alchemy most sweet and subtle

I thought about not writing about DH since so many of you already have, and have done so in such an articulate and thoughtful way. But then I thought what the eff, to use JKR's new favorite pseudo-swearword (not really a spoiler). So-- I'll wrap-up my HP weekend here, and put spoiler-thoughts on DH under the cut.

On Friday, I traveled to NY on the train to wandmaker's apartment, where we were joined by kt_118 and some others not on LJ who I will not name in order to preserve their privacy. We had lunch (wandmaker,the hostess with the mostest, had bought sushi for all), and were almost paralyzed with anticipation until the lovely She Who Must Not Be Named walked in with advance copies of DH at around 5:00, beating the Brits to the midnight punch. I immediately popped the book open, checked the end, and screamed at the top of my lungs. Very maturely and professionally, I might add.

After reading for a few hours, we walked over to see Hairspray, which was great fun except that John Travolta's performance seemed coy and forced.kt_118 literally could not stop reading The Book, so I suggested she camouflage it inside the cover of OOtP for our foray into public space. Of course, she was reading it while we strutted past the long line outside Barnes & Noble in our fandom finery. Somehow, I avoided the temptation to scream out "SNAPE KILLS DUMBLEDORE!" (Not to mention "HARRY ENDS UP WITH DRACO!") Then it was back to wandmaker's place for more reading and squeeing. Much to my surprise, when I woke up at 6:00 a.m., everyone else was up already. kt_118 had spent the entire night reading the book. After breakfast, I finished the book on the train home, along with several others doing the same.

I was really glad I'd only read the epilogue and first three chapters previously; this was a priceless experience to share with other HP'ers, and it was really much better to read with the actual copy in hand than off a screen.

And now, the obligatory loooooong DH post, under the cut:

( DH- The Rundown (spoilers are the new black) )

I'm going to post my obligatory impressions of DH, but I couldn't resist writing a tiny little H/D ficlet first. Feel free to suggest a title! ETA: Greatly expanded and now entitled.

Title: Adventures in Wandwork
Author: anthimaeria
Pairing: Harry/Draco
Rating: Hard R. Smut.
Warning: DH spoilers.
Disclaimer: All characters are the copyrighted works of J.K Rowling. No profit was made by the writing of this story, nor was any malice intended in any way, shape or form to the author.
Summary: What's in a wand? Damned if Harry Potter knows.
Word Count: ~600
Author's Notes: A bit of canon redux here--again, includes DH spoilers.

( Adventures in Wandwork )

We all know that JKR doesn't read fan fiction. And if she did read fanfic, she wouldn't read slash. And if she did read slash, she wouldn't read NC-17. And if she did read NC-17 slash fanfic, I doubt she'd read my stuff-- she'd be much more likely to read a more popular author. Nevertheless, I found the similarities between the following passages from one of my fics and DH to be rather amusing:

( But in order to show you, I have to put this behind a spoiler cut. )

I'm sensing mass hysteria building over the rumor that LJ will ban all authors who post sexually explict fanfiction featuring characters under the age of 18. ( Not so, people, not so. )

The very last fic out of me before the end of canon! *sobs*

Title: Unreserved
Author: anthimaeria
Pairing: Harry/Draco
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: All characters are the copyrighted works of J.K Rowling. No profit was made by the writing of this story, nor was any malice intended in any way, shape or form to the author.
Summary: Unexpectedly finding Malfoy alone and unguarded, what will Harry do? Set during HBP. Sequel to my double drabble, Unredeemed, which you may want to read first so this one will make sense.
Word Count: 100

( Unreserved )

~*~

And for all you H/D shippers out there (at least 85% of my flist), Amalin has written a lovely, spoiler-free valentine to assure you our ship will never sink, no matter what. ♥ Also, the multi-talented shiv5468 has produced a very amusing parody of Rudyard Kipling's "If" about the demise of canon- also spoiler-free, but watch out for those deathly comments you may find therein.

Other than the fact that I have already bought DH and am scheduled to pick it up in NY, can anyone give me one good (spoiler-free)reason why I shouldn't cave and read it now? And what's your decision, flist?

