Cold Beboots was cold

[beboots]

The final evening at Christmas Reflections at Fort Edmonton! It ended up being like -27C in the river valley... The poor draft horses had frost all over their coats, and were brought into the stables (switched out for tractors AKA "mechanical horses" ;) ) halfway through the evening. I took a shower right before I left for work, and I put my hair in braids while wet. So after I lit the bonfires, and I realized about an hour into my shift that my braids had frozen. SOLID. Like, icicle cores. D: 

CHECK IT OUT



PIPI LONGSTOCKING COSPLAYS = NOW RIDICULOUSLY EASY. 

And for comparison purposes, here is what it looks like defrosted. SO FLOPPY



Here is a shot of the glorious bonfire I made yesterday, to warm you up wherever you are. :)

Comments

[beboots.livejournal.com]

(We could theoretically do PMs? But I think this works, and there's no danger of the comments being deleted...)

I think it makes loads of sense for Zuko to just not talk about it, especially with people he doesn't quite trust. I mean, it's got to be one big ball of mental trauma, and you probably don't want to get into it... or at least, not without a fight.

"Personally, I like Zuko growing up with it and turning it into something that helps him politically. No one dares dispute his points about Ozai." I love this point; it's forever physical proof that Ozai, at the very least, was evil enough to scar children for little reason. I remember reading someone's meta about the imagery/symbolism of Zuko being scarred... Hold on, I'll see if I can find it... HERE IT IS: http://quigonejinn.livejournal.com/190239.html

I'm intrigued by this new fanfic idea as well. :3 I look forward to reading it! (Also, if you ever need a beta reader...)

[feral-shrew.livejournal.com]

(PMs or e-mails would work, too, but this seems to be doing just fine)

I don't think Zuko likes thinking about it, even, let alone opening up about one of the most horrible things that has ever happened to him and giving the chance for people to really hurt him again. What if they think he deserved it? What if it's worse than what they imagined?

Also on the scar: I just figured out my approach, for the much happier story where Katara has her extra four minutes to convert Zuko to Team Avatar. She's about to heal it, he pushes her hand back, and I know why. It's not that he doesn't think he deserves it (even if that could be a side point) or that he really wants her to save the water for the Avatar, or someone that's really badly hurt. ""It was supposed to be a mark of shame-- dishonor. If I let you take it away, then I'll just prove him right" I might make it a little cleaner, but he's not going to let Ozai rule his life anymore, and it lets him talk about the scar in a detached way. "He's not important anymore." If she realizes something they really should have minded ("but you're the Fire Lord's son"-- who can banish the prince, hm?), then they have a convenient interruption and later he doesn't like talking about it.

"I love this point; it's forever physical proof that Ozai, at the very least, was evil enough to scar children for little reason. I remember reading someone's meta about the imagery/symbolism of Zuko being scarred... Hold on, I'll see if I can find it... HERE IT IS: http://quigonejinn.livejournal.com/190239.html"

I'll check the symbolism link in a minute, but I have enough on my own, just about. Odin plucked out his left eye for wisdom, and that's the very heart of any injury to the left part of the face there. Zuko even does manage to gain wisdom from this, eventually, but there was a price that no sane person would want to pay.

[beboots.livejournal.com]

"What if they think he deserved it?" Daaamn... ;_; I'm sure that at times Zuko does believe he deserved it. I'm sure that Iroh tries to disabuse him of this notion whenever he can.

Ooh... I like that line, that justification for stopping Katara. :)

Also, P.S.: I was wondering if I could ask you a favour. I've been working on a Harry Potter fic, and I was wondering if I could get you to take a look at it? You don't have to if you're not interested, but I thought that at the very least you like Harry Potter, as you've been to that theme park and all... ;)
The summary is as follows: "Draco may be an arrogant, selfish little git, but even he has principles. When Voldemort kills his parents, well, he’s going to do something about it. Timetravel fic."

I've got about four chapters written out completely, and I would really love to have a few people take a look at it, see if my ideas are coming through, etc., etc. I enjoy bouncing ideas off of you. :)

[feral-shrew.livejournal.com]

I think Zuko's alternative is even scarier. It's depressing to think that he deserved it, and it hurts like hell, but what if he didn't deserve it? What if his father was wrong, and the past three YEARS of his life (that's a fifth of it, and a quarter of what he can remember) are useless, and he can never go home because his father hates him and was horrible enough to hurt his own son? It's easier to take the blame onto himself and focus on the escape clause, because then everything can be the way it was, but better.

