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snarrymod (snarrymod) wrote in snarry_games,
@ 2008-04-20 10:56:00

Entry tags:

cruisedirector, entry, team phoenix

TEAM PHOENIX ENTRY: CruiseDirector "A Pastoral Interlude"
Title: A Pastoral Interlude
Author: cruisedirector
Team: Phoenix
Genre(s): Romance
Prompt(s): Career Change, Time Capsule
Rating/Warnings/Kinks: R; Mild adult language, fairly discreet offscreen sex. Drag mouse over space if you wish to know more: *Past-tense minor character death.*
Word Count: ~12,000
Summary: On an unhappy Christmas Eve in Somerset, Harry finds the last person he expects to see cooking in the kitchen of an inn.
A/N: Betas: The wonderful dementordelta and the amazing celandineb.
Disclaimer: Some ideas for recipes came from Maxime de la Falaise's Seven Centuries of English Cooking, though I borrowed mostly lists of ingredients. The King's Arms Inn is a real place in Shepton Mallet, but to the best of my knowledge, wizards must make reservations there the same way as everyone else.

"A Pastoral Interlude by Cruise Director"

Don't forget to review!

Mod note: POLLS ARE NOW CLOSED. THANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATING IN THE SNARRY GAMES.

Mod note: If you rec this story, please link to this POST, not the story itself, or the author/team will not get their proper vote tally or feedback. Thank you.

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(Post a new comment)

	gingertart50 2008-04-23 12:17 pm UTC (link)
	I enjoyed this fic a lot - very satisfying and moving, with a hopeful ending and lots of things just touched upon, so that you feel that Harry had a life both before and after the events you described. I loved Snape's job and the idea of the time capsule. Oh and Shepton Mallet! (Reply to this) (Thread)

cruisedirector, 2008-04-23 05:14 pm UTC

	estioe 2008-04-23 12:40 pm UTC (link)
	This was a wonderful read. :) I loved the whole back story with Teddy and James. It would be wonderful to read about James education, if it happens. So...pokes ;) Anyway, a wonderful, deep and thoughtful read. Thank you so much for writing it! :D (Reply to this) (Thread)

cruisedirector, 2008-04-23 05:15 pm UTC

	venturous 2008-04-23 04:17 pm UTC (link)
	I really love the heavy family issues you raise and deal with in this story. I am not a parent, so I can only BEGIN to imagine the heaviness of heart to have your child in so much trouble, and poor Teddy, weeps. But this made the tale so tangible, and added a lot of dimension to the setting. Snape makes a great chef, as we know. :D (Reply to this) (Thread)

cruisedirector, 2008-04-23 05:17 pm UTC

	nenyaentwhistle 2008-04-23 10:02 pm UTC (link)
	i liked how you used your prompts and your story was a delight :D (Reply to this) (Thread)

cruisedirector, 2008-04-24 12:49 am UTC

	nightcolors 2008-04-24 01:24 am UTC (link)
	This was very interesting. That Harry's godson (and son) attempted to follow in Voldemort's footsteps . . . How sad is that! Poor, stupid kids. And poor Harry! I enjoyed reading this. Thank you. :) (Reply to this) (Thread)

cruisedirector, 2008-04-24 02:16 am UTC

	who_la_hoop 2008-04-24 11:30 am UTC (link)
	I enjoyed the novel take on Harry's kids - a good read, thanks! (Reply to this) (Thread)

cruisedirector, 2008-04-24 05:09 pm UTC

	whimseywisp 2008-04-24 03:10 pm UTC (link)
	Awwww! This was sweet! And made me hungry. (Reply to this) (Thread)

cruisedirector, 2008-04-24 05:14 pm UTC

	athenakt 2008-04-24 04:56 pm UTC (link)
	Wow. Lots of detail and background was put into this; the story was chock full of it. brain overload ;) Well written as always! (Reply to this) (Thread)

cruisedirector, 2008-04-24 05:17 pm UTC

(Anonymous)
2008-04-24 05:10 pm UTC (link)

