Let me bring you love from the field:
poppies red and roses filled with summer rain.
To heal the wound and still the pain
that threatens again and again
as you drag down every lover's lane.
Life's long celebration's here.
I'll toast you all in penny cheer.
(Jethro Tull - Songs from the wood)

Tales from the Wood:
•What is this about?• •A Most Important Element in Water• •Exorcism• •Arachne• •Climate Change• •The Vibrator, the Witch and the Painting• •Drabbles• •Master of Deception, My Own Snape Backstory• •Gen Stories• •Tags•
History of Magic
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Dec. 21st, 2010 @ 11:07 am Ten Years
This was written for celebrate_sshg on livejournal.

Title:Ten Years
Author: [info]sylvanawood
Rating: Mature
(Highlight to View) Contains: audio files, mild smut.
Word Count: ~3100
Prompt: It was written without prompt, but this one fits anyway: When so much water has passed under the bridge, can friends become lovers?
Summary: Two close friends celebrate a tenth anniversary dinner. Could it lead to more?

Author's Note: My gratitude, as always, goes to Melusin who is a dream beta and very skilled at nudging the muse.
Full credit will be given at the end of the story.
Try to refresh the page a few times if things don't work the first time. Please have patience, once everything is loaded, it should work just fine. I tried this out with several browsers on Windows XP and Mac. It should work with firefox, Safari and ie.
As an alternative, you could also read and listen here: http://sylvanawood.webs.com/, but the site has made updates and the flash embeds don't work any more. Until I figured out how to get the sound embedded again, try the files here or download them.

If all else fails, you can download the files here: http://kiwi6.com/users/show/sylvanawood and listen to them offline. In any case, the spoken text can be read in the transcripts.



Ten Years )
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Oct. 2nd, 2008 @ 03:07 pm The Vibrator, the Witch and the Painting - Chapter 3
Disclaimer: Nothing you recognize belongs to me. Just borrowed. Will be returned. Snape is welcome to stay, though.

A big Thank You goes to my beta-reader and brit-picker, Melusin, who transfers my babble into language, sorts my random punctuation and is a good friend. This story was written for an anti-doom-and-gloom challenge by Melusin.

Several people asked about Hermione's pseudonym in the last chapter. Perdita is the name of Hermione's daughter in 'The Winter's Tale' and Scharlach is German for scarlet.


Chapter 3

Two days later, Hermione met Severus in front of an old, inconspicuous little shop in Diagon Alley. The shop window had several paintings on display, and the sign over the door said, 'Dean Thomas, Artist and Photographer.'

"You're writing a book with pictures," Severus murmured after Hermione had met him at the appointed time. "That'll be popular. Finally, something that meets the intellectual level of the average reader."
Read more... )
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Sep. 25th, 2008 @ 02:42 pm The Vibrator, the Witch and the Painting - Chapter 2
Disclaimer: Nothing you recognize belongs to me. Just borrowed. Will be returned. Snape is welcome to stay, though.

A big Thank You goes to my beta-reader and brit-picker, Melusin, who transfers my babble into language, sorts my random punctuation and is a good friend. This story was written for an anti-doom-and-gloom challenge by Melusin.


Chapter 2

Severus Snape liked sex very much. He liked it so much that the lack of its regular occurrence turned out to be the only thing he really missed after his return to Britain.
Read more... )
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Sep. 19th, 2008 @ 01:47 pm AMIEW II - The Army on the March
Disclaimer: Nothing you recognize belongs to me. Just borrowed. Will be returned. Snape is welcome to stay, though.

A big Thank You goes to my beta-reader and brit-picker, Melusin, who transfers my babble into language, sorts my random punctuation and is a good friend.


Chapter 19 – The Army on the March

9.41. He who exercises no forethought but makes light
of his opponents is sure to be captured by them.

9.45. If a general shows confidence in his men but always
insists on his orders being obeyed, the gain will be mutual.


(Sun Tzu, The Art of War, IX. The Army on the March)



“Rowena Ravenclaw’s wand? You have Rowena Ravenclaw’s wand?” Hermione asked, completely flabbergasted.

