microficmay

[microficmay]

fic post: 9 to 5

written for @microficmay 2024!

Pairing(s): DRARRY, Draco/OMC Rating: E (light E, though. more like a hard M) Wordcount: 2.5K

Read on AO3 here!

Tags: Time Loop, Morally Grey Harry Potter, Unspeakable Harry Potter, Ministry Office Drone Draco Malfoy, Draco Malfoy in the Muggle World, Power Imbalance, Psychological Horror, References to Depression, Suicidal Thoughts, There’s some nice stuff too but you know I am medically required to put this little blond twink Into Situations Summary: Draco Malfoy hates Mondays.

hello! i'm here! june 19th, which is the very first day after may 31st! look at how completely on time i am with getting this up.

thank you so much to everyone who supported this journey in may. going into posting, i wasn't 100% certain i could pull off a time loop story in 50 word increments, but i figured if it crashed and burned you'd all forgive me eventually, or at the very least would forget. now that we've done it joe dot gif, i am still in shock at how completely lovely you all were about this story as it was posting. thank you so much from the bottom of my heart. an extra thank you to @sitp-recs, @thehoneybeet, @garagepaperback and @popcornwrath, who had me living for the tag reactions on their reblogs. please know i read and laughed (sometimes evilly) at every one.

truly though all of you made my may very special, so thank you, again and again.

this version is the extended edition "director's cut." nothing has changed in the plot, however if you were hoping for a couple bites more, you've got it.

finally, but absolutely NOT least, thank you to @lumosatnight @crazybutgood @sugareey-makes-stuff for modding this incredible fest. it has been an honor to participate in it for the last 3 years, and i hope you've all been having very well-deserved, restful junes.

[microficmay]

Microfic May 2024: Roundup

You guys, we made it!! Another year of microfics is complete. This May, we had 950+ microfics submitted through Tumblr and AO3! The collection is now closed. We are so so so grateful to everyone who took the time to participate. Truly, you are the best 🫶💖🫶

You can read all of the microfics in our AO3 Collection or on our Tumblr with the tag #microficmay2024!

Looking for something in particular? Try sorting by one of our tags: #drarry, #dramione, #hp rare pair, #hp femslash, #gen

This will be the last year with the current mod team. We are, however, looking to possibly hand off Microfic May to a couple of new mods. Things are still up in the air, so for now... peace, love, and happy microficcing from the Microfic May mod squad 🫶

@lumosatnight, @crazybutgood, @sugareey-makes-stuff

Find microfics tagged by prompt under the cut!

Prompts List 2024

Day 1: Create

Day 2: Resplendent

Day 3: Horizon

Day 4: Decision

Day 5: Dreams & Reality

Day 6: Flare

Day 7: Innocuous

Day 8: Will

Day 9: Agony

Day 10: Rise & Fall

Day 11: Curse

Day 12: Vivid

Day 13: Talisman

Day 14: Humility

Day 15: Nothing & Everything

Day 16: Squabble

Day 17: Worthy

Day 18: Healing

Day 19: Impatience

Day 20: Push & Pull

Day 21: Unhand

Day 22: Precious

Day 23: Mistake

Day 24: Elation

Day 25: Day & Night

Day 26: Vex

Day 27: Dandy

Day 28: Fetching

Day 29: Thrall

Day 30: First & Last

Day 31: Fulfilment

Alternate Prompts

Alt 1: Evolve

Alt 2: Superfluous

Alt 3: Idle

Alt 4: Warmth

Alt 5: Life & Death

Weekly Challenges (Optional)

Week 1: POV Challenge

Week 2: ‘A/An’ Challenge

Week 3: Format Challenge

Week 4: Alphabet Challenge

Week 5: BONUS CHALLENGE

[microficmay]

Microfic May 2024: Roundup

You guys, we made it!! Another year of microfics is complete. This May, we had 950+ microfics submitted through Tumblr and AO3! The collection is now closed. We are so so so grateful to everyone who took the time to participate. Truly, you are the best 🫶💖🫶

You can read all of the microfics in our AO3 Collection or on our Tumblr with the tag #microficmay2024!

Looking for something in particular? Try sorting by one of our tags: #drarry, #dramione, #hp rare pair, #hp femslash, #gen

This will be the last year with the current mod team. We are, however, looking to possibly hand off Microfic May to a couple of new mods. Things are still up in the air, so for now... peace, love, and happy microficcing from the Microfic May mod squad 🫶

@lumosatnight, @crazybutgood, @sugareey-makes-stuff

Find microfics tagged by prompt under the cut!

