The hds_beltane reveals are up!

[lomonaaeren]

First of all, thank you so much to the people who wrote stories for me! I received three (one shared with megyal, whom there is no one better to share a story with) and enjoyed them all:

The Messenger by sugareey (really liked the atmosphere and mood in this one)
Family Portrait by khateh (lovely and original use of magic here)
A Beltane Gift by juwel_fic, for me and megyal (a threesome between Harry, Draco, and Snape with strong dynamics and a good Harry POV)

I wrote two, one an original assignment and one a pinch-hit, which I'll probably repost here in a few days:

When In Flight for honorarymaraudr. This was a 17,000-word H/D, with Harry as the Hogwarts flying instructor and Draco as an inspector for the Ministry sent to Hogwarts because of the high proportion of accidents the Slytherin Quidditch players keep having. Beta-ed by ms_mindfunk, who helped especially in the clarification of long sentences and the taking down of italics that really needed to go down.

Kestrel for gingertart50. This is a 25,000-word Harry/Snape. Yes, Harry/Snape. I had a lot of fun writing it because the prompts were so plot-oriented and I liked my characterizations, but I was also writing it during a week when I was busy with work and very sick with sinusitis, and there was a voice in the back of my head all the time yelling, "You can't write Harry/Snape! You've never done it before!" I'm very pleased it turned out as well as it did. Beta-ed by Linda, an RL friend of mine who detests Harry Potter but is an excellent critical reader; I e-mailed her begging for a beta and she said "NO!", then sighed and said, "Send it on." She did an awesome job.

Thanks to everyone involved, especially twistedm, who handled a very difficult fest with grace and dignity.

Comments

[marguerite-26.livejournal.com]

I LOVED Kestrel! I can't believe that was your first Snarry. I know I didn't comment yet, but I recced it in my lj last week. I just haven't found the words to tell you how much I loved that fic.

The description of Snape's work was amazing and now, knowing it was you, I can see why. You have a way of writing magic, and potions and the passion of a master at work that really hits me.

A really, really fantastic job. You should be very proud.

Now I'm off to read your other fic that I missed.

[lomonaaeren.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I was so, so nervous. I've read some Snarry, but I've never even tried writing it before because I couldn't come up with a plot. (That's one of the reasons I loved gingertart50's prompts: they gave me a challenge, but also a skeleton of plot to hang things on and some guide for the character interactions).

As soon as I saw the "unusual careers" request, I knew exactly what I wanted to do with it. That was the part that ended up producing the wings plot. I'm very glad Snape's passion for it came across to you.

And thank you again! During the actual writing of the story I was fine. At night I lay in bed with my brain going, "ARGH, ARGH, ARGH."

[klynie1.livejournal.com]

I absolutely loved "Kestrel." Your characterizations were excellent and I loved the mixture of art and macabre that you brought to Snape. Truly lovely.

I'm not familiar with your writing, but I friended you based on that piece. I hope you don't mind.

[lomonaaeren.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much! I'm absolutely amazed that the response was so positive, since it was my first Snarry, but it's very welcome.

And no, not at all. I've written mostly H/D so far, and tend to post fairly often.

[gingertart50.livejournal.com]

I would never have believed that it was your first Harry/Snape fic. This was a simply terrific story, original, touching, poignant and clever. I loved it, particularly your bitter Snape, and how he begins to see Harry for himself. Thank you so much!

[lomonaaeren.livejournal.com]

Thank you! A lot of the credit goes to you for your absolutely wonderful requests. I do a lot better with plot-based prompts than kink-based ones, so I cheered when I realized how many you had. :)

I'm glad Snape seemed in character; I don't write him often at all.

[megyal]

Wonderful work! I'm so glad that you tried out the Snape/Harry.

[lomonaaeren.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I'm glad I did, too, if only because it's given me confidence to tackle other pairings.

[alexis-sd.livejournal.com]

I didn't keep up with reading hds_beltane, so I had missed both your stories. But I read them and they were delightful. And honestly only a few days ago, when you posted your last oneshot I was thinking that I'd love to see a Snarry by you. And then I discovered that you've braved that territory. That was just great to see.

Kestrel

I loved your Snape, his anger, his stuck up hatred for Harry, his infatuation with him. I just loved the wings. You turned a age-old human dream (I am sure there's not a single person who hasn't dreamt of flying) into a beautiful story. And once again you created an original and absolutely fantastic profession for a character of yours. I liked how Snape felt about his work and his creations, especially the Kestrel.

I loved your Harry in Kestrel. He had kept that spark of childish curiosity and love for life that made him so lively and full of energy. The way he enticed Snape was great.

When in Flight

I loved the plot. In the beginning I didn't expect that the childish prank (as I saw it) would grow into such stupidity and maliciousness on the students' part. It was sad that those kids destroyed their future and marked their housemates to be suspected of every Quidditch incident that would happen for some time.

But the Harry/Draco interaction was love. Draco's anger/public sex kinks and Harry's glasses kink felt great. And the sex was hot! Guh! Well done.

Those were lovely fics and I can only hope you'll write more Snarry (which is my OTP), or that maybe you'll even try a threesome, some lovely day :).

[lomonaaeren.livejournal.com]

Thank you! If you had asked for the Snarry, I probably would have held off replying to the comment until after the reveal, because I don't think I would have been able to contain myself otherwise. :)

I haven't written much Snape perspective, so I'm glad you thought he seemed IC. The artist side, whether as Potions master or Defense professor, isn't one we get to see explored much in canon, but it's the best way I can empathize with Snape- hence one reason it played such a part in the story.

Heh, Snape probably never would have realized what was building between them if not for Harry.

The plot of "When in Flight" did have some differences at first; I was going to write something other than "students are responsible for students falling off brooms." But hey, with the war done, the House rivalry would find something new to focus on, and it could very easily be the Quidditch Cup, and it could very easily get out of control.

I don't usually write kink fics, so I'm also glad you liked the way I worked those in.

I'm not sure I have the confidence for a threesome yet! But I'll be trying some femmeslash soon, and I do have another Snarry plot brewing in the back of my mind, if I can get it to come clear.

[ms-mindfunk.livejournal.com]

It really was a great story, you know. :)

[lomonaaeren.livejournal.com]

Thank you! And thanks again for beta-ing. The final story was much better than the rough draft thanks to you.