Harry Potter!!! Send away-- and the premise is so, SO much badass. I love giving the "unredeemable" characters a second chance, and "obnoxious with principles"/"anti-villain" are classics.

I haven't had nearly enough time to read the books later, but my parents almost named me Hermione, and the name would completely have fit. I have a freak memory for detail. Occasionally. I can forget the most obvious things at times, but then I can quote you a spell that was used once in the fourth book for this purpose.

(Plus, you understand grammar and spelling and use them well. I adore my friend that I beta for right now, but she can't even follow the prompts from her spell-checker, and then she gets offended when other people can't spell things. She's a native English speaker, so I'm still puzzled.)

I have no idea how to work the messages part of this site yet (/is very new), but we're definitely at the point where e-mail or IM might be the more sensible option. I'm probably going to start sending you all the Avatar ideas that you brought back to life, and I think the "Katara gets four minutes. Aang gets a firebending sifu before the end of season two" story is a go. (/along with the sci-fi story that nobody reviews (on ff.net) and the V crossover because I watched the movie and Sokka and Zuko are awesome and... whatever, my muse is back and on top of this)

[beboots.livejournal.com]

"It's easier to take the blame onto himself and focus on the escape clause, because then everything can be the way it was, but better." ;_; Trufax.

YAAAAY! <3 Send me your e-mail address in a PM (scroll your cursor over my avatar and there should be a "send message" button?), and I'll send what I have to you as a word document. :) I like using the "comment" option on that program the best when I do beta-ing. :3

I would totally be up for checking out your ideas... but only if I can send you some of mine too. :D I have quite a few sitting on my harddrive that only my sister and one of my RL fannish friends sees. ;) But the Harry Potter fic is a priority, I think, because it's much more polished than the other stuff I have written down, which are mostly plot outlines. ;)

[feral-shrew.livejournal.com]

I think I'm going to post my little two-page snippet. I'm very fond of it, and it has three of my favorite characters all being cute-- "When Nymphadora met Remus." Really, she's wandering through the house to find her cousin, but Remus is there, and she has the least-concerned "and you're a werewolf" reaction ever.

My other Harry Potter ideas are a way-too-long thing where /Remus/ was the one to end up in Azkaban, and Sirius adopts Harry when the kid is nine-ish. (My favorite scene is when Sirius finds the cupboard. He wants to lose his temper, but Harry's there and looks nervous... so Sirius whips out his wand and starts casting charms and transfigurations and he turns that cupboard into a perfect bedroom with windows that all look at different places. The Dursleys can accept a magical room in the house, or they can give Harry the guest bedroom. Harry is not taking the little closet that doubles for their son's second room when he can have a full bedroom only occasionally used by Aunt Marge. Just to really make you want to hit something, the Dursley house has four bedrooms. Four. That's canon.)

The other is a really easy premise that changes way, way too much-- Sirius Black is a Slytherin. Severus Snape is a Gryffindor (because he SO has the right characteristics to do it, and he can stay very close friends with Lily while laughing and James' attempts to woo her.) Really, it goes that way because Sirius is the most awesome double-agent Death Eater ever. He uses the charm to keep people off guard, all the girls have crushes on him, and Lockhart is lucky to get a single Witches Weekly (whatever it is) Best Smile Award.

So Harry Potter? Way, way too fun a world to not play with.

[beboots.livejournal.com]

"(My favorite scene is when Sirius finds the cupboard. He wants to lose his temper, but Harry's there and looks nervous... so Sirius whips out his wand and starts casting charms and transfigurations and he turns that cupboard into a perfect bedroom with windows that all look at different places. The Dursleys can accept a magical room in the house, or they can give Harry the guest bedroom. Harry is not taking the little closet that doubles for their son's second room when he can have a full bedroom only occasionally used by Aunt Marge. Just to really make you want to hit something, the Dursley house has four bedrooms. Four. That's canon.)" I DEFINITELY want to read that scene. :) I think that one of the things that was really left unresolved in the series was Harry's treatment at the hands of the Dursleys. I think it goes beyond the "Cinderalla complex" kind of idea: he was systematically devalued as a person and as a member of the family. That HAS to have a lasting effect on him. I've read fics before where the authors try to address this, in that Harry would have significant trouble valuing himself.

"Really, it goes that way because Sirius is the most awesome double-agent Death Eater ever." That would be super-awesome. I mean, he's a Black, and he's a Slytherin, so there's NO WAY he could be anything but loyal to the cause of the Dark Lord... ;)

I love playing in JKR's sandbox. :D

[feral-shrew.livejournal.com]

"I DEFINITELY want to read that scene. :) I think that one of the things that was really left unresolved in the series was Harry's treatment at the hands of the Dursleys."