Snape stared at her with an unreadable expression. “That’s what I just said.” Read more... )
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Sep. 17th, 2008 @ 05:27 pm The Vibrator, the Witch and the Painting - Chapter 1
Disclaimer: Nothing you recognize belongs to me. Just borrowed. Will be returned. Snape is welcome to stay, though.

A big Thank You goes to my beta-reader and brit-picker, Melusin, who transfers my babble into language, sorts my random punctuation and is a good friend. This story was written for an anti-doom-and-gloom challenge by Melusin.




Hermione Granger-ex-Weasley liked sex very much. She liked it so much that the lack of its regular occurrence turned out to be the only thing she really missed after she threw Ron Weasley out of the house and got a divorce.

Read more... )
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Aug. 5th, 2008 @ 03:09 pm AMIEW II - Variation in Tactics
Disclaimer: Nothing you recognize belongs to me. Just borrowed. Will be returned. Snape is welcome to stay, though.

A big Thank You goes to my beta-reader, Maggie, and my beta-reader and brit-picker, Melusin, who both are always encouraging, helpful, and thorough.

This chapter is dedicated to excessivelyperky, who always inspires me with her reviews.




Chapter 17 – Variation in Tactics

8.10. Reduce the hostile chiefs by inflicting damage on them; and make trouble for them, and keep them constantly engaged; hold out specious allurements, and make them rush to any given point.

8.11. The art of war teaches us to rely not on the likelihood of the enemy's not coming, but on our own readiness to receive him; not on the chance of his not attacking, but rather on the fact that we have made our position unassailable.

(Sun Tzu, The Art of War, VIII. Variation in Tactics)



A week later, Hermione was on her way to the Office Cave for another Occlumency lesson with Snape. She was looking forward to it very much. Her feelings hadn’t changed since the wedding, but the few times she had seen him that week had only been briefly during meals.Read more... )
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Jun. 24th, 2008 @ 04:24 pm AMIEW II - Manoeuvring
Read more... )
Chapter 16 – Manoeuvring

7.2. Having collected an army and concentrated his forces, he must blend and harmonize the different elements thereof before pitching his camp.

7.3. After that comes tactical manoeuvring, than which there is nothing more difficult.
The difficulty of tactical manoeuvring consists in turning the devious into the direct, and misfortune into gain.

(Sun Tzu, The Art of War, VII. Manoeuvring)


Hermione stood at a bend of the river in an area that was well sheltered from the cutting wind by a cluster of bushes. She stood on a ledge over a deep pool of water and looked down into its cold, clear depths. It was just what she wanted: a slight current, some roots and large pebbles on the ground. She could almost smell the salmon. Her thick coat and a warming charm kept the worst of the cold away. It wasn't exactly the best time for fishing, but she preferred to give it a try without using magic, anyway. She needed time to think, and there was hardly another activity that invited quiet meditation like fishing did. Hermione liked fishing; she had often gone fishing with her parents, back in the seemingly carefree times of summer holidays past, when her only worry had been running out of books to read before the holidays were over. Those days seemed so long ago, almost as if they had happened during a different lifetime.
Read more... )
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Jun. 4th, 2008 @ 03:49 pm A map of the Appin Underground area

Here's a map (sorry, I made it meself and that shows)of the Underground refuge and how it's hidden. Start in the upper right and follow the arrows. Read more... )
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Jun. 4th, 2008 @ 02:37 pm AMIEW II - Weak Points and Strong
Disclaimer: Nothing you recognize belongs to me. Just borrowed. Will be returned. Snape is welcome to stay, though.

A big Thank You goes to my beta-reader and brit-picker, Melusin, who is always encouraging, helpful, and thorough.

A/N 1: It has been brought to my attention that Madam Pince has complained about certain readers uttering their opinion about this story loudly in her library. As a punishment, she is threatening everyone who continues reviewing with a detention with Headmaster Snape. Now, if that isn't an incentive to leave a review, I don't know what is. If you're scared, I'll go to that detention in your stead, but please don't let that keep you from reviewing. There is nothing that motivates a struggling fanfic writer more than your feedback.







