#( owl in a cage ) ch

[discoinfernos]

@doublejango re. AQUARIUM AFTER DARK

After all that's happened, Stolas didn't feel much up to a large event. He'd been prepared for a long night of scrolling on his phone, seeing well-to-do demons in fabulous suits and gowns, glittering red carpet photos, video documentation of the opulence from which he was now barred. Not that he minded terribly ; the very thought of having to rub elbows with those who had stood by all these years while he suffered in silence . . . No, he was better off as he was now.

For the most part.

It had come as a surprise when Blitz suggested he go to the aquarium. Stolas hadn't been there in ages, and he was fairly certain it was only open during the day. But the Imp had worn a secret, knowing smirk and so, despite his exhaustion and hesitance to appear in public, he'd gone.

The moment he arrived he was pulled inside by someone he didn't recognize and given a suit made of deep blue velvet inlaid with crystals, and a matching cape. The demon had winked and presented a card that said "ware thiz". Stolas almost laughed ; what in Hell was going on? But he smiled softly as he caressed the garment. It was less regal than what he would have worn before, but still suited to his tastes. Had Blitz really picked this out for him?

Now dressed, he left the lobby and followed the candlelit path to the Dome in search of their elusive host.

[discoinfernos]

For the past few minutes, Blitz has been frantically tearing the small apartment apart in search for the brooch he always wears. (The one he's always refused to answer any questions about). He'd brushed off Stolas' attempts to help, and the ex-Goetia was afraid he'd soon start tearing up the floorboards. Finally, it was located, but Blitz doesn't seem to calm, fingers twitching anxiously around the object, breath uneven and shallow.

❝ Blitz . . . ❞ Stolas' eyebrows draw together in concern, one hand reaching out to where the Imp is standing. It is obvious that Blitz is lying ; his rigid posture alone telegraphs that fact.

Something like shame, or guilt, rises in Stolas' throat as Blitz asks after him instead. He's been trying so hard not to be a burden here, but it's not been easy with how drained he's been since losing his powers. It seems Blitz feels like he owes Stolas something, despite how Stolas has tried to refute that. Blitz is always deferring to him, and Stolas can't understand why.

It's hard enough to know where they even stand right now, and neither of them seem too keen on discussing it. It's enough to drive him mad. Still . . .

❝ I'm fine, ❞ Stolas says, and it's halfway true. He stands, closing the few steps between them, and places his hands gently on Blitz's shoulders, kneading them slightly as though to work out the tension. ❝ But you're not. Talk to me. Please. ❞

"Why are you breathing so shallowly?" (for Blitz from Stolas) / @discoinfernos

❝ I - ❞ Blitz's fingers twitch compulsively around the choker's brooch, as if they're still searching for its reality - evidence that it's here, still here, that it isn't gone - it hadn't even taken all that long to find it, had it ? A few minutes of scrambling desperately around the living room, clawing under the sofa, shakily getting back to his feet against the weight of memory -

( images of mom crumbling to ash at their barest touch ; green flames bleeding into red ; millie's tortured and mangled face )

Blitz doesn't even realize Stolas is there until it catches up with him that he'd been answering automatically without the words to actually do it with. He catches himself, pushing the tips of his claws into his palm around the carved skull, searching for a foothold in reality.

Because the truth is, he's in his living room. Stolas is in his living room. The place is too fucking small for Blitz to not have noticed him somewhere in the vicinity, which means he has to shove the images and memories down to where they can't reach him anymore. Everything is supposed to be fine.

❝ - Nothing. Just distracted. ❞ Not now, not when he's needed - not when he's supposed to be getting better. Blitz keeps his back to Stolas, though, when he feels his breath refusing to even out, his lungs to fully inflate. welcome to the show, asshole.

❝ ... - You good ? Need anything ? ❞

[dwaynes-leather-jacket]

Ch. 1 Misty Boardwalks And Vampires, Oh My!

Dwayne x Fem!Reader

Chapter Index

[A/N]: So sorry it's taken so long! Life has been hectic and left me mentally drained, but I managed to get back on track with my creativity!

A few days had passed since then, and I couldn’t help but stare out my bedroom window as the mist once again rolled in, forgetting all about the book I’d been reading.

I don’t know what came over me, but I just had to go back to that boardwalk. I grabbed my jacket and walked around the house, making sure everyone was asleep before grabbing my keys and sneaking out through the back door.

For a moment, I contemplated going back home, but if I was going to get in trouble, I wanted it to be for something good, so I dragged myself to the boardwalk whilst being wary of my surroundings.

As per usual, the boardwalk was swamped with locals and tourists alike in the moonlight, enjoying the music, rides, and everything else the boardwalk had to offer to the night owls.

I smiled to myself a little as I looked at the lights glowing beautifully around me. It wasn’t often I came here, much less alone, to really get a feel for the place.

I walked around a while before deciding to check out the music, which wasn’t much my style but I still watched from a distance before deciding to go check out some stalls nearby until I saw a book in a shop that caught my eye.

I made my way into the store, grateful I brought my purse with me afterall and walked over to where I’d seen the book.

I hummed as I approached said book, picking it up to examine it and check out the first few pages.

“Ah, a book nerd, huh?” A male voice spoke and I looked up to see one of the blond boys from the other night, I think his name was Paul. He was currently leaning with an arm agains the shelf and the other against the wall, caging me in.

“Not really. I’m pretty picky.” I replied and put the book back, having lost interest in it, and ducked under his arms to walk past him to browse another section.

He frowned. “Hey, what’s the rush? Dont’cha wanna have some fun?” He teased with a playful smirk.

“With you? No thanks. You’re not my type, no offense.” I replied in a flat tone and continued my search for a decent book.

Paul hung his head in defeat. “I bet you’re no fun anyway.”

“You say that as if it’s a bad thing. I do know how to have fun, I’m just awfully certain you and I have different views as to what is fun.” I commented and rolled my eyes as he pouted and walked away.

I couldn’t help but chuckle to myself but not forgetting my goal of finding that boy and a new book.

That’s when I glanced down and found a good copy of Dracula and reached to grab it, only to have ended up brushing hands with someone and quickly retracted my hand.

“I’m sorry.” I stuttered an apology only to realize it was Dwayne and froze immediately, feeling heat rise to my cheeks.

“Horror fan, huh?” He asked with a shy smile.

I nodded. “Uh, yeah. A little.” I replied shakily.

He handed the book to me. “You can have it if you’d like.”

I reached to grab it, only for him to yank it back.

I looked at him in surprise, only to see a devilish look in his eyes.

“On one condition.” He smirked.

“What is it?” I asked curiously with a small smile tugging at my lips.

“Hang out with me for tonight.” He replied calmly.

Oh was he so much more handsome up close, and his voice so soothing.

I contemplated for a moment before agreeing. “Okay, but I can’t stay too long. I sort of snuck out and need to be back before my parents notice I’m gone.” I replied and took the book from him.

“Ah, so you do have a bit of rebel blood in you?” He teased with a chuckle.

“Well, I guess you’ll have to wait and see for yourself, huh? Dwayne, was it?” I replied with a playful smirk of my own.

He nodded. “Yup, that’s me. Now, what about your name?” He asked as we walked towards the register so I could pay.

“Oh, right. I’m _____.” I commented and handed the book to the cashier and opened my purse to grab my wallet.

“I got it.” Dwayne spoke up and paid for the book.

I looked at him with wide eyes. “You really didn’t have to do that.” I panicked a little and handed him the money I was going to use to pay for the book.

“I’m not taking your money. Consider it a late Christmas gift from your new friend, okay?” He raised an eyebrow in response and handed me the bag with the book.

I stood there puzzled for a minute and took the bag. “Thank you.” I mumbled shyly and looked away from him.

“No problem, now come on so we can have some real fun.” He nodded towards the door and walked out while I blindly followed behind him.

We walked out onto the boardwalk, surrounded by rambunctious teens and the occasional black-market dealer trying to sell off some stolen piece of jewelry to passers-by.

“So, what brings you back here?” Dwayne asked whilst peeking over his shoulder at me, his dark eyes gleaming with mischief.

“Honestly, I just needed the air and didn’t know where else to go.” I lied and looked around at the scenery, my eyes lingering on a roller coaster a little longer than it should have.

This obviously caught Dwayne’s attention and he smirked.

“Wanna get on? I’ll go with you.” He asked and watched the ride with me.

I watched the ride a bit longer before deciding I wanted to try it. “I’ll try it.” I replied and looked at him, only to see him already walking towards the line.

“Come on, slowpoke!” He called out with a chuckle.

I smiled a little and ran after him. “Oh what a cheater. You waited until I was distracted.” I nudged him playfully, to which he feigned hurt.

“It’s not my fault you zone out easily.” He teased and nudged me back, leaning against the rails.

I opened my mouth to say something but was stopped when he dragged me towards the front of the line and got us on the rollercoaster without any issues, surprisingly enough.

Once we got on the ride and it began, I gulped as the cart went uphill and overlooked the ocean, taking in not only the beauty of the moonlit water, but just how high we were as well.

Dwayne, seemingly noticing my nervousness, grabbed my hand. “Relax, I've been here more times than I can count. I’ve never had a problem.” He spoke in reassurance right before our cart tipped over the edge and sent us flying down the rails.

I let out a startled shriek, holding his hand tightly while he let out a hearty yell, followed by a deep laugh.

“Aww come on, don’t be like that.” He chuckled when we got off the ride. “You’re the one who wanted to get on.” He teased with a playful smirk gracing his lips.

“Yeah, but I didn’t expect it to be that intense!” I replied as I walked towards a bench shakily, my legs feeling like jello.

“You don’t get out much do you?” He quirked an eyebrow; a mischievous glint in his dark eyes reflecting the shining lights from the surrounding rides and lamp posts.

“Not that it’s any of your business, but no. I uh, don’t really like going out all that much anymore.” I responded and looked towards the ocean, desperately wanting to forget what had happened that made me terrified of being outside.

Dwayne nodded, catching on that it was a touchy subject and taking a seat beside me. Neither of us spoke for a short while, we simply sat in silence, enjoying each other's company.

“Hey, you ever ride a motorcycle before?” He turned to look at me in amusement. His arm was resting on the back rest of the bench.

“No, why?” I replied rather worriedly.

“Would you like to?” He asked with a devilish grin, a grin that only seemed to pull me in further as I looked into his eyes.

Every nerve in my body screamed not to, but my heart and gut were telling me otherwise.

Besides, if he was going to hurt me, he would’ve done so by now.

I contemplated his offer once more, letting out a heavy sigh as I made up my mind.

“Maybe another time. I should probably head back home.” I smiled softly at him and got up, checking my watch in the process.

My eyes widened in shock. “It’s 2am, they’re gonna kill me if I’m not home soon.” I muttered and looked up, meeting Dwayne’s gaze.

“I could get you there pronto on my bike.” He smirked proudly, adjusting his jacket in a rather cool fashion.

“Well, since you insist.” I caved in and followed him to his bike where his friends were goofing off.

“I’ll be right back. I’m giving ____ a ride home.” He informed the crew and started his bike.

“Looks like you owe me $20 boys.” David chuckled, extending his hand towards Paul and Marco, who hissed and let out an “Aw man!”

Dwayne seemed amused enough and extended a hand towards me. “Alright, hop on.”

I gulped nervously and took his hand to climb onto the back of the bike.

“ See ya later, ____.” David chuckled and put out his cigarette on the ground.

“Bye.” I muttered and clutched on to Dwayne’s jacket.

“Hang on.” Dwayne smirked and revved the bike as we started on our way.

~~

Next

Tag List: @noodle81937

[iwriteasfotini]

OLIWITS Excerpt from THATS Ch I

Excerpt from Our Love is Written in the Stars: The Heir and The Spare, Chapter I - Glasses and Freckles

(Continued from this excerpt) *This is actually part three of the excerpts.* Here is the first one.

As the train slowed and pulled into Hogsmeade Station, Sirius couldn’t help the butterflies beating in his stomach. His traveling companions, Remus (being the boy with tan skin and freckles) and James (being the boy with the smudged glasses), had all shrugged into their school robes. Remus had gone to change in the nearby lavatory. Sirius could tell Remus’ robes were second hand, but didn’t comment. 

A nasally voice came over the loudspeakers, “please leave your luggage on the train, it will be taken to the school separately.”

“Let’s go Rooster,” James said, grabbing his owl’s cage. During the journey, James had shared he had only recently received his owl as a gift from his parents and named it Rooster because the thing liked to make a right racket every day before dawn. And, he’d said, it was also a funny name for an owl. 

Sirius, who did not possess an owl of his own, thought it was a bit of a ridiculous name, but then again, felt it wasn’t his place to judge. 

James opened Rooster’s cage and let him fly as soon as they were clear of the train, leaving the empty cage with a pile of other vacant wire enclosures. 

“Firs’ years, follow me.” An absolutely massive man with a booming voice was calling over the crowd of excitable students. Most of the masses were making their way to carriages, which were perhaps pulled by invisible horses as Sirius could see them pulling away from the platform of their own accord. 

Sirius, James, and Remus jostled their way through the crowd towards the large man, who was holding up a lantern which made his eyes twinkle in the dark. 

“This way, this way,” he gestured. And began leading the now much smaller group, both in number and stature, down a sloping hill. 

“Where do you reckon we’re going?” James asked the other two. 

“Don’t know,” shrugged Remus.

Sirius actually did know where they were going. To the boats which took first year students across the lake, his cousins had told him this. However, James seemed so giddy with anticipation Sirius didn’t want to ruin the surprise. 

“Four to a boat,” the giant man called out, as they were now standing on the edge of the lake with a small fleet of boats bobbing on the water in front of them. 

“Oh gosh,” a squeaky voice whispered from behind, “I can’t swim.”

Sirius turned around. “Why would you need to swim?” he said with a tone of great indignation. “He said ‘four to a boat.’ Not get in and float!” James let out a loud laugh and punched Sirius in the arm. 

“Nice one!” 

The squeaky voiced boy, who was rather small, pudgy, and looked terrified, did not laugh. But scurried forward to step into a boat, nearly capsizing it in his effort to get situated. 

Sirius looked to James and James looked to Sirius and they both raised their eyebrows at the same time. 

“Let’s go,” called Remus, who was down at the water’s edge. 

Sirius noticed the red haired girl and Pointy clambering into a boat a few down from theirs. And a girl with very dark skin and voluminous hair joined Sirius, James, and Remus in their boat. 

Once everyone was settled, and pointedly not swimming, the giant man called, “forward!” The boats silently drifted out onto the lake. A hush fell over the first years as they sailed, until they first glimpsed Hogwarts castle rising majestically above them, many windows shining yellow through the darkness. There was a collective gasp and many “oh’s.” Sirius wished he were above such things, but managed to quickly turn his gasp into a long, loud whistle. Several people snickered. 

The boats sailed through a curtain of ivy and then gently bumped against wooden docks where the students were instructed to disembark. They were in a large cavernous room, and the gentle lap of water was the only sound to be heard over the shuffling of many feet as they followed the giant man and his glowing lantern up a gravely path and then onto damp grass, finally ending up in the shadow of the looming castle. There was a set of huge oak doors, tall enough even the giant man could have easily walked through, but which he raised his fist and knocked on instead.��

Sirius was thinking it was all rather showy, when the doors swung open revealing a bright light causing everyone to squint. Silhouetted against the glow was a tall woman wearing a pointed hat. 

“The firs’ years, Professor McGonagall.” The giant man said, gesturing to the students behind him.

“Thank you Hagrid, I’ll take them from here.” Sirius stifled a laugh. It sounded a bit scripted, but he followed along as the children were ushered indoors and into a small chamber off of the large entry room. 

“Now,” said the tall woman whose voice was clipped with a Scottish accent, “you are to wait here until I fetch you for the sorting, understand.” Most people nodded in acknowledgement, a few whispered “yes.”

The woman turned abruptly on her heel and strode out of the room. Immediately whispering broke out among the children. 

“Did you see that man?”

“Yes, he was absolutely giant!”

“This place is awesome.”

“Which house do you think you’ll be in?”

“Does it hurt, being sorted I mean?”

James turned to Sirius and Remus and said, “honestly, you’d think they’d never even heard of Hogwarts. Does. It. Hurt…?”

Sirius rolled his eyes, “I know, it’s just a hat after all.”

“What hat?” Remus quipped. 

“Mate, tell me you know how the sorting ceremony works?” James said.

“Um, no.” Remus looked sheepish. Sirius could tell however nervous he was feeling, it was nothing compared to Remus, whose face was dramatically more pale, eyes wide. “My dad didn’t get around to mentioning it I suppose.”

“Oh,” James was finally catching on to Remus’ nervous state and became a bit kinder, “it’s not bad. You try on a hat and it reads your mind and it decides which house you belong in.”

Remus, if it was possible, paled even more, his freckles were now standing out boldly. His mouth fell open slightly.

“Buck up,” said Sirius, slapping him on the back. “It’s no big deal.”

“Says the Slytherin protege,” a sneering voice hissed in Sirius’ ear. He spun to see Septimus standing behind him. 

“Septimus, fancy meeting you again. And where has your dear damsel in distress gotten to?” Sirius threw back. 

“It’s Severus,” the red haired girl stepped forward and stood shoulder to shoulder with Severus, glaring at Sirius. 

“Sorry Snivellus,” Sirius sneered back. 

“Just ignore them, Sev,” the red haired girl said and pulled Severus around so his back was to Sirius again.

Sirius threw his elbow back and jabbed Severus in the ribs. 

Severus turned, and before Sirius knew what had happened, found himself staring down the length of a wand pressed in between his eyes. 

“Easy, easy,” James said in a would be casual tone as he stepped forward and pushed Sirius and Severus apart. 

“No need to get jumpy Snivellus,” he added. “Sirius here is a bit touchy about his family history, right Sirius?” James eyed Sirius who nodded. 

“It’s SEVERUS,” the red haired girl shouted, charging forward and standing toe to toe with James. Sirius and Severus had both stumbled back when she shoved through them, but regained their composure quickly. The red haired girl looked ready to breathe fire, her finger poking into James’ chest. He looked rather startled at her sudden, violent advance. 

At that moment the side door opened and Professor McGonagall returned. 

“Right,” she called over the students, “we are ready to begin the Sorting Ceremony. I will ask you to stand in a line and when your name is called come forward to put on the hat. Any questions?” Sirius didn’t think any of the other’s dared ask a question of this very stern woman, but he raised his hand.

“Yes!” she barked. 

“Professor McGonagall, I was wondering what the hat said to the tie?”

Professor McGonagall narrowed her eyes at him. Several people around him whispered in confusion. 

“Mister Black,” and she paused for good measure, her eyes boring into his (the fact this Professor already knew his name was not lost on him), “I have been a Hogwarts Professor for fifteen years. If you think there is a hat joke I have not encountered, you are much mistaken.” She turned her back on him, then called out, “You hang around, I’ll go on a-head.” And Sirius swore she was smiling as she said it. Several people tittered and James held his hand up for a high-five. 

“Oh man,” smiled James, “we are going to be great together. Please, please be in Gryffindor.”

“I’ll do my best,” Sirius grinned back. 

…

Next week, look for an excerpt (plus title, POV, and posting date) from Book 2. Daily posting will begin on AO3 on October 31 :)

Check on the weekly posting/writing status update here! 

[thedoctorsthings]

Power to the king | Kim Seokjin Ch. 2

wc: 1,5k

warnings: Unwanted intimacy (It's not graphic don't worry), Seokjin in white flowy shirt.

Here she is, finally, chapter two of Seokjin's story. I had a very busy summer, but now I'm back to writing. updates will follow quicker from now on.

You don’t get to relish the tingle that Seokjin had left in you for long. That had to do with the reason why he had visited you. You had to get pregnant and the man who had to make it happen was on his way to your chambers. Sitting on the edge of your bed you look outside. There’s an owl on a branch, yellow eyes piercing the night sky. The owl turns his head to you behind your glass window, your cage; for a second it looks at you and then flies away. An unimaginable freedom you wish you had. You close your eyes and picture yourself lifting off this bed and floating through the window. You’d fly back into your mother’s arms.

He hadn’t knocked, he just barged in, which you guessed he was allowed to do since it was his castle you were living in and the chambers of his deceased wife that you resided in. He had wasted no time. He barely talked to you and what he did say you couldn’t understand. He said everything in a deranged mumble. It wasn’t as horrible as you’d expected, mostly because it didn’t take more than two minutes before he was out of your chambers again. Your mother had prepared you enough for wat was going to happen and you managed to just shut off for two minutes. He hadn’t even undressed you, and you made it a point to quickly thank Odin for that.

You changed out of your wedding dress and into a sleeping gown, after you laid with your legs up for a while, like Seokjin had told you to do. You figured it would be smartest to follow his instructions and get pregnant as quickly as possible so the king would leave you alone. Unless you had a girl, you had no idea what the king would do then. When you went to bed, the last thing you felt before falling asleep was the slight feeling that you were a caged animal, and the soft ache to escape out the window and run wild in the woods.

The next morning you sat at breakfast with the entire royal family. This was the first time you saw them all together from up close. Not much was said, but you noticed that the crown prince and his wife were in remarkably good moods. Although you were getting the feeling that good moods were rarely expressed with more than a slight smile in the presence of the king. The king to be suddenly spoke up: “Family, we have news”, he said while putting a hand on his wife’s stomach. “I’m pregnant”, she smiled. The king barely reacted, but the princess squealed and the noise the youngest prince made could also barely be described as manly. Jungkook quickly cleared his throat and said, with a voice deeper than usual: “Congratulations”.

You left the breakfast table with a sprinkle of hope nestled inside of you. If the queen to be had a son, he might be able to marry the princess of the neighbouring kingdom and then you would be left alone.

The first few weeks of your marriage pass by quickly. Every night the king comes to your chambers, does his business, and leaves. You will never say you find it pleasurable, it even hurts slightly, but at least he leaves you alone after. It’s by no means a nice experience, but it takes 5 minutes and for the rest of your time you get to do what you want. Because you are the queen you have a number of court ladies. Most days you spent with them. They were the daughters of the court ladies of the late queen and thus, not really your friends, but they were agreeable, and you were beginning to grow closer to them. They had a lot of gossip and were entertaining to converse with, although they offered little understanding of your situation, nor real friendship.

Sometimes, however, you liked to shake them for a couple hours. These moments you went on walks alone by escaping the castle while they were still getting ready. You had not had any official engagements and on your wedding day you had been veiled when in the eye of the public. This meant that you could still walk around the city without being recognized as the queen by anyone. You figured you would use this privilege for as long as you could, because soon you would be revealed to the public. You knew this was dangerous, but since your wedding you had been having a hard time caring about your own safety. If you were kidnapped, you wouldn’t have to feel the king’s sweaty skin on yours every night.

That day you opted for a walk next to the river that ran through the city. Your entire walk was calm with little disruption. Until you recognized a man a little ahead of you. He was leaning forward dangerously far, reaching for something in the water, and you knew within a second who he was. Over the past few weeks, you and Seokjin had gotten quite close, because he visited you 4 times a week. You called out to the druid, but he did not seem to hear you. This might have been because he was busy falling into the river. You yelped as he took his tumble and went completely underwater for a second. “Are you okay?”, you ask as you quickly jog towards him. “Oh yes, I prefer spending my mornings drenched. Don’t worry”, he sputtered as got the water out of his eyes while trying to grab on to the grass on the riverbank. It was way too weak to allow him to pull himself up on it, so you took hold of a thick branch laying close. You stuck it out to him and only when he grabbed onto it and got halfway out of the river, did he notice who you were. “Your Majesty, what are you doing here all alone?” He was now panting, standing on the riverbank completely drenched. While he started rambling about how it was unsafe for you to be out here alone, you merely looked at how his thin white shirt clung to his toned body. What could a druid possibly need to do that caused him to get so muscular?

“Your majesty, allow me to walk with you back to the castle. You really shouldn’t be out here alone”. The druid noticed your disappointed reaction. “What’s the matter?”, he asked. “It’s just that I like taking these walks outside the castle. No one recognizes me yet, pretty soon I won’t be able to do this. It’s just so refreshing to be out of that place for a bit, before I’m locked up there forever”. Seokjin quietly considers this for a moment as he wrings out his shirt. “we’ll take the scenic route”, he decides with a wink towards you.

You’re walking through a calm street. There’s almost no one around. “So, what were you reaching for before you fell?” you ask. “Oh, it was just some water plants. Normally I have a sharp sort of stick to reach for it, but that’s when I go out to find the plants on purpose. I just happened to run across them this morning and thought I might be able to get them without it. The powers of nature thought otherwise”.

A week later it is time for you to be presented to the public. You’re to make a tour around the city and end the day with a feast in the main square. It entailed a day full of shaking hands and smiling at the people. You had never been great at being incredibly polite. You’re sitting in a carriage with the king opposite of you. The rest of the royal family were to follow in their own, be it less extravagant, carriages. The end of summer is nearing so the sun is present, but weak. The king doesn’t say a word except for the occasional scoff at the behaviour of the people outside. These people don’t behave in a particular way that deserves being scoffed at; the king just doesn’t seem to have a lot of respect for anyone who’s not of noble blood.

At the feast that night your cheeks hurt from smiling. You’re sitting at the table and watching the people as they dance and eat. God how you miss being able to let go like that. What you wouldn’t give to be able to join in the festivities. Instead, you were to sit at the table and look on from the sidelines for the rest of your life. You were a royal now and that’s what they did.

All of a sudden, a messenger stumbles up to the king, completely out of breath. Nobody outside the royal family and their guards seem to notice the man. “Your majesty, I have a message”, the man pants: “Out with it!”, the king barks. “The Dolorians, they’ve crossed the borders”. He takes a second to catch his breath, and everyone within earshot holds their breath for what he’s about to say. The people on the square dance on, completely unaware that their lives are about to be drastically changed. “They’ve declared war, your majesty”.

taglist: @lifeless-firefly @emerald-notes @daisies-and-dandelionpuffs @jjkwifestyle @viankiss

[saiilorstars]

Ch. 10: Back at Diagon Alley

Fandom: Harry Potter (hogwarts year 1-7) Pairing: Draco x OFC

taglist: @ocappreciationtag​​​​ @arrthurpendragon​​​​ @anotherunreadblog​​​​ @maaaaarveeeeel​​​​ @stareyedplanet​​​ @foxesandmagic​​​

Story Masterlist // Romina’s Masterlist

If you’d like to be a part of this OC’s work/edits, let me know!

Romina finished tying a red cloth head band around her head. She accommodated its bow so that it was to the side of her head and not right on top — Arden made it very clear that made her look like an idiot. Her reflection showed a pink-faced girl ready to go out. An owl's hoot brought Romina from her mirror onto a snowy-white owl kept in a cage over her armoire.

"Sorry Hedwig," Romina sighed, truly apologetic, and walked back to the owl who impatiently pecked at the lock on the cage. "The deal was you could stay with me and I'd let you out only at night. That was what Harry said so Vernon—"

Hedwig recognized the name all too well and squawked.

"Yeah," Romina leaned forwards, "I don't quite like him either. But…" she tiptoed to her door, poking her head out into the empty hallway. She then closed the door and hurried to her window, opening it up. "...maybe one day freedom won't cost anything," she returned to Hedwig and promptly unlocked the cage. "But you have to be back by tomorrow morning."

