Fic: A Month is Nothing

[dexstarr]

Title: A Month is Nothing
Author: dexstarr
Word Count: 1,092
Rating: PG-13
Challenge: Written for kellychambliss for rarepair_shorts's Summer 2011 Wishlist Event. Prompts: one month after the Battle of Hogwarts, unintentional voyeurism
Characters: Minerva McGonagall/Severus Snape (hinted), Minerva McGonagall/Poppy Pomfrey (hinted)
Warnings: Nothing fun, just lots of hinting.
Author'

Comments

[cranky__crocus]

Sometimes she feels as if Hogwarts is forcing her to remember, to heal.
I like that thought. I've felt that way myself on occasion.

The house-elves are quite capable; many are descendants of the elves that helped build Hogwarts, and the spells were passed down through the generations.
I love the details of Hogwarts history that you have included in this piece. It's a real treat!

...she saw two figures huddled in the niche where she liked to take naps in her Animagus form.
Ahahaha, love this thought. I can just imagine little cat!Minerva settling down for a cat nap in the sun.

...doing who knew what in one of her favorite hidey-holes.
*Grins.* I have a feeling that's what most concerns her.

She blinked and the expression was gone, his lips and eyes narrowed in their customary sneer. He certainly is fast. I like the way you described his pleasure and return to normalcy

[dexstarr]

Your comment. Merlin. I was grinning like a fool when I read it. Thank you for leaving such lovely feedback! I hardly know what to say in reply, except thank you, times a million. You made me feel so much better about putting this fic out there, because I was pretty nervous about it.

Minerva/Poppy just came to me as I wrote, and I hope I get more ideas for them in the future. I find the longer I'm in fandom, the more varied the pairings I write become. I'm just starting to puzzle out Minerva, but I hope Poppy comes to me soon, because I can see a beautiful relationship there.

I also agree with you re: fantasies. I tend to write a lot of porn, but I like to think of it as a way to explore and develop characters, but fantasies can be just as good for that. I definitely can't remember reading it used very often, though.

[secretsolitaire]

Lovely, especially the idea of Hogwarts as a living thing.

[dexstarr]

Thank you! That's how I've always thought of Hogwarts. It's such a character in the story that it seems likely.

[dexstarr]

Thanks! Glad you liked it.

[reg_flint]

Like the living Hogwarts that reminds me of your founders fic.
And like Minerva I would love to see Severus relax, lower his guard.

[dexstarr]

I think you're talking about scarysnapey's Founders fic; that's one area I don't touch.

Glad you liked it.

[kellychambliss]

Thank you so much! Because of the LJ troubles, I didn't see this entry until today -- sorry to be so late replying. But this is a story worth waiting for. You pack so much into such a short space: the wonderful details of living Hogwarts, the elf backstory, Minerva's memory, the lovely Poppy relationship. I really like the atmosphere you create -- the sadness, the weariness, and yet the possibility for good memories among the painful ones.

attempting to push away memories-bad and good-with the strength of her voice.
Yes, I can just hear her.

Great opening and closing lines.

Thank you again, Dex! This is a real treat.

[dexstarr]

So, I have to admit, I was pretty nervous to write for you, but the idea popped into my head, and I had to do it. The opening/ending lins are actually what came to me first, and the whole fic built from there. That's really rare for me.

The little details came to me as I wrote, and I'm also happy you liked them. I'm starting to puzzle out Minerva in my head; she's a tricky one, and I always worry that I don't capture her.

I am so thrilled you liked it!