Yes! That still makes me angry that no adult ever sits down and makes a sincere apology. Not Dumbledore's "I feel bad about this"-- no. "I am sorry that I let you be hurt this way. It was inexcusable." McGonagall should have been right there. I don't blame Remus for the housing situation, because I think Albus interfered again. Remus can't house the poor little kid (discrimination against werewolves, easy to assume), but he would have visited... unless Albus guilted him into staying completely distant and never initiating a connection.

"I think it goes beyond the "Cinderalla complex" kind of idea: he was systematically devalued as a person and as a member of the family. That HAS to have a lasting effect on him. I've read fics before where the authors try to address this, in that Harry would have significant trouble valuing himself."

That's what Sirius does. He loses years to grief and Albus's "you cannot raise a child, leave him with his family," and then he gets a kick in the ass from Mad-eye (via Remus, of all people, but that doesn't come out until later-- Mad-eye visited Remus in Azkaban just before Mad-eye is "forcibly retired"/kicked out of the Aurors, Remus asks how Harry is, Mad-eye is pissed then realizes he has no idea, and Sirius suddenly has to get past alcoholism and figure out how to visit a little boy. He stops in at Arabella Figg's for advice, of course that's the day Harry is there... and there it goes. Sirius does make a sincere apology that it took so long, and he means it. It's up to Harry to decide that Sirius hadn't been happy before, either, so now they can be happy together.

My other favorite part is when Voldie tries the Harry's blood-gambit, at the kid's eleventh birthday. (Peter Pettigrew is alive and terrified, and he's the one to abduct Harry.) Snape is the one that helps Sirius get the kid out. Imperius is unforgivable, yes, but you can /communicate/. You can say things that nobody else is going to hear, even if they're things like "grab the brat, the anti-apparation fields end here, get out now."

They can cheerfully despise each other, and will never, ever be friends. Just people that talk at Order meetings all the time, all through insults.

"That would be super-awesome. I mean, he's a Black, and he's a Slytherin, so there's NO WAY he could be anything but loyal to the cause of the Dark Lord... ;)"

Exactly! He wasn't all to thrilled about kill-the-Muggles, but he's the potions man because he was bored and only and Bella is batshit insane. So, when he goes to Voldie, he sets up the persona where he finds muggle-torture tiresome and rather cliche. He'd rather spend his time in the lab. He's too urbane to find much amusement in it, or so it goes, but then Regulus dies, and it's after figuring out that Voldie's a half-blood. The part that really shocks Sirius is when he realizes just how many people his age are dying. It's James and Lily Potter, again, and mostly Lily-- Lily was brilliant, and one of the few to be kind when they were partnered together in Potions. (Black's from a family of bigots. He himself ended up rather polite out of sheer defiance.)

So yeah. Black is the all-polish, immensely handsome, funny Potions Master that is the undisputed favorite teacher at the school. He is rather nice to his Slytherins, but he picks out occasional favorites from other classes. His favorites get more interesting (and complicated) essay topics, but they actually like those kinds of things. Hermione might have a crush on him, instead of Lockhart.

I still need a plot, but the characters (especially Snape as the Gryffindor godfather that was Lily's best friend) are too fun to not make the effort. I think it might happen in fifth year, when Harry and Black are estranged through the entire book. Black = Death Eater. Harry is not amused.

[beboots.livejournal.com]

"He stops in at Arabella Figg's for advice, of course that's the day Harry is there..." Ooh... that sounds like an interesting meeting! I wonder what Harry thinks of Mrs. Figg's strange friend... I also have to wonder about Mrs. Figg's culpability in all of this. Sure, she's just ordered to watch, and she does try to do right by Harry (it seems) when he comes to visit her/is dumped on her by the Dursleys, but I have to wonder if she noticed/reported neglect to her superiors at all. :P

"Imperius is unforgivable, yes, but you can /communicate/. You can say things that nobody else is going to hear, even if they're things like "grab the brat, the anti-apparation fields end here, get out now."" !!! That's a very interesting idea... I'd never thought of it that way before!

"They can cheerfully despise each other, and will never, ever be friends. Just people that talk at Order meetings all the time, all through insults." That's exactly how I see a healthy relationship between Snape and Sirius. The only way.

"So, when he goes to Voldie, he sets up the persona where he finds muggle-torture tiresome and rather cliche. He'd rather spend his time in the lab. He's too urbane to find much amusement in it, or so it goes..." I LOVE IT. An excellent excuse!

