goggles-mcgee

[goggles-mcgee]

Ashes of Rage: Act 1 - Time to Face Reality (I Prefer The Dream)

Chapter 9 of the story for @miner249er

AO3 Beginning Last Chapter

Summary: Time for questions and consequences.

Time to Face Reality (I Prefer The Dream):

Consciousness came slowly. It was like going through a list step by step and making sure to check off everything already done. The first thing Adrien was aware of was the soft hum of background chatter and the rhythmic beeping of a machine. It wasn’t anything he was familiar with and yet he couldn’t find it in himself to panic even though that definitely would have been his first reaction. The second thing he was aware of was how heavy his eyes felt, he immediately tried to open them but it felt like a herculean task. It was like trying to take apart something that had slightly dried glue on the pieces and you glued it wrong so now you had to carefully pry the pieces apart. The next thing he noticed was how dry his mouth felt and how bad it tasted. It immediately had him grimacing. He probably made some kind of noise of disgust because he heard a loud gasp and someone shouting before footsteps hurried toward him. 

“M Agreste? Can you hear me?”

It wasn’t a voice he recognized and that frightened Adrien a bit more than he would care to admit, he was Chat Noir for goodness sake! He wasn’t scared of anything! But…he could not help how his body tensed in reaction to not knowing where he was nor how he got there. Most concerning was how he felt disconnected from his body. 

           “M Agreste. I understand this is a scary moment for you but I need you to remain calm. You are in the hospital.” The same voice from before said. The voice sounded female and it was calm and gentle. It made Adrien’s body react before he could even think it through. He relaxed as best he could whilst trying to open his eyes. Finally, after what felt like several hours, he was able to pry his eyes open. At first everything was blurry which is to be expected but it took more time than he thought it would for his eyes to focus. The first thing he noticed was the nurse hovering over him and while he expected it, it still made him flinch, an action that felt harder to do than it should. It also was followed by this sharp pain that had him gasping. 

“My name is Nurse Fontaine. I am sorry if I shocked you, but you can’t make any subtle movements, M Agreste. I’m sure you’re in pain but just relax as you are due for your next dose of morphine. Then I would be happy to bring your doctor and some police officers here as I’m sure you have questions.” The nurse informed him before she left him alone with his thoughts. She hadn’t even waited till he said anything. Though, to be fair, he had no idea what he would have said given he just felt very confused. He couldn’t remember anything happening that would have landed him in the hospital and trying to do so was giving him a headache. The only thing he was certain of was the fact whatever happened was important and that it was bad. I mean, it had to be bad right? It ended up with him in the hospital.

Something did stick out to him though in the little that Nurse Fontaine had said. She had mentioned the police which basically confirmed that whatever happened to him had been bad. His memory was still fuzzy but he did vaguely remember a bright red light and then nothing. Could someone have attacked him? His memory gave him a brief flash of Natalie and his father so perhaps it was an attack on the mansion. Wait…his father! And Natalie! Were they okay? Where were they? If they had been in the attack like his memory was telling him then why weren’t his father and him placed in the same room? Surely his father would demand he be put in the same room as his son. Perhaps only he had been caught in whatever went down but that still didn’t explain the absence of his father. 

Adrien stewed in that thought, of course his father would be with him in either scenario…unless…unless Adrien was the only one to survive. Oh god…oh god no. Even just the thought of that had him immediately gagging but nothing came up which made sense given he had nothing in his stomach to give. But his body didn't seem to care and kept trying to dispel whatever it could. It hurt. Which made sense since his whole body was in pain but the gagging made it ten times worse with the way his muscles would clench and push. 

 “Oh my!” The voice of Nurse Fontaine suddenly filled the room and Adrien felt her hands on him. The gentleness in which she handled him gave him brief but vivid flashes of his mother and it seemed to help calm him. Maybe it was the glimpses of the nurse's blonde hair, or maybe it was the way she wiped the tears he hadn't even noticed were there with a handkerchief that reminded him of his mother. Whatever it was though he was grateful because it helped calm him and stop his gagging which had felt like torture in that moment.

 “Better?” Nurse Fontaine asked after his breathing had slowed. 

            He couldn’t find his voice currently so he settled for a nod in response which seemed good enough for Nurse Fontaine who gave him a small smile in return and a brief nod. “I am glad. Now, as I mentioned before, you are due for your next dose of morphine very soon, which I am sure you are happy about. Before that, however, I have some people here who would like to speak with you if you are up for it?”

“I believe I am up to it.” Adrien rasped diplomatically. Even if he felt less than…perfect, his father had drilled into him the necessity of being polite and never showing weakness. He remembered vividly the week he had a bad head cold when he was eleven and his father still made him model. He had gotten through the whole week without anyone noticing his illness and it was one the few times that his father had sincerely complimented him and told him he was proud. He had even smiled at him! It had filled him with so much love, relief, and determination to continue to make his father proud. 

“Oh dear. Let’s get you some water and ice chips before they come in.” Nurse Fontaine said before she was out the door again and back shortly. Someone must have had some water and ice chips ready for her to be back in the short amount of time she had. She helped him sit up as comfortably as she could and also assisted in helping him drink the water and eat some ice chips. He hated feeling so helpless and weak and yet he was grateful to Nurse Fontaine. Her kindness reminded him of Marintette, his Lady! Oh god…his Lady! She had been there too! Was she okay? Was she also in the hospital bed ridden? Was she-? No…No, he couldn’t think like that. Sure they had managed to capture her and everything but Ladybug was strong and resilient. If anyone could have gotten out of whatever injured him it would be her. 

Mindlessly he ate the rest of the ice chips as he let himself wonder about his Lady and if their plan worked. He couldn’t remember everything but he did know they had managed to take her earrings, but anything beyond that was foggy. It was as he was trying to remember that, that the aforementioned police and doctor arrived in his room with a polite knock on his door by the doctor. 

“Good afternoon, Mister Agreste. I am Doctor Alain Boucher. I am the one in charge of your care along with your daytime nurse, Nurse Fontaine and your nighttime nurse, Nurse Bonnaire who is not present at the moment. First of all, I would like to start with a small checkup on you and if you are feeling up to it, these nice gentlemen have some questions for you.” The doctor’s tone was nice yet firm that Adrien didn’t even think of trying to interrupt. He merely nodded and let the doctor do what he needed despite the fact Adrien was filled to the brim with questions. 

“You seem to be doing well considering the circumstances. You have a long road to recovery Mister Agreste but we shall get into that tomorrow as after your discussion with these gentlemen I know you will be tired. You have had much excitement for the day. I will remain in the room until the discussion has ended considering your status as a minor.” Dr. Boucher announced which of course left Adrien with more questions, but two jumped out of his mouth before he could stop them. They were the ones that seemed to bother him the most.

“What do you mean recovery? What’s wrong with me?”

The room became quiet at his questions. Too quiet. Worryingly quiet.

“He deserves to know.” One of the officers said, but it did not sound kind.

“Be that as it may, he has just woken today and he is a minor.” Nurse Fontaine responded.

“They are correct nonetheless.” Dr. Boucher said. “Mister Agreste, there is no way to tell this without it being a shock to you. If at any point the information is overwhelming and affects your health the questioning will be held off.”

No one argued.

Dr. Boucher nodded once at the silence before he continued, “You have suffered from five clean breaks. Two in your left forearm, one in each of your legs, and one rib. Because of the rib your right lung was punctured, but the puncture, luckily, was not big. It was in fact, quite minimal. Your right shoulder was dislocated. You acquired many contusions and lacerations. The deeper lacerations have already been stitched and seem to be healing well. Lastly…you suffered third degree burns which were severe but luckily did not venture towards fourth degree territory.” 

He felt numb all over again. How was he injured so bad? 

“A-And my father and Natalie?” He was almost too afraid to ask but he needed to know. They were his only family. They needed to be okay! They just had too!

He did not miss the way Dr. Boucher’s jaw clenched.

“Please. I-I need to know. A-Are they alive? Please tell me they’re alive.” He begged. 

“They are alive”

Adrien sighed in relief but noticed how long Dr. Boucher paused, “...But?”

“But they have also suffered greatly. I don’t wish to distress you Mister Agreste…”

“Please just…I need to know. What…what does their recovery look like? They will recover right?”

“They will. Neither have awoken yet but rest assured they will. Their recovery will likely be longer than yours. I truly do not want to burden you with the knowledge but the police will share it regardless because they want answers so it falls on me to give the news in a better…lighting.” Dr. Boucher didn’t seem too happy with the police officers in that moment but he also looked resigned to the whole situation. “Let’s start with Madame Sancoeur. She, much like yourself, suffered from burns but most of hers were fourth degree and located on both arms…this led to the necessary decision of amputation.”

…What?

“Her left arm was amputated to her elbow whilst the right was up to the shoulder. Her right ankle is broken and she suffered many contusions and lacerations as well. The other burns were third degree and treatable.”

