Complete Challenges 3 - feel free to pick one up again!

[Admin]

THERE’S SOMETHING I’VE BEEN MEANING TO TELL YOU...

 

The Idea:

Someone has something to say, and it may or may not be pleasant...It includes the words, “There’s something I’ve been meaning to tell you” and it concludes in a hopefully unexpected way...

 

The Requirements:

The requirements are very simple, really.

v     It can be any length you want

v     It can be any characters you want, as long as...

·        It is between Hermione and Severus, OR

·        It has to do with the Hermione/Severus relationship

v     Use AND COMPLETE the phrase “There’s something I’ve been meaning to tell you...”

v     Bonus points for:

·        A creative completion of the sentence “There’s something I’ve been meaning to tell you...”

·        Unusual characters

·        Descriptive/wild responses

·        Any of the following lines/phrases in dialogue/description:

Ø      “It was red!  And REALLY big!”

Ø      “She couldn’t stop staring.”

Ø      “He smirked, said something weird and then started all over again.”

Ø      “Lettuce is vogue.”

Ø      “It was swank, I tell you!”

Ø      “Moo.”

Ø      “No, no, no, you’ve got it all wrong.  OSTRICHES rule the world!  It was in a poll!”

Ø      “Minerva [or some form of her name] and Filch [or some form of his name]?  REALLY?”

Ø      “You saw Dumbledore WHAT??”

·        ORIGINALITY!!!!

 

Challenge Details:

Challenge closes on 31 December 2004 at 23:59:59 to give y’all plenty of time.

[Admin]

FOOLISH THINGS CHALLENGE.
End Date: 1/14/2003
Proposed by Flourish
SUMMARY: Ever listen to classic jazz? The song "These Foolish Things" has a very good checklist of romantic things to be included in a fic. How to reconcile Muggle romantic things with Snape's magical background and Hermione's witch status? Your call.

RULES & REGS: Your story MUST be HG/SS. It can be any rating, but Hermione must be of age. The story must include the following items:
A cigarette that bears a lipstick's traces
An airline ticket to romantic places (OK, you can have them just go somewhere romantic if it's too hard to work in such Muggle things)
A tinkling piano (preferably in the next apartment, but not necessarily)
A confession of love
A fairground, specifically with the brightly-colored spinning swings
"the winds of March that made my heart a dancer,"
A telephone ringing and confusion over who should answer it (Floo calls are okay too)
and
A ghost.

BONUS: Include the song "These Foolish Things" at some point in the story, preferably as sung by Ella Fitzgerald, make the story fit into the scenario the song describes, or include a "heart with wings" (maybe a Valentine?) or the phrase "he came, he saw, he conquered."

THE TEXT OF THE SONG:
oh will you never let me be
oh will you never set me free
the chains that bind us up all around us
there's nothing left that I can see
those little things remain
that bring me happiness or pain
a cigarette that bears a lipstick's traces
an airline ticket to romantic places
and still my heart has wings
these foolish things remind me of you
a tinkling piano in the next apartment
those stumbling words that told you what my heart meant
a fairground's painted swings
these foolish things remind me of you
you came, you saw, you conquered me
when you did that to me
I knew somehow it had to be
the winds of March that made my heart a dancer
a telephone that rings but who's to answer?
oh how the ghost of you clings
these foolish things remind me of you.

[Admin]

RosasdelCorazon's Time-Loop challenge
By RosasDelCorazon

FIC CHALLENGE: Time Loop

Completion Due Date: June 26, 2004
Authors: In order to conserve space on WIKTT, the powers that be have asked me to ask you the following favour: if you are planning on uploading your response to an offlist archive such as FF.net, Whispers, SnitchFiction, FanDomination, etc; rather than uploading it into the challenge folder as well, please upload a linking file that will direct readers to the offlist location. This is not a requirement - please don't deprive us of your work because you're concerned about space - only comply with the request if you are planning to post offlist. Thank you! Click here for an example of a linking file.

