A Writing Life

Missing Moments: Punishment

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 17:09:25 GMT

For rarepair_shorts for the prompt: let the tempest howl
Disclaimer(s): Canon Statement: Canon comes from eight sources, which include JKR’s Harry Potter series of books and thanfiction’s Dumbledore’s Army and the Year of Darkness. All HP characters belong to JKR and her associates. The characterizations and pairings belong to thanfiction. All the rest (minimal that it may be) belong to me. Expect SPOILERS for both.
Rating: R, Word Count: 944 (not including introduction and author’s notes)
Summary: see introduction below. This incident follows the extensive graffiti the DA have left all around Hogwarts in the early part of the 7^th year term.
Author's Notes: This takes place during the 7^th year at Hogwarts while Harry was off on his Horcrux hunt. Many of the situations described, including the violence and character deaths are from both DH and DA. Canon has been followed for both books unless otherwise noted. Beta by thanfiction

Introduction to prompts 2-13:

Hogwarts was not the happy place it had been for the previous six years. Now with Severus Snape as Headmaster and Death Eaters not only welcomed through the portcullis, but also responsible for teaching classes as well as the discipline and punishment, it was a very different place. Sometimes, life at the castle was insufferable, but Neville Longbottom reformed the DA and they met in secret, training for the day that they would face Voldemort and possibly sacrifice themselves.

These prompts follow the “missing moments” from the seventh year for Neville’s lieutenant, Ernie Macmillan and his relationship with fellow DA member Susan Bones.

Link to Prompt Table: Here

“Ah, yes. The brave, chivalrous Gryffindor and the strong, loyal Hufflepuff. You must feel so proud, flinging yourselves into harm’s way to save the fair maidens from a fate worse than death. But, if you are determined to make examples of yourselves, I can accommodate you.” Snape was practically salivating as he released Hannah Abbott and Luna Lovegood from the clutches of the Carrows.

Susan gasped as Ernie and Neville were manacled and pulled towards the wall behind the teacher’s table, pressed flush against the cold stone wall under the graffiti they were being punished for writing. Her heart began to beat faster as the Headmaster flicked his wand, stripping both boys bare to the waist. Her eyes were wide, and she could feel the howling tempest taking root in the pit of her stomach, but on the outside, she remained silent, her shaking body the only reaction she was unable to hide.

She felt Hannah’s tight grip on her elbow as she watched Mr. Filch ready his whip. He had waited for so long for the day he could flog the students. She swallowed hard. She had always thought it would be Fred and George Weasley. Who would have expected the first floggings at Hogwarts in probably a hundred years would be Hufflepuff Ernie Macmillan and Gryffindor Neville Longbottom?

She stared at Ernie’s bare back as Mr. Filch began with Neville. She stirred the empty porridge bowl in front of her with a spoon, thinking back to that time in second year when Ernie helped her with the injured rabbit. She couldn’t believe that someone like him could be so caring and gentle with an animal so small and fragile. The way he held the bunny had showed Susan his big heart that, since that day, she had longed to capture.

When the rabbit had come through its terrifying ordeal relatively unscathed, she had thrown her arms around Ernie’s neck, and even though he wasn’t much bigger than her at twelve, he was so caught up in her excitement that he had lifted her right off the ground with a hug that had twirled her around in circles. She had laughed, kissing him sloppily on the cheek, and when he had set her down, he was laughing as well, his hazel eyes shining in the morning sunlight.

She loved him completely, but he barely saw her as more than a friendly smile at meal times or in the common room. He was always dating someone or another. Susan thought she had a chance in fifth year when he stopped dating Alicia Spinnett, but he was made Quidditch captain after Cedric had died and he was a Prefect, and that and Quidditch consumed him that year. They had become good friends, but she kept her distance when he began to date Morag MacDougal the next year.

