Post by nemi on Apr 8, 2006 4:44:52 GMT -5
Oooh, 100th post!
This is my first ever attempt at a challenge tag and I hope it’s alright. The challenge said book or movie, but I used my favourite anime – please tell me if I should change it. This is very different to my usual take on ADMM; it’s very, very angsty. Some would say there’s a happy ending, some would say there isn’t. However, there is love, and it’s based around a very unusual and heart-wrenching love story, that while it doesn’t all work out, it’s absolutely beautiful.
I don’t think I can really do this story justice in a oneshot, so you’ll have to look it up. This basically just tells the story of the Harry Potter books, with a backstory and a different ending, and with parts moulded to fit the story it’s based on. Please do take time to read it all ^^”
The title and caption are taken from the name of one of the songs, and a line from another. Links, character exchanges and a brief synopsis of the anime are at the end.
I do not own Harry Potter; nor do I own the characters, themes, songs and settings of Gonzo’s terrific Last Exile.
PS: “Ok I am in desperate need of some humor and/or fluff so here it goes.” – Sorry!
SKYWRITING
You are near, yet so far away
‘Please don’t go,’ her mother had pleaded when she’d accepted the post. ‘Don’t throw your life away. You’re wasting your time, going to work for that lunatic. You’re throwing everything away. Please don’t go.’
Yet those words had fallen on deaf ears. Minerva had sent a letter to Hogwarts saying she accepted the post of Transfiguration teacher, and she wasn’t going to go back on her word. She had been told was going to be made Deputy Headmistress too, as although new, she was apparently the best candidate. She had taught at Beauxbatons for a few years after her graduation.
Minerva had said goodbye to her family, and set off for her new home, thinking about what her mother had said. You’re wasting your time, going to work for that lunatic.
“That lunatic” was Professor Albus Dumbledore, the newly appointed headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. She had always admired him, ever since he had come to teach Transfiguration at the school in her fifth year, and become the headmaster’s deputy just as she was about to do. He had been bright, and lively, and as head of Gryffindor house, he was always willing to listen to the students’ problems. Minerva often wondered if her feelings for him were more than just admiration.
It had been all over the papers after the war with Grindelwald. In a fit of rage when Dumbledore had wiped out his most loyal and most powerful warriors, Grindelwald had ambushed Dumbledore’s family home and attacked Adelaide, his fiancee. Her body was never found, and it was still unknown whether she was dead or alive. Dumbledore had killed Grindelwald with no mercy. It was well known that while he still appeared happy, and his eyes still twinkled, underneath the surface he held his own story, and really he was still waiting, waiting for news of her safety.
He had welcomed her warmly when she arrived at Hogwarts. He made sure she was at home in her quarters and asked if she had any problem with her office. He introduced her to the staff, and then the students, as Professor McGonagall, the new Deputy Headmistress, head of Gryffindor and professor of Transfiguration. She had settled into the school right away.
Don’t throw your life away, her mother had said. Sometimes when she was just about to fall asleep, Minerva would think about that and wonder exactly what her mother had meant. People had always told Minerva she was beautiful, but she never really believed it, and now she dressed in practical, studious clothes, putting her hair up in a bun, and hiding her eyes behind glasses and figure behind loose robes. Minerva wondered if that was what she was talking about. That was the point she always got to before she fell asleep.
She wasn’t entirely sure when exactly she had realised she was in love with Albus Dumbledore. She wondered if he noticed. He pretended not to, she could tell, but sometimes he made comments that revealed he noticed more than he liked. He was still friendly and loving towards everyone, but she knew he was still thinking about Adelaide. He had never really spoken of her in school, but she knew they had been very close.
Minerva herself and Albus became very close over the years. She watched as he slowly began to give up hope of Adelaide ever coming home. She knew he cared for her, too, perhaps more than he let on, but he had once indirectly told her they could never have a relationship. He didn’t want to become so close to someone in that way again, and have them cruelly taken away from him just when he thought everything was going to be alright. He’d had enough turmoil, he said. He didn’t want anyone else to be hurt because of him, and his heart had had enough blows.