THE CHALLENGE
Source of Idea: Remember from the Order of the Phoenix when in the department of
mysteries Neville hits a shelf:

"The jet of red light flew right over the Death Eater's shoulder and
hit a glass-fronted cabinet on the wall full of variously shaped
hour-glasses; the cabinet fell to the floor and burst apart, glass
flying everywhere, sprang back up on to the wall, fully mended, then
fell down again, and shattered... ...while the glass-fronted cabinet
that Harry now suspected had contained Time-Turners continued to
fall, shatter and repair itself on the wall behind them."

It occurred to me that when one damages a time-turner, you don't get
stuck in some time in the past, but rather you get stuck in a time
loop.

Required Story Elements:

1.7th year (preferred) or older Hermione is seriously injured and the time turner is shattered.
Examples:
~falling
~potion exploding

2. Snape witnesses accident and takes Hermione to the Hospital Wing.

3. Snape stays at Hermione's side.

4. Hermione's condition worsens and she dies with Snape by her side.

5. Instead of staying dead, Hermione all of a sudden moves as if she is being rewound
and is back at the point where the time turner is originally
shattered. Hence Snape realizes that Hermione is stuck in a time
loop that restarts everytime Hermione dies.

6. Snape stays with Hermione every single time the time-loop repeats itself in which she is injured and dies.

7. The experience varies with each repetition of the time-loop.

8. A HG/SS relationship must result.

9. A cure must be eventually be found for Hermione.

Required Line:

"'I once thought that after all that I had done, I deserved a thousand deaths. Now, after witnessing it before my very eyes, I wouldn't wish it on anyone.'" (Severus)

Please NO:
~No fics with Hermione YOUNGER than 7th year.
~Slash


CREATIVE AND TASTEFUL DEVIATIONS FROM ORIGINAL CHALLENGE REQUIREMENTS ARE ACCEPTED!

[Admin]

 Severus Snape – The Romance Novelist Challenge Rules/Conditions as follows:
1)SS is a secret writer of Mills and Boon type novels.
2)No-one knows this…for a while.
3)Hermione finds out.
4)HG can still be at Hogwarts as a student, or as a graduate.
5)There must be a reference to one of SS's novels. Title is up to the writer….
6)The following phrases must be incorporated:
"- alleviate the ennui which had overtaken him/her like
 Communism through Eastern Europe."
"May I convey to how much I ardently admire and love you?"
"Your paper and your parts are pure crap."
"Abscess makes the heart grow fonder."
"You're off your chump!"
And some reference somewhere to a "heaving bosom".
Characters may be OOC if required. Silliness is not a prerequisite, but it helps…
 

[Admin]

WIKTT challenge: The Triangle.

 

The recent discussion of how things would be after the release of OotP and the concern over the implications of a married Snape’ on the HG/SS ‘ship’ had made me to think up this challenge, which might become all too real. 

 

With the hope it’ll stay hypothetical ...

 

The only absolute requirement in this challenge is:

The story HAS to start where Snape IS married -- to someone other than Hermione.  The story HAS to end where Snape and Hermione are together.

 

Whom is Snape married to?  Up to you.

The nature of the marriage?  (Love marriage, arranged marriage, convenience marriage … )  Also up to you.

How does the marriage dissolves?  (She dies, he leaves her, she leaves him … )  Also up to you.

The role Hermione plays in the breakup?  (A bystander who takes her chance, an active home wrecker, someone Snape goes to for consolation, his lover while he’s still married … )  Also up to you.

 

BUT … I want full details of all the points above.  Yes.  Include all the stuff that makes gossips like myself live for.  Feel free to make it as scandalous as you wish!

 

What is NOT allowed: a big time or emotional gap between the breaking of Snape’s marriage and his getting together with Hermione.  The events HAVE to be connected.

 

The deadline -- June 20th 2003.  One day before OotP.