Well, you've all heard about it by now. The first 495 pages of DH have been leaked and are available via various LJs. I am sorely, sorely tempted to read it, and probably would except that I am going to wandmaker's reading party on Friday in New York, where we will be reading the chapters aloud (at least that's the plan). Obviously reading the spoilers would "spoil" this experience. And I don't want to spoil anyone else. But damn it, it's going to be hard not to click on those links! And no spoilers in comments, please. I trust you guys.

Anyway... are any of you on my flist who live in NYC gathering on Friday night at any particular Manhattan location, such as a bookstore? I'd like to take the opportunity to meet some of you, if possible, since I won't be going to any cons.

Author: anthimaeria
Title: Unfinished Business
Pairing(s): Harry/Draco
Summary, from Romilda Vane's report: Mr Potter, a seven-year veteran of the Auror Department, is lost outside the loop until a familiar change agent re-emerges with a value-added proposition to potentiate a profound culture shift.
Translated summary, by author who will never, ever use Ms Vane for summaries again: Harry is confronted with a difficult truth when the only person who knows his secret is reassigned to the Ministry's London office. And it's all making him a bit mental, to be honest.
Rating: NC-17
Disclaimer: All Harry Potter characters herein are the property of J.K. Rowling and Bloomsbury/Scholastic. No copyright infringement is intended.
Warning[s]: Gratuitous management-speak, sexually confused!Harry, hospital sex, rimming.
Word Count: ~ 8785
Author's Notes: Written for ashe_frost for the 2007 hd_holidays challenge, 2nd Wave, and inspired in part by Lucy Kellaway's Who Moved My Blackberry, a very funny take on British corporate life and rebranding. In response to feedback, this is very slightly revised from the version posted in the exchange, in that I have tried to put Harry's initial homophobia more in context. Thanks to my beloved beta crucio_4_coffee for her careful scrutiny and wise suggestions, and to my amazing audiencers sansa1970 and janicechess, and my brilliant Britpicker, the one and only shiv5468, for applying their worthy skills to my humble effort.

( Unfinished Business )

So HD Holidays reveals are up! I wrote Unfinished Business. See how I'm not linking to it? That's because I revised it after it posted, because I was uncomfortable with some of the dialogue and Harry's motivation. So if you haven't read it yet, pleeease don't read it until I post it here in a few days, okay?

And dark0feenix wrote the delightful The Many Faces of Draco Malfoy for me. I would have never guessed! *is happy with gift*

I'll conclude with a few fangirly recs. And I do have an ulterior motive with reccing: I want these authors to write more, damn it! *cracks whip*

( Danse Russe by Frayach-- finally complete! )

( Draco under glass by Pushdragon )

After weeks of insanity and an entire day of apartment-viewing, negotiating and lease signing... we finally found an apartment for September. Paying a lot more than we're paying now (!) though heat is included, plus having to pay extra for off-street parking (the very idea!!), but it's a very nice place. Huge- 2 ½ bedrooms, with numerous closets, a dining room, and a pantry. Practically Malfoy Manor in an apartment. It's located in a lovely historic building, built in 1898, in the American Collegiate Gothic style. And it will be a fantastic place to write the_lgc. In fact, I can even connect our new home to the LGC in less than six degrees of separation:

1. The building was designed by Ralph Adams Cram, noted architect and gay Bostonian.
2. Douglas Shand-Tucci was Cram's biographer.
3. Shand-Tucci also wrote The Crimson Letter: Harvard, Homosexuality, and the Shaping of American Culture, which was the next book on my list to read as research for the LGC.

