermione, a Muggle remote control plane for Mr Weasley, rare seeds for Neville, color-changing paint for Luna, even toys for little Victoire. With a flick of his wand, he wrapped each one in brightly colored paper and gold ribbon. As he named each present's recipient, the name appeared next to the gold bows.
Ginny lifted her wand, and joined in. Slowly, the bags diminished, until there were half a dozen stack of wrapped presents next to the couch, almost waist-high. "Done, finally!" she crowed. "Now for hot chocolate?"
"Are you sure we're done?" Harry asked.
"They're all wrapped, Harry."
"I don't know, Ginny, maybe you should look closer," he replied, grinning at her. "Maybe in that bag on your left."
She gave him an annoyed look and tsked under her breath, but she leaned over the bag. Immediately her eyes widened, and her hand shot into the bag. When it came out, she was holding a small black velvet box. "Are you serious?" she asked, her mouth falling open.
"Ginny, will you marry me?" he asked.
"No, really, are you serious?"
His grin drooped slightly. "You don't want to?"
"Is this really your idea of a romantic proposal?"
His smile fell further.
"Oh, Harry!" she said, and flew towards him. "You're so easy. Of course I want to marry you!" She swung her arms around his neck and he lifted her easily into the air, spinning her around and kissing her deeply. "I thought you'd never ask," she said, when they broke for air.
In other news, looks like I'm going to be matched with Harry Potter on my Matchmaker app, which is pretty cool and not terribly surprising. I also got nominated for three categories in Hufflepuff Term Awards. I got nominated for Biggest Gryffinpuff, Favorite Baby Badger and Most Creative Badger. That made me really happy and warm inside, as I totally wasn't expecting it! I especially was flattered by the last one. :D
I don't usually do this, but I'd also like to welcome my new friends, mk_tortie and sweetthumbelina. Glad to have you guys!
ETA: Oh, I wanted to advertise this new stamping community I joined, muppets_stamp. I loooove the Muppets, so if you do too, and you enjoy stamping comms, you should join. And stamp my application? :D
Rowena pulled her warming cloak tighter around her body. Even through the cloak, she could still feel the furious wind, trying to pull her apart and make every warm part of her cold. Snow was obscuring her line of sight but her spell held and it didn't fall on her. It was just a little farther to the castle, she told herself, bending her head down against the weather.
After what seemed like eons, though it was not very far in good weather, she reached the doors of Hogwarts. With a touch of her hand, they flew open, welcoming her into the castle, and swung closed with a thunk when she had stepped inside.
She stomped her feet twice on the stone floor of the entryway, and made her way into what they had begun to call the Great Hall. Her friends were sitting at a long table with the dozen students they had arranged to teach so far. Godric was waving a cup of wine as he gestured, telling some apparently hilarious story in his loud, booming voice. Helga and all the students were laughing helplessly, and even typically stoic Salazar had cracked a smile.
"Rowena!" Helga called, still half-laughing, as she spotted her. "Dear friend, come join us. You must be chilled to the bone."
Rowena felt a smile tugging at her lips, despite herself, as Helga stood and beckoned her over.
"Well, Rowena," Godric said, growing formal as she approached. "You have returned. And what has our young friend said?"
Rowena glanced at the students' curious faces, before continuing. "Callidus Peverell says he will fund us further."
"And the conditions?" Salazar said dryly, speaking for the first time.
"He wants complete access to Salazar's notes on hiding the castle and Muggle-repelling spells. He has heard that none can parallel you in the field."
"Absolutely not," Salazar said calmly.
"Now see here," said Godric, in an impatient voice. "We can't continue the West Wing without more funding. You know that."
"Please do reconsider, Salazar," Helga agreed. "He is a nice young man, and I'm sure he has nothing but the best intentions."
"Not everybody has good attentions, my dear Helga," Salazar replied, but he was smiling slightly, in recognition of their many debates on the nature of mankind. "However," he continued, "I will copy over the information I believe he will find useful. Some information will remain for my eyes only, but he need never know the difference." He nodded his head in Godric's direction. "There. Are you happy now, old friend?"
"Yes, I am, old friend. Now, I believe this calls for a celebration!" He raised his wine cup and the students started a cheer. "More wine for everyone!"
"Neville." Ginny's voice was cold and bleak, and Neville looked up, startled. Her face was equally devoid of her usual warmth and hope, which had continued even through the long months they had spent so far at an occupied Hogwarts. A trickling of fear curled into Neville's heart, and he stood up from where he was sitting at one of the fireplaces in the common room. Seamus, Lavender and Parvati, gathered around him, also looked up.
"What's happened now?" he asked, wasting no words.
"It's Luna," Ginny said, and he felt his face pale.