 

 

Please remember – For space considerations, if you post your story anywhere outside WIKTT please have the link to it posted in the challenge folder.

 

Have fun!

SinhoBadaro

[Admin]

Many thanks to Lorena Snape for editing the challenge!!! Okay, here goes...!

What if our dear Potions Master had a twin brother or sister? What chaos would
s/he cause when s/he comes to Hogwarts during our Golden Trio's last year?
What would his/her relationship with Severus be like?  If Severus and Hermione
are already together, would s/he approve?  If they are not together yet,  would
s/he play matchmaker?  How would the students and staff react to him/her?


Challenge requirments:

1. Timeline should be during the Trio's final year at Hogwarts.

2. The twin comes to Hogwarts to teach, to fulfill another position on the
staff, or s/he may work with the Order of the Phoenix. You decide his/her role.

3. Severus' twin should burst in/make an entrance in any/all of these times:

a. Sev is teaching double potions to the 7th year Gryffindor and Slytherins
b. In the middle of Sev's `bottle fame, brew glory' speech to 1st years of any house.
c. While everyone is eating in the Great Hall
d. While Sev and Hermione are kissing, or engaged in another 'private moment'

4. Show how Severus' twin interacts with the students and staff.  Whether they like
him/her or not is at your discretion.  Particulary, show how s/he interacts with Severus
and Hermione, and how his/her presence affects their relationship.  Whether or not the twin
likes Hermione and approves of her relationship with Severus is up to you. 

5. The twin should develop a relationship of some sort with one of the other characters. 
It can be a friendship, romance, or s/he can even develop a 'bad' relationship (make an
enemy).  It's up to you.

6.  If you choose the twin to be a brother, then at least one case of mistaken identity
(either way) should be included.  Whether or not it was intentional is up to you (in case
they were purposely posing as the other).


Bonus Events:

a. Yule Ball
b. Special seventh year projects involving `embarrassing things'
c. Accidents in Potions because the twin touched something in his/her
    brother's lab that s/he wasn't supposed to. (s/he sucks at potions!)
d. A unicorn actually butting someone, preferably the twin, out of it's way.
e. Hermione and Severus stuck together in a room. Preferably hiding from his twin.
f. The twin standing, soaked/covered with mud.


Bonus Sentences/Phrases (optional)

You may use half of a phrase, or any variation…

a. Ah! It's the Yeti.
b. Hello Big Brother! Did you miss me?!
c. Run while it's still possible!
d. I wouldn't be so cocky if I were you… She'll have YOUR legs next…
e. So THAT'S what a Banshee looks like…
f. Fuckity fuck fuck!
g. Great galloping gargantuans!
h. Did you HAVE to undress me?
i. Great Merlin's underpants! Save me!!!
j. Kill me… Kill me now!
k. Is he always like this?
l. And you thought the WEASLEY twins were bad...
m. Get me to Madame Pomfrey.  I'm seeing double.


Thank you so very much for your time!

This challenge will run until December 31, 2004. If you need to
contact me, please do so at avataris_leonis

[Admin]

Unable to Stay, Unwilling to go.

 

This title has been sitting in my “write me” pile for a while so I thought, forget it I’ll change it into a challenge. So here it is another challenge only 1 or 2 people will bother to reply to. Not that I feel upset at that or anything. Anyway on with the show.

 

Rules-

 

One of the couple has to leave (they don’t have to be together but knowing you lot they probably will be). They have to leave out of necessity rather than want. They have to have reasons for going but a strong desire to stay.

I don’t care whose point of view it’s from as long as it’s from somebody’s.

 

 

Quotes

 

-         Did you know your everything I wanted to be?

-         Isn’t all this enough?

-         Roses? Rather inappropriate don’t you agree?

-         Well you can take _________ to remind you of ________

-         Don’t want to fight day and night, its bad enough you’re going.

-         Don’t want to know whose to blame it won’t help knowing.