Sharing a dormitory with her wasn’t easy for Susan. Morag talked about Ernie often, regaling the other girls in the dorm with their escapades. She spared no details, much to the other girls’ delight, but for Susan, it was all too painful. She would sometimes cry herself to sleep when Morag would go on and on about Ernie’s body and how good he was in bed...or under the Quidditch stands, for that matter. Susan didn’t know if Morag knew of her feelings for him, but as she lay in bed, sometimes weeping, sometimes wondering how long it would take, or even if Ernie would ever notice her.

The crack of the whip brought her out of her reverie, and she quickly wiped her moist eyes. She watched in horror as Ernie’s back was split open, his cheek pressed against the stone wall, teeth clenched as hers were, fists balled as hers were, in silence as she was. Her breathing was raspy, and she wanted to take the pain from him now. She wasn’t surprised that he’d remained silent through each crack, the first and then ten, and twenty, then thirty, ending with forty lashes of the whip.

Mr. Filch was grinning and as the whip came up time and time again, the blood flying from the end, splattering the wall between the two boys’ heads, splattering the words they had placed there: Remember Cedric Diggory and Long Live Harry Potter.

Susan watched, and when everyone filed out of the Great Hall to go to classes, she remained and was the last to leave. She offered her help to Madam Pomfrey when she attempted to check on them, but Susan was refused and turned away, despite her nursing ability.

She stood beside Madam Pomfrey for a moment more, looking directly into Ernie’s eyes. She tried to offer him her brightest, most reassuring 'see-it-wasn't-that-bad smile, and although he didn’t return it, she could see in his eyes that he appreciated her presence.

Susan spent that first night with Hannah and Professor Sprout in their common room, peeling roots and mixing stems and leaves and filling vials with this or that, stirring the cauldron as it heated. The boys would be released soon. They couldn’t stay up there much longer. How much more could they really take? They would need potions to dull the pain and ointments to close the wounds on their backs and to heal the scars.

The women already knew that many of those scars would never fully go away. They were too deep, and already had been left too long. When the last bottle was filled, the three witches placed them in the hidden compartment behind Helga’s portrait and they went to bed, hoping that the morning would bring relief to their House as well as Gryffindor.

HELP - HP FIC QUESTION

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 03:25:59 GMT

I've actually made this mistake before - I want my male character standing behind a tree next to the lake at Hogwarts. I always make it a willow tree, but it is obviously not the whomping willow unless there's some euphemism I'm not familiar with (with is a definite possibility), so what tree could he stand behind or possibly climb that would work on the Hogwarts grounds, have shade cover (if it were daylight and we cared about such things) and would do well next to the lake.
Also, do we know who was Head Boy and Head Girl or any of the prefects from Harry's non-existent 7th year. Or call it Neville's 7th year.

Thanks all.

I've Come to Realize...

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 03:11:27 GMT

This is old, but I've swiped this from thanfiction, and I've come to realize that I should be in bed now.

1. I've come to realize that my butt: has no place on my LJ.

2. I've come to realize that when I talk: I don’t know when to shut up.

3. I've come to realize that if I love someone: there’s no going back.

4. I've come to realize that I need: a close friend to talk to.

5. I've come to realize that I've lost: more than I can think about.

6. I've come to realize that I hate it when: I say something stupid because once it’s said, it can’t be taken back.

7. I've come to realize that if I'm drunk: it must be someone else.

8. I've come to realize that money: is a necessity.

9. I've come to realize that my mother: right most of the time and she cared. She really cared.

10. I've come to realize that I'll probably always be: cautious.

11. I've come to realize that I have a crush on:

12. I've come to realize that the last time I cried was: in June, but I got teary tonight.

13. I've come to realize that my cell phone: a buried at the bottom of my pocketbook.

14. I've come to realize that when I wake up in the morning: I need to buy milk because the one in the fridge tastes funny.

15. I've come to realize that before I go to sleep at night: I should put on my pjs.

16. I've come to realize that right now: I need to write 14 1000 word ficlets in that many days because I promised.

17. I've come to realize that babies: are both the most wonderful and the scariest creatures on the earth.

18. I've come to realize that when I get on livejournal: I check my mail every 20 seconds until I actually get something. Sad, really.

