Ficlet: An Atlas of Love

[magnetic-pole.livejournal.com]

Title: An Atlas of Love
Author/Artist: magnetic_pole
Recipient: chibitoaster
Rating: G
Contents or warnings (highlight to view): *None*
Word count: 130 (an illustrated ficlet)
Summary: Sirius' heart has always been as big as the city he calls home.
Notes: A huge thank you to you, chibitoaster, for your pinch-hit! Illogically, perhaps, this was inspired by your wild-card call for "Winnipeg, Canada," which got me thinking about geography. When I saw brighty had already tackled Winnipeg, this project took another turn. A very happy new year to you, and may it be filled with fannish joys!




Sirius’ heart has always been as big as the city he calls home. But it has grown over the years.


As a child he loved as his family did. His affections were narrow, ancient, parochial.


The friendships he made at school transformed him. He grew and learned to love people who were different from himself.


Working for the Order of the Phoenix taught him to know the geography of his own heart, to make connections, to love something larger than his own life.


Azkaban is best not spoken of.


Learning to love Harry from afar, to protect him, as he did that year, took a leap of faith.


But it was only falling in love at that age of 35 that made his heart as big as it is today.


This humbles me more than I can tell you.

The end.

Comments

[chibitoaster.livejournal.com]

OMG…

That's just beautiful! And it just rings so true. Plus, using maps to tell the story!! It's so… I don't even know how to put it into words. Remus is telling the story, and he's been paying attention all this time. Watching this person go from a naive child of a twisted family, to one of the biggest-hearted people in the world.

And then we are taken along just as casual observers until the very end when we find out that as a reader, we ARE Remus, and this is all about us.

Oh, so good!

Thank you so much. And it's completely unexpected! I pinch hit because I like creating things and any excuse will do. Plus, I know what it's like to have to bow out of a fest and how important it is that there are people around to pick up the slack.

I never expect any reward for it. Especially not one as perfect as this one!

Thank you so much. You've really made my day.

[magnetic-pole.livejournal.com]

Thank *YOU,* C! Really, it's such a relief to have pinch-hitters like you step in--it takes the anxiety out of the fest and lets us sit back and enjoy it along with everyone else. We're truly grateful.

And I'm so glad you enjoyed the ficlet! (Despite drifting from Winnipeg to London...) *hugs* M.

[brighty18.livejournal.com]

So beautiful and poignant!

And so true as well.

[magnetic-pole.livejournal.com]

Thank you for reading/looking, B! And for being such a great fest participant, generally. :) M.

[sambethe.livejournal.com]

This is just lovely! Thank you for sharing it with us.

[magnetic-pole.livejournal.com]

Thanks for taking a look and commenting, S! M.

[secretsolitaire.livejournal.com]

Oh, wow, I love this idea. Amazing. :)

[magnetic-pole.livejournal.com]

Thanks, S, and thanks for being such a responsive reader, generally. I'm also so happy to get a comment from you. *hugs* M.

[museinabsentia.livejournal.com]

This was such a creative idea, using the maps to tell the story. It was such a detailed look into Sirius' life in so few words, and I loved getting to see it from Remus' point of view. Lovely job.

[magnetic-pole.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much, M! I had a lot of fun with this one and appreciate the comment. Happy 2015! M.

[kingzgurl.livejournal.com]

This is so sweet and beautiful!

[magnetic-pole.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much, K--for the comment and for participating! M.

[huldrejenta.livejournal.com]

Goodness, this was wonderful! Very creative, and so evocative. The ending was perfect!

[magnetic-pole.livejournal.com]

Delighted to hear you enjoyed! Happy new year, H. May 2015 bring you wonderful things. M.

[woldy]

So interesting to tell the story of Sirius' emotional journey in spatial terms. I shall think on it :-)

[magnetic-pole.livejournal.com]

Thanks for reading, W. Hard to believe this was two years ago, or that we're starting Small Gifts for the 11th time! M.