stgulik

A few days ago, the incomparable iulia_linnea offered to write HP drabbles for anyone who prompted her. I was very excited today to see the one she wrote for me! It features my OTP, a rarepair that has no business being so rare, dammit. I mean, what's that about? They're perfect for one another. Anyway, go and read this seriously sexy thing: No Real Rhyme or Reason. (Also on AO3)

I hope you had a chance to enjoy melusinahp's "One Prompt, Many Writers" challenge last week. She solicited prompt ideas on her journal, and the prompt with the most votes was to be used in a drabble of less than 500 words.

I just put mine up on TPP, but I thought I'd share it here, too. The world needs more HGRL.

Special thanks to teddyradiator, the best alpha and all-around friend.

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“To burn with desire and keep quiet about it is the greatest punishment we can bring on ourselves.”― Federico García Lorca, Blood Wedding and Yerma

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Remus reached across the restaurant table and gently took hold of Hermione’s hand.

“All right, one more time.” He laid the red chopstick across her palm. “The bottom stick is held like so. Keep it steady. Then you place the second stick here … and hold it with your fingertips, like this.” He lingered a moment, tracing the soft flesh where her thumb and finger met. Her hand lay curled in his, a bird with a long, delicate beak.

Absorbed, she bent her fingers until the chopsticks touched. She flexed experimentally. “All right, I think I have it.”

“Now the true test.” He slid his hand away, nodded and gestured. She picked up her bowl the way he had showed her, the dim sum laid atop a snowy mound of rice. He watched not her hand, but her eyes, so it took a moment to interpret her impish look of triumph—she had simply skewered the dumpling with both sticks.

“Success,” she proclaimed, taking a healthy bite.

He laughed and sat back. “Don’t try that in China – it’s considered bad manners,” he teased.

“I can imagine,” she replied after swallowing. “How long did you live there?”

“Oh, eight months, I think. Mainly stayed in Hong Kong, working odd jobs where I could, and then I ventured out into the rural provinces.”

“Did you miss England at all?”

He concentrated on his own bowl. “I missed some things,” he replied smoothly. “Mattresses with springs. Honeyduke’s chocolate. Apothecaries with potions I recognize. That sort of thing.”

“And any … people?”

He caught the tone in her voice, and his eyes quickly raised to hers. Her eyes did not dart away, but held his gaze for a lingering moment.

Here, at last, was his opening, the chance to say what had been on the tip of his tongue all night. He could finally bridge the space between them. He felt sure she was waiting.

But over her shoulder, in the window behind their booth, the waxing moon showed its face like a hateful maitre d’ not at all sorry to intrude on an intimate moment. The moon: his first enemy, his eternal burden, his constant companion throughout his travels after the war. Already he could feel its intrusive power, coiled inside him, primed to take over sinew, muscle, bones, and will.

No woman should have to intersect her life with his. He would never make that mistake again, not even for her, Hermione, the woman who knew him so well; the woman he had loved, in some fashion or another, since her third year at school.

He took a deep breath. “Well, my son, of course,” he replied. “My Teddy.”

She dropped her eyes. “Naturally,” she agreed, laying aside the chopsticks. As she picked up her fork, Remus hitched up his most convincing smile and asked about work.

Have to say, I thoroughly enjoyed all the Halloween activities here on lj yesterday! The hp_halloween Drabble Exchange posted all throughout the day. I wrote this drabble, and received a gorgeous one in return from karasu_hime.

Thank you toblass, teddyradiator and droxy for the virtual Halloween cookies! All the trick or treating going on here was so much fun. I hope I can open my door to you next time.

We had scores of trick-or-treaters come by the house last night. I was glad to see many more tiny kids in their Captain America and fairy princess costumes, and fewer older teens in their black hoodies and emo make-up. Maybe it's a sign the recession is finally ending. But hey, they were all polite as could be, and all are welcome on Halloween night as long as the Snickers Fun-Size bars hold up.

My next drabble in a short series.

Title: Status Quo
Characters: Severus Snape, Remus Lupin

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The Great Hall’s sky glowed with the last rays of an autumn sunset. Beside Severus, Remus looked pale. How much longer would he stay?

Over dessert, Albus leaned near, spoke quietly. Remus casually rose. His eyes caught Severus’s. For an instant, Severus felt the brush of fur.

Was this to be the way of it? Lupin, a danger every month? Dumbledore, oblivious to  consequence? But why shouldn’t they flirt with disaster. Severus will see to it. Severus will brew the potion that will keep a thin veneer of normality stretched tight over the well of madness.

Suddenly, anger bloomed red behind his eyes. How like his entire life. The world sleeps soundly while he labors in darkness to keep it safe. And nobody credits it - not the man who holds his leash, nor the man who used to hold his heart.

“My boy,” whispered Albus, “people are staring.”

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