Fear was ignited again in both of their hearts, she knew, when Voldemort began to rise. She had gone to school with Tom Riddle, and knew he was a bad sort, but she had never expected this. As Voldemort began to gather followers, a group of individuals she would never forget came to the school. James Potter, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin and Peter Pettigrew. The Marauders, as they called themselves. They were insufferable and inseparable – always playing pranks. But she could tell their bond was one of the greatest she’d seen, and that they did care for others.
James in particular cared for one girl called Lily Evans. Throughout their seven years at Hogwarts he pursued her and she rejected him, but it was inevitable. In seventh year they became a couple and married afterwards, with one of the strongest and most loving relationships Minerva had witnessed. She had once thought to herself that they would probably rival Albus and Adelaide, but having never met Adelaide, she couldn’t be certain. She was certain about one thing though – she could never ask.
Albus had become slightly more reserved when James and Lily’s son, Harry, was born. Minerva could tell something had happened, but she didn’t want to pry. She knew he told her most things, and if he didn’t want to mention it, there had to be a very good reason.
James and Lily had died the year after that. Voldemort had gone to their house in order to kill Harry. He killed them when they tried to protect their son, and because of this Lily left a form of protection on Harry, and the killing curse meant for the little boy rebounded on its castor. Voldemort became a shadow of his former self, but it seemed he couldn’t actually die.
She had gone with Albus when he left Harry with his relatives. She had protested, but he said it was the only option.
Harry had come to Hogwarts at the age of eleven, and made friends immediately with Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. Minerva could tell that Ginny, Ron’s younger sister, really admired Harry. The Potters’ son became more and more like his father as he and his best friends grew older, fighting off Voldemort and his attempts to kill Harry.
Hermione Granger was exceptionally smart. Minerva knew that her star pupil could see right through the “friendship” between her and Albus. Hermione could tell there was something there, hints of a shared history, but she didn’t know what, and as far as Minerva was concerned, she wasn’t going to find out either.
In fifth year Minerva had to console Albus after the death of Harry’s godfather and James’ best friend, Sirius. At the time of the Potters’ deaths, everyone had thought Sirius was responsible because he had been the secret keeper, and they thought he had blown up a street of thirteen Muggles. He was sent to Azkaban, but no one knew that the secret keeper had been changed to Peter Pettigrew at the last minute, and that it had been Peter Pettigrew who killed the Muggles and then changed into a rat, escaping and framing Sirius. Albus blamed himself, and kept beating himself up over the fact that he hadn’t told Harry more that year. He had been distant because of the bond that Voldemort had with Harry, that was always there because of Harry’s scar.
It was in sixth year that Harry learnt the secret of Voldemort’s immortality. Every time he killed someone, his soul had been torn into another piece. He put the other piece into something else – an object or animal – and he couldn’t die until all of the “Horcruxes” had been destroyed. Apparently Albus had a Horcrux too. Theoretically it was because he had killed Grindelwald. Minerva often wondered if Adelaide had taken it with her.
Slowly but surely, Harry managed to destroy all the Horcruxes. By this time, Minerva knew her mother had been right. She, too, was a shadow of her former self. The lively, bouncy, loving, sometimes even flirtatious Minerva had disappeared. She still had a soft side and still cared for many people, but she was more subdued now.
The day of the final battle came. Ron had been hospitalised, but Harry and Hermione, with the support of Ginny, who they protected in the process, fought for as long as they possibly could. Voldemort’s Horcruxes were gone, and there was only the Dark Lord himself left to destroy.
Minerva watched the battle from the sidelines, mostly. Everyone thought it was going to be Harry who defeated Voldemort, but after he wiped out the last of the Death Eaters – Voldemort’s followers – he and Hermione collapsed and it was left to Albus. He and Voldemort made their way into the Riddle house, grappling with each other, neglecting the use of wands.
Albus had snapped Voldemort’s neck in there, Minerva later learned, but as she gazed at the Riddle house, she didn’t know that.
She stood there, with Harry and Hermione watching in silence, wondering what was going to happen. She silently reflected on her life, and the time that she had known Albus Dumbledore. She didn’t regret it. You’re throwing everything away. Her mother’s words echoed in her mind. Perhaps she had thrown something away when she left home to work for Albus and fallen in love with him, subsequently forgetting everyone else of the opposite gender, but she had also gained a lot. She loved nothing more than working with children, however uncaring they thought she was.