19. I've come to realize that today I will: try to finish a piece of writing without perspective issues. Good luck.

20. I've come to realize that tonight I will: stay up way too late, as usual.

21. I've come to realize that tomorrow I will: take a shower and run errands.

22. I've come to realize that I really want to: write for a living and never have another boss outside of my family again (and even then)

23. I've come to realize that who is most likely to repost this is: I think everyone’s done this, although this might be interesting enough for peredur_glyn

24. I've come to realize relationships: are strange and unpredictable things.(I’ve kept

thanfiction’s answer because it’s so true.

25. I've come to realize love: is found in the strangest places.

26. I've come to realize my best guy friend: …

27. I've come to realize my best girl friend: needs to be called about going to Friendly’s this week with no kids.

28. I've come to realize food: is expensive.

29. I've come to realize that when I'm a girlfriend: not much changes, only perspective.
30. I've come to realize girls and boys: are unpredictable and so totally different even if they’re dressed alike.

31. I've come to realize over the summer: that I need more time for myself.

32. I've come to realize heartbreak: is unbearable.

Too Geeky for Flashlights

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 02:18:15 GMT

We had massive thunderstorms last night, and our power went out. Do we have flashlights? No, of course not, but the geeky family we are has this instead: a Green Lantern power battery. We also used a light saber from Star Wars, and some glow in the dark princess toy from McDonald's. I wish I were making this stuff up. :-D

Missing Moments: A Misunderstanding

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 20:44:11 GMT

for rarepair_shortsusing the prompt: dither dather
Rating: G, Word Count: 1187
Summary: Ernie is oblivious
Author's Notes: Takes place during the autumn of GOF, Beta by thanfiction and thanks for use of the icon.

Ernie Macmillan looked over at the group of Hufflepuff witches. Susan Bones and Hannah Abbott waved at him. He had begun to wave back when he noticed Sally-Anne Perks, and he had trouble raising his eyes to her face because of the abundant change in her proportions. She returned his smile and he turned his attention back to fellow Chaser Martin Cadwallader, who was laughing at his teammate’s lewd joke about the Demiguise shepherd. Ernie rolled his eyes, knowing that was for his benefit. “You know, my family’s been in the business for years, and we’ve never –“

“Yeah, yeah,” Derek Adams laughed, clapping Ernie on the back. “We know that’s what you tell the witches, but when it’s just us mate, you can be honest about them sheep.”

“We have sheep, and Demiguise are not sheep.” Ernie shook his head, muttering his retort in Scotch-Gaelic so that Derek and Martin couldn’t understand, then returned to his porridge. Their end of the table had grown quiet as the fourth-year boys ate in relative silence while the fourth-year girls looked around at the first-years and the seventh-years and giggled, laughing and chatting. He could hear bits of their conversation as it drifted across the table.

“Have you met Professor Moody yet?”

“Cedric Diggory has to be the handsomest Champion.”

“At least he’s a Hufflepuff. Harry Potter –“

“There’s Cedric now.”

Ernie glanced up as Cedric sat alongside him, thumping his back. He only stayed for a moment, asking the team to get together, not for practice since Quidditch was cancelled this year for the Triwizard Tournament, but to continue training for next year. He would still be Captain, and he didn't want a run-down flabby team.

They agreed, and he strolled away, pausing to chat at the Ravenclaw table. Derek and Martin resumed their conversation about the recent Quidditch World Cup and the Triwizard, and Ernie looked at the girls again. Susan was twirling a heather-colored ribbon around her finger, braiding it into her hair and when she saw him looking, she smiled. The girls got a bit quieter, but he could still hear some of what was said even if he couldn’t distinguish most of the voices.

“– cute. What’s his name?”

“Ernie.”

His ears perked up at the sound of his own name.

“– dating.”

“No.”

“– ass.”

“– pompous ass.”