-         Tell me on a Sunday please.

 

Right not an easy set of quotes I know and I know the last 3 are from Tell Me On A Sunday from the musical Song and Dance but hey what you going to do? Try and get at least 4 in to the fic.

 

Happy Writing.

[Admin]

Five Baskets For Your Valentine

The 2003 Valentine's Day Challenge

Deadline: First chapter, posted or linked in the 2003 Valentine's Day Challenge folder, by midnight GMT on February 28. (Greenwich Mean Time, Eastern Standard Time +5 hours).
The Challenge: It's that time of the year again -- rampant romance, delicious daydreams, languid longings and fluffy feelings. Valentine's Day is approaching, and with it another challenge. Five baskets -- five different stories, each with its specific requirements. Choose one or more, and make the readers happy (oh, and of course our favourite couple, too). Story length and rating is up to you, although some of the packages we wrapped up for you might require R at least. *grin* Make it romantic, angsty, dramatic, humorous....And now, unwrap and enjoy!

The Baskets: Choose one basket (or more if you're ambitious) to determine the requirements for your story:

The Youville Basket
The One Room - Survival Pak
The Sexy - Boudoir Basket
The Traditional Basket
The Kontiki-tour Backpack

You-ville Basket:
This story takes place in your home town! You have to give a convincing reason why HG/SS have ended up there.
You make an appearance (In reality or in your 'Mary Sue' disguise).
A local food or dish is served - and provokes a reaction... (the reaction is up to you).
The required item is ... a cellular phone!

One Room - Survival Pak:
Hermione and Snape are stuck in one place for 27 hours. Where and how are your choice!
Filch makes an appearance.
Someone has to burble incoherently.
Handcuffs have to be mentioned in the story.

Sexy - Boudoir Basket:
Snape and Hermione are having a shagfest at a location of your choice
Either Sirius Black, the Minister of Magic, Sybil Trelawney or Molly Weasley comes out from a hiding place (cupboard, under the bed, Invisibility Cloak) and thereby causes great confusion
Requested phrase: "One more minute and I swear I'd have fainted"
Requested phrase: "What's that supposed to be? The <you fill in the blanks> Knot?"

Traditional Basket:
Either Severus or Hermione choose Valentine's Day for a reconciliation (they may be lovers or not, and we want to know the reason for their fight)
One of them has to prepare a dinner -- whether successfully or not is up to you
Requested item: an abysmally tasteless porcelain figurine
Requested phrase: "This proves that quality is more important than quantity."

Kontiki-tour Backpack:
Valentine's Day in an exotic locale (Yes, exotic -- it can't be London or Paris)
A flamboyant travel agent makes an appearance.
There is a 'for sale' ad in the newspaper - what is for sale is up to you.
You have to mention a ratty old handkerchief and a letter from someone from Snape's past.

To all authors: Please include a little note at the bottom of your response listing the basket you chose.
The 2003 Valentine's Day Challenge is brought to you by: pigwidgeon37, SilentG, and Autumnmist.

[Admin]

Complete - 04-02-14 - Valentine's Day, BAH-HUM-BUG!
Everyone loves getting flowers & candy & cutsie stuffed animals & pink heart shaped cards, right? Wrong! Severus Snape & Hermione Granger don't!
fvnesscafe

Pairing: Hermione & Snape (of coarse!)
Time Frame: Now to February 14, 2004
Challenge Name: Valentine's Day, BAH-HUM-BUG!

Here's the general idea:
It's the week before Valentine's Day and both Snape and Hermione are dreading the supposed holiday.  Neither being the most attractive in their respective circles have much luck with the opposite sex and therefore abhor the day that rubs it in like salt in an open wound!