She stared at the building, and memories came flooding back. Albus had hurt a lot in his life, and so had she. The war was going to be over, and what would really be gained from it? Nothing could bring Adelaide back. Nothing could reverse the bad things Voldemort – and Grindelwald – had done.
There was an explosion inside. Something had happened.
Minerva’s eyes narrowed and she reached into her pocket for her wand. There was only one thing she could do. Albus could be reunited with Adelaide, and she could learn to move on and live again, as her mother had pleaded with her to do right from the very start. She was making history, she decided. It wasn’t illegal. She was doing this completely legally. Oh, the irony.
She clenched her fist, and tears rolled down her cheeks. ‘Goodbye,’ she whispered to herself. She pulled out her wand and pointed it at the building. ‘I’ll never forget you,’ she said. Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath. She had memories, and that was all that matters. ‘Neco,’ she said. It was said quietly, but with more feeling than anything she had ever said.
As the Riddle house exploded, part of her went with it, and part of her that had been lost long ago came whizzing back.
Ugh, it pained me to write that. I’ve never written anything quite so angsty before.
Last Exile was Gonzo’s 10th anniversary commemoration. It tells the story of a young vanship pilot called Claus Valca and his navigator Lavie Head, who end up taking over a mission that involves protecting a small girl, Alvis Hamilton, and taking her to the airship Silvana, and its mysterious, moody captain Alex Row and enigmatic first officer Sophia Forrester.
In the world of Prestale, the two countries, Anatoray and Disith, are at war across a dangerous stretch of space called the Grand Stream. The world is run by the Guild, a mysterious group of people led by a maestro. The Guild originally were supposed to ensure that the battles between the two countries were fought fairly, but when the Disith overstep the mark and secretly ambush the Anatoray, and the Guild do nothing about it, chaos erupts.
It turns out Alvis is the key to Exile, a strange ship that Maestro Delphine of the Guild wants to overpower. Everyone, including the crews of the Silvana and its ally the Urbanus, teams up to stop this from happening.
Alex, although quiet, holds a past of his own – his fiancee, Yuris, was ripped out of their vanship ten years ago while they crossed the Grand Stream. It’s because of this that he cannot deal with the feelings of Sophia, who is hopelessly in love with him, and who also happens to be the heir to the throne of Anatoray – Sophia hides her beauty behind a strict uniform with her hair in a bun and glasses, hence “throwing everything away”.
Alex breaks Delphine’s neck in the Guild ship eventually, and is going to escape, but Sophia, in the Silvana, thinks both Alex and Delphine are dead, and fires the Silvana’s cannon and blows the ship up.
I can’t tell everything in such a short synopsis. Last Exile is a wonderfully told, wonderfully animated story with brilliantly drawn and planned characters, settings and themes. Check out the links below – ADMM fans will probably be particularly interested in Keep on Flying, the Alex and Sophia fanlisting, and the amazing similarities between Minerva and Sophia.
Last Exile official English site – www.lastexiledvd.com
Alex/Sophia fanlisting – www.absolutetrouble.com/keepflying/
Alex Row fanlisting – www.absolutetrouble.com/alexrow/
Last Exile fanlisting – fan.charming-maiden.net/lastexile/
Sophia Forrester fanlisting – fan.charming-maiden.net/sophia/
Alex/Yuris fanlisting – fan.eternalize-bliss.com/memoirs/
Last Exile World (Italian but easy to navigate and translate) – www.lastexileworld.com
You should look into Last Exile, it’s absolutely wonderful and one of the best stories I have ever heard of, and without a doubt the best anime series I’ve ever seen.
Character Exchanges
Albus Dumbledore – Captain Alex Row
Minerva McGonagall – Vice Captain Sophia Forrester
Harry Potter – Claus Valca
Hermione Granger – Lavie Head
Ginny Weasley – Alvis Hamilton
Voldemort – Maestro Delphine (haha, Delphine’s a woman)
Adelaide – Yuris Bassanius
Lily & James Potter – Hamilcar & Justina Valca
"Neco" is Latin for "I kill".