Hedwig hooted, and Romina translated that as 'of course Rom'...she hoped. It took quite some convincing to get her aunt and uncle approval to take Hedwig in for the summer. Harry's uncle Vernon had made the stupidest rule to keep Hedwig locked in her cage night and day. Romina offered her place as an alternative so that Hedwig could get some decent time out, but she'd made the terrible decision to offer before asking her aunt and uncle for permission. She locked herself in for some good fashioned chores before they finally agreed.

Romina closed the curtains but left her window open for Hedwig in case he decided to come back early. But, just as she was closing them, she heard her neighbor - Arden - frantically calling from Romina's front garden.

"Rom! Romina! Come down! It's Harry's house!"

Squinting her eyes as best as possible, Romina tried seeing the Dursley's household but ultimately failed. The Dursley's were all the way down the street.

"Be there in a sec!" Romina instead called to Arden then hurriedly ran out of the room.

By the time the girl was out, Arden was already midway down the block. Arden, looked in a cross of terror and anger.

"What's happening?" Romina asked.

"Lilah was playing with Fabian and she said Vernon was putting bars around Harry's bedroom window!"

"Lilah tends to lie, Arden, in case you hadn't noticed," Romina playfully rolled her eyes. Arden's younger sister had a wild imagination and tended to come up with the oddest stories she would swear were true.

Arden grabbed Romina by the hand and pulled her into a sprint down the block. "There, see!" Arden pointed a pink-polished finger at the Dursley's house, specifically the window of Harry's new bedroom (which in reality had been Dudley's second room) that bore ugly grim bars like a true prison cell.

Romina's mouth fell open. "Oh they did not!"

"Ooh but they did," Arden said calmly. Both girls were used to the awful treatment Harry received, more Romina than Arden, but this was crossing the line. "Isn't today's Harry's twelfth birthday?" Arden asked after just staring.

"Yup," Romina crossed her arms. Her teeth gritted together. "And I am not letting this just pass. Nope."

Arden watched her whip away and walk back towards their homes. "What are you going to do?"

"Simple, I'm going to get the best troublemakers I know."

Because she was walking behind, Arden missed the great smirk on Romina's face.

~0~

The last thing Harry expected on his birthday was for the Weasley twins and Ron to come bust him out (literally) from his bedroom. It was a bonus watching uncle Vernon toppling out of the window he himself had barred...not to mention the fact the grand escape had been done with a flying car. Oh yes, the Weasleys had outdone themselves this time!

He found the most magnificent home ever with them - the Burrow. While it was kind of a mess inside, he felt absolutely warm and comfortable. They were even nice enough to take him to Diagon Alley with them so that they could all buy their newly required school supplies. If only they had helped him a little more with that Floo powder technique - or maybe he should have listened when Romina explained the ability to him long ago. He recalled something about it being installed in her home, but they rarely used it. She, however, knew exactly how to use it. He, unfortunately, still would need more practice. Maybe that way he could avoid the infamous Knockturn Alley next time. Least that was what he hoped considering what he heard from Hagrid who was the one to find Harry roaming there.

"Dentists are for your teeth's health—see mine?" Romina's voice was the first thing Harry heard when Hagrid and Hermione brought him into Gringotts. She was pointing at her white, straight teeth so that Mr. Weasley could see. She was trying to help him understand the concept of 'dentists' since Hermione's parents were a bit overwhelmed. Lyonel and Sage were giving her disapproving looks that she kept missing.

Mr. Weasley was delighted to learn.

"Oh, Harry. Thank goodness. We hoped you'd only gone one grate too far," Mrs. Weasley came hurrying to Harry just to make sure he was alright.

"Where did you come out?" Ron curiously wondered.

"Knockturn Alley," Hagrid answered for Harry, and rather somberly.

There were various reactions in the group, but it summed up to the kids being excited and jealous while the adults - save for Hermione's parents who knew nothing of Knockturn Alley - were rather horrified.

"Excellent!" Fred and George exclaimed.

Even Romina had turned her attention to them. "Knockturn Alley? Isn't that place cool?"

Both twins turned on her, and fast, with looks of betrayal. "You've been there!?" they both demanded.

"We've never been allowed in," Ron grumbled.

"And neither was she," Lyonel siad, putting a hand on her shoulder. There were traces of anger still in Lyonel's words as he explained more. "She wandered off last month while we were meant to be eating. We found her in Borgin's and Burkes."

Romina just smirked, apparently proud of herself. "It was so cool!"

"It was not!" Lyonel snapped and pushed her forwards to begin heading out.

"It really was," she whispered to the twins beside her who snickered.

After they had taken out their needed money from the bank, they started heading out.

"Guess who I saw in Borgin and Burkes?" Harry began talking with Ron and Hermione in front, but of course it was an open conversation for all those with ears. "Malfoy and his father."

"Did Lucius Malfoy buy anything?" asked Mr. Weasley immediately.

"No, he was selling—" Harry barely said when the adult spoke over him.

"So he's worried. Oh, I'd love to get Lucius Malfoy for something…"

"You be careful, Arthur," Mrs. Weasley warned him as they stepped out of the bank. "That family's trouble. Don't go biting off more than you can chew."

Mr. Weasley was not pleased. "So you don't think I'm a match for Lucius Malfoy?"

While the two went back and forth, the other students went a bit farther ahead. They headed off to the bookstore because according to Hermione, there was someone they just needed to meet. Just outside the bookstore was a large banner over the second floor windows with 'Gilderoy Lockhart will be signing copies of his autobiography Magical Me today 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.' sprawled across it.

"We can actually meet him!" Hermione practically squealed with joy. "I mean, he's written almost the whole booklist!"

Romina was squinting her eyes at the banner, a thoughtful expression taking over her facial features. "Auntie, isn't it that author you like?"

"Yes," Lyonel had answered, instead, with a light sigh.

Because Sage, along with Mrs. Weasley, had rushed inside the bookstore. When the kids began to take a closer look, they realized nearly all - if not all - the current customers inside the store were middle-aged and older women. Squeezing through them was a challenge enough, never mind getting in line with them.

"Uncle Lyonel, I can get my own books," Romina pushed her uncle to where her aunt was in line. "You just look after auntie. We don't want her to get lost." Lyonel grumbled but did indeed stay close to his wife. Romina then pushed her own way through the crowds of women and children. She finally lost her patience against a tall brunette woman who had been babbling to her friends about Lockhart. "MOVE IT!" The twelve year old pushed the woman to the side and stepped on her foot...by accident of course.

She eventually caught up with the rest of her friends and together scoured the store for their new books, which Hermione had been right to say included most of Lockhart's collection. When they returned to their respective guardians, the line had somewhat moved.

"Oh, there you are, good," Mrs. Weasley was in the middle of patting her hair down. "We'll be able to see him in a minute…"

"Auntie Sage, are you even breathing?" They heard Romina seriously asking her aunt.

"Romina Aline Oswell, you best keep your sarcastic mouth closed today," Sage almost snapped.

"No way—your middle name's Aline?" Fred repeated the only thing he and his brother had heard in that entire sentence.

"Can we call you Aline now?" George was oddly excited about the prospect.

"No!" Romina promptly said, warning them with her red painted nail at them.

The famous Gilderoy Lockhart - a tall, wavy blonde with striking blue eyes - came into view. He seemed to bask in the photography flashing at him. "Out of the way, there!" he pushed Ron a bit to the side to catch a picture.

"This is for the Daily Prophet," the photographer snapped.

"Big deal—" Ron gasped when the photographer stepped on his foot.

Gilderoy, however, had seen right past Ron to the famous twelve year old in the store. "It can't be Harry Potter?" His entire audience murmured about the boy. Even the photographer had turned back to see Harry.

Romina 'innocently' pushed Harry forwards. Beside her, the twins smirked. Lockhart took Harry and set him right beside him for a picture. Harry went red in the face when the fans began to applaud. The photo was snapped while Lockhart and Harry 'shook hands'.

"I'm so going to buy the Daily Prophet now," Romina couldn't help laugh. It was clear as day for her, the twins and Ron that Harry wanted to get as far away as possible from Lockhart.

"Ladies and gentlemen," Lockhart had secured Harry's spot with an arm around the boy's shoulders. "What an extraordinary moment this is! The perfect moment for me to make a little announcement I've been sitting on for some time! When young Harry here stepped into Flourish and Blotts today, he only wanted to buy my autobiography — which I shall be happy to present to him now, free of charge—he had no idea that he would shortly be getting much, much more than my book, Magical Me. He and his schoolmates will, in fact, be getting the real magical me. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, I have great pleasure and pride in announcing that this September, I will be taking up the post of Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry!"

The audience burst into applause except for a few students, not including Hermione of course. Harry didn't have time to process as he was being given all of Lockhart's book collection.

"Is that git really teaching Defence against the Dark Arts?" Fred wore a big scowl on his face.

"Don't let Mum hear you," Ron warned but their mother was well enthralled with the commotion of the fans.

"He's an author, and maybe a good one, but to teach such a delicate subject?" Romina herself was having doubts. "Why not give the position to professor Snape? He sure has an aptitude for it."

"Oh come now, Aline," George swung an arm around her shoulders, "Stop dreaming of the impossible."

Romina threw him a glare and promptly punched him in the arm. "I said don't call me that!" Ron, and even Hermione, snickered while Romina stalked up the staircase.

"Oh, dear Aline, forgive me!" George dramatically called and even went after her.

"GEORGE!"

"You can have these," Harry had no problems dumping all his 'new books' into Ginny's new cauldron. "I'll buy my own."

"Bet you loved that, didn't you, Potter?" Draco's voice caused a great weariness to take over Harry's face. He was certainly not looking to argue today. Just for today. Draco had no problem continuing. "Famous Harry Potter. Can't even go into a bookshop without making the front page."

"Leave him alone, he didn't want all that!" Ginny exclaimed, actually talking for the first time near Harry that day.

"Potter, you've got yourself a girlfriend!" Draco sneered, making both Ginny and Harry go red in the face.

Ron and Hermione had rushed over to see what was going on, and were deeply disappointed to find it was only their worst enemy.

"Oh, it's you," Ron looked to the side, muttering his words. "Bet you're surprised to see Harry here, eh?"

"Not as surprised as I am to see you in a shop, Weasley," Draco had been thinking of that one since Ron came into view. He smirked at the sight of the books Ron was carrying. "I suppose your parents will go hungry for a month to pay for all those."

Ron scowled and threw his books into Ginny's cauldron, apparently intending to fight that day but his plans were thwarted when a tall pale blonde appeared behind Draco. It was like seeing the future.

"Ah... Mr. Potter. I don't believe we've met," Lucius Malfoy greeted with what seemed a natural cold tone. Harry was bewildered when the older Malfoy extended a hand as if to shake with Harry's, only to then move some of Harry's hair off his forehead and reveal the famous lightning scar.

Harry stepped back, and hoped to God that never happened again.

"Forgive me, Mr. Potter. But your scar is legendary. As, of course, is the wizard who gave it to you."

Harry didn't think there was enough hatred towards the 'wizard' and frowned. "He was a murderer."

Still, Malfoy didn't look bothered. "Yes, a pity about your parents. Curious that you yourself should escape with a mere flesh wound. Curious, too, that you speak of him in the past. Surely, you don't think He-Who-Must-Not-Be- Named is gone forever."

"His name is Voldemort," Harry fearlessly said, startling those around them.

"You must be very brave, Mr. Potter, to dare speak his name. Or foolish."

Hermione spoke up behind Harry, and rather bravely too. "Fear of a name only increases fear of the thing itself." She then upheld the distasteful glare sent her way by the man.

"You must be Miss Granger. Draco's told me all about you... and your parents…" Malfoy looked past Hermione to her parents, two nervous-looking people curiously staring back. "Muggles, aren't you?"

"I swear to God, George, if you don't leave me alone I'm going to throw you down the stairs!" Romina had it with the one twin trailing after her who was still of course calling her by her middle name.

Lyonel had unfortunately heard the threat and came right over to scold her. "Romina!"

Romina and George froze then looked over the staircase rail below.

"Oswell?" Lucius repeated, and Lyonel, who was the only one facing him, caught a malicious glee in those grey eyes of the man. "Would you happen to be the Oswell my son has spoken about in the last year?"

Romina leaned forwards on the banister with a curious look at Draco. "I would hope so. If not, I'd be really offended that he chose to talk about another Oswell instead of me."

Draco smirked while the rest of the students seemed stunned by her words.

"Aline you are so grounded now," George whispered behind Romina. The girl gritted her teeth together and turned on him again, ready to actually follow through with her earlier threat had it not been for Fred's father coming over.

"Ron!" Mr. Weasley came over with Fred right behind him. "What are you doing? It's too crowded in here, let's go outside! George, get down from there!"

"Romina, you too, and now!" Lyonel had spoken in an unusually cold voice. George followed his father's instructions but Romina, who was confused - for she had done nothing wrong as far as she knew - remained right where she was.

"Well, well, well—Arthur Weasley," Malfoy entertained himself with the man next. "Busy time at the Ministry, I hear. All those raids . . . I hope they're paying you overtime?" Ginny flinched when he took a tattered copy of A Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration from her cauldron. "Obviously not. Dear me, what's the use of being a disgrace to the name of a wizard if they don't even pay you well for it?"

"We have a very different idea of what disgraces the name of a wizard, Malfoy," Mr. Weasley said back, curt.

"Clearly," Mr. Malfoy couldn't agree more. His grey eyes once again swept over Hermione's parents. "The company you keep, Weasley . . . and I thought your family could sink no lower—"

Poor Ginny saw her cauldron flying in the air after her father practically lunged for Malfoy. The tall blonde had landed against a bookshelf but caused some of the books to fall over people's heads.

"Get him, Dad!" one of the twins cheered on.

But most of them had to disperse as the two men went back and forth. More shelves were knocked and thus books fell by the dozens.

Romina had taken to watching the procession from her spot on the staircase. She was neither cheering nor disapproving but was rather interested in the outcome. Somebody would be in trouble for sure.

"Oswell, you surprise me, you're not even going to try and break them up?" Draco had magically found his way to the staircase unharmed by the flying books.

"I'm not the only one. Look, the twins are cheering," Romina pointed to the two gingers with fists in the air.

"Yeah, but those two are set in another sync or something," Draco stopped beside her. "They can't count."

"Alright, what about you?"

A smirk found its way across Draco's lips. "Don't need to. I know who'd win."

Romina playfully rolled her eyes. "Well, you haven't changed much."

"You have," Draco said within the next second, eyeing her with some muse. "Curious, in my letters to you about pureblood history, I don't remember writing anything about that..." He pointed to the headband with an outstanding bow on her head. "No pureblood girl would be caught dead with one of those."

Romina scoffed. "Okay, let's get one thing straight here. Just because I agreed to listen — or rather read — about this supposed important history, does not mean I will be adjusting to your weird customs."

"I can tell," Draco said bluntly, "Seriously, the bow — why?"

"It's new. Hermione gave me one for my birthday over the summer and I found out I like them. Is it really that bad?"

Giving her another look up, Draco replied with, "Nah, just...different."

There was a brief exchange of smiles before their attention was diverted to Hagrid, who'd made an appearance in time to separate Mr. Weasley and Mr. Malfoy from each other. With a looming black eye, Mr. Malfoy tossed Ginny her Transfiguration book. "Here, girl — take your book — it's the best your father can give you."

"Go," Romina whispered to Draco, seeing his father was more than furious. The boy didn't think twice before running down the stairs. Not a minute later did Romina's aunt and uncle beckon her.

The lot of them left the bookstore with different reactions. The Weasleys were arguing over the fight while the Grangers were practically shaking from fear. The Oswells were murmuring to each other, both disapproving of what they saw. The families had to part at the Leaky Cauldron, for the Grangers had come by car.

"I'll make sure to send Hedwig over tonight," Romina said to Harry as they bid goodbye. "I'm so glad the Weasleys are letting you stay with them."

"I'm glad they came for me," Harry said back, and immediately saw Romina smiling just a tad too innocently. "Rom…?"

"Alrightie, off we go…" Fred came by to give Romina a hug.

"Yeah, and don't miss us too much, okay?" George promptly pulled his brother off the girl to hug her himself.

"I've been doing fine for a month now," Romina replied.

George drew back and sadly looked at Romina, his hands still on her arms. "Poor thing. She's struggling."

Romina rolled her eyes and swatted his hands off her. "I'm struggling alright...struggling to not punch you for making sure the entire second floor of the bookstore knew my middle name." With a winning grin, George was off with Fred. "Oh, and Harry," Romina called just as Harry began to leave with Ron, "Make sure to write to me about how fun it was driving in a flying car."

Harry's mouth fell open with shock.

"She is good," Ron said all giddly.

"What did you do!?" Hermione Granger didn't fail to demand when they were left alone.

"Nothing," Romina shrugged casually, looking at her aunt and uncle who were bidding goodbye to Hermione's parents.

"Romina…"

"Well, you didn't see it, Hermione! But Harry's uncle put prison bars - that's right, actual bars - around Harry's bedroom window! I had to do something!"

"So you just...gave those ginger idiots the idea to steal their flying car? Why do they even have a flying car!?"

Romina truly didn't know. "Point is, I got him out. I am good."

"Romina—"

"Gotta go, Hermione!" Romina gave the girl a quick hug. "Write to me if you want!"

"Come along now, Romina," Lyonel ushered his niece to the Floo Network fireside in the place. For some reason, neither he nor his wife seemed very pleased.

They were back home in no time, and Romina was quick to take another look at her school supplies right there in their living room. She knew Sage would sooner or later scold her for the mess of books she was making...although since most of them were from Lockhart's collection, Romina dared to think her aunt would let it slide. She did get a couple of premonitions of murmurs from her aunt and uncle, but brushed it off as she delved more into Lockhart's books. They weren't completely bad like the Weasley twins had made it sound - it didn't mean that they were amazing like Hermione had promised either. They were just interesting. The man had imagination, and plenty of experiences by the looks of it.

When dinner time came around, Romina came hopping down the steps from her bedroom. "I just sent Hedwig over to the Burrow," she informed her aunt and uncle as she took a seat at the table. "Though I had to write that I couldn't send over his cage. I don't think Hedwig will mind, if we're being honest."

She smiled and expected - or rather hoped - to hear one of her aunt and uncle say something along the lines of 'we'll bring it over'. She desperately wanted to be at the Burrow to have some fun. However, neither said such a thing.

"Are...you mad with me…?" Romina recognized the faces of disapproval, and a tad of concern. "Auntie, I'll clean up my books in the living room—"

"It's not the books, sweetheart," Sage said slowly, glancing at her husband silently.

Romina followed the gesture and frowned. "Then what? Was it me threatening to push George down the staircase?"

"No," Lyonel said, much sharper than his wife. "But we will not be making threats like those again, do you understand?"

"Yes, sir," Romina dutifully nodded her head. She hesitated talking for a minute but felt like dinner wouldn't be good until she knew what the actual problem was. "What did I do?" her question had come out more like a demand.

"You're not in trouble, sweetie," Sage began, but Romina judged from her aunt's face that it was somewhere along the trouble-line.

"Then why is uncle Lyonel looking like he's about to ground me?"

Sage shot her husband a look that said to calm down. Lyonel put his hands, which were fists, on either side of his plate over the table. "Romina we have never intruded on your social life but it's different now…"

"What?" Romina frowned.

"...before you only had muggle friends - save for Harry - and it was relatively calm…"

"I'm not understanding…" Romina looked to her grandmother for some help.

"...now at Hogwarts things are much more different. Hell, the wizarding community in its whole is far different than what you were used to so I can understand if during your first year you were confused and naive on who your friends were," Lyonel took a moment and paused. Sage seemed terribly nervous while Romina was getting more and more irritated. Like her mother, Romina had a temper when it came to confusing things. "You have to be careful who you become friends with, Romina," Lyonel eyed her seriously. "The Weasleys, for example, are fantastic people. They have no records of Dark Arts in their bloodlines."

"Of course not, they're good," Romina said softly.

"Exactly," Lyonel nodded. "Now the Grangers - they're muggles - and I think it's wonderful that you don't follow what the Oswells have done in the past."

"Disregard muggles as trash?"

"Exactly. Hermione is a bright student and I think she'll influence you right. Same with Arden King. I know you're also good with the Greengrass girl…"

"Daphne?"

"Yes. Family's relatively good. The Paes family has always been neutral on the case but now that Parkinson girl - you shouldn't spend time with her."

Romina debated about arguing for that one because with each day Pansy Parkinson grew more and more irritating. Still, she considered Pansy a somewhat friend - acquaintance even.

"The girl's parents are one of those blood elitist people we wouldn't want you to get to know. The same applies to the Malfoys. You've seen what the father thinks like. You should stay away from the son. Understand?"

There was a couple of minutes before Romina gave an answer. Many thoughts swirled through her mind, putting together her grandfather's words until she drew sense from them. And she was not happy about it.

"I can't believe you're doing this," she frowned. "I can accept your suggestions because everyone is open to one, but this isn't a suggestion, is it?"

Her grandmother looked down, but her grandfather seemed quite adamant in his stance.

"It is for the best, Romina. There were plenty of families - including the Malfoys - who were known to be on You-Know-Who's side."

"I didn't think you would ever do that, uncle Lyonel," Romina said, her voice completely free of anger. She didn't even have it in her eyes. She was just, honestly, surprised.

"Do what?" Lyonel asked.

Romina licked her lips and stood up from her chair. "When I got my letter to Hogwarts the first thing you told me was that it wasn't going to be easy for me - an Oswell - to enter the wizarding community after what my parents and our family did. But my naive self went in thinking I would own it like nothing. So many kids judged me because of what my parents did - they accused me of something as terrible as trying to hurt my best friend. I spent almost an entire year being accused of more things and...everyone was scared of me. I didn't have friends anymore, just Arden, Hermione, Angel, Daphne, and yeah...even Draco and Pansy."

"Is there a point to this?" Lyonel raised an eyebrow. Sage placed a hand over his, seeming a little more understanding.

"Yes, there most certainly is," Romina answered curtly. "You are asking me to do the very same thing that you warned me last year people would do to me. You want me to judge kids based on what their parents believe or have done."

Lyonel's face washed over with shock.

"If I ever do stop being friends with someone, it'll be because of what they have done, not because of their parents. I think you would understand that," Romina politely excused herself to her room and walked out the room.

A minute later, Lyonel saw his wife cracking a smile. "Why are you happy?" he asked.

"Because now I know that we raised her well," Sage's smile widened as she got up to serve them some drinks.

[fantasywriter19]

1. Melody Riddle and the Sorcerer's Stone Ch.9 The Train to Hogwarts

An alarm clock rang in my ear the next morning, causing me to moan and open my eyes a crack to look around for where it was. My mom was holding the darned thing, with one hand on her hip.

I sat up, grumbling, "Now I know for a fact that I do not have an alarm clock."

"Your grandfather gave it to me for you after I came back last night," she said with a barely-suppressed eye roll. She seemed annoyed, and yet she had never done such a childish action before. Like just being here also changed her whole attitude. She put the alarm clock in my trunk and, closing it, added, “He already put a few candles in there so you can ‘read late at night if you want.'

"He left earlier this morning after getting an emergency owl that a first year broke his wand after having it for his first month. So, he gave me his apologies for not helping in seeing you off." Mom looked at me a moment as I lay there rubbing my eyes to wake up, and her eyes teared up, “I can’t believe you’re already going.”

“Oh, mom, please don’t do that,” I moaned as she engulfed me in a shaky hug. “I’m only gone a little longer than the first time I stayed there. I’ll be back for Christmas… right?”

“I know, I know— oh, just get yourself ready, already!” she let go, covering her face as she sped out.

I sighed, where was that when you were pregnant and gave me to Professor Dumbledore for two months? I got ready quickly, dressing in blue jeans and a black tank top before dragging my trunk out of my room and downstairs. Mom had gotten the cauldron in it somehow. It had to be magic since there was no other way it would fit… all I knew was it was one of many spells I couldn’t wait to learn myself. Bedouin was in his cage in mom’s arms.

"Ready to go?" she asked, now overly perky. Her eyes were slightly puffy, but otherwise I wouldn’t have been able to tell that she had been emotional.

"I'm as ready as I'll ever be." I said, almost resignedly considering how tired I was, and followed her out front. I hadn't left the house in a whole month, so seeing she had a car caused me to need to step back a moment. She’s not going to just Apparate and Disapparate there? Well, no complaints here, this is much simpler to me. Putting the cage and trunk in the backseat, I sat in the front with mom and asked, "Why take a train when there's Apparition?"

"The school thought it would be easier so that there weren't any high probabilities of splinches, and being later than should be allowed."

"Splinches? What's that?" I asked, the word itself sounding like a warning.

”You need to really concentrate on where you want to go when Apparating. So, most people doing it for their first time splinch themselves because they aren't properly concentrating. Splinching is when you Apparate, but you've left part of your body behind at the place you Disapparated from." Mom seemed to look back on a memory with her latter sentence, and shivered in disgust.

I thought about how that could work. It just didn't seem probable to be able to leave a body part behind. “It sounds painful… but how do they get the part back?" I asked.

"Skilled witches and wizards have their ways — they have nurses too, you know. That's why you learn at school first."

"When do students learn how to Disapparate?" I asked.

"When you turn seventeen."

“Sounds like it’s as important as getting a driver’s license,” I said, uncertain about whether or not I even wanted to learn it when just the thought of it made me queasy.

For a while after that, mom drove in silence. The suspense of my curiosity over the previous night bothered the living heck out of me, so considering I didn’t want to spend the whole day on the train wondering about it, I eventually caved.

“Did you find Professor Quirrell last night?”

I wasn’t sure if it was the distraction of the practically open road before her, cars on either side of us after she’d taken a road onto a highway, but she didn’t give me any run-around answers. “I did. We had a nice chat at the Three Broomsticks, I had almost forgotten to pay attention to the time. It’s been so long since I’ve seen him, we just… reminisced.”

“That must have been nice…” I said, struggling to keep some bitterness out of my voice. What would have been nice was more answers than you were willing to give before you ran off to see him. “Did his stutter bother you at all?”

“It was admittedly worrisome, our conversation started out with his incessant stutters. He explained that he took a year sabbatical from teaching — he apparently used to be the Muggle Studies professor, imagine my surprise — and regaled me with the tale of his adventure around the world.”

“You make it sound like it was fun for him… and yet that it’s also the reason he stutters now..” I admitted, confused.

“Oh, I don’t know if he’ll continue stuttering,” she stated confidently. “His stutters slowly went away the longer we talked last night. It was almost like old times. Oh, he explained how traumatized he’d been by the vampires in the Black Forest and some hag in Albania, but I reminded him that we’d done worse.”

“Worse?” I asked. “He’s done worse with you, but got scared of that? I thought you told me he was a coward?”

“Don’t get me wrong, he most certainly was a coward. I like to think I helped him have loads of adventures to prepare him for that trip. It might have just been harder because he was alone that whole time…. Anyway, not to worry, the stutters are over.”

Though something in me doubted it, I couldn’t think about it much more because the train station was now in view. "Do you have my ticket?" I asked instead.

"Oh, yes, right here!" she dug in her pocket and took out the train ticket.

Taking it, I looked at where I would go. I was confused instantly. "Platform nine and three-quarters?! There is a platform nine and three-quarters? I highly doubt this. Who names a platform with a fraction?”

"Yes there is, don't worry about it. That's why I'm here, I'll lead you to it!" mom said with an ecstatic smile.

