First Noels and Bleak Midwinters

[phoenixfyre13]

Title: First Noels and Bleak Midwinters
Author: phoenixfyre13
Ratings/Warnings: PG, some very mild language. No warnings that I can think of.
Prompts: Letter

Comments

[oneandonlysusan]

This is really a lovely piece. It's beautifully crafted- I love the movement from one Christmas to the next, how it all ties together with the gift from Remus. I absolutely love Tonks' note to Remus- it's perfectly her. What a great understanding of her character. I love their hopefulness even while facing such an unsure world. I really just love the feeling of this piece. It's so tender and heartwarming yet so terribly sad and fragile. Really, really beautiful.

One tiny bit of concrit though- in the first scene, Remus and Tonks seem oddly formal when they speak to one another- I think I may have felt it from the lack of contractions or that they call one another dear and darling, but it seemed slightly stiff. That feeling completely disappeared by the next scene, though. And now that I read it again, it doesn't feel nearly as formal as I thought it was, so I'm not quite sure what I'm getting at, lol. The warmth and tenderness of the piece has enveloped me, I suppose!

Really, wonderful work! I enjoyed this immensely!!!

[phoenixfyre13]

Thanks so much for taking a moment to com a comment on this!

I am very glad you found this to be the right balance of heartwarming and fragile, because I really wanted to get the wartime aspect of this piece across. All I could think of when writing this were those letters that must have passed between lovers and families during wartime, and I am glad to hear it worked.

On the concrit, first of all thanks for letting me know how it felt to you! So often, not having a beta and trying to read through my own work I don't always pick up on the objective things that others can see. So I always appreciate a head up when something may seem a little off. I did say dear and darling quite a bit, didn't I? And sometimes I have to remind the academician in me that contractions are OKAY. ;)

Thanks for taking a moment to review! I really appreciate the feeback! :)

[phoenixfyre13]

Thanks so much! I appreciate you taking the time to read! :)

[mrstater]

The enchanted letter is one of the best wizarding gifts I've ever seen in a fic! What a perfect thing for Remus to make for her -- it's just his style of creativity and thoughtfulness and romance. How could a girl not be head over heels for someone who comes up with that sort of Christmas present? ;) Such an inventive use of your prompt, adding a really magical element to an otherwise straightforward prompt, and I think it's a lovely tie between the three Christmases, especially as you draw in the Ted and Andromeda storyline and give them that family connection.

You really got me at the end when Tonks speaks so hopefully about next Christmas bringing the whole family back together, with Ted and the baby; Remus' reply to just think about this Christmas is so very sobering and roots us in how ephemeral peace can be in a time of war. (Also it's so heartbreaking knowing how things turn out for them all -- sight.) But I think that was a really excellent tone to end on, because it stops the end from being too neat and tidy. Not an

[phoenixfyre13]

First of all, a big thank you for taking a moment to comment so thoughtfully! I am very glad that you liked the enchanted letter. It was funny, because I got the prompt and the story almost wrote itself. And I am glad that sense of romanticism with the wartime letters came through, and that the last letter was just as touching as the first, even though it wasn't strictly R/T.

Secondly, another big thank you for the concrit, but I think you amy have finally put the finger on what was bothering me about this piece! You are right, I did have to edit already, but I agree with you that more letter would have been more appropriate and focused the story a little better. This is what I get for being impulsive and not having a beta. :)

Thank you again for coming by and taking a peek! I am really glad you enjoyed it, as I am a right sucker for a good love letter myself. ;)

[wordgrrl]

Oh my goodness...

This is definitely one of those stories you print out and save, so that you can read it over and over again. Thank you so much for this lovely piece!

[phoenixfyre13]

Thank you so much for taking the time to read and the kind words you left! I am very flattered you enjoyed it enough to read over and over. *Blushes* Please do print it out -- I have the feeling it is the only way I will say my work had been in print, LOL.

Again, thank you, and I sincerely appreciate you taking a moment to let me know you enjoyed! :)

[belladonna1986]

Oh that was a wonderful read, love the description of three different christmases and how they celebrated it. The present Remus gave Tonks is gorgeous, only Remus would put so much effort into a present. The emotions changed from romantic and fun to sadness and hope.
Great job!

[phoenixfyre13]

Thanks so much for taking a moment to comment!

I am really glad you liked the shifts in emotion, because I really wanted to show what different effects wartime can bring on Christmas, and how bittersweet it can make the holiday sometimes. And it is a very Remus-y gift, isn't it? Less about the pomp and circumstance and more about the thought.

Thanks again for checking it out! Would you mind terribly if I friend you? :)

[belladonna1986]

Of course you can friend me, always look forward to new friends :D