#Schmem edition

[schmem14]

I've been told I must also link my Rare Pair Fest IV stories! Here are the two fics I wrote if you want to take a gander. I love them, but I'm biased so take that with a grain of salt ;)

14. Forever in Your Debt by Schmem_14 (4k) Ron Weasley x Mary Cattermole, Reginald Cattermole x Mary Cattermole Ron has been trying to make amends with the Cattermoles for years with no response. Mary finally decides to write back because it turns out she does want something from Ron after all. Mind the tags because this skirts the line of infidelity and involves no small amount of dubious consent ;) Rating: E

15. Fucking Perfect, Actually by Schmem_14 (9k) Ron Weasley x Cormac McLaggen That time Ron Weasley took forever to realize he was secretly in love with his meathead hockey rival, Cormac McLaggen. Ice Hockey AU, Muggle AU. Hot, with lots of pining and sneaking glances in the locker room. Rating: E

Hello friends! Recently, I participated in the fourth HP Rare Pair fest, and with 81 unique and beautiful entries it was a veritable FEAST for the eyes and heart and soul. (Check out the whole collection here)

I wanted to take a moment to post highlights of the fics that just really brought me to my knees in hopes that you’ll fangirl/boy/person over them with me!

1. Evergreen by @thecouchsofa (23k)- Harry Potter x George Weasley What would happen if Harry asked George to go to the Yule Ball with him instead of Parvati? This GOF Yule Ball AU is sure to slay you with sheer adorableness. I couldn’t stop smiling and squealing through the whole thing. This rare pair is one of my favorites, and this fic went above and beyond, plus it’s the perfect holiday read! Rating: T

2. Lonely Creatures by @apricitydays-lazynights (5k)- Severus Snape x Giant Squid The prompt to put these two together could easily have been pure hentai crack nonsense (which is a brilliant option) but this story did things to me that I can’t even put into words. It’s tender, melancholy, and cuts to the heart of Severus Snape’s isolation and longing to be seen and loved. The details of this are so richly woven, and I particularly enjoyed the authors’ focus on Mermlish/Merfolk. Standing ovation to this fic! Rating: E

3. Slice of Night by SquibNation10 (9k)- Aurora Sinistra x Severus Snape This was the fic that took me the most by surprise. I love the creativity in taking a character who gets very few canon details and making them real and beautiful and believable. Auror Sinistra is divine in this, and I’ll give some honorable mentions to both Argus Filch and Rolanda Hooch as excellent supporting characters that also don’t typcially get a lot of spotlight. What a gorgeous slice of life fic! Rating: T

3. Quick Quotes and Quibbles by RainstormRadish (3k)- Luna Lovegood x Rita Skeeter Rita and Luna have to work together to cover the wedding of Neville Longbottom and Pansy Parkinson. There’s just something about a story told in unconventional medium that will always ALWAYS pull me in! This unlikely pairing comes together in the sweetest way, their strong personalities balancing each other out until they become a formidable team.  I particularly loved the graphics and paper trail memos/epistolary style storytelling. Rating: T

4. Your seat, it’s the best seat by @the-houseryn (17k)- Ron Weasley x Draco Malfoy MOVE OVER only one bed, there’s a new trope in town and it’s the ONLY ONE SEAT trope!! This was sexy, flirtatous, and hot AF. I’m always down for a Dron fic, but this one is one of the best I’ve read in a while, with some delicious pining and a predictably oblivious Ron. Do yourself a favor and indulge in the lap-sitting fic of the year! Rating: E

5. Vivaldi and Hot Chocolate by @patriceavril (6k)- Percy Weasley x Stan Shunpike What was Percy up to in OTP/HBP? What a lonely life that must have been! This fic was soft and sweet, giving some much-needed love to a character that we all wrote off in canon for being a stuck-up prick. I love how Percy seeks out the warmth and comfort of the Knight Bus, coming back for more because of the kind-hearted and bubbly Stan Shunpike, who always insists on giving Percy free hot chocolate. I never expected to be so enamoured by this pairing, but I am! Rating: T

6. The monster you feed by @ghostfelicis188 (11k)- Regulus Black x Remus Lupin This canon-compliant fic tore me to shreds. TO SHREDS. Like, I am such a simp for tragic Remus romances, and this took the cake. Features: pining artist Remus, and shit-eating cruel Regulus who toys with Remus the whole damn fic. If you like hurt no comfort, this is the fic for you. *Chefs Kiss* Rating: M