”I hope you're right,” I muttered, looking it over. It looked valid, but I still figured that there could be no such thing as a platform nine and three-quarters. That would be somewhere between the platforms nine and ten, of course — unless there is a nine, but no ten — and there wouldn’t be anything there! No station is going to put such an odd number in. Imagining a platform seven and a half or a two and a quarter just seemed impractical on the station’s part.

Mom parked the car and we took out my luggage. She carried my trunk while I carried Bedouin's cage. Since he was fast asleep, I wondered if he still would be for much longer once we got into the station with the loud chatter of hundreds of people and the whistles and rumbling of the trains.

Once in the station, we put my things on a cart — or a trolley, as mom named it — and wheeled it through the platforms. When we got to platforms nine and ten, I knew I had reason to be dubious, but mom just smiled.

She faced the wall between nine and ten and beckoned me over. When I came, she stood beside me and put both hands on my shoulder. "Now, we run towards the wall and then we'll appear on the other side. The train is there."

"Are you crazy?!" I asked, looking at it. "If we do have to go through there, wouldn't it be better to walk — you know, in case it doesn’t work, for whatever reason?"

"No, it's better to do it at a run, because if any Muggle is watching then they'd see us walk toward it and disappear. When you do that, they see you run but they don't really see where you disappear to.”

Clearly she knew much more than I did, as she grew up in the wizarding world, but I was still very much concerned about crashing. She already knew what was bothering me. "Don't worry, you have a half an hour until the train leaves. The barrier won't block you out until then."

"Okay," I said slowly, bracing myself.

"Now… go!" mom whispered in my ear, still holding on to my shoulders. We took off at a run. I stared right at the wall, feeling like it was being hurtled at me. But then, we went right through it and there was the scarlet train. A sign above the packed crowd said ‘Hogwarts Express, eleven o’clock.'

I heaved out a sigh — the very breath I'd been holding in when running at the barrier. Looking behind me, there was a wrought iron archway where we had run from that said ‘Platform Nine and Three-Quarters.’

"See?" mom said with a smile.

"Well, no need to brag about being right. Of course you were, you've done this before probably about seven times. And I'm just a silly new first year,” I said, looking at everything and everyone around me. I even peeked in Bedouin’s cage to find him… amazingly still asleep.

“Hey! Hey, Melody!” I heard three people shout… and then for bicker.

Turning around I saw Becky, Addy, and Draco. Draco and Becky stared each other down with some contempt, seemingly arguing, though I couldn’t tell what about.

“Hey… what's going on?" I asked.

“Well,” Addy told me, “Draco overheard us saying we were looking for you. Since he said he’d wait with us for you… er.. now he and Becky are fighting about absolutely nothing.”

"We are not fighting, we are having a conversation about first years and broomsticks,” Becky snapped, then returned her gaze to Draco. "Seriously, it's for the best that first years don't get broomsticks. We learn how to fly our first year and, that way, we don't have to worry about any first years getting hurt in their first Quidditch match."

"Not if they've been flying for years!" Draco retorted.

“Well, you feel that way, you feel that way. You’re always entitled to your opinion,” Addy said amicably.

“Thank you!” Draco responded.

"Someone has got to teach me about Quidditch,” I couldn’t stop myself from saying, shaking my head. For the life of me, I wanted to understand what the sport was about. I was hoping to find it better than Muggle sports — such boring games.

Draco, Addy, and Becky looked at me with shock. They couldn't believe that I had just said that. I took it that even though the girls knew I hadn’t known about the wizarding world for very long, they must’ve assumed my mom would tell me about Quidditch.

"What?!" I asked, attempting not to feel unnerved by Draco’s wide eyes. After a month holed up with all the coursebooks, it just seemed to me that if I was going to be friends with this boy, he had to find out sooner or later that I was still figuring this world out. And what better than to give some part of the truth?

"I thought you told me you were against Muggles!" Draco said accusingly. "If you aren’t one, then how do you not know about Quidditch?”

I could see mom give a look at me out of the corner of my eye, but she thankfully didn’t say anything.

"I am… it's just I didn't know about it until May." I said, glaring at mom for emphasis.

With a turn, mom let out a cough where I could hear hidden within it, “Don’tcare! — Oh, excuse me.”

“Oh…… I should tell you all about it then! Here, let me show you which compartment I'm in,” Draco said, instantly setting off in search for his spot on the train. It’s worrisome how different he seemed to act toward me in assuming I had to be Muggleborn.

Even Addy and Becky looked at me with short glances at each other, not moving.

I sighed, grateful Draco was out of earshot, “My mom told me to make friends, and he was the first one I came across in Diagon Alley so I went with it. I don’t have anything against Muggleborns.”

Mom’s grumbles of, “Blame me, does she..” as she walked away were accompanied by the girls’ understanding giggles.

“I’ve got to tell you, that’s a relief…. Well, he’s welcomed us into his compartment, but he doesn't like Becky very much,” Addy said, causing Becky to harrumph.

“Well obviously it’s because you talk back to him, Becky,” I observed, to her piqued interest. “I should suppose that he doesn't like that. Addy and I let him think what he desires while you attack and question him. That’s all.”

Becky smiled maliciously. "Ooh, I shall have some fun with him then." She rubbed her hands together, looking evil in that second until Draco came back to us wondering why we hadn’t followed. She then quickly threw her hands behind her back.

⚯͛   ⚯͛   ⚯͛   ⚯͛   ⚯͛   ⚯͛   ⚯͛   ⚯͛   ⚯͛   ⚯͛   ⚯͛   ⚯͛   ⚯͛   ⚯͛   ⚯͛   ⚯͛   ⚯͛   ⚯͛   ⚯͛   ⚯͛   ⚯͛

“I will miss you, mom,” I reassured her, about five minutes before the train was supposed to be setting off.

“I’ll miss you, too, sweetheart," she said, tears in her eyes. "I can't believe how soon this happened."

"I'll be back home before you know it,” I said, hoping her tears wouldn't start falling again.

"Don't mind me, I'm just being sentimental!" she said, hugging me tightly.

"Well, don't keep hold of me for too long or I'll miss the train and have to stay with you until next year,” I said jokingly, causing mom to let go of me with a little laugh.

"All right, all right, I love you Honey. See you at Christmas!" she said.

I jumped onto the train, turning to her with a wide wave, "See you then!”

I made my way to my compartment where two… large first years were putting trunks and pet cages, including my own, in the above trunk holders. “Uh.. thank you,” I said to them.

"Oh, no need. I had them put it up there." Draco said, sitting by the window, and the two sat down next to him. Addy and Becky were sitting across from them, looking at the bigger boys with a sense of insecurity.

Like bulky bodyguards, I thought to myself as I took my seat — across from Draco and next to the window — next to Addy. "Ok then, I guess I'll thank you, too." Be agreeable, that's what this boy prefers in friends. I can do that.

Draco smiled and then set off instantly on the rules of Quidditch just as the train started moving. The concept was ‘simple.’ There were seven players. One seeker, one keeper, two beaters, and three chasers on each team; and they all had very important parts in the game. Just as he started to tell me about what each player did, his 'bodyguards' stood up.

"What is it?" Draco asked them sharply.

"You said you wanted to go look around the train,” one of them with short, bristly hair said, shrugging his shoulders dully. “Soon as the train left the station, you said.”

“Oh, right," he said, only mildly disappointed as he stood up. To me he said, "I'll tell you more later." He walked right out with his two bodyguards following close behind.

"How on Earth did he get them to follow him around?" I asked aloud.

"I don't know… but they aren't very smart, are they?” Becky noted, looking at the door warily, as if they might come back in. “They could easily snap that cretin in half if they wanted to. Instead they listen to everything he tells them.”

I hummed in thought. "Do they even have names?"

"Oh yes, Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle,” Addy said. "But Malfoy just calls them Crabbe and Goyle.”

"Just like how you're only calling him Malfoy." I replied. What is the point in calling people by their last names? Even mom called Professor Snape ‘Snape,’ and they used to know each other.

“Right,” she said matter-of-factly.

At that, we started hearing a great clattering outside in the corridor. Moments after, a small, dimpled witch showed up at the door asking, "Anything off the trolley, dears?"

All three of us stood up and looked over what she had. I saw a lot of different kinds of candy, all of which had been in that candy store the twins took me to. Maybe this woman works there, too, I thought.

When the twins snuck me into Honeydukes, I had decided on a Pumpkin Pasty which, though I hadn’t had high expectations, it had actually been a decent treat. To try something new this time I picked up a Chocolate Frog, paid the woman for it, and went back to my seat by the window.

Becky came back with a couple Pumpkin Pasties and Cauldron Cakes, whereas Addy grabbed Drooble's Best Blowing Gum and a couple Licorice Wands.

"Are these really different from Muggle candies?" Becky asked as I carefully opened my Chocolate Frog.

“Mostly yeah. They’re nothing magical, but they're still candy. Still sweet as life.”

“Becky just can’t seem to believe that I took a dare from my brothers where I had to spend one day in the Muggle world,” Addy said, popping a gum in her mouth with satisfaction. "I got a couple candies from a candy shop, and they are sweet. But I noticed that, with the gum, they don't make very large bubbles before popping and they run out of flavor really fast.”

“That’s one good example,” I said, finally pulling the Chocolate Frog out of the package. It squirmed in my hand like a real frog. “This is another example. If they made a chocolate frog in the Muggle world, it wouldn’t be able to move like a real frog. It’ll stay inanimate.” I took a bite out of the frog, happy that it stopped wriggling after I did so. I looked back at the box to see if they put ingredients on the label like in the Muggle world, but got distracted as something inside the box caught my eye. I pulled out a card.

"Ooh, which card did you get?" Becky asked me excitedly.

”Salazar Slytherin…" I said, reading the name. Slytherin as in the House? But not only was there a name, there was a picture of him too. He wore all black, a piercing stare, two rings (one on his index and the other on his pinkie), a pendant around his neck, was bald, bushy eyebrows, and was stroking his gray beard. He looked sort of… monkey-like.

“Wow… he is not very good looking, is he?" Becky said, "Read the back."

I turned the card over and read aloud:

Salazar Slytherin

Medieval

(precise dates unknown)

One of the four celebrated

Founders of Hogwarts School of

Witchcraft and Wizardry,

Salazar Slytherin was one of the first recorded

Parselmouths, an accomplished

Legilimens, and a notorious

champion of

Pureblood supremacy.

I read that to myself again and again, not believing my eyes. He was an accomplished Legilimens… I remembered Professor Snape saying that as a spell to get into my head. I wondered, out of all the cards there must possibly be… how ironic is it that I got this one? How ironic when my own dad was also in this House?

“That’s so cool," Addy said enviously. "I have so many copies of Morgan Le Fay, it’s not even funny. It’s like hers is the only one I can pull…. You got one of the Founders of Hogwarts.”

"Yeah, the ugly but accomplished one,” Becky remarked.

I chuckled, "Right."

"Hey, speaking of House. Which one do you think you're going to be in?" Addy asked me…. The deadpanned look on her face when Becky answered her first made me laugh.

"I'm not quite sure," Becky said thoughtfully. "Both of my parents were in Ravenclaw, so I’ll probably just end up there. Even my brother is in Ravenclaw. If I don't make it into that House, he'll send a letter to my parents to begin the shaming. What about you?"

Addy stared at Becky with her expression unchanged, and Becky stared back as though oblivious to her annoyance. Instead of arguing it, Addy shrugged as she answered, “My dad was in Gryffindor and my mum was in Ravenclaw. It doesn't matter to me where I go, really. What about you, Melody?"

"My mom was in Ravenclaw… and she says my dad was in Slytherin. I don't know, I might end up in Ravenclaw. I enjoy reading — I read all the books we have for the year just this past month,” I said, causing both girls to look at me wide-eyed. “What? Is that too excessive?”

"I did, too! I have the course books learned by heart!" a voice exclaimed from the hallway.

We turned to see a girl with bushy brown hair, some rather large front teeth, and she was already wearing her school robes. I hadn't even heard the compartment door open.

"Oh right," she said as if realizing something very important. "Have any of you seen a toad? A boy named Neville's lost one."

"We haven't seen any toads in here," I said. "But did you say you memorized the book? I didn’t even do that. When I read, I find a way to explain myself so I have it in my own words.” It was at that very moment I felt disgusted with myself for showing the girl up as an even better know-it-all. I bit my tongue to keep from saying more. Ravenclaw, indeed.

“Oh, well," she said, without a care to give. "Have you tried any spells yet?"

“I couldn’t do one at home, obviously, but I could try one now. Is it okay for us to do it on the train?" I asked.

"Oh yes, I've done a few and they've all worked for me!" she proclaimed. "Well, let's see what you can do."

"Are you making another new friend?" Addy asked me. "Boy, you're popular!”

The sense of humor on this girl, I thought sarcastically, giving her a fake laugh. I took my wand out of my pocket, stood on my seat and reached into my trunk to pull out the alarm clock. When I sat back down, I placed it on the floor in front of me. "The severing charm… Diffindo!" waving my wand — the way I’d endlessly practiced — at the alarm clock, it splintered into many pieces. I felt my heart leap. "Now the mending charm… Reparo!" The clock was then swiftly brought back together, good as new.

The girl clapped her hands approvingly, "That's incredible!" Then she held her hand out to me, "I'm Hermione Granger."

I took her hand and shook it, "Melody Riddle, nice to meet you."

She walked back to the door, "I better keep looking for Neville's toad, but I'll see you later. Oh, and you best put your school robes on. I think we're very nearly there." She was gone as quickly as she’d appeared.

”She's fairly bossy, isn't she?" Becky asked.

"Sure seemed that way,” Addy replied, blowing a large bubble with her gum that popped across her face. We chuckled as she groaned and began pulling the substance away from her cheeks.

“Great,” I said grimly, placing the alarm clock back into my trunk. “If we get into Ravenclaw, she will probably be there, too.”

“That’s the downside of most Ravenclaws. Being stuck up about knowing everything,” Becky sighed. “Why’d you bring an alarm clock anyways?"

"My grandpa gave it to me,” I said. "Don't know what made him do that. He even gave me candles in case I wanted to read late at night.… Of course, maybe he’s expecting me to be a Ravenclaw just as much as he and mom were.”

“Well,” Addy rolled her eyes, managing to pull more strings of gum from her face, “let's get into our robes before that girl comes back and asks why we didn't follow her instructions.”

I laughed, standing to get to my trunk and taking out my robes. I put them on, actually finding them quite comfortable over my regular clothes. I sat back down again and looked out the window, thinking we probably still had many hours to go.

Sometime later, Draco came back with Vincent and Greg. One of the boys' hands was red from dried blood and I jumped to my feet when I saw it.

"What happened?" I asked.

"We went to Potter's compartment and some disgusting rodent bit Goyle,” Draco panted.

Ah, so it is Greg's hand. Good to know who's who now. I took my wand out and walked over to Greg. His hand wasn't bleeding as freely as it must have when the incident happened, but I could see the dried spots.

I raised my eyebrow at him as a question to help him and he hesitantly gave me his bleeding hand. Pointing my wand at it, I softly said, "Tergeo." I watched in fascination as the blood washed away, and then went to my trunk to take out a small bandage. It was simple then to stick it over the small wound on his knuckle.

"How do you know that spell?" Draco asked, starry-eyed.

”My mom decided over the past month that I needed to know a little healing should something come up and there's no teacher around." I said. "So she taught me the spell for cleaning pretty much anything— which, of course, includes blood."

"Melody, you really ought to be in Ravenclaw like your mum!" Addy said admiringly, "You already know so much."

"Your mother was in Ravenclaw?" Draco asked. "I didn't know that."

"Yeah, because in Diagon Alley, I didn't know either. Well, you were rambling on about your certainty on getting into Slytherin anyways,” I said, with a nod from Draco. "Except it seemed your parents knew her very well. Perhaps because my dad was in Slytherin."

He looked up in surprise. "My parents knew her? How are you so sure about that?"

"Back in Madam Malkin's," I said, realizing once again that he hadn't paid much attention to what had happened between the adults. "Your parents and my mom had a short conversation, and they looked slightly surprised to see her. They knew each other.”

"You're very observant,” Becky commented.

Just then, a voice echoed all throughout the train, ”We will be reaching Hogwarts in five minutes' time. Please leave your luggage on the train. It will be taken to the school separately."

"Wait, so I even leave my cat here?" I asked, looking up at a wide-eyed Bedouin looking around the compartment from his cage.

"Yeah," Becky said. "They'll be in our rooms when we get to them. No worries. Addy and I are leaving our cats here, too, so none of them will be lonely. Your cat will be fine."

"You guys also got cats?" I asked, looking up at where Bedouin's cage was. Next to him was a cage with another black cat, and the other cage housed a tabby cat.

"All right, then,” I relented, as the train slowed to a stop.

We all pushed our way out onto the tiny, dark platform. The night air was cold, but I didn't pay much heed to it because Addy and Becky sidled up next to me in a warm huddle.

We stayed in this form even as a lamp came bobbing over everyone's heads, and a voice shouted, "Firs' years! Firs' years over here! All right there, Harry?"

I saw the same large man I had seen in Diagon Alley, and there was that same boy up in the front that had been walking with him that day.

"Potter,” Draco whispered to us in disgust.

“Right, your visit to his compartment didn’t go over well,” I noted.

“He’s made both the wrong friend and wrong enemy,” he replied softly.

I could only stare at him, “Overdramatic much?”

"C'mon, follow me —” the man said, “any more firs' years? Mind yer step now! Firs' years follow me!"

"Hagrid is such an overgrown oaf,” Draco said with a chuckle.

Taking context clues from how Draco addressed most people, I guessed that Hagrid was the man’s surname. ”What is Mr. Hagrid in charge of besides taking the first years to the castle?" I asked.

Everyone had looked at me strangely, but Draco answered me gladly. ”I heard he's the gamekeeper. Some savage servant living in a hut on the school grounds, every now and then getting drunk and trying to use magic, mostly just setting fire to his bed.”

“How do you know all that?” I asked curiously.

“My father’s on the Board of Governors here at Hogwarts,” he said. “He knows everything that happens here. And that gameskeeper is a constant problem.”

I turned my face as my mouth automatically set into a thin line. Of course his father is…

We all stopped talking as we followed Mr. Hagrid down the steep, narrow path.. or what seemed to be since there was only darkness on either side of us.

"Yeh'll get yer firs' sight o' Hogwarts in a sec," Mr. Hagrid called over his shoulder at us, "Jus' round this bend here."

There were sudden exclamations of “Oooooh!” as we all turned the corner.

I had already seen the castle before, but it looked so much prettier with the night sky surrounding it and having the lights in the castle on to twinkle in the moonlight.

"No more'n four to a boat!" Mr. Hagrid shouted out, pointing to a cluster of little boats just sitting still in the water by the shore. The boys all went into one boat so Becky, Addy, and I jumped in another followed by some girl with a hard face and short black hair.

Mr. Hagrid was on a boat by himself when he called out, "Everyone in? Right then — forward!"

As the boats moved forward, everyone just stared at the castle before them. I, on the other hand, was looking into the water at the reflection of the moon. The water looked like a hard surface when I placed my attention on the wide spaces that didn't have any boats.

"Heads down!" I heard Mr. Hagrid yell.

Looking up, the first few boats had reached the cliff and the students in them bowed their heads down. After it was time for us to duck, we were all carried along a dark tunnel, seemingly taking us down underneath the castle until reaching an underground harbor where we all got out of the boats onto a ground of rocks and pebbles.

Mr. Hagrid checked each of the boats, and then called out to a round-faced boy, "Oy, you there! Is this yer toad?"

"Trevor!" the boy cried happily. That must be Neville, I thought.

Then Mr. Hagrid led the way up a passageway until we came out onto smooth, damp grass that lay within the shadows of the tall castle. Addy sighed contentedly… she clearly hadn't liked clambering up the passageway. Meanwhile, Becky was smiling excitedly.

We then walked up a flight of stone steps, crowding around the huge, oak front door of the school.

"Everyone here?" Mr. Hagrid asked, then looking back at Neville. "You there, still got yer toad?" Then he knocked on the door three times.

< Previous Chapter     -Table of Contents-     Next Chapter >

[sergeantsporks]

Your Loyal Dog

Rating: Teen, Gen

What do you do when your grand purpose has been fulfilled? How do you keep going? Who do you turn to? Hunter had better figure it out quick.

Ao3

Ch 4/5: Captured, or Rescued

Ch 1, Ch 2, Ch 3

Hunter didn’t give up on them. King could have hugged him. He still hadn’t shaken off that lingering dread of what would happen when Luz and Eda did escape—because there wasn’t a doubt in his mind that they would, even if they seemed to have settled down with the escape attempts for now.

Do they even know what he’s done for them?

If Belos wanted to control them like that, he would have told them, right?

Did they just decide it was worth it?

Hunter would limp off, only to return a couple of hours later frustrated to near tears because he wasn’t able to keep up with his foot broken.

“I don’t want to get left behind,” he confided to King one night, “I want to keep being the coven head, whatever that means now. But I…” he shook his head. “Belos is gathering up the healers. Mostly they’re too weak to do much, but… it doesn’t hurt to have them on hand, I guess.” His ears twitched, and he looked up, alarmed. “What’s that s—”

The door burst open, and vines tangled Hunter up, covering his mouth and securing him tightly. Luz and Eda were behind the door, and they rushed in.

“King!”

King jumped out of the cage and into their arms. “Eda! Luz!”

They squeezed him tight, then Luz set him down. “We have to get out of here fast—we weren’t able to get those cuffs off of Eda, but we might have some potions or some weapons at the owl house that could help. Come on.”

They started towards the window, but King didn’t move. “We have to take Hunter with us.”

“Absolutely not,” Eda said immediately, “he betrayed us once, he’ll do it again.”

King looked to Luz, and she hesitated, but shook her head. “Eda’s right, King,” she said gently, “We can’t trust him. And besides, this is… where he wants to be. He got what he wanted. Now it’s time for us to go.”

King shook his head. “No! We can’t leave him, they’ll hurt him!” He gave Luz big, pleading eyes. “It’ll take too long to explain, but he’s on our side more than you think. I know you don’t trust him, and that’s fair, but can you trust me?”

“Mmmmm—” Luz danced on her feet, looking between the window and Hunter. “Rrrrrrgh, fine! Because I trust you, King.” She jabbed a finger at Hunter. “If you yell for help, I’ll knock you out.”

She cut through the vines, and Hunter dropped to the floor with a wince. “They’ll catch you,” he said automatically, “You won’t make it—just like all those other times.”

“Oh, please, those other times weren’t our full effort. We’re getting out of here. Are you coming, or not?”

Hunter hesitated, biting his lip. King grabbed his hand. “You know what’ll happen if you stay. Belos won’t protect you.”

Fear flashed across Hunter’s face, and he nodded.

“Okay. Okay, I’m coming.”

Xxx

Luz grabbed King’s hand, and Eda grabbed the back of Hunter’s cloak, and Luz shot them out the window on a block of ice. They flew through the air and over the walls, and Luz used bursts of fire to keep them from falling too fast.

This might actually work, Hunter thought, half-delirious as they touched down. But alarms were already sounding, and they were on foot now. Hunter limped after the other three, Flapjack fluttering behind him. The bird shifted into a staff, and Hunter made an attempt to warp further up.

The magic fizzled weakly.

Too weak, Hunter thought, using the staff for support and hobbling along as they paused to wait for him, Just my luck.

They were getting closer to the Owl House—but the scouts had mobilized, and Hunter could hear them behind him in the trees. His breath was coming in short pants now, each gasp grating against his broken ribs, each step sending shoots of pain up from his injured foot. He tripped, and it took too long for him to get up, too much effort for him to struggle back up to his feet.

We’re not going to make it.

The thought hit him with sudden clarity.

I’m not going to make it.

As they waited for him again, he shook his head. “You have to go without me,” he panted, “I can’t keep up.”

King latched onto his uninjured leg. “No! You’re coming with us! If they catch you…”

Tears pricked Hunter’s eyes, but he gently extracted his leg from King’s grip. “I won’t get caught,” he promised, “I’ll hide.” He met Luz’s eyes. “And I won’t tell them which way you went if they do catch me. Not that they probably can’t figure it out,” he added.

Luz nodded. She drew a couple of glyphs on a piece of paper, handing them to him. “Invisibility glyphs. They only work as long as you hold your breath. Just in case you get in a pinch. We’ll come looking for you in the morning if you haven’t made it to the owl house.”

Hunter nodded. “Get out of here.” He managed a smile to King. “I’ll be careful.”

King nodded, and let himself get pulled away by Luz.

Hunter took a deep breath, and limped in the opposite direction, hiding behind a tree as scouts pounded past.

It’s going to be a long night.

Xxx

Luz heaved a sigh of relief as the owl house came in sight. Hooty gasped, tears flooding out of his eyes.

“I thought you were gone fore-eh-verrrrrrr,” he sobbed.

“Scouts,” Luz gasped, “Got it?”

Hooty waved up and down. “On it! You’ll be safe with me—well—unless someone poisons my soup again.” He zoomed off, and the three of them stumbled into the Owl House.

Eda tugged at the cuffs. “Alrighty, I think I have a metal-melting potion around here somewhere—time to get these things off.”

King ran and got the potion, pouring it on the cuffs. The metal did melt, dripping right off of Eda. She shook herself. “Oh, that’s much better.”

King started pacing. “We have to go back out and find him,” he insisted.

Luz rubbed her eyes. “We just got back—and the woods are crawling with scouts right now. Besides, he sold us out. I’ all for forgiving, but that doesn’t mean I’ll just trust him again. Why do you care so much?”

“He didn’t want to! He thought he had to—Belos was going to kill all of us, Hunter was trying to protect us!”

Luz leaned back against the couch. “He’s got a funny way of showing it, locking us up in the dungeon.”

King hesitated, then sat down next to her. “Did they ever hurt you?”

“No,” Eda answered, “It was weird—no matter how badly we behaved, they just tossed us back in our cells and left us alone.”

King opened his mouth, as if to say something, but then Hooty stuck his head back in. “Hey! The perimeter’s secure! Those guys are still crawling around outside of my reach, but they won’t get near the house, hoot!”

“Great. Thank you, Hooty.” Luz put one hand on King’s head. “We’ll go out to find Hunter, I promise. But right now, I’m wiped, and Eda just barely got out of those cuffs. He stayed behind so we could get to safety—it would be pointless to run out after him now.”

King bounced with nervous energy. “He’s not okay,” he burst out.

“Hey. He’s Hunter—he’ll make it. He always does.”

Luz managed to get a few hours of sleep until King was shaking her awake. “It’s morning, we have to go look for him!”

“I’m going, I’m going,” Luz yawned, “You stay here, okay?”

“Okay.”

Luz swung her cape over her shoulder, stomping out the door.

If I were Hunter, where would I go?

“Hunter?! Huuuuuuunteeeeeeer!”

Luz checked under bushes and in the trees, straying further and further from the owl house.

He really didn’t make it very far.

Unless they caught him—

No, I can’t think that. For King’s sake.

“HUUUUUUNTEEEEEEEEEEEER!”

His palisman fluttered towards her, then back another way. She raced after it, following it to its witch. Hunter was hidden in a half-rotted tree, wedged in tight, surrounded with discarded invisibility glyphs drawn on leaves. Luz helped pull him out, and his legs almost immediately buckled. Luz slung one of his arms over her shoulders, and he hopped along on one foot, keeping his injured one off of the ground. He was cold to the touch.