Oh, I was so thrilled to read your response to a review that said you had some notes for before and after! The Teddy/James story is heartwrenching, and you didn't throw it in our faces, just let us wonder and fed us a little more, and let us wonder again...beautifully done! And Harry's shock and disappointment with himself that he didn't see it, hadn't prevented it, infused the story.
I'll be really interested to see your James when he comes out of Azkaban, and how he interacts with Snape/his father/his family/the world...his story is going to be fascinating!
Thank you so much for a really thought-provoking story!
Philo

(Reply to this) (Thread)

cruisedirector, 2008-04-24 05:36 pm UTC

	felaine 2008-04-24 09:51 pm UTC (link)
	Best so far; complex, and an original premise with the Teddy/James crimes. saved to Memories Felaine (Reply to this) (Thread)

cruisedirector, 2008-04-24 10:01 pm UTC

	frisbyg.livejournal.com 2008-04-24 10:46 pm UTC (link)
	oh this is very good indeed. :) (Reply to this) (Thread)

cruisedirector, 2008-04-25 02:18 am UTC

josan
2008-04-26 01:02 am UTC (link)

Sniff...you're on the WRONG team!

But I have to comment on the ideas that really struck me.

"I had no choice. He was guilty of every one of the charges against him. Happy now?" Harry shoved down on the rolling pin ferociously. "You must find it very satisfying that James Potter's namesake is in prison."

Actually, I have to admit that I was quite startled to read this. James in the Epilogue is a brat, but to have fallen to this extent? WOW

Everything he did, we excused as just playing around."
"Just as the Weasleys did with their twins."

Yes, thank you. I teach a minor version of the Weasley twins. They are god-awful in a class. Their parents shake their heads, smile and shrug.

"We thought we were raising them to feel safe. We didn't talk about the war or what we did during it.

That's why history repeats itself.

"I think that you share Albus Dumbledore's tendency to dismiss the deepest failings of those for whom you feel affection," Snape replied.

Yes. And to ignore the harm they do to others.

"I cannot understand why it was important to you to give your son the name of the man who failed to save your mother."

I wondered about that too. I like your explanation. (Albus Fred? OMG!)

The Ministry should have preserved Teddy's body to show other wizards what happens when you try to make a Horcrux and it goes wrong.

Yes. This generation seems to avoid anything that is unpleasant and that might, just might make them think beyond their personal needs and wants.

I might be older than you, physically.

OMG! I laughed aloud at this line. Yes, great twist in the story.

The fade-to-black and the next morning were well done. I felt for both of them, lonely in their ways, both wanting more and yet afraid to go for it, until, one evening, this ghost from the past walked into the King's Arms.

(Reply to this) (Thread)

cruisedirector, 2008-04-26 04:22 pm UTC

	seres_mimosa 2008-04-26 03:56 am UTC (link)
	Snape the cook is a delightful image, and he's a lovely mix of a cook's generosity and his own Snapishness. Harry pieced revelation of the fates of his children was fascinating. Two lonely people finding each other unexpectedly at Christmas, beautifully romantic. (Reply to this) (Thread)

cruisedirector, 2008-04-26 04:24 pm UTC

aliciamasters
2008-04-26 06:37 pm UTC (link)

Just wanted to write you a note telling you how much I enjoyed this fic! It was a clever touch to have Snape frozen in time; very sci-fi, and I don't think I've seen that in an after-DH story to date. The scenes of them simply eating and talking brought to mind some of the really penultimate moments Snarry fen want; the moments of understanding, the time when they really see what matters.

I love how manly the two were in their attitude toward sex. No swooning maiden types here! It made their coming together very honest.

Thanks for the lovely read!