Chapter 15 – Weak Points and Strong

6. 11. If we wish to fight, the enemy can be forced to an engagement even though he be sheltered behind a high rampart and a deep ditch. All we need do is attack some other place that he will be obliged to relieve.

6. 12. If we do not wish to fight, we can prevent the enemy from engaging us even though the lines of our encampment be merely traced out on the ground. All we need do is to throw something odd and unaccountable in his way.

(Sun Tzu, The Art of War, VI. Weak Points and Strong)



When Hermione Apparated into the Broom Cave at the entry point to Nan Guthan, she grabbed one of the brooms that were hidden in a niche. Holding on to the broom with all of her remaining strength, she flew through the valley, but instead of crossing the river and heading up the slope of the mountain, she followed the river for a while and then headed off into the forest. Feeling sick and completely drained, she needed a few moments to herself. When she got off the broom, she stumbled and was barely able to stay on her feet. After a few faltering steps, she sank to her knees, retched violently and threw up. Read more... )
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May. 9th, 2008 @ 01:42 pm AMIEW II - 14. Energy
Disclaimer: Nothing you recognize belongs to me. Just borrowed. Will be returned. Snape is welcome to stay, though.

A very big Thank You and many hugs go to my beta-reader, Maggie, who now is too busy with real life to continue beta-reading. She's in the middle of exams and will start college this year and although I'll miss her, I also know what an exciting time this is for her. And so I let her go. Sniff.
My beta-reader and brit-picker, Melusin deserves a medal for putting up with my whims, transforming my scribble into English and for wading through my dreadful punctuation. I don't know what I'd do without her.



Chapter 14 – Energy

5.16. Amid the turmoil and tumult of battle, there may be seeming disorder and yet no real disorder at all; amid confusion and chaos, your array may be without head or tail, yet it will be proof against defeat.
5. 21. The clever combatant looks to the effect of combined energy, and does not require too much from individuals. Hence his ability to pick out the right men and utilize combined energy.
(Sun Tzu, The Art of War, V. Energy)



Hermione spent a few days moping about and crying, but no one paid her much attention. The move still wasn't finished, and people were busy packing or getting accustomed to their new surroundings. Emmeline Vance gave Hermione a few curious and concerned looks but otherwise left her alone. Snape was nowhere to be seen; according to rumours, Death Eater activities had increased in the South. Some of the other refuges were reporting a dramatic increase in new arrivals.Read more... )
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Apr. 25th, 2008 @ 07:10 pm The next chapter of AMIEW...
...is a bit delayed. I am sorry about that.
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Apr. 10th, 2008 @ 01:43 pm By Snape!
It's all the fault of the Random Technobabble Generator. A plot bunny attacked me while I was innocently minding my own business, and it was a rabid one, I had to give in.

Initially, I thought it might fit in loosely with the 'Snape flies' [info]snape100 challenge of this week, but it's turned out pure crack. I can't post this anywhere but here, but if it gets a chuckle out of you, so much the better. Here goes:

By Snape!

“Captain, the Anti-Phaser wards were broken, what do we do?”Read more... )
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Apr. 4th, 2008 @ 02:03 pm Exorcism - Chapter 2
Here is the second and final chapter for Exorcism. It has only one beta pass, so it's not in its final stage yet. Enjoy.

Link to Chapter 1.

Chapter 2


Everything was dark. Open your eyes, idiot, Severus thought, but found an instant later that he couldn't. He could neither open his eyes nor move any other part of his body. Had he been put under a full Body Bind? Was he dead? Wasn't someone supposed to come and guide you in death, leading the soul on to better places? Well, who would come and guide him on? Severus thought bitterly. His parents had been dead for many years and had probably moved on long ago. There really was no one else who had loved him. Read more... )
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Mar. 31st, 2008 @ 06:58 pm Hello!
Since this is now officially open: hello and welcome.
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Mar. 31st, 2008 @ 04:45 pm Exorcism - Chapter 1
Link to Chapter 2

Severus Snape gets three wishes. What will he make of them?

This is one of these stories that sit around, half-written, and want to be finished. Around Easter, I had enough of the nagging and finished it. It's just in time for the House Warming party on [info]snapedom. The first chapter is now beta-read, the second only through the first pass.