"Where is she?" he demanded. "What happened to her? Is she-"
"Captured," Ginny said. "Terry Boot told me. They came to Ravenclaw Tower and took her away in the night. I don't know where they've taken her." She smiled a grim smile with no humor in it then. "But I hear she put up a fight. Good for her."
"Ginny, come with me," Neville said, and walked forward, grabbing her hand. "Let's go to my dorm." It was a mark of how serious the moment was that Seamus didn't snicker when he said this, as he usually did.
They sat next to each other on Neville's bed, and, painstakingly, Ginny told the story as she had heard it. Nobody knew why they had taken her, but her dorm mates, Anna and Talia, said she fought them furiously and there was a scorched hole next to the door. They were amazed at her courage and power. "Of course," Ginny added bitterly. "Neither of them helped her. They just huddled under their beds. What are we going to do?" she added, true despair entering her voice. "If they're starting to take us from our beds, that means nobody is safe. They've moved from torture to kidnapping and, for all we know, murder."
Neville put an arm around her shoulder. "Ginny, I'm sure Luna's not dead. If anything, she's a hostage. They gain nothing from killing her." Even as he spoke the words, they seemed to come from another source, taking over his mouth and body because his own mind was too numb from shock. He uncomfortably wondered who this Neville Longbottom was, that could so coolly talk about the possible murder of one of his best friends, could calmly face the situation instead of dissolving into panic and blubbering. But that was not the matter at hand... "Ginny?" he said, in surprise. "Are you... are you crying?"
"Of course I'm not crying," she said, in an attempt at indignance, but it was weak as she shook with sobs. She threw herself forward against his chest and buried her head in his shoulder, her sobs growing audible.
Neville sat there in shock for a moment. He had never seen Ginny cry - had never expected to. If this brave, clever, loyal, wonderful, strong girl had fallen to despair... but no. He would not let himself go down that path. He stilled his mind with effort, and slowly wrapped his arms around her shoulders. "It's going to be okay," he mumbled against her hair. "It's going to be okay."
"Wotcher, Andie," Ted said, stepping up beside Andromeda. He raised his eyebrows at her. "You look angry."
"Bellatrix is on the war trail again," she said crossly. "And anyway, you shouldn't be talking to me in public. You know better."
"This is hardly public," he replied, and settled into a chair next to her. She glared at him, annoyed, but he simply gave her a pleasant smile. They were sitting in one of the study alcoves in the library, somewhere behind the section on Goblin history. How did he find her here, anyway? He seemed to have some sort of radar for it. "Don't act like you're not happy to see me," he said. He gave her his usual lopsided grin and flicked the end of her dark hair. "You've been thinking about me all day, haven't you?"
"Don't be ridiculous, Tonks," she said in her best snotty voice. "I never think of you."
"Really?" he said in a soft voice, that made her look up in surprise. "Because I think about you." His eyes were focused on her face intently, and he suddenly seemed much too close.
"Don't tease, Ted," she said quietly.
"Who's teasing?" he asked, still smiling. He leaned forward, and her breath caught. It wasn't right, she knew. If Bella had any idea... if her family knew... But as he lowered his lips onto hers, soft and warm, she realized, with a sudden clarity, that she did not care.
"Why do Muggles do this again?" Ginny asked, looking up at Tonks from the ground, where she had just fell smack on her butt.
"It's fun!" Tonks said. She grinned unrepentantly at Ginny, and offered her a hand. "My dad taught me when I was a kid."
Ginny grasped Tonks' hand, which was warm and dry, smooth against Ginny's palm. She scrambled to her feet, grumbling under her breath. "Fine, let's try again."
"I can't believe I'm better at a sport than you," Tonks said, laughing.
"This is not a sport," Ginny said. "And what I can't believe is that you aren't falling down every five minutes."
"Come on," Tonks shot back. "Here," she said. "I'll hold your hand and keep you steady." Ginny took the hand gladly, and let Tonks pull her down the sidewalk. It was a bright, clear day, and the sky was so blue it was almost surreal. The change from Grimmauld Place, grim and dark, was so absolute it gave Ginny whiplash. Despite the indignity of falling over, she was glad she had let Tonks talk her into coming out. She smiled to herself, and followed after Tonks.
Going over a crack in the pavement, she felt herself lose her balance and slipped off the skates, pulling Tonks down with her. Or at least that was what she would expect to happen, but Tonks seemed to pop back up immediately. Almost magically, you might say... "Hey," she said suddenly, "you're using a steadying charm! You'll pay for this, you big cheat!"
Tonks threw her head back and laughed aloud. She winked at Ginny and took off again, flying down the road. "Come catch me, then!"
