kelly_chambliss

Day 7

In your own space, create a fanwork. A drabble, a ficlet, a podfic, or an icon, art or meta or a rec list. A picspam. Something.

This is a job for. . .Minerva Doll!

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( The Polar Vortex )

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In her chilly rooms, Minerva quickly put on ( her warmest robes ), but even before she finished fastening her shoes, it was clear that these clothes would be insufficient. So she unpacked ( the winter cloak her grandmother had made her ), which, in addition to being lovely, had warming charms knitted directly into the design. Grandmother had always felt that it was bad for your health to wear outside clothes indoors, but Minerva was a firm believer in the notion that circumstances altered cases. And just now, the circumstance of imminent hypothermia seemed to justify even wearing the cloak to bed, if she'd wanted to.

For good measure, she added ( a cosy hat and muffler ) and took up her wand to cast a moveable warming charm around herself.

Her green shoes, though elegant, proved ill-suited to the cold, so she replaced them with ( a pair of hardy, fur-lined boots ).

Finally, she was ready to brave the corridors.

She conducted her usual pre-term check of the castle, but by mid-afternoon, Hogwarts was so cold that everyone had herded into the Great Hall. Only the Hall's eight giant, roaring fireplaces could make a dent in the chill, for the outdoor thermometer now read -20C. Luckily, the students weren't due back for another two days, but the staff looked miserable.

Minerva faced them. "Clearly, we cannot open the school until Filius and the others have found a way to cancel this rogue freezing spell. So I strongly suggest that all of you leave here tonight. Extend your holiday; go somewhere warm, outside the Vortex. As long as you keep expenses to a minimum, I'm sure I can persuade the Board to assume your travel costs. Since Hagrid and I are the source of the cold at Hogwarts, we will stay to look after things here."

No one lost any time in hurrying out of the Great Hall; even the eight huge fires were barely keeping the frigid air at bay. Soon only Rolanda Hooch remained.

"You, too, Ro. Haven't the Harpies started off-season training in the Bahamas? You could spend a few days there. Where it's warm."

Rolanda grinned. "I know of the perfect warm place, Headmistress," she said. "Our bed. With a few perpetual hot-water bottles and my Magic-Heat comforter, we'll be fine." She paused meaningfully, and then continued, "We'll have to take our clothes off, of course. It's a scientific fact that you share body warmth more efficiently when naked."

Minerva raised an eyebrow. "A scientific fact, is it?"

"Oh, yeah. Surprised you don't know that, Miss I-Took-a-Transfiguration-Science-First-at-Bridgeford-University."

"Well, then," said Minerva, beginning to smile. "Let's put that scientific training to good use. You have a hypothesis about the most efficient way to share body warmth. We need to test that hypothesis with a good experiment, don't you think?"

Ro's grin widened. "In other words, get naked in bed?"

"Madam Hooch, those are hardly scientific terms. I suggest we arrange a situation in which we can monitor galvanic skin response."

Ro snorted, but Minerva ignored her and extended an arm. "May I escort you to the laboratory?"

Arm in arm, they headed out of the Great Hall and up the chilly stairs.

Cold or no cold, Minerva was looking forward to ( getting down to her scanties ).

Then she and Rolanda would create a little vortex all their own.

Being the further adventures of my wonderful Minerva doll, a gift from dear talesofsnape. . .

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"Put on your gladdest of glad rags," said Severus Snape to Minerva McGonagall as they sat by themselves in the staffroom. "I'm taking you out for a nice Christmas dinner."

"Christmas was yesterday, Severus," she pointed out. "We already had a nice Christmas dinner here at the castle."

He snorted. "I don't consider any dinner 'nice' that involves A, Umbridge the toad; B, a bevy of snot-nosed brats; and C, paper hats from Albus's absurd crackers. We're going out for an adult dinner as far from here as we can Apparate in one jump. I've booked a table in Aberdeen." He paused. "And a room."

"A room?" Minerva raised an eyebrow. "You seem rather sure of your luck tonight, Mr Snape."

"I think it is you who will be the lucky one, Miss McGonagall," he said, rising and billowing towards the door. "Be ready at eight."

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Back in her rooms, Minerva dressed with care. She started by donning ( Severus's Christmas present )

"As much a present for you as for me," she'd said when she'd opened it, and he'd smirked.

"You expect something less from a Slytherin?" he'd asked.

It would serve him right if she didn't wear it, she thought, but then relented. It had been a hard year for both of them; a little relaxation wouldn't come amiss.

She even toyed with the idea of wearing her ( thigh-high boots ), but then decided against them. She didn't want to appear too eager, after all. Let him put a little effort into seducing her.

Besides, she had the perfect alternative to the boots. It was a Christmas dinner, wasn't it? What could be more suitable than ( red shoes? ) They were quite comfortable, and their ( little decorative buttons ) were the perfect touch for a romantic evening.

And if they had the side benefit of also being Gryffindor-coloured, well, so much the better.

For the sake of decorum, she added her ( favourite green skirt ) and topped off the ensemble with her ( warmest dressy coat ), the one with the lovely pearl buttons and exquisite detailing.

And since the weather in Aberdeen in December was decidedly more than brisk, she thought it prudent to add a warm scarf.

Its colours, again, were appropriate to the season. Severus would appreciate the symbolism. On several levels.

At eight o'clock precisely, her wards announced his arrival.

"Ready?" he asked, his sharp eyes narrowing as he took in her outfit.

( 'Ready,' she said. )

Remember the scene in Deathly Hallows, where Harry sees that Luna has painted her bedroom walls with pictures of him and Hermione and the others and has linked the portraits with with the word "friends" written thousands of times?

Well, I feel like Luna -- I want to write "friends" about a million times, because I have the best ones in the world. And if you're skeptical about that claim, just wait until you hear what some of them have done for me.

The utterly fabulous talesofsnape has made me one of the best presents I've ever received. The amount of creativity and talent and amazing hard work he put into this gift have touched and humbled me (it must have taken her hours upon hours). When I opened the box she sent, it was like getting my Hogwarts letter: sheer, thrilling magic.

What did she send me? A hand-knitted Minerva doll with an entire beautifully-designed and detailed wardrobe to go with her. I felt like a child again, as excited by a doll and her clothes as I'd been at age ten.

I can't keep such riches to myself, so I will share Minerva and her lovely clothes with you, one or two delightful pictures as day -- like an Advent calendar of Minervas.

( Here's Minerva in her pearl-trimmed slip )

( And she has pearl-trimmed knickers, too! Look! )

( Check out her spectacles )

(I also want to thank therealsnape, who took the trouble to mail the package to me.)

talesofsnape, I'm simply ecstatic over this treasure. "Thank you" is inadequate, but be assured, it's heart-felt.