CHALLENGE MUST HAVE:
#1 Hermione & Snape as less then perfect looking.  It's okay if they fix themselves up a bit but not transformed into Barbie and Ken all of the sudden!
#2 Ron & Harry with partners and still friends with Hermione!  I just don't see the Dream Team broken up over the guys having love lives.
#3 Hermione & Snape teaming up to either sabotage Valentine's Day or acting as a couple on Valentine's Day.
BONUS: If you can keep Hermione a 7th year student and make the story believable!

OPTIONAL
#1 A Valentine's party at Grimmauld Place or Valentine's Ball at Hogwarts.
#2 Snape & Hermione getting drunk together.
#3 Friends trying to set Hermione &/or Snape on blind dates with other people.
#4 Smut is always a great crowd pleaser! Hint hint!!!
#5 Slash couples are acceptable.

[Admin]

Valentine's Masquerade Ball Challenge

By know_it_all_hermione_granger

The Basic Idea:

            Hermione Granger is the new ____(insert random position, must be a teacher)_____ at Hogwarts! Because of reasons unknown that damned headmaster has decided to hold a Valentine's Masquerade Ball, and all the teachers must attend.

 

Requirements:

            -Hermione and Snape must be already seeing each other, be it for a long time or a new thing, that's up to you. Please tell how they got together, though.

            -Our lovely couple can dance/love/do naughty things during the night, but they need to make at least one appearance and the staff/students must know it was Hermione with the evil Potions Master.

            -Hermione and Severus must get into a fight and make up, over what is up to you.

            -This can be a one shot, or a chapter story, but if it's a one shot, make it somewhat long.

            -It's obviously going to be humor/romance, considering the following, and probably at least PG-13. Kudos to NC-17 fics!

            -PLEASE put some slash in it. Kudos for any Harry/Draco parings! This is not required, but greatly appreciated.

 

 

It must include ten of the following:

 

'crap snow'
 

 "You gotta be pinchin' my ass"
 

 "Well, if it isn't frosty the snowbastard."
 

 "You're going to kill me for throwing popcorn and a cream pie at you?"
 

 They got out of the room faster than you could say 'doyoulickadickaday'.
 

 "Muffin, can I bet you in poker?"
 

 "Hey! I haven't had a line here for a while. I'm the important one around here. LOVE ME!"
 

 "I warned you once, now it is time for me to shish kabob you."
 

 "I can't believe it. I saw _____(insert random person)____ in the bathroom......naked. She wasn't a girl."
 

 "I bet you couldn't screw a girl if your life depended on it!" "At least I don't screw guys!"
 

 OH NO! REVENGE OF THE HO!
 

 "What about that diet book I gave you?" "I ate it."
 

 "A disco ball from the 80's with Linkin Park?"
 

 "STOP THAT REPULSIVE UNMASCULINE GIGGLING!"
 

 "THAT WASN'T FUNNY! HOW IS AN ATOMIC WEDGIE HUMOROUS?!?"
 

We concur. (one person talking)
 

 "Hip Hip Hurrah… that doesn't sound as cool when you type it."
 

 "Likely story. I reckon you're just being affected by my presence and proximity."
 

 "I'm just here to chew gum and kick ass, and I'm out of bubble gum."
 

 "Cheap bastard." "You'd better believe it!"
 

 ...I find myself unable to think straight. Then again, how straight can gay guys think?
 

  "....and when the situation gets hard, we do what any sensible man would do: Turn ass and run."
 

 Bet you a bag of popcorn she'll hit him before they finish.
 

 "Allah preserve us...they're mating!"
 

 "I'll take it. I'll take it. I couldn't take loosing my Chinese Passion Fruits."
 

 "One of these days, Mr. Spock...One of these days."
 

 They are about as useful in a fight as a one legged man in an ass kicking contest
 

 I'm as popular there as a Nazi at a Bar Mitzvah.
 

 Lick a pickled head. There are plenty on the wall, Hermione.
 

 I can no longer feel the ache in my stomach because it's eating itself.
 

 Bite my nicely shaped ass
 

 Vincent. Vincent, not Vinny. You might call your pimp Vinny, or a fat old Italian Uncle Vinny. My name, Ginny Weasly, is Vincent.
 

