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

[feral-shrew.livejournal.com]

"Good point! :D Or maybe they can give this task to Ron so he can say he did something to contribute. ;) (Or maybe he can be a convenient distraction at some point?)"" Draco might be feeling unfamiliarly protective. He and Snape might unofficially adopt Hermione in as a Slytherin. She was being possessed by Voldemort and was still trying to warn everyone else that there was a basilisk on the loose. (Plus, no offense meant to Ginny, but Hermione is The Brain. She just might get something interesting out of Voldie's memories that he didn't want her to have. I have no idea what, but it's possible if you want to give Draco-and-co. an extra hint.)

"Oh yeah, maybe he's not out yet. Y'know, Crouch was hiding his son for years, so it could be whenever. Wait, has either his wife or son died yet? I think they did a switch or something. In any case, after that year the Ministry stepped up its enforcement of Polyjuice Potion as a restricted substance."" Snape and Dumbledore: o.O.

"Yes, definitely! And it would add more of a villain in either the second or third year... probably third year so there's more stuff going on. It'd be an excellent surprise for the readers! UNEXPECTED UMBRIDGE IS UNEXPECTED. (Or, alternatively:) NOBODY EXPECTS THE UMBRIDGE INQUISITION." OMG YES! BOTH. AT THE SAME TIME. Plus, if she's there and they reluctantly hire. Lupin (because he actually didn't let Black in, Draco knows Snape would have told the world if that was the case), then there are even more secrets. Snape might be half-tempted to 'accidentally' let Umbridge find out about Lupin, but she's too much of a dolt about her non-chosen topics to make any subtlety worth it.

(And even Lupin might not deserve Umbridge. Sirius Black, yes. Potter, definitely. Lupin-the-spineless will probably torture himself well enough. (Snape's characterization, and I'd expect that Black and Potter could twist Lupin into going along with a lot-- they're both immensely charismatic and he doesn't want to lose his friends.)

[beboots.livejournal.com]

I really like the idea of protective!Draco. (Also, defensive!Draco, because if he had actually been a decent friend and realized what was going on sooner it wouldn't have come to this...) Unofficial!Slytherin!Hermione? Interesting! (The first muggleborn to achieve this lofty position? ;) ) I do like the idea of Hermione learning some useful things to combat Voldemort... maybe hints of horcrux?

"Snape and Dumbledore: o.O." Yep. Draco really does enjoy the shocked looks on their faces at times. It doesn't happen often (or didn't, before they learned about him), and he relishes the experience.

"Snape might be half-tempted to 'accidentally' let Umbridge find out about Lupin, but she's too much of a dolt about her non-chosen topics to make any subtlety worth it." Yeah: the question now becomes which person he hates more. On a personal level, probably Lupin, but at least Lupin isn't about to get him any more and can be placated with a potion once a month. Umbridge just DOESN'T STOP BEING ANNOYING AND CREEPY. Also, Snape hates pink.

[feral-shrew.livejournal.com]

"I really like the idea of protective!Draco. (Also, defensive!Draco, because if he had actually been a decent friend and realized what was going on sooner it wouldn't have come to this...)" Besides, Weasley might drop her. Snape will probably put himself in charge of handling the diary (and memorizing a few pertinent passwords so he can come render the basilisk into potions ingredients later, or at least find a reason to give Potter a detention so he can get some high-quality things--nobody has a sixty-something-foot basilisk, he can Do Shit with this).

"Unofficial!Slytherin!Hermione? Interesting! (The first muggleborn to achieve this lofty position? ;) ) I do like the idea of Hermione learning some useful things to combat Voldemort... maybe hints of horcrux?" I was thinking hints of horcrux or half-blooded-ness. Horcrux, she might notice just which stories he has open if he showed her the orphanage to win sympathy. Koschei, a couple other stories about immortality...

"Yep. Draco really does enjoy the shocked looks on their faces at times. It doesn't happen often (or didn't, before they learned about him), and he relishes the experience."

"Before they learned about Draco" was such a peaceful time. Draco will repay Snape at least by being totally shocked about true allegiances. "But... what? You were all set up to kill Dumbledore if I hadn't done it!!!" "Albus's design, no doubt. No Slytherin would ever be so melodramatic."