(Reply to this) (Thread)

cruisedirector, 2008-04-26 10:13 pm UTC

	rakina 2008-04-26 06:52 pm UTC (link)
	What an enjoyable story! It'll be just perfect to re-read this around Christmas time, and other times too of course. (Reply to this) (Thread)

cruisedirector, 2008-04-26 10:06 pm UTC

rakina, 2008-04-27 09:14 am UTC

cruisedirector, 2008-04-27 04:20 pm UTC

	mimiheart 2008-04-27 01:28 am UTC (link)
	Wow. I love what you did with Harry's family. It was fascinating to see the direction they took in this world, and Severus was perfect. Well done. (Reply to this) (Thread)

cruisedirector, 2008-04-27 02:39 am UTC

	jin_fenghuang 2008-04-27 12:26 pm UTC (link)
	You know, I am still giggling over the pub name and I enjoyed this story a lot. Go Team! (Reply to this) (Thread)

cruisedirector, 2008-04-27 04:26 pm UTC

f13tch3r
2008-04-27 05:35 pm UTC (link)

I enjoyed this immensely. I loved all the dialogue. This really felt like a one act play and I really liked how that felt. I could have been watching it live somewhere. Well done. The characterisations were wonderful and extremely credible as were their motivations. Brava for using the cooking preparations as their pathway to communication. Two thumbs up and a Snarry smooch for you!

(Reply to this) (Thread)

cruisedirector, 2008-04-27 08:26 pm UTC

	angela_snape 2008-04-29 02:55 am UTC (link)
	I quite liked this! The James/Teddy storyline is an interesting twist on the usual "all is well" we see in epilogue-compliant stories, and the magical hibernation is a great explanation for Snape's being alive. (Reply to this) (Thread)

cruisedirector, 2008-04-29 04:09 am UTC

loupgarou1750
2008-04-29 07:05 am UTC (link)

I really like what you did with this. Such a great sense of place and mood. There was something so cozy and comfortable about it, without being cloying or claustrophobic. I was intrigued by the backstory with Teddy and James, but while I was very interested in the specifics, I didn't want more of them in this particular story. I think you handled it with great finesse, revealing it more or less organically, as would happen in a real conversation between people who have some common framework for the events discussed. Gah! I feel like I'm expressing myself badly. I was very impressed with how much you gave us without getting bogged down in the details of the parts that didn't belong in this particular slice of life. I wish I could do it half so well. Anyway, very nice work. I'll be reading this one again.

(Reply to this) (Thread)

cruisedirector, 2008-04-29 04:14 pm UTC

	amanuensis1 2008-04-29 03:44 pm UTC (link)
	Simply lovely. I love a James who's gone astray so badly ("We thought Albus was the sensitive one") and the tender post-coital descriptions between Snape and Harry really worked for this tale, even more than full-out porn would have done. Lovely style. (Reply to this) (Thread)

cruisedirector, 2008-04-29 04:18 pm UTC

	unbroken_halo 2008-04-30 02:41 pm UTC (link)
	Well done. I really liked the premise behind this. Harry's fall from grace through his son and godson really threw me for a loop at first. However, I can see how the Ministry, any government in fact, would cover something like that up. Snape is brilliant in his role as Harry's snarky yet semi-comforting "priest", if that makes any sense. (Reply to this) (Thread)

cruisedirector, 2008-04-30 04:03 pm UTC

	sethra_slasha 2008-05-02 11:04 pm UTC (link)
	Wow, loved this. Now I want to know how things go when James gets out of Azcaban, and how Harry and Severus' relationship progresses, and how James get on with life..... sequal?? puppy eyes (Reply to this) (Thread)

cruisedirector, 2008-05-05 10:48 pm UTC

	snarry_reader 2008-05-04 01:01 am UTC (link)
	Just a quick comment to let you know that we've added this story to the snarry_reader on our Master List here. If you'd like us to make any changes to the link, etc. please let us know. Thanks, Gaycrow, on behalf of the Reader. (Reply to this) (Thread)

cruisedirector, 2008-05-05 10:51 pm UTC

essi
2008-05-06 07:58 am UTC (link)

I love how you've worked the canon and shaped a future for the characters. Plus your way to tackle the Snape-problem was one I hadn't seen before. Both points are written well and believably and I liked that the stuff that happens after the war comes out gradually in the conversation, rather that it would've been storytold.

I love how Harry at 40 is still very much Harry, even though it's clear he's matured. (How could he not.) I love how IC they both are. I love their pillow-talk, I love the first paragraph, I love how the story is about a man going through hard time, and loneliness (I think), but manages to not be angsty.

(Reply to this) (Thread)

cruisedirector, 2008-05-07 11:38 pm UTC

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