“What happened to your foot?”

“Broke it,” he slurred. Luz could feel his ribs pressing against her—had he eaten when he was back at the coven?

I guess that’s what King meant by he’s not okay.

He was half asleep by the time they got back to the owl house, and she was mostly dragging him along. She dropped him on the couch, and he flopped over. She shook him. “Hey. Lemme see that foot.”

“I wrapped it up,” he mumbled, “’m okay.”

“Yeah, right, come on. Let’s see it.”

Hunter swung his leg up on the couch with a wince, and Luz undid the bandages. “Ow. That looks like it hurts.”

“It does,” he grated out.

King tugged on Hunter’s hand, and offered him one of his stuffed animals. “Here. When Eda would patch up my scrapes and bruises, it helped to have one.”

To Luz’s surprise, Hunter took it, squeezing the stuffed animal to his chest as she re-splinted his foot.

“What happened?”

“You tried to escape.”

Luz paused halfway through rewrapping the bandages. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

He blinked, seeming to struggle to find words. “Wh—what do you—what are you—”

“His back is hurt, too,” King piped up.

“’s fine—I don’t—” Hunter shrank into himself.

“Let me see,” Luz ordered.

Hunter squeezed his eyes shut, then slowly pulled off his shirt, wincing. Luz gasped. His chest and back were more black and blue than they were pinkish white. Deep cuts were etched into his back, and shallower ones covered the rest of him, interspersed with burns.

“Hunter, oh my gosh—what happened?!”

“You!” he burst out, “You, you didn’t care, you kept trying to escape, even though I was the one who got punished for it, and I—I—”

King nudged Luz. “You didn’t get punished in the prison because Hunter took the hits instead,” he said quietly, “That was something he promised to keep us safe.”

Luz’s mouth opened and closed. “Hunter?” she asked softly.

He stared at her in disbelief. “Y-you didn’t—you didn’t know?!”

“No!”

“B-but that was the p-point—it was supp—it was supposed to make you l-less likely to—to—it was supposed to be to keep you from—it was supposed to help control—” he squeezed his eyes shut. “Why wouldn’t he tell you?!”

Xxx

Hunter felt a warm, gentle hand settle on the clawmarks on his back, gingerly probing the cuts. He flinched away at the touch, but Luz didn’t go away. She gently dabbed at the cuts with a wet towel, scrubbing away the blood that he hadn’t been able to reach. He hissed, his back arching. He squeezed the stuffed animal King had handed him. It really did help.

“Maybe—maybe we weren’t the ones Belos wanted to control,” Luz murmured. She bandaged up the cuts. “I think some of your ribs might be broken, or bruised at the very least.�� He heard a sigh “I don’t get it—why would you do that for us, if you betrayed us?”

“Belos brought his whole army,” Hunter muttered, “They would have wiped you out. I couldn’t let that happen. So, yeah, I sold you out. I don’t know why I did this, I don’t know why I cared, it just—compassion just gets you hurt.”

“It saved us,” Luz said softly. She disappeared up the stairs and brought back a new shirt for him. “Any other injuries I should know about?”

His shoulders hunched, despite how it made his back twinge. “That’s it.”

“I’m sorry. That what Eda and I were doing hurt you.”

“You didn’t know,” he muttered. It felt weird to say—they hadn’t known. They hadn’t been taking advantage of the fact that he was taking their punishments.

Why wouldn’t they be told?

Maybe they were lying about not knowing—but Luz’s face when she’d seen his injuries had been nothing but surprise and pity. Hunter felt dizzy.

“Hey—whoa—” Luz caught his shoulders as he fell forward. “You’re probably exhausted—let’s get you to bed.”

He let her pull him up the stairs and settle him into a nest of blankets.

Why did I do this?

Why did I run?

I was just scared—I’m sorry, Uncle.

I’m sorry—I’m sorry, Uncle.

I shouldn’t have run.

I’m sorry.

When he woke up again, he was ringed in by stuffed animals. “Hrngh?”

King’s face appeared over the wall. “Are you okay? You’ve been asleep for hours. You slept through dinner. Luz said not to wake you up.”

Hunter tried to move, but his muscles were stiff from being crammed in that tree all night, and he gave up. Everything was sore, and the scratches on his back felt raw since Luz had cleaned them, and he felt like just going back to sleep. He flopped back into the blankets. King parted the wall of stuffed animals, pushing Hunter up into a sitting position.

“Ow—”

“We’re out of pain patches,” King apologized, “We used them up on your first visit.”

Visit. That’s a nice way of putting it.

King ran off again and came back with a microwave dinner. “Was not eating one of the punishments?”

Hunter scarfed the meal down, then winced as his ribs ached. “Yeah,” he mumbled, “Luz started a food fight.”

“That sounds like Luz.”

Hunter curled his knees to his chest. “Thanks,” he mumbled, “For the food, I mean.”

King puffed his chest out. “I made them take you with us. Now you are my responsibility,” he announced, “My soldiers are here to protect you.”

Strange, that he can sound so proud about being responsible for me.

Like it’s not a death sentence.

Xxx

Eda was on her way to bed when she heard a muffled sob. She paused at Hunter’s door, then slowly, carefully, opened it. “Everything okay?”

In the darkness, she saw him swipe at his eyes. “Yeah,” he muttered.

She hesitated, then remembered what King said he’d done for them. “I know from Grudgeby matches that it’s usually right at night when everything really starts to hurt. When you’re not doing something else, and your mind can finally focus on how much damage your body took.”

“I’m fine. I’m okay.”

Eda settled down next to him, digging a light glyph out of her pocket and activating it. Hunter blinked in the sudden light. He was shivering—Eda made a mental note to get him another blanket. He looked bad, worse than he had when they’d grabbed him at the keep. His eyes were sunken i]“Luz told me about your injuries.”

“’s not like there’s anything you could do about it, even if it did hurt,” he mumbled, “King told me that you’re out of pain patches.”

Eda ‘hm’ed in disagreement. She went downstairs and heated up water, pouring it into a bottle and taking it back upstairs. “See if that helps any.”

He coughed, a sound that seemed to rattle in his chest, and winced. But he took the waterbottle, clutching it to his chest.

Eda fiddled with his hands. “Luz and King… they told me what you did for us.”

“It’s whatever,” he mumbled, looking down at the ground.

“No. It’s not. That takes guts, kid.”

“I didn’t do it for your approval,” he snapped, “I just…”

“All the same.” Eda took a deep breath. “Do you mind if I have a look? Luz probably did a pretty good job, but…”

But I need to know for myself.

Hunter shivered, but pulled up his shirt. Eda hissed in. Somehow, it was worse than what Luz had described. And… “She shouldn’t have wrapped your ribs up like that—it’ll make them worse.”

Hunter squirmed as she unwound the bandages. “It’s not—it’s—”

Eda’s hands dropped as she caught sight of the angry red clawmarks, half-scabbed over. “Oh,” she said quietly.

Hunter’s hands fidgeted. “She just picked bandaging up the cuts over the ribs, I guess,” he mumbled.

Eda shook her head and found some medical tape. “We can do better than that.” She pressed gauze pads to the wounds and taped them up, going up and down rather than around. “Better?”

He coughed again, wiggling back into his shirt. “Y-yeah.” After a moment, “Thank you.”

“It’s the least we can do after…” Eda sighed. “I wish you’d told us that Belos was coming. You didn’t have to get hurt like this.”

“I’m not a traitor,” he snarled miserably.

Sure. Keep telling yourself that.

Maybe it made him feel better, despite all of this. It couldn’t be easy for him—before, he’d been captured. Now? He’d run away. He was a traitor—but that didn’t mean he wanted to be.

Eda shook her head. “If you need anything, just get me,” she said with a gentleness that surprised her, “We can look for a potion or something—pain patches probably aren’t the only way of dulling the aches.”

He nodded, and Eda left. That cough worried her, but…

He’ll be okay.

He’s with us now.

And we’ll take care of him.

Xxx

“Hunter!” King tottered into his room. “Hey, wake up, sleepyhead, it’s breakfast time.

Hunter coughed in response. King parted the stuffed animals around him. Hunter was curled up in a miserable ball on his side, buried in his blankets. He didn’t respond when King called his name again. King reached out to shake him, then hissed at the touch. He scurried back down the stairs, launching himself at Eda. “Eda—Eda, something’s wrong with Hunter, he’s all hot, and he’s coughing, and he won’t wake up—I think he’s sick!”

Eda and Luz dropped what they were doing, and sprinted up the stairs. Eda knelt down next to Hunter, gently shaking him. “Hunter?”

His eyes drifted open, up to Eda, then shut again. He coughed, then whined in pain. Eda shook him again. “Hunter, wake up. Luz, get some water.”

Luz dashed downstairs, then back up, holding a glass. Eda scooped Hunter up, holding him in a sitting position. She tilted the cup to his lips, and he swallowed a couple of huge gulps before breaking off into another coughing fit. King winced. Those coughs—they were harsh, and seemed to tear from his chest. And he was burning hot to the touch.

“What’s wrong?” Eda asked Hunter, “No heroics, no lying, Hunter, I need to know everything, or you’ll get worse.”

He shivered. “’m cold,” he croaked, “and d-dizzy.” He coughed again, then gasped for breath. “And my… Chest… feelsssss…” Hunter went limp against Eda, his eyes closing again.

Eda nestled him back into his blankets. King tugged on her sleeve. “He’ll be okay, right? He’s going to get better, right?”

Eda rubbed her eyes. “Based on the coughing, and…” she put a hand to Hunter’s forehead, then pulled it back with a hiss. “Lili got like this, once. She had, oh… what was it called… pneumonia, that’s right. He needs medicine, but…” she gently shook Hunter’s shoulder again. “Hunter, I need to know where Belos put all of the healers.”

He shook his head, snuggling further into his blankets. “I’m nnnnnnot… a traitor…”

Luz reached out. “Hunter, this is important, you’re really sick, and you need a healer. You have to tell us where the healers are.”

He shook his head again, gasping for breath between coughs. “I’llllll be okay… I can… wait it… out…” He went back to sleep.

“Can he wait it out?” King asked Eda anxiously.

Eda shook her head. “It doesn’t seem like we have a choice but to let him try—If he won’t tell us where the healers are, we can’t get him the medicine he needs.”

“But will he be okay?”

Eda gave King a smile. “Sure. Yeah, sure. We just need to keep him hydrated, and make sure he eats, and… yeah. He’ll be okay, as long as you help us take care of him.”

King looked back at Hunter. He was shivering and sweating at the same time, and he kept bursting out in those awful coughs. Hunter was his responsibility now—he’d promised. “What do I need to do?”

Next Chapter

[fanficsandthings]

Through the Years, Ch. 7

A George Weasley Fanfiction

A George Weasley x Slytherin reader story.

Each chapter shares events in one year of George and reader’s life together.

Word Count: 6.1k

Author’s note: i know i’m like 3 months late on posting this chapter, but i promise i haven't abandoned this fic. 

Year 1, Year 2, Year 3, Year 4, Year 5, Year 6 

Year 6, Part 2:  Fireworks

 The heavy rain soaked through your clothes as you made your way into King’s Cross. It had been raining hard since early that morning, and the heavy gloom that hung over London was starting to take hold in your chest. The events of two weeks prior were impossible to purge from your mind, and on days like this the memories slowly crept their way forward. You swore that green skull could illuminate the sky again at any moment, so instead, you forced yourself to think about other things. 

You uncle and dad had been talking for weeks about an event happening at Hogwarts this year, but they wouldn’t give anything away. All you knew was that you needed a fancy dress, which you bought a week ago at a second hand store. It now sat in the bottom of your trunk, its intended use unknown to you for now. 

You no longer needed the motivation to run through the brick wall that separated platforms 9 and 10, like you did in your first year. You and your father casually waited by the wall, wringing the water from your clothes, as you watched the muggles pass by. When all was clear, you casually leaned against it, disappearing suddenly to anyone who might’ve cared to notice. 

The steam from the scarlet coloured engine filled the platform, the people rushing about looking more like ghosts than corporeal beings. You searched briefly for a family of redheads, but quickly gave up and turned your attention to the items you had brought with you. 

You checked quickly on Minnie, whose carrier was concealed under your rain jacket on top of your trunk. She was dry, just a little perturbed at all the movement happening on the trip here. 

“You packed the camcorder, right?” your father asked. “And the extra tapes?”

“Yes,” you told him, “they were the first things I packed.” 

“And you’re sure you know how to use it?”

“Yes, I’m pretty sure we went over it about 100 times.”

“I just don’t want you to get there and then not be able to capture anything,” he said, looking around at the people on the platform. He lowered his voice a bit to speak the next part. “It’s going to be a very fun year. I don’t want you to forget any of it.”

You let out an exasperated sigh. “Will you please stop being so secretive, and tell me what’s going on?”

“I’m sure you’ll find out soon enough,” he told you. 

You were about to protest and beg for more information when three more people came through the platform portal. Ron, Hermione, and Harry appeared before you, squinting through the steam. 

“Oh, look!” your dad cut you off, ignoring the annoyed look on your face. “Friends! Now, go get on the train with them. I might see you sooner than you think.”  

You said a very quick goodbye before turning to the three newcomers. They were still looking through the steam, trying to orientate themselves before heading to the train. You snuck up as quietly as your trunk would allow, thankful that the train engine was letting off some noise. 

“What’re you looking for?” you shouted, right in between Ron and Harry’s heads. It caused all three of them to jump; the owls in the cages they were holding hooted frantically as they got tossed around. 

“Please don’t do that,” Hermione voiced as she clutched her chest. 

“Sorry,” you said, smiling, “I couldn’t resist.” You turned your head to look at the brick wall briefly. “Where is..”

“Your boyfriend?” Ron butt in. He turned to Harry and made a fake gagging noise. Harry let out a laugh, amused at his friend’s actions. 

“Right behind you,” a familiar voice said. You turned to see Charlie, Fred, and George. George was smiling brightly at you. “We just passed your dad on the other side of the barrier.” 

“Charlie!” you exclaimed, giving him a quick hug. “I expected you to be back in Romania by now.”

“Do we even exist?” George whispered to Fred. 

“Apparently not when Charlie’s around,” Fred answered. 

You rolled your eyes as you turned to the twins. “I’m gonna see you two constantly for the next 10 months. I rarely see Charlie.” 

“I took extended time off,” Charlie said, answering your question, “because I’ll be working a little extra in a couple of months.” 

Ginny, Bill, and Mrs. Wealsey made their way through the wall behind the twins. 

“Hello,” Mrs. Weasley greeted upon seeing you. 

“Molly, it’s so good to see you. I was a little disappointed that I didn't get to see you at the Quidditch Cup,” you told her, giving her a hug. 

“Quidditch isn’t really my thing, dear,” she informed you. “But I might get to see you all again soon.”

“Why does everyone keep saying that?” you asked. 

“It’s nothing,” she said, pushing you back towards Fred and George. 

“We should get going,” you said to the twins. “We need to find Lee and seats” 

The twins said goodbye to their family, and you all headed off through the steam towards the train. You found Lee, who had already boarded and was saving a compartment for the three of you. You stuffed your trunks above the seats and put Millie’s carrier in the seat next to the door. 

It was a weird feeling, purposefully sitting so close to George on the train; him next to the window and your head leaning on his shoulder so you could watch the countryside pass by. Really, it’s not like much had changed from being just friends to dating. You had always sat close to each other before, even holding hands when the situation allowed for it. Something seemed to change over the last couple months, though, and now you felt more comfortable than ever resting your head against George. 

Maybe it was the fact that you could hold hands now without people whispering in the background and speculating about you. Or the fact that you could run your hands through his hair, which he had let grow a little longer over the summer, and not be worried about accidentally looking into his brown eyes and having to hide your embarrassment over the matter. You could freely count the freckles splattered across his face and name the constellations you made in them. Freckles that would always remind you of the falling snow on the night you first kissed. 

At some point, you let Minnie out of her carrier, letting her roam freely around the compartment, careful to make sure the door was securely closed. She eventually found a comfy stop on the seat between Fred and Lee. You watched as she curled up into a ball, her tail carefully covering her eyes, as if to block out any light. 

As the train rolled on and the rain outside got heavier, the windows fogged up, making it impossible to see outside. You turned your full attention to the conversation happening. Lee was talking about what he did over break, and brought up the Quidditch World Cup. 

Your eyes moved briefly to the window, thinking you might see the bright green light shining through the rain. George saw your movement and squeezed your hand in reassurance, a small smile on his face. You smiled back at him, telling him that you’d be alright. 

Lee mentioned that his father had been cheated out of money over a bet he made with Ludo Bagman at the Cup. 

“That dirty little cheat!” Fred yelled at the mention of Bagman’s name, causing Minnie to startle beside him. 

“He took our money, too,” George added on. “He paid us back in leprechaun gold.” 

“That’s exactly what he did to my dad,” Lee said. 

“You bet all the money you had saved, didn’t you?” you asked Fred and George. 

“Yeah,” Fred sighed. 

“We’ll have to find another way to open the shop now,” George said. 

“I still have some money saved up,” you told them. “About 20 Galleons when converted from muggle money. It’s not much but maybe we could find something to invest it in.”

“We couldn’t ask you to give us your money,” Fred said. 

“Yeah, I’m sure there’s other things you could use that money for, right? ” George inquired. 

“Not really,” you told them. “I’ve always planned to help you with Weasley Wizard Wheezes one way or another. Whether that be through money or inventing inventory.” 

“Oh,” George said rather quietly beside you. “Thank you.” 

You leaned up and gave him a small kiss on the cheek. “Anything for you, Georgie.” 

“And you know I’m always here to test out products,” Lee chimed in. 

“Oh, speaking of which,” you voiced, “did you finish those Canary Creams in the last two weeks?” 

“Not quite,” George told you. “There’s still some kinks to work out, but give us a few weeks and some of Snape’s potion supplies and we’ll get them done.” 

“But!” Fred said, pulling a small, wrapped treat out of his pocket. “We did nail down the yellow hair color.”

“Now we have all the house colors down,” George finished. 

“And I think we should take advantage of that,” you said with a grin. You grabbed the sweet from Fred’s hand. “This one’s yellow?” He nodded. “And you guys still have a beef against Cedric for winning the quidditch match last year?” 

“We should’ve gotten a rematch,” all three of them said in unison. 

“I know, I know,” you said, faking sympathy. 

The rest of the train ride was spent slipping sweets into other student’s train compartments and hiding in the hallway until you heard a couple screams. Cedric didn’t really seem to mind too much; being more embarrassed of the attention his friends were giving him because of it, opposed to being mad. You did manage to slip a pink one into Draco’s compartment, but one of his oversized bodyguards ended up eating it instead. 

You found Adrian Pucey, who was trying to rekindle your friendship a little bit. He had written to you over the summer a few times. You gave him a blue haired sweet just because you wanted to see if the color would look good on him. It really didn’t, as the Ravenclaw blue didn’t mix with his complexion very well. You made him promise to sit next to you at the welcome feast, and you’d reverse the effects then. 

Overall, you were very happy to be going back to Hogwarts where you’d be able to hang out with your friends again. 

-----------------

The term seemed to pass too quickly with all the Tournament excitement going on. You had been concerned for Harry ever since his name was pulled out of that blasted goblet, but ever since he won the first task, he seemed to be in a much better mood. 

You had snuck out of the castle the night before the first task with Fred and George to meet up with Charlie. He had excitedly shown you the dragons they had brought from Romania, their fiery breaths keeping you warm in the cool November air. You had never seen creatures like this upclose before, and they intrigued you enough to think for just a moment that maybe you wouldn’t mind working in Romania with Charlie. 

A month after that, you found Hogwarts covered in snow, the winter chill finally settling in the castle corridors. Fireplaces blazed in every room, warming you ever so slightly as you sat by them. The fireplace in your dorm room did little to help fight the cold of the Black Lake. Again, just like last year, you spent most of your nights in the Gryffindor common room, curled up next to George by their roaring fire. 

Minnie took to spending her nights in George’s room. She seemed to be making friends with Crookshanks, as you would sometimes find them cuddled together in the common room. 

At times you felt bad for the Beauxbatons and Durmstrang students. Their carriage and ship didn’t seem like the warmest of homes. You’d look across the school grounds and see them covered in ice and snow, and it would send a shiver down your spine every time. 

Christmas Eve came, and the entire school was filled with excitement over the Yule Ball the next day. You were excited too, but there was one more thing you needed to do before that day came. 

You had told George to meet you in the Astronomy tower in his pajamas at 10pm on Christmas Eve, a surprise all planned out in your head. You had stolen the radio from the Slytherin common room for the night. It had taken you and Adrian over a week to figure out how to get muggle radio stations to play on it, but eventually you got past all the magical interference and were able to listen to muggle music for the first time in almost four months. It wasn’t that you didn’t enjoy The Weird Sisters, but sometimes you just missed the music your mum would listen to at home. 

You set up your camcorder in one corner of the tower by the stairs, getting as much of the room in frame as you could. With no one else in the room to film, it would be the best shot you could get with the camera. 

You met George at the base of the tower five minutes before 10, confusion etched on his face. 

“I see you wore the pajamas with a little lion embroidered on them,” you teased him, reaching for his hand. “My cute little Gryffindor.” 

He blushed at your words, but he took your hand nonetheless and let you lead him up the stairs. 

“You’re literally wearing the same ones but with a snake embroidered,” George said. 

“Hey, your mum made them, and I love them,” you told him. You squeezed his hand as you both laughed. 

Music from the radio played softly from the top of the tower, a song that neither of you had heard before. When you reached the top of the stairs, you paused briefly to press the record button on the camera. This caused a confused look to make its way onto George’s face, but you reassured him that nothing harmful was going to happen.  

You pulled him to the middle of the room, the chill from the winter night just barely reaching you. Pulling him close to you, you wrapped your arms around his shoulders. George instinctively put his arms around your waste. You started to sway to the slow song coming from the radio.

“We haven’t been up here in a while,” George whispered. 

“Not since fourth year when we flew right into the middle of Professor Sinistra’s nighttime class,” you said, laughing. 

“Hey, we both expected her to have a midnight class that night,” George said, “not an 8pm class.” 

“I didn’t even mind the detention we got from it,” you told him. “I was just happy that I beat you in the race up here.” 

“I remember you cheating to beat me up here,” George said, wrinkling up his nose to tease you. “You and your old money Malfoy broom nearly knocked me into the castle wall.” 

“All’s fair in love and war, Georgie,” you said. “I was just using the speed that broom gives me to its full potential.” 

“If I didn’t love you so much, I’d still be mad about it.” He leaned down to kiss you on the forehead. “I still can’t believe you finally let me kiss you a year ago now.”

“You can thank Charlie for that actually. He gave me a little pep talk before I came outside that night.” You rested your head against his chest, listening to him hum along to the music. “Do you know this song?” 

“I’ve heard you play it before while you were at my house. I quite like it.” 

You pulled yourself as close to George as possible, trying to absorb his body heat. You hadn’t really thought about the open balcony and the winter weather when you planned this out. You leaned against him and swayed with the song, only really listening to his heartbeat through his chest. When the song was over and a more upbeat one came on, you pulled away just enough to look at his face. 

“Do you think Dumbledore really got The Weird Sisters to play tomorrow night,” you asked. 

“I hope so,” he said with a small laugh. “It’s all everyone’s been talking about the past few days.” 

“Speaking of the ball,” you started, “Did Fred ever ask that girl he likes to go with him?” 

“He asked Angelina a few days ago,” George told you. You wrinkled up your face in confusion. “What? They’re going as friends.” 

“But what about that Hufflepuff girl that he talks about constantly?” you asked. “I expected him to ask her, and I thought Lee and Angelina would go together.” 

“Lee’s going with a Ravenclaw fifth year, actually,” he informed you. “One of Cho Chang’s friends. Cedric actually set them up.” He seemed to have a hard time admitting that Cedric could do something nice for someone. George and Fred really held a grudge when it came to quidditch. 

“Cedric’s a good person, you know?” you said. “He wanted to have that rematch. But back to Fred; why is he being an idiot about his crush?”

“Because he is an idiot in general,” George said laughing. “He asked Angie just to prove to Ron that he had a date. He didn’t think it through.” 

You let out a sigh. “He’ll never learn.” 

The next song started with a familiar tune. “George, I think you’ll love this one!” 

You pulled away from him and grabbed his hand. There was no rhythm to your dancing, but it was fun nonetheless. George left all his worries behind and danced with you, not caring that you two definitely looked like idiots. He did really like the song that was playing, and he enjoyed it even more knowing that you loved it. 

You turned your camcorder off after that song, saving room on the tape for the next night too. You walked with George to the balcony, braving the cold to look over the snow covered grounds. Hogwarts really did look beautiful at this time of night. The moon reflected off the white snow and shone brightly over the Black Lake. The ship and the carriage looked like mere children’s toys from this far away. 

You rested your head against George’s shoulder as you both leaned against the railing. “Thank you, George.”

“For what?” he asked.

“For being my best friend, I guess,” you said. “It means a lot to me to have someone like you in my life.” 

“I’m glad I have you too,” He kissed the top of your head. 

You moved your head to kiss him properly, his body heat warming your face as you leaned in. The smell of potions clung to his skin, as he had been working on new products the entire last week. You caught the scent of a rather sweet one, and breathed in deeply. You pulled away reluctantly, but the cold was getting to you and you needed to head inside. 

George picked up the camera as you grabbed the radio, turning it off. You walked quietly down the stairs, hoping not to run into anyone at the bottom. He offered to walk you to your dorm, but you knew that Gryffindor tower was a lot closer than the dungeons, so you walked him there.

“Keep the camera for tomorrow,” you told him. “Record whatever mischief you get up to in the morning and then put it in the Great Hall.” 

“Alright, I’ll see you tomorrow night.” He leaned in for one more kiss. “I love you.”

“Love you too.”

You hurried off down the hall as he climbed through the portrait hole. Sneaking down to the dungeons at this hour required a bit of stealth and luck, but you had done it enough to basically know the patrol schedules. You made it to the common room after only one near run in with a teacher, but you ducked behind a statue, just barely avoiding them. 

There were a few students left in the common room, so you casually put the radio back in its spot on the table. Hopefully no one had missed it too much. 

You made your way to your dorm room, opening the door quietly to not wake your roommates. The last embers of the fire were still burning in the fireplace, and they gave you just enough light to be able to see your way to your bed. The light from the moon didn’t reach this deep into the Black Lake when there was a layer of ice on top of it, so your windows remained pitch black. 

You laid in bed, pulling the quilt from last Christmas as close to you as you could. You breathed in the earthy smell and let out a content sigh. Sleep found you easily that night, and your mind raced with dreams of what tomorrow might be like. 

-----------------------------

The buzz and excitement in the air was contagious as everyone got ready before the ball. You had spent the morning in the common room with Adrian, trying to get him to tell you who he was going with, but he refused, saying that you’d find out in a few hours anyway. 

“Why won’t you just tell me?” you asked, leaning forward and narrowing your eyes at him. 

“Why does it matter so much?” he asked in return, ignoring the look you were giving him. 

“Because I want a picture of us and our dates,” you said, “and if I don’t know who your date is, then I can’t force them to take the picture.” 