Pretty cool, huh? And I finally saw OOtP.. though I'm sure everyone must be tired of talking about it by now, but I can't resist putting in my two cents here :

( OOtP Yays and Nays )

Title: What Lies Beneath
Author: anthimaeria
Pairing: Harry/Draco
Rating: NC-17
Disclaimer: All characters are the copyrighted works of J.K Rowling. No profit was made by the writing of this story, nor was any malice intended in any way, shape or form to the author.
Warnings: PWP, OOC, crack, humour
Summary: The final Horcrux is hidden in a very strange place indeed. Which is the excuse for this extremely silly crackfic.
Word Count: ~ 1710.
Author Notes: I offered this prompt to Calanthe, but I suspect she is going for something a bit more serious, so I've snagged it back. This is a belated gift fic for aldebaran1977, who successfully guessed my first HD Holidays submission. The quote “It sounded medical and secret, but also important," is lifted from The Higher Power of Lucky by Susan Patron (the kids' book made controversial by its casual use of the word scrotum). The title is stolen from a cheesy movie that I haven't seen.

( What Lies Beneath )

It looks like we may have actually found a place to move for the fall. *crosses fingers* The new place is not huge and not cheap, but it's very close to the hospital area, well-maintained and right in the middle of the city. It's on the first floor, but higher up and set back from the street, and gets lots of light. Also, it overlooks a never-used, padlocked park and has no common walls with other apartments. Right now we're in the semi-suburbs, so I look forward to being able to walk to shopping, movies, etc, not to mention the gorgeous parkland that winds through Boston (which is just steps away).

I spent Friday night north of the city with frayach and we had a blast. She is one of those people that you can never run out of things to discuss with, as well as a very easy travel companion. Around midnight, we read some badfic on my Blackberry and did a running MST3K style commentary on the "action" or lack of it. I had to smother my laughter with a pillow to keep from annoying the other B&B guests. Then I gave Fray "Velvet Goldmine" for her birthday, because she may be the only slasher in the world who hasn't seen it. Now perhaps we can look forward to some glam rock!HD fics if she's suitably inspired... though we'll see the long-anticipated epilogue to Danse Russe first, once she decides which direction to take it. I pushed for fluffy happiness, of course. :)

So what's everyone doing for OOTP? I am not doing a midnight show in midweek- will probably duck in during the day and skip the crowds.

My sister is reading the_lgc! She refuses to read any of my HP fanfic because it's "weird." But she loved reading about the progress of my book and said she could even imagine the movie (I wish- it will be incredible enough if I just manage to write the whole thing). Somehow, there's no validation quite like that of your family members. At least not in my family, which isn't one that unconditionally champions everything its members do. We're more on the judgmental side. But at least that way you know that any praise is sincere and not an automatic consequence of the relationship.

And my HD Holidays fic has posted, folks. Anyone want to guess which it is? Comments will be screened. The first person to get it right wins a drabble or a ficlet, as does aldebaran1977 who already agreed to play. And Aldebaran, am seriously working on the ficlet I promised you from guessing my fic last time...

Anyone who betaed, modded, audienced or Britpicked my fic is disqualified. So is aoifeic who already guessed correctly using her amazing AP English teaching skillz. And here are the clues:

1. It's one part, all in a single post.
2. It's written in "my" style, according to aoifeic.
3. NC-17, baby!
4. The recipient is not on my flist.

( Some thoughts on Sicko... )

Rec! If you're one of the many who loved the heartbreaking, beautifully written Nocturne for Quill and Ink with its debatably ambiguous ending, pushdragon will delight you again with the brand-new sequel to Nocturne:

Étude: A lesson in voice [hard R]
My summary: A very determined Draco attempts to pull Harry out of the post-war darkness that surrounds him. Every bit as sweet, intense, and emotionally wrenching as the original.

ETA: babb_chronicles posted! There can never be enough Babb. I wrote a comment ficlet:

[Badfic excerpt]:Aaliyah moved on to Blaise, who was waiting anxiously for his turn.
“You are Elf, faery, and vampire, just like Ms. Granger. You have the same powers as her except I think your wings would be more turquoise colored.”
“Turquoise?” Draco questioned. The others realized Blaise had never told them what his colors were.

Blaise sneered. "Isn't it obvious? I'm a 'Winter'!"

Everyone stared at Blaise in open-mouthed amazement. Finally, Harry spoke. "I can see that," he agreed. "Your hair is very dark, and there are cool tones in your complexion."