"Black is the all-polish, immensely handsome, funny Potions Master that is the undisputed favorite teacher at the school" That would be amazing! But since Snape's such an institution at Hogwarts, in my mind, I have to wonder what sort of role he'd play if he wasn't potions master there?

[feral-shrew.livejournal.com]

"Ooh... that sounds like an interesting meeting! I wonder what Harry thinks of Mrs. Figg's strange friend..."

He rides the giant motorbike out in her driveway, and his hair is long, and he has a leather jacket and when he gets done staring at Harry (not even at the scar, like some weird people in stores, at Harry), he's very friendly. After a minute, he mentions that he was friends with Harry's parents, and very indignantly contradicts reports that they were drunkards in a car accident. Then he finds out that Harry doesn't know about magic.

I like to think that Mrs. Figg kept telling Albus, but... she could have at least been a nice babysitter. The Dursleys wouldn't have cared if Harry liked going over a little if she was doing chores with him or something.

"That's a very interesting idea... I'd never thought of it that way before!"

It was one of the other scenes I thought of first, then had to work around how it would work. I still like the idea of Snape and Black having a very strange little meeting. Snape (very, very irritably) tells Black to stop fighting, then outlines a plan. Black is going to "break" the Imperius, they will duel, Black will use some infantile spell or other that no reasonable Death Eater would expect, and he will never let Pettigrew babysit again. From there, I think Black uses a Tickling Curse and a Petrificus before running off with Harry. He and Snape are on non-homicidal terms from that moment.

"That's exactly how I see a healthy relationship between Snape and Sirius. The only way." It is! Black and Snape will loudly protest that they hate each other, and Snape's just waiting for the chance to poison Black's tea, but they sit next to each other at meetings ("by bad luck") and Snape sends reports about Harry's nightmares and Potions grades and just what books Sirius should tutor Harry from. When Remus ends up back with the Order, he wakes up to semi-companionable Sirius and Severus, and understandably thinks he's been hit on the head a bit hard.

" I LOVE IT. An excellent excuse!" I think Black also knows just how to relate to Voldemort. Lucius is an all-ambition man, Bella is batshit insane, Narcissa's not really interested, Pettigrew is cringing... Black is respectful, but makes it clear that he doesn't do this groveling thing. He's intelligent, he has a lot of money at his disposal that he uses wisely, and he appears furious that his brother had defected. He's the only one to not end up in prison, but Voldemort would expect nothing less. Black is very diligent about responding to rumors of Voldie (all the better to kill him with), and is insulted to think that sitting in Azkaban and risking his skills was a better use of his life. Potions masters require steady hands and quick minds, neither of which are preserved with dementors all over.

Basically... he's Tom Riddle 2, from appearances, and Voldemort isn't above indulging a follower that has zero ambition about taking a place beyond the potions lab.

"That would be amazing! But since Snape's such an institution at Hogwarts, in my mind, I have to wonder what sort of role he'd play if he wasn't potions master there?"

He's the escaped Azkaban inmate. Black's spent too much time forcing himself to grow up, and I think he'd honestly take to second chances better. He lets Snape's name be cleared, but it's only for Harry's sake. Black has heard about those muggles, and Harry needs another place to stay. Snape hates him for it, of course (beholden to Black). Black doesn't give a damn, thanks, and doesn't even rub it in when the only safe place for Snape to stay with Harry is at 12 Grimmauld Place.

(Sirius grew up when his brother died, and when he had to watch his cousin's cute little Metamorphagus grow up from a distance.)

[beboots.livejournal.com]

"After a minute, he mentions that he was friends with Harry's parents, and very indignantly contradicts reports that they were drunkards in a car accident. Then he finds out that Harry doesn't know about magic." Sounds AWESOME! :D Everything Harry could hope for in a lost relative-type-person. ;)

"From there, I think Black uses a Tickling Curse and a Petrificus before running off with Harry. He and Snape are on non-homicidal terms from that moment." Ah, yes. Death Eaters wouldn't suspect a sudden cheering charm or whatever and may not block in time. ;)

"Black and Snape will loudly protest that they hate each other, and Snape's just waiting for the chance to poison Black's tea, but they sit next to each other at meetings ("by bad luck") and Snape sends reports about Harry's nightmares and Potions grades and just what books Sirius should tutor Harry from." Excellent. :3 They have a functioning almost-friendship, but Merlin help you if you actually express that thought out loud in front of one of them... and if it does happen, Sirius will just have to prank Snape JUST TO PROVE THAT THEY'RE NOT FRIENDS, OMG.

