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Hello! Meg aka DanyFire here for our swap!
I loved this story, and not just because I was introduced to a character I never knew about. This story was very well written. You have a gift for chapturing moments vividly. Your descriptions are flawless. I wish I had your skills. I hope to read more of your work in the future. I love your writing.
Thank you for doing this swap with me!
Meg aka DanyFire
Author's Response:Hi Meg, thank you for your review on this! <3 I am glad that you enjoyed meeting Septimus. I do love a good story about Arthur Weasley's parents (if you look further into my AP, you'll find more LOL). Thank you for your comments regarding descriptions and the quality of writing. It was very challenging to do under 500 words, but it was a lot of fun, nonetheless! :)
Thanks again for this nice review!
<3 Courtney
Aww, Weasleys and chess, what more could one want!
(here for the galazy event (: )
Haha I love this! It made me laugh and smile and it was just a happy story. It also reminded me of playing pinochle with my father and grandfather, which is such a great memory. Thanks for sparking it <3
I love Ron's insistence that his grandad was cheating, only for us to find out that he was cheatin in Ron's favor. And Septimus is so wise in the way that he gives Ron some confidence. And then he even lets Arthur know that he knows Arthur is not all against cheating as he says he is.
You're so good at writing the Weasleys, but also just family in general. And this is also such a believable way for Ron to fall in love with chess <3
Thanks Courtney!!
Catherine
Author's Response:Hi Catherine, thank you so much for this review! This was such a fun thing to write, so I am glad you enjoyed all the Weasleys I included in this piece. I loved the concept of them cheating at chess, but not like in a malicious way. Family's like the Weasleys are rambunctuous and in each others business, but at the end of it all, they love one another. That, and enjoy ragging on one another from time to time. It's also fun to think that perhaps by beating Septimus Weasley in this story, he gained some level of confidence to beat the enchanted chess board arranged by McGonagall in Philosopher's Stone. Now that's a headcanon that will always exist rent free for me hah.
Again, thank you for reading this and for sharing your thoughts on this piece! I so appreciate it!
<3 Courtney
Hi, Courtney.
Here for the Race Across the Galazy review drive.
I don't often see three-generation Weasly stories with Septimus, Arthur, and one of Arthur's children, But this tiny scene does remind me of the chess-playing scene between Septimus and Cedrella early in the story Hardened Hearts.
One can see the link between Ron's early experiences in playing chess with his grandpa, learning the moves and strategies, and his later reputation as a top player of wizaard's chess at Hogwarts. In this story he is ten years old. One year later, ate age eleven (or maybe he was twelve by then) he directs the giant game of chess in the closing chapters of Philosopher's Stone that allows Harry to ultimately save the stone from the clutches of Voldemort. The canon books are never clear about how Ron developed his chess-playing prowess, but you show it to us here in this little vignette.
Arthur seems judgmental about his father's tactics in playing chess with his grandson, or maybe a better word would be simply 'disapproving'. One wonders wherher Septimus could have ever predicted the value that chess skill would have for Ron in the near future.
A clever bit of insight inro a tiny missing element of the whole story. Thank you for writing!
Vicki
Author's Response:Vicki! I so appreciate you taking the time to read this story. It is such a rarity for these three gens to be pictured together. I suppose my fondness for my character interpretation of Septimus is showing hah. Of course, the interpretation of this prompt was a stretch, but I had to go there with it because I wanted something family centered and fluffy. :)
I feel like we're always very judgmental of our parents. We think we know best as kids and our judgments/opinions as adults don't always align with our parents and some of us are more vocal about it than others. I envision all the Weasleys to be a vocal bunch, and therefore, bring up others misdeeds and actions, but in a playful manner, of course. I have this headcanon that Septimus Weasley isn't the only one who is cheating at chess...perhaps something Arthur learned from his father. But I thought it was sort of fun to play with those dynamics and to allude to things that also happened in the past that led to some of the Weasley's cheating in chess. They are a rather competitive bunch, I think. ;)
You know, now I kind of want to write something where Septimus learns about Ron beating the chess match in PS. I feel like he would be proud and admire him for it. As would Arthur, no doubt.