 "Oh no! Th' fruitloops are mad at me! Watch out, they may complete my balanced breakfast!"
 

 "You god damned mother fucking retarded Bangladesh!"
 

 "...and then he opens the door naked for ALL the little toys to see, and then he..."
 

 "The wheel is turning, but the hamster's dead. You're fucking crazy"
 

Did you know that I wrote a song for you? It's about ramen noodles...
 

One of the other teachers get obviously drunk and making a complete fool of her/himself.
 

The main large decoration falling down because of said drunken teacher.
 

 

Hope someone likes it.

 

This Challenge ends February 14th, plenty of time to plan and write. ^_^

[Admin]

The Warrior Queen Challenge

Nox_Noctis_Anima

Created: 04-01-07

Finishes: 04-02-18

 

Okay here boys and girls is what this challenge is about.

 

Plot: Hermione and Severus have already been together, but in some battle either a battle after the last Voldie battle or the last Voldie battle Severus is killed or so Hermione thinks. For some reason which I will leave up to your imagination if you get stuck make someone feed him the Draft of the Living Dead, pick your own reason when Hermione turns up at his side he appears dead. Hermione gets pissed and goddamned upset so she chases after the bad guy that ‘killed’ Severus Lucius, Lestrange, Macnair, etc. I’m not fussed as long as it isn’t Voldie and the person is reasonably intelligent or at least cunning.  She tries to duel him or her but he or she beats her and escapes. Hermione vows that she will not return to Hogwarts or have any communication with her friends or family until she has destroyed the man/woman that took Severus from her. She immediately apparates away to somewhere of your choice and is not seen again. A few years later somewhere between 4 and 10 years please. Past that is to long and before that is to short she appears back at Hogwarts, Severus is still teaching and is either attached or not, it is up to you. She has come back because she has killed the man/woman who ‘killed’ Severus. Either she had trained in Asia or with people who had trained there; she learnt all sorts of martial arts and much new magic. She has changed and now is a battle queen who has a new dress style, carries weapons all the time and is cold and nasty, just like Severus. She of course is pretty surprised to find Severus alive as is he to find her alive. But she also brings news of a new Dark Lord/Lady rising, this is a Dark Lord/Lady who is much worse than Voldie ever was. The two must work together to defeat the new dark lord. Pick a reason why they can’t get back together at least right away. Pick a matchmaker to get them back together Dumbledore, Remus, Harry, etc. It doesn’t matter if it works.

 

Requirements:

·       I want a happy ending, so no killing off Hermione or Severus.

·       The person who dies at the end of the 5th book isn’t dead. Either ignore the fact that they died or just invent a way to bring them back.

·       Some Monty Python somewhere, optional.

 

Must haves:

·       Hermione must be the one making most of the snarky comments.

·       Ron and Harry must not have known about the relationship between Hermione and Severus.

·       Ron must fall/have fallen for Hermione and tries to claim her when she returns.

·       A red dress.

·       A cool name for the Dark Lord/Lady.

·       The Dark Lord/Lady is not one of the old Death Eaters.

 

The phrases at least 3:

·       Without darkness, there cannot be light.

·       I had a great time, but this wasn't it.

·       There are only two things, which are infinite, the universe and human stupidity. And I'm not completely sure about the universe.

·       ______ is a wonderful thing when one does not have to earn one’s living at it.

·       If A is a success in life, then A equals x plus y plus z. Work is x; y is play; and z is keeping your mouth shut.

·       Don’t want people to be agreeable, it saves me the trouble of liking them.

·       Do you know what Top Secret means? ... Yeah, it's the kind of mission where you get medals, but they send them to your relatives.

·       God gave you a brain. Why are you not using it?!

·       Fear is a good thing; it means you're paying attention.

·       Normal is a relative term

·       Love belongs to desire. And desire is always cruel.