"He's the only one to not end up in prison, but Voldemort would expect nothing less. Black is very diligent about responding to rumors of Voldie (all the better to kill him with), and is insulted to think that sitting in Azkaban and risking his skills was a better use of his life." VERY in-character, I think, of this Sirius. :3

Wait, SNAPE is the one who escaped from Azkaban? Does this worsen his temper at all? ;)

[feral-shrew.livejournal.com]

"Sounds AWESOME! :D Everything Harry could hope for in a lost relative-type-person. ;)"

He seriously is (and then I went 'ugh, pun,' but Sirius won't let me change it now.) He's funny, and /cool/, and he is the magical relative-like-stand-in that knew his parents and Harry's parents were awesome and loved him and Sirius has pictures that move. There is quite a bit of adoration before Harry puts together that maybe Sirius could have come earlier, but Sirius apologizes before it's an issue.
"
Ah, yes. Death Eaters wouldn't suspect a sudden cheering charm or whatever and may not block in time. ;)"

OMG that's it!!! Snape + Cheering Charm = instant classic, and later Snape shows up at the Order headquarters yelling his head off at Black, Black's cracking up, but... before Snape leaves, Black happens to sneak him a priceless potions book that was mouldering in the library, and Snape happens to leave some Dreamless Sleep with child dosing instructions (since Harry was abducted from his home by somebody he trusted and taken to a graveyard and his blood resurrected a madman, it's a good precaution.)

"They have a functioning almost-friendship, but Merlin help you if you actually express that thought out loud in front of one of them... and if it does happen, Sirius will just have to prank Snape JUST TO PROVE THAT THEY'RE NOT FRIENDS, OMG."

I think that at one point, Snape bribes the Weasley twins to prank Black. He points out that Black was an insufferable Marauder and may prove some challenge, and if they really are serious about (some latest Wheeze product) they should cease working with inferior ingredients. (And then the twins can occasionally bribe Snape into helping, provided that they try the product on somebody of Snape's choice.) Not that he likes pranks. It's just the only language that Black can speak.

"VERY in-character, I think, of this Sirius. :3

"Wait, SNAPE is the one who escaped from Azkaban? Does this worsen his temper at all? ;)"

I think he's honestly the same. He can't get much worse, but this time the strain is from Azkaban and nobody believing him, instead of being a double agent with nobody believing him. So... he's just as cranky and belligerent, but this time he has more friends, and no conflict about Harry. Jamesie's son + Lily's boy? Harry is the best, and Snape has loads of stories about Lily being brilliant and James being a bit of a dunce when it came to women. (He was Lily's friend first, and thought it was hilarious that his very-confident friend never, ever got it.)

[beboots.livejournal.com]

YES YES and YES. <3

Sirius would make an awesome fairy godfather to Harry. Only one who leads him off into his new life on a flying motorcycle instead of a pumpkin carriage, and has magic which doesn't disappear at midnight.

Ooh... Snape bribing the Weasley twins to do the pranking for him? Cool! At least he knows his strengths and weaknesses. ;)

Oh yeah, I guess if he's a Gryffindor he would probably be okay with James. I'm sure that James was still a dick a lot of the time, but in a way that becomes endearing if you're his friend. Possibly James was also a dick to people who teased Severus as well?

[feral-shrew.livejournal.com]

Sirius gives Harry the mirror, again, but explains it properly this time. He and Harry talk nearly every day on the best cell phone ever before people commonly HAD cell phones, and that lets Sirius relax enough to come by once or twice a week so he isn't living at the Muggles' place. (I think they might give Harry the guest bedroom, but Harry gets to keep his magically-altered cupboard as a playroom.)

Sirius is totally a fairy godfather, and he absoflippinglutely thinks he has the best godkid in the world. They go to the zoo, among other things, and Sirius (after a moment of "whahuh?") very happily tells Harry about Parseltongue, and mentions that some people would freak out, but it's awesome. He even finds a nice book about Parselmouths Through History that was written before Voldie or something-- he has access to loads of Dark things even if he's a complete Gryffindor.

Snape bribes the Weasley twins with potions ingredients, no less, and when they're properly appreciative (meaning they're insulting, but in a rather endearing fashion), he'll occasionally give them hints (meaning he will harangue them about their lack of intelligence, wonder how many times Molly dropped each on the head, and then fix their mistakes before they blow themselves up.)

