Gen Ficathon entry

[malecrit]

Title: If They're Scared Enough
Author: Malecrit
For: zeelee_penguin
Challenge: Tom Riddle's first day at Hogwarts School. Conditions: He must meet Minerva McGonagall.
Notes: I'm sorry that Minerva didn't play a very big role in this. And good God, I want to punch this OC, even if he is only an eleven year-old boy. Also, this is so short/constrained because

Comments

[isiscolo]

I'm finally going through the gen ficathon entries! This is very nice - I see exactly what you mean, though, about it wanting to be a much longer story. I like your style here, and the hints that we all (knowing what eventually happened) can see as foreshadowing of canon. I especially like seeing a Tom who isn't "born evil" but whose experiences are going to shape him.

[malecrit]

Thanks for your feedback, Isis!

I especially like seeing a Tom who isn't "born evil" but whose experiences are going to shape him.

I was worried that I would come off too soft on Riddle, like "Oh no, he's really just a sweet little boy who got bullied too much, and we should forgive him for turning into a maniac!" But at the same time, the "born evil" approach seems too easy and a bit silly.