His head jerked around, looking at the witches once more. He saw Susan and Hannah, looking at him. Susan was still twirling her hair ribbon, not meeting his gaze. He was surprised at her. She was supposed to be his friend. She often came to him for advice on the various animals she found and took care of, knowing of his own love of them.

His work on his family’s farm raising and breeding Demiguise and Muggle sheep made him a natural for her to approach. He knew the other houses thought he was pompous because of the way he spoke, articulating and enunciating maybe a little too much to avoid his burr. After growing up listening to his grandfather talk about his own childhood of not having two knuts to rub together, Ernie was pleased to always have Galleons in his pocket. He wasn’t a show-off, but he also didn’t feel the need to hide. He was disheartened. The Hufflepuffs knew him. She knew him. He couldn’t believe that she would –

“Are you all right, Ernie?”

He was staring past Susan, but when he finally looked at her, she smiled at him. He was surprised she was smiling and more surprised at her words he had overheard. “What did you say?” His voice sounded odd to him; almost like it was someone else’s and then it gave a tiny crack at the end, all the more infuriating to him.

“I asked if you were all right. You look angry.”

“I’m fine.” He said it quietly and turned away, but he was angry. He’d heard it behind his back often, but never from someone who he considered a friend, and a fellow Hufflepuff at that. He glanced at Susan again as she brushed a dark hair from her eyes, smiling and giggling with the other fourth-year girls. Every now and then, they would have a quick look over at him, giggling. Finally, he got up and left the table, abandoning his half-eaten bowl of porridge.

*****

“Did you hear me, Mr. Macmillan?”

Ernie nodded but didn’t move. In actuality, he hadn’t heard Professor Sprout, but he heard Morag’s whisper. “She said to trade with Wayne.”

“Wayne?” he whispered back.

“Yes, you’re with Susan today.”

“Sorry?”

“Now, Mr. Macmillan. No more dither dather.” Professor Sprout did not usually need to repeat herself. He gathered his tools and strode over, needing to go back for his Shrivelfig. He tossed it on the potting bench and watched it rolling towards the edge. Susan’s small hand stopped it from going over the side, and she held it out to him. He looked into her dark brown, almost black eyes, chewing on the inside of his cheek as he snatched it from her hand. He began to peel it without another word, exposing the inner cloves they would be planting and ignoring the strange look on Susan’s face. He couldn’t understand why she was the one who looked hurt and confused.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw her hand reaching for his knife, and he casually took it before she could touch it. He flinched at the hurt look she gave him, but began slicing grimly, sliding the separated pieces to his left, away from Susan.

“Ernie, could I borrow your knife, please?”

“I’m using it.”

“I know. I meant when you were finished. Why are you angry with me, Ernie?”

He stopped slicing, holding the knife tightly in his right hand, his left grasping the hard table as he stared at his Shrivelfig. “Would you really care to know why I’m angry?”

She nodded, slowly, remaining silent.

“I heard you. In the Great Hall. When you were talking to the other girls - you called me a pompous ass.” He was looking into her face now, and her eyes widened in ire.

“No, I didn’t.”

“I heard you, Susan.”

“I didn’t say that, Ernie. I would never say that.”

She touched his much larger hand. He didn’t move.

“We’re friends, Ernie. I was defending you.”

“You were –“

“I said you weren’t a pompous ass.”

“Who said –“

“Oh no...I’m not going there. I wouldn’t talk about you behind your back. Can I borrow the knife now?” She smiled, brushing a dark hair out of her eyes. He felt his face flush slightly as he handed her the knife, handle first.

“I’m sorry, Susan.”

“I would never say that about you. I like you, Ernie.”

“Thanks. You’re a good friend.”

He didn’t notice when she smiled at him again. He was already watching Sally-Anne Perks walk over to Professor Sprout with her finely chopped shrivelfigs. He also did not see Susan finish her cuttings and follow Sally-Anne, dropping off her own Shrivelfigs before leaving the greenhouse alone.