I'm here, still depressed. Having good and bad days.

I have been updating my old, multi-chaptered fic "The Binding of Hermione" which I've given a new title, simply "The Binding".

It has been substantially rewritten as I'm trying to make it as canon compliant as I can (except Snape doesn't die and EWE, obvs.)

Warning for Non-con & abuse in early chapters, but I'm exploring recovery from abuse (of which I am knowledgeable because of my past), mental illness (of which I have some experience, too) and healing and treatment for those things.

Of course, there's lots of lemony goodness as this started as a PWP that developed a plot.

Originally, Lucius was going to be the big-bad of the story, but that's changed, too.

Snape and Hermione are accidentally magically bound together due to a potion which results in an empathetic connection. I'm trying to finally finish it, there's 3 chapters up so far. A couple more are nearly rewritten. Then the hard part...new stuff!

Please check it out at AO3: The Binding

I hope any of you who are willing to read it will let me know what you think of it.

Not the whole day, unfortunately. Since I was out so much last week (friggin' sinus again, geeze), I shouldn't stay home tomorrow. Even tho I could and it would be excused, too. But, my goal this week was to get my hoggy warty finished (met!), get the second batch of gifts wrapped and sent to Florida (wrapped, will be sent tomorrow) and to make it to work every day.

The third one is looking okay. We'll see.

Listened to Christmas music while I wrapped tonight. Some of the songs made me melancholy (I'll be Home for Christmas-wahhhh!) some I just flat out sang along to. Hee. Hubby was upstairs, so I wasn't inhibited. (I'm no mundungus42 but I enjoyed it and the cats didn't howl.)

I have to go to bed soon if I'm going to work tomorrow.

But, as of now, except for work work, I'm not doing nuttin tomorrow. (Unless I am asked to beta read a fic for someone--which of course. That doesn't count as work to me.)

If you don't know, she is attempting an "Insane Writing Project" and has been successful, so far. (I'm really rooting for her!)

Well, as you may have read now and then (heh) I've been a bit depressed and had a couple of family members die this year. So, while I was able to write and submit my sshg_promptfest fic, I really had not written anything except that all year.

I just got out of the habit of writing every day.

Now, I want to finish at least one book before I die. I have one nearly finished (a sci-fi/romance) and one started (a Regency romance) but no motivation to pick either one up again at the moment.

So. What to do?

I had started to move my HP fic from all the different places it's posted all over the internet to AO3 a few years ago. So, I came up with the brilliant idea to finish moving everything over there so it's all in one place. I figured that would a) get it all in one place, and, b) get me writing every day again.

Because, once you re-read something you wrote nearly ten years ago, you WILL revise. (No, you WILL. Ugh. See previous post!)

(Also, I've been writing HP fanfic for 10 years? I am so surprised at how many stories I've written. And I know that many of you have written so much more than I have--where do we come up with it all? We rock.)

So, I started on June 30. Since then, I have moved 12 additional fics to AO3 (and tossed in a donation, too.)

A handy link if you want to see and read.

And, I have been writing every day. :) A couple of the fics needed some serious editing. (Hoo, boy.) Some I had to go in and code everything (what a pain).

I have a draft sitting tonight since hubby and I went out to eat and run errands after work, and I didn't get it finished. But I worked on it! And I'll post it tomorrow night.

I'm really feeling good about this exercise. It's helping me get into the habit of writing again. I'm loving the high I'm getting from it. I had forgotten how much I love to write.

I must go off to bed (work tomorrow, boo), but I couldn't wait another day without thanking mundungus42 for the inspiration. *smooches*

Solving the Problem of Snape, Hermione, and Christmas

Characters and/or Pairings: Lucius/Minerva, Severus/Hermione
Summary: Two Gryffindors and two Slytherins team up to make sure everyone has a fantastic Christmas.
Warnings: none

Many thanks to my lovely beta, islandsmoke who deserves far more chocolate and other goodies than she receives.

OMG, this is so late. I hope that owlbait didn't think I'd forgotten her. I plead real life, and mucho sickness. (And I still owe two more fics--GAH! I was too optimistic. But they are getting done, also, never fear.)

So, the delicious prompt that I got from owlbait was:

Severus has a secret kink. The woman who would indulge him will win his heart forever. Problem is, it is too embarrassing for him to ever ask for. I'm not entirely certain, but I suspect it involves silk and peacock feathers.

This is what I came up with:

Of Silk and Feathers (Because I suck at titles.)

Warnings: PWP, mild language, Severus Snape/Bellatrix Black, first time, Virgin!Snape. If you squint, you can see SS/HG in the distance.

My contribution to the wizard_love Valentine's Exchange. Revealed!

