The Challenge

This month, in honor of Spring and all things new, we present you with the Birth/Rebirth challenge! Your work must feature either a birth or rebirth, though that doesn’t have to be limited to the birth of a child.

For fan fiction this month, we are looking for ficlets, no more than 500 words in length.

The Rules

All entries to the challenge must have the usual header information (Title, Author/Artist/Poet, Rating, Warnings etc) at the top of your post. (Please refer to the Artistic Forum rules if in doubt.) You may not edit your entry/entries once posted so please make full use of the 'preview' facility. You may enter the challenge as many times as you like.

The closing date is Monday 26th April 2008.



Posting

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Title: The Rebirth of One Sirius Black
Penname: Dora
Rating: G
Pairings: Sirius Black
Genre: Gen
Warnings: Wet dog smell!!
Author’s Notes: Thanks to my betas: Olivia and Becka. Word count's around 420.
Constructive Criticism?: Yes please
Disclaimer: I don’t own Sirius, unfortunately. Unfortunately, someone else does. Poor bloke.

The temperature in the room fell as the sound of a rustling fabric and a death rattle of a final breath came from the other side of the door. The black bear-like dog lifted its ears to listen as the guard gilded by. He lowered his ears and eyes as the sound faded and the temperature warmed up a fraction of a degree. After a moment, Sirius rolled to his side and changed back into his human form. He pulled a newspaper clipping from his pocket, smoothing it out and watching the moving picture.

He’s at Hogwarts…Peter’s at Hogwarts…Peter killed James and Lily…Oh Merlin… “He’s at Hogwarts.”

Watching the rat scamper around in the picture made up Sirius’ mind as to what had to be done. He had to go avenge James and Lily, to set things right, to finish what he started twelve years previous.

Harry should be at Hogwarts. I can take care of Peter, and then Harry and I can both be free. Start a new life. The life James and Lily wanted for us.

Over the next few days, a plan slowly formed in his mind. As soon as it was silhouetted, he tucked the clipping into his shirt and changed into his animagus form to wait for the next opportunity to escape. It finally came that evening when the dementor delivered his meager meal. He slipped out the door, the dementor completely unaware he was human.

Free of his cell, he trotted beyond the row, and down the myraid of stairs upon stairs until finally - night sky and ocean breeze. Sirius looked up at the clear summer night sky and snorted a little when he realized that the first star he could see as his eyes adjusted was the brightest. He lumbered down to the edge of the island and looked down at the cold water before he dove in and dog paddling away from the cold stone building that had housed him for more than a decade.

It was just as dark when he reached land as it was the last time he had seen land - if you could call that rock ‘land’. Collapsing onto his back in the sand, he stared upwards, catching his breath and strength before moving on. When his eyes focused, he began to laugh when he realized that yet again, his past kept following him when he recognized his star. As he lay in the sand that night, he made a vow to himself; “This life,” he whispered, “I will be Sirius.”

Title: V.2.0
Penname: Dora
Rating: PG
Pairings: Voldemort
Genre: Gen
Warnings: Canon character death, random crossover reference!
Author’s Notes: Sorry for the random crossover reference. I couldn’t help myself. Dedicated to my muse, which forced me to listen to Honky Tonk Badonkadonk by Trace Adkins on repeat the entire time it took to write this. Betas: Becka and Olivia
Constructive Criticism?: Please do. It’s how I learn and grow as a writer.
Disclaimer: I do not own Voldemort. Unfortunately, JKR does. Bless her.


TH-THUD.

Two boys? Another life snuffed then.

Wormtail started making our way towards the cauldron - and the boys.

“Kill the spare.” Wormtail pulled out my wand and pointed it at the taller boy.

“Avada Kedavra!” The spare fell. In the second it took the Potter boy to take in what was happening, Wormtail closed the distance, grabbed him and started pulling him over to Father’s headstone.

Hurry up, Wormtail. After an eternity, Potter is finally tied to the headstone, and the worthless rat was mixing ingredients.

“Hurry!” I hissed at him.

It is ready, Master.” Time seemed to slow down as he came over and started unwrapping the robes I was clothed in. The air was cool on my skin. Finally, finally I was being lowered into the potion. The liquid, despite how hot it looked, was lukewarm at best against my temporary body.