·       Democracy is a device that insures we shall be governed no better than we deserve.

·       There are four kinds of homicide: felonious, excusable, justifiable and praiseworthy.

·       If you are going to walk on thin ice, you might as well dance.

 

Rating: I don’t really mind but I wound prefer it not to be below PG-13.

 

Length: Anything from one-shot to novel length, but if it is multiple chaptered you only have to post the first chapter by the deadline.

 

Genre: Please not too much angst, though humour and parody are welcome.

 

Miscellaneous: Other pairings I don’t mind. Slash or Het you may pick you can have other HG or SS pairing but I would like them to get back together.

 

Time Limit: 6 weeks so this challenge ends on the 18th of February 2004.

[Admin]

We have lift off
By Andrian

Justin Fletch Finchley went to NASA space camp over the summer. Returning to Hogwarts for the start of his seventh year, Dumbledore is interested in his adventure. Finding it totally fascinating, he announces that a project for the seventh year transfiguration class will be to design a space capsule complete with space simulation.

The story line of course will be that our esteemed couple, Hermione and Severus are accidentally trapped in the capsule.

Rules
They must be trapped for at least 24 hours. However much longer is up to you.
They cannot use magic.
Whether this a simulation ride or a real blast off into outer space is up to you.
One of the following lines must be included:

"Houston, we have a problem."
"The cow jumped over the moon."
"Space, the final frontier."
"What were you expecting, little green men from mars?"

Bonus for using all of the planets.

Ending date July 31, 2003. This gives people like me time to write after classes end.

[Admin]

I am starting this challenge, because of my interset in Fics where a potion changes things in the world of Harry Potter.

"One pill makes you 'larger'."
"And one pill makes you small."
"But the ones that(hermione/snape/or draco) Make you do the smuttiest things of all"

The rules are as follows.

1 . Snape/ and /or Hermione accidently ingests or is exposed to a love potion.
2. SAID POTION WEARS OFF AND OUR CHARACTERS FIND THEMSELVES 'IN FLAGRANTE'
3.THEN IT IS UP TO YOU HOW THIS LITTLE SCENARIO ENDS.

[Admin]

"With Friends Like These"
WIKTT Challenge by LorenaSnape

Premise:

With most all relationships, there are adjustments to make as we learn to accept the friends of those we love (I know this first hand, in learning to accept my husband's friends, and them accepting me). Many SS/HG fics have dealt with Severus accepting Hermione's friends, Harry and Ron, and how they may (or may not) accept him. But what about Snape's friends? So many fics portray him as a brooding loner when in fact it is very possible that he may indeed have close friends.
True, we do see in Order of the Phoenix that he was lonely, hurt and tormented, and those scenes didn't show any friends to stick up for him. However I'd like to allow for growth and change over the years, and would hope that he acquired a friend somewhere along the line...
And yes, he may be a cruel sarcastic bastard to the Gryffindors, but those are students - he may be very different with his equals, colleagues and friends. Then again, maybe his friends happen to *like* cruel sarcastic bastards? (grin)
While there are many SS/HG fics that do show him being friends with his colleagues, few actually focus on those friendships, how they came to be, and what part those friendships play upon Severus & Hermione's relationship.

Challenge:

So, the point of this challenge is to prominently feature a friend of Severus.

Please include answers (as many as you can anyway) to the following questions:

How did Sev and this person become friends? How do they view Hermione, and how does she view them? Do they get along with each other? Does Severus' friend approve of his relationship with Hermione? Why or why not? How does Sev's friendship with this person affect his relationship with Hermione, and how does his being with Hermione affect his relationship with his friend?

Guidelines:

1. Can be a one-shot, or a multi-chapter fic, with a *maximum* of 10,000 words or 7 chapters, whichever comes first. Deadline is March 15th, 2004. If posting multiple chapters, the first chapter must be posted by March 15th. Humor, drama, action - your choice, and any rating (G thru NC17) is fine.