"You--" Hermione started, "you went and got--"

"That's right, I had my colours done last year. In Hogsmeade," Blaise clarified, looking smug. "You know, I think I still may have a ten-percent-off coupon... lemme look." He fished around in his trousers, then handed her a crumpled card.

ETA 2: titti quotes possibly accurate DH spoilers in her LJ today, if you can't resist. None here, though.

( Cut for RL )

Breathe a sigh of relief, flist. I won't be battering your ears with a voice post of the Star-Spangled Banner today, or regaling you with an operatic rendition of "It's a Grand Old Flag." And though it may be Independence Day in the U.S., that doesn't mean I've forgotten about the Brits on my flist, as I have some vocabulary questions for you that I'm sure you are just dying to answer. *looks hopeful* I usually ask shiv5468 these questions, but I thought I'd give her a break and bother some others for a change, though Shiv is certainly welcome to answer if she likes. Just think, a mere 231 years ago I wouldn't even have needed to ask...

1. Is it shit or shite? Is there a time when one or the other is more appropriate?
2. Oh, and speaking of forgotten. is it a British word? Or is it verboten like gotten?
ETA: The Shiv has spoken, but feel free to add other words of wisdom.

And now a meme:

The Rules...

1. Leave me a comment saying anything random, like your favorite lyric to your current favorite song. Or your favorite kind of sandwich. Something random. Whatever you like.
2. I respond by asking you five personal questions so I can get to know you better.
3. You WILL update your LJ with the answers to the questions.
4. You will include this explanation and offer to ask someone else in the post.
5. When others comment asking to be asked, you will ask them five questions

( My responses are -- )

Harry's bellowing cod-psychoanalysis of Voldemort is jarringly awful.

I don't know about you, but the bellowing cod-psychonalysis just sold me. Win.

Am loving a lot of these hd_holidays fics, even though I've missed a number of them because most are just so darn long. I'm not reccing any until the reveal, but have you read any lately that you'd recommend?

Lastly, I have an awesome link to share: TV Links streams a nice assortment of past and current U.S. and British shows, no logging in or membership required. They've got Queer as Folk (US and UK), Entourage, Torchwood, Sex & the City, The Office, The IT Crowd, Life on Mars, Curb Your Enthusiasm etcetera. If I were an employer, this would be one of the first sites I'd block. Have a great weekend!

Someone broke into my car yesterday and stole my stereo and a handful of quarters. They wedged open a panel under the passenger side mirror, so at least there'll be no major repairs. I feel strangely undisturbed by this- my stereo was very cheap, and I wanted to get a new one anyway. But I'm wondering if this is an odd reaction.

And now, two meme answers:

( 10 Things I Wish I Could Tell Myself at 16 )

( N things )

I got a well-needed ego boost yesterday when crucio_4_coffee let me know I'd been fic-searched for The Reckoning! It was so weird to see someone describe the elements of a story and suddenly realize OMG - I wrote that. :)

Here's a snippet of an unfinished HP fic, based on this news item-- Fort Worth Park Known to Some Men as a Place for Sex (from strigoia). Anyone want to add to it or finish it? Or comment on it?

Title: The Nest
Rating: PG-13 for now...
Pairing: Harry/? (I vote for Draco)
Summary: No one knows where Harry sneaks off to on his lunch hour. Until now.
Word Count: Less than 1000 now, but up to you!
Disclaimer: All characters are the copyright of JK Rowling and certainly not us.

( It was getting riskier and riskier, but still-- he couldn't resist. )

Good afternoon, or evening, or whatever time it may be in your present location. I have some questions for you all. Did the following originate in fanon or canon? And if canon, then where?

1. Wards - protective spells around a location.
2. Malfoy Manor used as a term for the Malfoy homestead in Wiltshire.

ETA: kyuuketsukirui did an electronic search of all six books and did not find the word "wards," or "Malfoy Manor" so I am assuming these are fanon. I wonder who was the first person to use these terms in fics? And was Cassie Claire the first to come up with veela!Draco and leather pants!Draco?

And here is an unrelated link. I just found this list of semi-famous people on LJ. Mostly writers and wrestlers, mostly people I hadn't heard of. But interesting. And most do not comment back nor friend back.