Gryffindor!Snape and James had a rocky start, and might not have bonded for the entire first year. James can be a big dick even to people he likes (see: Lily), but I think he finally works out that Snape is actually hilarious, and potion-based pranks have a gigantic potential. (Black learns potions for self-defense, and Slughorn ends up adoring him-- rich, handsome, destined to go far, and interested in private instruction? Sirius can very quickly start counteracting their pranks, then Snape-and-Potter step it up, then SIrius gets better... Black's a shoe-in for potions master by the time he's in fifth year.)

Snape thinks it's absolutely hilarious that Mr. Suave Potter has terrible results with Lily, and is traitor enough to laugh about said attempts with Lily instead of comforting James after he made a display of being an egotistical pullock. ("Did she say that?" "No. She said you were a cretinous buffoon that should be rendered into potions ingredients.")

[beboots.livejournal.com]

"Sirius is totally a fairy godfather, and he absoflippinglutely thinks he has the best godkid in the world. They go to the zoo, among other things, and Sirius (after a moment of "whahuh?") very happily tells Harry about Parseltongue, and mentions that some people would freak out, but it's awesome." YES, PLZ. <3

"he has access to loads of Dark things even if he's a complete Gryffindor." I would imagine this as being awesome. I mean, if he's a total Gryffindor in most respects, especially attitude, it would be quite funny for him to be cheerfully talking about whatever, then throwing in a random reference to some dark spell/artifact/gruesome curse or something, and then continuing the discussion as if he hadn't just said something completely shocking and obscene to the ears of the people on the light side. ;) IT WAS JUST HOW HE WAS RAISED

"think he finally works out that Snape is actually hilarious, and potion-based pranks have a gigantic potential." XDD I LOVE IT

[feral-shrew.livejournal.com]

I don't want Sirius to be all-knowing and perfect, but... he's a giant kid. He's never been to Azkaban, and after that he was written as a shadow of his former (charming, handsome, funny) self. He's a gigantic kid with a motorbike and candy and fun trips and lots of silly stories about Harry's parents (his mom as a beautiful, smart, funny woman and his dad as the goofy prankster that couldn't get a date for years), and he has magic and he's the best person in the world to Harry. I think at least a couple scenes are from Harry's perspective, just for the full star-shining effect. Sirius is more careful about judging himself.

"I would imagine this as being awesome. I mean, if he's a total Gryffindor in most respects, especially attitude, it would be quite funny for him to be cheerfully talking about whatever, then throwing in a random reference to some dark spell/artifact/gruesome curse or something, and then continuing the discussion as if he hadn't just said something completely shocking and obscene to the ears of the people on the light side. ;) IT WAS JUST HOW HE WAS RAISED"

OMG YES. SO MUCH YES> Snape knows more Dark Arts than some Dark Wizards forget, and they come naturally to him. Lily doesn't know definitions of Dark and thinks that his asides are fascinating-- and cheerful!Snape casually mentions some use for the livers of tortured puppies, and she's thinking about potions before "not that we'd ever do this. Of course."

Lily is his best friend. James and Remus are great, Peter's... well, he has no tolerance for idiots in any incarnation, but Lily is his first and closest friend. It's not romantic, but he is the best man at the wedding on both sides, leaving Remus and Peter as the not-surprised groomsmen. (Alice Longbottom for maid-of-honor, maybe, and Petunia refused to come)

[beboots.livejournal.com]

"I think at least a couple scenes are from Harry's perspective, just for the full star-shining effect." Yes, please! :D I think that this hero-worship of Harry's will make it a little bit more difficult for him to swallow the idea of Sirius doing any wrong - like finding out that Sirius was a Death Eater.

"Snape knows more Dark Arts than some Dark Wizards forget, and they come naturally to him. Lily doesn't know definitions of Dark and thinks that his asides are fascinating-- and cheerful!Snape casually mentions some use for the livers of tortured puppies, and she's thinking about potions before "not that we'd ever do this. Of course."" YES YES and YES. <3

I think it's very true to her character that Petunia refused to come to Lily's wedding. I wonder, though, how well Snape and Sirius knew Petunia, and what would happen should they ever meet, especially as a result of Harry?

[feral-shrew.livejournal.com]

No idea if I made it clear, but the two stories are separate. One is a very Gryffindor and Azkaban-free Sirius belatedly taking custody of his godson. When Black was in Slytherin, Snape was the godfather. (Snape just might be Padfoot, if I can't think of a better name, but his Animagus form is a panther-- large, sneaky, intimidating, and it comes in black. Even in Gryffindor they think he's allergic to color)

Harry's hero-worship periods instantly fill in excuses for Black to not be around for years, but I think he doesn't stay mad for too long. Somebody told Black to stay away until his eleventh birthday, and said that Harry would be better with the Dursleys, so it's like Harry got a whole extra year. (He's ten and he's never had anything this good. I can't see him staying mad long.)

