Don't count mine as the first, since I led the challenge last week. I'm only posting now because I have to get to work, and I'm afraid I'll forget to drabble at all after I get home tonight, so here it is:

Severus sat on a stump, the summer sun warming his wife’s garden. Yseult read to him from a tree branch as his hands worked with the flowers. He smiled at the sound of her sweet, childish voice stumbling over the more difficult words.

He wondered at his daughter’s love of poetry. His bride had even more prosaic than he, but after receiving a book of poems from Theodore, Yseult was addicted.

Severus scowled. It had better not be because of the Lupin boy.

He stood and crowned his daughter’s bushy hair with the daisies, chained together to make a ring.

This is just beautiful! I love the crown of daisies, I adore the fact that her name is Yseult and I'm so pleased to see a hint of Teddy Lupin here, too! Severus is simultaneously tender and protective, which is spot-on. I can almost feel that summer sun myself... and let me tell you, with the weather outside, that would be very welcome.

No worries about posting first--I totally understand. Ironically, I was so early last week because I was on my way out of the house and wanted to post before I forgot it. ;-)

That's so lovely.

Now remembering, I am not an avid HP fan, but this challenge intrigued me, so I offer this...

He hates the darkness more than anything, because in the darkness there is nowhere to hide from the memories that plague him; things he has done, bitter words spoken, and lives he could not have saved. Lying in the darkness, those memories bear a crushing weight and Severus thinks it might kill him.

The bedside lamp chases the dark away and his new wife smiles at him. She says nothing, though he’s sure that she knows what has kept him lying awake. She cuddles against him and twines their fingers, her golden wedding band chiming softly against his matching ring.

I'm not sure how much good it would do to have me do the next challenge, being that you're about the only HP fan on my rather limited flist, but I thought you might enjoy this.

~hugs you~ I love that you did this, even though HP isn't your primary thing and you're not interested in hosting a drabble contest! And I love this: insomnia and nightmares are very Severus, and I know you didn't read DH, but the phrase "lives he could not have saved" actually wonderfully highlights one of Severus' lines from the book about "those whom I could not save."

And hooray, he has a wonderful and understanding wife who appreciates him and helps him deal with his nightmares. I wonder... does her first name start with a J? ;-)

A very great deal of my Snape characterization is from your stuff. Just so you know. Again, hosting a drabble contest wouldn't bother me, save that there are very few in my Flist who are HOP fans. I wrote this mostly for you...

I know you didn't read DH, but the phrase "lives he could not have saved" actually wonderfully highlights one of Severus' lines from the book about "those whom I could not save."

*blinks and scratches head* Heh... That was so not intentional. Mostly I was referring to what you told me when we were writing chapter two.

he has a wonderful and understanding wife who appreciates him and helps him deal with his nightmares. I wonder... does her first name start with a J?

*laughs* Possibly! Just glad you enjoyed.

I wrote this mostly for you...

I know, and I appreciate that so much. I really do. This was a wonderful surprise after a very long, very cold evening on campus.

Heh... That was so not intentional.

I know, but you really were right on the money! Isn't it funny how these things work out?

*laughs* That it is. That it is!

Glad I could brighten a cold evening. It helps me to know I could cheer you!

*Wanders back off to work on your Christmas present*

For someone who isn't much involved in the Potterverse, it's really good.

Thank you kindly. I confess to only having read the first three books. My roommmate spoilered me on the final book, and anything HP I write is mainly for the lovely bluestocking79, who has elevated herself to the state of not only collaborator on our PSoH/HP fic, but muse on any number of projects!

My ears are burning! :-)

(BTW, I am now officially done with the week of hell, and can now turn my attentions to more pleasant things, like Christmas baking and new chapters of Wanderlust.)

I am glad the week of hell is over and I do wish we were close enough that I could taste your baked goods.

In better news, I am gainfully employed again and doing much better! I'll be posting the new chapter of Dark Lady in a few moments. Eight chapters, oh my...

I do wish we were close enough that I could taste your baked goods.

Aw, so do I. I'd mail them if I thought they would make the journey! I'll probably blog about the baking over the next week--not the same thing, I know.

But hooray for being employed! I'm so, so happy for you! ~hugs~ I'm glad you're doing better, and I eagerly look forward to the new chapter.

Thanks for the good wishes and cheer, luv. You and the rest of my Flist have kept me sane these past weeks.

I'll just have to drool on my keyboard when you talk about the baking!

The chapter is up... Enjoy! Norrington!

Inspired by torino10154's fic'n'pic The Good Son:


Severus stumbled in the graveyard, dripping blood from his lacerated neck staining the snow a festive red. He’d apparated blind – how ironic that he should end up here. He staggered to his feet, heading not towards the brightly-lit church but towards the westernmost corner of the churchyard, well-known to him .

Using strength he was surprised to find he still possessed, Severus managed, lurching from one tombstone to another, to reach his goal. He sank down, exhausted, not needing to read the words obliterated by the weather: Eileen Snape, beloved wife and mother.

Behind him, church bells began to ring

Ooh, I like that better than my lame-ass attempt.

Oh, hush! I liked yours!

*pokes*

~pokes back~

Oh, very nice indeed.