7. Gilded Web by @emilyrickman AlihotsyTotsy (8k)- George Weasley x Blaise Zabini I cannot believe that this understated fic packed such a punch in 8,000 words. George agrees to an undercover operation to investigate the mysterious deaths of Mrs. Zabini’s deceased husbands. He is so pure in this, his characterization charming and believable, I just need more of this George! Bonus points for references to “the Sting” Rating: M

8. Sleeping with Ghosts by @ghaniblue (21k)- Harry Potter x Regulus Black x Draco Malfoy My initial thoughts when encountering this relationship tag was something akin to a bewildered head scratch but OMG the best thing about this fest is having expectations completely upended! This fic slayed hard with a slow burn, found family, semi-sentient house renovation angle that had me completely melted by the end. Rating: M

9. The Last Trial of Peter Petegrew by @sleepstxtic (20 k)- Peter Petegrew x James Potter If possible, I’d like to ram this fic down the throats of all my mutuals with a plea to PLEASE READ THIS FIC. I can’t begin to describe in a tiny paragraph what this did to me. Often Peter Petegrew is relegated to the traitor bus in fandom (understandable) but this took every mean and traitorous part of his character and made me almost like him despite his treachery! The format of this was also a delight to read, and I love that Hermione presents the case for Peter Petegrew in this meta purgatory-style courtroom drama. Rating: M

10. Anatomy of a memory by @venom0usbarbie (9k)- Ginny Weasley x Tom Riddle This story was pure poetry wrapped in a sinister diary-shaped package. I love the self-fulfilling prophecy nature of this time loop style storyline, as well as the toxic obsession and manipulation played out between Ginny and Tom. What a mindfuck ending that was, too! Kudos to the “Tom Riddle is his own Warning” tag. Rating: M

11. Sweet Boy by @maraudersaffair (6k)- Narcissa Black Malfoy x Harry Potter A not-quite-fake dating fic with lots of smut, thirst, and mommy/praise kink? Yes, please! I was literally panting by the end of this, Harry and Narcissa are so hot together! Rating: E

12. Growing Suspicion by nocturn (1.8k)- Neville Longbottom x Marcus Flint Someone keeps mutilating Neville’s plants, and he’s going to get to the bottom of it OR that time Marcus expresses feelings but doesn’t understand proper plant care. This fic was A-DOR-ABLE. Love me a good Hogwarts professors/staff fic, and this was just a bite-sized delight to read. Rating: G

13. For Your Burning Gaze by SquibNation10 (22k)- Neville Longbottom x Pansy Parkinson The fic that I most want to see a sequel for award goes to… this Twilight Zone post-war marriage law fic complete with creepy house elves and a very troubled Pansy, who seems to be the only one realizing that something is not quite right! This is one of the best Panville fics I’ve read, I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. Rating: E

Thanks to @hprarepairfest for putting on another amazing fest!

[kapowsandinterrobangs]

Yesterday, I attended

Shaun’s 21st birthday party. It wasn’t lit but it was a chill and laid back affair - very Shaun. 

Right before cake cutting, some of the attendees shared stories about Shaun. It’s safe to say that Shaun is a dear friend because of his thoughfulness. One guy remembered how Shaun gave up his seat in the military car for him because Shaun knew that he had an injured back. Some of them commended on his strong work ethic (this I can definitely attest to haha) and Jonathan Tan Yang shared about Shaun’s strong desire to guide and mould the young evinced from Council Camp planning when they both edited the Council Handbook together, which Jonathan also uncreepily referred to as their ‘lovechild’. 

Meanwhile, talked about how Shaun was the one who, with dogged determination, texted me ‘Hi Yasmin! How r u?’ at a time when I didn’t want to be contacted by anyone. 

This is one man (or boy? #foreveryoung) who doesn’t burn bridges until the rope has given way. 