Right, incessant rambling over! Please review!
This is my first ever attempt at a challenge tag and I hope it’s alright. The challenge said book or movie, but I used my favourite anime – please tell me if I should change it. This is very different to my usual take on ADMM; it’s very, very angsty. Some would say there’s a happy ending, some would say there isn’t. However, there is love, and it’s based around a very unusual and heart-wrenching love story, that while it doesn’t all work out, it’s absolutely beautiful.
I don’t think I can really do this story justice in a oneshot, so you’ll have to look it up. This basically just tells the story of the Harry Potter books, with a backstory and a different ending, and with parts moulded to fit the story it’s based on. Please do take time to read it all ^^”
The title and caption are taken from the name of one of the songs, and a line from another. Links, character exchanges and a brief synopsis of the anime are at the end.
I do not own Harry Potter; nor do I own the characters, themes, songs and settings of Gonzo’s terrific Last Exile.
PS: “Ok I am in desperate need of some humor and/or fluff so here it goes.” – Sorry!
SKYWRITING
You are near, yet so far away
‘Please don’t go,’ her mother had pleaded when she’d accepted the post. ‘Don’t throw your life away. You’re wasting your time, going to work for that lunatic. You’re throwing everything away. Please don’t go.’
Yet those words had fallen on deaf ears. Minerva had sent a letter to Hogwarts saying she accepted the post of Transfiguration teacher, and she wasn’t going to go back on her word. She had been told was going to be made Deputy Headmistress too, as although new, she was apparently the best candidate. She had taught at Beauxbatons for a few years after her graduation.
Minerva had said goodbye to her family, and set off for her new home, thinking about what her mother had said. You’re wasting your time, going to work for that lunatic.
“That lunatic” was Professor Albus Dumbledore, the newly appointed headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. She had always admired him, ever since he had come to teach Transfiguration at the school in her fifth year, and become the headmaster’s deputy just as she was about to do. He had been bright, and lively, and as head of Gryffindor house, he was always willing to listen to the students’ problems. Minerva often wondered if her feelings for him were more than just admiration.
It had been all over the papers after the war with Grindelwald. In a fit of rage when Dumbledore had wiped out his most loyal and most powerful warriors, Grindelwald had ambushed Dumbledore’s family home and attacked Adelaide, his fiancee. Her body was never found, and it was still unknown whether she was dead or alive. Dumbledore had killed Grindelwald with no mercy. It was well known that while he still appeared happy, and his eyes still twinkled, underneath the surface he held his own story, and really he was still waiting, waiting for news of her safety.
He had welcomed her warmly when she arrived at Hogwarts. He made sure she was at home in her quarters and asked if she had any problem with her office. He introduced her to the staff, and then the students, as Professor McGonagall, the new Deputy Headmistress, head of Gryffindor and professor of Transfiguration. She had settled into the school right away.
Don’t throw your life away, her mother had said. Sometimes when she was just about to fall asleep, Minerva would think about that and wonder exactly what her mother had meant. People had always told Minerva she was beautiful, but she never really believed it, and now she dressed in practical, studious clothes, putting her hair up in a bun, and hiding her eyes behind glasses and figure behind loose robes. Minerva wondered if that was what she was talking about. That was the point she always got to before she fell asleep.
She wasn’t entirely sure when exactly she had realised she was in love with Albus Dumbledore. She wondered if he noticed. He pretended not to, she could tell, but sometimes he made comments that revealed he noticed more than he liked. He was still friendly and loving towards everyone, but she knew he was still thinking about Adelaide. He had never really spoken of her in school, but she knew they had been very close.
Minerva herself and Albus became very close over the years. She watched as he slowly began to give up hope of Adelaide ever coming home. She knew he cared for her, too, perhaps more than he let on, but he had once indirectly told her they could never have a relationship. He didn’t want to become so close to someone in that way again, and have them cruelly taken away from him just when he thought everything was going to be alright. He’d had enough turmoil, he said. He didn’t want anyone else to be hurt because of him, and his heart had had enough blows.