Anyway, thank you for enjoying this little slice of life piece I came up with! I so appreciate your thoughts on it!
<3 Courtney
hihihi for the race through the galazy event!! :)
i love this!! one of my favourite things about ron has always been his chess obsession - it's something which isn't necessarily something you'd predict for him, a kid obsessed with quidditch as well, with so many older brothers, not exactly nerdy - so this is right up my street, and i love the way in this you've written his relationships with both arthur and septimus.
it's the way arthur is sort of mildly in one corner, reading, minding his own business while ron and septimus play their game and how when ron gets upset he scolds him - super mildly haha - and then reproaches his dad for tricking ron into losing his knight. it's so arthur, too, all of that: even-handed and calm and almost you could forget he's there - and perhaps ron did, for a while :P
ah septimus :P i love that he tricks ron but still ultimately lets him win by charming the pieces to play in his favour. it's cheeky but there's a sweetness about it too: something kind-hearted, even though he still tricks him as well.
and ron. omg. i love him. he's just so in character - the way he objects so strongly, the way he's so focused on the game, how he clearly has a good relationship with his grandfather, forged over this game. it's so sweet.
there's also something about the way all of them have their own distinctive personalities in this. it's not long - 500 words is hard to fit too much into - but they're all so separate, with their own voices, their own habits and things. it's v v good!!
this is such a sweet, funny, family-centric little story and i loved it :)
laura xx
Author's Response:Laura, thank you so much for this review! I can feel the excitement and the joy you experienced while reading this and it warms my heart because this was such a fun piece for me to write. I really liked the idea of taking something sweet, like playing chess with your grandad, and turning it into something a little michevious. But then again, it's the Weasleys. It wouldn't be right if there wasn't a little mischief hah.
Anyway, this was definitely challenging to get right in 500 words and showcase all their distinctive personalities. But I am glad you found it believable and enjoyable. :)
Thanks again for reading and reviewing!
<3 Courtney
Hi Courtney - here for the galaxy reviewing event
Does anyone do domestic fluff as well as you? This idea was so adorable like I love that your mind went here from reading that quote. The quote could gave been used in a lot of different ways but I would have done something much darker but I love how in tune you are with Weasley family that you drag something this cute out of it.
Ron and his grandad playing chess, I love the characterisation for all the main characters in this piece. Arthur and his dad seem to have such a playful relationship between the two of them which I really love about them. I think it's so clever to use a bit about what we know about them as a family. Ron is a brilliant chess player and its something that makes him feel special (which normally he doesn't). The fact that septimus encouraged that side of Ron is beautiful tbh.
Chess has a special place for their family and it was so moving and charming to see it on page. Your natural talent for dialogue really worked well to create a lovely playful banter in the piece which I really loved. I'm so happy that I read this. Totally put a smile on my face!
Abbi xx
Author's Response:Hi Abbi, thank you so much for this review! Yeah, this is definitely a "non-traditional" intepretation of that quote LOL ;) But I sort of just needed Weasley fluff, at that point in my life, I guess? And yes, I have sort of just allowed this "Weasley chess," headcanon to grow nonstop LOL.
Again, thank you for taking the time to read and share your thoughts! It's much appreciated!