Hitting the bottom, I had nothing to do but wait. The potion turned blue and warmed a few degrees, then violent red and warmer still. Yessss. It’s working. Soon, I will return. Be born again in a new body. A permanent body.

The potion finally turned a bright white. What do you know, the blundering idiot correctly managed the hardest potion he’s ever been assigned. The temperature rose quickly, melting away my temporary body, forming my new, permanent body. There’s no stopping me now! I am Lord Voldemort point two!

The temperature flashed back to lukewarm as my body finished forming. I ran my hands over my torso before standing up slowly.

“Robe me,” I tell Wormtail, for I am born again.

Title: The Phoenix Reborn
Rating: PG
Genre: Drama, rebirth
Warnings: Character Death, HBP spoilers
Author’s Notes: This is set at Dumbledore’s funeral, following Fawkes’s emotions and, eventually, rebirth. The word count equals about 476 words, including the title.
Concrit: Of course!
Disclaimer: Neither Fawkes, nor Dumbledore belong to me. J. K. Rowling owns them, and the rest of the Harry Potter world. No money is being made; no harm is intended.

The Phoenix Reborn

The eternal life of the Phoenix seemed to vanish as he gazed with piercing eyes at the mourners from afar. Their genuine sorrow burned as an everlasting candle in a darkening sky.

But for Fawkes, the Phoenix, the sky may have been darkening. His master’s face loomed in front of him, eyes a twinkle, with everything else fading away. All he could see were those blue eyes, that contagious smile. He had felt alive with that man, so wise and fearless. The stars lay within his eyes, casting light into everything dark. After what seemed like years, or, maybe it was only seconds, the smile faded and he was back to looking at the group of sorrowful students and teachers.

Fawkes’s fear was gone now too, as words were shared about that man that only said half of it. He dearly wanted to show them what his master truly was. If only he could show them how close they were – how they had become one being.

Upon closer inspection, he saw that boy – the one the man always talked to him about - the one who had shown undying loyalty to his master down in, what the school called, The Chamber of Secrets. The boy’s eyes were almost as bright as the man’s, except they were green… as startlingly green as the beautiful treetops he had seen when he and the man had traveled together. The very thought of having such freedom within his grasp showed Fawkes that true eternal life for him was with that man, now being buried within the grounds of the place that he cared for so.

Suddenly, Fawkes realized what he had to do. Giving a long, beautiful note of Phoenix Song, he gave an almighty push off the ledge he was standing on, and took off for the skies. A few people watched, some with wonderment, and others, like… the boy, stared with understanding. He was grateful for that, after all, he could not stay here. He no longer belonged to this world, which he and the man had held so dear, once upon a time. This old world was behind him now… all he had to do was find the new one.

Fawkes the Phoenix was leaving this world, to find the one he and Albus Dumbledore were destined to share, and he could have sworn as he flew passed the funeral, that he heard a soft, reassuring chuckle.

He was guided home at last.

Title: The Talk
Rating: PG
Genre: Drama
ConCrit: Yes please, Always.
Disclaimer: Remus does not belong to me (unfortunately). He belongs to Tonks and JK Rowling. No money is being made. No harm is intended. I just like playing with him.
Thanks to my Betas - Star and Dora, not to mention my mother and my sister and my husband.


As Remus slammed the door behind him, Harry’s words rang through his mind.
“The man who taught me to fight Demetors – a coward!”

Harry would never now how those words made his insides squirm. Remus turned on the spot and found himself facing the house, where a light at the top was burning. She waited up for me, he thought. I didn’t think I would be coming home but, somehow, she knew. He walked up the stairs to the apartment below the attic. She turned to look when he came in, love and concern in her eyes.

“Did you find them?” she asked.
“Yes,” he said shortly. How can she look at me like she understands, when she has no idea what is happening inside me?
“You asked to go with them, didn’t you, wherever it is that they are going?” she said.

He stared, disbelieving, “How….”
“Remus, I love you. Did you think I wouldn’t be able to tell how scared and worried you are? I saw you tighten up when I told you I was pregnant, I could feel it when you kissed me and told me you were happy. I know you.” She watched him for a moment. “What did Harry say?”