Prompts List 2024

Day 1: Create

Day 2: Resplendent

Day 3: Horizon

Day 4: Decision

Day 5: Dreams & Reality

Day 6: Flare

Day 7: Innocuous

Day 8: Will

Day 9: Agony

Day 10: Rise & Fall

Day 11: Curse

Day 12: Vivid

Day 13: Talisman

Day 14: Humility

Day 15: Nothing & Everything

Day 16: Squabble

Day 17: Worthy

Day 18: Healing

Day 19: Impatience

Day 20: Push & Pull

Day 21: Unhand

Day 22: Precious

Day 23: Mistake

Day 24: Elation

Day 25: Day & Night

Day 26: Vex

Day 27: Dandy

Day 28: Fetching

Day 29: Thrall

Day 30: First & Last

Day 31: Fulfilment

Alternate Prompts

Alt 1: Evolve

Alt 2: Superfluous

Alt 3: Idle

Alt 4: Warmth

Alt 5: Life & Death

Weekly Challenges (Optional)

Week 1: POV Challenge

Week 2: ‘A/An’ Challenge

Week 3: Format Challenge

Week 4: Alphabet Challenge

Week 5: BONUS CHALLENGE

[microficmay]

Microfic May 2024: Roundup

You guys, we made it!! Another year of microfics is complete. This May, we had 950+ microfics submitted through Tumblr and AO3! The collection is now closed. We are so so so grateful to everyone who took the time to participate. Truly, you are the best 🫶💖🫶

You can read all of the microfics in our AO3 Collection or on our Tumblr with the tag #microficmay2024!

Looking for something in particular? Try sorting by one of our tags: #drarry, #dramione, #hp rare pair, #hp femslash, #gen

This will be the last year with the current mod team. We are, however, looking to possibly hand off Microfic May to a couple of new mods. Things are still up in the air, so for now... peace, love, and happy microficcing from the Microfic May mod squad 🫶

@lumosatnight, @crazybutgood, @sugareey-makes-stuff

Find microfics tagged by prompt under the cut!

Prompts List 2024

Day 1: Create

Day 2: Resplendent

Day 3: Horizon

Day 4: Decision

Day 5: Dreams & Reality

Day 6: Flare

Day 7: Innocuous

Day 8: Will

Day 9: Agony

Day 10: Rise & Fall

Day 11: Curse

Day 12: Vivid

Day 13: Talisman

Day 14: Humility

Day 15: Nothing & Everything

Day 16: Squabble

Day 17: Worthy

Day 18: Healing

Day 19: Impatience

Day 20: Push & Pull

Day 21: Unhand

Day 22: Precious

Day 23: Mistake

Day 24: Elation

Day 25: Day & Night

Day 26: Vex

Day 27: Dandy

Day 28: Fetching

Day 29: Thrall

Day 30: First & Last

Day 31: Fulfilment

Alternate Prompts

Alt 1: Evolve

Alt 2: Superfluous

Alt 3: Idle

Alt 4: Warmth

Alt 5: Life & Death

Weekly Challenges (Optional)

Week 1: POV Challenge

Week 2: ‘A/An’ Challenge

Week 3: Format Challenge

Week 4: Alphabet Challenge

Week 5: BONUS CHALLENGE

[microficmay]

@waterfalls-moon we were so lucky to have you as part of the fest for ALL THREE YEARS. We are sure Microfic May will always be around in some form or another, but we are so grateful for the lovely community we have managed to build. So, thank you for participating! Your kind words are what make it all worth it 💗💗

@microficmay

Dear MicroficMay Mods,

I wanted to send this as ask, but it wasn't possible.

At the end of the fest 2022 I wrote a message to you and I can only repeat:

✨YOU WERE FANTASTIC! 💫

I weren't able to pull through the whole month the first time in 2022, but last year and this year I did it for both! I'm so happy and proud of that. I used MicroficMay to also explore a bit more of other pairs and rare pairs myself, rather than just Drarry. Something I wouldn't have done to this extent otherwise.

But the fact that I lasted so long is also due to the atmosphere of the fest, the environment, the mods and all the participants. It always felt so welcoming.

The amount of entries... all the different takes on one single prompt, all the ideas, settings, pairings and creativity. It's amazing!

In June/July I will read through the microfics of the other participants.

