That was the plan -- on one hand the event or happening, on the other the relationship; as in love affair. My English dictionary has both, my French one not (the second meaning, that is), but it isn't all that great either, tbh.


Regarding your ideas ... hmm, I think I really need England as the party that would start the actual war here (it will be prevented in the end, as I said). So if it would be about the Veil, for example, as the object everyone wants to have, it would be better if it was in France. Or if it was about territory, it would be England that wants to expand. You see what I mean?

But I like the other ideas (hope I got you right) ... France intervening in England shortly before Voldemort's fall, and ever since, there have been tensions between England and France. On the other hand, France could've even backed Voldemort secretly at the beginning, hoping to destabilise England? And got cold feet later on?

All good reasons to have a diplomatic ice-age between England and France.

Now we need the spark that gets England moving. Hmm, I guess I could always do it WWI-style -- some important person, English Minister or whatever, gets assassinated, and England blames France, hands out an ultimatum to declare their responsibility for this incident in front of the IWC, and if they don't, England will start the invasion.

Of course, this could all be just some made up arguments on England's part. I really like the idea with the resources. What about Floo-Powder? It's low in England, and they are fed-up with the high prices the French want to have.

About how the French know of England's plans, that's not too important. As it is the backstory, it simply has happened, one way or the other.

If it wasn't a weapon, but important documents ... does such thing as an apparation-border makes sense? And the English have plans on how to circumvent it? And France is desperate to get the plans back?

Yeah, thanks much for those ideas, Belra. I usually get ideas myself if I talk about someone else's ideas, so this is a great help.


And for anyone that is tl;dr, here's wanted:

• A reason for England to attack France or at least plan an attack; and
• Something that England has, and if it would be without it, it couldn't or wouldn't attack France.

 

Great ideas as well, Neisseria. The TriWiz, is what, every five years. I'd need to move my timeline around a bit, but that shouldn't be a problem. So for the next one, Harry would be ... 19, and Fleur at least 22. Could be a big event, the first big event England will be taking part in after the war and all that, so any incident would be even greater.

Eh, and on the topic of events ... I could also take the Quidditch-World Cup, to be hosted in France. The rest is good as well. Everything is noted.


And I know about late. Add one hour and you're here. Usually, though, I'm the most creative at night -- I write then, ideas as well as the story itself, and check it the morning after.

The downside is that I always get into a strange mood if I'm really tired -- right now, for a scene I was writing, I couldn't decide if I wanted to have Fleur in a short dress, and Veela-Charm her way through guards, or in a black leather suit and do it with stealth -- heh, and wouldn't you know, I ended up deciding I would do both, first one, then the other.

Funny how that works.

 

Thanks for your help, @all.

I originally wanted to have the first chapter out by the weekend, but a duelling scene takes longer than anticipated. So here's a little piece, to get you into the right mood of the story. I label it:

The French Affair:
Prologue, Scene II -- Gary the Fanboy.​

Eric Munch had long since retired from his profession as the best and only employee of the Ministry Security Guard. There had been many changes after one particular incident somehow involving the Department of Mysteries, and especially in the war, a strong and competent internal security had been needed, so a new office had been created, reporting directly to the Minister.

Gary Frobisher didn’t really know more than that, and didn’t particularly care to, either. He was young enough, so he took a night shift once a week, got the allowance for that and was free on the weekends. It was a bit boring, sitting alone at the desk, but he entertained himself with thoughts from the last weekend.

Her name was Jessica.

Just as he was idly wondering how her hot step-sister would be or even both together, the lift of the visitor entrance, at the end of the hall, clattered to a halt. The door sprang open, and the world bloomed.

Even from across the long hall, he could see that an angel had just now stepped down into the Ministry, down to him. For him. His eyes were fixed on the apparition. The hall was mostly dark, but light from the lift behind her illuminated her, surrounding her with a soft glow. Over the low murmur of the falling water from the fountain, heels clicked sharply on the floor, echoing in the empty hall.

An angel with high-heels.

As she had crossed maybe half the distance, she shrugged off her cape, with a graceful, fluid motion, and he was blinded by her. The angel had turned into a Goddess.

A Goddess, with black high-heels, endless legs; in a wonderfully short red dress, that clung to her figure and hid nothing, especially not those epic tits. His look was stuck there, and the best thing was, she didn’t even seem to mind. She simply smiled widely, smiled at him, as she saw where he was looking, and sauntered forwards, until she reached him, extending her index finger and pushing up his chin; burning his skin where she had touched him.

Red lips, crystal blue eyes and white-blonde hair, that cascaded down her back and seemed to be waving in a constant breeze. Oh yes, a veritable goddess, indeed. He suddenly felt very inadequate, and an overwhelming urge to help her, with whatever she might need.

Pulling himself together, and asked: “How can I be of assistance, Miss?”

How did one speak to such a perfect, exquisite creature? But apparently, he’d said the right thing, because the smile became radiant.

“Oh, monsieur, if eet eez no trouble …”

She had a throaty, sensual voice that promised all sorts of wicked pleasure with a French accent! Holy Merlin fucking Morgane. Gary felt like he would die any moment from the sensory overload.

“… I was wondering, per’aps do you know where ze prizoner zat was brought in today eez ‘eld?”

 

Fixed it; thanks Belra. Scene 1 is nothing of importance; just a few paragraphs with the "camera" set outside the Ministry, by the red telephone box.

Quite. I found the opening great, and "More Than a Pretty Face" not bad, but much too short, and then got an idea.

So I PM'ed the author, and she had no problems with it. This was part of the reason I wrote Fleur's entrance from Gary's POV; because that was the one part that nearly identical with hers, and I wanted to make it as different as possible. The rest of the chapter is not the same, if you don't count the general idea ('Fleur breaking Harry out, using her Veela powers').

My Fleur's different, the reason Harry's held there is different, Fleur's way to the cells is different, etc. pp. So you won't read a copy of MTaPF; and the rest of the story is my own idea anyway.


/goes back to work on the chapter.

 

I knew that. >_> No really, it's interwebs, and it was meant to be. I also realise it can't be taken seriously. That was the idea. I'm currently deciding how serious I want to be here -- because Gary is, dare I say it, a self-insertion. I mean really, "Just as he was idly wondering how her hot step-sister would be or even both together"? Is that any better?

It was meant to be ironic, hence the Fanboy-comment; just look at Fleur's description. But if it doesn't work that way, I'll have to change it. Thoughts?


@Blade, You're right, and I'll check that Morgana/e thing.