Remus started pacing. He could still hear the disgusted tone of the boy’s voice; the scathing remarks he made. Remus sighed. “He told me the truth…that I was a coward”
“Remus, no, He didn’t—“
“No, He’s right.” He interrupted. “He was right about everything. James would never have wanted me to go with them if it meant leaving you, no matter how noble I thought my reasons were.” He paused, gathering his thoughts. “Dora, I don’t know what to do. I have never been so scared of anything in my life. This child, what if it is like me and I brought into the world to be persecuted and scorned its entire life? Even if it is…normal… it will still have to live with the stigma of having its father be –“

“The best and bravest man I have ever known.” Tonks cut off Remus’ remarks. “This child will know that its Father is a good man, despite what other narrow-minded idiots might think.” She continued, more softly, “Harry is wrong. You are not a coward. You came back. You could have run, but you came back to us.” Tonks laid her hands on either side of his face and kissed him tenderly. “This child will be the best of both of us. I’ve heard,” she said, grinning, “that metamorphmaging tends to be genetically strong once it appears in a line. That could be fun.” Her enthusiasm made Remus smile. She continued, more seriously, “Together, we can do anything, even if it means raising a werewolf. This child will be loved.”

Remus drew her in close. He felt his tension draining away. She loves me, he thought, something I thought impossible. He felt happier than he had in a long time. He felt…Reborn.

Penname: Dexy
Title(s): Sirius' Frilly Little Problem
Prompt: rebirth
Pairing/ Characters: MWPP, Sirius/Remus hinted.
Rating: PG-13? Maybe just PG.
Warning:Crossdressing
Word Count: 487
Notes: Continuation of It's May! I think this stands on it's own though.
Constructive Criticism/Comments: Yes, Please!
Disclaimer: I don't own these characters, am not making money by playing with them, and hopefully am doing no harm.




"Anyone have Transfiguration homework I can copy?" asked Peter in a timid, squeaky voice.

"You needed help with that assignment, Wormtail?" James asked, incredulous. James called over his shoulder to Sirius' corner of their dormitory, "Padfoot, hear that? He's an Animagus and he still can't do Transfiguration homework."

Peter's cheeks flushed crimson and he mumbled something about wanting to check his answers not really copy, but Sirius remained oblivious.

Sirius' long frame bent over his trunk, hair hanging carelessly about his handsome face and eyebrows knitted together in concentration.

"Oi, Padfoot!" James called louder, causing Sirius to straighten up so suddenly he knocked his head on the lid of his trunk with a sharp cracking sound.

"Ouch!" Sirius exclaimed as he stood up, rubbing the spot that was already rising into a goose egg. "Can't a guy have a minute to himself anymore?"

James backed away. "Down boy," he said while giving the sign with his hands, "no need to get your knickers in a twist."

Sirius moved forward menacingly growling, "And just what's that supposed to mean."

"It means what it means," James retorted, getting a bit irritated himself now. "I ask you a simple question and you bite my head off." Nodding toward Remus and Peter he said, "Come on guys, if Padfoot needs some alone time to get his knickers straightened out, that's just what we'll give him."

Remus and Peter turned to follow James out the door and down to breakfast, but Remus paused and gave Sirius a searching look.

"I'll be fine, Moony," Sirius muttered, not making eye contact. "Just-- just -- I just need a minute. Okay?"

"Okay mate," Moony said with an uncertain waver in his voice, but he shut the heavy oak door and left.

His roommates gone, Sirius turned back to his trunk, opened it, and removed the item he'd been contemplating so intently earlier.

It was a rather small, drab brown box.

Sirius grimaced as he began to open it, then suddenly looked toward the door.

"There's no way they could really know. There's know way they could really know. There's…" he muttered to himself over and over as he used his wand to lock the door and place a charm on it to warn him if anyone did try to enter.

Sirius closed his eyes, took a deep, determined breath, flung open the box and pulled on its contents before he lost his nerve. All the tension in his body relaxed as he gave in to the sensations against his skin. He felt like a man reborn. No one ever had to know.

The contents?

A pair of silky, lacy, petal pink knickers he'd worn for a lark a couple of weeks earlier when he dressed in drag and sang "The Lusty Month of May" in the Great Hall with Dumbledore. At the time he had no idea they were to become his frilly little problem.