Amputations…Of course Adrien knew they happened but it was one thing to know due to history and media and another to know about it because it happened to someone he considered family. Oh god Nathalie! What happened? How was this the cause? At the mention of the burns Adrien got a flash of a bright, nearly blinding red light and the overwhelming feeling of heat that climbed and climbed until the memory left him. He had to focus, he could think about all that later. He needed to know how his father was.

“Are you okay to continue? There is no shame in needing a breather.”

Adrien didn’t need a breather even if his stomach was in knots and his heart was racing. He took a couple of deep breaths to calm it down because he knew it was the reason Dr. Boucher stopped explaining and Adrien needed the opposite of that. He was Chat Noir! He could face anything! “I’m fine, Doctor. Please continue.” 

Despite the fact that he looked hesitant to continue, Dr. Boucher carried on. “Your father also suffers from some third degree burns but far less than yourself and Madame Sancoeur. His right leg is broken in three different places and his left ankle is sprained. His right shoulder was shattered and impaled by fallen debris but we are confident in his recovery. Lastly…we’re not sure how it occurred, but your father’s vocal cords were severely damaged, to the point that we had to perform a laryngectomy, which is the removal of the larynx also known as the voice box.”

“His…his vocal cords? What does that-Does that mean he can’t speak? Like ever?” Adrien wheezed out. 

“Not necessarily. There are options he has available once he awakens and goes through recovery, such as something he can learn that we call Esophagael speech. There are also prosthetics and devices he can use called the Voice prosthesis or Electrolarynx. With all of that he can also, and so can you, learn sign language. I recommend learning either way along with whatever route of recovery he chooses.”

“He…” Try as hard as he might, nothing could stop the tears from falling. “W-Will I be notified when he wakes up? Please! I need to be! I need my dad!”

“Mister Agreste. Adrien. Please take a deep breath. I promise you will be notified. Now. I believe this was enough excitement for you today and that these officers will have to come back tomorrow. You are not up to more questions or conversation. Rest.” Dr. Boucher stated before he gave Adrien a short nod before he simply looked at the officers in the room until they started to leave. With one more nod and a brief explanation of what button to push for assistance and where the TV remote was located, Dr.Boucher and Nurse Fontaine left Adrien to his thoughts. 

He nearly pushed the assistance button right away as he had far more questions that he demanded the answers to but his body felt extremely weekend tired which was ridiculous considering he woke from a coma. Even though he fought it, Adrien found himself drifting off to sleep and unlike the coma, this sleep was not dreamless. 

______________________

He didn’t know how long he slept but he knew it had to be past some of his pain medication dosages considering how dark the sky outside was and how bright the lights of all of the machines surrounding him were. Though, even just waking up and considering how dark it was, Adrien did not fail to notice the presence of at least four people. When they noticed he was indeed awake, they all stiffened and stalked toward him. Maybe the way they approached him made him feel more than a little intimidated and made him tense more than he would have liked but once they got closer he recognized them as his teammates and relaxed. Obviously they were here to check on their good friend Chat Noir and he could finally get answers about what happened to Mari-His Lady and where she was. He didn’t even pause to think of how they knew his identity or if they even did. 

“Guys! I’m so happy to see you! What-” 

“Silence.” An aggressive hiss from Donryu cut him off. Normally he would have laughed off her hiss like he had done in the past when they fought akumas together and she tried to give him fighting advice. HA! Him! Chat Noir! But he had never seen Donryu this angry and never had he had that amount of anger focused on him. 

He ignored the odd, faint flash of an image of Marin - Bugaboo’s face clouded in absolute fury in a shout that briefly seemed to stop time and his heart. He had never seen her like that so he had no idea why the image jumped out, nor why it made his burns ache. Of course, if he wasn’t in pain and his mind didn’t feel sluggish he probably would have tried to brush off Donryu’s anger and make a joke of it but as it was, all he did was listen. 

“There is no word to describe the amount of anger and disgust I, and my teammates feel towards you.” Donryu started after a moment of tense silence.

“Don’t you mean ou-” Adrien meekly tried to correct before he was cut off once more. He huffed in annoyance, he hated being interrupted. 

“I know exactly what I meant you pathetic worm!” The amount of venom in that answer had Adrien trying to shrink back into his bed more than he already was. He watched almost transfixed as Viperion placed a hand on Donryu’s shoulder and how it seemed to immediately calm her. She took a deep breath before she continued, “We came here for answers and closure.”

When it looked like he was about to say something, which to be fair, he was, Bee-Witch spoke up. “You will speak when asked.”

“How…how could you betray us like this? How could you betray M-Ladybug? Paris!? How!?” Noc-Turtle cried out. It spooked Adrien as he hadn’t even noticed the hero. He thought it had only been Viperion, Donryu, Bee-Witch, and Fox-Tail, but he should have known Noc-Turtle was there as well. He and Fox-Tail were always together.

“Noc…” Fox-Tail said gently.

“No! Don’t ‘Noc’ me! We all saw the video! We saw him stand with those-those monsters! And now, now she’s gone! She’s gone!” Then the turtle themed hero broke down in sobs as Fox-Tail pulled the shorter boy into his arms. 

“She..?” Adrien questioned quietly even though he felt like he knew the answer and chose to continue being in denial.

“Don’t act innocent! Don’t act like you don’t know! Marinette-Ladybug! She’s gone…she’s gone and it’s you and those monster’s fault. Why? Why?” Noc-Turtle’s fury returned like a phoenix from the ashes only to quickly dither into smoke and ash once more. All the energy seemed to leave him like a marionette being cut from its strings. 

Gone? No. No, she couldn’t be! And it couldn’t be his fault! Noc-Turtle was talking nonsense. Of course he was. 

Then why didn’t it feel like nonsense? 

Why was dread creeping in and choking him?

Then it hit him all at once like a bad migraine. All these memories slammed into him and he had no choice but to remember what happened. The trap. Discovering that His Lady was actually Marinette. Her fighting against her bonds. The slap. Nathalie ripping the earrings out because Marinette was being so stubborn! His father finally had the ring and earrings in his hands.The hope and palpable relief in the room that finally his family would be complete because they would have his mother back. Then the scream. It was primal. It was loud. It was terrifying. Then he saw red, literally, and a searing, burning pain encompassed him and next thing he knew he was waking up in the hospital.

“You remember.” It wasn’t a question. Viperion stated it like it was the opening a lawyer needed to catch his prey in his well woven web and striking. “Good. Then explain what the hell you were thinking and what the hell happened to Marinette.”

____________________

Atrocitus got the familiar feeling of the birth of a new Red Lantern and had enlisted Dex-Starr to be there with him once he summoned the newest recruit to Ysmault so they could recoup after being reborn. He knew they would need the energy of their Central Power Battery and the other Red Lanterns as all new recruits came to him as more than a little feral. At first he had enjoyed it and hadn’t sought to help them in any way. He liked their mindlessness as it had aided him in his quests as they were devoted to him, but as time passed he became bored with it. Dex-Starr, despite being a feline, had seemed to retain his mind but of course his rage led him. Atrocitus had been confused by it but realized that when Dex-Starr came to him, he was the first of his newest recruits that he actually interacted with and spoke with.

It took time, but now all his recruits held some semblance of consciousness and independent thought but now he was revered as a God by them and he found that it entertained him. He at least was able to hold conversations now which pleased him. It didn’t take long for Atrocitus to spot their newest recruit as she stood out from the others. For one, her age startled him, she was just a youngling and he tried to fight off memories of Trakka and Limmy but couldn’t. Then there was her appearance, he had never seen such an odd Red Lantern uniform. The black of the suit was covered in red spots while the red of the suit was covered in black spots.Her hair was reminiscent of Bleez’s wing on her cowl but it was her natural hair in twin tails that seemed to twist and defy gravity. She looked almost insect-like which puzzled Atrocitus as he could sense she had hailed from Earth.

 Why was such a young one filled with such rage that she became a Red Lantern? He would find out in time he knew.

Dex-Starr greeted the girl who barely acknowledged him but he dutifully led her towards Atrocitus who could not help the way his tone softened at the sight of the child. “What is your name Young Red One?” 

“Dame…Dame Fènnù.” The young one growled out.

“Welcome, Dame Fènnù, to the Red Lantern Corps.”

Next Chapter

[goggles-mcgee]

I would love to hear a little more about the han au! It sounds like such an interest premise and I really like Hari & Theo's dynamic.

I am unfamiliar with some of the tropes you're using, particularly in regards to the blocks & Hari's appearance changing, and I would love to hear more about your lore, if you'd be willing to share?

Really, anything you want to share about this AU, I would love to read, be it lore or more Hari/Theo bonding or characters reacting to the running away/magic ritual or anything else 💗

Thank you for the ask!!!