“I promise you’ll get your picture,” he said. “I’m meeting up with him in front--”

You nearly sprang to your feet, but kept yourself in your chair when you saw the look of embarrassment on his face. 

“So it’s not the seventh year Ravenclaw girl that has a crush on you,” you said, putting your hands over your mouth to think a bit. “I really thought it was her.”

Adrian looked flustered, his cheeks turning red. “What? No, no, she doesn’t have a crush on me.”

“She does,” you told him bluntly. “She asked me if you had a date about two weeks ago. I told her yes, but seeing as you won’t tell me who, I couldn’t give her more information.” 

Adrian sank back into the couch, wishing this conversation would end. You looked at him, still thinking about who he could be going with. 

“The Beauxbatons boy who wouldn’t stop staring at you on their first night here?” you pondered, but he remained quiet. “The fifth year Hufflepuff who ran into you in the hall last month? He’s cute and rather shy. I remember him apologizing profusely. I noticed him ducking his head away from you when we’d pass him in the hall after that.” 

You watched him for a reaction that would give you a yes or no answer, but all you noticed was his face getting redder. Adrian never really talked about crushes and who he liked. This conversation about people who maybe liked him seemed to be a little much for him. 

“Alright, one more guess,” you said, “and then I promise I’ll drop it until tonight.” He looked at you out of the corner of his eye. You took it as a sign to go on. “It’s not one of your dorm mates, is it? They’re rather all kinda assholes.”  

You finally got a laugh out of him at that. “Absolutely not. I know them all way too well to ever want to go on a date with any of them.” 

“Good, just checking to make sure you were still sane,” you said, standing up. “I’ll see you in a bit. Meet back here before we head up?” Adrian gave a small nod as you headed towards your dorm. 

You got ready while the rest of your roommates chatted around you. The dress you had picked out just before the school year started hung from a hanger on your four poster bed. The purple fabric of it was accented nicely by some small gold details. You had added a little bit of magic to it over the past few months, making it more your own, rather than just a second hand find. 

You found Adrian a few hours later, sitting in the same spot you had left him; his casual clothes now swapped out for dress robes, and his hair neatly styled. 

“You look nice,” you told him, causing him to look up. 

“Thanks.” He stood up, scratching the back of his neck. He looked at you, taking in your dress. “You look great. Did you get the sparks to work?” 

“Yes!” you said excitedly, looking down at the gold details. “Technically not sparks, but you’ll see. Wait till George can see them too. Can you carry this?”

You handed him your disposable camera, and he quickly put it in his pocket. He held out his arm, and you easily linked yours in it. You headed out of the common room, ready to meet up with your dates.

Walking up the stairs from the dungeons, the first person you saw standing in front of the Great Hall was Ron in his interesting dress robes. He was staring angrily at two people as they walked into the hall. It took a second to realize the girl was Hermione, having never seen her with her hair done like that before. You recognized the boy as Viktor Krum when he turned to greet one of his friends as he walked past them. 

Viktor’s friend turned in your direction, and his face lit up with a smile as he saw you and Adrian. You turned to Adrian, who was smiling just as brightly back at the Durmstrang boy. 

“A Durmstrang boy?” you whispered to Adrian as you made your way over to him. The boy was tall, at least a few inches taller than Adrian, and his long dark hair hung to his shoulders. When he reached the two of you, he turned his attention to you and took your hand, kissing it softly. His green eyes looked into yours briefly. 

“Adrian has talked a lot about you,” the boy said, dropping your hand. He looked back over at Adrian, the softest expression on both of their faces.

“This is Georgi,” Adrian introduced you. You looked at him, trying to hide your expression of slight shock. 

This is exactly why he wouldn’t tell you the name of his date. He knew you would tease him about going to the ball with a boy who shared a name so similar to your boyfriend. In all honesty though, the two boys were almost nothing alike. Georgi seemed a little more subdued and quiet, opposed to George who, though quieter than his brother, was still too loud for his own good. 

While making polite conversation with Adrian and his date, you were also trying to find the twins in the crowd of people. You noticed them coming down the stairs with Lee and Angelina, Lee soon hurrying off to find his date. 

You nudged Adrian in the side and gestured towards the twins. “I’ll be right back.” He nodded at you, and you set off through the crowd. 

“George!” you called as you ran up and hugged him. He and Fred were wearing matching outfits, probably passed down from their uncles to them.  

“Hello.” George pulled you back from the hug, looking at you fully. “You’re beautiful.” 

You ignored his statement, trying to hide the heat rising on your face. “Come on, I want you to meet Adrian’s date.” You looked at Fred and Angelina. “You too. I want a picture.” You pulled George’s hand, leading the group back through the crowd. 

“You put the camcorder in the Great Hall, right?” you said over your shoulder. 

“Yeah,” George confirmed. “About an hour ago. You’ll just need to hit record.” 

Meeting up with Adrian again, you gestured to George, introducing him to the Durmstrang boy. “George, this is Georgi. Georgi, George. My boyfriend.” 

They stared at each other for half a second before Fred butted in. 

“Well, isn’t that fun,” he said with a grin. 

You just grinned at Adrian, a smug look on your face.

You introduced Fred and Angelina and chatted for a bit before pulling another student over, who you knew was muggleborn, to take a picture of the six of you. Adrian nudged you and pointed to your dress. You looked down at it before realizing what he was suggesting. 

“Oh,” you said, catching the attention of the group. “I almost forgot. I added a little magic to my dress. Adrian, do you mind doing the honors?”

He pointed his wand at your dress, and a translucent, almost invisible smoke came out of the end. Tendrils of smoke reached out, attaching themselves to the center of each little gold detail and then disappearing into the dress. Each gold detail began to shake, as if filled with an immense energy. Suddenly, the details exploded across the dress, mimicking fireworks to the best of their ability. After a moment, they settled into their original shape. 

The group was staring at you, transfixed on what had just happened. 

“I’ve never seen a spell like that before,” Georgi finally said, a look of wonder on his face. 

“That’s because Adrian and I invented it, just for this,” you told him. You smiled as you looked over at Adrian. “We’ve been working on spells and such all of term in our free time. So far we only got the radio to work, and now this. This one isn’t perfect though. The smoke isn’t supposed to be there; it’s supposed to just be an immediate effect.”

George could tell that you were rambling now. He could see that your ramblings were bringing your excitement over the fantastic job you did down into doubt about how it didn’t work exactly how you wanted it to. He reached out and grabbed your hand. 

“It was beautiful,” he said. He looked into your eyes, trying to bring your attention to only him, trying to calm you down. “You know I love fireworks. Maybe they could be a part of the uniform at our shop.”

You smiled at him, giving a small laugh. “That would be wonderful.”

You turned back to the group and noticed Angelina standing by herself, Fred nowhere in sight. “Where’s Fred gone off to?” 

“He said he needed to talk to someone,” Angelina said, pointing towards the stairs that led towards the kitchens. 

You turned, expecting to find Fred putting a firecracker in someone's robes, but instead found him trying to get the attention of the Hufflepuff girl. She was standing close to another Durmstrang boy, but looked rather uncomfortable at the whole situation. She kept trying to scoot closer to Cedric, but every time she did, the Durmstrang boy would scoot with her. Cedric said something to her before he took Cho by the hand and led her into the Hall. Fred called her name again, but she continued to ignore him, instead saying something to her date before they too walked to the Hall. 

“Why didn’t he just ask her?” Angelina asked beside you. “I would’ve been fine going with someone else.”

“Because he’s an idiot,” you said like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

“You’re not wrong,” Angelina agreed. 

The entrance hall was getting emptier as everyone filed into the Great Hall. You took this as the cue to follow suit. You stood in the large crowd, pressing play on your camcorder as the school champions were ushered to the dance floor. The dancing started, and George almost immediately pulled you to the dance floor as more people joined in. 

The night went by quickly, but you would always be able to watch it back thanks to your camcorder, and look at pictures that you took. 

Your favorite picture by far was one of Adrian squished in a hug between the twins, their red hair and gold vests standing out extravagantly against his all black outfit. Adrian and the twins were still not the best of friends, but over the past few months they had all agreed to try to get along for your sake. The twins liked to show their progress through aggressive acts of friendliness. 

The videos were another story. They showed the night in motion and sound, something you were eternally thankful for. You could never give enough thanks to your dad for buying the camcorder for you. 

The video of the school champions dancing showed Hermione being the happiest you had ever seen her. It was quickly interrupted by you laughing as George pulled you onto the dance floor, followed by Fred grabbing Angelina to dance with him. It even caught a bit of McGonagall dancing with Dumbledore, a surprising sight, as you had thought you would never see either of them dancing in your life. 

You caught a video of Percy, zoomed way in on his grumpy face as he watched his ex-girlfriend dancing with someone else. Penelope looked happy with the boy she was dancing with though. You knew in a few years, hopefully, Percy would be able to laugh at his emotions too. 

You got Fred and George pulling Percy, Ron, and Harry out of their seats as The Weird Sisters started to play. Ginny joined their group to dance with her brothers; the three excited Weasleys trying their best to dance the grumpiness out of the others. You set the camera down on a table, facing the group and ran to grab Adrian and Georgi. Passing Angelina and Alicia on the way back, you told them to come with you too. Your large group now took up much of the dance floor, but no one seemed to mind as you all jumped around to the song the band was playing. 

The next video had the band playing a slower song in the background. The camera just sitting on a table, having been accidentally turned on by someone. It showed the Hufflepuff girl sitting at a table with Percy. They were talking, but the music drowned out any words that they were saying. Percy looked a little happier than he did earlier. Fred came into frame, sitting next to Percy, but putting his whole attention on the girl. She said a few short words to him, but when it was obvious she didn’t want to talk, he got up and walked towards the camera. He must have noticed it was on, because he mumbled a few words at it before the video cut off. 

There was a short video of you and Adrian walking outside in front of the castle, lights sparkling around you. George and Fred were a few paces ahead of you, talking about something you couldn’t hear. Georgi had offered to record for a bit, even though he wasn’t quite sure what he was doing. The video cut off abruptly when the camera was dropped. 

The last video on the camera was George recording you as you were leaving the Hall for the night. 

“How was your night,” he asked from behind the camera. 

“I had a great night,” you told him, walking backwards. You were holding up your dress so you didn’t trip. “Better than some people.”

The camera panned over to Fred, who flicked it off. He had a smile on his face, though, so you knew he still had a wonderful time. George moved the camera to catch Angelina in frame. 

“Did you still have a good time,” he asked her, “even though your date was kinda a drag?” 

“I had a wonderful time,” Angelina said as she put her arms around Alicia and Katie, who were walking beside her. “I still had my best friends to lift the mood.” 

“And what about you,” George turned so now he was walking backwards, camera pointed at Adrian and Georgi. They were walking hand in hand, Adrian’s head resting on Georgi’s shoulder. 

“It was alright,” Adrian said, smiling up at his date. Georgi squeezed Adrian’s hand. 

You had now reached the base of the stairs that led up to the Gryffindor common room. Everyone stopped walking to say their goodbyes. 

“One more thing,” you said to the camera. “I wanna get my spell on record.” You grabbed out your wand and pointed it at your dress, setting the fireworks in motion. 

“Beautiful, as always,” George hummed behind the camera. “I think this is where we part ways.” He took your hand in his. “Goodnight, love.”

“Goodnight.” 

The video stopped as you leaned in to kiss him. 

[paperstarwriters]

The arcana crew as beast-kin

Why? Because I wanna :P

General notes:

Everyone is based off of the card they’re associated with

Beast-kin tend to have magic that lets them look human (three forms; 1: anthropomorphic beast, 2: human with animal ears/wings and tails, and them as a normal human—I’ll be focusing on the animal aspects)

Just because they can do glamour magic doesn’t mean they can do other types of magic.

They still have their familiars, don’t worry.

If you wanna reference for the first form, just watch Beastars. The design is pretty similar (mainly thinking about the birds)

If you wanna reference for beast-kin in general check out the manga “Milady Just Wants to Relax” it’s what I’ve based the abilities off of and just beast-kin in general.

Asra

This sly fox :)

It’s probably because of my ties with anime but I imagine him like a multi-tailed fox

It’s purely so that you have more tails to cuddle and snuggle with.

You know how when foxes are in the snow they leap into the air then get their whole upper half stuck in the snow?

Well, when Asra hears something they want to catch, or they’re playing with Faust, they sometimes just... well....

It’s funny to see honestly.

Lowkey acts like a dog sometimes. They Loves the pats and chin scratches he can get and will whine until you give him more.

Sometimes you wake up to their tail(s) in your face. Good or bad, you decide.

In most folklore that have them, foxes aren’t exactly trusted, so often, Asra uses his glamour to make himself look like a human. However, when a customer runs unsavoury or maybe there’s just some mean brat that he wants to scare, his shadow still shows off his ears and tail(s)

Cuddles??? Cuddles!!!! Foxes are just so fluffy... Asra is no different. (In fact he might just be even fluffier)

Hate to delve a little into angst territory, but as a child since he was an orphan and all, Asra probably learned to basically act like a dog or a cat depending on the person to get more food, or to convince them that they’re a harmless beast-kin.

Nadia

Design wise, I love humanoid bird designs with their wings doubling as their arms and hands. Don’t ask me how this works logically right now we’re talking about crazy fantasy elements anyways, let me have this.

One thing I cannot get out of my mind is:

Nadia has her back to Lucio and he’s just talking and chattering nonsense. Then Lucio says something insanely stupid or offensive and whoever is talking to Lucio can see Nadia behind him just—

Whips her freaking head around 180°

It’s worse if she’s somewhere dark cause then you just see two red eyes coming into view as she slowly turns to glare at you.

Our queen is proud of her pretty talons, honestly probably spends a day sharpening them with Portia.

Goes out flying with Chandra at dusk if she has the time, and if you can fly (via spells, wings, a broomstick, etc.) you’re welcome to come along

Super accurate hearing. Honestly. It’s hard to hide an injury from Nadia even without her being an owl but she hears you Yelp in pain on the other side of the palace and she’s there in minutes.

Pretty problematic when she has headaches though :(

Preen feathers with her!! She’ll love having you card your fingers though her feathers making them less itchy. You’ll often help her preen after a bath, but honestly she’ll appreciate the sentiment anywhere but during an important meeting. It’s hard to concentrate when you’re providing her such wonderful affection.

Please don’t make owl jokes. She doesn’t like them. Sometimes she just avoids saying “who” so people don’t make that annoying joke. (It’s Natiqa’s favorite joke to make please spare Nadia the pain.)

“...and to whom will I be sending this?” “don’t you mean to “who” Dia?” *glare*

Julian

This is a happy raven ok? HAPPY. no birdie in a cage, ok?

The look we all know is probably his second form leaning to the first. Nadia’s would look somewhat similar

Crows & ravens are pretty dramatic birds. Reminds you of someone doesn’t it?

Idk if Edger Allan Poe even exists in this world, or any variant of it, but if it does... ooohhh if it does... this guy is totally gonna recite the poem in a dramatic flourish, and when he’s drunk you can sometimes find him chanting “ever more” same applies to any and all raven/crow themed media.

Screams. A lot. “Caw, caw b**ch” or “quoth the raven: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAA”

Once convinced a bunch of birds to just go n take a dump on Lucio & his statue. He helped the servants clean when the work was dumped on them but they all agreed the bleat he made was hilarious(more on that later)

Shiny thing collector. Portia tried to get him to clean his stuff up but he has since bribed her out of it with a ball of yarn.

He and Portia make an odd pair of siblings, they’re still pretty much the same though. Crows are kinda just cats with wings.

“One day Illia, I’m probably just gonna eat you.”

*overly dramatic offended gasp*

All in good humor lol

Speaking of, their familiars are the same animal as they are!

So sometimes Julian scoops up Malak and says in a dramatic fashion (because however else would he say it) “I’ve found you my long lost brother! Oh how I’ve missed you!”

Portia does the same (more on that later)

Because his sister is a cat, Julian sometimes does a lot of cat-like things. (Case in point, he bleps. Tongue just kinda left out after yawning or something.)

Flies around with Malak often, like Nadia does, and sometimes carries Portia around with him. Will do the same for you if you want him to, sometimes if you don’t want him to as well. Expect to be grabbed from the ground and flown up into the sky at some point.

Bread. Boy loves his lobster claws but bread is a close second. “Aww yisss motha freaking bread crumbs”

Sometimes on a bad day, he just walks in dragging Pepi behind him who has her mouth latched on his tail

Portia

(If this were modern times) “you know, like, nya~!”

Look. Portia is so sweet to be around. But take that plus PURRING? And a soft as all frick FUR?

Honestly I think that sometimes when with Nadia has a bad headache, Portia purring is a great way to calm her down. You—you lucky MC, get to fall asleep to that.

She falls asleep on your lap and you are stuck there. Bound by a rule that transcends time and space. Her purring does little to aid the fact that YOU NEED TO PEE. The universe does not care of your internal tides, for your lover, who is also a cat, rests in your lap.

When she’s chasing down Julian for something stupid he often yells about being hunted. All in good fun!

“Mazelinka!!! Portia’s hunting me again!!!” “I wouldn’t be chasing you if you’d just clean your stuff!!!!”

Small boxes are her jam! Julian hates them, and like other birds doesn’t like closed spaces, but Portia loves em.

Good at squeezing into and out of tight places. Which is really helpful for sneaking around, curiosity killed the cat, but satisfaction brought it back.

Swishy swishy tail.

Cast a little light spell for her to case down. She loves it, you love it, Pepi loves it— everyone wins! (Except for the furniture she crashes into)

Yes, she has picked up Pepi before and yelled very loudly for Julian to hear (often after he’s made the joke of his long lost brother Malak) “Oh Pepi, you’re my favorite sister!!!”

On a bad day, Malak may be found in Portia’s mouth. He’s completely unharmed if only a little ruffled, but it’s gotta be a pretty bad day to find her doing that.

If Camio is in her mouth it’s same business as always. She won’t kill hem either but if Mr. Sh**bird doesn’t shut up she’ll make him shut up. You don’t even know why he keeps coming back.

Not all cats like cuddling, but like Pepi, Portia LOVES it. So long as you’re the right person and not someone unpleasant.

Please don’t step on the tail.

As much as she doesn’t like baths she still does properly was herself. She just really doesn’t like it when her fur is all wet and clings to her body. Do you have a spell to dry her off quickly? Please use it. Save her the misery.

Muriel

pretty sure he’s even bigger as a bear. Like, it’s probably because of the added fur but— woah... Big. Bear.

Big arse bear with scars is SUPER intimidating buuuuut you saw him sitting in the sunlight with Inanna once, just napping in the sun. He looked so peaceful and so dang fluffy!!

He enjoys headpats and gets very flustered at belly rubs. He’s seen you do so to Inanna many times probably kinda wanting you to do the same to him though he would never willingly admit it.

When you two get closer expect to spend some time with his head in your lap. Pat his head rub his ears, Inanna may get jealous if you don’t also provide her attention

Just don’t let him fall asleep there, he’s gonna have a sore back later and you’re going to have numb legs.

Hunting, swimming, carrying you, this boy can do it all.

Unlike his usual(cannon) self, Muriel probably doesn’t carve any bear statures. The only one he’d have was probably a gift from Asra. Carves birds, bunnies, foxes, and wolves instead. Does NOT carve goats. Never have never will.

Again I hate to go int angst but Muriel probably wants to get his claws removed somehow. It’d hurt and it probably insanely unsafe, but they were used as weapons before and its one of the things on him that everyone is afraid of. If he could he’d probably try to change his teeth too.

Show him that claws aren’t something to be feared. They don’t have to be a weapon. They help him climb and hunt food and sometimes to even carve wood. Like humans and knives, his claws aren’t bad or inherently evil, and neither is he.

Giant. Teddy Bear. You will be getting hugs and falling asleep with a Giant Teddy Bear.

He probably keeps in his mostly human form though, because he stands out less that way and he looks a little less intimidating.

Short little bear tail on his butt. Plz don’t touch, he’s going to be blushing so hard if you do (let’s be honest, that’s all the more reason to do so)

In “Milady Just Wants to Relax” Beast-kin are feared as monsters and I don’t think it’d do Muriel any good to have to live with that kind of fear from everyone. However, when you come around un afraid and eager to provide head-pats, but patient enough to let him get comfortable with it, Muriel will probably start using less energy to try and glamour himself.

Sometimes he’s so caught up with you that when you go to the market together he forgets to cast a glamour. While some do get scared off most of the people who you buy from are only a little surprised and take things in stride. They still treat him like he’s human, and he’s forever grateful for that.

If I could write a beast-kin version of his route, the moment you and Muriel meet Morga is probably when you first realize he isn’t human. And it’s because Morga pointed it out.

“Why didn’t you fight? As a beast you’re stronger than them.”

He knows you’ve spent time with Asra but he probably assumed they kept it hidden from you most of the time.

Just love him please. Platonic or romantic doesn’t matter, just give him headpats and belly rubs and boop his nose. Keep him assured that you aren’t afraid of this giant teddy bear.

Lucio

We know of both first and second forms. They’re pretty much cannon, but just not a ghost.

Which means you finally get to pet the fluffy white fur.

This also means his horns can do an irritating amount of damage.

Also he’s so much more noisier now

*loud stupid goat noises*

It’s fun to make him bleat a lot. He tends to bleat when embarrassed. If you’re topping him expect a bleat every time you pin him to the wall.

Tries to butt heads with EVERYONE. Please stop him, Lucio is the only prey animal in the lineup!

Seriously, how has he survived this long?? Muriel is a bear! he could just.... chomp.

not that he would obviously, but I don’t think Asra would hesitate after what he’s done to you and his parents...

Portia too for that matter, if she realized that Lucio had forcefully given Julian the plague, Lucio would be forever running from a feral cat.

I know he’s probably skilled in fighting or whatever, enough to take down various fantastical beasts, but stiiiiiiilllll.....

Is it obvious I dislike Lucio?

Grouchy bias aside, Lucio is really good at climbing. Like I’m pretty sure he’s a sword fighter so just imagine him leaping onto ledges in order to get the high ground.

Still uses eyeliner. I don’t know how since he has fur sometimes, but yeah, he still somehow uses eyeliner.

Honestly he probably keeps in a mostly human form or just entirely human form for that reason exactly. It’s just easier to look good when he’s more human.

But if you wanna pet his luxurious fur then he is all but willing to take on his goat form. In fact, if he turns into his goat form around you (which is always) he pretty much expects you to brush his fur or just run your hands through his fur. He will whine very loudly if you don’t.

Spare everyone else’s ears (especially Nadia’s) and just give him the head pats.

[loveissupernatural]

                                         To Love in a Foreign Land

                                            Draco Malfoy x reader                                 

Chapter One: The Letter

[ Read Part 2 here ] 

The day had finally come.

It came in the flurry of an owl’s wings, in the nervous vibration of your sweaty palms.

A delicious breakfast had just been served by your mother that sunny summer morning in suburban America, your fourth term at Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry only recently finished. Loud, impatient tapping on the kitchen window glass made you choke on your coffee.

“Mom! Ch-check if it’s from H-Hogwarts!” you managed to cough, pointing frantically at the window. Your mother bolted out of her chair at the kitchen table so you can recover.

She squealed for you, letting the gorgeous but exhausted-looking owl into your kitchen as quickly as she could. It landed in front of you on the table, holding out its leg with what could only be described as relief. Your shaking hands untied the cream-colored envelope from the owl’s ankle, and as soon as you did, it fluttered to the large cage in the corner of the room. Your silver-grey owl, Cinna, hooted indignantly at the unexpected visitor that was gulping from her water bowl.

“Now, Cinna, be nice. He’s had a long journey,” your mother said, wagging her finger. Cinna would have rolled her eyes if she could.

“Mom,” you squeaked, “this is it, this has to be it. I’m finally gonna know.”

You’d decided halfway through your fourth year at Ilvermorny that you wanted to take part in the International Wizarding Student Exchange Program, or I.W.S.E.P. It was a decision that you didn’t make lightly – you’d discussed it at length with your teachers and with your mom. You loved Ilvermorny with all of your heart and soul, after all, it was your home. But you also knew that the world was much bigger, that there was so much in the wizarding world that you hadn’t seen and hadn’t experienced. As a newly 15 year-old, you felt somehow ready for things to change.

Of course, you didn’t want too much change, which is why Hogwarts was at the top of your list. Ilvermorny was modeled after it, and you didn’t have to worry about a language barrier. Hogwarts contained four houses, just like your school, and was a large castle in the middle of the mountains, just like yours. You were ready to experience new things and new people, in a new (but somewhat similar) place. You had roots there.

The Headmistress of Ilvermorny, Celestia Pukwould, had one final meeting with all prospective exchange students before the end of term. The day exams ended, you and a small group of upcoming fifth years were invited to her large study. She pressed the importance of upholding your school’s good reputation as you traveled, to be a shining example of what it was to learn magic from America’s impressive magical education system. Only one of your peers was requesting Hogwarts as their first choice too, a quiet girl that you hadn’t spoken to much over the years named Eleanor.

After the other potential exchange students left her office, Headmistress Pukwould requested for you and Eleanor to stay behind for a bit.

“Ladies, I have sent an owl to Professor Dumbledore himself expressing my full confidence in you two,” she had said, standing from her ornate high-back chair that sat in front of her fireplace. She twirled her wand between her long fingers absentmindedly, fixing you and Eleanor with a kind yet serious stare. “You two are some of the brightest witches in your class. I told him so. I have known Albus Dumbledore for many years, and he is by far one of the most talented wizards alive today. You would be very lucky to learn magic at his school.”

You and Eleanor nodded profusely, eyes wide. While Headmistress Pukwould was a kind woman, she was also not to be trifled with, and her word backing your acceptance at Hogwarts held much weight.

“Don’t disappoint me, ladies,” she said, the smile fading from her face. She tapped her wand on her nails once, sighed, then turned back to the fireplace. “Have a wonderful summer. Owls containing your acceptance or rejection should arrive to your homes within the next few weeks.”  Her tone was final. You were dismissed.

You flashed back to your bright kitchen, took a deep breath and let it back out in a shaking sigh. Your fingers gently traced the refined emerald green writing. You flipped the envelope over and touched the blood-red wax seal, the crest of Hogwarts. Your hands paused.

“Mom, what if I don’t get in?” You’d spoken your greatest fear aloud.

She smiled at you, almost a little sadly, and came to rest a hand on your shoulder and a kiss on your head. “They’d be idiots not to accept you, Y/N.”

“What do you think Dad would say? If they said no?” you all but whispered, a familiar ache rising in the back of your throat. Your father had attended Hogwarts over two decades ago before he moved to America and met your No-Maj mother.

Your mother wrapped her arms around you from behind, pressing her cheek to yours and rocking you gently.

“He would think they’re idiots, too, honey,” she said, a grin in her voice. Your father loved his alma mater, so to imagine him saying anything negative about the school was enough to make you laugh. But you knew she was right, your father had been your biggest fan.

“I miss him,” you said quietly. Your thumb ran over the wax seal again.

“I know, baby. I do too,” she whispered, kissing your cheek. “But he’d be so proud of you, no matter what that letter says. Okay?”

You nodded. You’d lost your father two years ago, but the wound still felt fresh most days. You’d be lying if you said that going to Hogwarts wasn’t an attempt to feel him again, in some form or fashion.