"I think it's very true to her character that Petunia refused to come to Lily's wedding. I wonder, though, how well Snape and Sirius knew Petunia, and what would happen should they ever meet, especially as a result of Harry?"

Snape knows Petunia extremely well-- he knew her as a kid too, and watched Petunia's progression from "I want magic, too" to bitter Normal housewife. (His personality didn't help, and then there was Lily. She was the favorite child, at least in Petunia's mind, she was prettier, she was clever, she went off to her magical school and played magical pranks at home... Petunia wanted to reverse that with Harry. She didn't want Dudley to grow up feeling second-best to magic.)

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Woops, totally didn't realize that they were still separate stories. Oh, well, I'm sure that even this non-Azkaban!Sirius still has a few skeletons in his closet for Harry to be horrified about. ;)

"(Snape just might be Padfoot, if I can't think of a better name, but his Animagus form is a panther-- large, sneaky, intimidating, and it comes in black. Even in Gryffindor they think he's allergic to color)" OMG YES. I've never thought of Snape has an animagus before, but being friends with Remus and James he would have HAD to be! Also, there could perhaps be moments in which there is teasing between Snape and James, because when they're in human form, James always seems to one-up Snape, physically, but when they're in their alternate forms... James would stand no chance as a deer against a predator like that. ;) RESPECT.

"Petunia wanted to reverse that with Harry. She didn't want Dudley to grow up feeling second-best to magic." I can definitely see this being a motivation, but DAMN Petunia couldn't you have done it in a way that didn't constitute child abuse or neglect?

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"Woops, totally didn't realize that they were still separate stories. Oh, well, I'm sure that even this non-Azkaban!Sirius still has a few skeletons in his closet for Harry to be horrified about. ;)"

I forget transitions really often when I'm talking to people, but it's been a long habit. no-Azkaban Sirius still might have literal skeletons, since he inherited Grimmauld Place and might be on semi-decent terms with his mom. He was fighting against the guy that killed Regulus, so Sirius is a useful abomination on the house of Black.

"OMG YES. I've never thought of Snape has an animagus before, but being friends with Remus and James he would have HAD to be! Also, there could perhaps be moments in which there is teasing between Snape and James, because when they're in human form, James always seems to one-up Snape, physically, but when they're in their alternate forms... James would stand no chance as a deer against a predator like that. ;) RESPECT."

OMG didn't think of that! Panthers are the natural predator that things like deer worry about. The human versions-- Potter's the all-star Quidditch player and Snape is the nerd. Animals, Snape is the one that's primarily responsible for Remus patrol. Snape LOVES lording it over Potter that inside, where it counts-- James is a deer and he's a predator. (He is responsible for Lily calling James "Bambi" when she's annoyed with him. James never understands the reference and does not believe it's an actual male name, Snape and Lily pass it off with the book that Disney based their movie on.)

"I can definitely see this being a motivation, but DAMN Petunia couldn't you have done it in a way that didn't constitute child abuse or neglect? "

Nope. Too bitter/angry/something. I'm still furious that there were no real consequences for that. My Sirius takes care of things. Vernon is a slug, Petunia is a witch in the personality sense, and there's no reasoning with them-- so Sirius threatens to come to Privet Drive with his long-haired motorbike-riding scandalous self every day, after he's bought up Grunnings or a controlling share at the very least. He probably tips Grunnings into giving Vernon a "promotion" into a created office where he mostly yells into telephones and fires people and handles all the negative aspects of HR. The company is happy to save their good people for the diplomatic aspects, Vernon gets to yell, and Vernon's at work often enough to give Harry a break.