Of course! I'm always willing to lore dump! Lol

I'll lore dump about the Potter/Patla family first.

________

Before they were known as the Potter family, their surname was Patla. The literal translation is "thin", "slim", "diluted", or "gaunt". But it is also the name for a plant (Patla/ Patala which is actually what their last name stands for. The plant is a tree, its scientific name is Stereospermum suaveolens/tetragonum and it is known for its multiple therapeutic properties, with an example being anti-inflammatory. Its flowers are also used and beneficial in addressing blood-related disorders.

This tree is also known as the yellow snake tree.

It's a little-known fact that the Patlas/Potters are parsletongues but they are. They hid the ability once they settled in Britain after they realized the discrimination the language faced. They feared their place in Britain would be jeopardized if it was known they were parseltongues. They feared it because they came to Britain as basically nothing in the British Wizarding Community's eyes despite being considered Thakur in their home of India. Thakur is a status that came to represent the equivalent of a European Duke or Prince. In this case they were considered Dukes. They were nobility.

Ultimately they fled from their home of what is now known as Rajasthan because of the shifting of the dynasties and conflict that brewed from that. The conflict reached the magical side of everything and somehow the Patla family got caught in it. They lost many family members during this time and one family member, Lithesh, decided to run as he saw this as the right decision for his family. Some of the remaining family refused to leave their home but did allow him to take some of the younger ones along with his son. Lithesh ran with his wife, Veda, their son Hardik, two of his baby cousins (twins -boys), and three of his nieces and nephews (1 niece, 2 nephews). The cousins, niece, and nephew all of whom he adopted as his own kids.

They ran to Britain where they settled in Gloucester. Many people sneered at Lithesh and his family. To adapt to their new home Lithesh adopted an Anglican name. He became known as Linfred. He made money with his potion-making skills to support his family. He became known for it and for being eccentric though he has no idea why he got that label (he was always kind and went out of his way to make strangers smile. This earned him the eccentric label.) He rose in rank due to his potions helping many noblemen and eventually royalty. He received a lordship for his help and became known as Linfred of Stinchcombe.

Hardik inherited his father's skill at potion-making along with his twin cousins. The three took over the family business and made the Patla name known, which was helped by anglicizing Patla into Potter. It's not that they weren't proud of their name Patla but it made living in Britain easier when they went by Potter. But in official Goblin documents, they were still known as Patla.

Lithesh's Niece and Nephews took on the surname Stinchcombe in honor of Lithesh and his sacrifices.

Hardik went by Hardwin and ended up marrying Iolanthe Peverell.

No matter who they married, the Patla family honored their origins by giving their children Hindu names along with Anglican names. They also made it a point to visit their home Rajasthan whenever they could to visit the surviving Patlas who lived there which to their great delight was more than they expected.

But it was when the "first" Wizarding war started that the Patlas, Peverells, and Potters started to get smaller in numbers. Some of it was due to natural causes but more so it was sabotage and murder. Though the sabotage was masked well as natural causes or freak accidents.

Come the start of the "second" Wizarding war the only Potters left in Britain were Jaiman/James Potter and his parents Euphemia Potter nee Gamp and Fatehkumar/Fleamont Potter.

No one knows if Euphemia and Fleamont got Dragon Pox before they left to visit Rajasthan or while there. But they passed away because of it and so did the remaining Patlas in Rajasthan. Everyone thought this was just bad timing and natural causes but it was in fact an assassination which James didn't find out about until he went to the goblins to help cremate them as he wasn't sure it was safe enough to do so the usual way on a pyre since they had Dragon Pox.

Something told James to ask the goblins to do their own medical/death examination. There were traces of a magical signature that had placed a curse of failing health on his parents. He found out it was a death eater and would have gone to kill the man if it weren't for Lily who was pregnant needing him and talking him out of it.

Until James faced the man during one of his and Sirius's auror missions. He hadn't even meant to kill the man, it had ultimately been an accident but he wasn't sorry about it either.

Then of course James passed and Hari is the only Potter left.

After the cleansing and the tests done at Gringotts, Hari decided to go by his Hindu name and ditch the Anglican version. For one because he finally knew his real name and he wanted to honor his family and two because it was symbolic of him leaving Britain.

Rajasthan is where Sirius will meet them.

I am still trying with the idea of Hari changing Potter back to Patla while in Rajasthan and just keeping it that way since his family ultimately started as Patla and he doesn't want that legacy to die out.

__________

As for the tropes regarding the blocks and appearance change they are very popular tropes in a corner of HP fics where Dumbledore is not as grandfatherly as he is depicted/seen as. Some go to the extreme of him being evil and planning the deaths of the Potters because he is basically fame-hungry and in constant need of wanting to be needed and seen as important.

Those can be interesting but I'm more towards he knows what he is doing but he genuinely believes it is for the greater good and he loses sight of the bigger picture because of this. In trying to protect people he manipulates and lies.

In this kind of trope it's common for wizard parents to place a "core" block on their children when they are young as young magic is seen as somewhat unstable which is something I like, but add in Dumbledore placing his own block and it gets more interesting as usually it is done as a way to manipulate Harry because he believes he is too powerful, or the power would make him dark, etc.

In my version he placed another block because he knew he was going to place Harry with Petunia and he didn't want Harry's magic to ruin any chances of Petunia keeping him.

Another trope is Dumbledore placing blocks on Harry's magical abilities like Parseltongue which is always broken naturally and Parselmagic. Usually, this is done to mold Harry into the Gryffindor Golden Boy that Harry was expected to be once he grew older and this was Dumbledore making sure that happened.

In my version Dumbledore did it because he truly believed these abilities were somehow side effects of Voldemort's failed killing curse. Even he didn't know that the Potters were parseltongues.

Trope: Other magical abilities are placed because again, Dumbledore needs to manipulate Harry into being the perfect pawn/weapon.

My version: The abilities were blocked because of the Horcrux mixed with the original core blocks.

Trope: Intelligence block to easier manipulate Harry.

My version: No intelligence block but Harry purposefully dumbs himself down because it is what he did at the Dursleys. It's like second nature to him.

Trope: Compulsions are next on the trope list! Compulsions to mistrust Slytherins, Snape, Malfoys, etc are all part of Dumbledore's scheme to manipulate Harry and are very popular in fics of this nature.

My version: Dumbledore did place compulsions, but again because he thought it was the right thing. There is the typical distrust of Slytherin as a whole but he does it because he thinks if Harry befriends or even got into Slytherin it would somehow influence the "residual" magic left behind by Voldemort in Harry.

Trope: Compulsions of Shame to Home Life are common as well and usually done because Dumbledore doesn't want his pawn taken away.

My version: He did add this and felt extreme guilt because he knew vaguely what was happening to Harry at the Dursleys but he convinced himself it had to be done for the sake of the prophecy and greater good.

I truly believe Dumbledore put too much faith and belief in prophecies and would do anything he could to see the end of a prophecy foretold if it was a good end.

Trope: Charms placed are most commonly Trust charms keyed to the Weasleys, Hermione, and Dumbledore. Sometimes some of the Weasleys and Hermione are in on the plot and taking advantage of Harry being their friend. This trope usually has them being awful people and the Slytherins being good along with the Dark Side of the war being the actual good side and honestly, it's a little forced or overdone in my opinion.

My version: no charms of that nature.

Trope: Jinxes/Charms/Compulsions This one is odd because it is referred to as different things in different fics but essentially it's placed distrust against different people. It's along the lines of the loyalty charms and usually keyed to the Slytherins/darkside

My version: no distrust but Dumbledore did place a wariness whatever on Harry for those things.

Trope: Amortentia/Marriage contract is a big trope that is featured and usually Molly and Ginny are in on this scheme and sometimes even Ron and Hermione where Ginny was raised to believe she would marry Harry Potter. Usually so the Weasleys can gain wealth but also because Dumbledore wants it to sell the Golden Boy image and what better way to do so than to have Harry Potter marry someone who resembles his mother and into a Light family.

My version: There is a contract but it's not official or anything and Dumbledore only did it because he thought it was a possibility that would happen because even he knew about Ginny's crush on Harry. He thought it would be a good way for Harry to officially join the Weasley family who already saw Harry as family. It wasn't binding or anything but Harry was still not pleased to find out about it.

Trope: Money/Artifact stealing. Dumbledore steals money from Harry as his illegal magical guardian and uses it for himself, the Weasley family, Hermione, The Order of the Phoenix fund, etc. Usually Molly is in on it and sometimes so are Ginny, Ron and Hermione.

My Version: not so stealing, he sends money to the Dursleys from Harry's vault as they are his guardians. He didn't expect them to not use it on Harry as was expected so really it's not totally his fault.