2. The featured friend can *Not* be Albus Dumbledore, Minerva McGonagall, Remus Lupin, or Lucius Malfoy. These characters are frequently used as Sev's friends, and it would be nice to see someone different in this role. This doesn't mean that they can't be his friends in this fic, but simply that they are not the *focus* of it. If feel you 'must' use one of these characters, then please present an unusual or unexpected dynamic to their friendship - something new.

3. If adhering to rule #2, and you choose to use an existing character in the books, then it is preferred that you use a minor or 'under-used' character (example: Sinistra, Vector, Shaklebolt, Jones, etc). This way we can have a new view of this person, and see your perspective on what he/she might be like. Of course you are also free to use a better known character (like Filch, Flitwick, Dung Fletcher, Hagrid, etc), or create an original character if you wish.

4. The Severus/Hermione relationship can be either platonic or romantic, but they must be involved enough for it to come to the attention of this friend. Time period can be anytime after Hermione's 5th year. I prefer that they do not have sex unless Hermione is of legal age (though the desire for such is ok). Even though the SS/HG 'ship is technically AU anyway, please try to keep them "In Character".

Bonus points for the following:

Use of the phrase "With friends like these, who needs enemies?"
Use of the phrase "Et Tu ________?" (insert character)
A secret about Severus is revealed - either his friend tells Hermione, or Hermione tells the friend. Be creative.
Severus, or another teacher, asks an academic question to which Hermione does not know the answer.
Crookshanks, Mrs. Norris, or some other unlikely animal endears himself (or herself) to Severus.
Hermione has a surprise for Severus, and he turns the tables and surprises her.
Much to Sev's chagrin, Harry and Ron get along well with his friend. Perhaps too well?? (evil grin)
Liberal use of humor, Sev's wit, and Hermione's common sense.

Well, that's all I have. If you have any questions, please feel free to write me. Good luck!

~ Lorena Snape

P.S. About the deadline: Of course, late entries will also be welcomed. I myself often get inspiration for fics by reading through past challenges. Just place it (or preferably a link to it) in the challenge folder, which will then be listed under "completed challenges", and let us know. Thanks!

[Admin]

“With This Ring…” Challenge

The Basic Idea:

Severus is giving someone a ring.  Could be Hermione, could be someone else; could be as a wedding proposal, could be some random gift.  Unfortunately, it’s a wild, wild world, and things are never as they seem.  So naturally, the ring is cursed, or spelled at the very least, and this spell/curse is tied to an event that took place in the past.  The events happening around them reflect the event that occurred before – they are not SENT back to the event, but, say, if the ring was originally given by a jealous suitor to the girl he wants to marry, Severus might become the jealous suitor and Hermione the girl he wants to marry and Harry and/or Ron the competition, etc. etc.  Severus, Hermione, Harry, Ron & Co. are all involved in this – as is, if it’s someone other than Hermione, the recipient of this ring.  And in the end, obviously, Hermione and Severus end up together.

The Requirements:
The completion of the phrase, “With this ring…” in the last chapter/epilogue/end.  The traditional completion is, “With this ring, I thee wed…” but obviously, you can do whatever you want.
Hermione and Severus are together at the end…obviously.
Hermione is of legal age – UK or US it doesn’t matter, via Time Turner or natural aging, doesn’t matter either.  Just legal age.

Suggestions:
Take this opportunity to explore either Snape’s past (his family history) or a famous legend (that is, the past event that the ring is tied to) in Wizarding history.

Random Notes to Think About:
Although the events around our main characters change to reflect the past event; for example, if the event took place on a pirate ship, the characters do not necessarily have to start inserting pirate expressions (such as, “Arr!”) into their speech.  Although it might be pretty funny if Severus suddenly burst out into pirate-speak in the middle of a Potions lecture.
 
Challenge-y Stuff:
Challenge closes on 4 January 2004, when the first chapter must be posted.