“Here goes nothing,” you breathed, slipping your finger underneath the sturdy paper and ripping it away from the seal. Your heart pounded in your ears like a bass drum as you pulled out the parchment, catching a glimpse of the neat scroll in the same dark green ink. Your mother’s hands tightened on your shoulders.

Dear Miss Y/N Y/L/N,

           We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

           All students accepted to our institution through the I.W.S.E.P. (International Wizarding Student Exchange Program) will be required to travel via portkey on the evening of 29 July. Upon arrival to London, arrangements will be made for you to stay in the Leaky Cauldron before gathering your supplies on 30 July. A representative from the school will assist you in procuring the necessary books and equipment for term, beginning 1 September. You will be expected to arrive at King’s Cross Station, Platform 9 ¾, no later than 09:00 AM on 31 July. Bring all necessary luggage and equipment.

           You will find an enclosed list of all required literature and materials for Year Five.

           We will expect an owl containing your confirmation no later than 20 July. We are honored to invite you into our sacred halls of magical learning.

Yours Sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall

Deputy Headmistress

 You lowered the letter, disbelief coursing through your veins. It was real, truly real. You were now officially a Hogwarts student.

After at least a solid 20 minutes of dancing around the kitchen with your mother, you scribbled a quick confirmation and laid it by the feet of the tired Hogwarts owl.

“Don’t worry, you won’t have to leave for another few days,” you said, answering the owl’s accusatory glare. He hooted ruefully and tucked his head underneath his large wing, ignoring Cinna’s still wary stare.

Your mother excused herself from the kitchen shortly after, attempting and failing to hide the proud tears in her eyes. You hugged the Hogwarts letter to your chest, breathing in the scent of the still stiff parchment. Slowly, you walked out to the empty living room and paced to the fireplace mantle that contained family portraits of all shapes and sizes, some moving in their frames and others standing still.

With tears tickling the corner of your eyes, you picked up your favorite picture of you and your dad. You were six years old, missing a tooth and laughing hysterically, while your father conjured glowing butterflies that danced around your head. The glow of his happy smile outshined those butterflies any day, you thought. You gently stroked his smiling face.

“Well, it’s official, Dad,” you whispered, a single tear sliding down your cheek. “I’m going to Hogwarts.”

                     ______________________________________

That summer passed more quickly than you would have ever expected. Your friends from Ilvermorny came to visit as often as possible, taking advantage of every moment they could grab with you before you left for an entire year. Many days were spent wandering nearby cities and towns, No-Maj and magical alike, with your school friends. You ate as many cliché American meals as you could and soaked up every drop of sunshine possible by the pool. You always looked better with a bit of a tan, and you doubted that you’d be getting much strong sun at Hogwarts.

“So, what House do you think you’ll be sorted into?” Eleanor asked you one afternoon. You’d invited her to stay a week with you and your mother in early July. You two would be the only Americans at Hogwarts in the upcoming year, and you both thought that building a friendship with one another would be nothing but beneficial. Being so far from home, you needed to have each other’s backs.

You were both sitting on the edge of the pool, drinking fresh lemonade and dangling your feet in the water. You took a long sip through your brightly colored straw.

“Good question,” you said, staring at the rippling blue water in thought. “I’ve heard rumors of what each house represents, but how true is it really? I mean, we know at Ilvermorny that more than one House can pick you, and that you can make the decision for yourself. Do you ever wonder if people pick the right one? Think it’s like that at Hogwarts?”

“I don’t know,” Eleanor said quietly. She seemed a little nervous at the thought. “What if we don’t get sorted at all? What if we’re too old?”

“I mean, surely that wouldn’t happen,” you tried to say confidently. “They wouldn’t subject us to public sorting if there was a chance of us getting rejected, right? Talk about embarrassing.”

“I’m sure you’ll get sorted,” she said with an admiring tone. “Everyone remembers what happened when you stepped up to the Knot on our first day.”

You remembered that day with a strange and heady combination of pride and trepidation. When you stepped up to the large Gordian Knot engraved into the shining marble floor of the circular sorting chamber, everything changed for you. For the first time in over a decade, all four large wooden carvings came to life, and the room went dead silent. You’d never felt so many eyes on you, boring into the back of your skull, wondering what made you so special and what House you would choose.

The gem set into the head of the Horned Serpent glowed, the Thunderbird beat its large wings, the Wampus roared and the Pukwudgie raised its arrow into the air. The carvings themselves seemed to stare a hole through you.

The four Ilvermorny Houses have been described as each representing a different part of the human being; Horned Serpent represents the mind and favors scholars; Wampus represents the body and favors warriors; Thunderbird represents the soul and favors adventurers; Pukwudgie represents the heart and favors healers.

You were overwhelmed in every sense of the word. At the small and awkward age of 11, you truly didn’t feel that well-rounded. You were certain that, somehow, these magical carvings had made a mistake.

“What made you choose Thunderbird, by the way?” Eleanor asked curiously, breaking you from your reverie.

“Honestly… I’m not totally sure,” you shrugged bashfully. Talking about this always made you uncomfortable. “Thunderbird is supposed to represent the soul, right? I guess I think that everything is rooted in the soul. We wouldn’t be human without them.”

Eleanor had been chosen by Horned Serpent, but nodded in agreement. “I guess that makes sense. I don’t know what I would have done if I were you.” She laughed a bit uneasily. “At least my choice was easy – I didn’t have one.”

In many ways, you found yourself wishing that only one carving had chosen you. Sure, it’s a bit less flattering, but much less stressful. The pressure of being that student, the once-in-a-decade student that was supposed to accomplish amazing things, was almost suffocating. As a child, you had a mountain of expectations piled on top of you from the moment those four carvings came to life. You couldn’t make a mistake.

In your second year, when your father died, so many of those expectations crushed you in a way that they never had before. His death weighed on you more than anything ever had, and the strength of his support was gone and left you breaking underneath the heavy cinderblocks of watchful eyes. Your grades suffered, and so did your relationships. You shut down.

Only when a year passed after your father’s death did you begin to find yourself again. With the help of your understanding teachers and a loving group of friends, you were able to establish a better academic standing within Ilvermorny. Not that anyone held your lapse against you – after all, you were a 12 year-old that had lost a parent. But you were still that kid, the one that all four Houses wanted, and you’d proven that you were far from perfect.

“What House do you want to be in at Hogwarts?” you asked Eleanor. She smiled, quiet in thought as she threw her brown hair into a messy ponytail.

“Really, I’d be happy with anything. But I’ve heard Ravenclaw is similar to Horned Serpent, academically focused and stuff.” She took a gulp of cold lemonade and wiped the sweat from her forehead. “What about you?”

“My dad was a Hufflepuff, so that would be nice I guess. I don’t know. Let’s just hope the Sorting Hat doesn’t explode,” you joked, setting aside your now empty glass. With that, you jumped into the chilly crystal water, letting it soothe your hot skin. Eleanor quickly followed.

You enjoyed the last inklings of summer vacation together before your new adventure began. You talked about missing friends and family, what Hogwarts would be like, whether or not you liked hot tea and what classes you would be taking. True to teen girl form, you were both excited to meet cute guys with foreign accents. And with a mix of thrill and nerves, you both realized that you two would be the foreign ones to them, and hoped that it would play in your favor.

“I wonder if British guys will think American girls are hot?” you asked her after the sun went down. You’d both climbed out of the pool at this point, your sun-kissed skin beginning to prune.

Eleanor laughed. “Geez, I hope so. Could you imagine getting a handsome British boyfriend? Talk about the adventure of a lifetime.”

You couldn’t deny that the thought of kissing a handsome boy with an attractive accent at the top of a castle turret excited you, but your mind always went back to connecting with the spirit of your father. Maybe you could feel closer to him there at Hogwarts, and would a boy distract you from getting that closure? You knew a boy would distract you from schoolwork, and you were determined to make such outstanding grades that Professor Dumbledore would have no choice but to write back to your Headmistress. After the academic crash and burn that was your second year, any and all glowing recommendations were not only welcome, but needed.

“It would be fun,” you giggled, wrapping yourself in your pool towel and squeezing the water out of your hair. “But wouldn’t it kinda suck when it’s all said and done? I mean, what if you got close to someone and then you have to leave to come back here?”

“I didn’t say we had to fall in love,” Eleanor shrugged. “I just want a hot piece of British ass.”

You busted out laughing. Eleanor always seemed so quiet at school, but once she got comfortable with you, she really came out of her shell.

“Come on, girls!” your mother called, sticking her head out of the back patio door. “Dinner is ready. I’ve got your salads on the table.”

You both trotted inside, whispering and giggling about the possibility of a grand foreign romance. After a pleasant dinner with your mother, you both went to bed, smelling of chlorine and sunlight.

Eleanor fell asleep before you did. You laid awake for a while, watching the shadows of swaying tree limbs dance across your ceiling. Your mind wandered back to the possibility of finding romance at Hogwarts. You doubted it would happen for you, especially since your priorities were elsewhere, but it wouldn’t be so bad to just dream about it, right?

You drifted into a deep sleep, flashes of colorful magic and the shadow of a boy dancing through your head.

[ Read Part 2 here ]

[discoinfernos]

“Guess what I have?!” Bliitzo for Stolas

Eyes wide, a small smile upturns the corners of his beak as his head tilts to the side. Stolas lets out a hooting giggle, curled fingers coming to his mouth as though to stifle it. He'll never get over how cute Blitz can be. ❝ Oh? What's that, darling? ❞

@bliitzo

[official-weasley]

The Irreplaceable Charlie Weasley: Pt. 1, Ch. 1

PART 1: WHERE IT ALL BEGAN

Chapter 1 - And so it begins

I decided to post my Charlie Weasley fanfic here ❤️

I will post a chapter per day since I have already finished writing it!

A mixture between Harry Potter Books lore and Hogwarts: Mystery Game

I just finished reading the books for the 10th time and between reading and playing the game on my mobile phone I have never been so intrigued or had so many questions about Charlie Weasley.

My imagination started to go wild halfway through The Goblet of Fire and I decided to create my own little story about how it would be like to know Charlie Weasley from his first year at Hogwarts and all the way to the Battle of Hogwarts (yes, it’s a LONG story)!

I will stop being a babbling, bumbling baboon now, bye!

Nova

I still can't believe I had to wait so long. My opinion is that if you are born after the 31st of August you are the unluckiest child ever! Imagine getting a letter of acceptance, that your parents have been waiting for since you have been born and since they are so excited about it, you get excited about it and then you turn 11 on 14th December only to find out that you have to wait until NEXT SEPTEMBER to go to school! Who came up with this rule!

Nonetheless, the wait is over as in one week I will be sitting on Hogwarts Express to go to the school my parents have been at so many years ago and have fun adventures as they so like to reminisce on how fun it was to go to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

“Nova, dear, we are going to be late!” My mother called for me from downstairs. I couldn't help but let out an exciting shriek that sounded like a baby Pixie, as I grabbed my favorite notebook which I took everywhere; and I mean everywhere if you were thinking about the bathroom. I loved to draw magical creatures, ever since my parents bought me Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. I inspire to be the second Newt Scamander, except that I would work in a creature reserve, rather than have one at home.

I ran downstairs into the living room, as my dad was opening a bag of Floo Powder, ready to travel to Diagon Alley! My father was a Curse Breaker for Gringotts and ever since he was assigned to Egyptian tombs, mum and I barely saw him. It meant the world to me that he could take a week off work to accompany me to my first ever trip to Diagon Alley to gather all the things that I would need for my First Year at Hogwarts! I still remember the whole list, which included several sets of plain black robes and a pointy hat among other things, with the books like the Standard Book of Spells Grade 1, for which I was so excited to start waving my wand in Charms Class, along with History of Magic and the one I already had Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.

That reminds me! If you are asking yourself, why have we decided to leave the shopping until the last week before I had to leave on the Hogwarts Express if I got my letter in December? Well, this is a little embarrassing but I tend to be a little bit of an overachiever and if mum and dad would get me the books in December, I would probably read them all 3 times by now!

That's also the reason my mum and dad made a bet about the House I will get sorted in. My mum thinks I will be in Gryffindor, while my dad strongly disagrees and thinks I would make a perfect Ravenclaw.

As I watched my mum disappear into the green flames and my dad pushing me to go next, the excitement grew in me as I knew I was about to embark upon the best journey of my life.

“Alright, pumpkin! Are you ready? Here, there you go!” My dad gave me the bag for me to take the Floo Powder out of. “Now, speak clearly and carefully, as we practiced: Diagon Alley.”

I took the powder, stepped into our fireplace, and as I threw the powder I said loud and clear: “DIAGON ALLEY!”

The next thing I know, I was standing on a busy street next to my mum, looking up at her to see a proud face as she was trying to hold in the tears of happiness, seeing me travel by Floo Powder for my second time; the first being to visit my aunt and uncle in Scotland.

A second later, my dad appeared next to us and I finally took a look around me. It was just as they have described but busier. Perhaps waiting to get the books until the last week before school wasn't such a good idea, as it seemed that everyone did the same.

Without even asking, my parents first took me to Ollivander's as they knew I wanted my wand more than anything. My mum accompanied me into the wand shop, as my dad whispered something in her ear and hurried down the street.

“Where is dad going, mum?” She smiled at me gently. “You will see soon enough, sweetie.”

She nudged me into Ollivander's and I couldn't help but get nervous as I saw the number of boxes from black to wooden and purple to burgundy. I gasped as a man appeared right behind the counter.

“Ah, Miss Goldhorn, it is so lovely to see you again. Ebony wood, 11 inches, Dragon heartstring, very flexible. Yes, yes, I still remember.” The old man said to my mum, with sparks in his eyes.

“It's Blackwood now but the wand is still the same.” My mum smiled as she pulled out her wand and showed it to the man.

“Ah, eldest or youngest?” The man asked with a grin.

“Youngest.”

“Ah, that would be, 10 2/4 inches, Unicorn hair and very unbendable.” He said proudly as he guessed my dad's wand without even hearing his name.

“Wow, you remember that?” I was now looking at him with total amazement. I imagined myself looking at him the way I did when I saw a drawing of a Chinese Fireball for the first time.

“I remember every wand I have ever sold, Miss Blackwood. Now, shall we find one for you?” He said slowly, even though I had a feeling that he was just as excited to find me a wand as I was.

“Alright, let's see...” He said as he turned around and disappeared behind one of the shelves.

“Alder wood, Dragon heartstring, 9 inches, fairly flexible.” He opened a green box, gently taking out the wand and handing it to me. I swung it once and absolutely nothing happened. I got nervous, as I swung the wand again and again nothing whatsoever happened.

“Oh, dear.” He said as he took the wand away from me. “That one didn't like you. No worries, let us try...let's say this one!” He exclaimed as he brought the next box. This one was wooden and out he brought a smooth-looking wand that looked a bit crooked.

“Redwood, Dragon heartstring again, 11 ¾ inches, not particularly flexible. Come on dear, try it out.” He encouraged me as he put the wand in my hand. I swung this one as I did with the other one with the fear that my mum and dad will make me go to a Muggle school if nothing happens with this one. Suddenly, the nearest lamp to me broke and Mr. Ollivander was quick to take the wand away from me.

“Or perhaps not, this one doesn't seem to listen to you either.”

Again he hurried and hid behind the shelf, murmuring something to himself as I could see he was thinking hard as he was enjoying a challenge.

“Ah, I think we could get somewhere with this one!” He was so excited now that he almost jogged back to the front, a burgundy box in his hand.

“Ebony wood, Unicorn hair, 10 3/4 inches, and surprisingly swishy flexibility.”

I took the wand carefully, wishing this could be the one as I was getting quite embarrassed. I swung the wand and it gave out sparks and I got a sensation in my body as if something just connected with me.

“There we go! I had a hunch Unicorn hair would be for you!” He gently clapped his hands together as my mum, pride on her face, got closer to the counter to pay the man.

After that we spent quite some time in Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions as the lady inside took measurements of me I didn't even know could be made and afterward spent almost the same amount of time in Flourish and Blotts as my mum had a hard time getting me out as I wanted to grab more than just the 8 books I needed for school.

We finally found dad as we were looking through display windows of several shops while having the tastiest ice cream from Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour.

As he saw us through the window, he came out of Magical Menagerie, hiding something big behind his back.

He smiled at me and showed us a big owl cage with a beautiful barn owl inside. I wanted to scream with excitement but decided not to as I didn't want to scare the owl.

“Your mother and I were thinking that you should have an owl of your own as you would have to write to me and mum while at Hogwarts.” He smiled at me and stroke my thick bluish hair.

“It's so beautiful! Can I name him?”

“Of course you can, darling!” My mum chuckled.

“Pip!” I exclaimed as I admired my new best friend. It had such deep black eyes, a white face in a shape of a heart, and the most beautiful patterns I have ever seen on its wings. I couldn't wait to draw him!

A WEEK LATER

I exhaled and inhaled deeply as I was standing in front of a wall between platforms 9 and 10, my parents one on each side of me.

“You can do it, sweetheart. Just don't run too fast.” My mum said to me softly, while dad gently squeezed my shoulder.

I took another deep breath and ran towards the wall, closing my eyes. As I opened them, I was on the Platform 9 ¾, steam running from the black and red Hogwarts Express.

We had exactly 7 minutes until the train would leave. While I was standing with my mum, admiring the train, my dad took my luggage to the luggage compartment.

“Oh, sweetheart, I wish you the best First Year at Hogwarts! I hope you will have as much fun as your dad and I had!” She kneeled to me, hugging me tightly, holding back the tears. Once she stood up, my dad came back. He hugged me softly while whispering in my ear how proud he is of me.

I hurried on the train as we heard a whistle, waving to my parents who started shouting after me: “Send us Pip to tell us in which House you were sorted!” My mum yelled. “And listen and take notes in classes!” My dad added.

I waved at them through the window until the train took a turn and I couldn't see them anymore. It was time to find an empty compartment.

I was in awe of how many students were on the train as I was almost at the end of it and couldn't find a single empty compartment. I passed a compartment with two kids arguing who is going to be a better Slytherin. A compartment with someone talking about Quidditch so enthusiastically that I couldn't believe just how fast he was talking. A compartment with 2 redheads that looked like brothers, one munching on a chocolate frog with hair so long he could put it in a short ponytail, the other one sighing while saying “Aw, another Helga Hufflepuff, I already have her.” He had so many freckles on his face that it was tough to define his skin tone.

I finally stopped in front of a compartment as a girl with pink hair caught my eye. She was sitting and conversing with 2 other girls and it looked like they were having a nice time. I slowly opened the compartment, cleared my throat, and asked if I could join them. To my surprise, they were more than thrilled to have me join and I was a little relieved that I finally found somewhere to sit as I sat down next to a girl with blond hair.

“Wotcher, my name is Tonks, nice to meetcha!” The pink girl said, grinning at me.

“I'm, Penny. Very nice to meet you.” Said the blond girl next to me, with a polite voice as she smiled at me.

“And I'm Tulip, Tulip Karasu.” Said the redhead as she extended her hand to me.

“Blimey, if I knew we were going into such details I would've said more!” Tonks said while Tulip and Penny chuckled. “Nymphadora Tonks, a Metamorphmagus at your service! And you better call me Tonks as I swear my parents are paying every single day for naming me that way!” The girl with the pink hair said. The other 2 chuckled again.

“They are paying for it?” I asked, puzzled.

“Ah yes, I prank them all the time and I am as mischievous as I possibly can be!” Said Tonks, proudly.

“Just because of your name?” I asked. She nodded in confirmation. I already liked her, even though I had no reason for not behaving around my parents, but I liked her energy.

“And if we are introducing each other with the full name, I am Penny Haywood, half-blood and proud of my dad being a muggle.” She said with the biggest smile I have ever seen anyone admit that they are not a Pure Blood.

“Blimey, I don't know how to introduce myself.” Said Tonks a bit disappointed that Penny added a new thing to learn about each other.

“Oh, I have an idea. How about we go in a circle and each of us says a sentence about ourselves. That way we can get to know each other and can give each other ideas about what the others haven't said yet!” Tulip said, quite proud of her idea.

“Yes, let's do that and let her start since we don't even know her name.” Tonks said while nodding her head at me.

“Alright, well. My name is Nova Blackwood, I am a Pure Blood. My mum is an Auror and my dad is a Curse Breaker in Egypt.”

“Wicked!” Tulip and Tonks said at the same time.

“That sounds like a dangerous but very fun position.” Said Penny thoughtfully.

“It's obvious that Penny's hair is naturally blond and I think that's Tulip's natural hair but may I ask why is your hair blue?” Tonks asked bluntly.

“Yeah, I was wondering that as well!” Said Tulip excited as if Tonks was reading her mind and then adding “And my hair is naturally red, yes.”

“Well, it's quite a funny story.” I started, chuckling. “When my mum was pregnant, my aunt from Scotland tried to dye my mum's hair dark blue. She is a very clumsy woman and as my mum was talking right before my aunt cast the spell, my aunt tripped looking at her instead of where she pointed her wand at, and as she cast the spell she pointed it at my mum's belly. They thought nothing of it since they thought the spell didn't work. However, when I was born and my dad had a puzzled look on his face as I came out with this hair color,” I pointed at my dark bluish grey hair, “my mum knew exactly where I got it from.

They asked the nurses and they did tests on me however they couldn't figure out how to reverse the spell so that my hair would be brown like my parents' so they eventually gave up as the hair color grew on them, naming me Nova after the supernova explosion since the color of the explosion tends to be blue sometimes.” I said, finishing my story.

“Wicked!” Said Tulip and Tonks together again.

“That has to be the most beautiful story I have ever heard.” Breathed Penny, looking as if she was ready to cry.

“Thank you?” I said as I didn't know what to say as I tell the same story to anyone who asks me.

“My turn!” Shouted Tonks. “Well, you know my name already. My father is a Muggle-born as well, mum's a witch from the Black family line. Don't like to talk about it too much. My hair's pink because as I said I am a Methamorphmagus and I can turn it whichever color I want. And I can also do this!” She said excitedly as her nose turned to that of an elephant.

We all stared at her in awe, clapping as if we have just seen an amazing performance.

“Well, I am a Pure Blood too. Mum works in Diagon Alley and my dad works for the Ministry: The Department of Mysteries so you can guess, I have no idea what his work is. And since we are talking about hair, I have it after my mum, she has hair just like mine.” She said grinning.

“Tonks said that she doesn't want to talk about her parents but Penny you were really happy to announce that your dad is a Muggle. Can you tell us something more, I have no knowledge of Muggles.” I said with an interest in my voice.

“Well, my mum is a Potioneer, selling her potions to pharmacies and other buyers, my dad however is a writer.

Since my mum and I are witches, he is quite successful as he writes children's novels mum giving him false information about Magic folk for him to write about, since she, you know, can't tell the truth because of the Statute of Secrecy but my dad loves it anyways and envies us that he can't clean the dishes with his wand.

I also have a younger sister named Beatrice who can be quite annoying but I love her all the same. Having a Muggle dad is interesting as there is always something mum has to explain to him but as he is always fascinated by it, it works out quite alright. And all my family including both sides of my grandparents have this kind of blond hair so I guess it runs in the family.” She chuckled after finishing the last sentence.

“Sorry to bother you ladies,” our compartment opened and a girl who looked like a Head Girl put her head in, “we will be arriving shortly, so I suggest you put your robes on. Also, I assume you are all First Years, meaning that you will want to find a rather large man when you exit the train as First Years make their way up to the Castle in a bit of a different way.” She said, giving us a friendly smile.

“So, which House do you think you'll be sorted in?” Asked Penny while we were all changing into our robes. “I don't care as long as I can have all the Potion Classes that I can get.” She added enthusiastically.

“Hmm, didn't put that much thought into it.” Said Tonks, frowning as she started to think about it.

“My parents were in the same year, but my mum was in Gryffindor and my dad was in Ravenclaw, so we'll see. They did make a bet in which House I'll be as they are both rooting for their own House.” I said as I buttoned my final button on my shirt.

“You know what?” Finally said, Tulip. “I like you lot, I would be very happy to be in the same House as all of you.” We all smiled at her as we realized that we would all like that very much.

[fanfictionaries]

Oh So Many Years: Ch. 19 - Shoot The Moon

Pairing: Hermione Granger x Fred Weasley

Summary:

Summer has ended and students return to King’s Cross to begin another year at Hogwarts. 

Warnings: Swearing, Death, Smut/18+ NSFW

Author’s Note:

For some reason Tumblr wouldn’t take my formatting like it has with previous chapters. I swear it’s a freaking crap shoot whether it will EVERY time I poster on here. It would be nice to know how that works...

Anyways, please enjoy :) 

Masterlist

<<<Chapter 18

 Summer days are gone too soon

You shoot the moon

And miss completely

And now you’re left to face the gloom

The empty room that once smelled sweetly

Of all the flowers you plucked if only

You knew the reason

Why you had to each be lonely

Was it just the season?

 Hermione Granger was nothing if not a punctual person. At the best of times she was fifteen minutes early and at the worst she was on time. However, she should have known that the Weasley family would want to stick true to their tradition of arriving at King’s Cross by the skin of their teeth. Tapping her foot impatiently as she stood in the busy kitchen, Hermione worked very hard at fighting off a headache. Mrs. Weasley was screaming at the twins for charming their trunks and accidentally knocking Ginny down two flights of stairs and Walburga was screaming because Mrs. Weasley was screaming. She checked her watch for the umpteenth time that morning and ran a hand over her hair. They may not even make it on time at all if they carried on this way, she thought irksomely. Especially if they waited any longer on Sturgis Podmore to show up like Moody wanted them to. The last thing she needed was to miss the train on her first day as a Prefect. Smirking to herself, Hermione stared down at the silver pin fitted snuggly to the front of her jumper and admired it. Prefect. She had done it. Just one step closer to Head Girl.

A tap at the kitchen window brought Hermione out of her musings. Looking up she saw the brilliant, snowy visage of Hedwig. Hermione sighed, striding towards the window, and throwing it open. Hedwig flew in, looking quite flustered for a bird. Perhaps she also knew they were running late. Cursing in her head, Hermione wondered if perhaps her parents had forgotten that today was the day she left for Hogwarts. Why else would they have chosen to send Hedwig back so late in the morning? She took the letter from her parents out of Hedwig’s clutch and then allowed the bird to climb onto her shoulder. The owl’s long talons dug sharply into her skin, holding on for dear life as Hermione sprinted out of the kitchen and up the stairs. On the second floor landing she spotted Crookshanks stalking a stray mouse and scooped him up as well. The giant orange beast squirmed in her arms, putting up a fight but possessing enough respect to keep his claws put away.

 “Oh stop, Crooks. Honestly, you’ve spent all summer doing whatever you please. Just cooperate with me for one second,” Hermione groaned, holding onto her cat even tighter and bounding up the last flight of stairs to Harry and Ron’s room.

 “Sorry Harry! Mum and dad only just sent Hedwig back,” she apologized, walking across her friends’ messy room to place Hedwig in her cage. “Are you just now getting dressed?”

 “Uh yeah, I slept late,” Harry mumbled, buttoning the last button on his shirt, and moving to pull on his socks and shoes.

 Hermione sighed, placing Crookshanks down on the bed and taking a moment to stare critically at her best friend. Harry had mentioned the resurgence of his nightmares earlier in the summer when she found him wandering the halls late at night. She had been on her way back to her room from another late-night library session with Fred, but of course she didn’t tell Harry that. While what her and Fred were doing wasn’t necessarily wrong, there was an unspoken agreement between the two of them that they should keep it to themselves. People just wouldn’t understand.