Final trope: Glamour!!! One of the most popular tropes and one I feel like is done wrong. But that is just my opinion! Because usually Harry is glamoured to look like an exact copy of James with only Lily's eyes. The reasons why vary but usually Dumbledore does it to manipulate the masses. The bigger reason is so Snape hates Harry at first sight basically. But this glamour once cleansed ends up with Harry becoming pale as snow, his nose smaller, his hair straighter, etc. I find fault with this because a lot of the HP Fandom headcanon Harry being of Indian descent and I am one of them. Doing this erases the racial distinguishing features of Harry and claiming the new version is the better perfect version and that just makes me uncomfy.

My version: Because Sirius blood adopted Harry, he gained some Black features and they were obvious. Dumbledore thought that if people say them it would create discourse on the nature of Lily and James relationship and they were already seen as pillars and martyrs of the war. They were a symbol and Dumbledore fully believed their symbolism and reputation would take a hit if Harry wasn't a reflection of just them.

There are more but these are the basics!

[goggles-mcgee]

How About No? NottPott moments!!!

Idea

I am very hyperfixated on my newest idea so I wanted to share some ship moment!!!

• After the ritual announcement everybody in Magical Britain believed Hari would run as far as possible as fast as possible. (No one knew Theo ran yet) They are wrong as Theo hasld made a full itinerary of all the places he and Hari needed to visit on their way to India.

Their first stop was the Isle of Skye as it used to be a thriving magical community, and it did still have magic but it was wild which did not make for good construction.

Theo took many photos of Hari meeting some fairies who absolutely adored Hari. He also was tempted to get a leash for his friend as Hari had almost walked into many Faerie rings and Theo just knew in his heart that Hari was prime Fae bait.

Theo had to check Hari's head for any stragglers as the fairies seemed to love hiding in there.

• Again, Theo is trying to woo Hari as he realized he liked the boy a little before they left. He is pulling out all the tropes from his books he can think of. Including but not limited to; sharing a bed (he books a room with one bed everywhere they stay and excuses it as not unnecessarily wasting funds. He fails to mention he picks the fanciest rooms with one bed he can find), holding hands so they don't get lost (or so Theo claimed), fake dating ("They'll ask less questions if they think we are a young couple running away together."), pet names ("to sell the fake dating, Darling."), etc.

• Shopping sprees galore!

At first, Hari was hesitant to buy anything for himself or even let Theo but after the first time he kind of enjoyed it! (If Theo enjoys spoiling Hari, shut up, that's his business.)

Hari really enjoys buying souvenirs for his friends to send to them once they leave the place so they aren't easily tracked. Hari gets to spoil his friends while Theo spoils him.

• Hari starts making his own photo album/scrapbook to remember their journey. A lot of pictures have him and Theo together but Theo convinced him to take some by himself. Hari agreed as long as he could also get pictures of Theo alone. He loves it.

Every night he looks over the book along with Theo and talks about his favorite parts. Theo is happy to indulge him but also to see the pictures themselves because you can gradually see Hari loose the weight of stress he always seemed to carry and how his smile was wider and more genuine now. Also the pictures of them together just prove that they would be a very handsome couple in Theo's opinion.

• Dobby is very protective of Hari and tests Theo a lot during their trips to make sure he is worthy of Hari.

Theo and Dobby soft rivalry UwU

• The first time Theo suggested they stop at a spa, Hari was hesitant. It was something he had never done but had heard about from Petunia. Even from Vernon but it was mostly him making comments about it being a women's activity after Dudley had said it sounded nice once.

But after it? Oh after...it's one of Hari's favorite things. It was awkward as hell to be pampered but after that it was something he looked forward to if they had the time.

After seeing this made Hari happy, Theo resolved to make sure they found a spa at every stop if he could.

• Hari is feral when it comes to new food to try and Theo is just along for the ride. He somehow manages to get the recipes for things even if they were "family only" recipes. Maybe it was the innocent smile of his, Theo fell for it more than he would care to admit so it was no surprise it affected others too.

Plus, Hari loved to cook for them and he always made sure each meal had something that Theo enjoyed. It made him fall for the boy even more.

• Before they left Britain for good, they accidentally adopted a wild niffler. Hari was so besotted with the thing that Theo could hardly refuse his darling.

Hari named it S'more after the American treat due to the niffler's unique calico coloring.

S'more is equally besotted with Hari and gifts him some of his shiny objects stash. Mainly jewelry.

• Theo calls Hari his little niffler because Hari is as distracted and obsessed with shiny things just like S'more. The only difference is Hari is willing to pay for his shiny things while S'more will absolutely steal what catches his attention if he is allowed.

• They take turns carrying S'more in a baby carrier when they travel around magical places because they don't want him to get in trouble.

• Hari takes Theo to see movies on the non-magical side whenever he can. He never got to see many either so it's new for both of them. He also takes Theo to non-magical bookstores and watches fondly as Theo falls in love with all the different genres he can read.

• During their trip to the Rakotzbrücke (Devil's Bridge) in Germany, they passed through southern Germany and they adopted another fantastic beast: a bowtruckle. The bowtruckle was guarding a tree they had decided to have a picnic next to and for some off reason it moved itself into Hari's hair. It didn't leave so Hari got a clipping of the tree so they could make it a home with them. (Yes, Hari is basically becoming his generation Newt Scamander and Theo is just along for the ride)

They name the bowtruckle Sylvia after the tree they found her in. Her tree was a European Beech (Fagus Sylvatica). The took Sylvia out of Sylvatica.

• Theo and Hari purchase high-class house trunks. One for them and one for their new pets/family members. Hari declares them family and Theo is too much of a simp to say anything against it.

• To Theo's surprise, though maybe he should stop thinking the impossible isn't possible around Hari, a Demiguise seemed to adopt he and Hari. They don't see Stardust much but they know she is there. Sometimes she likes to be held by Hari but she will remain invisible most of the time.

• The next to join their little family was a baby Diricawl. Theo lovingly named him Heimdall.

• Once Hari realizes he likes Theo he becomes rather shy and flustered very easily. It takes a loooong talk for him to realize that Theo likes him back and doesn't see him as just a friend. Once they clear that up they are disgustingly adorable.

• Almost every Magical Community they stop in, someone offers them sanctuary. At first they thought people were just worried for the two obviously young wixen traveling by themselves but they found out quickly just how far Hari's message reached. Hari was mortified at first but was touched by the various countries support.

More to come??? Maybe

[goggles-mcgee]

Theo staring at Hari because he is still asleep, which is rare: "Look at him."

Theo continues to stare but he knows Dobby is in the room because the elf likes to alert them the moment the morning tea is ready: "I would die for him."

Theo's formerly besotted smile turns a tad bit bloodthirsty: "I would kill for him!"

Finally, Theo sighs like a lovesick idiot: "Either way, what bliss."

Dobby who just heard all that: "Dobby thinks Master Theo is an idiot. But Dobby agrees."

_________

Set in my How About No? Au because yeah I'm still thinking about it XD

[goggles-mcgee]

Sometime during fifth year

Harry to Draco after the whole "Weasley is our King" song, and Draco once more made badges but this time they are pastel in color: "You have gone too far. You have bullied Ron, you have destroyed his spirit, you have taken his confidence from him. All that I can forgive. But Malfoy...."

Draco very confused but already annoyed: "What, Potter?"

Harry: "...Pastels?"

*Que offended Draco who starts ranting about how the other colors are so garish and how he wouldn't be caught dead pairing Slytherin green with a Weasley.*

Hermione who is both slightly offended and skeptical: "You can forgive all that?:

Harry: "HA! No. I just knew it would throw him off enough for the pastel comment to hit harder. I just don't have the energy to deal with him right now so why don't we grab Ron and make a run for it?"

Hermione: "Deal!"

*The two run, not knowing that Theo and Blaise overheard the entire exchange. The two Slytherins are dying of laughter. They will never let Draco live this down.*

[goggles-mcgee]

🌸 From One Mother’s Heart – Please Read 🌸

My name is Saja. I’m a wife, a mother, and a woman who once believed her story would be simple. I thought my days would be filled with watching my daughter grow — from her first smile to her first steps — surrounded by the small joys of everyday life.

But life had other plans.

War has returned to our home. Again. And once again, we find ourselves living under skies that never seem to rest.

There was a moment — a fragile, breathless moment — when the bombs paused and the world seemed to remember us. It gave us hope. We thought maybe, just maybe, we could start to rebuild. But now, we are back in the dark — hiding, holding on, praying.

I’m writing this not as someone seeking pity, but as a mother who has no other choice but to speak.

Imagine holding your baby in the middle of the night, not because she cried, but because the world outside roared too loud for either of you to sleep. Imagine whispering bedtime stories not to lull her into dreams, but to keep the fear from settling into her tiny bones.

This is my life.

This is my daughter’s life.

And even now — especially now — I believe in softness. I believe in kindness. Because when everything else is taken from you, hope becomes the most valuable thing you have.