"Yeah: the question now becomes which person he hates more. On a personal level, probably Lupin, but at least Lupin isn't about to get him any more and can be placated with a potion once a month. Umbridge just DOESN'T STOP BEING ANNOYING AND CREEPY. Also, Snape hates pink." Plus, farming out revenge is low-class, and he can come up with something suitable for Lupin. (Or Snape can stay a few seconds longer to be sure that potion is ingested, and may or may not disguise the obvious distrust with questions about problem Slytherin students that tend to need extra attention. Maybe that comes in time)

[beboots.livejournal.com]

"(and memorizing a few pertinent passwords so he can come render the basilisk into potions ingredients later, or at least find a reason to give Potter a detention so he can get some high-quality things--nobody has a sixty-something-foot basilisk, he can Do Shit with this)" Oh Harry, you must stop being so useful to Snape or you will never cease having detentions... ;) But yeah, in my headcanon Snape totally got some basilisk venom, scales and fangs, at least ,out of this whole affair.

Hermione is observant. She'll figure something out. ;) ...Especially when she's truly brought into Draco's confidence.

"Draco will repay Snape at least by being totally shocked about true allegiances." Also, he would be completely hurt by these realizations, too. :( HE THOUGHT SNAPE WAS ON HIS SIDE.

Slowly Lupin will become more tolerable to Snape. Slowly but surely. Anything is better than Umbridge, anyway.

[feral-shrew.livejournal.com]

"Oh Harry, you must stop being so useful to Snape or you will never cease having detentions... ;) But yeah, in my headcanon Snape totally got some basilisk venom, scales and fangs, at least ,out of this whole affair." Why on earth wouldn't he? If he's been down there with Potter already, it's very easy to give him a detention, relish the unhappiness that results, then have Potter holding things while Snape works (because Potter would get himself poisoned to death and then the entire prophecy is bunk).

"Hermione is observant. She'll figure something out. ;) ...Especially when she's truly brought into Draco's confidence." Oh yes. Just wait, Draco, there are VERY awesome benefits to befriending brainy Gryffindors. Ravenclaws are too analytical, Gryffs will figure it out and then DO something about it.

"Also, he would be completely hurt by these realizations, too. :( HE THOUGHT SNAPE WAS ON HIS SIDE." Snape: (unimpressed) Didn't Draco go back in time because he didn't like what happened? Snape changed sides /well/ because he didn't like what was going to happen (because he totes had a soft spot for Lily. Just saying)

"Slowly Lupin will become more tolerable to Snape. Slowly but surely. Anything is better than Umbridge, anyway." OMG what if Lupin pranks her? Lupin has seen a little bit too much against Harry, perhaps, and if he has two seconds to spare a thought for what James would have done... Lupin is mild and innocent and has absolutely no idea how every last bit of pink that Dolores touches turns to various shades of puce, chartreuse, and variegated crimson. (It wouldn't get far at all against Harry, either. Just one comment that hurts Harry's feelings and Lupin is Perturbed.)

[beboots.livejournal.com]

"(because Potter would get himself poisoned to death and then the entire prophecy is bunk)." OR IS IT?? I actually just had a thought a few hours ago: what if the prophesy was still true... but it referred to Draco? It would be completely unexpected, because his birthday didn't match up... but his "return" date did? Or something? And his parents defied Voldemort, but in the future? Yeah, I'm not sure if that would work or not, but it's a thought...

"Oh yes. Just wait, Draco, there are VERY awesome benefits to befriending brainy Gryffindors. Ravenclaws are too analytical, Gryffs will figure it out and then DO something about it." Oh yeah, Gryffindors aren't afraid to get their hands dirty, especially if they're passionate about what they're doing.

"Snape: (unimpressed) Didn't Draco go back in time because he didn't like what happened? Snape changed sides /well/ because he didn't like what was going to happen (because he totes had a soft spot for Lily. Just saying)" Yeah, Draco's not being LOGICAL about all of this. His gut instinct is still to react in a "BUT YOU BETRAYED ME AND PLAYED ME FOR A FOOL" way, even though he's now on the same side as Snape. Draco still has to take a little while to stop instinctively thinking of Dumbledore as the enemy... and to actually trust the headmaster. (Remember, if he starts actually thinking of the Headmaster as being a good guy... Draco has to come to terms with the fact that he killed him, before. MOAR TRAUMA.)