 However, looking at Harry now, Hermione didn’t need her former knowledge of Harry’s nightmares to know that he wasn’t sleeping well. He had circles under his eyes, and despite Mrs. Weasley’s cooking the past month he still looked too thin.

 “How’s Ginny?” Harry asked, tying his laces.

 Hermione rolled her eyes. “She’s fine. Mrs. Weasley is patching her up in the kitchen. I wouldn’t go down there right now though if I were you. It’s a zoo. Mrs. Weasley and Walburga are still yelling and now Mad-Eye’s complaining that we can’t leave until Sturgis Podmore shows up. Otherwise the guard will be one short,” said Hermione, leaning against the end of the bed and petting Crookshanks idly.

 “Guard?” Harry asked, looking up from his shoes. “We have to go to King’s Cross with a guard?”

 “You have to go to King’s Cross with a guard,” corrected Hermione.

 “Why?” questioned Harry, standing up in an irritated fashion.

 Hermione scoffed, “Why do you think, oh Boy Who Lived?”

 “I thought Voldemort was supposed to be lying low. What, do they think he’ll be waiting behind a dustbin at the train station, waiting to do me in?”

 “I don’t know. It’s just what Mad-Eye says,” said Hermione, fighting to stay calm and sympathetic. She was getting a bit tired of Harry’s moody demeanour.

 Her assumption about Harry’s arrival at the beginning of the month had been correct. Harry had been irate. At everyone, but especially at her and Ron. Luckily, Fred and George swooped in at the right time, just like Fred had said they would. Bless the both of them. Hermione didn’t know how much more chastising she could take, she already felt guilty for not writing to him. She’d apologized at least a thousand times over in the last month, but Harry still had a sour mood and while Hermione had been prone to tears at the beginning, now she was just frustrated.

 “Look, I’m not too happy about it either. Do you think I want to be late today?” Hermione asked snippily, looking at her watch once again.

“Will you lot get down here now?!” Mrs. Weasley’s bolstering voice boomed up through the stairwell and Hermione pushed off the bed with a sigh. She grabbed Crookshanks in her arms once again and headed towards the door. “Are you coming?” she asked once she got to the doorway.

 “Yeah, right behind you,” nodded Harry, looking a bit pink in the face. Perhaps her comment had embarrassed him. Hermione smiled at the thought. It would do him good to remember he wasn’t the only one with problems in the world.

 Hermione hurried down the stairs, running into the twins halfway down.

 “Well if it isn’t our favourite little Prefect,” said George, reaching out and ruffling the top of Hermione’s head. Hermione batted his hand away before reaching the bottom of the stairs and placing Crookshanks in his carrier.

 “I’m not speaking with you two,” she sniffed, looking away from them and instead focusing her attention on getting the finicky latch closed tightly on her cat’s wicker carrier.

 “Oh? Why’s that Hermione?” the two asked in unison.

 “I’m annoyed with you both,” responded Hermione in an off-handed manner.

 “Annoyed?” asked Fred with a shocked tone.

 “With us?” asked George, sounding equally as surprised.

 “That can’t be right—” Fred leaned against the wall beside her and took the strap from Hermione’s hands, latching the carrier closed with ease “—we’re angels, we are.”

 “You knocked your sister down two flights of stairs!”

 “By accident!” cried Fred and George.

 “Yes, well still. I hope you know that I will not tolerate that kind of behaviour once we get to Hogwarts.”

 “I knew this would happen Freddie,” said George, shaking his head solemnly.

 “We really should have prepared ourselves more for this inevitable betrayal,” added Fred woefully.

 “Our little Hermione, a swotty Prefect.”

 “No more fun.”

 “No more laughs.”

 “Oh the laughs we’ve had,” bemoaned George wistfully, throwing himself dramatically onto Fred’s shoulder.

 “You two are ridiculous—” Hermione shook her head, unable to stop the smile from forming on her face “—I told you before. Just because I’m a Prefect doesn’t mean I’m going to stop being fun—”

 “You were fun before?” asked Ron cheekily, entering the hallway with a cauldron cake in hand.

 Hermione scowled at him. “Ha, ha, very funny Ron. You know, you’re a Prefect too now. You should start practicing a bit more civility.”  

 Ron smirked, ignoring her comment, and instead taking a bite of the cauldron cake before going over to stand near Tonks and Ginny.

 Hermione turned back to the twins who stared down at her expectantly, waiting to hear the rest of the speech she’d given at least three times over since she’d received the letter with her silver Prefect pin. “Now, as I was saying. I’m not going to turn into a monster. Just realize that I have an obligation to the school first and I won’t hesitate to reprimand you if need be.”

 “Reprimand, you hear that Freddie?” asked George with an impish expression.

 “Sure did Georgie,” answered Fred, looking equally as puckish.

 “What are you going to do, Hermione?”

 “Give us a bit of a spanking?”

 Hermione blushed, furiously and against her better judgement. But she was more well-versed in the ways of the Weasley twins and so her embarrassment did not stop her from responding like it might have in previous years. Instead, she looked up confidently at the two and tried to put on what she could only imagine was a semblance of seduction. “Only if you’ve been bad boys.”

 The twins balked at her comment, mouths hanging open and ears tinging pink in a fashion very similar to Ron but very unfamiliar to them. Fred and George Weasley did not get embarrassed easily. If they had any kind of response, there was no time for it. A moment later, Mrs. Weasley came into the hallway from the kitchen and Harry came down the stairs. Walburga was still screaming insults from the wall, but all ears were trained on Mrs. Weasley’s instructions on who was going with who to King’s Cross and what to do with their trunks.

 A whirlwind of people, crosswalks, and magical barriers and Hermione was finally on Platform 9 ¾. In a way, Hermione was glad they had walked to the train station. It had given her a sense of control on how quickly they reached the train and she had practically run the entire way, Mr. Weasley and Ron on her heel. Once the stress of getting on the train was gone, Hermione was faced with a whole slew of new worries. Sirius had insisted on coming to the station with them and had done his absolute most to stand out like a sore thumb in his Animagus form.

 “He shouldn’t have come with us,” she said, watching the black dog chase the train exuberantly, as they took off from King’s Cross. The students in the train watched it laughing, and even some of the parents left on the platform smiled at the rambunctious dog. They wouldn’t be so cheerful if they knew it was Sirius Black, escaped Azkaban prisoner, thought Hermione cynically.

 “Oh give him a break. He hasn’t seen daylight in ages. Just blowing off a bit of steam he is,” said Ron, continuing to smile out the window at the dog quickly dwindling in size as the train travelled further from the station.

 “Well, as much as we’ve enjoyed your company these past few months, Georgie and I have some important business with people who well…”

 “—aren’t you lot,” George finished for Fred, giving them a short wave before the pair of them turned and disappeared into the next carriage.

 Hermione sighed, not even wanting to begin to think of the trouble they were sure to get up to. Over the remaining month they’d managed to nearly perfect their line of Skiving Snacks and have an admirable inventory at their dispense. As a Prefect, Hermione tried not to think about it. The less she knew, the better.

 “Should we find a compartment then?” asked Harry, turning to her and Ron looking the most cheerful he had all summer. It made what Hermione had to say next even harder. She chanced a look at Ron who was looking equally as guilty.

 “Oh…Harry. I thought you knew. Ron and I have to go to the Prefect’s carriage,” she said, watching the smile fall from Harry’s face. She looked back to Ron, hoping for some support but he was looking anywhere but Harry, focusing intently on one of the wall-mounted light fixtures as if he were seeing it for the first time.

 “Oh—” Harry nodded “—right. Fine.

 “I don’t think we’ll have to be there the whole time. Just long enough to get instructions from the Head Boy and Girl and then we have to patrol the corridors from time to time. We can still—”

 “It’s fine,” said Harry, cutting her off. He was using the clipped, overtly chipper tone he used when he was trying too hard to sound casual. “I might see you later then.”

 “Yeah, definitely!” Ron finally chimed in. “It’s a shame we have to go down there. I’d rather we didn’t, but…we have to. I guess…I mean I’m not enjoying it. I’m not bloody Percy.”

 Harry smiled again, this time in amusement at Ron’s rambling. “I know you’re not,” he said before waving them off to the Prefect compartment.

 Despite his reassurances that he was fine, Hermione felt guilty for leaving Harry there on his own.

 “He’ll be alright,” said Ron, leading her down the corridor towards the front of the train where the Prefect carriage waited for them. “I’m sure he’ll find Seamus or Dean or Neville or someone.”

 “Oh right…”

 It was easy to forget that they all had other friends outside of their small inner circle. Especially since for the longest time, Ron and Harry were her only friends. At least, her only close friends. Neville was her friend, she supposed. As were Fay and Emmy. She might even stretch as far as to say Lavender and Pavarti were her friends as well. Well…maybe more like close acquaintances.

 “Who do you think they chose for Slytherin Prefects?” Ron asked as they neared the front of the train.

 “With our luck it’ll be Malfoy and Parkinson,” grumbled Hermione, reaching the door to the Prefect’s compartment and sliding it open. It was almost poetic the way the moment the words left her mouth, the opening compartment door revealed none other than the two Slytherins in question. They sat in the corner, side-by-side, looking bored and smug. Their expressions only seemed to lighten when they spotted Ron and Hermione entering the compartment.

 “And I thought being a Prefect was supposed to be a place of honour—” Malfoy sneered, looking her and Ron up and down in a condescending manner “—now that I know they’ll give the job to just anyone, it takes away a bit of the prestige.”

 Pansy snickered.

 “Funny, I was just thinking the exact same thing,” Hermione spat back, staring Malfoy in the eye as she tried to telepathically burn him alive. If ever there was a time for emotion-fuelled accidental magic, thought Hermione, now would be it.

 “How dare you, you—”

 “Now, now—” cut in Roger Davies, a seventh year Ravenclaw and the newly appointed Head Boy “—leave the house rivalry for the classroom and the quidditch pitch.” Davies laughed, but Hermione could see the nervous glint in his eye as he gripped his wand tightly.

 “Bloody git,” Ron mumbled under his breath. Hermione didn’t know whether he was referring to Malfoy or Davies, but either way Hermione felt like it was fitting. The rest of the compartment seemed to feel the same as her, as both the Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff Prefects were giving Davies wary looks while trying to create as much space as possible between themselves and the Slytherins. Hermione was grateful to see that the other Prefects were familiar faces. Padma Patil, Pavarti’s sister, was the spitting image of her twin and gave Hermione a small wave as she sat down. Hermione, while having limited interaction with the Ravenclaw, found that she liked her much more than Pavarti as they had a shared interest for learning. Anthony Goldstein, the other Ravenclaw Prefect, she recognized from Transfiguration classes years prior. He also gave them a brief greeting. Ernie MacMillan was there too, and while Hermione still didn’t care for him since his spread of lies about Harry their second year, his presence was soothed by the kind and quiet Hannah Abbott who sat next to him.

 “Now!” exclaimed Helen Monroe, the Head Girl, some time later. They were coming near to the end of their meeting, or at least that’s what Hermione assumed based on the agenda they had been given. Their meeting had taken much longer than either Hermione or Ron had anticipated. Ashamedly she thought of Harry sitting on his own in a compartment waiting for them. Merlin she hoped he had found someone to sit with instead of choosing to mope by himself. Maybe Fred and George had found him at the very least.

 “The last thing on our agenda we’d like to address before handing out patrol and meeting schedules is an issue of favouritism,” said Monroe with a smiling face.

 “Favouritism? What do ya mean?” asked Ernie, sounding affronted as if he’d just been personally accused of the offense.

 “Well, in the past we’ve had issues with Prefects showing house favouritism—”

 “—giving points where they’re undeserved and taking points away to give their house a leg up on winning the House Cup,” chimed in Davies.

 “And we just wanted to remind you that your responsibility is to the school and it’s students first and foremost. So please try and show some sense of neutrality, no matter who is involved, whether it’s those in your house or…family members…” Monroe shot a nervous look in Ron’s direction that Ron missed but Hermione did not.

 For a second she wondered if perhaps they were talking about Harry, given he was so prone to getting in trouble and then the truth of the implication hit her square in the face. Maybe she was spending too much time with Fred and George otherwise, she would have caught on immediately that that was exactly who the Heads were referring to. Hermione wanted to laugh. She almost did. Bringing a hand up to cover her mouth, she faked a cough to try and hide the bout of giggles threatening to escape her chest.  

 They were given their schedules after that. Hermione and Ron had the first set of patrols up and down the train, and so instead of heading straight towards Harry, they meandered down from the head of the train, peaking into compartments, and breaking up little spats between younger students. Ron seemed to take to the position of power quite well. Almost too well in some instances, Hermione having to remind him of the speech they’d just been given about abuse of power in favour of their house. He had been trying to take points from a group of third year Slytherins for being too loud – an offense that Hermione deemed worthy of a simple reminder. They were about halfway down the train, Ron trying to reverse a jelly-legs curse that had been set on a fourth year Ravenclaw by accident, when a compartment slid open and Hermione nearly collided with Angelina Johnson.

 “Oh!—” the Gryffindor chaser exclaimed, stopping short “—Hermione. Hi.”

 “Hi…” Hermione responded awkwardly, unsure of what to say. Suddenly she was very nervous, which was ridiculous because she had nothing to be nervous about! It’s not like her and Fred had really done anything. Intimate? Sure. But in a friendly sort of way. Nothing that when taken into context could be deemed inappropriate, reasoned Hermione. Although, if that were true then she wouldn’t have anything to be nervous about.

 “How was your summer?” the older girl asked.

 The question took Hermione by surprise. Why did Angelina Johnson care about her summer? They weren’t friends, and up until that point Hermione was under the impression that Johnson didn’t even like her all that much.

 “Fine. I spent most of it with Ron’s family,” Hermione said, trying to push past how odd it felt to be having a conversation with Fred’s girlfriend when she was madly in love with him and had spent most of her summer nights curled up on a couch or in his bed with him. In a totally appropriate way of course.

 “I thought you might have. George mentioned one time that you usually visit them during the summer,” said Johnson, nodding and looking nervously around them.

 “How was your summer? I heard you spent it at quidditch camp. How was that?” Hermione asked, trying to bridge the uncomfortable silence between them with polite conversation. Why were they still talking?

 “It was good. Yeah, really good. I learned a lot of…stuff.”

 Hermione nodded, raising her eyebrows in acknowledgement. When Johnson neglected to continue, Hermione glanced back in the compartment where Ron was patting an exhausted looking Ravenclaw student on the back, having just broken the curse. She wished he’d hurry up and save her from whatever was going on right then. Her attention was pulled back to the uncomfortable conversation when Johnson spoke once again.

 “Listen, Granger. Now that I’ve got you, I was wondering…” Johnson paused, seeming to contemplate her next words. “I was just wondering whether—”

 “There you are!” Ron exclaimed, exiting the compartment behind Hermione, and placing a hand on her shoulder. “You know, I really could have used your help in there. You’re much better at counter-curses than me Hermione. Oh, hi Johnson.”

 The older girl seemed to go all rigid and awkward at the appearance of Ron. She shifted from foot to foot and cleared her throat before straightening her position and taking on a completely different demeanour. “Weasley. How was your summer?”

 “Good, thanks. Not as good as yours I imagine. Quidditch camp! That must have been amazing!” mooned Ron, getting a sparkly look to his eye at the thought.

 “Yeah, it was great. Learned loads of stuff that should be sure to put Gryffindor in the lead this year. We need a new Keeper now that Oli, I mean—” Johnson coughed “—now that Wood’s gone. Will you be following the Weasley legacy and trying out?”

 Ron went red around the ears, ducking his head bashfully. “Actually, yeah. I thought I might.”

 “Good. I look forward to seeing what you’ve got,” said Johnson with finality before giving them both a small nod and moving past them down the train corridor.

 As strange as the interaction had been, only one thing seemed to stick with Hermione in that moment.

 “You didn’t tell me you were planning on trying out for the team!”

  Fred reckoned he should have known the minute Angelina neglected to show up to their usual compartment that something was up. Alicia had given some offhanded excuse of Angelina going to scout out compartments for potential quidditch recruits and Fred had bought it at face value. In the past he might have questioned it a bit more, gone looking for his long-time friend and currently girlfriend. But in a way it had been a relief for him to not have to deal with the issue of Angelina the moment he got on the train. He was much too excited to show Lee and Alicia their new products and didn’t want to sully it by breaking up with his girlfriend. It had been a long-time coming. He’d wanted to end things weeks ago but had ultimately decided that he couldn’t do it over letter. Him and Angelina had history and she definitely deserved more than a letter saying ‘Hey, this isn’t working. Mind if we just go back to being friends?’. Not to mention the girl got harder and harder to reach as the summer went on. The last letter she’d sent him had been nothing but a picture of her and the beater for the Holyhead Harpies with the words ‘Isn’t this rad? Missing you lots! x Angelina’ written on the back. And while it was cool, Fred couldn’t help but think that in a way it was a finality to their relationship for him. The two of them had never really been gossipy conversationalists, falling back more on their shared physical activities and the comfortable silence that came with old friendships, but this was a bit too sparse for him. He wanted more. He wanted something different. He wanted…Hermione.

 Luckily after the reveal of their new products, Lee wasted no time in bringing other students into their compartment to show off their goods. Before Fred knew it, he and George were completely immersed in their salesmen roles and so all thoughts of girls and relationships were quickly replaced with galleons, sickles, and knuts.

 By the time he and George had made it to the castle their pockets were significantly heavier and their spirits lighter than ever. They were almost completely out of fake wands, biting teacups, and spitting teapots. They had even been convinced by a group of second year Hufflepuffs to sell some of their Skiving Snack Box products – the sweets not yet fully through trial runs. Fred and George agreed but only if they were willing to report back on the effects. The students were happy to do so as it meant they got the sweets at a discount.

 The next clue that went unnoticed by Fred was the fact that Angelina chose to sit at the opposite end of the table as him at the feast. But Fred had been too excited, telling Hermione all about their sales, to notice. Besides, Alicia and Lee were sitting with her and Fred and George usually sat with their family at the start-of-term feast. Still, when Fred caught Angelina’s eye at the end of the table as the last of the first years took their seats, he found himself panicked at the odd look on his girlfriend’s face. Did she know? wondered Fred feeling the all too familiar summersault in his stomach. How could she possibly know? The only person who knew he wanted to break up with her was himself. He hadn’t even told George, although he suspected that George suspected as much.

 The churning sensation stuck with him all throughout dinner and resulted in him eating very little, something that did not go unnoticed by neither George nor Hermione.

 “You alright, mate? You barely touched your porkchops,” said George, licking the last of his chocolate ice cream from the back of his spoon.

 “Yes, and you didn’t even fight Ron for the last of the custard,” added Hermione, her comment touching Fred as she had remembered custard was the only pudding he really cared for.

 “I’m fine. My stomach’s just a bit upset,” he lied, chewing on the side of his thumb as he stared down at the table, tracing the grain of the wood with his eyes.

 “Maybe you should go and see Madame Pomfrey once the feast is over,” suggested Ginny kindly. Fred shot her an appreciative smile before returning his gaze to the table.

 “Well, now that our stomachs are full and our hearts are warm from friendly conversation, I’d like to take a moment of your time to go over the usual start-of-term announcements,” Professor Dumbledore’s gentle yet authoritative voice rang throughout the hall, pulling all attention to himself at the centre of the staff table. He went into his usual diatribe on how the Forbidden Forest was of course, forbidden, how Filch wanted to remind them that magic was off-limits in the corridors between classes, etc. etc. Lastly, he announced that there would be two changes in staffing: Professor Grubbly-Plank was back to take over his position as the teacher for Care of Magical Creatures, and their new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher was a woman named Professor Umbridge.

 At the mention of her name, Fred looked down the staff table for the first time that night to see a new addition. A stout, round woman in a garish-looking pink outfit sat where the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher usually did. Despite her loud outfit she had a very unpleasant look about her, decided Fred. Although, it didn’t really make much of a difference to him. They had a new Defense teacher just about every year now and seeing as it was his last year, it really was inconsequential. They were all the same in the end.

 “Hey, I know her,” commented Harry. “She was at my hearing at the ministry.”

 Fred found that kind of odd. What was a ministry official doing teaching at Hogwarts?

 Dumbledore moved on, beginning to talk about quidditch try-outs when the new DADA teacher did something that made her stick out from all the other defense teachers before her. She stood from her seat. Dumbledore stopped, midsentence and looked at the short woman. Professor Umbridge let out a, “Hem, hem,” and Fred thought for a second that he must be hallucinating. Was this woman really interrupting the headmaster to give some kind of speech? More gracious than Fred could ever imagine to be, Dumbledore allowed her to speak and speak she did.

 Her speech was long-winded, full of comments about Hogwarts’s greatness and how the Ministry placed a lot of stake into the education of young minds. It sounded like a lot of hot air in Fred’s opinion and one glance around the room at the other student’s and even some of the teacher’s faces told him that he wasn’t the only one who felt that way. When Professor Umbridge had the audacity to say that she hoped they would all become great friends Fred couldn’t help but utter a sarcastic, “That’s likely” which was mimicked in time by George as well.

 Then she spoke of progress and change and how things must be done for the better and Fred felt an all-new unease take over him. An unease that radiated throughout the entirety of the room for once she had finished and taken her seat, the hall was much quieter than before.

 “Well that was certainly illuminating,” Hermione whispered from beside him.

 “Don’t tell me you enjoyed that shite,” said Ron exasperatedly. “That had to be the most boring thing I’ve ever heard.

 “I said it was illuminating, not good,” sniped Hermione. “It certainly put things into perspective.”

 “It did?” asked Harry. “Sounded like a load of waffle to me.”

 “Yes, well there was a lot of important stuff in all that waffle if you’d been listening,” said Hermione, her mood turning dark. She had Fred’s attention now as well.

 “There was?” asked Ron dumbly.

 “All that talk of ‘progress for the sake of progress’ and ‘practices that must be prohibited’?”

 Ron and Harry shrugged at her, but Fred was beginning to understand what Hermione was getting at. If Umbridge worked for the ministry and believed that changes needed to be made at Hogwarts then—

 “It means the Ministry’s interfering at Hogwarts,” said Hermione, surmising Fred’s conclusion perfectly.

 The room burst into applause, Dumbledore having finished the last of his announcements and then students began to rise from their seats. Ron and Hermione stood, leaving to escort the first years back to Gryffindor tower. Fred laughed with George when Hermione looked like she was about to lose her head when Ron called the first years ‘midgets’. Turning his head away from the squabbling pair, his eyes fell once again on Angelina.

 Fred swallowed thickly.

 If ever there was a time, it was now. He should just do it. Get it over with. Break her heart and hope that they could move on. Trying to find the bright side to it, he told himself that the sooner he ended things with Angelina, the sooner he could begin pursuing Hermione. However, that only left him with even sweatier palms. Standing up from the table, he looked between George and Angelina with the full intent to cross the room and ask his girlfriend to speak in private. But instead,

 “Alright, Freddie!” he announced loudly, catching George off guard. His twin looked up from the conversation he’d been having with Ginny and looked at him curiously. “I’ll see you in the common room. I have a few things I need to take care of first.”

 Before his brother had any time to question what he was doing, Fred flew from the Great Hall and past Angelina, avoiding looking in her direction as he turned the corner and headed towards an unknown direction. He had only gone a little way down the corridor when a voice called after him.

 “George! Wait up!”

 Fred stopped and turned to see Angelina running after him. What could Angelina possibly want with George, Fred thought for a moment as he watched the pretty witch approach him, her long braids bouncing off her shoulders. She looked nervous when she finally reached him. Her hands twisted together, and her eyes couldn’t quite meet his.

 “That’s me, George. What’s up?” Fred asked, wanting to kick himself. Coward. He was a coward.

 “Can I…can I talk to you for a second about…Fred?”

 “What about Fred?” Fred asked, feeling incredibly stuck in the lie he’d created.

 “Um, you know how I was at quidditch camp this summer?” asked Angelina, looking around them and grabbing Fred’s arm, pulling them over to an alcove away from prying ears and eyes. “And you know how Oliver was there?”

 “Yeah…” said Fred, feeling the blood drain from his body. His limbs had gone all cold and his fingers all numb and tingly.

 “Well, something might have happened.”

 “Something? What kind of something?”

 “Like I might have, I guess you could say I might have cheated?”

 “Might have or did? Those are two very different things Angelina,” said Fred, speaking now more as himself than as himself pretending to be George.

 “Okay, I did! I cheated!” admitted Angelina, bringing her hands up to cover her face in shame.

 “With Oliver Wood?!”

 “I know! I know! It just sort of…happened. Oli and I, we’re—”

 “Oh, so it’s Oli now?” asked Fred, feeling his temper bubble.

 “Look, I know you’re angry. I mean, Fred’s your brother after all.”

 Oh, right. She still thought he was George. Well this certainly threw a wrench in things. “Don’t you think this is something you should be telling him and not…me?” asked Fred, feeling slightly confused as he tried to wrap his head around processing the fact that his girlfriend had cheated on him with Oliver Wood, and that she had no idea she was speaking to him and not his brother.  

 “Yes, and I want to, but George. We’re friends too right? And you know him better than anyone. I was hoping you might know how to break this to him as easily as possible,” Angelina pleaded, looking imploringly into his eyes.

 Before Fred could even begin to figure out how to answer that, both his saving grace and downfall came all at once in the form of the real George Weasley.

 “You alright Freddie? What are you two up to then?” asked George, looking innocently between the two of them, tucked into the alcove.

 Angelina looked between George, the real George, and Fred who she now was beginning to realize was the one standing before her. Fred watched as the realization took over her and then how fear replaced confusion in her eyes before she muttered, “Well, fuck.”

 The conversation at that point had been a bit stale. Fred reckoned he might have gotten more answers out of her if George hadn’t come along and blown his act, but it was probably for the best. The more Fred thought about it, the less he really wanted to know. Still, some things stuck with him. What did Oliver Wood have that he didn’t?

 “I mean, it’s Wood!” cried Fred for the tenth time that night, laying face up, wrong way on his bed, head hanging off the end.

 “I know mate, I know,” responded George, continuing to unpack his and Fred’s trunk. A nicety Fred figured he was only giving considering his current predicament.

 “Maybe she’s bewitched or something,” suggested Lee kindly from across the room.

 “Yeah, maybe she’s under some kind of potion or spell. How else could a prat like that land Angelina?” added George.

 “I don’t know, Fred managed to land her just fine,” said Kenneth Towler, earning a round of glares from everyone in the room.

 “Shut it, Towler,” warned George, but he had gotten Fred’s attention now.

 Lifting his head till it was level with his body, Fred looked at the bookish boy with narrowed eyes. “What are you trying to say Kenneth?”

 Kenneth laughed, a short and breathy scoff, shaking his head from side to side. “Have you ever considered that maybe Wood’s just better than you?”

 The room was silent. Shocked at Towler’s words and more importantly in anticipation for how Fred would respond. Fred too was curious as to how he would react. Digging deep within himself he searched for anger, sadness, envy, but he found none of it. Instead, he laughed. A full body, side aching laugh that sent him toppling out of his bed and wiping at tears at the corner of his eyes. George and Lee joined in, followed shortly by Towler himself. When Fred finally calmed down enough to catch his breath he was on the floor, back leaning against the foot of his bed and one knee bent upwards to support his left arm.

