Drabbles, part 2

[shimotsuki]

Here are the next two drabbles from the drabble meme -- I actually managed 100 words each time.

[For tegdoh — Harry Potter: Molly/Arthur, toast. 100 words. G.]

Empty Nest 2 September, 1992

Molly came upstairs again while Arthur was still knotting his tie. "Would you like devilled kidneys with your breakfast, dear? Maybe a real kedgeree. I haven't fixed that in a while. Oh, and fruit scones—there was a lovely new Scone Charm in Witch Weekly. Unless cheese scones would be better?"

Arthur turned away from the mirror and kissed the anxious crease between her eyebrows. "Let's just have something simple today. Eggs, bacon, and toast?"

"But that won't take very long to fix, for just the two of us." She blinked back tears. "And then what will I do?"

[For hrymfaxe — Harry Potter: Voldemort, classroom. 100 words. PG.]

Residue Winter, 1956

He shakes off a sudden feeling of foreboding.

Maybe it was a mistake to come in here—a jinx—a bad omen. This is the one part of Hogwarts that he had never conquered.

But the old fool doesn't teach in here anymore. The room belongs to the Gryffindor blood traitor now. She was Head Girl over him, once, but now that means nothing. This place has no power to thwart him today.

He slams the door to the Transfiguration classroom and strides through stone corridors to the Headmaster's office.

This time, the old fool cannot stand in his way.

(duck_or_rabbit and gilpin25, for yours I will need a chance to do a little canon research, but I should have them ready in a few more days!)
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Comments

[duck-or-rabbit.livejournal.com]

Ah, I am such a fan of Voldemort (not because I admire him; I just like villains) and I loved the pacing and action in this. Going into early Voldemort/Tom Riddle is a fascinating place and enjoyed this moment. I especially like that he feels threatened here. It's easy to oversimplify Voldemort into a one note emotionless fiend but it's not that straightforward for me.

I liked the indirect reference to Minerva.

Really dug this!

BTW, the name Voldemort is an anagram, no? I can't remember.

[shimotsuki.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I'm so glad you mention pacing for the Voldie drabble, because I worked really hard on that, heh. I enjoy playing with exactly-100-word drabbles -- part of me is frustrated because I want to write more details, but the challenge of working with an exact word count is a lot of fun.

I don't see Voldemort as emotionless, either. I think he's a sociopath, in the sense of having absolutely no conscience or empathy -- no concern for what other people's emotions are (except to manipulate them, or to enjoy their fear as a sign of his power over them). But my understanding is that sociopaths are perfectly capable of feeling emotions themselves.

BTW, the name Voldemort is an anagram, no? I can't remember.

Yep -- diary!Tom shows Harry in the Chamber. Tom Marvolo Riddle --> I Am Lord Voldemort. (I hear it gave the translators fits.)

[hrymfaxe.livejournal.com]

I hear it gave the translators fits.

Oh yes! It must have been a true headache to tackle that one! Essentially you would have to give him a different middle name. And I think in the Danish one his last name was translated too.. But they did that with a lot of names. ;)

[shimotsuki.livejournal.com]

I don't mind names being altered or translated at all -- they might have to do that for the name to have a similar kind of effect, or bring up a similar kind of association! (What's Hogwarts in French? "Poudlard," I think?)

I remember translated names being a big clue about R.A.B. before DH -- the last letter on the note in the locket matched the initial for whatever the local translation for "Black" was.

[hrymfaxe.livejournal.com]

Ooohh I need a proper villain icon for this one!

Thank you so much! I love this glimpse into Voldemort before his plans turned even more fanatic. I like how he just couldn't resist going into that room, even though it irks him that he wasn't able to manage "that old fool" like he was every one else... Also loved the mention of Minerva!

Thanks for letting me sneak in, I wouldn't have like to have missed this! :D

Also: Molly is so cute in the first one.. Arthur must always have to distract her quite a lot when her hungry brood leaves her to go to school... I wonder if that is why they have so many children? ;)

[shimotsuki.livejournal.com]

I'm so happy you liked what I came up with -- thank you! Also, thanks for the really interesting prompt; it took a while to find a willing plotbunny, but I had a great time when it finally appeared. Now I want to write Riddle and McGonagall at Hogwarts... (I am intrigued by the fact that McGonagall and Riddle were close in age. Another thing JKR teases us with and doesn't pursue -- not that I blame her; she really can't follow everything up.)

Glad you liked Molly, too. This is the first year that all the kids are gone, even Ginny, and I imagine it was a huge thing for her to have to face.

[hrymfaxe.livejournal.com]

Now I want to write Riddle and McGonagall at Hogwarts...

Oh that would be really interesting! :D Voldemort as his beginnings is very fascinating - like duck_or_rabbit says, I like those villains. :D I'm glad you liked the prompt. I think this meme is such a good opportunity to ask for something new and unexpected. :D

[shimotsuki.livejournal.com]

I think this meme is such a good opportunity to ask for something new and unexpected. :D

Exactly! And therefore also an excuse to try writing or drawing really new stuff. Which is why I've been having so much fun doing it, and watching other people do it. Maybe drabble/drawble-fests should be a regular event from time to time!

[hrymfaxe.livejournal.com]

Great minds think alike! :D I have been thinking that I'm going to reuse it again at some point - to get the creative juices flowing, if they should suddenly lack...

[tegdoh.livejournal.com]

Poor Molly - her last baby has gone off to school. I wonder if Arthur gained weight that year, appeasing her empty-nest anxieties? :-)

And I liked this glance at LV - banishing his own ghosts, in some sense.

Very nicely done, and all within 100 words!

[shimotsuki.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I had fun with your prompt -- although I did worry it might have been the other kind of 'toast' you had in mind, heh.

I like to think Voldemort was surprised to realize he still had ghosts. >:)

I've been enjoying the challenge of trying to hit 100 words exactly, although it is a little frustrating not to be able to expand on things!

[gilpin25.livejournal.com]

I really like both of these. In the first, I think for the Weasleys, of all people, being left with an empty nest must really be something to come to terms with. The "what will I do?" is so sad and sweet. It must seem dreadfully quiet with no one to get exasperated at!

In the second, it's great to think of Minerva as Head Girl, and the sense of resentment that's still there simmering for all these past slights. And nice to think of him seeing Hogwarts as a jinx that he's never quite (and never will;)) conquer.

Both are very well done and paced. And I hope you're enjoying your canon studying of those essential dwarf bread recipes and dragon breeding tips for mine. ;)

[shimotsuki.livejournal.com]

Thank you for the kind words! It's amazing how long it can take to write something short, heh, so I'm very relieved to hear you think the pacing works.

I really hope Molly has an identity for herself beyond "mother," as important and valuable as that is; sometimes, I'm not sure she does, and I worry about her.

I really wanted to make McGonagall a Muggleborn (since we know nothing), but then I realized she wouldn't have been able to be at Hogwarts in DH in that case. Oh, well. I'm starting to mull over Hogwarts, circa 1944, now...

And I hope you're enjoying your canon studying of those essential dwarf bread recipes and dragon breeding tips for mine. ;)

What I really need, I think, are all the words to Where's My Cow? ;)