But the best sharing came from his mother. This is a woman who carried Shaun in her womb and has raised Shaun since he was a baby - a woman who has seen all sides to Shaun. During her sharing, you can tell that she really loves Shaun and while no mother out there hates their kids except for psychopaths, Shaun’s mother evidently sees Shaun as a huge blessing in her life. Now that’s not something every mother can feel about their kids (I bet even mine). You know how some characteristics we see of people are just facades shown to the world? Shaun’s thoughtfulness is a genuine quality that was cultivated at home. When he’s on his way home, he would ask his mum if he could buy anything for the siblings or for breakfast the next day. She also didn’t talk about this but I remember a time when Shaun was being extremely helpful at home when his mum was diagnosed with breast cancer and had to go for chemo. While other kids would have crumbled, he was the strong support that the family needed to bring them through tough times.

Dear Shaun,

I hope you can see from last night that you are a blessing not just to your mum but to every heart that you’ve touched in your journey to the age of 21. I am extremely proud to have known you as a friend. M-O-E SCHMEM-O-E. Not having you under their scholarship is their loss. Scholarship or no scholarship, I know for a fact that you’ll go far in life. 

Happy 21st birthday, friend.

Yasmin

[schmem14]

My 2023 Year in Fic

Words published this year: 256,358 Number of hits: 78,891 Number of works published: 40 (3 of which are multi-fic collections so… upwards of 100?)

Favorite Fic: Peculiar Prompts (Multiple)

Least Favorite Fic: Atonement (Percy x George)

Most Popular Fic by hits: HP Kinkuary 2023 Collection  22k hits

Least Popular Fic by hits: Tender and Breakable 3 hits 😂

Longest Work of the year: Ron and Draco Go on an Island Adventure [Gee Thanks, Hermione] (15,207 words)

Shortest Work of the year: Schmem's Sapphic Microfic Collection (50 words each)

Works Inspired by my fics: 

I Bloom Pink For You by crazybutgood was inspired by Adorned with Petals and Praise

Strange Cocks and Stranger’s Come by lumosdrabbles (lumosatnight) was inspired by HP Kinkuary 2023 Collection

Podfics recorded:

For Sale by Owner: Rose Weasley-Granger's Virginity by Vukovich inspired [PODFIC] For Sale by Owner: Rose Weasley-Granger's Virginity by Vukovich

Like A Brother Would by wolfpants inspired [PODFIC] Like A Brother Would by wolfpants

Yes, But It'll Cost You by mintaminta inspired [PODFIC] Yes, But It'll Cost You by mintaminta

Fests I participated in: 

HP Kinkuary  HP Kinktober  HP Cest Fest 31 Days of Weasley  CMD Fest Dronarry Fest Dron Fest HP Podfic Mini Fest HP Rare Pair Fest IV HP Pumpkin Spice Fic Fest HP Spooky Saffics Flash Comp HP Saffics Secret Santa HP Saffics Summer Exchange

Pairings written this year: 98 different pairings, most of them rare! (not including HP Saffic Microfics. There are way too many to count)

Pairings with more than one fic: 

Harry x Draco 9 Pansy x Ginny 4 Harry x Ron 4 Harry x Ron x Draco 3 George x Harry 3 Sirius x Remus 3 Draco x Albus Severus 2 Arthur x Molly 2 Ron x Andromeda 2 Colin x Harry 2 Hagrid x Tom Riddle/Voldemort 2 Draco x Ron 2 Bellatrix x Narcissa 2 Hermione x Pansy 2 Lavender x Parvati 2 Arthur x Lucius 2 Luna x Ginny 2 Percy x Marcus 2

Favorite Pairings this year:  Percy Weasley x Marcus Flint Harry x Ron x Draco

Favorite Characters this year:  Ron Percy

Who is my Fandom Bicycle? 🥇Harry - 29 fics 🥈Draco- 25 fics 🥉Ron- 16 fics 🥉Hermione- 16 fics Pansy- 11 fics Ginny- 10 fics Percy- 8 fics

What were my Goals last year? Release my first ever attempt at Podfic Finish at least 3 of my 8 wips Write more femslash works Organize my TBR list Take it easy, and have fun writing! 

Did I complete my goals? All except organizing my TBR list, and I did not take it easy near the end of the year. I am now paying for it with a touch of burn out. 

2024 Writing Goals: Finish my Dronarry fest piece, Finish editing a Hermione x Remus podfic, do Peculiar Prompts, take a break from writing and fests, read more (still organize that TBR if I can!!) and rec fellow authors.