<3 Courtney
Hi, Courtney, my love! Here for our swap (I will read something else later, but I had to check this one out, because you know I'm so very here for Weasley family feels... :P)
Oh! And this was just so very cute! :D I love this image of little Ron playing chess with grampa Septimus! Ron's indignation because Septimus tricked him a little was so amusing and so very Ron-like! I can just picture this scene so perfectly! Ron with his outrage and Septimus being like, oh, but I didn't lie, I just expressed true facts in a way that misled you... :P I love it, that seems like such a Septimus move! :P And Arthur's interjection, how at first he was like, "Ron, don't be disrespectful of your granpa" but then when he realized how Septimus had tricked him he was immediately "honestly, dad?" :P Love these three generations in "contrast"... so amusing! :D
The fact that Septimus charmed the chessboard to give Ron an advantage was so sweet! And the way he explained it to Arthur later reminded me a bit of the Felix Felicis episode. It's cute. Ron needs an injection of confidence from time to time, right? <3
And, lol, "Funny thing, this knight. Seems to be overly protective of its queen." I love the teasing between Arthur and Septimus there at the end, and I love the idea of the knight being overly protective of the queen in itself, makes me think of a chess love story, which is hilarious! :D
Oh, one last side note: Septimus watched Ron's gaze dance across the board, eyes narrowing with that familiar look of calculation that Cedrella always told him, he too, possessed. His heart softened at this. I loved this little line... I love how Septimus sees a bit of himself in Ron, and I love the mention of Cedrella, there's just something so sweet about this, I can't tell you exactly what, but it made me go awwwww <3 <3 <3
Such an adorable one-shot! Thank you so much for swapping with me! <3
I will be back!
Love,
Chiara
Author's Response:Hi Chiara! I am so glad you loved this little piece of mine <3 It was just this fun little thing that popped into my head and I just had to run with it LOL. And I loved your comment on the chess as a love story thing...I honestly feel like there's this intimacy that exists between Septimus & Cedrella within a chess environment. And then I think this love of chess just sort of carries on throughout the later generations.
Thank you so much for the swap opportunity and for this amazing review..it is so immensely detailed for such a short piece and I appreciate it so much!
<3 Courtney
Helloo Courtney and tag! Here to check out your second entry for this challenge and omg, it's so light and fluffy, it's like a panacea for the heartache of Twisted Every Way :'))
The premise just from the get-go is so adorable, I loved seeing little Ron fighting valiantly to win his chess game, under attack from all sides, absolutely besieged by his grandfather's Definitely Super Unfair Cheating Tactics... 8D Arthur's intervention was the perfect balancing note too, his "Your logic surpasses that of a ten year old" made me grin. Tsk tsk Septimus, taking advantage of your age and experience like that!
The familial happiness comes through so well throughout the piece, I love the comfortable way they are all interacting with each other -- and the note that Septimus is noticing Ron's expression mimics / resembles his own is so cute, bless. The little twist that he's charmed the board to let Ron win is so wholesome as well, I fully support his campaign to boost his youngest grandon's confidence.
And the extra note at the end that Arthur also makes a habit of enchanting the chess pieces, I love it, this clearly runs in the family :P And I have no idea if you meant it this way but the fact that it's the knight protecting the queen is so wholesome to me, like it could be a little metaphor for the way that Arthur conceptualises his relationship with Molly.
I love these family vibes, this was adorable
Author's Response:Thank you so much for checking out this little drabble of mine! Kris mentioned something about wanting to see Septimus/Cedrella playing chess with Ron and I just couldn't pass up the opportunity to explore that idea a bit further in this. I love a multi-generational family story and while this is just a short snippet, I imagine chess being a thing in the Weasley family, especially since Ron ultimately inherits Septimus' chess set (which I happen to have certain ideas about as well ;)).
I'm happy you noticed the small detail of the knight and the queen. There are actually some similar chess references that will pop in HH (so original, I know), so stay tuned there. Of course, Arthur being all "eye rolly," and "Daaad," was just a thing that needed to happen as well.
Anyway, thank you for stopping by to read this one! Much appreciated!
<3 Courtney
you know this already but i've been wanting to see wee ronnie playing chess with his grandparents and i love that you decided to write a scene with septimus, ron and arthur centered around chess. especially loved seeing septimus being all grandaddy and supportive of ron, charming the pieces - it felt like such a *him* thing for some reason and now i'm thinking that fred and george have a lot of septimus in them :P
also loved seeing ron's reaction to septimus' misdirection, it was a lovely way to use the prompt!
thank you for entering my challenge! ?