And of course she'd be next to Tobias. ;) Glad my fic'n'pic helped inspire you.

This is so beautiful: melancholy but strangely serene. The description of the blood on the snow seems especially vivid, and I love the final stroke of the tolling churchbells.

I agree with torino1054: I'm so glad you were inspired!

Thank you! I'm glad you liked the mood - that was just what I was aiming for.

Should you be interested, there are sequels here:
http://drachenmina.livejournal.com/15096.html#cutid1

(torino10154 has been spoiling me with inspirational pictures today!)

Oh Severus..

It does get better, I promise!

(see http://drachenmina.livejournal.com/15096.html#cutid1)

I've had an idea: would you like to host the contest on IJ next week, while Dunizade hosts it on LJ? I think there's not a lot of overlap between your flists, and I'd be tickled to see as many people get involved with this as possible. Let me know!

No problem! That'd be fine - should we agree on a single prompt, or each have our own?

I think you can each have your own with no problem. Oh, and feel free to link back to this post if you need to!

I like your use of the prompt.

This is maybe a bit long...let's say a double drabble?

Winter Dance


The Headmaster of Hogwarts left the castle in the dead of the night.

As he had every winter, on the first full moon after Yule, ever since he was a scrawny second-year student and had seen that clearing in the Forbidden Forest, and the beings slowly dancing on the frozen earth, until it was black, compact and hard as the sky above. He had been the only one to see them; the other young miscreants doing detention with Hagrid hadn’t noticed anything.

He stopped in the bushes at the rim of the clearing. The Thestrals were already milling around, heads dipping and rearing, wings fluttering, but the steady nuptial dance hadn’t yet begun. Suddenly he stiffened. As a pair of black wings had folded in front of him, he had caught sight of something in the middle of the circle.

In a few long strides, he was upon her, ready to scold, but she turned with a tranquil smile, almost as if she knew of his presence. In the moon flood, her face was utterly unafraid and her hair shone almost as white as the Thestrals’ opal eyes.

“They are beautiful, aren’t they?”

He stared in the silvery eyes and there were no secrets behind their calm light.

Around them, a shiver ran through the Thestral ring.

Oh, I like!

This is just so Luna. And I love the last line.

Thank you!

Double drabble away, especially when this is the result!

This is so lovely: the dancing thestrals, Snape's feeling that this is a tradition known only to him, the fact that Luna is drawn to them as well, and that this is a secret they share. Speaking of Luna, she's just perfect here: calm, wise, accepting and otherworldly.

So...do you and drachenmina want to share hosting rights for the contest next week? Maybe you could do it on LJ, and she could do it on IJ? The more involved, the merrier!

Nice place for a meeting.

Cold, but quiet.

Thanks, I'm glad you enjoyed it! Um...any grammar glitches that you can see?

OK for co-hosting with Drachenmina as proposed, good idea! It should be on Wednesday, right? I hope my local Wednesday will do.

I hope your awful week is not too awful.

There are no grammar errors that jump out at me, so I think you're safe on that score.

I'm glad you like the co-hosting idea! This is fun and I'd like to see it spread. Yes, it should be on Wednesday, and I'm sure your local Wednesday will be just fine.

I hope your awful week is not too awful.

Well, it has been awful, but the good news is that the worst part of it is over. I have writing yet to complete, but I'm done with classes, so that's one responsibility out of my hair at least. Not a moment too soon, either, because it's freezing cold and snowy around here, and the way they build campuses here lends itself to the worst sort of bone-chilling winds. The only good thing about that is the way it makes my long black coat billow very dramatically--I feel absolutely Snapely!

the way they build campuses here lends itself to the worst sort of bone-chilling winds

They build them that way everywhere - I suspect it's a windy metaphor for "open minds".

it makes my long black coat billow very dramatically--I feel absolutely Snapely!

Hee! Me too!

I'm going to put up a little ad for this week's challenge - is it all right to link to your entry?

Ooh yes, link away!

They build them that way everywhere - I suspect it's a windy metaphor for "open minds".

I suspect you're right. Ironically, the most gorgeous areas to me have always been the wooded parts, with the old, stately trees that dwarf the buildings and, more importantly, cut down on the winds. ;-)

Lupin was teasing him, again. Wearing a skin tight t-shirt with a pair of jeans slung so low, Severus was surprised nothing hung out. Lupin’s moved inexorably toward Severus. The stubborn man had already been turned down more times then Severus could count.

Remus stuck out his hand. “Severus.”

“Lupin.”

The hand remained extended, Severus finally took it. He was pulled hard against Remus’ chest. Severus was lost as the firm lips pressed his.

“Why?”

“Because you’re mine.”

Severus felt his fly open, a hand slid into his pants, and then he heard the snap of the closing cock ring.

Oh my! Severus has just been pwned by one pervy werewolf! Something tells me that Remus will make it worth his while, though. ;-)

I love the fact that Severus is so confident in his abilities to turn Remus down that he leaves himself completely open to a sneak attack.

He is confident, and sometimes underestimates the cunning of others particularly the wolf!! Thanks for the comment!!

LOL I'm sure it's intended to be funny, but it makes me laugh.

It was intended both ways...possessive and funny