 “Yeah, you might be right there Towler,” he sighed, feeling better than he had a few minutes previously.

 Despite his ability to laugh at the situation that night, Fred couldn’t help but mope the next day. Sure, he was planning on breaking up with Angelina as well, but it still hurts to get dumped and cheated on. Especially when the other man was your old quidditch captain. Not to mention, in a way he felt like it was slightly expected of him. In true Hogwarts fashion everyone knew the tale of him and Angelina and more importantly his mistaken identity. It had turned into a bit of a joke really and by dinner the next night people were saying things like “Just make sure it’s actually them and not their twin” when someone planned to meet with someone.

 It wasn’t particularly clever, Fred thought. Surely he and George could have come up with something much better if it had happened to someone else. But it hadn’t happened to someone else. It had happened to him, and he wasn’t about to throw fire to the flame by making a better joke that would surely stick around much longer. That just wouldn’t be fair to Angelina, who was already looking about as miserable as you could. It was clear she was embarrassed and guilty. Several points throughout the day Fred thought about putting her out of her misery and telling her not to feel bad. Maybe if he had been a better boyfriend she wouldn’t have been seduced away by another man. Maybe she could tell that his heart wasn’t truly in their relationship and therefore it was easier for her to be unfaithful. Still, he had been the one who’s heart wasn’t in it and he hadn’t been shoving his tongue down Hermione’s throat all summer. This was a new fact he had unwillingly learned from a few Gryffindor sixth year girls gossiping too loudly in the corridor before dinner.

 Once at dinner and knowing this fact, Fred longed for distraction. Glancing around he noticed that Hermione was noticeably absent. Of course she would be gone on the one day he needed the comfort of her ability to go on and on about whatever subject he asked her about.

 “Say, where’s Hermione?” Fred asked Ron and Harry as casually as he could.

 Harry shrugged but Ron answered, “Library maybe? That’s where she was last I saw her. You know how she gets.”

 “Maybe I should go get her? Make sure she doesn’t accidentally miss dinner,” Fred said, standing from the table.

 George gave him a knowing look. “Is that all?”

 “Dinner is the most important meal of the day Georgie,” said Fred, stuffing his hands into his pockets.

 “I thought that was breakfast,” said George back, smiling now.

 “Yeah, and I thought you weren’t a huge dickhead. I guess we’re both wrong.” And with that Fred spun on his heel and exited the Great Hall.

 Fred made it halfway to the library when he began to notice something very odd. The air had begun to thicken, a layer of fog soon surrounding him. Very shortly after his shoes started to make a wet splashing sound with every step. Looking down the corridor through the hazy fog, he realized that the floor was covered in water. A few steps further in and he realized that it was beginning to deepen. Something brushed his left hand and Fred jumped, spinning quickly, and pulling out his wand only to find a cattail. What was a cattail doing in a Hogwarts corridor?

 “Lumos,” he muttered, the tip of his wand glowing brilliantly and illuminating the corridor ahead of him. But he did not see a corridor. Or at least not the corridor he expected to see. No, instead the hall seemed to be transformed into what could only be described as a swamp with an expanse of still water covered by lily pads, cattails, and moss-covered logs. To top it all off, if he focused hard enough and held his breath, Fred could make out the croaks of toads in the distance.

 “What?” muttered Fred aloud in confusion.

 “Oh no, you weren’t supposed to see it until after dinner with everyone else,” whined a voice from behind him. Fred spun, his wand illuminating the face of Hermione Granger. She stood a few feet away, hands clasped behind her back as she frowned in his direction.

 “You did this?” he asked in shock.

 Hermione’s frown quickly morphed into a very proud smile and she nodded enthusiastically. “It’s a portable swamp. I’ve been working on it all summer. It was supposed to be yours and George’s Christmas present – you know, for the business.”

 “Why?” asked Fred, unable to really form full sentences from shock.

 “I heard about what happened with Angelina and I figured you might need some cheering up. I was hoping you’d get to see it for the first time when everyone else found it, but this is nice too. At least this way you won’t accidentally fall into it. A foot further and the water depth drops to about four feet,” she informed him casually, although the smug expression on her face told him she felt very proud of herself.

 Fred took a quick step away from the water and towards Hermione, not wanting to chance falling in. He stared at the witch before him, wide-eyed and speechless.

 “Do you like it?” Hermione asked, looking a bit nervous now as he had yet to make any real comment on her brilliant invention.

 Like it? He loved it! It was probably the nicest gift anyone had ever given him. How could he even begin to express how grateful he was? He was so happy he could kiss her. In fact…

 Fred leaned down, wrapping his arms tightly around Hermione and lifting her off of the ground as he claimed her mouth. The kiss was hard and overly enthusiastic at first, but in almost no time they were swept back into the memory of their first kiss all those months ago and they melted into each other like there had been no time between them. A single continuous kiss that went on for seasons. A kiss that Fred never wanted to end as he held Hermione tightly and snogged the living daylights out of her. Unfortunately, the kiss did have to end. A distant murmur of voices sounded from somewhere near by and they broke apart panting. Hermione’s lips were red and swollen and parted in a surprised expression when he carefully placed her down on the ground. They took a moment to just stare at each other, both surprised and delighted in what had just happened. But then the voices grew louder, and they knew they had to go. Fred held out his hand, raising his eyebrows expectantly. Hermione took it firmly, smiling bigger than he’d ever seen. Then they were off, running down the corridors and away from the scene of the crime. Through the halls of stone floors, ancient tapestries, and regal portraits they ran, laughing like school children. Which in a way, Fred supposed they still were.

Taglist:

@theworldisugly-22

@aoonai

@sjh-07-10

@is-it-madness

@i-d-e-g-a-f

[iwriteasfotini]

OLIWITS Excerpt from THATS Ch I

An excerpt from Our Love is Written in the Stars: The Heir and The Spare, Chapter I - Glasses and Freckles

Though the trio looked related, they weren’t showing the familial affection commonly on display on Platform Nine and Three-Quarters. The boys stood apart from the woman, whose hair was pulled into a tight black bun. The look on her face suggested a particularly unpleasant smell lingered under her nose. 

“I’m telling you Sirius, you put one toe out of line and I am dragging you home by your ear,” Walburga Black hissed, not even looking at her older son. She grabbed the back of his neck. “Do you hear me son?”

Sirius rolled his eyes, and his mother squeezed, hard. “Yes ma’am.”

“So many filthy muggle-lovers and diluted blood lines these days. If I had the time I’d put more work into advocating for a reformation on the enrollment qualifications.”

Sirius tuned his mother out. He whispered to his brother instead, “you’re going to be ok, right Reg?”

Regulus’ eyes were wide with a combination of excitement and fear. Sirius understood. Excitement because Sirius was finally going to Hogwarts, something they had both dreamed about since they were little boys and Regulus only had to wait a year before he joined his brother. Fear because for the first time in his life, Regulus would be the only Black son at home with their deranged mother and absent father. 

“Sure, Sirius,” Regulus said. “But you’ll write to me, won’t you?”

“Of course,” Sirius insisted, “I’ll write you every day. From what I’ve heard classes won’t demand much this year so I’ll have plenty of time.” After several years of private tutoring, the first year course load was sure to be a piece of cake, at least this is what his cousins claimed. 

A laughing boy ran past the family, glasses glinting on his face, untidy black hair bouncing. Sirius and Regulus stepped back, closer to the wall. Both their eyes trained on the light hearted boy.

“James!” A woman’s voice called, rushing along in his wake, pushing a trolly with a large trunk and owl cage on top of it. She was wearing a bright blue sari. 

“Let him go, Effie,” said a tall, dark skinned man. “It’s all so exciting the first time.”

So this boy, James, was a first year as well. Sirius briefly wondered if he’d make any new friends this year. He hoped so. 

“Sirius Black, are you even listening to me?” Walburga prodded him with her boney hand. 

“Yes ma’am,” Sirius replied automatically. 

Walburga’s eyes bulged, “I was saying you had better tell the house-elves to take special care when laundering your tailored robes. We wouldn’t want a Black looking less than his best.”

Sirius grumbled, “yes ma’am.” But he nudged Regulus and lifted up the hem of his button-down to reveal a patch of a turquoise which was most certainly not a Walburga approved shirt underneath. Sirius winked at Regulus and Regulus beamed. 

The train let out a long whistle.

“Go on,” Walburga pushed Sirius towards the train. They had already stowed his luggage in an empty compartment. Sirius grabbed Regulus’ hand and gave it a tight squeeze. The brothers locked eyes and both gave tiny nods. 

“And Sirius,” Walburga called as Sirius stepped onto the train, “I’ll be watching you.”

Sirius didn’t even bother to wave as his mother was already steering his brother down the platform. 

Finally, thought Sirius. Finally, I am free. 

He let out a long sigh and went to find the compartment where his luggage was stowed. 

...

More to come (it is my first fic and it's all already written). Daily posting will begin on AO3 on October, 31 :)

Check on the weekly posting/writing status update here!

[thewildomega]

Second Chance Ch. 4

Driving down the road you glanced again to the rear view mirror to see Nook's cage still strapped in the bed of your truck. You had thrown a tarp over it to keep the wind off of him and also help with the noise. Letting out a small sigh you looked back to the road. 

"Have you helped other animals before?" he asked her. They had been driving now for about an hour and spent the time talking about this and that. Well mostly him talking. He had been quick to notice that she wasn't much of a talker or rather she wasn't much for talking about herself. Not in a rude way though, she was never rude in fact she was kind. Quiet and kind. 

Nodding you grinned a bit, "Yes."

"What kinds?"

"Well I've done deer, foxes, a rabbit, dogs, cats. There was an owl and a wolf..."

"A wolf?" he asked, his brows raising a bit. 

Nodding you smiled. "Yep, he was definitely my toughest patient yet. He was about a year and a half when I got him, one of the local hunters found him stuck in one of their traps. He had broken his leg and nearly ripped off all the skin around it trying to get loose. They were going to put him down but I got there first. We tranquilized him so I could get his leg out without hurting him even more. I brought him home and got it all cleaned and bandaged before he woke up. Once he did wake up though..." you said with a huff and then grinned. "I'm pretty sure he wanted to eat me." you told him and heard him laugh. 

"So what happened then?" he asked, enjoying her story and seeing how much it made her smile. 

"Well I kept working with him for the next month. I didn't want to tranquilize him every time I had to clean his leg so I slowly got him to let me see it which didn't work all that well because he bit me when I poured the alcohol on it..."

"He bit you?"

"Yep. Right on my thigh." you told him. "He bit me again the next day when I went to feed him but he learned his lesson real quick." 

"What do you mean by that? What did you do?"

Licking your lips you tilted your head a bit, "I... well I bit him back." 

"You bit a wolf?" he asked with a chuckle.

"Hey he bit me first. The time with his leg I get, he was in pain but the second time I didn't even do anything, I was just bringing him something to eat." you quickly said, defensively and heard him laugh loudly. "Laugh all you want, he didn't bite me no more after that. Actually after that we got along pretty damn good." you said with a smile. 

"So were you able to release him as well?' he asked.

"Yes, I took him to the National park as well. Come to think of it you might get to see him, his pack stays around where we are taking Nook and sometimes when I go up here he comes to pay me a visit." 

"Does this wolf have a name?" he asked. 

"Smoke." you said with a proud smile. 

Grinning at seeing her smile he felt that warming in his chest and sighed. A while later she pulled up to a small place and parked the truck before turning it off.

"Come on we'll go grab a drink. We're about halfway there now." you told him, taking off your seatbelt and getting out of the truck. 

Following her into the store he noticed it was a bit colder here than it was at her home and was glad she had mentioned him bringing the thicker over shirt she had bought him. Standing beside her he looked over the many different drinks with his arms crossed over his chest. "There are so many different options." 

Giggling you nodded. Reaching forward to grab your own you saw him look to what you had and raised it for him to see. "It's a green tea. It's got ginseng in it and honey. They are really good and actually cheap." When he moved to grab one you quickly spoke up. "You don't have to get this, get whatever you want." 

"I'm going to take your word on it darling." he told her with a smile. 

Returning his smile you nodded and turned to the other isles "Do you want a snack?" 

"More choices. Any recommendations?" he grinned down at her.

Humming you looked over the snacks and then up to him. "Depends if you want something sweet or salty... or both." 

Looking down into her eyes he again felt that warmth in his chest. He enjoyed how small she was next to him but not as small as she would have been if he was his normal height. Standing beside him she came up to about his mid chest. He was still much wider than her, much larger but in a good way. 

Seeing him just looking at you and then realizing you were just looking back you blinked and reached forward to grab a bag of chips. "Here how about these and some jerky?" you asked. 

Snapping out of his thoughts he looked to the bag she had been holding out for him to take and nodded. "Sounds good lass." 

Once they were back in the truck he munched on the chips which were actually really good, the drink as well. 

"So what does this home island of yours look like?" you asked, wanting something to talk about. 

"Sphinx? Well it's a small island, it's better off than it used to be, when I was a boy it was a rough place. Now it's a peaceful place.. or at least it was... I would hope by boys would keep an eye on it for me." he said, mumbling the last part to himself. "Anyway it has mountains and hills with bright green grass, flowering shrubs and evergreen trees...."

Listening to him describe the island you couldn't help but smile softly at how much he seemed to care about his home. When you started asking about his crew, the people he considered his sons and daughters you smiled even brighter at the genuine love in his voice, in his smile. You learned that Marco was his first and how then after more and more joined him. When he spoke of his sons, Thatch and Ace you saw his smile falter and his eyes turn sad. He told you about how they had been killed. Thatch being killed by this Blackbeard fellow over the devil fruit he wanted. Then there was Ace who he told you was the true son of his long rival Gol D. Rogers. He told you how he was meant to be killed for simply being the son of the king of the pirates. 

"A child should never be punished for their parents wrongdoings." he said deeply. 

Hearing the pain in his voice you licked your lips. "I'm sorry for your losses Edward." you said softly. Seeing his eyes meet yours you gave a sad grin. "Thatch and Ace sound like they were amazing people, all of your children do. Also sounds like you raised them all to be great individuals and to do what they deemed to be the right thing. Ace may have died but he died saving his little brother, that's a very selfless and courageous thing to do. Something that he and the rest of your family learned from their father no doubt." 

Blinking he looked into her kind e/c eyes and sighed softly, feeling a sort of peace come over him. "Thank you y/n."  Seeing her smile he looked around and noticed that they had stopped. Looking around at the landscape he saw tall snow covered mountains and a large lake, all of which were very beautiful. "This is it?" he asked and saw her nod. Damn, seems like every time he went to ask her about her own life something came up.

"Hey y/n."

Hearing the male voice he looked out the window to see a man coming over to the vehicle and noticed y/n getting out. 

...................................

Standing back he watched the scene in front of him with a small smile. Y/n seemed to have no fear, or at least none that dealt with animals. After arriving at the park Tyler, the you, well he guessed he was older than him now, the park ranger had welcomed them. Y/n had introduced them to one another, telling this Tyler that he was her friend which put a smile on his face. Helping her get Nook out of the cage they had loaded into the truck at her home he saw y/n let him out making he cub instantly run to her legs. It hadn't been hard for him to notice the sad grin on her face as she looked down at the cub. Although she kept saying how she was happy he was going to be released back into the wild, to live a life of freedom he could tell she was going to miss him. 

Following Y/n and Tyler through the park they got to a boat and saw Tyler step down into it, y/n following him and calling for Nook to as well. When the cub looked hesitant to follow he chuckled and lifted him up before stepping into the boat and handing Nook over to y/n who had sat down on the back bench. Taking a seat next to her he watched as the cub went about playing with her and then him. Grinning he allowed him to gnaw on his hand and arm, listening to his little growls and grunts. 

When Tyler started the boat you felt Nook tensed and noticed Edward tense as well. Grinning you looked to him and saw him look towards the motor on the back. "I take it there is no motors in your world?"

"No darling we use sails." he told her.

"Alright ya'll hold on." Tyler called back before taking off.

"What if there is no wind?" you asked over the motor, holding onto Nook tightly. 

"Then you either sit there until it starts back up or use the oars." he told her. Noticing Nook start panicking and Y/n having trouble holding the bear cub that was about half the size of her he scooted closer and quickly wrapped his arms around both her and the cub as they hit a rough spot and she almost fell. "Woah, I got you lass." 

Snapping your eyes up to him you saw him looking down at you with his warm yellow eyes. Feeling the warmth from his body you swallowed hard and gave a grin, "Ugh...thanks." you said, looking back down at Nook to hopefully hide your blush. 

It was about a ten minute ride across the lake to the area where Nook would be released at. Helping Y/n out of the boat he enjoyed the feel of her hand in his for that short moment. Following her and Tyler once again they walked along a trail, listening to the two of them talk. 

"Beth is already there with Kayla and her cubs. She has been very calm for the past few days and we have been trying to keep her around this one area." Tyler spoke. 

"Well I think she will do good with him, She has taken in foster cubs before and she has some of her own right now so that's a plus." you said. 

"Yea, we are hopeful that within a years time Nook will be able to start heading out on his own after learning from Kayla." 

Making their way to an open meadow of sorts he looked out to see a large bear with two other ones close by her. Getting closer he saw what looked to be something along the lines of a smaller vehicle and a woman standing by it. As she turned to them he saw her smile. 

"Y/n, it's good to see you again. I see you brought a friend this time."

"You to Beth. Yea, this is Edward, Nook's latest chew toy. Edward this is Beth, Tyler's wife. She works directly with the bears here at the park." you said with a small smile up at the tall man. 

Chuckling at her words he smiled down at the woman and gave her hand a small shake when he saw her hold her own out. 

That had been a few hours ago. Now he watched along with Tyler and Kayla as the small woman worked with the bears. Y/n seemed to be completely in her element with the wild animals, a smile on her face. She even stood close to the mother bear, giving her small treats out of her hand and rubbing her. To everyone's surprise it had taken no time at all for Kayla to accept the new cub. Now Nook was playing with the other two cubs but every now and again he would come back over to hug Y/n's legs. 

"She really is something isn't she?" Beth asked with a smile. 

"Yes she is, I think the bears like her more than they do you honey." Tyler chuckled. 

"Well in my defense I have yet to see an animal that doesn't take to her." Beth said with a grin. "Smoke especially." 

"Very true, that wolf hates everyone but her." Tyler said. 

"Really?' he asked, joining in on the conversation.

"Oh yes, There is no one else that he allows near him. Even if it's one of the park rangers he starts showing his teeth but her, well I'm sure you will see for yourself, y/n is sure to go pay her demon child a visit while she is here. Warning before hand though, don't touch her or even get close to her while he is near or you're going to end up with about 42 sharp teeth in you." Tyler warned. 

"I take it that was a lesson learned by someone before?" he asked, one brow raised. 

Nodding Tyler looked to him, "One of the old rangers that worked here, Chris. Everyone tried telling him how iffy Smoke was of people. He followed y/n up there one day when she came hiking..."

"Stalking her is more like it." Beth huffed. 

"Stalking her?' he asked with a frown.

"Well yea okay. He had a thing for her and didn't really know how to take a hint that she wasn't interested." Tyler said, rubbing the back of his head. "Anyways Chris followed her up to where Smoke and his pack stay at and well it didn't end well."

"He practically ripped off Chris's thigh when he tried to wrap his arm around y/n." Beth added in. 

Raising both of his brows he looked across to Y/n and saw her still playing with the bears. "Is he like that with everyone she brings as well?" he asked and saw the couple look to him with furrowed brows. 

"You are the only person that she has ever brought with her." Beth told the large man. 

Sighing you watched as Nook tumbled around with the other bear cubs and interacted with Kayla, the mother bear already acting like she was hers. You knew you needed to slip away now. You always hated this part. Crouching down you saw Nook look to you and move over to go tackle you like he always did. Placing your hand behind you to balance yourself you rubbed his head and scratched behind his ear. "You be a good boy and don't give Kayla a hard time huh." you smiled softly. "I'll come back and see you in a month or so okay." kissing the top of his head you stood when he ran back over to the other cubs. Looking to Kayla she must have understood and you heard her let out a small huff before walking away, the cubs following right behind her. Turning around you moved over to Edward and the others but stopped when you felt a thump against your legs. Looking down you saw Nook there and smiled, "You go on now." you told him. 

Watching her and the bear cub she had been raising for almost a month now look at each other he tilted his head. Seeing Nook nuzzle into her leg and let out a grunt he smiled as the cub took off towards the others. 

"And some people saw animals don't have feelings." Beth huffed. 

Smiling you watched him go over the hill and then looked up to Edward to see him smiling softly down at you. "So want to go see Smoke?" you asked. 

"Where you go I will follow darling." 

....................................

It had been true what Beth and Tyler told him. As soon as they had gotten close to the wolf's den and Y/n had let out a loud whistle he had heard many wolves and saw them instantly come running over to Y/n and him. Stiffening he readied himself to act if they tried to attack her but to his surprise he saw them instantly knock her to the ground and start licking her, their tails wagging and little noises come from them. 

"Aw come on guys I already had my bath for today." you grumbled as the wolves went about licking at your face, neck and hair. Hearing Edward laugh the wolves seemed to notice him and some of the younger pups went over to sniff at his feet and legs. Crouching down some and going to pet them he saw some of the other ones quickly move away from y/n and glanced up to see a larger male come trotting over to them. The male was quick to pull his lips back over his teeth in a snarl, his tail bushing up in warning. That had to be him. 

"Smoke." you said in a motherly tone. "Come here bud." you called, noticing how the wolf was looking at Edward like he was his next meal. Sitting up you watched as smoke came over to you and instantly started smelling at you, no doubt picking up Nook's scent. "Yep yep I know I cheated on you." you told him, moving your hand to pet him. 

The wolf had kept his eyes on him the whole time and every time he had moved even a fraction of an inch towards y/n the wolf had started to growl. Before long though Y/n had said they need to head back, it was already getting late and they still had a long ride back to her home. 

Leaving the park you decided to stop for some supper on the way back home. Getting a booth in the back you had sat across from Edward and ordered a white Russian and a glass of water for yourself, "They have ale of you want." 

"Ill take one of those then." he told the woman with a grin and saw her nod, telling them she would be back with their drinks soon and handing them their menus. Looking it over he glanced across the table to Y/n and saw her reading over the menu. Looking back down he glanced over everything and saw her put down her menu. "Already decided darling?" 

Nodding you smiled. "Yep, do you have an idea of what you want?" you asked. 

Humming he gave a nod and placed his menu down just as the waitress came over with their drinks. Seeing something white get placed down in front of Y/n he knit his brows but said nothing as he and she ordered their food. He had been surprised when she ordered a steak. Good to see you actually eating something lass." he said in a teasing manner.

"Ha ha. I do eat, when I have time." you told him. Sipping at your drink you saw him looking it over and grinned. "What?"

"Is that milk?" he asked looking at the short glass with the darker brown liquid onto he bottom and this whiteish liquid clouding over the top. 

Giggling you smiled. "No, it's called a white Russian." Stirring it to blend it all together you looked up at him and rose a brow, "Want to try it?" you asked. 

Looking to her he hummed, "I suppose." Taking it from her when she slid it across the table he lifted it up and took a sip from the glass. Tasting the alcohol and coffee flavor he hummed as he sat it back in front of her. "It's good but I think I will stick to my sake."

"I've never had sake." you said and saw his eyes go wide. 

"You're kidding?"

Shaking your head you saw him smile. "We are going to have to change that darling. Now I don't know about the sake here but back in my world..." humming at the end he heard her give a small laugh again. 

"Here I'll add it to my list." you said, taking the small notebook out of your purse and flipping to the page you were looking for. "Try Sake." you said as you wrote. 

Seeing her write it in that book of hers he narrowed his eyes and tilted his head. He had seen her writing in it before but he didn't exactly know what it was. "What is that thing you have there." 

"Oh this... it's just this notebook I keep on me. I write my reminders and stuff like that in there. Then in the back there is my bucket list." 

"Bucket list?" he asked. 

"Yea it's this list you can make, things you want to do or try before you kick the bucket." you told him, folding the notebook back up and placing it back in your purse. 

Humming he looked at her as he lifted his own drink to his lips. "So what's some of the things on your list?"

"Um... well there's stuff like see the Niagara falls, try sake..." you named, thinking about some of the other things to tell him that wouldn't make you sound pathetic. "Uh, well see the ocean..." 

"Wait." he said and saw her stiffen. "You have never been to the sea, never seen it?" 

"Well I mean I've seen it on TV and stuff...." 

"But you have never personally been to it?" he asked and saw her shake her head. Letting out a deep sigh he looked to her and shook his head. "Never tried sake, never been to the sea... your killing me lass." he said and heard her let out a small chuckle, her eyes dropping to her lap. Thinking he may have embarrassed her he went to speak but then their plates were being set down in front of them. 

After they both had ate and she had paid for their food they went back out to the truck and he readied himself for the long drive back to her home. They had ate in a comfortable silence but something had been itching at him for a while now and he wanted to ask. "Y/n darling..." he said and heard her hum. "How come I've never heard you talk about any of your family,  I've been with you for a little over a week now, you've heard me talk about mine but you never mention anything about your own. Where are they?" he asked, noticing her stiffen up and her lip move between her teeth. "I don't' mean to push you on it lass, I'm... well I'm just curious."

Taking a deep breath you sighed. "It's not something I like to talk about... not something I like to think about." you told him honestly, not wanting to sound rude you licked your lips. " I... don't know where they are and I likely never will." 

Hearing this he frowned, being able to pick up on the pain in her voice, the sadness, the loneliness. While he wanted to know more he wouldn't push it, for now. "Alright darling, I understand." he said and saw her nod. Hearing her phone ring he saw her pull it out and answer it, listening as she talked to someone from her work as it sounded. Thinking about what had just happened he looked out the window into the dark landscape. He had seen people with troubled pasts before, most of his children came from rough pasts and it was because of that he he knew that he would need to have patience and not push her, or else she would shut down. 

Moving to hold the wheel with your elbow you brushed back your hair and grit your teeth as Trish went about venting to you about the bar tonight and how she would need a break tomorrow. Then she threw in how she wanted to hang out with her boyfriend and blah blah blah. "Okay. Yea fine, I'll take your shift tomorrow. Look though I can't work morning the day after I... hello... Trish..." Pulling your phone away you saw she had hung up on you and shook your head. "bitch." you muttered under your breath. 

Hearing her curse he rose his brows and looked over to her, "Something wrong lass?" 

"Just an issue at work." you sighed. 

It was early into the morning when they arrived back at her home, the clock reading 4:26 am. Having to make a detour when there had been an accident it put them getting home later than they should have. A few times he couldn't help but doze off making him feel guilty knowing she very well couldn't sleep. Taking off his boots he turned to the woman and saw her rubbing her eyes. "I would say goodnight to you but well it's morning." he chuckled and heard her hum, her lips tugging up the tiniest amount. 

"Sorry about us getting back so late." you said, dropping your purse to the entry table and kicking off your boots. 

"Don't apologize darling it was nice, I enjoyed the time with you." he grinned. 

Glad for the dark room to hide your blush you took a deep breath. "Well thank you for the company." you told him and then covered a yawn. "I think I am going to try and get some sleep, I have to be at work in a few hours." 

Frowning at that he saw her already walking towards her bedroom. 

"Good morning Edward." you said, waving back to him. 

Smiling a little he let out a huff and then moved to his own bedroom. "You too lass."