Author's Response:Thank you for the challenge, Kris! It was great to be inspired to write again because of it. And I was TOTALLY inspired by your comments during NaNo for the subject of this story. I just wanted to write something a little light and fluffy and adorably Weasley. And the thought of chess being this Weasley THING, is now becoming a THING, I feel I must write now xD.
Anyway, thank you so much for reading this and your review and I am glad you enjoyed this story! :)
<3 Courtney
Hey Courtney! Happy holidays! I'm here with a li'l gift review for you <3
I LOVE this concept of Septimus 'teaching' (haha!!) one of his grandchildren how to play chess, and how you've extrapolated from canon to make Ron the student <3 The way the story opens with Septimus comforting his aggrieved knight is just so cute, and then Ron interjects with "you lied!", obviously super annoyed about something that he alleges isn't fair. Ah, yes; there's a difference between lying and misleading, right? And Ron, at the age of ten, is old enough to take a bit of learning the harder way, I'm sure, but he's really quite angry at his grandfather, haha! And Arthur, calling out from the corner and telling his son not to shout at his grandfather, even if he feels unfairly treated really feels like RL family shenanigans!!
"Your logic surpasses that of a ten year old" HA! Brilliant!
There are some really lovely family moments in this such as when Septimus is noting how Ron's calculated expression takes after his own, and how Septimus remarks on the fact that Ron's better at chess than Arthur was at his age, the banter between Septimus and Arthur and...ahhh, it gives me ALL THE FEELS to read something so family-orientated at this particular time of year!
I love Ron's excitement when he realises he's won and flips the board over! And he runs off shouting that he's beaten his granddad - it's always an achievement when you're a kid and you beat a grown-up at their own game of skill, right? Even if the pieces have been charmed in his favour...but he doesn't know that, so...It's good for kids to gain confidence with a little (unknown) help now and again :))
And then it's Arthur's turn to feel a bit sheepish when Septimus points out that the knight seems overly protective of the queen <3
Thsi was such an adorable story, I loved reading it! You really do write family so, so well!!
Meera x
Author's Response:Thanks so much for this review, Meera! I really had a great time writing Arthur and Septimus bantering, so I am glad to hear from your review that it translated well. :) I appreciate your thoughts on me writing wholesome family fun...I just...love it hehe. ;) Anyway, thank you again for coming to check out this story! It's much appreciated!
<3 Courtney
You bet I was going to run not walk over here to read a Weasley chess drabble! *little stars in my eyes*
This was an adorable, fluffy, contained little story, and all three of their characters are so lively in it. I'm still loling over "cheers Dad, your logic surpasses that of a 10 year-old." More of those two together, please.
And at first I was like, the fuck, Septimus, fucking with your grandkid omg -- but then when it turns out he'd charmed the board to let Ron win even after a setback like that, to give Ron the confidence to overcome it... dlklsfh;sdjkhf
Also Ron's little delayed reaction to victory, omg, too cute. <3
And lol at the end -- WAIT -- did Arthur ALSO enchant some of the pieces in the same game? lmao. I'm choosing to interpret that. XD
So cute, I love, fluffy perfection.
<3 Melanie
PS -- tag!
Author's Response:xD I so appreciate the enthusiasm on your part, thanks friend!
Yeah, I worried it wouldn't be clear enough that Septimus was using his manipulative powers for good in this moment lol. But. As is alluded to in his later exchange with Arthur, he always hasn't. But in typically good natured grandparent fashion, he's "spoiling" Ron in a way that makes sense for him (i.e. letting him win). I did write more on him screwing with Arthur in a more recent game between the two of them, but had to cut it because I ran out of runway space. Perhaps another drabble will arise from that idea. Who knows? ;)
It was very challenging this was to write all these little duplicitous things occuring with only 500 words haha. I'm glad to see though that I was successful in making you believe that Septimus wasn't the only one who was being michevious with the chess board manipulations. That was honestly the most important thing that I wanted people to take away from this story.
Thanks again for checking this out and sharing your thoughts!
<3 Courtney
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