I'm sad it was the last time for this event. From all the thousands of HP fests I always looked forward to the highlight that May with MicroficMay was. But I'm not despairing. If there is no MicroficMay next year, I will use it to move on or rather to expand. There are some other daily prompt fests exclusively for May I'm interested in, but couldn't participate, because MicroficMay always had, has and will have my number one priority. That's why I know I will look back and reread my and other's microfics! ☀️

Additionally, the fest was such a great motivation to post at all, whereas at other times written material just simply collects dust in the files without ever being posted.

So, at all: Take care of yourself! Have fun writing and maybe we'll read each other somewhere somewhen!

And one last thing: Your colour scheme/design this year was SO ESPECIALLY PRETTY!!! 😍🌻🥝🫐🍋🍋‍🟩🤩

[microficmay]

Microfic May 2024: Roundup

You guys, we made it!! Another year of microfics is complete. This May, we had 950+ microfics submitted through Tumblr and AO3! The collection is now closed. We are so so so grateful to everyone who took the time to participate. Truly, you are the best 🫶💖🫶

You can read all of the microfics in our AO3 Collection or on our Tumblr with the tag #microficmay2024!

Looking for something in particular? Try sorting by one of our tags: #drarry, #dramione, #hp rare pair, #hp femslash, #gen

This will be the last year with the current mod team. We are, however, looking to possibly hand off Microfic May to a couple of new mods. Things are still up in the air, so for now... peace, love, and happy microficcing from the Microfic May mod squad 🫶

@lumosatnight, @crazybutgood, @sugareey-makes-stuff

Find microfics tagged by prompt under the cut!

Prompts List 2024

Day 1: Create

Day 2: Resplendent

Day 3: Horizon

Day 4: Decision

Day 5: Dreams & Reality

Day 6: Flare

Day 7: Innocuous

Day 8: Will

Day 9: Agony

Day 10: Rise & Fall

Day 11: Curse

Day 12: Vivid

Day 13: Talisman

Day 14: Humility

Day 15: Nothing & Everything

Day 16: Squabble

Day 17: Worthy

Day 18: Healing

Day 19: Impatience

Day 20: Push & Pull

Day 21: Unhand

Day 22: Precious

Day 23: Mistake

Day 24: Elation

Day 25: Day & Night

Day 26: Vex

Day 27: Dandy

Day 28: Fetching

Day 29: Thrall

Day 30: First & Last

Day 31: Fulfilment

Alternate Prompts

Alt 1: Evolve

Alt 2: Superfluous

Alt 3: Idle

Alt 4: Warmth

Alt 5: Life & Death

Weekly Challenges (Optional)

Week 1: POV Challenge

Week 2: ‘A/An’ Challenge

Week 3: Format Challenge

Week 4: Alphabet Challenge

Week 5: BONUS CHALLENGE

[microficmay]

vienna waits for you

slow down you crazy child you're so ambitious for a juvenile but then if you're so smart tell me why are you still so afraid?

wherein the boys pine & talk & make hard decisions & kiss lots. 🤍 

(twenty-nine of the thirty-one microfics i posted for @microficmay were parts of a single story. this is the amalgamation of those parts. for the record: the vienna parallel was something of a happy accident. ✨) 

drarry | word count: ~4k (3,926) | rating: t

Harry flies low over the hills beyond the castle, one of the school’s practice brooms steady and graceless beneath him. His target is easy enough to find, settled on a quilt in the tall grass. He lands on his feet, grinning already as Draco casts him a glance equally exasperated and endearing. “You’re a nuisance,” he calls, turning back to his book. “How’s the research coming?” “Better when I’m not being bothered.” The chastise is cut by the softness of his tone. Harry plops down on the blanket, lays back, eyes closing, unrepentant. 

read it on ao3 here! 

[microficmay]

Life and Death

@microficmay Day 36 (aka June 5)

The moment the Elder Wand twisted itself out of his grip, Voldemort knew it was over. He was dimly aware of it spinning through the air toward his enemy’s hand and of his own curse flying back towards his heart but that wasn’t what he wanted to look at in his last precious seconds of life. Bella was visible just a few yards across the Great Hall, eerily still and glassy-eyed, with her curls askew and the ghost of the smile he’d loved so much still on her face.

What would happen to her now, with him gone? He was the only one who knew she’d made a horcrux; the only one who could have restored her. Would her soul now be trapped on Earth, unable to move on to wherever he was going but no longer truly alive? In trying to save her, had he doomed her to a terrible eternity? And what of Delphi, who would now grow up an orphan, just as he had?