Fear was ignited again in both of their hearts, she knew, when Voldemort began to rise. She had gone to school with Tom Riddle, and knew he was a bad sort, but she had never expected this. As Voldemort began to gather followers, a group of individuals she would never forget came to the school. James Potter, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin and Peter Pettigrew. The Marauders, as they called themselves. They were insufferable and inseparable – always playing pranks. But she could tell their bond was one of the greatest she’d seen, and that they did care for others.
James in particular cared for one girl called Lily Evans. Throughout their seven years at Hogwarts he pursued her and she rejected him, but it was inevitable. In seventh year they became a couple and married afterwards, with one of the strongest and most loving relationships Minerva had witnessed. She had once thought to herself that they would probably rival Albus and Adelaide, but having never met Adelaide, she couldn’t be certain. She was certain about one thing though – she could never ask.
Albus had become slightly more reserved when James and Lily’s son, Harry, was born. Minerva could tell something had happened, but she didn’t want to pry. She knew he told her most things, and if he didn’t want to mention it, there had to be a very good reason.
James and Lily had died the year after that. Voldemort had gone to their house in order to kill Harry. He killed them when they tried to protect their son, and because of this Lily left a form of protection on Harry, and the killing curse meant for the little boy rebounded on its castor. Voldemort became a shadow of his former self, but it seemed he couldn’t actually die.
She had gone with Albus when he left Harry with his relatives. She had protested, but he said it was the only option.
Harry had come to Hogwarts at the age of eleven, and made friends immediately with Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. Minerva could tell that Ginny, Ron’s younger sister, really admired Harry. The Potters’ son became more and more like his father as he and his best friends grew older, fighting off Voldemort and his attempts to kill Harry.
Hermione Granger was exceptionally smart. Minerva knew that her star pupil could see right through the “friendship” between her and Albus. Hermione could tell there was something there, hints of a shared history, but she didn’t know what, and as far as Minerva was concerned, she wasn’t going to find out either.
In fifth year Minerva had to console Albus after the death of Harry’s godfather and James’ best friend, Sirius. At the time of the Potters’ deaths, everyone had thought Sirius was responsible because he had been the secret keeper, and they thought he had blown up a street of thirteen Muggles. He was sent to Azkaban, but no one knew that the secret keeper had been changed to Peter Pettigrew at the last minute, and that it had been Peter Pettigrew who killed the Muggles and then changed into a rat, escaping and framing Sirius. Albus blamed himself, and kept beating himself up over the fact that he hadn’t told Harry more that year. He had been distant because of the bond that Voldemort had with Harry, that was always there because of Harry’s scar.
It was in sixth year that Harry learnt the secret of Voldemort’s immortality. Every time he killed someone, his soul had been torn into another piece. He put the other piece into something else – an object or animal – and he couldn’t die until all of the “Horcruxes” had been destroyed. Apparently Albus had a Horcrux too. Theoretically it was because he had killed Grindelwald. Minerva often wondered if Adelaide had taken it with her.
Slowly but surely, Harry managed to destroy all the Horcruxes. By this time, Minerva knew her mother had been right. She, too, was a shadow of her former self. The lively, bouncy, loving, sometimes even flirtatious Minerva had disappeared. She still had a soft side and still cared for many people, but she was more subdued now.
The day of the final battle came. Ron had been hospitalised, but Harry and Hermione, with the support of Ginny, who they protected in the process, fought for as long as they possibly could. Voldemort’s Horcruxes were gone, and there was only the Dark Lord himself left to destroy.
Minerva watched the battle from the sidelines, mostly. Everyone thought it was going to be Harry who defeated Voldemort, but after he wiped out the last of the Death Eaters – Voldemort’s followers – he and Hermione collapsed and it was left to Albus. He and Voldemort made their way into the Riddle house, grappling with each other, neglecting the use of wands.
Albus had snapped Voldemort’s neck in there, Minerva later learned, but as she gazed at the Riddle house, she didn’t know that.
She stood there, with Harry and Hermione watching in silence, wondering what was going to happen. She silently reflected on her life, and the time that she had known Albus Dumbledore. She didn’t regret it. You’re throwing everything away. Her mother’s words echoed in her mind. Perhaps she had thrown something away when she left home to work for Albus and fallen in love with him, subsequently forgetting everyone else of the opposite gender, but she had also gained a lot. She loved nothing more than working with children, however uncaring they thought she was.