Why I’m Reaching Out Our home has been damaged. Our lives changed. But through it all, my daughter wakes up every morning with a smile. She reaches for me with trust, with love, with faith that I will keep her safe.

That’s why I keep going.

I’ve launched a campaign to ask for help — not because it’s easy, but because silence is no longer an option. I am asking for support not just for me, but for my baby, and for the quiet strength of so many mothers like me who are fighting, every single day, to hold their families together.

How You Can Help: 🤍 Help us restore parts of our home so we can live with dignity 🤍 Support women and mothers in Gaza with access to care and resources 🤍 Keep the light of hope alive for a generation born in the shadows of war

💛 If you can, please support our journey here:

If you can’t give, please consider sharing. Your voice might be the reason someone else hears ours.

From My Heart to Yours Maybe our lives are worlds apart. Maybe you’ve never lived through war. But if you’ve ever held a child and wished the world could be better for them — then you understand more than you know.

I don’t want my daughter to grow up thinking the world turned away.

Please, if you’ve read this far — thank you. Thank you for seeing us. Thank you for caring. We are still here. Still hoping. Still holding on to every kind act like it’s a lifeline.

With love and endless gratitude

[goggles-mcgee]

The Season 5 finale made people much more sensitive to Adrien Salt, thought it's understandable considering what happened

I haven't watched past a couple episodes into season four my dude. I've seen spoilers and what not but I have not watched anymore. I know the basics and some details but still. It's not like I've had time to write much therefore I haven't made any Adrien Salt in a long time so it baffles me that I still get asks about it.

People act like I hate him and spit on his character when I have explained time and time again the problems I have with his character and the fact most of my salt comes from the shitty writing of the show and the direction it took.

In a perfect world, Fandom is supposed to be a safe place but the reality is that many Fandoms push out and harass multishippers, salters, and anything that doesn't fit with the majority opinion. It makes it hard to want to create anything for said Fandom and that's the point where I'm at now.

I've explained and explained and frankly it's getting exhausting. This isn't against you anon specifically or at all really, I'm just using this ask to explain some more I guess. Though it feels useless.

[goggles-mcgee]

You should be nicer to Adrien.

Meh

[goggles-mcgee]

How About No?

Alright y'all it's been a while since I posted an idea but I've been deep in the HP trenches and I needed this out.

But before I do, obligatory: FUCK JKR. I do not agree with her stupid ass views and never will.

Now onwards to the idea

__♡__♡__♡__♡__

First and foremost this is a NottPott idea because I love them and they are one of my favorite rare pairs!

This centers around fourth year but in actuality started in third year. It started with a comment. One small comment when all Harry had been surrounded by was the seeping cold of the dementors, the constant buzz of gossip of his "imminent" demise (thanks Trelawney), and the mad arguing of Hermione and Ron. That one comment somehow snapped him out of all of it for a brief moment.

And funny enough, it was about his "imminent" death.

"You would think people would have more sense than to believe drivel and yet here we are. The Boy-Who-Lived is apparently going to be the Boy-Who-Died-Because-His-Lump-Of-Tea-Leaves-Looked-Vaguely-Canine-Shaped."

It made Harry laugh for what felt like the first time in a long time.

When he turned to see who had made him laugh, he was more than a little shocked to see a Slytherin. Not just any Slytherin, it was Theodore Nott. Now it would probably shock anyone if Harry admitted to knowing who the Slytherin was but Harry was observant. One didn't live with the Dursleys and did not learn how to be observant. It was a survival skill. One of many.

And there was that saying of like calls to like. They were both quiet, though there were not many who would admittedly describe Harry as so, but he was. That was another skill he learned from his relatives. But a bigger skill he learned was masking. He was excellent at putting on a mask. Though sometimes it felt like the mask wore him. Especially once he became aware he was a wizard and not just any run-of-the-mill wizard, noooooo, he was a bloody famous one.

The point was, he knew when someone was also wearing a mask, and Nott wore his well.

They had only met eyes once. It was in their first year and it had been during potions class. Neville had melted another cauldron whilst Seamus exploded another. The resulting boom and shouts along with Snape's absolutely furious roar had snapped Harry's mask. Or more accurately, it had made him flinch so violently that he lost his grasp on it. He doesn't know exactly what made him look to his left and saw Nott also flinch just as violently. They made eye contact and it was like they just knew what the other had gone through and what they continued to go through. Neither said anything but they understood and since then it was like they made a conscious effort to not look at one another.

Until that moment. Harry found himself staring into those achingly familiar steely blue-grey eyes. In response to Harry's surprised laughter that was slowly growing softer, Theo gave a small smile. It had Harry foolishly hoping to see it more.

"Thanks, Nott." Harry said after his giggling had finally subsided. "I needed a laugh."

"Happy to serve." Nott drawled. Before Harry could come up with something witty to respond with, Harry heard the familiar voice of Hermoine calling for him at the same time that he heard an unfamiliar voice call out, "Theo."

And that had been that.

The rest of third year has passed in a blur. A big, traumatic blur, and yet it somehow managed to rank low on Harry's Traumatic Experiences List.

Their next encounter came a little after the start of fourth year. Harry didn't know why he did it but he had been taking a walk by himself and had seen Nott sitting in an alcove with a book in hand and couldn't resist approaching the boy.

"I'm still alive." He had meant for it to be a joke but he wasn't quite sure his tone carried it out because a part of him had said it like a report. Like he needed to say it out loud to believe he had actually made it out of another disaster.

He hadn't expected much in way of a response, maybe a chuckle, nod, or hum, but Harry found himself quickly being given the Slytherin's full attention. The boy had even shut his book and placed it by his side. He never did that! Harry had seen him at the opening feast with his nose in a book while managing to eat and converse with Zabini. So to have his undivided had Harry feeling weirdly flustered.

"Good." Nott had finally said. "Let's keep it that way."

__________

Theo was not a person who fell into any kind of relationship. Even friendship was calculated for him, and not in the typical Pureblooded way that many Slytherins were, no he was calculated in the way he observed and decided if a friendship or relationship was worth the risk and his father's ire. Edmund Holden Theodore Nott II was not a patient man. Nor was he a kind man. You would think he would at least treat his child well but you would be very wrong.

It was why Theo himself tried his best to find a middle ground of blending into the background yet standing out. At school, he was second in his year yet none of his yearmates or even housemates could tell you much about the young heir which was how Theo liked it. His placement pleased his father enough to not ask about anything else in school. Like his nonexistent popularity or recognition. Which was why Theo had been so shocked to find recognition in those impossibly green eyes his first year.

It had scared and angered him as much as it thrilled him. Harry Potter may have done his best to not look Theo's way, but Theo did his best to look at Potter as much as he could get away with. The more he looked, the more he noticed, and the more he noticed the more intrigued he became. He found himself wondering about the Gryffindor a lot after that. What did he think about being a Gryffindor? Did he ever think or want to be in another house? Did anyone in his house notice how small he was? How skinny? What was his owl's name and why?

He also found himself wanting to talk to the boy more and more and yet he couldn't bring himself to. If his fellow Slytherins saw him talk to the bloody Boy-Who-Lived in an amicable way he would be shunned, he just knew it. He also knew that the news would get to his father and the mab would not be happy and would take it out on Theo like he always did.

So he held back.

He almost cracked in second year when the whole Chamber of Secrets thing happened along with the ridiculous Heir of Slytherin thing going around about Potter. It was, in simple terms, a load of tosh. Again his mind had a million questions it wanted to ask Potter but he reigned himself in.

He was not so lucky third year. It seemed as though his curiosity about the other boy had hit its peak. He made his move when he knew the other boy was taking one of his "cool down" walks. Theo made sure he looked impeccable as always before he approached Potter who looked one bad comment away from exploding. In anger or tears, he didn't know. He made sure no one of importance or anyone at all would see them speaking. Though he knew of Granger's need to know where Potter was and of Blaise's habit of trying to make Theo socialize for a bit. (For his own good apparently.) It all went as planned and he had even made Harry laugh! This, obviously, meant they were close to being on a first-name basis and so Theo referred to Potter as Harry in the privacy of his mind from then on.

Theo had never been interested in Quidditch when growing up but once he saw Harry play, he became interested. He read the rule books, he read Quidditch Through The Ages, and he even looked up team statistics in case he and Harry ever had a conversation about Quidditch. Too much? Perhaps but that's just how Theo was. So when his father told him they were attending the Quidditch World Cup final he found himself excited. Though he would never show it in front of his father.

He had even seen Harry! But they hadn't gotten an opportunity to talk before the game started. Then the attack happened and Theo understood why his father wanted to attend. He knew he had to make himself scarce, otherwise his father would be less than pleased with him. As he ran he noticed Harry and almost instinctively followed but stopped himself and went the opposite way. He felt terrible doing so but he was a Slytherin at heart and prided himself on his self-preservation. He resolved to check on Harry as soon as the school year started.