Exorcism – Chapter 1


Severus Snape flung the door to the Room of Requirement open and strode inside.

Finally, peace, he had thought before he’d entered. Give me a place where I can find peace. His head hammered painfully. Teaching Potions to dunderheads hadn't become easier over the years, and the stress of constantly having to watch out for explosions and mischief, together with the backstabbing, snide remarks and sideway glances of his colleagues, didn't help. Read more... )
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Mar. 31st, 2008 @ 02:47 pm Arachne - Background Info
Tags:

There will be pictures about spiders here. :)
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Mar. 31st, 2008 @ 01:54 pm AMIEW - Background Info

This is the place where I'll sum up all the background info for AMIEW. There will be links to maps from Scotland (the route to Thurso, locations of the caves etc.), a map from the Nan Guthan Underground refuge, and more. I'll post them as I make them and sum everything up here.

Here's a map of the Appin Underground area.

And here's a link to a picture of an ice cave. Look at these blues.
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Mar. 28th, 2008 @ 02:27 pm AMIEW II - 13. Tactical Dispositions

Disclaimer: Nothing you recognize belongs to me. Just borrowed. Will be returned. Snape is welcome to stay, though.

A big Thank You goes to my beta-reader, Maggie, and my beta-reader and brit-picker, Melusin, who both are always encouraging, helpful, and thorough.




4.11. What the ancients called a clever fighter is one who not only wins,
but excels in winning with ease.
4.12. Hence his victories bring him neither reputation for wisdom nor credit for courage.
4.13. He wins his battles by making no mistakes.
Making no mistakes is what establishes the certainty of victory, for it means conquering an enemy that is already defeated.
(Sun Tzu, The Art of War, IV. Tactical Dispositions)


"I am quite certain that you are surprised to see me, Mr. Malfoy. Listen to what I have to say, and then I will release you. Do not attempt to escape or harm me in any way; that would not be to your advantage." Read more... )
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Mar. 28th, 2008 @ 02:26 pm AMIEW II - 12. Attack by Stratagem

Disclaimer: Nothing you recognize belongs to me. Just borrowed. Will be returned. Snape is welcome to stay, though.

A big Thank You goes to my beta-reader, Maggie, and my beta-reader and brit-picker, Melusin, who both are always encouraging, helpful, and thorough.





1. Sun Tzu said: In the practical art of war, the best thing of all is to take the enemy's country whole and intact; to shatter and destroy it is not so good.
So, too, it is better to recapture an army entire than to destroy it, to capture a regiment, a detachment or a company entire than to destroy them.

2. Hence to fight and conquer in all your battles is not supreme excellence;
supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy's resistance without fighting. (Sun Tzu, The Art of War, III. Attack by Stratagem)



Hermione cast stealthy glances at the sleeping man who sat beside her in the passenger seat of an old and battered VW van. His long legs were stretched out as far as the legroom permitted; the seat was pushed back as far as possible, the seatback set to a reclining position. He had his arms crossed over his chest; his face was relaxed, and from time to time, he snored softly.
Read more... )
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Mar. 28th, 2008 @ 02:23 pm AMIEW II - 11. Waging War

Disclaimer: Nothing you recognise belongs to me. Just borrowed. Will be returned. Snape is welcome to stay, though.

A big Thank You goes to my beta-reader, Maggie, and my beta-reader and brit-picker, Melusin, who both are always encouraging, helpful, and thorough.


5. Thus, though we have heard of stupid haste in war,
cleverness has never been seen associated with long delays.
7. It's only one thoroughly acquainted with the evils of war
that can thoroughly understand the profitable way of carrying it on.
19. In war, then, let your great object be victory,
not lengthy campaigns.
(Sun Tzu, The Art of War, II. Waging War)




After walking in silence down the passageway for some time, Snape and Hermione reached another underground river and walked along its shore. It had become warmer; the air was very sticky, and although her hair was still damp, Hermione was sweating. The passageway was very narrow now, and more than once, Snape alerted Hermione to a low hanging stalactite or a rock overhang where they both had to stoop not to bump their heads. Read more... )
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