"OMG what if Lupin pranks her? Lupin has seen a little bit too much against Harry, perhaps, and if he has two seconds to spare a thought for what James would have done... Lupin is mild and innocent and has absolutely no idea how every last bit of pink that Dolores touches turns to various shades of puce, chartreuse, and variegated crimson." OMG YES. And nobody can pin ANYTHING on Lupin... just like in school. "I had nothing to do with my friends' actions! You wouldn't have made me prefect if I wasn't so trustworthy!"

[feral-shrew.livejournal.com]

"OR IS IT?? I actually just had a thought a few hours ago: what if the prophesy was still true... but it referred to Draco? It would be completely unexpected, because his birthday didn't match up... but his "return" date did? Or something? And his parents defied Voldemort, but in the future? Yeah, I'm not sure if that would work or not, but it's a thought..." It would be pretty cool, but Draco would need the mark as an equal. The Dark Mark is a one-way thing. It is vaguely possible, but you need some cool tweaking.

"Oh yeah, Gryffindors aren't afraid to get their hands dirty, especially if they're passionate about what they're doing." My mind went in the gutter, I'm done now. Gryffindor + Slytherin (with the Ravenclaw bookishness for research) is an awesome teamup.

"Yeah, Draco's not being LOGICAL about all of this. His gut instinct is still to react in a "BUT YOU BETRAYED ME AND PLAYED ME FOR A FOOL" way, even though he's now on the same side as Snape. Draco still has to take a little while to stop instinctively thinking of Dumbledore as the enemy... and to actually trust the headmaster. (Remember, if he starts actually thinking of the Headmaster as being a good guy... Draco has to come to terms with the fact that he killed him, before. MOAR TRAUMA.)" Yeah, Draco's not going to have an easy transition, but he might be one of the very rare people to earn Snape's respect. (Also, Draco, NEVER say mudblood around Snape. He doesn't do that word.)

"OMG YES. And nobody can pin ANYTHING on Lupin... just like in school. "I had nothing to do with my friends' actions! You wouldn't have made me prefect if I wasn't so trustworthy!""

So Snape might feel like he should be angry, because it's the Marauders all over again, but Lupin didn't touch anybody else and hasn't bragged at all, and Umbridge keeps desperately trying to turn her things pink (probably to hilarious effect).

[beboots.livejournal.com]

Yeah, you're probably right. It was just a thought that occurred to me. :P TOO COMPLICATED, THOUGH. I'm already changing a lot and challenging people's expectations, so... ;)

"My mind went in the gutter, I'm done now." To be honest, when I wrote the line, mine did too. Then I shrugged and posted it anyway. >;)

"Gryffindor + Slytherin (with the Ravenclaw bookishness for research) is an awesome teamup." WHERE DOES HUFFELPUFF FIT IT DOES NO ONE LOVE THEM??

"Yeah, Draco's not going to have an easy transition, but he might be one of the very rare people to earn Snape's respect. (Also, Draco, NEVER say mudblood around Snape. He doesn't do that word.)" Oh, good point! Not even for show. LILYYYYYY... ;_;

[feral-shrew.livejournal.com]

"WHERE DOES HUFFELPUFF FIT IT DOES NO ONE LOVE THEM??" They have Hufflepuff covered, Draco learns how to be loyal and Hermione is hard-working.

"Oh, good point! Not even for show. LILYYYYYY... ;_;" I think it was in the books somewhere. Snape didn't openly disapprove, maybe, but when somebody said "mudblood" he made them stop ranting and go back to work.

[beboots.livejournal.com]

Oh hey... I just read this essay I think you'll find interesting: http://hpcompanion.com/essays/csessay/ It muddles through Dobby's actions and actually makes them make sense to me. ;) I have to figure out his role in the second year... Should I have Draco recruit him, or not? Hmm... perhaps I can foreshadow stuff by having Draco actually deign to speak to Dobby over Christmas in first year? Perhaps it's Dobby who warns Draco about Lucius' intention of exorcising him?