He had even planned on approaching him once more and striking up a conversation, so imagine his surprise when Harry was the one to approach him. The poor boy tried to make a joke and sure, Theo could have pretended it was, but the desperate way Harry had said "I'm still alive", had him choking down his own joke.

This had been the moment he had been waiting for; a way for him and Harry to get closer, and Theo latched onto it like the greedy thing his father accused him of being.

From then on the two would meet to hang out or simply bask in each other's presence. It was everything Theo wanted and even everything he hadn't known he wanted. He learned the answers to all his questions he's had over the years and then some. He learned that Harry was delightfully a little pessimistic like him and had a delicious wit about him. He could also be bloody clever when he wanted to be. Theo also became intimately familiar with what Harry coined as "Potter Luck." His friend spoke if it constantly and bemoaned it. Theo never really gave it much thought, he thought his friend was exaggerating, that was until Harry's name was pulled from the Goblet of Fire.

__________

Little drabble for y'all but essentially the idea is that Theo and Harry relate to one another and are fascinated by each other. Maybe a wee bit obsessed with each other too. Fourth year they get close and the start of the tournament brings them even closer as Theo and Harry try to find a way to get Harry out of the competition.

Hermione is trying too of course but Harry hadn't told her nor Ron about Theo so she has no idea Harry is also getting help from the Slytherin.

It's after the weighing of the wands and the awful article from Rita that Harry snaps and just sobs and yells and screams with Theo as the only witness. And Theo? Theo just lets him until he calms down enough for the Slytherin to bring him into a kind of awkward hug. Theo was already pissed about the whole thing to begin with, this just further drove him to anger. First Harry's name got selected, then all of Hogwarts turned on him which of course made the foreigners turn on him, his best friend (which should definitely be Theo himself instead) didn't believe in him, and his other best friend was running between the two, and the cherry on top of it all was the article.

Theo was more than pissed at this point, especially at the adults. None of them were even trying to help Harry get out of this! How dare they!? So Theo resolved to do it on his own if they weren't going to be getting any help from the so-called "respected" adults. His idea? Going to the goblins. Goblins loved contracts but they loved finding and fixing loopholes even more. So Theo and Harry planned to make their way to Gringotts during the upcoming Hogsmead weekend.

Somehow they managed and were immediately seen by Theo's account manager, who after hearing what they were there for brought them to the bank manager. From there another explanation told, Harry was made to take an inheritance test. Yes this has the inheritance trope and the blocks and the lordships but my twist on them!

Like I hate how Harry is glamoured to look like James and when it's broken he's pale as snow. Nah, in my version he is glamoured but when it breaks he still keeps his dark skin, it might even darken because he will be healed which means he (and his skin) is finally healthy. Sirius did blood adopt him which helped his hair a bit, it mainly just defined his curls but instead of the outright birds nest, it looks a little more artistically chaotic. He also gets his cheekbones but that's it since it wasn't a full-blood adoption. (I will go more into that in later posts maybe) Harry also is a metamorphmagus! Not a full one like Tonks, but still!

All this to mean Albus Dumbledore is one of the bad guys here but not in the malicious sense like he planned James and Lily's deaths but he does control a lot of what goes on in Harry's life because he believes it must be done for the greater good.

Then, after Harry is healed, they find out a way to get Harry out of the Triwizard Tournament. Another trope! Harry isn't actually Harry's real name. Harry is actually Hari Haedus Hyacinth Jaiman Potter-Black. (I love the long name trope)

Hari (Hindi) meaning (picked by James) - the one who takes away suffering because that's how James saw him when he was born. But also because it can also mean green and he inherited Lily's eyes.

Haedus meaning - a main sequence star and located in the constellation Auriga. Picked by Sirius in honor of his family tradition after James bullied him into giving Hari a name since he was going to be his third parent.

Hyacinth meaning - the flower but also after the myth of Hyacinthus. Lily chose this name to keep the tradition of her family. Though the tradition was usually only used for the women in the family, she thought that was stupid and passed it to her son.

Jaiman meaning - A man who is a victor/victorious. This is actually James's name! It is tradition to give your sons your name as a middle in pureblood Wizarding families. Jaiman ended up going by James due to people anglicanizing it. (Sirius called it his white name)

Potter-Black - no explanation needed but!!! Potter wasn't always Potter but it also got anglicanized when the family moved from India to Britain. It was originally Patla!

________

I went on a tangent there sorry! But anywho, that's their loophole! Hari was entered as Harry James Potter which isn't his name therefore he doesn't have to compete. But he also doesn't want to go back to Hogwarts after everything he has learned. So Theo suggested they don't go back. (He had been planning to run away at some point from his father, now he had a prime opportunity! And he was going to take it! Plus traveling with Hari was a big bonus.) Hari was a little reluctant but Theo just had to remind Hari of everything that happened at Hogwarts and what was allowed to happen and Hari agrees to leave.

But he doesn't want to leave without explaining why. The bank manager having witnessed all of this and having had Griphook sentenced to life in the mines (for his mishandling of the Potter accounts) wanted to pay back young Hari for the offense told the two about calling on Mother Magic for help/judgment. He even taught them both the wording of the ritual.

Hari thinks it's perfect.

So he and Theo plan their trip over the next week as they compromised to go back to Hogwarts to better plan instead of running into things headfirst. (Theo had wanted to leave immediately but he knew they needed to be prepared.) So the two packed and corresponded with Zognuk III the bank manager of Britain Gringotts and apparently one of the princes of the Goblin Nation about the ritual they would perform as well as using him as a means to communicate safely with Sirius who had been staying in Rio to recuperate. He had, on the begging of Hari, gone to one of the Brazilian branches of Gringotts and had gotten himself cleansed and healed as well.

He was planning on meeting up with Hari and Theo as the two planned a whole trip to India where Hari's family had originally been from. It was Sirius's idea as he remembered that the Potters had an estate there for holidays that Euphemia and Fleamont used to take James and Sirius to. Remus wasn't too thrilled to be dragged in for a cleansing too but he was glad he did. But he was also not too thrilled with Hari and Theo traveling by themselves. There wasn't much he could do about it though but he took every opportunity to let them know.

Hari ends up bonding with Dobby who left with them when the time came.

They left a little before the first task was set to start. Hari left all his friends notes to explain everything even though he was certain they would hear because of the ritual but he wanted to be thorough. Also to warn them to go to Gringotts and get checked and cleansed if it was needed.

The ritual was supposed to only be announced to Magical Britain as that was what Hari had intended. Little did he know that it affected every Magical Community in the world besides Theo and Hari. The ritual was roughly translated to Mother's Blessing where an individual would call upon Mother Magic to pass judgment on them and their wish for justice. Hari was judged and deemed more than worthy. The ritual would make everyone freeze and listen to the truth of the individual. It would compel Hari to tell the full truth but he was okay with that since he would be long gone by the time it finished. Mainly because he begged Mother Magic to let the message be received once he and Theo were already gone and away enough from Hogwarts to not be caught.

Magical Britain is in for an eye-opening once Hari's message is played and heard for everyone.

Theo plans to woo Hari as they travel as he recognized immediately that he liked Hari. It takes Hari a bit longer to realize he likes Theo.

Just a cute, salty fic that I am totally gonna wrote and totally open to getting asks for!

Preface this by saying there will be slight bashing for some characters but they get better except for Dumbledore hehe and some others.

[goggles-mcgee]

the forgers get a cat (it has telekinesis)

it probably like, snuck into radioactive waste or something that project apple left behind and came out with telekinesis

not enough to do serious damage but just enough for tomfoolery and shenanigans

yor found the kitty. it immediately loved her. yor is its favorite

bond is terrified of this cat 1/8th his size

bond is sad when anya shows this cat love, but also can't do anything because aforementioned fear

it likes to mess with loid because why not? make his life harder. go kitty

doesnt have a name yet 🤔🤔

[goggles-mcgee]

Bonus points if Steve brings it up so nonchalantly.

eddie who is kind of evil when he's horny and sexually frustrated, which directly affects his mood as a dm. he makes it absolutely painful and unsatisfying to play.

dustin who has the brightest idea in the world goes to steve, eddie's boyfriend, and says "i will literally give you anything within my power if you give that asshole a blowjob before each campaign."

steve, who is in fact NOT eddie's boyfriend, is very confused but also enjoys the idea of dustin forever being in his debt, and delivers.

[goggles-mcgee]

I have this scene in my head of a giant DC/batfam crossover where everyone in the batfam inherits Bruce's adoption tendencies and he has no clue what to do about it.

Like one day, the batfam find a homeless Peter Parker, end up doing a DNA test, and bam, it's Dick's son. He's around 14, and has that same sunny disposition as his father. The Wayne family has grown by one and they couldn't be happier.

Except... Jason has been acting weird lately...

