geoviki | Old Dog, New Tricks

Note the day, my dear LJ friends - Friday night. Sobriety not guaranteed.

I just participated in my first ever timed writing event last night, as part of the

hpshortfics comm. Here are my attempts at writing something short with the clock ticking.

Fics entirely composed of letters - Challenge: War letters, Percy/anyone

On Behalf of the Ministry

Ministry of Magic
Department of War Survivors
Diagon Alley
London

Dear Mr and Mrs Finch-Fletchley,

Please accept the condolences of the entire Ministry of Magic in the death of your son, Justin. We at the Ministry want you to know that the sacrifice of your son was not in vain, but was a brave and noble act that will lead us to eventual victory over He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.

On behalf of the Ministry, I shall meet with you at your convenience to discuss burial arrangements and any benefits due to your family accrued in the line of your son's activities on our behalf.

Most sincerely,
Percy Weasley, Assistant to the Deputy Minister

~~~~~~~~~~

Dear Mum and Dad,

It's been far too long since I've put quill to paper. In the past few months, I've been promoted to Assistant to the Deputy Minister of the War Survivors Department. It's a position for which I've worked long to attain, and I've been putting in long hours to fulfill my duties to the Ministry. I believe my work is beginning to attract favorable notice. Although you and I do not work in the same part of the Ministry, perhaps you've heard good reports, Dad? I was thinking, perhaps, I could pay a visit to the Burrow-------

~~~~~~~~~~

Dear Mr Wood,

Please accept the condolences of the entire Ministry of Magic in the death of your son, Oliver. We at the Ministry want you to know that the sacrifice of your son was not in vain, but was a brave and noble act that will lead us to eventual victory over He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named....

~~~~~~~~~~

Dear Mum and Dad,

I know it's been too long since I've written to you. I've been busy in my new job as Assistant to the Deputy Minister. It's an important position – one of my tasks is to notify the families of those killed in the War. I can tell you all about it sometime - I'd like to come home for dinner one of these nights----------

~~~~~~~~~~

Dear Mr Lupin,

Please accept the condolences of the entire Ministry of Magic in the death of your wife, Nymphadora. We at the Ministry want you to know that the sacrifice of your wife was not in vain....

~~~~~~~~~~

Dear Mum and Dad,

I'm sorry for the slowness of my letter to you. I have a new job at the Ministry. I want to tell you all about it. Can I come to dinner? Maybe tomorrow night? I had to visit Remus Lupin today about the death of Tonks. It was horrible. I know you'd know what to say, but I certainly didn't. I wonder if I'm fit for this job at all on days like today, when I have to look in someone's eyes and try to tell them why their son or wife or father or sister-------

~~~~~~~~~~

Dear Mr and Mrs Weasley,

Please accept the condolences of the entire Ministry of Magic in the death of your son,
Charles....

~~~~~~~~~~

Dear Mum and Dad,

I'm so sorry. Please forgive me for cutting myself off. I'm coming home.

Percy.
__________________________________________________________

Fics entirely composed of letters - Draco, Harry, Neville, Ron or Hermione - The letter desired rather than the one in hand

A House is Not A Home

Redmund, Hall, and Strongfellow
Solicitors
Diagon Alley
London

Dear Mr Longbottom,

On behalf of my client, Mr Draco Malfoy, I would like to convey thanks and satisfaction for the property you've arranged to sell to him. The condition and location are both entirely suitable to a man of Mr Malfoy's position and taste. We hope to expedite the arrangements as soon as is feasible.

With regards,

Erastus Redmund

*****

Neville fished through the legal documents, imagining something else, something hand-penned, perhaps, something friendlier.

*****

Dear Neville,

Imagine my surprise to discover that I'd be buying my London home from you, of all people. I know you saw how startled I was when we met face to face for the first time in over ten years. I admit I didn't recognize you at first - you're nothing like the boy who chased his toad up and down the Hogwarts Express, or drove Professor Snape to distraction by ruining more than a few of your potions. But then, I'm nothing like the boy you knew then, either. I suspect if I spent more time with you and got to know you, I'd find we have a lot more in common than we ever suspected.

In fact, I think that's a good idea, don't you? I'm planning on a housewarming next Friday, just a few close friends, and I think it would be wonderful of you to join me as an honored guest. Would you like that as much as I would? I'll expect your owl in the near future, then. Please don't say no. You can show me all of the secrets of my new home that only a former owner would know.

Here's to the start of a new relationship,

Draco

________________________________________________

Fics comprised entirely of letters - Challenge: Minerva/anyone, rejecting a person's advances.
Between the Lines

~~My Dear~~ ~~Dear~~ ~~Mr Hagrid~~ ~~Rubeus~~ Hagrid,

It was with ~~utter shock~~ some surprise that I received your invitation to the Leaving Ball ~~since we're all supposed to be there as chaperones, you silly sod~~. I think you ~~have lost your marbles~~ might have slightly misunderstood ~~what an idiot I find you~~ my feelings towards you. Although we've been colleagues ~~far too long~~ these many years, I ~~still think Dumbledore was an idiot to allow you to teach impressionable children~~ hold you in some ~~horror~~ regard. Make no mistake about that.

~~I wouldn't go to the Leaving Ball with you if you were the last human on Earth.~~

~~I'd have to be mad to even consider it.~~

~~I wonder what Flitwick is doing that evening?~~

~~Or possibly the Bloody Baron.~~

~~Even the squid is looking most attractive under the circumstances.~~

What time would you like to call for me?

~~I can't believe I'm doing this. Kill me now, please.~~

~~Warm~~ Regards,

Minerva