Springfic: "Road Trip" for selmak

[springmod]

Title: Road Trip
Author: kellychambliss
Recipient: selmak
Character(s): Alastor Moody, Minerva McGonagall, Filius Flitwick, Arthur Weasley
Rating: PG
Warnings (highlight to view): snark
Wordcount: 5000 words
Summary: After the real Alastor Moody is rescued from the bottom of Barty Crouch, Jr.'s trunk, Dumbledore tells him and some of his friends to hit the road.

Comments

Your Review of "Road Trip"

[kellychambliss]

I really appreciate the detailed comment. I've been wanting to write an aftermath-of-the-trunk story for Moody for a while (and I may take up the topic again; I think there's more to be said). The question of "why doesn't Minerva recognize the imposter?" is one that has to be answered by any McGonagall/Moody story, and I'm glad you thought this explanation worked.

[scarletscarlet]

Hah, gorgeous :D. Such a great idea to have Mcgonagall and Moody as exes!

[kellychambliss]

Thanks! I had fun picturing them together.

[lazy_neutrino]

"Arthur," she said again, and he smiled with what he hoped was sufficient preliminary reassurance. "I expect Dumbledore is going to ask you to do something more to help fight You-Know-Who. For my sake -- and the children's and Gideon's and Fabian's -- you give that Dark Lord hell. From the Weasleys."

This is great Molly characterisation - especially as a line or so later she tells him not to take any unnecessary risks. It's lovely to see both the fighter and the mother in her. Beasutifully done. Apart from that, all I can say is that you had me gaping throughout. How can anyone take such a ridiculous premise and not only make it work but make it screaningly funny as well? Brilliantly done, and I was so sorry when it was over!

Your Review of "Road Trip"

[kellychambliss]

Thank you for commenting. I'm glad you enjoyed Molly; I'm usually rather critical of her in fanfic, and I thought I owed her a kinder moment /g/.

[kennahijja]

I loved this to bits! The fact that Arthur narrates it, all shy and overwhelmed by the company, and we get all the observations through is eyes made me squee. And I giggled like mad at his
"On the road? Tomorrow? Me?" Arthur gasped. "In a Muggle car?" It was too good to be true.
Dream come true, indeed! :).

There are altogether too many brilliant lines to start quoting all of them, but the sheer snark and speed are brilliant throughout. And it works miracles with your characterisation.

I loved Minerva and Moody as a divorced couple, and the dialogue shows exactly why they're divorced, while highlighting how much they still care for each other.

And the 'Minerva can drive!' running gag was so much fun, especially when it's taken up by the Death Eaters at the end, and the thought that they'll circle that wreck for a loooong time because yes, she really can! :)

Wonderful story!

Your Review of "Road Trip"

[kellychambliss]

Thank you for this thorough comment. These are some of my favorite HP characters, and I'm glad you think they rang true.

the dialogue shows exactly why they're divorced, while highlighting how much they still care for each other

Just the effect I was hoping for! Thanks.

[featherxquill]

Oh my god, how did I miss this before the reveals?!

Minerva driving! And Arthur all excited! And Minerva/Moody snark! And Filius being all twinkly and coy and innocent!

This was so much fun!

(and you gave me a chance to use this icon again, only a day after ressurecting it from my hard drive! *\o/*)

[featherxquill]

And let me add. In addition to all the fabulous dialogue, which I won't quote lest I quote the entire fic, I loved this:

They reached the safe-house without further incident, and while Arthur was happy that they'd completed the mission so easily, he was sorry to lose the camaraderie of the road trip. For these few hours, the car had been its own small world and its occupants like his family. He doubted he'd have a chance for this sort of closeness with them again, and he was sorry.

This is so, so true. Especially with two of the car's occupants being people Arthur considered his 'teachers'. Reminds me so powerfully of a day in high school when I and a few friends spent the day lolling about in one of the staffrooms, doing odd jobs for the teachers who inhabited it. After the initial squeamishness of being in a staffroom omg what it was a fabulous experience, because they sort of forgot we were there and talked amongst themselves and let their 'teacher facades' drop. And one of those women was every bit as fierce as Minerva, so it

Your Review of "Road Trip"

[kellychambliss]

Thank you for commenting! I'm glad you enjoyed the characters; they're some of my favorites. And thanks for your own "staffroom" story. I've had similar experiences, and they really do change forever the way we see the people involved.

(Great McIcon.)