At first, it was a little weird because he had been spending more time around the manor to see Peter. And then he stopped. Completely cut contact out of nowhere. Dick confronts him and finds a 16 year old Danny Phantom hiding behind his brother with the brightest, green eyed glare Dicks ever seen.

A month later a French class visits.

It's their last trip of their middle school year before highschool. 17 year old Damian Wayne walks in with a 12 year old Marinette who's small, nervous, and is so smart she skipped a grade. Damian is happy to announce that he has a new daughter.

Bruce promptly chokes on air.

[goggles-mcgee]

“Father?”

obviously, the first time Odysseus heard his son say that in ICHBW, he thinks it’s the sweetest sound he’s heard yet in this world. He treasures being called father of Telemachus, and more so from his son’s own lips. As he settles back into home, however, he slowly starts to mourn what his son calls him. Penelope tells him Telemachus used to call her mommy, then Mom. He still calls her Mom. And he’s Father.

He tries to scold himself, to be thankful that his son is comfortable with him; they’re growing closer, Odysseus is showing his son how to carve and talking about his many adventures in the 20 years away from home (the least traumatic ones, anyway), and Telemachus is talking to him about Ithaca and how training with Athena is going, etc etc., but he’s always Father.

and he mourns that he missed the younger years where he would have been called daddy and Dad. He wants to be a Dad, not a Father.

and he’s minding his business around the castle, thinking about whether Athena would like a carved mask or patch for her scarred eye as a gift, when he hears his son’s now familiar, memorized voice call him.

“Hey, Dad!”

he turns his head to see Telemachus, smiling (albeit a bit nervously) and waving for him to come over, pointing out at a bright pair of birds that are building a nest together. (Penelope definitely didn’t tell him that she’d heard Odysseus making miniature puppy eyes every time he called her Mom and Odysseus Father. Of course not.)

Telemachus nearly panicked when Odysseus starts crying, figuring that he had some sort of trauma connected to birds (let’s be honest, what didn’t he have PTSD with), and Odysseus just gives him a big ol bear hug, sniffling and muttering that he loves him.

Telemachus never calls him Father again.

[goggles-mcgee]

I see and I am in love

If Be Cool Daphne and Mystery Inc. Fred met, they would be the best friends.

Daphne's Daphne Du Jour would immediately be traps, she would go all in, picking up rope and reading trapping magazines and going to study at the trap museum. Fred wouldn't even care if she somehow becomes better at it than him, bc he would be so excited to have a person to talk about traps with.

And when the day is over and Daphne switches to learning Portuguese or roller skating or something Fred would be a little sad but he would still be very supportive of whatever she's doing next. He would make her a scrapbook of all of her wacky hijinks (bc in MI he canonically scrapbooks) and then her Daphne Du Jour would be scrapbooking with him.

They would commiserate about how it feels for your interests to not be understood and just wanting to be whimsical in such and anti-whimsy society and when Fred tells her about everything his shitty parents did she puts the fake beard back on and says "I'm you dad now."

Do you see my vision?

[goggles-mcgee]

Sorry for disappearing again. Ya girl got hit by work HARD. For clarification, I work in child support which is a state gov. job technically so it is very busy and very long. I got volunteered by my director to help out in another department and I can't exactly say no so double work! My headaches have gotten better! Yay! But I need blood testing and such still and I also might have sleep apnea and my great aunt is not doing well and everything just HIT.

[goggles-mcgee]

Sharing it here too because I am very proud of their looks!

Season 1 party outfits!!!! I was trying to wait until I drew the guys, but I really could not, so here are the gorls!!!!

Yes, I did Stella with her Lunar hair, too, because the party does take place at night!

[goggles-mcgee]

Ashes of Rage: Act 1 - There's Something So Morbidly Beautiful About A Funeral

Chapter 8 of the story for @miner249er

AO3 Beginning Last Chapter

Summary: Wu Fei knew grief well, she wore it even better, but there was nothing in this world that she wouldn't give to put an end to it. It would be better even if it never happened, but life wasn't fair and that was something else she knew well.

There's Something So Morbidly Beautiful About A Funeral:

Death was inevitable. That was a stone cold, hard truth. One that Wu Fei knew well and had previously despised. Others feared Death, but Fei had hated it with an anger so vicious it scared her. It was like she skipped the first stage of grief altogether and just jumped straight into anger when her adopted father Shifu had passed. It had consumed her until she had met Marinette. That fateful meeting had been the catalyst of change she needed and the domino that started the chain of events that had occurred. At the end of it all, Fei had fully taken the responsibility that had been bestowed upon her and somehow found another family that wanted her. Wang was a wonderful pseudo great-uncle and Marinette had become something like a sister to her despite the distance between them. 

Everyday they exchanged messages or funny pictures, sometimes they even had time to video call which was always a treat Fei looked forward to. Sometimes both girls were too busy with their day to day lives that the most they could do was send each other a simple message or picture, but even being busy didn’t stop them from letting each other know they were thinking of each other. The number of care packages they sent each other was a wonderful constant in Fei’s life. Living with Wang brought a new routine to Fei’s life, one she cherished as she knew how chaotic one’s life could be without routine, and she knew she was someone who thrived on a routine. 

Therefore, she knew something was wrong when she had woken up and received no message from Marinette, not even a picture or meme. She tried to tell herself it was nothing and that the girl had probably been too busy but she just had this feeling in her gut that something was deeply wrong. Even with the time difference Marinette always messaged as she was as much a creature of habit as Fei was. Fei followed Paris news as well as numerous blogs that tracked Team Miraculous, though it had taken her some time, she had found out that Marinette was Ladybug. At first she had been hurt and confused as to why Marinette had never told her but over time she understood. It wasn’t that Marinette didn’t trust her, it was because her chosen sister loved her and was scared. 

That was something that Fei knew all about as she worried about Uncle Wang constantly because of her responsibilities but over time she saw no need to hide it from the man. Also, Mei Shi trusted the man and advised Fei to be open with him which had surprised her greatly considering that the Prodigious had always been something that was heavily guarded. Something about Uncle Wang’s aura made Mei Shi sure about his advice and of course she followed it. Plus, Mei Shi pointed out that she had already transformed in front of who she thought was a civilian without much thought so overall, she thought it was a fair decision. One that had worked out greatly for her, not that she doubted Mei Shi or anything. 

For a while, it felt like she was betraying her father whenever she felt happy with Uncle Wang and how he took care of her and it had definitely been a hurdle to overcome. For every smile and laugh her new Uncle brought out of her, it had always quickly been followed by a frown and tears. She was happy one moment and unbearably angry and heartbroken the next. It was like her emotions were on a constantly spinning wheel and her emotions flashed as fast as the wheel spun. It took Uncle Wang making them a picnic and taking her to her father’s gravesite for her to finally confess all her feelings through her sobbing. He helped her set up some flowers, incense, and the picnic. 

She cried as Uncle Wang spoke to her father and promised him he would care for and love Fei as she deserved and as her father wished. Then he gave her time to talk to her father as well as she ate her share of the picnic Uncle Wang made for them. . She spoke for what felt like forever, she laughed, she cried, she screamed and when she was finally done Uncle Wang simply helped her pick up the picnic and helped her clean her father’s grave since it was something she hadn’t done before. Then he took her to a crafting store and had her pick out a frame for a photo of her father to go in their home, whether that be her room or the main hall, he told her she could choose. Fei may have cried once more as she picked out a frame and little things she knew her father liked or found funny to decorate it with. 

In the end she decided to put her father’s picture in her room since she had a large window that she could see a beautiful sunrise and sunset through it. Her father had always been fond of sunrises and just as fond of sunsets. She even added a little incense dish that she placed in front of the picture. The whole process had brought her such relief and joy that she had given Uncle Wang the biggest hug she could manage and she could still recall his warm chuckles that followed. That moment had brought such warmth into her life and soul and it had continued for a long time until now. Now it felt like all that warmth was stolen from her by some sort of malevolent leech.

Her sister in all but blood was dead. Or that is what they told everyone, and despite the evidence Fei just could not believe it. She didn’t want to believe it. But standing there in the section of the church staring at the many photos and flowers that decorated the space, any hope she felt had shriveled. Auntie Sabine (or Auntie Xiu Mei as she also liked to be called) was weeping heavily not that anyone blamed her but Fei knew her grief was more than her daughter passing. It was also the fact there was no body to wash or dress or display in a coffin, nor was there a body to cremate if that was the chosen desire of the family. Though Fei knew from Uncle Wang that Auntie Sabine and Uncle Tom decided to cremate her signature pink flats that were found at the scene of the crime, some of her childhood toys and clothing and some recent though not many as they couldn’t bear to part with much of their daughter's things. 