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He "might be on semi-decent terms with his mom. He was fighting against the guy that killed Regulus, so Sirius is a useful abomination on the house of Black." Interesting! :3 This really IS an AU! ;)

"Animals, Snape is the one that's primarily responsible for Remus patrol. Snape LOVES lording it over Potter that inside, where it counts-- James is a deer and he's a predator. (He is responsible for Lily calling James "Bambi" when she's annoyed with him. James never understands the reference and does not believe it's an actual male name, Snape and Lily pass it off with the book that Disney based their movie on.)" YES YES and YES! <3

"- so Sirius threatens to come to Privet Drive with his long-haired motorbike-riding scandalous self every day, after he's bought up Grunnings or a controlling share at the very least. He probably tips Grunnings into giving Vernon a "promotion" into a created office where he mostly yells into telephones and fires people and handles all the negative aspects of HR. The company is happy to save their good people for the diplomatic aspects, Vernon gets to yell, and Vernon's at work often enough to give Harry a break." AN EXCELLENT SOLUTION, IF I DO SAY SO MYSELF

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Sirius never went to Azkaban. In canon-- his mother leaves him the house, and he is the true heir. Kreacher recognizes him. Sure, she might have left it to him because he was "good" all along and working for Voldemort since he "betrayed" James-- but she left it to him, not Bella. Narcissa came into land, Bella could have used the house. It's still Sirius's place. If he were alive, I think he wouldn't soften up about her at all, but he'd visit if she were dying and they could insult each other all they liked. He might be shocked to learn that he's back in her will, or that he was never taken out.

This also leads to Sirius jokingly calling his godson "Bambi Jr." when he wants to get Harry riled up. It works.


"AN EXCELLENT SOLUTION, IF I DO SAY SO MYSELF"
WHY THANK YOU. SIRIUS IS RATHER CHUFFED TO HAVE MADE EVERYONE SO HAPPY, AND AS MUCH AS HE HATES TO REWARD BAD BEHAVIOR HARRY IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN PETTY REVENGE. HE FINALLY GREW UP (In my version, Lily always said Sirius would be a great man... if he'd ever grow up enough to stop being a boy)

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"This also leads to Sirius jokingly calling his godson "Bambi Jr." when he wants to get Harry riled up. It works." AWESOMESAUCE. <3 I think that Harry would at least have a momentary shock at being called by a nickname: I'm certain that he's never had an affectionate nickname before. I'm pretty sure "Freak" and "Boy" don't have the same connotations. ;)

[feral-shrew.livejournal.com]

Sirius accidentally stumbles onto some very important thing. He's teasing Harry, and Harry is free to yell and laugh and call Sirius names ("Fluffy" comes up at some point, and later Harry thinks it's hilarious that there's a Cerberus named Fluffy), and if he really didn't like it, Sirius would stop. Sirius teases him a lot, but it's never things like "freak" or "boy." It's "Pronglet" and "Bambi" and "Merlin help me you're Lily Jr., and I barely survived the first time through-- she didn't like being pranked." Things like that.

Harry gets a full explanation of blood protections when he's eleven, since Sirius decides old enough to go to school = old enough to know the dangers specific to him, he gets a very comprehensive background about why his parents were hurt... Sirius is a softie, too. He never, ever makes Harry prejudiced against werewolves. The instant Remus breaks out (because Harry was in danger and Peter's still out there), Harry gets a fast lesson in "this is Remus Lupin. If you even THINK the moon is full you are not allowed anywhere outside at night." Sirius doesn't even consider "all werewolves are evil." It hurts too much to think about Remus, so he just doesn't.

(I think nasty werewolves can control themselves a little. Greyback set out to bite Remus for an offense by Remus's father, I'm pretty sure that was canon-- it's at least canon that Greyback liked to bite children. There's a big difference between "bite" and "maim." Neither is happening to Harry, so Sirius is very fast to make sure Harry understands when werewolves are a problem.)

Side note, the entire story starts because of Remus. He asks Alastor Moody if Harry is happy. Mad-eye has no idea and asks Black, then kicks Black into visiting, and then Harry is a happy little kid. It takes months for Black to ask Mad-eye just which Order member was asking after Harry.

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"Sirius teases him a lot, but it's never things like "freak" or "boy." It's "Pronglet" and "Bambi" and "Merlin help me you're Lily Jr., and I barely survived the first time through-- she didn't like being pranked." Things like that." I really like that thought. :) Lil' Harry, getting real affection for the first time in like nine years. ;_;

"The instant Remus breaks out (because Harry was in danger and Peter's still out there), Harry gets a fast lesson in "this is Remus Lupin. If you even THINK the moon is full you are not allowed anywhere outside at night."" Yeah, this isn't racism: this is one, specific werewolf that is coming after you. Big difference. :)

"Side note, the entire story starts because of Remus. He asks Alastor Moody if Harry is happy. Mad-eye has no idea and asks Black, then kicks Black into visiting, and then Harry is a happy little kid. It takes months for Black to ask Mad-eye just which Order member was asking after Harry." Oh, I really, REALLY like this idea. :) This fact could come up later... :3