She stared at the building, and memories came flooding back. Albus had hurt a lot in his life, and so had she. The war was going to be over, and what would really be gained from it? Nothing could bring Adelaide back. Nothing could reverse the bad things Voldemort – and Grindelwald – had done.
There was an explosion inside. Something had happened.
Minerva’s eyes narrowed and she reached into her pocket for her wand. There was only one thing she could do. Albus could be reunited with Adelaide, and she could learn to move on and live again, as her mother had pleaded with her to do right from the very start. She was making history, she decided. It wasn’t illegal. She was doing this completely legally. Oh, the irony.
She clenched her fist, and tears rolled down her cheeks. ‘Goodbye,’ she whispered to herself. She pulled out her wand and pointed it at the building. ‘I’ll never forget you,’ she said. Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath. She had memories, and that was all that matters. ‘Neco,’ she said. It was said quietly, but with more feeling than anything she had ever said.
As the Riddle house exploded, part of her went with it, and part of her that had been lost long ago came whizzing back.
Ugh, it pained me to write that. I’ve never written anything quite so angsty before.
Last Exile was Gonzo’s 10th anniversary commemoration. It tells the story of a young vanship pilot called Claus Valca and his navigator Lavie Head, who end up taking over a mission that involves protecting a small girl, Alvis Hamilton, and taking her to the airship Silvana, and its mysterious, moody captain Alex Row and enigmatic first officer Sophia Forrester.
In the world of Prestale, the two countries, Anatoray and Disith, are at war across a dangerous stretch of space called the Grand Stream. The world is run by the Guild, a mysterious group of people led by a maestro. The Guild originally were supposed to ensure that the battles between the two countries were fought fairly, but when the Disith overstep the mark and secretly ambush the Anatoray, and the Guild do nothing about it, chaos erupts.
It turns out Alvis is the key to Exile, a strange ship that Maestro Delphine of the Guild wants to overpower. Everyone, including the crews of the Silvana and its ally the Urbanus, teams up to stop this from happening.
Alex, although quiet, holds a past of his own – his fiancee, Yuris, was ripped out of their vanship ten years ago while they crossed the Grand Stream. It’s because of this that he cannot deal with the feelings of Sophia, who is hopelessly in love with him, and who also happens to be the heir to the throne of Anatoray – Sophia hides her beauty behind a strict uniform with her hair in a bun and glasses, hence “throwing everything away”.
Alex breaks Delphine’s neck in the Guild ship eventually, and is going to escape, but Sophia, in the Silvana, thinks both Alex and Delphine are dead, and fires the Silvana’s cannon and blows the ship up.
I can’t tell everything in such a short synopsis. Last Exile is a wonderfully told, wonderfully animated story with brilliantly drawn and planned characters, settings and themes. Check out the links below – ADMM fans will probably be particularly interested in Keep on Flying, the Alex and Sophia fanlisting, and the amazing similarities between Minerva and Sophia.
Last Exile official English site – www.lastexiledvd.com
Alex/Sophia fanlisting – www.absolutetrouble.com/keepflying/
Alex Row fanlisting – www.absolutetrouble.com/alexrow/
Last Exile fanlisting – fan.charming-maiden.net/lastexile/
Sophia Forrester fanlisting – fan.charming-maiden.net/sophia/
Alex/Yuris fanlisting – fan.eternalize-bliss.com/memoirs/
Last Exile World (Italian but easy to navigate and translate) – www.lastexileworld.com
You should look into Last Exile, it’s absolutely wonderful and one of the best stories I have ever heard of, and without a doubt the best anime series I’ve ever seen.
Character Exchanges
Albus Dumbledore – Captain Alex Row
Minerva McGonagall – Vice Captain Sophia Forrester
Harry Potter – Claus Valca
Hermione Granger – Lavie Head
Ginny Weasley – Alvis Hamilton
Voldemort – Maestro Delphine (haha, Delphine’s a woman)
Adelaide – Yuris Bassanius
Lily & James Potter – Hamilcar & Justina Valca
"Neco" is Latin for "I kill".
Right, incessant rambling over! Please review!