Instead of a coffin there was a beautifully painted urn with plum blossoms that adorned it placed on a pedestal. No one in France probably knew just how big the Cheng and Lǐ (Auntie Sabine’s mother’s family) families were before but now they did and Fei could practically taste the surprise. The family section of the church was basically a family reunion and it would have been amusing if not for the circumstances. Despite the overwhelming sadness that hung in the air, Fei couldn’t help but appreciate how beautiful the ceremony was overall. Auntie Sabine wore a beautiful but plain white dress while Uncle Tom wore a smart black suit with a white lily pinned to his left breast pocket as well as a white armband placed on his left sleeve. The Cheng and Lǐ side of the family all wore different shades of blue which made the section Fei was in look like waves in a stormy sea. There weren’t many people on the Dupain side, just Gina and Roland if you didn’t count Uncle Tom, and the two of them matched their son with the black clothing. They also copied their son with the white lily decoration.

The way the two stood firm in the sea of blues made Fei think of those immovable rocks that temperamental waters hit and who through it all refused to break. The way Gina still wore a black leather jacket had Fei feel enormous respect for the lady. Despite the solemn time, the woman was still effortlessly herself and the thought made Fei think that it was something that Marinette had also respected and admired. Fei herself had the privilege of wearing white and she was so grateful to Uncle Tom and Auntie Sabine for letting her wear white since both of them knew how the girls saw each other. They had actually requested she wear white before she could even work up the courage to ask the question herself. It had shocked her so much that she had promptly burst into tears while thanking the couple. She cried more when they simply hugged her and told her they knew it was something that Marinette would want.

Memories are what carried her through the ceremony and before she knew it, it was time to move venues to the reception. The reception was happening at Le Grand Paris since the hotel offered to host it in their biggest ballroom even though it was only open to family and friends. It turned out to be a blessing in disguise since no one really knew how big the Cheng and Lǐ families were until the funeral and because no one really knew the extent of Marinette’s friend circles. It was of course a solemn affair, but with the smell of what could only be described as a feast of Chinese and French cuisine and the mild chatter filled with stories of Marinette and the overall feeling of community had Fei think that though a funeral was a cause of grief and sadness, there was something simply beautiful about it all.

Mei Shi provided Fei with a quiet comfort as she could feel his slight weight in her small purse, one given to her by Marinette, as she had gotten ready for the day, the purse had seemed like the right thing to wear. It also aided in keeping her small friend and mentor close, as she felt like a pocket wasn’t enough space for the little guardian. She could also feel the Renlings around her in spirit and that gave her a feeling of strength she hadn’t felt in a long time since the news hit her. It carried her through dreadful small talk, memories shared as freely as tears, and more dreadful; heart-felt talks. She powered through it all even if she didn’t know everyone. Some she knew well as Uncle Wang was very open and proud of his ward/pseudo niece. So she was well acquainted or even friends with some of the Chengs. And others, like the Lǐ family who she knew purely through stories from Uncle Wang, Auntie Sabine and Marinette. Then lastly she had the French side who, well, she only knew Uncle Tom and his parents and then there were Marinette’s friends who she felt like she knew as well as she could if she had lived with Marinette.

It was a weird, new feeling, to know someone without ever actually meeting them. Yet, she could not make herself approach any of those said friends. She didn’t know if she could manage that. It was overwhelming every time she met one of their eyes and it took everything in her not to burst into tears because she knew, she knew, how loved they made Marinette feel and how fiercely she loved them in return. It was a childish fear that made her stay away, she felt like if she got close to them and felt the love they feel for Marinette or if she felt the lingering love Marinette felt for them it would awaken a jealousy in her. She had of course felt jealousy before and in some cases it was intense and it always brought her a feeling of shame. This time, it felt like a dangerous beast awaiting to be let out. 

It was out of her love for Marinette she was staying away, or so she was trying to convince herself. She was just so convinced that if she talked to them she would say something so hurtful out of misplaced anger, jealousy and grief that Marinette’s friends would hate her forever. That was something she absolutely did not want. Though she admitted she was jealous of them, at least to herself, though she was sure Mei Shi suspected, that didn’t mean she wanted them to hate her. These people were important to Marinette and she knew that her sister had wanted them all to meet because she was convinced they would all be the best of friends. Fei had agreed at the time to meet them at some point since she and Marinette had been plotting a way to get Fei to visit come summer but now, now it felt…weird to even consider.

Introducing herself to Marinette’s friends and maybe even becoming friends with them felt so wrong on a monumental scale. Nothing about it would ever feel right because it would happen without Marinette. It felt sinful. Just thinking about it made her feel dirty in a way she could never put into words. On the other hand, by holding herself back she knew Marinette would be unhappy, but by following the wishes of ghosts had already misled her once. Fei didn’t want to make the same mistake. The Renlings and Mei Shi had already told her she was being silly as they were very in tune with her emotions and thoughts, the Renlings especially as they were always with her in a sort of spiritual way. No one could see them unless they wanted them too, though Fei could always see them, and apparently other beings like them could always see them and sense them. Apparently some  people who were sensitive to their kind of energy could sense them but not see them.

“Fei, sweetheart,” Fei was cut from her thoughts by the soft voice of Auntie Sabine. “How are you doing?”

“I’m fi-”

“Sweetie.” Auntie Sabine gently reprimanded her almost answer and it made Fei wince with a sheepish smile. 

“I’m doing better but still…not…not too great.” She answered truthfully. 

Her auntie simply gave her a sad smile but took her hand in hers and gave it a soft pat. “I understand. I just wanted to thank you for being here.”

“Auntie…” Fei muttered in awe. She knows today could not be easy on Sabine and yet here the woman stood tall with a smile for Fei. The strength the woman had always left Fei in awe. “Of course I’d be here…I-I couldn’t miss it.”

“You’re a good girl.” 

“You’re too kind Auntie.” 

“It’s not kindness if it’s true.”

Fei couldn’t help the small chuckle that left her. “Well maybe it can be bot-”

“I WANT HER BACK!” Their conversation was cut short by a very loud and childish voice that seemed to have caught the attention of everyone. It was a little girl who was stomping away from who Fei assumed was her mother. It took only a moment for Fei to recognize them both.

“Manon…please!” The woman, who Fei realized was Nadja Chamack, a local reporter and Auntie Sabine’s good friend, begged the little girl. A little girl who Fei knew to be Manon Chamack. Marinette had shared a lot of photos of the little girl or selfies of them both since Manon seemed to love filters. She was one of the kids that Marinette babysat a lot.

“NO! I DON’T WANT MARIE! OR HUGO! OR JEAN! OR WHOEVER ELSE YOU THINK SHOULD BABYSIT ME!” Manon yelled out, her face turning an impressive shade of red. “I WANT MARINETTE BACK!”

There was a collective gasp and following silence that had Fei feeling like she was at the edge of a cliff. 

“I just want Marinette…” Manon’s voice had gotten softer but her sobs had greatly increased in volume and it seemed to have affected everyone. There was not one dry eye at the little girl's confession because everyone felt the same. “I just want her back…”

“Oh baby…” Nadja choked out as she watched her daughter fall to her knees. Fei watched as Nada lowered herself to the ground next to her daughter and hugged her to her. It was at this point that Fei looked away so she could give the mother and daughter some privacy and was happy to see others do the same. Though not all attendants gave the two some privacy and Fei couldn’t help but scoff at the behavior. Pain was not supposed to be a spectacle. Though she knew this particular funeral was a spectacle despite Auntie Sabine and Uncle Tom’s best efforts, therefore everyone’s pain was part of said spectacle. 

Being so close to the source of some people’s attention had Fei feeling more than a little uncomfortable so she quietly excused herself from her Aunt so she could go grab something to drink as she found herself suddenly parched. It was as she was on her way towards the dining tables that she felt a pull from Mei Shi and the Renlings. Though Mei Shi’s was more physical whilst the Renlings’ was more spiritual. Fei huffed softly to herself but diligently followed the pull which thankfully was still in the direction of the dining tables. So perhaps she could still get a drink while she investigated whatever Mei Shi and the Renlings were pulling her towards. As she walked she casually looked around her to see if anything was out of the normal but nothing jumped out at her until she actually reached the table full of drinks that had been her original destination. 

There were two teens standing next to the water pitchers which had been her goal. She quickly identified the two as Luka Couffaine and Tsuguri Kagami as Marinette had shown her more than enough pictures and videos of her friends and these two featured most often. The two were talking in low voices to one another and Fei was confused as to what she was supposed to be seeing since they definitely were where she was being led to. It was right as she was about to reach them that she saw two small figures and instantly she felt this rush of energy. One was peeking out of the long sleeves of Kagami’s kimono and the other was peeking out of the inside of Luka’s now unbuttoned tux jacket. She didn’t know what they were but they looked and felt similar to Mei Shi and the Renlings. As soon as she made the connection she knew this is where she was being led.

With a deep breath in and a deep breath out, Fei squared her shoulders and approached the two with more confidence than she actually felt. “Hello. My name is Wu Fei. It is nice to officially meet you two.”

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