He had never put much stock in the idea of an afterlife, preferring to avoid death entirely rather than take his chances with it and risk total oblivion. If he could be sure that something, anything waited for him on the other side, that he would not cease to exist completely, that even if he changed form and location he would still be him, he might not have been so terrified of it.

Now he found himself clinging to the idea of an afterlife and the possibility that Bella’s soul, against all odds, would follow his there. Surely if she was aware of where he’d gone, she’d follow. She’d do anything for him, and she had never been quite so afraid of death anyway. But would her horcrux tether her to the mortal world, whether she wanted it to or not?

And even if their souls found each other is some distant realm, Delphi would still be alone. Until she died, one day, too but that was a horrible thought. There were no good answers. All of Voldemort’s worst fears were coming true, including some new ones that he hadn’t even been aware of until now and there was absolutely nothing he could do about it.

His eyes stayed on Bella until the spell struck his chest and he fell. The last thing his mind did was hope—no, pray (something he had never done before)—that this wasn’t really the end and that they would find a way to be together in both life and death.

On ao3:

Well, that's the end. Can't believe I actually did it! Thank you so much to the mods and everyone who read along!

[microficmay]

Warmth

@microficmay Day 35 (aka June 4)

Lord Voldemort naturally ran cold. He always had. Other children, both at the orphanage and at Hogwarts, often remarked on it if they happened to brush up against him at mealtimes or during lessons. This became more pronounced each time he split his soul until he was barely human, and his skin was both the color and temperature of ice.

He didn’t mind. There was a certain purity found in coldness. The serenity of a deep, snow-blanketed winter. The power of frigid, rushing water. The secrecy of a damp cave miles below the earth that light had never touched. These were all qualities that he desired for himself. Yes, the cold suited him just fine and no one ever commented on it anymore because he didn’t allow anyone close enough to touch him.

Then along came Bellatrix, who was hot in every sense of the word. Her fiery temper, searing wit, dazzling looks and burning passion were all equal to, or perhaps even outshone, the star she was named for and her exquisitely pure blood ran so hotly through her veins that she could easily be mistaken for feverish. He was at first fascinated by and then completely enamored with her but the closer they got, the more he feared she would melt him. Already, a molten core of heat burned like an ember deep below his icy exterior. And yet he could not keep himself away from her; couldn’t help but pull her close and enjoy the feel of her warm skin against his body every chance he got.

Their clashing temperatures never seemed to bother her. When they first began sharing a bed, he expected her to complain about his cold feet, but she never did. On the contrary, she said she liked how he could cool her down and how they balanced each other out. “Fire and ice are two sides of the same coin,” she said. “Both with a magnificent capability for destruction. Too much of either will burn you. That’s what frostbite is. Hot and cold co-existing.”

Not that she seemed too concerned about frostbite, with how eager she was to touch every inch of his skin. But perhaps she was right not to be afraid. After all, stars burned in the cold vacuum of space. Earth’s molten core lay beneath the deepest, darkest caves. Neither cancelled the other out. And snakes, the animals he had always had such an affinity for, could often be found stretched out on a sun-warmed rock, relishing the heat much the way he relished everything about Bella. Even cold-blooded creatures needed warmth.

On ao3:

[microficmay]

💛 MicroficMay 2024 Masterlist 💚

💚 @microficmay Thank you so much for this May's round of Microfics 💛 (Links are in the prompt's title.)

Day 1 Create Hannah/Neville

Day 2 Resplendent Luna Lovegood

Day 3 Horizon Draco/Harry

Day 4 Decision Scorpius & Teddy

Day 5 Dreams & Reality Charlie/Harry (tw: mcd)

Day 5 Dreams & Reality Draco/Harry (tw: mcd)

Day 6 Flare Charlie/Draco

Day 7 Innocuous George Weasley (& Fred) (tw: mcd)

Day 8 Will Draco/Harry

Day 9 Agony Draco/Harry/Ron

Day 9 Agony Harry/Oliver

Day 10 Rise & Fall Draco/Harry/Ron

Day 11 Curse Harry Potter

Day 12 Vivid Hugo Weasley (+ other next gen cousins)

Day 13 Talisman Harry, Luna, Oliver

Day 14 Humility Draco/Harry

Day 14 Humility Draco/Harry

Day 15 Nothing & Everything Draco/Harry

Day 16 Squabble Neville/Pansy

Day 17 Worthy Oliver/James Potter (I)