Harry was sitting in a corner of the room, looking out over the sea heads - mostly red. George and Percy were arguing about the Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes store accounts, which Percy had taken over in the last couple of months. Fleur and Bill were sitting on the couch, and Mrs Weasley was talking with them about baby clothes and the importance of being prepared. Fleur smiled softly, one hand rested on her pregnant stomach. He could see Charlie asking Hermione to explain exactly how the dragon ride went, with Ginny listening eagerly. Ron had somehow convinced Neville to play chess with him, and his brows were furrowed as he stared at the board, in seeming bafflement.
"Beautiful, aren't they? It makes me happy to watch," a gentle voice said beside him. He turned in startlement and saw Luna (of course) standing next to him. She was dressed in green and red robes and was wearing a hat shaped like a Christmas tree on her head. It was so large he was surprised it was managing to stay up at all. "It also makes me sad," she added thoughtfully. Her wide blue eyes had a characteristically knowing look to them.
"I didn't think I'd ever see a Christmas again," he said quietly. He hadn't shared this with many people other than Ron and Hermione, but suddenly it felt right to say it to Luna. He had a feeling that if anybody could understand, it would be her. She seemed to understand so much. "I expected to die, out there in the woods. I planned to die."
She smiled at him. "And that's why you lived."
He looked at her, surprised. How could she know about that? But no, he thought, as she looked away, back over the crowd, she was simply being Luna. Luna with her odd thoughts and her uncomfortably good intuition. He smiled, and was glad that she was there.
"Come on, Harry," Ginny said. "Let's get inside before the rain gets any worse!" She pulled her wet cloak tighter around her.
"I'm coming, I'm coming," Harry replied, following her up the steps. He fumbled with the keys, and managed to shove them into the keyhole. They both fell into the flat with relief when the door swung open, and he slammed it shut behind them.
"I wish we didn't have to have that Anti-Apparation jinx on our flat," Ginny moaned. "I'm so sick of getting caught in the rain." She set down her bags. "We must have bought a billion presents today."
"That's what you get for having so many friends and family," he said, teasing her, and dropped his shopping bags next to hers. He had been carrying two in one hand and one under his right arm, and they were all packed to the brim. Ginny's bags were in a similar situation. "Now, shall we wrap them?"
"I'd rather drink hot chocolate and watch that funny Muggle moving picture box," Ginny said. Harry grinned; she was still getting used to living in a Muggle flat.
"Come on," he said cheerfully. "It won't take long. We've got wands, don't we?"
"Oh, all right, if it makes you happy," Ginny replied easily, and gave him one of those sly smiles that still made his stomach do turns when it caught him by surprise.
"Right then," he said, and cleared his throat. He brandished his wand and pointed it at one of the bags. One by one, the presents came flying out. Books for Hermione, a Muggle remote control plane for Mr Weasley, rare seeds for Neville, color-changing paint for Luna, even toys for little Victoire. With a flick of his wand, he wrapped each one in brightly colored paper and gold ribbon. As he named each present's recipient, the name appeared next to the gold bows.
Ginny lifted her wand, and joined in. Slowly, the bags diminished, until there were half a dozen stack of wrapped presents next to the couch, almost waist-high. "Done, finally!" she crowed. "Now for hot chocolate?"
"Are you sure we're done?" Harry asked.
"They're all wrapped, Harry."
"I don't know, Ginny, maybe you should look closer," he replied, grinning at her. "Maybe in that bag on your left."
She gave him an annoyed look and tsked under her breath, but she leaned over the bag. Immediately her eyes widened, and her hand shot into the bag. When it came out, she was holding a small black velvet box. "Are you serious?" she asked, her mouth falling open.
"Ginny, will you marry me?" he asked.
"No, really, are you serious?"
His grin drooped slightly. "You don't want to?"
"Is this really your idea of a romantic proposal?"
His smile fell further.
"Oh, Harry!" she said, and flew towards him. "You're so easy. Of course I want to marry you!" She swung her arms around his neck and he lifted her easily into the air, spinning her around and kissing her deeply. "I thought you'd never ask," she said, when they broke for air.
In other news, looks like I'm going to be matched with Harry Potter on my Matchmaker app, which is pretty cool and not terribly surprising. I also got nominated for three categories in Hufflepuff Term Awards. I got nominated for Biggest Gryffinpuff, Favorite Baby Badger and Most Creative Badger. That made me really happy and warm inside, as I totally wasn't expecting it! I especially was flattered by the last one. :D
I don't usually do this, but I'd also like to welcome my new friends, mk_tortie and sweetthumbelina. Glad to have you guys!
ETA: Oh, I wanted to advertise this new stamping community I joined, muppets_stamp. I loooove the Muppets, so if you do too, and you enjoy stamping comms, you should join. And stamp my application? :D