Springfic: "The Stepping Stones" for redsiodaslair

[springmod]

Title: The Stepping Stones
Author: Liliths_Requiem
Recipient: redsiodaslair
Character(s): Andromeda Tonks, Charlie Weasley, Molly Weasley, Narcissa Malfoy, Lucius Malfoy, Draco Malfoy
Rating: PG-13
Wordcount: 4,199 words
Warnings (highlight to view): Adultery
Summary: After the war, Andromeda tries to put her life back together. Unfortunately, she’s missing all the pieces.

Comments

[secretsolitaire]

What an original and interesting look at these characters. I wasn't expecting that ending either. Nicely done!

[aldehyde]

i don't quite know what to think of the fic. the ideas are original and i like the style of writing. the imagery in particular is quite lovely, but the characterisation in your story seems..contradictory. on one hand, you have an andromeda who not only fell in love with a muggle, but also sacrificed all ties with her pureblood family [canon]. on the other hand you have her saying her only grandchild has "dirt" in his veins. that doesn't make much sense. on the same note, it seems strange that she would hold on to her pride of being a "black" after denouncing the family

[redsiodaslair]

Dear mystery writer,

Yay, it's posted! *kicks RL and limited Internet access*

I'm merely stopping by to thank you very much for writing this story for me. I also wanted to assure you that I will be back this weekend with a detailed comment. There are many things I enjoyed and found thought-provoking, and I really, really want to give your story all the time it deserves.

In the meanwhile, many thanks! :D

[vegablack62]

This was very smoothly written and shows skill. You handled the shifts in each section very well. You maintained the tone of emotional control and distance well through out the fic, even when describing emotional and tense scenes. I liked the relationship you gave her and Molly two women who both lost children. (I re-posted this because of some major spelling errors in the first.)

[redsiodaslair]

And here is my comment!

Dear mystery writer,

Thanks for giving me the opportunity to ponder on these characters' motives and their dynamics. As a reader it is always rejoicing to read that a writer has fallen in love with characters!

Many insights and quotes struck me because of their honesty. Andromeda’s grief and sadness loomed over the story, and her numbness was skillfully written, especially with these punch-in-the-gut sentences. Sometimes, at night, she can hear Teddy crying but she doesn’t go to him. The boy has to be tough if he’s going to survive in this world. I do like that you allowed her to go into her anger. I was interested to see how you would bring peace back to Andromeda through the vignettes. I did feel, like your title suggested, that each character was a stone bringing her closer to gain what she had resigned herself to leave.

Another quote that struck me was this, It’s pathetic, the way her generation has resigned itself to its fate and stopped fighting. Ouch again, and I love this! Your portrayal of Molly

[vegablack62]

I've thought about this story and had more thoughts to add. The way you have Molly and Andromeda cling to their grief, refusing to cry but also, I think refusing to give it up, reminded me of Frosts's poem "Home Burial." The wife in that poem doesn't want to let go of her grief and move on. She sees herself as the only person who still cares about the dead child and the grief as hers, as something she thinks should be and wants to keep. She's an angry woman, as I think Andromeda and Molly are here. A lot of your characters are angry and that motivates them. I've observed that in the grieving myself. I've seen them lash out at people they care about out of anger.

The process of Andromeda's moving though her grief isn't pretty, but it is hers.

[vegablack62]

Sorry if I've over interpreted this.

[werewolfsfan]

This is the most original portrayal of Andromeda and Narcissa that I've ever read and Bellatrix is barely mentioned. Your writing too is masterful and evocative. This tale has definitely gotten under my skin, I'm just not comfortable with parts of it yet. I know that I'll re-read it though.