#cwau

[cinnamonspiderrrrrrrr]

[raekuul]

wait I can use that verbatim since Sirius is hiding out in/near Hogsmeade. Neat.

[raekuul]

Once part one of Rattlesnake (the Champion Cassius Warrington AU) reaches its conclusion I’ll need to crosspost it here and on AO3.

The idea of posting it to AO3 scares me and I’m not sure why. It is a welcoming place. Or maybe I just want to post finished chunks to AO3 and use ffnet as a “here you can read what I’ve got so far” space? But CWAU deserves better than that.

[raekuul]

so i’m over here planning the Second Task for Rattlesnake (the Cassius Warrington AU) and Fleur shows up at the Hostage Spot. The ensuing conversation throws me completely off-balance.

“Where’s Krum?”

“‘E got attacked by a giant squid.”

The mercheiftainess squawked what sounded like orders to the nearby merfolk.

“He’ll be okay, won’t he?” Harry asked. The mercheiftainess shook her head and pointed to one of the nearby merfolk. 

In a gravelly voice, he said “He’s the one who turned into a shark, yeah? They’re usually saltwater fish, this is a freshwater lake. Even if he had the foresight to become a freshwater shark he’s likely freezing cold. If he’s been injured he’s in serious trouble. Plus, Iris doesn’t take too kindly to outside fish. If he’s not found quickly, this could get ugly.”

[raekuul]

cassius decided he wanted me to start writing again so now I have fleur shouting in french at ludo bagman about the terms of the second task

[raekuul]

cwau stuff

One small thing doesn’t seem like a lot

---- second task            captives ariel hawkins ron weasley gabrielle delacour hermione granger            methods gillyweed gillyweed bubblehead partialtransfigurationshark            “Gillyweed is perfect – it lasts for one hour, our time limit is one hour.”          damn I should have had Cassius ask Severus for “a favor” during the last chapter.                        (can I orwell that in? It’s gonna be a while until Lake goes live)                                    (sure, winston)            cassius used a supersensory charm – didn’t know layout of lake but ssc can sense sapience so can sense “a bunch of merfolk watching us. Probably so that the judges don’t have to” – and a timekeeping charm “your watch is just a bunch of gears now that you’ve submerged it. Thanks to Professor Snape, we have less than an hour to make it back to the surface with our loved ones.”            (harry learns the incantations for these charms after the event – he gets the hang of the timekeeping one, but the ssc eludes him - Little Riddle interferes with the ssc)

[raekuul]

Saturday Progress Report

Because enforcing regular deadlines help me immensely. Chapter 1 was published 9/2/2016 over on FF.net. Post-publish re-read has found a few small grammatical errors that need cleaning up. Chapter 2 is in the outlining stage Title candidates: ‘Warning’ or ‘Dragon’ depending on how it develops. OP Quote: “ It's because you're asking the wrong questions that you're not finding the right answers.” Vague outline: HP warns CW about the dragon. CW already knows about the Pink Eye Curse so decides on using that. DM acerbic, can’t understand why HP would warn a competitor (vocalize this while HP is there - who replies? HP’s answer more combative, while CW’s is incomplete and raises more questions). After confrontation, CW asks DM THE QUESTION, DM gives standard D.E. drivel (what is the “standard D.E. drivel?) and CW dismisses him with “think of your own answer next time, Malfoy” DM protests, and CW hands him a badge of “Support Harry Potter!” and asks “Purebloods are superior, right? How did Granger do this, then?” (Actually another badge CW painted over and resealed).

[raekuul]

See You At The Crossroads

Cassius was warm.

It was a gentle warmth, a comforting one. This wasn't what he expected of death. He'd expected darkness, maybe an eternity of painful torment or something.

He opened his eyes, and saw many men and women standing before him. Some had his eyes, some had his nose, there was even a portly woman with the same birthmark. All of them were smiling.

You've done well, Cassius. A kind, almost familiar voice said from behind him. Cassius did not want to turn around and face the speaker – he had never truly believed in whom he was about to speak with. Your prayers were not in vain. Your death shall not be in vain.

“My... my prayers?”

Yes – your prayers to change the hearts of your brothers and sisters. Your prayers to change the world. You doubted me, and many times you were angry with me, but you never doubted the one I chose to answer your prayers – you.

“How... how did I change the world? I'm a worthless nobody. All I did was die in the Triwizard Tournament.”

Not quite. You were killed at the order of Tom Riddle, because you competed in the Triwizard Tournament.

“Who is Tom Riddle?”

Voldemort.

It took Cassius a moment to process this. “I was... the Dark Lord... but I'm...”

A martyr.

“Was I doomed? Fated to die because of things I could not control?” Warrington started to tear up, anger coming to the fore. “Did I ever have a choice?”

You could have abandoned your ambition to change the world. You could have cheated your way to the top. You could have done any number of things that would have saved your life. What is important here is that you chose to be the example you wanted your brothers and sisters to see. You chose to demonstrate for them exactly what you would have them do. Because you did these things, you forced me – “at wand-point,” if I may borrow your own words - to answer your prayers.

“But my fate was sealed from the moment I put my name in the Goblet of Fire. That's what you're saying.” But Cassius knew the words were true, and his anger was cooling even as he said it.

Yes, it was. Even now, I still wonder if there had been a better way. But look around you, Cassius. You are not alone. You are not unwanted. You are not a nobody. And most of all, you are not the failure you thought you are. And I am not without compassion for you, who were cut down before these things could come to pass.

A face flashed in his mind. “What about Emily... will she be safe?”

You understand some of what is to come. Do you think she will be afraid to follow the path you set forth?

Cassius thought over this. “What happens now?”

You will rest for a time, before all are called to account for their actions during life. Do not be afraid, Cassius. As long as you want me with you, I'll stay by your side.