I've got a story up for Severus Snape's birthday fest-

[mary_j_59]

It, and a lot of other good stuff, are at the Severus big bang on both livejournal and insanejournal. I especially recommend the takeoff on Harriet the Spy, and AnnieTalbot's "Rosemary" among the fics, and there's lots of great art - Sigune's shoes, and many others. Here's the link to mine: http://severusb4.livejournal.com/10818.html

Comments

[oryx_leucoryx]

I like the life you gave Severus/Michael. So calm, so normal. What do he and Jane do for a living? Did he find a non-magical outlet to his talents or did he start completely anew?

Which story is based on Harriet the Spy?

[mary-j-59.livejournal.com]

Thanks! Michael is now (as far as he knows) completely without magic, so he pretty much had to start afresh. He is still a healer, of sorts, concocting herbal remedies from local plants he and the family gather on the moors, and he started out keeping the books at his Muggle friend Tim Fawkes's garage, and then working as an orderly in the local hospital. I have a sneaking suspicion that he may have found his way back to teaching at this point, though! Jane is a nurse at the hospital, and they met arguing over a patient.

So I explained in a comment to "The Last Horcrux", lower down on my blog!

The story based on "Harriet the Spy" is the one about the little girl's journal about Stephen and Matilda. It's well done.

[oryx_leucoryx]

I have a sneaking suspicion that he may have found his way back to teaching at this point, though!

I think Michael has a lot to give to the young. I would especially like to see him with youth at risk, kids from a background similar to his own.

[sionna-raven.livejournal.com]

I've only read very few of the stories; yours of course. I've been busy knitting dog sweaters for a charity since Christmas.
It may not have much of an amazing story, but IMO the strength of your writing lies in the ability to make every single movement, reaction, emotion and word of your characters feel real. Your stories always give me a clear imagination of the moment, like a snapshot of RL. This is how people act. Thanks for doing that....
I do think this story is a bit difficult to access as a stand-alone, however. With the other Michael Griffin stories in mind it makes much more sense.

I can't resist to ask, if you had a look on our small birthday present. I guess you'll be able to recognise mine.

[mary-j-59.livejournal.com]

You're right, Sionna; this story certainly would gain power if a reader were familiar with the other "Michael" stories. But I love your comment otherwise! That is exactly what I try to do.

When I last clicked on the link to the fest at whysnape, there was only a picture up. I'll look again!

[sionna-raven.livejournal.com]

When I last clicked on the link to the fest at whysnape, there was only a picture up. I'll look again!

Oops, the picture is only the front cover. It's a 20 page pdf document. When you scroll down or click on the right arrow at the top, you'll get the following pages.

[mary-j-59.livejournal.com]

Saw them now! I will need to reread - I glanced quickly, at work, and can tell you I love the mermaid story. What an interesting perspective. I know you wrote the intro, but did you also write any of the others?

[sionna-raven.livejournal.com]

Whitehound's mermaid is certainly the crown jewel of the compilation. It helped me to overcome my frustration, when she promised to sent it on the morning of Jan. 8th. It finally arrived at 2am on the 9th, while I was only kept awake by strong Assam tea for hours.
I wrote two of the others. One is a mere plot device to sneak in ideas which were too much to burden my main character with.

[oryx_leucoryx]

I had another thought about Michael. Obviously he is relieved his children are not magical. But how would he react if he were to notice that some other child in his town/hospital/school were to display magic? Would he leave the child to be taken care of by Hogwarts? Would he advise the child or hir parents? Would he assist the child to avoid Hogwarts?