Day 18 Healing sentient plant (+ Luna/Neville)

Day 19 Impatience George/Harry

Day 20 Push & Pull Draco/Harry

Day 21 Unhand Ron/Hermione (& Harry)

Day 22 Precious Draco/Harry/Charlie

Day 23 Mistake Cho/Katie

Day 24 Elation Draco/Harry

Day 25 Day & Night Draco/Harry

Day 26 Vex Dean/Seamus

Day 27 Dandy Draco/Ron

Day 28 Fetching Harry & Sirius

Day 29 Thrall Harry & Hermione, Draco/Harry, Ron/Hermione (tw: mcd)

Day 30/31 First & Last + Fulfillment Narcissa/Lily

Alt 1 Evolve Draco/Harry

Alt 2 Superfluous Luna Lovegood

Alt 3 Idle Draco/Harry

Alt 4 Warmth Charlie/Draco/Harry

Alt 5 Life & Death Draco/Harry (& Ron) (tw: mcd)

Alt 5 Life & Death Harry & Sirius

They are 2930 words! The shortest with 38 words and the longest with 135.

There are only 13 out of 39 microfics with Drarry as pairing! That's not even the half of it. I liked to use the MicroficMay challenge for other pairings and characters. The most obscure character would be the sentient murderous plant who's obsessed with Luna and wants to kill Neville haha

[microficmay]

For @microficmay 's prompt Day 5 Dreams & Reality Characters/Pairings: Draco x Harry 38 words, content: implied past major character death

Harry stares at his arm. Please don't let your dreams die. The words are tattooed into his skin. To remind him, to ground him. To keep going, to keep walking.

But sometimes it was so hard without him.

[microficmay]

For @microficmay 's prompt Alt 5: Life & Death Characters/Pairings: Harry & Sirius, 50 words, content: Master of Death Harry

Of course, there was the hardship that comes with being the Master of Death.

But what hurts the most is the one realisation.

Sirius wasn’t here, not there in the beyond. Sirius was still behind that veil. Not dead. And Harry wasn't able to tell any living who would care.

[microficmay]

31: Fulfilment

Draco grinned down at her as she straightened his new Auror uniform. She was nervous— they were announcing themselves publicly at the graduation ceremony. Grabbing her hand, he kissed it. Hermione smiled up at him. “I’m proud of you,” she whispered.  

 He searched his robe pocket for the ring box.

@microficmay

[microficmay]

30: First and Last

On waking, the first thing on his mind was uncontrollable chestnut curls. Had he been dreaming of her? He groaned. She’d invaded his very being. All day, he tried not stare at Granger.

He was still ruminating on her bright smile and warm eyes when he drifted off to sleep.

@microficmay

[microficmay]

Idle

@microficmay Day 34 (aka June 3)

Sunlight was streaming into their room, despite the fact that the curtains were still drawn, but Voldemort ignored it, wrapping his arms tighter around Bellatrix and nuzzling his face against her shoulder. She sleepily mumbled something incoherent and wiggled backwards so that she was snuggled even closer against his chest. He was naturally an early riser, and it wasn’t at all like him to idle in bed, but on days like this, when there were no pressing appointments, why should he deny himself the chance to spend some extra time with Bella? It was nice; neither of them fully conscious but just enough to be aware of each other and feel enveloped in the comfort and safety that only the other’s presence could provide. It was the closest thing to peace either of them ever got.

On ao3:

[microficmay]

For @microficmay 's prompt Day 14 Humility Characters/Pairings: Draco/Harry 72 words, content: sfw, Draco's pov, here is Harry's pov take on the prompt

The snail crawled slowly up the stone wall. "Looks like even you are achieving your goals."

He looked up at the night sky, all the little glowing dots. Stars and planets and who-knows-what-else. There was still so much out there. It wasn't the end.

When he got home, he fell into Harry's arms. Today wouldn't determine the end. There were still so many more paths to take. The next day would come.

[microficmay]

Superfluous

@microficmay Day 33 (aka June 2)

“So, when we get married—” Voldemort began and Bellatrix grinned like she’d just won the Quidditch World Cup. He smiled back at her before continuing, sounding uncharacteristically nervous, “I was wondering if you would mind…if we had the wedding at Hogwarts? I know it’s a bit ridiculous to get married at one’s old school, but you know how much the place means to me. It’s where I discovered my true self and started the journey that led me to where I am today. I thought it would be appropriate to take the next major step and formally unite myself with the only partner I’ve ever needed on that journey there.” Bellatrix took his hand and squeezed it.

