Disclaimer: Anything you recognize belongs to J.K. Rowling.
This is a short story I wrote for a Live Journal community called 30-Minute Fics, which is moderated by scattered logic, pandora nervosa, and shadowycat. The idea is as follows:
"A new challenge will be posted each Sunday afternoon by the moderators. This can be a short premise, a word or phrase, or a picture. Once you have thirty free minutes, set your timer and write! No fair using something already written, now - the thirty minutes is for plotting, writing, and editing."
Challenge 43 – Starting Something New
"Someone begins something new: a project, a class, a part-time job, a love affair... What it is, who's involved and how it works out is up to you."
Something New
In her quarters on a crisp September morning, Minerva McGonagall opened the box she'd placed on the bed and took out the garment contained therein. She examined it for a moment, determining that the portion with the laces must go in front. Carefully, she fitted it around her torso, then began to tighten the laces. As the garment began to close obligingly around her, she wondered if, perhaps, she was doing this incorrectly. She peered into the box, hoping to find instructions, but found only a small card with the name of the shop and a stylized drawing. The drawing, however, gave her something to go on. Perhaps if I lift them while I pull the laces…ah, that's it! The rest of the process was quite simple after that and, as Minerva surveyed her reflection, she was quite pleased. As she made her way to the wardrobe to select her robes for the day, she heard a voice from the living room.
"Minerva?"
"In here, Albus," she answered, gazing critically at two sets of robes.
Albus stopped abruptly in the doorway, doing his best to imitate a codfish. "A dragonhide corset, my dear?"
Minerva nodded. "I've never worn one of these before," she explained, "and I must admit that I rather like the fact that it supports, as well as helps one stand up straight."
Albus chuckled as he made his way to her, "I suppose the fact that it is a most becoming shade of green doesn't hurt either?"
"That did help narrow the selection quite a bit," she admitted with a small smile. "Now," she turned back to the wardrobe, "which of these robes shall I wear today?"
"Neither," he responded, turning her back around. She looked at him questioningly. "Surely, you didn't think I'd allow you to get dressed after seeing you in a green dragonhide corset, did you?"
"I suppose not," she conceded with very uncharacteristic grin on her face.
"Although," he murmured as he began to nibble a trail down her neck, "I don't imagine you'll be wearing it for long."