Title: Fun with Fred & George
Author: rayvyn2k
Recipient's LJ name: spikespetslayer
Rating: NC-17
Pairing(s): Weasley Twins/Hermione
Word Count: 1927
Warnings: Threesome, (semi)dub-con, anal, restraints
Authors notes: Thanks to my exceptionally gorgeous beta, islandsmoke who came through again at the very last minute and made all the right suggestions.
Summary: The twins are bored and decide to see if Hermione wants to play.

Warning for the family--this is pure smut--er, I mean, erotica! Read at your own risk because I'm not friends-locking this post!

So there.

I didn't win, but my entry in the SH Deathday Festival has been posted at Occlumency! Go, read and review, my lovelies!

Snape's Best Memory

Entry for the Sycophant Hex Death Day Festival.
#4. First person narrative from adult canon character.

Note: Must know enough to convincingly create a canon characterization from the books and not the movies.

“Create a scene from a book from a living character’s perspective.”

Title: Snape’s Best Memory
Pairing: SS/LE
Rating: G
Summary: Snape has a bittersweet memory he revisits from time to time.

A/N: Many thanks and long, wet snogs to islandsmoke for the fabulous and fast beta. As usual, her suggestions made this story so much better than it was before.

Like everyone who writes, I have several betas who are invaluable to me.

My very first beta ever is my bestest friend who lives in Florida, Lisa. Before I knew what a "beta" was, she was there for me, listening to or reading my still-in-the-works novel and giving me con-crit. She is the only one who has heard/read the entire thing, and her help and encouragement has been so fabulous, I had to thank her here.

When I started writing HP fanfic, my first story called "Detention" (my first HG/SS) was posted on The Restricted Section unbetaed. And boy, I can hardly stand to read it now. The characters are not really in character, but the sex is really hot.

After that, I found the lovely rumours03 who, along with the gorgeous
dora_the_nymph tag-teamed on my stories and made them ever so much better. Not to mention, their commentary is not only spot-on, but often hilarious. I also have been lucky enough to have Daireen from Knockturn Alley help me out from time to time.

Before she began writing fanfic full time, snegurochka_lee graciously looked over one or two of my chapters for me.

And last, but not least, islandsmoke helped me immeasurably when I made my first foray into slashy territory with The Distraction of His Madding Fever . I have her to thank for the quality of that story. It was tricky to write and she cheered me on and would not accept any excuses from me. Because of her, I feel that story is one of my very best--more than the PWP it started out to be. I plan to take advantage of her mad beta-ing skillz in the future...if she'll let me.

Thank you all, I adore you and I couldn't do it without you.
*sends chocolate frogs and big, wet snogs to all*

Well, I finally bit the bullet and signed up for a paid LJ account. Mostly so I could use more icons like the one above which was made by caitirin2 . Isn't it gorgeous? *icon love* I also intend to go and find those Star Trek icons I saw butter_cup_ using. I suppose I'll be looking at the different LJ templates again...gah! It took hours to get this one just so...

Yesterday, work was having a "customer service" appreciation celebration which included a contest which was to sing an 80s song karaoke-style over the intercom. I joined up and sang "Girls Just Want to Have Fun". I didn't win the ititial contest (email ballot box stuffing) but the CFO said that anyone who was brave enough to do it (there were only three contestants) deserved a prize, so I won three tickets to a Nashville Predators hockey game later this month. Hubby was thrilled.

Got some good news today, the EPA folks finally got the land to perk, a bit further away from the house than we anticipated, but whew. They are supposed to come out and stake out the area this week. Once that is done we can get the damned survey done and then file the quick claim deed. Then, it's off to the bank to find out how much they will loan us and we can pick out a house. I hope the EPA folks don't disappoint us this week.

Got to get back to my Lily/Kingsley fic I'm doing for snegurochka_lee in a little bit. I'm going to go read the meme ficlet she wrote because I stumped her on her fic meme. I'm just getting the smutty part started on mine, so I'm wondering if I should base it on how much I like the one she wrote for me? *evil laugh*

This post is all about pimping my Harry Potter fan fiction. So, all of you who are not interested in that kind of thing should just skip this entry.
I have written four stories. One is still in progress and inspired a friend to create a photo for me which celebrates The Binding of Hermione
( They look so cute together! )

I've also written Snape Receives the Dark Mark in response to a KA challenge which was to be a "Genfic" but the subject matter seemed to suggest something a bit darker was required to tell the story.

Another challenge fic I did was called I'll Tumble for Him which was in response to the TPMM 1000 members in your face Mary Sue challenge.

The last fic I have written is called Making "History of Magic" Exciting and was written for the Sycophant Hex: Spring Faire Festival in the "Bared" (sex in public) catagory.

I am also one of the folks contributing to the KA Group Fic Metamorphoses which needs an update very soon.

Okay, those who have not, please scamper off and read if you've a mind to. If you read, please review.

Thanks!