“First of all, I would marry you anywhere, my love. I’d even agree to have our wedding back in Azkaban if you asked.” “I am certainly not asking you to do that!” “And second, I think that’s a wonderful idea. I have fond memories of Hogwarts, too and it’s such a beautiful and historic location. Where better for the two greatest students it’s ever produced; the two who will go on to shape its future, to get married?” Looking relieved, Voldemort raised their joined hands to his face so he could kiss hers. “Thank you, Bella. I really, really appreciate this.” “Did you have any particular part of Hogwarts in mind? The Chamber of Secrets or the top of the Astronomy Tower? Maybe the Forbidden Forest? I’ve always thought it had a romantic feeling to it.” “Well, I had thought we could perhaps furnish the Chamber so that you and I could live there whenever we need to visit Hogwarts but for the wedding I had been considering the most obvious option—having the ceremony in the Great Hall and the reception on the grounds.”

“Oh, so we’re having a reception, then?” Bella asked, excited by the prospect. “Was that not a given? How else are we going to have our first dance as husband and wife?” “I just wasn’t sure you’d want one. You’ve never been the biggest fan of parties.” “Well, I think I’ll feel differently when there’s actually something worth celebrating.” Bellatrix gave a little laugh, still unable to believe this was happening. “So, were you thinking we’d have a summer wedding then? I know the timing is really dependent on when we end the war but if you want the Great Hall to be empty….” “Who says I want it to be empty? Aren’t we going to invite people?” “Well, of course! But what about the students?” “I was thinking we’d actually make it mandatory for them to intend. Witness the dawn of a new age as their leaders are bonded for life!” Bellatrix raised an eyebrow, frowning slightly.

“Sounds like a pretty big wedding.” “That’s the idea. It will be an important day, after all.” Noticing her confusion, he asked, “Is that a problem? We could certainly do something more private if you’d prefer. I suppose it would be rather…gauche to use our own wedding as a form of propaganda but I thought it would be a good way to celebrate our victory and establish our new government—as well as your place in it. I want to make it clear to everyone that to disrespect you is to disrespect me and it won’t be tolerated.” Tears welled in Bellatrix’s eyes and he hastily backtracked. “But it’s not necessary; not at all! If you want something smaller, with just the Inner Circle or maybe just Delphi, Nagini and the Malfoys…. I’m aware that you’ve had a large, extravagant wedding before and hated the experience, so I have no desire to force you to relive that!” Bellatrix shook her head, now smiling softly through her tears. “Are you kidding? You declaring your love for me in front of the whole world? That’s all I’ve ever wanted, Voldemort.” “Then what’s wrong?”

“Nothing’s wrong! I just never thought…I mean, you’ve always placed so much emphasis on our privacy…agreeing to officially marry me at all was such a huge concession on your part. I figured a normal wedding with a big party would seem…superfluous to you.” “Ah.” Voldemort reached out and took Bella’s other hand, so he was holding them both, then looked her in the eyes and said sincerely, “At the beginning of our relationship, I insisted on secrecy for my own sake. I didn’t want anyone thinking I’d gone soft, which I was terrified I actually had. But as time went on, I did it for your protection too. So no one would attack you in an attempt to hurt me or suggest that you’d only become such a high-ranking Death Eater by sleeping with me. It was better for both of our reputations, but I hated it as much as you did. I couldn’t stand listening to people refer to you and Rodolphus as a unit when you’ve only ever been mine or having to limit the number of times I danced with you at balls. But I kept reminding myself that it was necessary, even more so once you became pregnant with Delphi. She’s still so small and vulnerable. But once I’ve killed Potter, no one will question my power again, no matter how ‘soft’ I may seem. We will no longer need to hide our love and I’ll show everyone that you are not my top lieutenant because you are my lover but that you are both because you are the most extraordinary and powerful witch the world has ever seen. And with the Wizarding world firmly in our grasp, we can ensure that Delphi is protected at all times and then she won’t have to hide either. It will be a new world, with our family at the top. So, while I may scoff at the frivolous pageantry of other, lesser people’s weddings, for you and I, after waiting so long…don’t you think we deserve to be a bit superfluous?” Bellatrix’s wild grin returned, her face shining as brightly as the star she was named for. “Yes,” she agreed, pulling him in for a kiss, “yes, we absolutely do!”

On ao3: