#COMMON ELIGIBILITY TEST

[damnyousubdermalirritants]

UPDATE: NOVAVAX NOW AVAILABLE!!!

Hi everyone, it's been about a year since I posted about updated COVID vaccines and it's time for another update if you are in the US:

THE BRIDGE ACCESS PROGRAM IS ENDING!!!!

If you are uninsured or your insurance does not cover covid boosters, please schedule a new booster appointment before the end of August because the Bridge Access Program (the way the government will still pay for your booster) ends in September. The updated mRNA boosters from Moderna and Pfizer are available now. Go Go GO!!!

Shitty, I know! If you can call your congressional reps, the FDA, the CDC, whomever to tell them you want this program to continue/be reinstated, that would be great. Also, while you're at it, call the FDA to tell them to expedite the approval for the updated Novavax booster (3017962640).

The new Novavax vaccine is designed for the JN.1 strain which is one of the most recent mutations of the virus going around. If you have insurance and can afford to wait, I highly recommend getting the Novavax booster when it becomes available.

We are currently in the largest Covid summer surge since 2021

If you haven't had a booster in the past six months you are essentially unvaccinated. New strains with different spike proteins keep evolving faster than vaccine development and distribution can keep up. All that said, getting Covid is not a moral failing. If you do feel sick, take a rapid test! If it's negative, test again a day or two later. It is better to know than not to know. Here's a refresh on how to take a rapid test correctly:

If you do get Covid, it is worth getting on antiretrovirals within the first week of symptoms to reduce the overall viral load your body has to fight. If your insurance doesn't cover Paxlovid or Remdesivir, here are other low/no-cost ways to access it:

If you get sick, rest radically even after you stop testing positive on rapid tests. Avoid exercising for at least eight weeks after the fact to reduce the risk of developing long covid.

Regardless of your vaccination status, masking with a KN95 or N95 respirator (or equivalent standards in your country i.e. FFP2/3 in the EU) is the most reliable way to protect yourself and others. If Covid protections are a financial burden, there is likely an active Mask Bloc near you doing free distribution of respirators and tests that would be happy to help you. Here's a global map of them from covidactionmap.org

Some quick tips: if you're wearing a bi-fold mask, flatten the nose-bridge wire completely, then mold it to your nose on your face for a better fit. The best mask is the one that you will actually wear regularly to protect yourself. I really like the selection of styles, sizes and colors from WellBefore:

As school is starting, getting you and your family boosted is one of the best things you can do to protect yourselves. Masking is perhaps even more important. If you can advocate for updating and regularly changing the HVAC filters at your local schools to MERV-13 or higher to keep the indoor air cleaner, that can also make a big difference. Better indoor air quality in schools helps protect kids from illness, allergies, wildfire smoke, and more per the EPA's website.

These are steps you can take to improve air quality at home as well. Corsi-Rosenthal boxes are low-cost and highly effective for cleaning the air indoors.

Here's a map of clean air lending libraries for getting access to air purifiers for events from cleanairclub.org

[edenesth]

ATEEZ as Hogwarts Students

Pairing(s): hogwarts student!ateez x hogwarts student!reader

Word Count: 9.8k

A/N: Oh my gosh, thank you all so much for helping me reach 2.3k followers! To celebrate this, I'm back again with another one of these! Once again, special thanks to my one and only, my pookie, @itstheghostofmypast, for helping me confirm which houses some of the members should be in💘

ATEEZ MASTERLIST

Hongjoong ↠ Gryffindor

The Poor Prefect That Nobody Takes Seriously

"I swear to god, if I see another damn chocolate frog loose in the dorm, I'll—" Before Hongjoong could even finish, a cheeky first-year passing by stuck his tongue out at him. "What are you gonna do? Run off to cry to Professor McGonagall again?"

The seventh-year's jaw dropped, his blood pressure spiking, but the kid was gone before he could even scold him. Two years—he'd been a prefect for almost two years now, and still, no one ever took him seriously. Thinking back to his early days as an optimistic prefect, eager to bring order and discipline to his rowdy housemates, he knew now how impossible that dream was.

But was he going to stop trying?

Not a damn chance.

Hongjoong had chosen to become a prefect the very moment he was eligible in his fifth year. Professors had always praised him as reliable, a natural-born leader, and he'd believed that wholeheartedly. He'd pictured himself bringing order to his dormitory, respected by his housemates for his efforts to keep things in line. But the reality? Gryffindors, as he was learning, could be a lot harder to control than he ever expected.

Unfortunately, his "small but mighty" reputation didn't exactly translate into authority. He'd start off with a firm tone, reminding them of the rules, only to watch them twist his words into a rallying cry for their next scheme. His attempts at seriousness somehow only fueled their chaotic Gryffindor spirits, making him seem more like a mascot for daring antics than a figure of discipline.

While the academic staff continued to commend his commitment, his classmates saw him as the "cool" prefect—the one who'd cover for them more often than not, a little too forgiving to actually be feared. Some nights, he'd even find himself dragged into the very pranks he was supposed to be preventing, swept up by the contagious energy of his friends.

Despite everything, Hongjoong couldn't bring himself to truly give up. Every morning, he'd tell himself that today was the day he'd put his foot down, that he'd be the prefect his professors always said he could be. He knew the odds weren't in his favour, but in true Gryffindor fashion, he wasn't about to back down from the challenge.

Today's the day—I can feel it in my bones.

Letting out a determined breath, Hongjoong's gaze fixed on the notice board, now littered with doodles, silly notes, and questionable "decorations." With a purposeful nod, he crossed his arms and cleared his throat, catching the attention of the Gryffindors lounging around the common room. "Forget the frogs then. How many times have I told you all not to vandalise the notice board with your nonsense? It's used solely for—"

"For important announcements. Yes, we get it," piped up a cheeky third-year, eyes glinting with mischief. "But there are no announcements at the moment, so is it really so bad if we, y'know, decorate a little?"

And there it was again—the quick responses that left him speechless every time. Hongjoong tried to keep his expression stern, but a tiny part of him could almost see their point. Was it so bad to have a bit of fun? No, he reminded himself, that's not the point. But as he felt his resolve waver, he knew a miracle wasn't going to happen today. Why couldn't he be both firm and likeable, just like—

"Oh, so you want to test if it's bad?" your voice cut through, sharp but calm, as you stepped down from the spiral staircase. You'd been listening long enough to hear their usual defiance, and you were not about to let them undermine your boyfriend's authority. "How about we invite the professors to take a look at your 'artwork' and see how much they'd appreciate it, hm?"

Like you.

Hongjoong released a breath he hadn't realised he was holding, grateful for your support. You, with your knack for balancing authority and approachability, were everything he wished he could be as a prefect. If he could just learn how to be firm, like you, maybe Gryffindor's antics would finally come under control.

"You heard her," he added, finding a bit of confidence again as he nodded in agreement. "Clean it up. Now."

The students exchanged glances, sighing as they reluctantly began peeling off the doodles. He couldn't help but grin a little as he glanced your way.

"Thanks, babe," he mouthed.

You shook your head, smiling as you nodded toward the remaining Gryffindors lounging around. "I'm heading to the Great Hall first. I'll leave it to you to get everyone to breakfast on time, Joong. Think you can handle it?"

Hongjoong nodded enthusiastically, eager to make you proud. "You bet. They're going to see a whole new Prefect Kim this year," he declared confidently.

You laughed, both amused and a bit sceptical. He'd nearly caved to their antics just moments ago, but that was part of his charm. You loved how different he was from you—how he helped you loosen up when you were too serious, just as you helped him stay firm when he got a little too lenient. Together, you two were like yin and yang, balanced and perfectly matched, as everyone in the house always teased.

Squeezing his hand, you gave him a playful smile. "Show 'em, tiger," you winked before turning to leave, catching a glimpse of his cheeks turning pink.

The moment you were out of sight, the common room burst into whistles and smirks around him. Snapping out of his trance, your boyfriend rolled his eyes, trying to keep his composure.

"Alright, folks," he called out, clapping his hands. "You heard my girl. Let's cooperate for once and head to the Great Hall on time—don't make me disappoint her!"

The Gryffindors grinned, shuffling toward the door without a fuss, eager to play along. He smirked, pleased with their obedience whenever you were mentioned. Maybe he'd always need your presence to keep this difficult crowd in line, but he didn't mind at all. He knew they didn't have to fear him for him to be a good prefect. Deep down, he knew they all adored him, and he was pretty sure that, rule-breaking aside, they wouldn't truly make things difficult for him. They just loved teasing him—because, honestly, he might just be their favourite prefect.

Seonghwa ↠ Hufflepuff

The Goody Two Shoes and Teacher's Pet

"Oh, Seonghwa, my boy! What brings you here on a weekend? Shouldn't you be off enjoying Hogsmeade with your girlfriend?" Professor Sprout asked, pleasantly surprised as her star student stepped into the greenhouse, notebook in hand. The seventh-year smiled brightly, giving her a respectful nod before approaching.

"Good afternoon, Professor! I just came by to check on my mandrake—I'm determined to cultivate one to maturity for my latest Restorative Draught. And, uh… my girlfriend, she'll be here to join me soon," he added, rubbing the back of his neck, cheeks turning pink at the mention of you.

Professor Sprout's expression softened, a smile touching her lips. "You're too hard working for your own good, both of you," she gently chided, pride swelling as she glanced at the Hufflepuff sigil pinned proudly on his denim jacket. Even on a day when house representation wasn't required, Park Seonghwa wore his Hufflepuff loyalty openly, reminding everyone where his heart belonged. She knew he had a bright future ahead, and if she were to ever consider early retirement, he would be her top choice to take over as the next Herbology professor.

As if on cue, you pushed open the greenhouse doors and stepped inside. "Hwa, are you here already?" you called, glancing around before your eyes landed on your boyfriend and Professor Sprout.

Seonghwa, who'd been focused on his mandrake, looked up at the sound of your voice, a soft smile lighting up his face. In the presence of authority, he resisted the urge to rush over and hug you, his restraint both endearing and unmistakable. You bit back a laugh, amused by his adorable attempt at composure.

"Oh! Good afternoon, Professor!" you greeted, nodding respectfully. "Are we disturbing you? We can come another day if you need the greenhouse for your work."

She smiled warmly, waving off your concern. "Not at all, dearie. I was just on my way out. You two enjoy your little date," she added with a knowing wink. "And if you're in the mood for a treat, there are some extra Every Flavour Beans on the top shelf—please help yourselves."

"Thank you, Professor!" you and Seonghwa chimed in unison, exchanging a look of warmth and shared gratitude. As the elderly woman left, he gently took your hand, pulling you close enough to place a soft kiss on your forehead. You leaned into him with a contented sigh. "How embarrassing—now she's certain we're dating," you murmured, unable to hide your own smile.

He chuckled, his eyes dancing with affection. "Is that such a terrible thing, love? Maybe it's time the whole world knows you're mine."

You gasped in mock scandal, playfully nudging his shoulder. "How improper," you laughed, but a blush crept into your cheeks. Though you'd never formally announced your relationship, it was hardly a secret—everyone must have guessed by now with all the time you spent together. But for the sake of his reputation as the model student, you'd both kept things understated, not feeling the need to broadcast your love. Now, though, there was a new spark in his eyes, a hint of the Slytherin heritage running through his veins, as if he suddenly wanted the world to see what his heart had always known.

Seonghwa, after all, was the first Hufflepuff in a long line of Ravenclaws and Slytherins—a surprise his family hadn't quite anticipated. But their surprise had never bothered him. Instead, it had only strengthened his resolve to prove that Hufflepuff was as noble and worthy as any other house. Consistently at the top of his class in Herbology and Care of Magical Creatures, he'd gained the admiration of professors for his quiet dedication and high moral standards. Always the first to lend a hand to new students or submit his assignments, he was as dependable as they came.

Yet as much as he wanted to honour his house and his achievements, his heart now longed for something deeper. For the first time, he wanted his family—and everyone else—to see you, the one who had believed in him through every challenge and celebrated every victory, who had loved him exactly as he was. He knew that letting you into his life so openly would be the proudest badge he could ever wear.

"So," he began, biting his lip as he shifted his focus from the mandrake to you, who was busily jotting down notes about its latest growth. "Should we spend some time in Hogsmeade after this?" His voice was soft, almost hesitant, and your eyes widened slightly, your actions faltering as you locked gazes with him.

"You're joking, right? All our friends are there—" you started, but he shook his head, his expression earnest. "I'm serious, love."

The weight of his words sank in, and you realised he wasn't joking at all. A rush of emotions washed over you. "I... I don't know why it took me so long, but I don't want to hide my feelings for you anymore. I want to openly show my affection and be like every other couple in school. It's already our seventh year, and we haven't even been on a proper date. Can we make this the first of many more? Would you like to... go on a date with me?"

Placing your pen down, you blinked, your heart racing at his sincere proposal. This was a big step. Once the truth was out in the open, there would be no turning back—everyone, including his family, would know about you two. But as you looked into his eyes, you felt a rush of warmth. If he was ready for it, then so were you. You knew he would always protect you, no matter what.

With a shy smile, you nodded, feeling butterflies fluttering in your stomach. "Thought you'd never ask."

His face broke into a radiant grin, and the world around you seemed to melt away. Seonghwa stepped closer, allowing your head to rest against his shoulder, enveloped in the warmth of his presence like a cosy blanket. "I can't wait," he murmured softly.

"Me too," you replied, a wave of excitement bubbling in your chest.

In that greenhouse, surrounded by vibrant plants and warm sunlight, you both felt the first tender blooms of something beautiful—a love that was finally ready to thrive in the open, with all the joy and light that came with it.

Yunho ↠ Hufflepuff

The Popular Triwizard Champion

"Well? Have you managed to figure out the next task, golden boy?"

Yunho's head snapped around at the sound of your voice, his wide eyes betraying his surprise. Before he could respond, a few stray water droplets from his damp hair splashed onto you, drawing a squeal from your lips.

"Oh no! Angel, I'm so sorry!" he stammered, hastily brushing at your sleeve, his genuine concern making you laugh. He held the golden egg tightly, now safely shut after his latest round of inspections. "But seriously, what are you doing here? You'll be in trouble if anyone finds you sneaking into the prefect's bathroom!"

You snorted, though your heart melted at the way his brows knitted with worry. "Well, I could say the same for you, Yuyu. You're not a prefect either," you quipped with a grin.

He chuckled, the sound echoing in the steamy room as he swam closer to where you sat at the edge of the bath, your legs lazily dangling in the water. Gently, he set the golden egg beside you, then rested his arms on your thighs, gazing up at you with a playful smirk.

"The difference is, I'm a Triwizard Champion," he teased, his grin widening, "and you're not."

Rolling your eyes, you booped his nose with a finger, earning a soft laugh from him. "True, I'm not," you replied, sticking your tongue out cheekily. "But I am your girlfriend, so that grants me a special privilege, doesn't it?"

Yunho's gaze softened as he beamed up at you, water glistening on his face like tiny jewels. "Yeah," he murmured, his voice warm and affectionate. "It definitely does."

With a tender smile, you reached out to brush the water from his face, gently pushing his damp hair back from his eyes. Your heart skipped a beat when he instinctively leaned into your touch, his warmth grounding you despite the growing tension in your chest.

"You haven't answered me yet," you reminded him softly, your voice barely above a whisper. "Have you figured out the answer to the second task?"

He nodded, his hand lifting to cover yours on his cheek, holding it in place as though it anchored him. He gave your fingers a soft, reassuring squeeze. "I have," he murmured, his gaze meeting yours with a quiet intensity. "But... I don't want you to freak out. Everything's going to be okay, I promise."

Despite his comforting tone, the knot in your stomach tightened. You tried to mask it with a cheeky smile, nudging him lightly with your foot in the water. "Suuure, Yuyu. I totally believe you when you say these tasks will get easier. I mean, it's not like the first one involved dragons or anything."

Your boyfriend sighed, a bittersweet smile tugging at his lips. You knew he was thinking about the moment his name had been announced as the Hogwarts champion—the wave of fear that had gripped you as the Great Hall erupted in cheers.

He had submitted his name on a whim, more as a joke than anything. He hadn't thought for a second he'd actually be chosen. But of course, you should've known better. He was Jung Yunho—the school's golden boy. Everyone adored him, from his endless optimism to his natural charm. He could light up any room he walked into and never turned away anyone in need. His wild card selection had shocked everyone, but he had embraced it with the same unshakable enthusiasm he brought to everything in life.

For him, the Triwizard Tournament was an adventure, a chance to make memories and new friends. For you, it was a constant worry. You knew the dangers far too well, and it terrified you. Still, when he had emerged victorious after the first task, his joy had been contagious, and you told yourself you had to let your fear go. You couldn't hold him back from greatness. He needed your support, and you were determined to be the girlfriend he deserved.

Leaning forward, you pressed a quick kiss to his lips, hoping it would reassure him as much as it did you. "Alright," you whispered, brushing your thumb along his jaw. "So tell me. What's the second task?"

Before you could pull away, he held onto you, wrapping an arm around your waist and resting his forehead against yours. His voice softened, steady but laced with a vulnerability he rarely showed.

"The Black Lake," he said quietly. "I... I have a feeling I'm going to need you to get through this task."

His words sent a shiver down your spine, but the conviction in his eyes made you hold your ground. Whatever this task demanded, you knew one thing for sure: you'd face it together.

And his predictions couldn't have been more accurate—he and the champions from Durmstrang and Beauxbatons had an hour to retrieve something that had been stolen from them from the merpeople's village beneath the Black Lake.

The lake was eerily silent, its surface shimmering under the overcast sky as Yunho broke through the water, gasping for air. His strong arms cradled you protectively, his chest rising and falling in rapid bursts. The tension that had gripped him since the start of the task finally began to ease now that you were safe in his embrace.

You coughed violently, expelling the icy water from your lungs, your breaths coming in sharp, shallow bursts. The fragments of what had happened began piecing themselves together in your mind—the haunting stillness of the underwater village, the muffled echo of water all around, and your boyfriend's words from the prefect's bathroom resurfacing with a jarring clarity: "I have a feeling I'm going to need you to get through this task."

He had been right.

The task wasn't just about retrieving an object of value—it was about recovering the most precious thing stolen from them.

For Yunho, that had been you.

"Oh thank god, you're alright," he murmured, his voice thick with relief as he guided you onto the shore. The cheers and applause from the crowd were a distant hum in the background, drowned out by the pounding of his heart. Grabbing a towel, he draped it over your shoulders, enveloping you in its warmth before pulling you close. His arms wrapped around you securely, as though anchoring you back to him and shielding you from the chill that clung to the air.

You pressed your forehead against his shoulder, his familiar scent grounding you amidst the chaos of the moment. Despite the lingering cold, a soft smile crept onto your lips. Your voice, though weak, carried an unwavering sincerity. "How could I not be? You'll always save me… my hero."

His grip on you tightened at your words, his heart swelling with emotion as he buried his face in your hair. "Always," he whispered, his voice steady but laced with the weight of his promise. "Now I understand how hard it is for you to worry about me. I promise I'll make it out alive, every time—for you."

The announcement of his second-place finish barely registered. Everything seemed insignificant in the face of what truly mattered. All that filled his mind was the undeniable fact that you were safe, right here in his arms—the one person he cared for most.

Yeosang ↠ Ravenclaw

The Annoying Ace

"Hey, Kang! What'd you get for Potions? There's no way you aced it this time—it was brutal, and you barely studied before the test," a fellow Ravenclaw called out, pulling Yeosang from his thoughts. He glanced up, a small, nonchalant smile gracing his lips as he held up his graded paper. "You're right, it was tough. I only got an A- this time."

The room fell silent. His classmates stared at him, their jaws nearly hitting the floor. Was he serious? Most of the class had barely scraped by, even after endless hours of revision. Seventh-year Potions was no joke, filled with the most complex and challenging formulas known to the wizarding world.

"Only an A-? Are you kidding me? Did you bribe the professor or something?" someone blurted out, their voice tinged with disbelief.

You, seated next to your boyfriend, shot them a sharp glare. "Say that again in front of Professor Slughorn. I dare you," you retorted, crossing your arms.

The student huffed indignantly, muttering under their breath. "Whatever. You probably cheated with Felix Felicis or something."

Before you could unleash another scathing comeback, Yeosang gently placed a hand on your shoulder, his calm demeanour soothing your rising temper. His ever-composed smile didn't waver as he addressed the accusation. "Well," he began, his voice light but laced with quiet confidence, "if we were skilled enough to brew the Liquid Luck flawlessly and effectively, wouldn't that alone prove we deserve our grades?"

The remark landed with perfect precision, leaving everyone speechless. They knew he had a point. Brewing the luck potion wasn't just difficult—it was borderline impossible for most, requiring six months of meticulous preparation and risking catastrophic failure if done even slightly wrong.

The room buzzed with unspoken thoughts. If you and Yeosang could pull off such a feat, would the Potions exam have been challenging for either of you?

Your lips quirked into a satisfied smile as you exchanged a glance with your boyfriend. That was just like him—always shutting down his doubters with quiet brilliance, never needing to raise his voice to prove his worth.

"Man, I really need to learn how to be as effortlessly cool as you," you teased, giving his shoulder a playful nudge as he led you by the hand out of the classroom and toward the courtyard for some fresh air.

He glanced at you, his usual relaxed grin softening into something fonder. "You're already the coolest person to me," he replied casually as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

Your cheeks warmed instantly, and you lightly smacked his arm, looking away as you bit your lip to hide the spreading blush. Even now, you could hardly believe he had accepted your confession back then—and that he was now your boyfriend. To you, he had always seemed so distant, so untouchable, like a star out of reach.

That was, until the day he noticed you struggling with a potion after class and offered to help. You hadn't known it at the time, but that small moment of kindness would lead to something far greater.

Yeosang is that Ravenclaw—the one who always seems lost in his thoughts yet somehow aces every test with ease, charming every professor in the process. He's the envy of his classmates, who burn the midnight oil studying while he effortlessly secures perfect scores. His calm, almost ethereal demeanour only adds to the intrigue, making him a bit of a mystery to everyone around him.

No one can figure out how he manages to zone out during Potions lessons and still brew flawless draughts, but they're too in awe (and slightly frustrated) to ask. It's just him—an enigma wrapped in quiet confidence, and somehow, he was yours.

"But seriously, Yeo, have you actually managed to perfect your luck potion? Don't think I didn't notice Professor Slughorn sneaking glances your way. He really did trust you to brew some for him, didn't he?" you asked, leaning your head against his shoulder, fingers gently squeezing his where they were intertwined with yours.

He hummed softly, the sound vibrating against you as he rested his head atop yours. With a flick of his wand, he cast a subtle charm to deflect a stray prank from a group of cheeky Gryffindors playing with products from Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes. The spell stopped the flying object just before it could land anywhere near you. Your heart fluttered at his nonchalant protectiveness, and you couldn't help but notice the envious sighs from a few girls nearby.

"I'll answer that," he murmured, his tone teasing, "when you tell me how you managed to brew such a flawless Amortentia draught."

You blinked, lifting your head to meet his gaze. "The love potion? What are you talking about? I've never even tried to make one."

A small smile tugged at his lips, and he reached up to tuck a stray strand of hair behind your ear. "Are you sure about that?"

You furrowed your brows, your confusion deepening. "Yes, I'm sure," you replied, your tone laced with scepticism. But before you could press him further, he leaned in and stole a quick kiss, leaving you gasping softly in surprise. Your hand flew to your lips, cheeks aflame as you tried to process what just happened.

Yeosang chuckled at your flustered reaction, his arm slipping securely around your back as he guided you to keep walking. "Then explain how you managed to make me so hopelessly enamoured with you," he said, his voice low but teasing. "It's the only logical explanation for how smitten I am."

"Oh, obviously. That's the only logical explanation," you burst out laughing, playfully trying to push him away, but he held firm, his grip steady yet gentle.

He chuckled along with you, pressing a tender kiss to the top of your head. "Exactly, my love. You've clearly bewitched me, and I have no intention of breaking free."

"The feeling's mutual, my darling genius."

San ↠ Slytherin

The Intimidating Head Boy Who's Secretly a Softie

"Oh, come on, Pumpkin! When will you learn to leave the Monster Book of Monsters alone?!" San groaned in exasperation, his eyes following his mischievous cat as it darted around, narrowly avoiding the snapping Care of Magical Creatures textbook that was now chasing it across the yard. The naughty feline had somehow managed to unclasp the book—again. "Come here, you stubborn little thing!" he called, swooping in to scoop up the cat.

With practised ease, he approached the wild book, stroking its spine gently until it calmed and locked itself shut, just as Hagrid had taught. Of course, San was probably the only one who had actually paid attention to that particular lesson.

A dramatic gasp caught his attention, and he turned to find you standing nearby, a teasing grin plastered across your face.

"Well well, who would've thought? The scary and intimidating Choi San names his cat Pumpkin? And a cat, no less? I always pictured you with an owl or a crow. Guess you're a softie after all. Wait till the rest of the house finds out."

He rolled his eyes but smirked, settling back into his seat behind Hagrid's hut. "Go ahead and tell them, sweetheart. It's not like I asked anyone to see me as the 'mean and cold Slytherin.' If they want to believe that, then that's on them."

You chuckled and took a seat beside him, watching as he cooed at his cat and peppered it with kisses. "So, what's a big bad boy like you doing out here, hm?"

"Detention, obviously," he deadpanned, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "Fits my reputation, doesn't it?"

You shook your head knowingly, the corner of your lips curling upward. "If that's what you're calling it, sure. But Hagrid told me you were out here for some extra lessons on Hippogriffs when I passed him earlier."

He feigned a pout, resting his chin on Pumpkin's head. "Damn, you caught me. There goes my big bad boy image. Boohoo."

You burst out laughing, unable to hold it in.

San had always been an enigma to those around him. With his sharp, commanding presence and role as Head Boy, he had a reputation for being unapproachable. First-years practically scrambled out of his way in the corridors. But those who dared get to know him soon discovered that beneath the piercing gaze and confident swagger was a playful, caring soul who adored magical creatures.

And you? You were supposedly his rival—his female counterpart, according to your peers. With your equally composed demeanour and role as Head Girl, it wasn't uncommon for people to pit the two of you against each other. But those who looked closer would've seen the truth: you were far from rivals. If anything, you were two halves of the same warm, hidden flame, especially when it came to each other.

"Well, I hope you don't mind me joining you on your little detention, Choi," you teased, leaning your head against his shoulder.

He hummed thoughtfully, nuzzling his head against yours. "On one condition."

"And what's that?" you glanced up at him.

He bit his lip, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "Let me take you to Hogsmeade this weekend, Head Girl."

"Alright, alright. None of that in my class," Hagrid's booming voice cut through the moment, startling both of you as you quickly pulled apart, clearing your throats in unison.

San shifted awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck while you tried—and failed—to suppress a laugh.

Hagrid folded his massive arms across his chest, his bushy eyebrows raised knowingly. "We're only doing this if you're both serious, okay? This isn't some fun little date idea."

You nodded earnestly, though the corners of your lips twitched with amusement. "Of course, Professor. We're serious about this."

But Hagrid wasn't done.

Turning his attention to the Head Boy, he added, "But please, do take her to Hogsmeade, lad. I've heard more than enough from you about how much you like her."

San's eyes widened, his cheeks instantly flushing a deep crimson. "H-Hagrid!" he stammered, his voice a pitch higher than usual.

You couldn't hold it in anymore, bursting into laughter as he glared at you half-heartedly. "Oh, you're never living this down," you teased, nudging his arm.

"I—uh—yes, sir," he mumbled, his voice barely audible as he stared down at the ground, clearly flustered.

The professor chuckled, giving a hearty clap to the young man's shoulder that nearly made him stumble. "That's what I like to hear, Choi. Now, back to work, both of you. Those Hippogriffs aren't going to train themselves."

As Hagrid lumbered away, you leaned closer to San, grinning. "So, how much do you like me, Choi San?"

He groaned, his hands covering his face. "Can we just focus on the Hippogriffs?"

"Not a chance," you replied smugly, your laughter ringing out as his ears turned an even brighter shade of red.

The journey back to the common room was filled with quiet comfort, but as you both stepped through the entrance, his demeanour shifted instantly. Gone was the flustered boy from earlier; in his place stood the stoic and commanding Head Boy, his sharp gaze sweeping over the lounging students.

"Keep it down," he said curtly to a group of rowdy second-years, his tone leaving no room for argument. They immediately quieted, murmuring apologies.

You bit back a smile, watching his transformation with newfound amusement. After seeing the playful, gentle side of him during the lesson with Hagrid, this intimidating persona of his now seemed more endearing than imposing. It was his way of keeping the chaos in check, and you couldn't help but admire how effortlessly he switched between the two sides of himself.

As you trailed behind him, snippets of hushed whispers reached your ears.

"Did they come back together?"

"Isn't that the Head Girl?"

"Are they… you know?"

You glanced at San and caught the slight gulp he tried to conceal, his stiff posture giving away his unease despite his poker face.

When you both reached the point where the dorms split, you turned to him, raising an eyebrow. He stood tall, keeping his expression neutral, though you could see the faintest flicker of nervousness in his eyes. The room fell silent, the curious gazes of your housemates fixed on the two of you.

You smirked, breaking the tension. "So, Hogsmeade this weekend, right?"

His eyes widened, and a soft gasp rippled through the common room. He cleared his throat, trying to maintain his composure as he met your gaze. "You… accept?"

You shrugged nonchalantly, though the playful glint in your eyes betrayed your amusement. "Well, you did say I could only join you earlier if I agreed to this. Seeing as we've already finished the lesson, that clearly means I've accepted, no?"

For a moment, his carefully constructed mask faltered, replaced by a grin so wide and boyish that it made your heart skip a beat. He didn't care about the whispers anymore as he stepped closer, his hand reaching out to give yours a gentle squeeze.

"It's a date then, Head Girl."

You smiled back, your voice light but teasing as you replied, "Sounds good, Head Boy."

The room erupted into murmurs and low cheers as you turned and walked toward your dorm, feeling his gaze follow you until you disappeared from sight. If San had been worried about his reputation before, it was clear now that he didn't care.

Not when it came to you.

Mingi ↠ Ravenclaw

The Son of a Famous Wizard Scientist

"Going somewhere, Song?"

Mingi cursed under his breath, reluctantly pulling the invisibility cloak off his frame to face you. You sat casually in one of the Ravenclaw common room chairs, a book in hand and an amused smirk playing on your lips. He looked thoroughly defeated. "How do you always figure me out?"

You chuckled, closing your book and setting it aside as you straightened up. "It's not that hard with your lack of stealth. I feel the breeze every time you pass by. Honestly, the real mystery is how Filch hasn't caught you yet."

He crossed his arms with a huff, a pout forming on his lips. "Ugh, what's it gonna take for you to pretend you didn't see me? My dad cannot find out. Name your price."

You tapped your chin, standing to your full height and eyeing the Marauder's Map in his hands. "I want in on whatever you're up to."

His brows shot up in surprise. "You? But aren't you like... the model Ravenclaw? Goody two shoes, follows every rule, reads for fun? Why would you risk your squeaky-clean image for something like this?"

You shrugged, a mischievous glint in your eye. "Let's just say I'm curious about what the great wizard scientist's son is always sneaking off to do instead of, I don't know, living up to everyone's—and your father's—expectations."

He sighed in defeat, lifting his left arm to gesture for you to join him under the cloak. "Fine, but don't say I didn't warn you. Just make sure you can keep up. And for Merlin's sake, please tell me your stealth skills are better than mine. You really don't want to run into Mrs. Norris."

"Trust me, I wouldn't dream of it," you replied, ducking under the cloak with him, your heart racing at the prospect of finally joining him on one of his adventures.

And so, that night marked the beginning of an unlikely yet thrilling partnership: you and Song Mingi, partners-in-crime navigating Hogwarts past curfew.

For someone as studious and rule-abiding as you, it was a surprising twist to find yourself sneaking through hidden passageways, clutching an invisibility cloak, and dodging prefects alongside someone like Mingi. But there was something irresistibly intriguing about him—the way he effortlessly balanced his rebellious streak with a sharp intellect, and how his lighthearted demeanour contrasted with the heavy expectations placed upon him.

You see, unlike your ordinary self, his life was all about finding his own path despite the pressures of his family name. As the son of a renowned wizarding scientist, expectations for him to follow in those illustrious footsteps were high. But Mingi? He wasn't interested in being defined by anyone else's legacy.

Sure, he had the smarts for it—his insights into magical theories often surprised you, even when they were thrown in casually during one of your late-night escapades. But instead of shouldering the weight of those expectations, he found joy in simply being himself. He explored magic for the sake of curiosity, not obligation.

Of course, it was hard for someone like him to truly fly under the radar. With his tall frame and infectious laugh, he had a knack for drawing attention no matter how much he tried to avoid it. He'd always play it off with an easy grin, though—effortlessly charming his way out of trouble (well, most of the time).

And now, here you were, walking beside him in the dead of night, laughing softly at his whispered commentary about the portraits on the walls. It was a side of him most people didn't see—carefree, thoughtful, and incredibly warm.

"Alright, where to next, partner?" you asked, barely containing your grin as you reached a fork in the corridor.

He glanced at the map, his finger tracing a path. "A secret stash of sweets hidden near the kitchens. Wanna check it out?"

"Only if you're willing to share," you teased, bumping his shoulder lightly.

He smirked, holding the cloak open as you ducked beneath it again. "Deal. But only because I need you to distract the house elves if we get caught."

With that, the two of you disappeared into the night, laughter echoing softly down the empty hallways. It was the start of a friendship, and perhaps something more that, against all odds, just worked.

On one of the slower days at school, the two of you lounged in the Great Hall, a wizard's chessboard between you. The usual hum of scattered conversations and the clinking of goblets provided a quiet backdrop as Mingi hunched over the board, his tall frame bent in concentration. His eyes darted between pieces, plotting his next move with a focus that made you smirk.

"I've got an idea," you said, leaning back with a teasing grin. "Whoever loses has to take on a dare during tonight's adventure."

His head shot up, a glimmer of intrigue lighting up his eyes. He grinned, his expression a mix of mischief and admiration for the rebellious streak you seemed to save just for him. "Oh, it's on."

The match stretched out with calculated moves and sly counters, both of you pouring focus into claiming victory. But when your queen finally cornered his king, you leaned back with a triumphant grin. "Checkmate," you declared, watching the realisation dawn on his face.

He groaned theatrically, throwing his head back. "Noooo!"

You laughed, folding your arms smugly. "Now, about that dare..."

He straightened in his seat, narrowing his eyes as he tried to guess your plan. "Alright, hit me with your worst."

A mischievous gleam danced in your eyes as you leaned forward and whispered, "Tonight, when we sneak out, you have to charm Moaning Myrtle with your best pickup lines."

His jaw dropped, his ears turning an amusing shade of red. "You want me to flirt with a ghost?!"

"That's the dare," you said, grinning wider.

He blinked at you in disbelief, then let out a booming laugh, shaking his head. "You're insane. But fine—a deal's a deal."

As the two of you packed up, you noticed a flicker of something softer in his gaze. He clearly enjoyed this side of you, the playful daring you didn't often let others see.

The night was quiet as you snuck through the dark hallways, huddled beneath the invisibility cloak. The close proximity made it impossible to ignore the way your shoulders brushed, or how you could feel his breath softly against your ear as he whispered directions. You tried to focus, but the warmth radiating from him and the faint smell of his cologne made it difficult.

He wasn't faring any better. His movements felt unusually cautious, his arm brushing against yours more often than necessary, his voice a little lower than usual when he whispered, "Careful where you step."

Ironically, it was his warning that broke your concentration. Your foot landed on something uneven, and before you could stop yourself, you tripped, sending a potted plant toppling from its perch.

The crash echoed loudly through the corridor. "What was that?!" Filch's voice screeched in the distance, sending panic shooting through you both.

"Move!" Mingi hissed, grabbing your hand and pulling you into the nearest room. The door creaked shut just as the school caretaker's hurried footsteps grew louder.

You realised, to your dismay, that the "room" was a cramped broom cupboard. The two of you were squished together in the small space, the invisibility cloak still draped awkwardly over your heads. Your breathing was ragged from the sudden sprint, and you both struggled to keep quiet as Filch's grumbling grew nearer.

"Stupid kids sneaking around… I'll catch them sooner or later," he muttered as his footsteps faded in the opposite direction.

Only when the sound of his boots disappeared entirely did you dare to speak. "We're safe now," you whispered.

"Yeah," Mingi murmured back, his voice quieter than usual.

That's when you noticed just how close you were. Your heart stuttered as you looked up, your nose grazing his. His dark eyes locked onto yours, and you could feel his breath, warm and shallow, mingling with your own. Neither of you moved, the air between you was charged and heavy.

He swallowed hard, his hand slowly brushing against yours beneath the cloak. "I know I lost the game," he whispered, his voice barely audible. "But... is it alright if I flirt with someone else tonight?"

Your breath caught, your thoughts spinning as he leaned in closer, his lips barely brushing yours.

"That depends on who it is," you whispered back, your voice shaky.

He smiled softly, his eyes flicking between yours and your lips. "You."

Your heart skipped a beat. Without thinking, your hand slid up to grip the collar of his shirt as you murmured, "Fine."

Then, closing the final distance, you pressed your lips to his. When you finally pulled away, the world felt different as you stayed close, foreheads touching. He let out a soft chuckle, his thumb brushing over your cheek. "Best dare I've ever lost."

You smiled. "Guess I'll have to keep challenging you then, Song."

"Guess you will," he whispered, leaning in for another kiss.

Wooyoung ↠ Gryffindor

The Talented Quidditch Beater

"Woo, you got it! That's my boy!"

The sound of your voice rang out across the pitch, instantly catching Wooyoung's attention. A grin lit up his face as he turned mid-flight on his Nimbus 2000, his eyes sparkling as they met yours.

"I'll make you proud, babe!" he called back, his tone brimming with confidence.

"Not if you can't keep your eyes on the game," his teammate—another Beater—shouted, swooping in just in time to deflect a bludger barreling toward him.

His eyes widened at the close call before a sheepish, boyish grin spread across his face. "Thanks, mate. That was a little too close!"

He turned his attention back to you, throwing you a playful wink and blowing a kiss in your direction. "Love you," he mouthed with a quick smirk, clearly revelling in the way your worried gaze softened into a smile.

And then, just like that, he was off again, zooming across the pitch like the fearless champ he was, ready to win not just for his team, but for the person cheering him on from the stands.

Pride swelled in your chest like a warm, unrelenting tide as you watched your boyfriend play. It was almost surreal to think about how far the two of you had come—especially since there was a time when you couldn't stand him.

Back then, Jung Wooyoung was everything you couldn't tolerate: loud, attention-seeking, and constantly wreaking havoc with his pranks. He was the popular Gryffindor Quidditch star with a magnetic grin, always surrounded by friends and admirers. Meanwhile, you were his polar opposite—a shy, studious student with no interest in shenanigans, focused solely on excelling in your studies and making your parents proud.

It all started when one of his pranks nearly ruined your Transfiguration assignment. Furious, you'd confronted him in front of half the common room, calling him reckless and immature. Wooyoung, never one to back down, had retaliated with a smirk, calling you boring and stiff. That marked the beginning of your rivalry—petty remarks, pointed glares, and intentionally getting on each other's nerves became routine.

But everything changed the day he overheard a group of Slytherins mocking you. Their cruel taunts about your Muggle heritage—and the word "Mudblood" slicing through the air—left you reeling. Before you could even muster a response, he stepped in, his usual playful demeanour replaced by something sharp and unyielding.

"What did you just say?" he demanded, his voice low and dangerous. The bullies faltered under his glare, and though they tried to brush it off, he didn't let them escape unscathed. He stood firm, defending you with a conviction that left you stunned.

From that day on, the dynamic between you shifted. He made it clear that no one was to mess with you—not even his own friends, who had occasionally targeted you with harmless pranks. In return, you stopped berating him for his antics, accepting that his mischief was simply part of who he was. Over time, you found yourself laughing at his jokes, and he discovered a softer side to you that few others had ever seen.

Years passed, and that fragile truce evolved into friendship. Somewhere along the way, the friendship blossomed into something deeper, something neither of you could ignore. And now, here you were, standing in the Gryffindor stands, cheering him on with every fibre of your being.

Only after being with him did you truly understand why so many adored him for his talent. On the pitch, he was in his element. As a Beater, he thrived on adrenaline, his bat swinging with precision as he sent a bludger hurtling toward the opposing team. He was a natural showman, hyping up the crowd with daring plays and cheeky winks. Though his mischievous nature was ever-present, he became fiercely competitive during matches, his focus unshakable when it came to leading his house to victory.

You smiled as he executed a flawless manoeuvre, his laughter echoing across the pitch when the crowd erupted into cheers. He was so different from the boy you had once disliked, yet so quintessentially the same. His charm, his energy, his ability to make everyone around him feel alive—it was impossible not to love him for it.

"Watch this, babe!" he called as he rocketed past the stands, his grin wide and unrestrained. He was a whirlwind of passion and joy, and he was yours. And somehow, you wouldn't have it any other way.

"Aaaand Gryffindor wins!"

The roar of the crowd filled the stadium as the Gryffindor Seeker triumphantly held up the golden snitch, the tiny wings glinting under the bright sun. Cheers echoed through the stands, Gryffindor flags waving wildly in celebration. You cheered, knowing that much of this victory was thanks to your boyfriend, who had spent the game clearing the path for his teammate with skilful swings of his bat.

Amid the chaos, Wooyoung's sharp eyes immediately sought you out. Despite the throng of screaming fans and his own teammates clamouring to celebrate, all he could see was you. Without hesitation, he veered his broom in your direction, ignoring the unmistakable warning glare from Professor McGonagall.

Hovering in front of you, he flashed his signature grin, his chest rising and falling from the adrenaline of the match. Before you could say a word, he leaned in and kissed you, his lips warm and slightly chapped from the cold wind. The crowd's cheers seemed to fade as you felt his smile against your own, your cheeks heating with the realisation of how public this display was.

When you pulled away, your voice was barely above a whisper. "That's enough, Woo. You don't want detention now, do you?"

He laughed, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "I wouldn't mind it if you were there too." With a wink, he flew off to join his team, leaving you blinking sheepishly under Professor McGonagall's sharp gaze.

You cleared your throat, attempting to smooth down your robes as you mumbled, "Sorry, Professor."

To your surprise, her expression softened, and she gestured for you to walk with her as the stands began to empty. "Don't be," she said, her voice measured but kind. "You're a good motivator for him. We appreciate it. I won't lie and say our victories haven't increased since you came into the picture."

Her words left you blushing furiously as you followed her down the steps. Did that mean even she shipped you and Wooyoung? The very thought had you hiding a bashful smile behind your scarf, the cheers of the Gryffindor team still ringing in your ears.

Jongho ↠ Slytherin

The Scary Prefect Who Commands Respect

"There he is! Shhh, keep it down!"

Your friends scrambled to settle into their seats, hastily lowering their voices and pretending to focus on the books in front of them. You followed their lead, keeping your head down as the most intimidating prefect of Slytherin entered the library. Choi Jongho's very name was enough to make most students sit up straight, and his imposing presence only amplified that effect. His silence carried more weight than words ever could, commanding obedience and respect effortlessly.

You swallowed hard, trying to concentrate on the text in front of you, but your focus wavered the moment his footsteps stopped—right beside you. Your heart raced as you eyed his polished shoes, unsure if you'd done something wrong. Too nervous to meet his gaze, you froze in place, waiting for whatever came next.

"Here. I think you dropped this," he said, his voice low yet unexpectedly warm.

Your eyes widened at the gentle tone, and you glanced up to see him holding out your late father's pocket watch. The faintest trace of a smile tugged at the corners of his lips—so fleeting you wondered if you'd imagined it.

"O-oh, thank you," you stammered, taking the cherished item from him. A spark shot through you when your fingers brushed against his, leaving your heart fluttering in a way you hadn't anticipated.

"You're welcome," he replied simply, his voice kind yet measured, before continuing on his patrol.

As you watched him walk away, a realisation settled in your mind—perhaps he wasn't as fearsome as everyone claimed.

Jongho's reputation was well-earned. As a Slytherin prefect, he didn't need to raise his voice to maintain order. A single stern look was enough to make any student think twice about misbehaving, and his word was as final as it was rare. Yet, those who truly knew him understood there was more to him than his intimidating exterior. Beneath the cool, composed demeanour was a steadfast friend with a laugh that could shatter his usual seriousness in an instant.

And soon, you would become one of the few to witness that softer side of him—though, for now, you had no idea what lay ahead.

It was on a particularly eerie evening that you would come to learn the truth. The air hung heavy with an unsettling stillness as you wandered along the outskirts of the Forbidden Forest, seeking solitude to clear your mind after a gruelling week. The low-hanging clouds cloaked the forest in shadows, and the quiet seemed almost too oppressive.

But peace was the last thing you found.

A low, menacing growl rippled through the trees, stopping you dead in your tracks. Your breath caught as you turned, your wand trembling in your hand, to face a pair of glowing eyes cutting through the darkness.

A werewolf.

Your heart pounded wildly as the creature advanced, its snarling lips curling back to reveal rows of sharp teeth. Panic seized you. You tried to cast a spell, but fear made your movements clumsy, and the incantation faltered on your tongue. The werewolf snarled again, its deadly intent unmistakable.

You were sure you were doomed.

Suddenly, a thunderous roar shattered the tense silence, startling both you and the beast. From the shadows emerged a massive bear, its fur bristling and eyes blazing with an otherworldly fury. The bear wasted no time, charging at the werewolf with raw power and unmatched ferocity.

Their clash was brutal and swift, the werewolf no match for the bear's strength and determination. Before long, the defeated creature limped off into the safety of the forest, leaving you frozen in place, trembling from head to toe.

The bear turned its attention to you, its intelligent gaze locking onto yours. Despite your fear, there was something strangely familiar in the way it looked at you—almost protective.

And then, to your utter disbelief, the bear began to shift. Its enormous form shrank, fur receding as its features morphed into something distinctly human. In a matter of moments, you found yourself staring at Choi Jongho, his sharp eyes unwavering as they met yours.

"You…" The word barely escaped your lips, your voice a mere whisper. "You're an animagus?"

His jaw tightened briefly before he nodded. "Yes," he admitted, his tone steady but quiet.

You blinked, your mind racing to process what you had just witnessed. It wasn't just the transformation that left you reeling—it was the way he had risked himself to save you. "Why didn't you tell anyone?" you finally managed.

He let out a soft sigh, running a hand through his hair. For the first time, you saw the stoic facade crack, revealing something raw beneath. "People already think I'm intimidating enough," he said, his voice laced with vulnerability. "If they knew I could turn into a bear, they'd see me as a monster. Even if I chose this form to protect, not harm."

Your chest tightened at his words, at the loneliness he must have carried. His stern demeanour suddenly made sense—it was a shield, a way to keep others from seeing the parts of himself he feared they wouldn't understand.

"But it's not a bad thing," you said softly, taking a step closer. "You became an animagus for a noble reason. That says more about who you are than anything else."

His gaze softened, the hard lines of his face easing just slightly. "I appreciate that," he murmured. "But not everyone would see it the same way. People fear what they don't understand."

For the first time, you saw through the intimidating exterior everyone else feared. Beneath it all, he was just someone who cared deeply, someone who bore the weight of his secrets quietly for the sake of those around him.

"Thank you for saving me," you said earnestly, your voice steady despite the storm of emotions swirling inside you. "Your secret's safe with me. I promise."

He nodded, the faintest smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "It's my pleasure," he replied, his tone warm yet reserved. "Now, you should get back. It's not safe out here."

"And you?"

"I'll make sure the forest is clear," he assured you, his protective instincts shining through. "Go. I'll be right behind you."

As you made your way back to the castle, your mind was consumed with thoughts of Jongho. The boy who had just saved your life was so much more than the fearsome prefect everyone believed him to be. And now, you carried a piece of his truth, a secret that revealed a depth to him you never would have imagined.

From then on, something shifted.

You became one of the few who dared to hold his gaze, the rare recipient of his fleeting smiles. Where others saw the intimidating Slytherin prefect, you saw the quiet strength and vulnerability he kept hidden beneath the surface. And nothing shocked people more than seeing him sit next to you at breakfast in the Great Hall.

Whispers rippled through the tables, curious and incredulous alike. Choi Jongho, the stoic and fearsome prefect, sitting with someone? A girl? The novelty was enough to turn heads, but what truly caught people's attention was the way he looked at you.

There was something unmistakable in his eyes—a quiet affection, soft and unguarded, as if your presence unravelled the walls he so carefully maintained.

He glanced over at you as you finished your meal, his expression relaxed yet tinged with curiosity. "Where are you headed after this?" he asked, his tone casual but attentive.

You wiped your hands with a napkin, smiling up at him. "The Duelling Club."

His eyebrows rose in mild surprise. "The Duelling Club? But why?"

You bit back a laugh at his incredulity, placing your fork down with an amused shake of your head. "Because someone with a very admirable trait has inspired me," you said, your voice warm with sincerity. "To be stronger, to protect those around me too."

The words caught him off guard, and you watched as his usual composure faltered. He blinked, a faint flush creeping up his neck and into his cheeks. The sight was endearing, a rare glimpse of boyishness in the otherwise composed prefect.

He cleared his throat awkwardly, reaching for his goblet of pumpkin juice and taking a long sip as if it might steady him. Setting it down, he muttered softly, "You don't have to." His eyes flickered to yours, vulnerable but earnest. "You'll always have me."

Your chest warmed at his words, his quiet promise resonating deeply. He might have been the boy feared by many, but to you, he was simply someone who cared more deeply than he let on.

You leaned forward slightly, a teasing smile playing on your lips. "I know," you said, your voice gentle but firm. "But it doesn't hurt to know how to hold my own, does it?"

He exhaled a quiet chuckle, the corner of his lips curving upward in a rare but genuine smile. "Fair enough," he conceded, his gaze lingering on yours for a moment longer before turning back to his plate. "But I'm coming with."

Any fellow Potterheads here? Humour this poor author and tell me about your Hogwarts house, your favourite Harry Potter book/movie as well as your favourite character! Most importantly, let me know if you agree with the houses I've sorted the members into!

Hope you enjoyed this! As always, thank you for reading and let me know your thoughts! <3

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[reasonsforhope]

"Doctors have begun trialling the world’s first mRNA lung cancer vaccine in patients, as experts hailed its “groundbreaking” potential to save thousands of lives.

Lung cancer is the world’s leading cause of cancer death, accounting for about 1.8m deaths every year. Survival rates in those with advanced forms of the disease, where tumours have spread, are particularly poor.

Now experts are testing a new jab that instructs the body to hunt down and kill cancer cells – then prevents them ever coming back. Known as BNT116 and made by BioNTech, the vaccine is designed to treat non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the most common form of the disease.

The phase 1 clinical trial, the first human study of BNT116, has launched across 34 research sites in seven countries: the UK, US, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Spain and Turkey.

The UK has six sites, located in England and Wales, with the first UK patient to receive the vaccine having their initial dose on Tuesday [August 20, 2024].

Overall, about 130 patients – from early-stage before surgery or radiotherapy, to late-stage disease or recurrent cancer – will be enrolled to have the jab alongside immunotherapy. About 20 will be from the UK.

The jab uses messenger RNA (mRNA), similar to Covid-19 vaccines, and works by presenting the immune system with tumour markers from NSCLC to prime the body to fight cancer cells expressing these markers.

The aim is to strengthen a person’s immune response to cancer while leaving healthy cells untouched, unlike chemotherapy.

“We are now entering this very exciting new era of mRNA-based immunotherapy clinical trials to investigate the treatment of lung cancer,” said Prof Siow Ming Lee, a consultant medical oncologist at University College London hospitals NHS foundation trust (UCLH), which is leading the trial in the UK.

“It’s simple to deliver, and you can select specific antigens in the cancer cell, and then you target them. This technology is the next big phase of cancer treatment.”

Janusz Racz, 67, from London, was the first person to have the vaccine in the UK. He was diagnosed in May and soon after started chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

The scientist, who specialises in AI, said his profession inspired him to take part in the trial. “I am a scientist too, and I understand that the progress of science – especially in medicine – lies in people agreeing to be involved in such investigations,” he said...

“And also, I can be a part of the team that can provide proof of concept for this new methodology, and the faster it would be implemented across the world, more people will be saved.”

Racz received six consecutive injections five minutes apart over 30 minutes at the National Institute for Health Research UCLH Clinical Research Facility on Tuesday.

Each jab contained different RNA strands. He will get the vaccine every week for six consecutive weeks, and then every three weeks for 54 weeks.

Lee said: “We hope adding this additional treatment will stop the cancer coming back because a lot of time for lung cancer patients, even after surgery and radiation, it does come back.” ...

“We hope to go on to phase 2, phase 3, and then hope it becomes standard of care worldwide and saves lots of lung cancer patients.”

The Guardian revealed in May that thousands of patients in England were to be fast-tracked into groundbreaking trials of cancer vaccines in a revolutionary world-first NHS “matchmaking” scheme to save lives.

Under the scheme, patients who meet the eligibility criteria will gain access to clinical trials for the vaccines that experts say represent a new dawn in cancer treatment."

-via The Guardian, May 30, 2024

[vague-humanoid]

The Equitable Grading Project, a nonprofit organization that seeks to change grading practices, compared 33,000 course grades with students’ scores on standardized exams, including Advanced Placement tests and annual state assessments. The organization considered a course grade to be inaccurate if a student’s test score indicated a level of knowledge that was at least a letter grade off from what the teacher had issued. For example, a grade was classified as inaccurate if a student’s test score indicated a C-level of skills and knowledge, but the student received an A or a B in the course. In this example, a D or an F grade would also be inaccurate.

Inflated grades were more common than depressed grades. In this analysis, over 40 percent of the 33,000 grades analyzed – more than 13,000 transcript grades – were higher than they should have been, while only 16 percent or 5,300 grades were lower than they should have been.  In other words, two out of five transcript grades indicated that students were more competent in the course than they actually were, while nearly one out of six grades was lower than the student’s true understanding of the course content.

The discrepancy matters, the white paper says, because inaccurate grades make it harder to figure out which students are prepared for advanced coursework or ready for college. With inflated grades, students can be promoted to difficult courses without the foundation or extra help they need to succeed. Depressed grades can discourage a student from pursuing a subject or prompt them to drop out of school altogether. 

“This data suggests that hundreds, perhaps thousands, of students in this study may have been denied, or not even offered, opportunities that they were prepared and eligible for,” the white paper said.

@that-biracial-geek-girl @el-shab-hussein

[f1ghtsoftly]

the whole Khelif thing is such a nightmare, like the IBA has been found to have severe ethical issues that prompted their ban by the IOC and are unrelated to the sex testing issue so perhaps this is not a credible source and a bitter IBA is using this as a pretext to damage the IOC’s reputation like please do some research 😭.

Worst case, the IBA is being responsible about raising safety concerns in the sport (doubtful) and the two boxers in question have XY DSDs, ie: they are technically biological males but are observed and have lived their lives as women and are no doubt not intentionally cheating in the sport. Caster Semeya, another prominent intersex athlete assigned female at birth, has been banned from competition due to her high testosterone levels. It remains to be seem whether or not that decision by world athletics will stand.

But why do I call these people women when they are biologically men? Because these are intersex people who were raised from birth as women. By calling them women I’m not making a statement about biology or indeed the factual definition of “woman” or female. I’m recognizing that for all and intents and purposes, these people are socially women who have a DSD. They not ethically culpable for “violating” women’s spaces and deserve to preserve their dignity. Even if their DSD means they might not be eligible to compete in elite athletics. Or maybe they will, other athletes have bodily advantages that also make them faster. It remains to be seen what will happen.

So how!! HOW!! Did the conversation become about how these women are really trans women? Was it because Trump lied about them? Was it because JKR supported an assertion from an extremely dubious organization and called a woman with a potential DSD competing “male violence”. Or was it because thousands of women have been living in an echo chamber around trans issues that encourages invasive “transvestigations” and a destructive sense of personal persecution. Controversy around female sex at the Olympics is actually not a product of the trans issue and is in fact much older. The truth is, it’s a gray area around whether or not it’s ethical to allow women or biological men who outwardly appear as women with totally naturally occurring DSDs to compete. Biological difference among elite athletes is common and natural sex variation is a difference where the science is not always settled. Michael Phelps, for example, has several biological abnormalities that make him a better swimmer. No popular movement has been launched to bar him from competition.

Please take a breath and get out of the GC echo chamber, if you seriously consider yourself a radical feminist and an ally to intersex people, women and LGBT people, this is the wrong path to go down and the wrong issue to stake your reputations on. Most importantly, Carini, Yu-Ting and Khelif do not deserve to become symbolic faces of a debate they have nothing to do with. Khelif in particular is very vulnerable in a country, which is hostile to gender nonconformity/sexual difference, the public outcry could have negative repercussions for her at home.

[traumxrei-archive]

【 prologue: rumor has it 】

summary: the heir to night raven duchy was to have their debutante soon, and their father, dire crowley, has a conversation with them.

word count: 556

author’s note: a little prologue to the series ! we have some dad!crowley in action and a bit of world building with yuu’s backstory ^^

[ the perfect debutante series | or read on ao3 (coming soon) ]

“Your debutante is soon, is it not?” The young heir looked up from their reading, watching as their adoptive father ambled closer.

“Yes it is, your grace,” The youth shut their book, a skeptical look crossing their face. Their father was known for his...eccentricities, to put it lightly. And they knew the signs of him about to drop another surprise on them if it wasn’t obvious from the grin on his face.

“Now don’t be like that, Yuu. You only call me ‘your grace’ when… Never mind,” The masked man coughed, before straightening his posture, “How about you plan your own debutante?”

And that was how all the rumors started. A maid heard from a servant who heard from a stable boy, and so on. Planning one's own debutante wasn't something that was common in the kingdom or even in the lands of Twisted Wonderland.

"It was a test," They whispered behind closed doors. "A test from the old duke to his heir, to test their mettle."

The heir to the Dukedom was, after all, adopted. Another thing that didn't happen often in the Kingdom. Duke Crowley was always the strange one, as he never married nor took any lovers in his time as Duke. All he focused on was the School he had built. “Night Raven College” named fondly after his Duchy.

Duke Crowley had adopted his heir around a decade ago. A child named Yuu, from an orphanage in the slums. It had caused ripples in society. How could it not? The mysterious masked Duke— one of the most eligible bachelors in the Kingdom— had adopted a child out of the blue.

Some people lost interest in Duke Crowley, while others found that a suitable mother figure was needed to help raise the child. But Duke Crowley never brought in such a person. After a while, the child's existence faded into the background, with other scandals drawing public interest.

Until it got out that the child started attending school at Night Raven College. It caused quite a stir. Every parent started telling their kid to befriend the heir. Who knew who could become the next right-hand to the future Night Raven Duke? And many people tried but failed in ultimately befriending the child. But well, these were stories for another time. 

In reality, the Duke's motivations were not a test. It was simply a father's wish to make his child happy.

"Plan a ball and invite the people you'd like to invite," He had said simply. "I'd like to do it the way you'd like to." But no one needed to know of the tender words exchanged between family.

However, everyone's eyes would inevitably be drawn to the ball. Everyone in the Duchy knew, including the heir themself. And that also included the retinue of maids who were allied to the young heir. The maids that, rumor had it, were really the companions of the young heir's pickings. It had to be no coincidence that each and every maid hailed from Night Raven College.

The maids knew what other people were expecting. They were expecting that their Master would fail. And nothing short of perfection would do. Therefore they had devised a plan, a way to help their master reach perfection one way or another. Hence the start of “Operation: The Perfect Debutante.”

thank you for reading ^^ if you’d like to read more, check out my masterlist !

[ series post | next chapter ]

[petalruesimblr]

Hello everyone! I'm back with another realistic part-time career with a bit of The Sims 3 twist and this time, it's a teen internship! Drawing inspiration from science programs such as BRAINYAC and GeoSciences Bridge Program designed for high school students which is perfect for our teens and they can even be promoted to a full Science career.

If you are interested, click on ’Keep Reading’ below for more information and pictures of the Landgraab Science Internship Career.

Landgraab Science Internship

Generations Version: Sim File Share | Base Game Version: Sim File Share ⚠️Download and use only one!

Attention, aspiring scientists! Dust off your lab coats and tighten those safety goggles because the Landgraab Science Internship is here to make your scientific dreams a reality. From potion brewing to genetic decoding, discover the thrill of discovery alongside industry experts. Say goodbye to mundane careers and hello to a future where innovation meets aspiration, one bubbling beaker at a time with Landgraab Science Internship!

Career Type: Part-Time Available for: Teens Available Languages: English Levels: 3 Rabbit Hole: ScienceLab Work Days: M,F,S Work Hours: 4PM - 7PM Does it have Carpool? Yes Does it have Uniforms? Yes (details under Final Notes) File Type: Package Min. Required Game Version: 1.42 Packs Needed: The Sims 3, Generations 📣All descriptions for the levels, tones and metrics as well as skills required, salary, uniforms and other details are provided on the pictures above.

NRAAS Careers Mod Generations Expansion Pack - if you choose the Generations Version.

I've used fairly common level names for this internship as I couldn't think of any others that fit perfectly. Some might sound familiar as I utilized them from The Sims and Sims 2 console games, such as Lab Assistant and Lab Cleaner respectively, although I haven't played those games myself, so the tones used here may differ. The work days for this internship are scheduled for Mondays, Fridays and Saturdays due to Thursday is considered as a holiday if you have the Seasons expansion pack and Shop Club meetings are on Tuesday and Wednesday if you have the Generations expansion pack. The package file includes uniforms and one of them is taken from the Generations expansion pack, specifically from the Catalyst Chemistry Lab Station (Chemistry table) excluding the goggles. Recognizing that not everyone may have this expansion pack, I've created two versions. The Generations version features a lab coat for levels 1 and 2, while the Base Game version uses base game outfits for all three levels. Please download and use only one version in your game! 📣 Upon reaching level three in their internship, teens will be eligible for promotion to the Science career upon applying once they become young adults. Instructions are provided in the picture above; right-click on it and select 'Open image in new tab' for a clearer view. As stated above, you will need NRAAS Careers Mod for these careers to show up in the game and as long as you have the latest version of it, it should work for higher patches. You can also read my #psa regarding these careers, click here. I’m not fluent in any other languages to translate so if anyone is interested in translating this career, please don’t hesitate to send me a message here, comment on this post or let me know in my Ask/Contact form (if you don't have a Tumblr account) and will let you know the details. I have tested this career in my game, so far it is working and all scripts are showing up. All feedback is very welcome to help me learn and improve my skills so please let me know if you experience any problems on your end and I’ll do my best to sort it as soon as possible.

MissyHissy step-by-step tutorial Twallan for the Career Mod S3pe

[queer-ecopunk]

Re: blood donation

If you are concidering donating blood, awesome! It is a worthwhile, often pretty easy thing to do that can have a huge impact. This is especially true in the summer, when the number of blood donations is lower.

There are many things that may get you denied or deferred for donation, some of which have been and still are influenced by fear and prejudice. However, here in the US, some restrictions have recently been changed. I've listed many of the common denial/deferment reasons below. If you are ineligible to donate for a temporary reason, concider doing so in the future! And for everyone, eligible or not, I would encourage you to encourage others to donate. Even one donation could help save someone's life.

Common reasons people get denied in the US

- weight. You must be at least 110lb, so that you have enough blood to safely donate.

- low iron. If you are under the donation limit but not severely, you will be deferred and can donate later, once your iron increases. If your levels are extremely or consistently low, you will not be able to donate.

- recent vaccinations. Depends on what it was. With some, like flu and covid, it is fine to donate after as long as you are feeling well. Others, like hepB, monkeypox, or tetanus may have you deferred for a specific amount of time, then you will be eligible again.

- tattoos / piercings. The restrictions depend on what state you had the mod done, but it may be a 3 month wait before you will be eligible again.

- medications / illness / disabilities. Some will disqualify you, check online for your specifics. With some things, like diabetes or high/low bp, you are eligible as long as it is well managed. Others will disqualify you entirely, or they may defer you based on current health. It is highly dependent on the condition and meds you take.

PrEP for HIV prevention will disqualify you (for 3 months after last dose of pills and 2 years w/ injection). This is because in rare cases, PrEP can cause false negatives, meaning that someone can have HIV but be at low enough levels from the medication that the test doesn't detect it. This would be dangerous for a blood recipient, so they do not want to take the risk with folks on PrEP.

Additionally, if you are HIV+, you are ineligible to donate. Even if you are on ART and are at undetectable levels, there is a risk of transmission with blood transfusions.

- injectable drugs. If you have used injectable drugs that were not prescribed to you within the last 3 months, you will be deferred.

- sex.

There are several ways your sex life may get you deferred, which are based on what the powers-that-be have determined to be higher risks for STIs, particularly hepB and HIV. We can discuss all day if these concerns are reasonable, but the restrictions exist regardless. However, they have changed recently in the US regarding men who have sex with men. The following rules are now gender neutral.

• if you have had a new sexual partner and have had anal sex in the past 3 months, you will be deferred.

• if you have had multiple sexual partners and have had anal sex in the past 3 months, you will be deferred. This includes if you are in exclusive, committed relationships with multiple people.

• if you have exchanged sex for money, drugs, or other payment in the past 3 months, you will be deferred.

• if you have had sex with a sex worker, someone who is HIV+, or someone who has used non-prescribed injectable drugs in the past 3 months, you will be deferred.

If you are eligible and planning to donate

- do not do so if you are sick or feel unwell. Wait or reschedule until you feel healthy.

- do not donate while under the influence of drugs, including weed and alcohol.

- hydrate!!! Before and after!!!

If you are eligible, please concider donating. If you are not currently able to, check if you can in the future and spread the word on how important blood donation can be! ❤️ 🧛‍♂️🩸

[aroplanes]

My worldbuilding on Volturi guard rank structure

Cadet-Cadetta (feminine)/Cadetto (masculine)

The lowest of the ranks, these Vampires aren't actually part of the Volturi yet, but rather training to join. Someone needs to have been a Vampire for at least 5 years before they are eligible to train as a Cadet. They train almost nonstop for a year with numerous tests thrown their way.

These tests include fighting tests, control around blood tests, taking orders and obedience tests, and tests on how they cope/react with stressful situations. The Cadets remain in the castle for this entire year and they all, usually a group of about 30, share one singular dorm during this year where they hang out/get ready.

These Cadets bear a white cloak and no Volturi pendant. No gift is required for this rank.

Anyone who passes moves on to the next rank.

Transitional-Transitoria (feminine)/Transitorio (masculine)

These Guards share in rooms of about 3 to 5 and have their own common room where they can hang out. Their main duties are cleaning the Castle and helping to dispose of bodies after feedings, and sometimes they may accompany higher ranked guards when punishing a Coven to bulk up the numbers to make it seem more intimidating.

The Guards in this rank spend a lot of their time sparring and training in fighting, as well learning different key languages and Vampire history. However most of them will never see a proper fight or battle, as they are more show Guards than anything else.

These Guards bear a cadet gray cloak, and their Volturi pendants are crafted out of cheap metal and plastic stones. As a result these pendants break easily so a lot of them are made. Guards in this rank must serve for at least 50 years before they apply for promotion and even then most Guards spend 100 years as a Transitional before they are promoted. No gift is required for this rank.

Lower-Inferiore

This is where the vast majority of Guards are placed. The emphasis on cleaning and chores is less pronounced in this rank as they are often sent to deal with minor troublemakers themselves. They continue their fighting training, but the focus on learning new languages is less pronounced as their duties are now more time consuming, and they should have learnt most of the basic required languages whilst in transitional.

These Guards share dorms in about groups of 3, though they aren't required to live in the Castle and can instead apply to live elsewhere so long as they remain within 1000 miles of Volterra. They also have their own common room.

These Guards bear battleship Gray cloaks and their Volturi pendants are crafted out of better quality metal with glass stones. Guards who have reached this rank can no longer get promoted. No gift is required for this rank.

Common-Comune

This rank is almost exactly the same as the Lower Guards, except the Vampires in this rank have gifts. These Vampires due to their gift go straight from Transitional to Common, unless their gift is especially crappy and then they remain in Transitional.

Their duties are almost exactly the same as that of Lower Guards, except their training includes training with their gifts. And they are often sent on more missions. These Guards share rooms in groups of 2 and have their own Common room.

They bear a carbon gray cloak, and their Volturi pendants are crafted from decent quality metal and cheap gems. They have a chance to be promoted to the Elite Guard but it is rare. A gift is required.

Elite-Elite

This is near the top end of the Guard structure, and things such as cleaning the Castle and disposing of bodies don't exist for these Guards. These Guards all get their own rooms with an en-suite bathroom (E.g. Shower, sink, bath, vanity), and only responsible for keeping their own rooms clean. The common room for these Guards is shared with the Royal Guards and is incredibly well furnished with a variety of enrichment items like X-boxes, a mini library, pool table, Tv's and other such things.

These Guards receive much more leisure time as their only responsibility is attending missions and training their gift or fighting skills every so often unless they are being punished.

Their cloak is arsenic gray, and their Volturi pendants are crafted out of real gold or silver (depending on the Guard's preference), and inlaid with expensive gems. These Guards are allowed to make adjustments to their pendants such as having something engraved on the back. A gift is required for this rank (The only exception is Felix.)

Royal-Reale

These are the very, very top end of the Guard's that very few are actually in. They receive their own private rooms with an en-suite bathroom and walk in closet. They have the most leisure time out of all the Guard's due to only having to attend the very important missions.

These Guards are also allowed to leave the Castle/Volterra whenever they want, unless they are under punishment, whilst all lower guards have to receive permission from a King or a Royal Guard to leave, apart from Cadets who can't leave at all. The only stipulation is if a Royal Guard leaves they must remain contactable through a phone, and they must send a message to Aro saying they are leaving, so they can't be accused of desertion.

These Guards receive charcoal cloaks and their Volturi pendants are crafted out of real gold or silver, again depending on preference, and inlaid with expensive, quality gems. They are allowed to have engravings on the back. These Guards are always gifted, and the gifts are always powerful.

[covid-safer-hotties]

Also preserved in our archive

By Stephanie Soucheray, MA

Two new studies offer fresh insights into long COVID, with the first noting a greater neurological, cognitive, and fatigue impact compared with long-term symptoms after similar respiratory diseases, and the second demonstrating that a fourth of young Marines who contracted COVID-19 went on to develop long COVID.

Seven symptoms more common with long COVID

In the first study, published today in JAMA Network Open, researchers used data from the UK Biobank to compared postacute infection syndromes (PAIS) among patients with COVID-19 to other lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs). They showed that long-COVID patients have an increased risk of seven specific symptoms.

A total of 191,710 eligible participants identified since March 1, 2020, were included in the study. Of those, 1,153 were hospitalized with COVID-19, 1,304 were hospitalized with other LRTIs, and 189,253 uninfected patients were used as a reference group.

Patients hospitalized with COVID-19 were much more likely to report PAIS symptoms including loss of taste (odds ratio [OR], 2.27; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.87 to 2.75) and severe fatigue (OR, 2.18; 95% CI, 1.70 to 2.81) compared to the reference group. Overall, COVID patents were more likely to report 23 of 45 symptoms compared to the controls.

Compared to patients hospitalized for other LRTIs, COVID patients were more at risk for seven particular symptoms, including loss of smell (OR, 1.80; 95% CI, 1.34 to 2.42), loss of taste (OR, 1.52; 95% CI, 1.13 to 2.03), rapid heart rate upon standing (OR, 1.60; 95% CI, 1.12 to 2.29), problems with thinking (OR, 1.36; 95% CI, 1.14 to 1.62), bone pain (OR, 1.33; 95% CI, 1.06 to 1.67), mild fatigue (OR, 1.19; 95% CI, 1.01 to 1.40), and severe fatigue (OR, 1.49; 95% CI, 1.02 to 2.17).

Patients with LRTIs were more likely to report a lingering persistent cough than were COVID patients.

"Compared with other LRTIs, COVID-19 appeared to impose an extra burden of neurological, cognitive, and fatigue symptoms,” the authors concluded.

25% of Marines developed long COVID The second study, published in The Lancet Regional Health Americas, describes how 25% of previously healthy US Marines showed signs of long COVID following even mild or asymptomatic COVID-19.

In the study, 899 Marines (91.7% male) who tested positive for COVID-19 by polymerase chain reaction testing were followed up for almost a year to determine risk factors for developing long COVID, which the authors defined as persistent symptoms at least 4 weeks after symptom onset or diagnosis. The authors found a 24.7% prevalence of long COVID.

The Marines were young (median age, 18) and healthy, having passed a number of Marine physical fitness tests prior to study enrollment. The participants were asked to complete a survey about COVID infection and symptoms. Overall, 197 Marines (24.7%) developed persistent symptoms after COVID infection.

The most prevalent symptoms reported by Marines were loss of taste and/or smell (41.6%), shortness of breath (37.6%), and cough (22.8%). When compared with a pre-COVID cohort of Marines, the authors found the Marines reporting persistent COVID symptoms had slower running times on fitness tests.

The authors said their findings are important in considering the implications of long COVID on a young and previously healthy workforce. Long COVID could "decrease work productivity and increase healthcare costs," they wrote.

A total of 307 participants (34.1%) had an asymptomatic infection. Among the 195 who described the severity of their infection, 77.4% reported a predominately mild illness, 20.0% reported moderate disease, and 2.6% reported severe illness.

"The risk of long-term sequelae secondary to acute SARS-CoV-2 infection varies across studies; however, even in young healthy populations with very mild acute illness a proportion of infected individuals develop long-lasting symptoms," the authors wrote.

Study links: 1. jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2825348 2. www.thelancet.com/journals/lanam/article/PIIS2667-193X(24)00236-9/fulltext

[kcyars99]

This is Imane Khelif. She is a boxer from Algeria. 🇩🇿

You're probably going to be hearing a lot about her from your bigoted uncle this weekend, especially now that everyone's least-favorite bigoted aunt, J.K. Rowling, has offered her incredibly worthless opinion on today's fight between two cis (aka BiOLoGiCaL for y'all that need that) women.

Things worth noting: 🇮🇹 The boxer who quit today's fight--Angela Carini of Italy--said her quitting wasn't political and that she was not passing judgment on Khelif's eligibility. She said the shot to her nose did something different to her than most hits she's ever taken.

🇹🇼 Last year, Imane (along with Taiwan's Lin Yu-ting) faced a ruling by the International Boxing Association that they--despite being cis or 'BioLoGiCaL🥴' women--had "advantages" of a genetic nature, leading to a decision not to let them fight.

🇺🇸 U.S. swimmer Michael Phelps, celebrated as the greatest swimmer of all time, has a genetic condition where his body produces half of the lactic acid of a normal cis man. For this biological quirk (along with his hyper-mobility) he is lauded.

🇩🇿 Algerian sports officials and other Algerian athletes have spoken in Imane's defense, including national team soccer player ​​Ismaël Bennacer who said Khelif is "suffering a wave of unjustified hatred."

🥇 The Olympics do not recognize IBA or its rulings and carried out their own set of testing standards which every athlete you see competing had to pass.

🇯🇵 Imane also fought at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, where she was beaten in the quarterfinals by Irish boxer Kellie Harrington--another 'BioLoGiCaL🥴' woman.

🥊 For the weirdos who obsess over genitals, this person was born with a vagina. Meaning that by y'all's weird rules where you want to check in kids' pants before they compete, Imane would be deemed "girl athlete."

🏊 Meanwhile, Katie Ledecky today became the most decorated women's swimmer ever by pulling in a silver medal, after yesterday continuing her long streak of dominating everyone in the world in the 1500, where she holds the top TWENTY best times. Ever. And people on the internet spent the day calling her a man.

🧨 This should be a nonissue, but JOANNE and Elon and your bigoted uncle are latching onto it because they want to continue to push the deadly narrative against trans folks via any possible means. Even in a case where the person they're demonizing isn't trans in the first damn place. If she as a cis woman has more testosterone than other cis women athletes, well, that's not all that uncommon. Y'all wanna tell women with PCOS that they're not really women?

🩺 I don't know how many times I've shared that Open Ocean Exploration thread, by a literal biologist, explaining how common it is that people have sex variations that they don't even know about. I'll share it again since it's just about the most concise look at X/Y diversity I've ever seen. It's really wild to watch folks who copied off of my in high school biology act like they know more than actual scientists and doctors every single time I post it. --Find that post here:

#ParisOlympics2024

#OlympiansMadeHere

#olympicsboxing

(This originally called Joanne a bigoted uncle while still using her correct pronouns which I think conveys that she's basically the living embodiment of everyone's metaphorical racist uncle, gender be damned, but a few people felt it was misgendering her which was very much not the point so I changed it just to stop infighting since there's already plenty enough fighting with actual bigots to be doing.)

[amelianeek]

TRANSGENDER WOMEN IN SPORTS & BEYOND Amelia the Neek | Prose: Informative Article

The outpouring of hate directed at Olympic boxers, Imane Khelif and Lin Yu-ting, is completely unfounded. Firstly, being transgender is not a crime nor a moral deviation. Furthermore, neither of these remarkable athletes are transgender women. They were both born biologically and identify as cisgender women. This reproveable viral controversy stems from misinterpreted blood test results, not any slight on their part.

In Imane Khelif's case, she has differences of sexual development (DSDs), which involves genetic, hormonal, and reproductive variations. While Khelif has XY chromosomes, she otherwise develops and identifies as female. As for Lin Yu-ting, her high testosterone levels could easily be attributed to common factors like medications or intense physical training, not gender identity.

Once it was determined that the initial test results were inaccurate, the International Olympic Committee confirmed the athletes' eligibility. Yet "some" news outlets continue to push the false narrative, demonstrating the need to verify facts before spreading harmful "opinions". Athletes deserve respect, not uninformed attacks.

The claim that transgender women have an inherent physical advantage over cisgender women is often oversimplified. The reality is more complex. While some transgender women may have certain physical attributes that provide a competitive edge, this is not universally true. Athletic ability varies greatly among both transgender and cisgender athletes and is influenced by a complex interplay of factors beyond just biological sex. Many cisgender women have outperformed not only trans competitors but cisgender men as well, demonstrating that genetics and reproductive anatomy are not reliable predictors of athletic prowess. Additionally, the effects of hormone therapy on trans women's muscle mass and physical capabilities can negate any purported advantages. Each athlete should be evaluated as an individual, rather than making blanket generalizations about trans women in sports.

Take Dana Linn Baily for example. She is a prime example of a ciswoman at her absolute physical peak. How many men have you met who can match her level of muscular development? Importantly, Baily has never once tested positive for steroids over the course of her entire career. While not all women may be able to achieve a physique like Baily's, the facts are clear - she can bench press 225 pounds and squat 300 pounds. In contrast, most cisgender men cannot bench more than 165 pounds, and trans women often have less muscle mass due to the effects of estrogen, which limits muscle growth. This suggests that Baily's physique is the result of her dedication, not any gender-based advantage.

Ignorance and trans bigotry aside, the logical fear behind all of this is the potential dangers of seriously mismatching competitors in terms of weight class. Typically, the larger and stronger person will defeat the smaller and weaker one. However, there have been real-life David and Goliath situations (photos above) in which the smaller opponent arose victorious due to greater skill and wits. These situations have also included instances where cisgender women have defeated not only trans women but cisgender men as well, proving that size alone does not determine the outcome… but it does help.

Despite what you may believe, being transgender is not a choice. While individuals can choose to alter their bodies to match their internal sense of gender, being transgender is a fundamental aspect of one's identity. Research has shown that the human brain is a sex-typed organ, with distinct neural structures and connectivity patterns that vary between males and females. However, these differences are inconsistent. Once adjusted for head size, the sex-based distinctions become even less pronounced.

Some sex-associated behavioral and cognitive differences do exist but are not absolute. These variations are influenced by a complex interplay of factors, including cultural influences, hormone levels, and sex chromosome combinations. It is crucial to recognize this nuance and avoid oversimplifying or reinforcing gender stereotypes when studying these differences. Not all individuals conform to the general trends observed between men and women. Ultimately, recognizing the natural variations in the human brain is an important step toward greater understanding and acceptance of transgender identities.

The claim by some less-educated Republicans that transgender people are a new phenomenon created by the political left is simply incorrect. While the term "transgender" was first used in 1965 and gained widespread use in the early 1990s, gender-variant individuals have been documented throughout history, dating back to ancient times. Records show the existence of Scythian (Greek) and Galli (Roman) priests who were biologically male but chose to live and identify as women, with some even opting for self-castration. Similarly, the Kathoey of Thailand and the recognized "third gender" individuals in various Native American tribes are examples of gender diversity that predate modern terminology. Evidence of gender variance can also be found in the ancient cultures of Scandinavia, Japan, Egypt, and beyond.

There are some truly amazing transgender people in this world, some of which I greatly admire, including a great number of public figures such as Laverne Cox, Elliot Fletcher, Nicole Maines, Leo Sheng, Alexandra Billings, Elliot Page, Indya Moore, Scott Turner Schofield, Sophie, and Brian Michael Smith.

The truth can be quite fascinating… if you're willing to learn.

[brainrotbunny]

library love (blurb?)

chapter one out now!

remus lupin x slytherin!sirius' sister!reader

synopsis; remus lupin and yourself, find a common interest in coffee, books, chocolate, and annoying your eldest brother.

warnings; school, sirius being sirius, swearing?

A/N: this is just a test blurb it's unedited (and pretty boring) for now, its just to see if anyone would be interested in this lmk if you are but trust me the next chapters will be much better!

your fifth year was off to a rough start, you knew it would go this way but you hadn't expected this. being a black was difficult, and you could say being sirius' sister was just as hard, after all he was known for his dramatics, that being said even after he had run away from your unfortunate home situation the tension between you and your brother didn't subside.

in-fact it felt as if a bigger rift had opened between you and your eldest brother, now being divided by more than just opinions and school houses, but by space as well.

so as you stand in your first class of the year, which happens to be a year above your own it doesn't shock you when you see your brother and his "marauders" as they call themselves, but what does shock you is the glare hes casting your way, grey eyes splintering into your own.

now you were used to sirius' glares and his comments by now, it never helped that you had made a few of your own but it looked like he was ready to rip you to shreds, as if you had imposed on his space and that was in-fact what he thought of this new arrangement.

your professors had agreed your marks in transfiguration, herbology, potions, history of magic, and oddly enough divination were exceptional and you were eligible to move up a year.

you cast a glare back at your eldest brother before taking your seat, the spot beside a rather gaunt looking slytherin whom you hadnt spoken to before. the class was clearly divided by house not done so by the professor but rather the students who all had separated besides a select few.

mcgonagall stood tall at the front of the class room her judging eyes assessed the classroom, before promptly stepping back to her desk and beginning the lesson.

your second class of the day was luckily free of your brother, watching as other students filed in by the door you were relieved when lupin, evans, and mary mcdonald appeared lacking a certain long haired boy who had made sure to stare daggers through your head all through transfiguration. you were also relieved to find rosier was in the class with you, now you weren't exactly friends but you got along just fine after all he was close friends with regulus.

"hello class, welcome to year 6 advanced potions, now remain standing while i just-" slughorn pauses "try to finddd" he drags out as he shuffles around his desk opening drawers and sorting through a mess of papers "ah-ha, the seating arrangements"

"yes, yes i know but it must be done" slughorn says as grumbles ring throughout the classroom, he gets up from his desk albeit struggling a bit before walking over to the first desk in the room and calling out two names you hadnt heard before, a light-haired ravenclaw sat down followed by a short and pudgy slytherin.

he continued calling out names, one by one student sat down followed by their pre-picked partners.

"snape and mcdonald"

"evans and hedgeflower"

"lupin and black"

fuck.

[lostuntothisworld]

Bitter and Rebellious, Lilamoth's Origins, a rough draft

Maria DeAngelo was not a good person.

She was born lower class, and was extremely bitter about it. Although she had the work ethic and was very intelligent, Maria opted to stealing, swindling, and manipulating her way through life. She had no use for her loving but exhausted, overworked parents or her multitude of younger siblings.

Maria thought she was better than that.

At 17 years of age, she discovered Tsurugi Industries. They were experimenting with fertility treatments, and were rewarding a cash payment for eligible women who were willing to subject themselves to the trials and tribulations of experimental pregnancy.

Maria forged documents and signatures in order to show that she was of age, and was selected to join the trial.

Little did she know, she was the only woman in the trial who would conceive. She was secretly implanted with twin sentimonster embryos. Her body was being used as a stress test for what was possible with the Peacock Miraculous.

When her parents found out she was pregnant, she was cast out, and disowned. Luckily, Tsurugi Industries was more than willing to house and feed her in their campus while she was pregnant.

During her first trimester, Maria faked an illness. The doctors and nurses stationed at the Tsurugi Industries campus in Paris leaped into action at the first inkling of disease. Maria was hooked up to a million sensors and many tests were ran.

During the panic, Maria was able to discover the password for her case: “Miracle_01”.

Most of the information on her case was protected by fingerprint scanning technology, but she did find out the one single piece of information she was looking for: the biological father of her twins.

His name was Jeremy Verdi, and he was a very wealthy corporate lawyer of Tsurugi Industries.

Maria couldn’t help but grin. All that was left to do was meet this wealthy man and work her womanly charms in order to trap him in marriage.

The morning after she discovered her children’s father’s identity, she was packed into a first class private jet to spend the rest of her pregnancy at the Tokyo, Japan Tsurugi campus.

It was explained to her that the team of prestigious doctors and nurses there could check up on her constantly. Maria was confused as to why the Paris medical team couldn't watch over her, but decided against saying anything. She just had to be patient.

The rest of her pregnancy was uneventful. She lived life as lavishly as one could, in a private hospital. Maria did not suffer from any of the common ailments that twin mothers do, like disappearing twin syndrome, or twin to twin transfusion.

Even her delivery was uneventful. Maria didn’t remember any of it. She was brought into the clinic on her due date (a couple of weeks early, as is custom for twin pregnancies), was given medicine, and when she woke up, there were 2 tiny babies in little hospital cribs by her bed.

She named her eldest son Mio, after a character in a novel her mother used to read to her and her siblings. The younger daughter who was born minutes after him, was named Marguerite, which in French translated to “Pearl”, and also her favorite flower, the daisy.

The twins were small, but strong and healthy. Maria put on the perfect doting young mother act and the doctors and nurses discharged her when they deemed her ready.

She signed a robust NDA, and she was once again packed in a first class private jet and sent back to Paris, but this time with two little bundles of precious cargo.

A self driving limousine brought Maria and the twins back to her one room flat.

Maria prayed that the monthly checks she mailed her landlord from Tokyo arrived on time.

She slid her key into the lock. It turned, and the door opened. Maria stepped inside, two newborns in tow. She breathed a sigh of relief.

And then everything changed.

Maria was a terrible mother. She was never home, rarely kept food or baby formula in the house, and was a poor housekeeper. The only reason she had money to afford rent to her tiny flat was because Tsurugi industries paid her for the “experimental fertility treatment”.

But the money didn’t last long, because Maria would rather spend her time shopping and searching every nightclub for Mr. Verdi—a man like him didn’t stay home keeping house, after all.

But childcare, and keeping up appearances caused Maria’s funds to quickly run low.

Then came the revolving door of men that frequented the tiny apartment. The men supported Maria financially, but the twins were even more neglected.

Then one day, Maria attended a concert for an up and coming artist named Jagged Stone. Rumor had it that the musician was originally part of the smash hit duo that was CrocoDuo, but she didn’t believe it.

Maria wasn’t even looking for Mr. Bianca. was just there for the music, but fate had its own say, and she spotted him from across the club, in his own private booth.

The elusive Mr. Bianca was handsome for a man old enough to be her father. Or perhaps it was because he was waving around a heavy black credit card.

The second he laid eyes on her, Mr. Bianca fell in lust with Maria.

The aging man made his move.

Mr. Bianca showered Maria with gifts, jewelry, and money. Maria and her twins were finally able to move into a larger apartment with two bedrooms, instead of just a pullout couch in a single room.

Unfortunately, Mr. Bianca was married, and had a young family of his own. His wife was a stern upper crust employee of Audrey Bourgeois’ fashion empire. She was young, smart, beautiful, and had a strong disposition.

Mrs. Bianca also didn’t know her husband offered his DNA to Tsurugi Industries to create experimental designer babies for a lump sum of cash. But on the other hand, Maria told Mr. Bianca that her twins were the repercussion of a past boyfriend.

Despite the odds, Maria was still convinced she could make the man hers. She soon fell pregnant, and the lawyer’s marriage quickly dissolved after Maria brazenly presented proof of her pregnancy, and affair to the wife in question during an important fundraising event the couple was attending for Haus of Bougeois.

It was a massive scandal.

Mr. and Mrs. Bianca divorced, but Mr. Bianca also cut all ties with his mistress.

Maria was left alone, with no prospects, no income, and two, soon to be three tiny hungry mouths to feed. She could no longer afford a nanny, and the elderly neighbor who graciously watched her twins for free when Maria was tight on money had long since passed away.

Maria attempted a few part time minimum wage jobs between frequenting clubs in order to find a new affluent lover. Nobody wanted her after her public display of shame.

Maria hated working, and was deeply ashamed she had to lower herself to something so demeaning such as bagging groceries. She spiraled into a deep depression after mere weeks of taking care of twin infants.

A few short months later, she birthed her third child. A healthy bouncing baby boy. She named him Wayhem, a play on the word mayhem, to reference how her life has turned out.

The final funds from Maria’s affair dried up and the young family was evicted from their apartment. They moved between various shelters and motel rooms for about four years.

During one of Maria's three-day long partying streaks, the the children ran out of milk and cereal. Mio held his sister and brother's hands and lead them out of the motel room they were staying at. The three found a trash can and tipped it over, hoping to find something to eat.

Someone called the police, Maria was charged with neglect and abandonment, and the children were taken and sent to foster care.

3 year old Wayhem was fortunate, and swiftly adopted by a single upper middle class woman named Mrs. Verdi. Ironically, Mrs. Verdi was employed by Tsurugi Industries.

Marguerite was also adopted shortly afterwards, even more ironically to Mrs. Bianca. It was a PR stunt for Haus of Bougeois after Maria’s public scandal. The PR stunt worked, and people praised Mrs. Bianca for graciously taking in an unrelated daughter of her ex husband’s mistress. It worked out in the newly renamed Cerise’s favor. She was an intelligent child, and knew exactly what to say to her best advantage. Like birth mother, like daughter. Mrs. Bianca quickly grew fond of her new 4 year old daughter, as she wasn’t a disappointment like her younger biological daughter, Shone.

Mio was less fortunate, and spent most of his time shuffling from foster home to foster home before being transferred to a group home at age 8. His social worker insisted he change his name to something more “French”, as to appeal to potential adopters. He changed his name to Jean, and was eventually adopted at 11 years of age by a single plucky working middle class woman named Odille Duparc. 

During that time, Maria and Mr. Bianca met by chance at a seedy backroom party. Mr. Bianca invited Maria to his penthouse and the pair quickly started up another torrid love affair. It lasted only a few months, until Mr. Bianca suddenly ceased all fund transfers and communications.

It tuned out that the aging Mr. Bianca still had wandering eyes. While he was seeing Maria, he met, swiftly proposed, and was engaged to a beautiful 19 year old heiress.

Maria visited his penthouse in her prettiest little blood red dress. She rang her lover’s intercom. Nobody answered so she rang his intercom. And then she kept on ringing his intercom until a police officer arrived and escorted a sobbing Maria to the precinct.

Mr. Bianca had written up a robust NDA, and a restraining order was put in place. With intimidating officers present, Maria felt she had no choice but to accept defeat. She signed the papers.

Unfortunately, Maria discovered shortly after the fact, that she was newly pregnant. Not wanting to deal with the inconvenience, she contacted an agency, and was able to find an adoptive family for the child.

The adoptive mother was none other than  Nadia Chamack.

Maria opted for an anonymous adoption. She gave birth, and the healthy newborn baby girl was swiftly placed in Nadia’s arms.

Ashamed and angry, Maria refused to even look at her newborn daughter before she was handed over to her new mother.

Nadia named her precious baby girl Manon, and the pair never saw Maria again.

After she relinquished her fourth, and final child, Maria faded into irrelevance, while she worked minimum wage jobs in between boyfriends who were willing to pay for her every convenience.

Due to the documents she signed, and the law, Maria can have no legal no contact with any of her four children, not that she ever would want to. They ruined her life.

She wished they were never born.

——

The DeAngelo family was directly mirrored off of Alya's, the current holder of the Fox Miraculous.

In the DeAngelo family, the eldest are a set of fraternal twins; a boy and a girl. In the Cesaire family, the youngest, are identical twin girls.

In the DeAngelo family, the second eldest, Marguerite, is a villain, while in the Cesaire family, the second eldest , Alya is a heroine.

In the DeAngelo family, the second pregnancy results in Wayhem, a boy. In the Cesaire family, the second pregnancy results in Alya, a girl.

The eldest in the Cesaire family is a carelessly headstrong overly protective sister who is older than the DeAngelo twins, while the youngest in the DeAngelo family is a selfish domineering sister, younger than the Cesaire twins.

The Cesaire parents are very much a typical loving family unit with their daughters, while Maria DeAngelo and Mr. Bianca had their children unconventionally, or illegitimately, and treat them poorly.

The Cesaires are working class but are smart with their money, but Maria DeAngelo was given a small fortune and squandered it.

There’s probably more but I can’t think of them! Ha!

If you read to the end, thank you so much!

[iamnearyourlocation]

How were you all raised at Wammy's? Were all of you like made to be L's mini me's? Or did they have you specialized into specific fields you excelled in? What's the selection process even?

Near is lining up a collection of Sylvanian Families in a neat row as he answers the question.

"As is common knowledge, Wammy's used to be a school where children abandoned by the world would be given the resources to develop their talents and become prodigies in things they were passionate about. After L quickly rose to the top and became the world's greatest detective, however, the structure changed drastically. With Watari gone more often, Roger was left in charge, and the original aspirations of the school were lost. Roger noticed the success L brought to the orphanage in large amounts of money, and he got greedy. He didn't want that money to just vanish once something happened to L, so he suggested a successor program to L and Watari, who believed it was a good idea."

Near has moved on from organizing the dolls to using them to act out what he's saying. A grey persian cat is a stand-in for Watari, a grey labrador for Roger, and a black persian for L.

"At first, the program was opt-in, but then they started doing yearly tests on all the children to determine if they were 'eligible' for the program. At seven years old, I was opted in, and from then on, they trained me intellectually to solve cases. Luckily, I quite enjoy puzzles, so the schooling itself wasn't the hard part. I quickly rose to the top, but that didn't make things easy. They never cared to teach me how to actually handle being L in a real scenario, so all I know how to do is analyze patterns and come up with plans. My caregivers have to help take care of me, execute plans, give orders on my behalf, and help me handle all the danger that comes in a job like this. I've grown to resent my position, because not only do I know there are kids at Wammy's who's special needs are disregarded due to not being in the successor's program and therefore not seen as 'worth the cost', but the ones who are have been given half the knowledge to solve cases and the order to fix the world as we know it. Unfortunately, I understand why L became so detached and cruel when it came to being a detective."

[sugar-coated-prat-dragon]

Title: Merlin isn’t fond of the early season knights, because of them throwing custard during food fights 🍮

Episode: "Lancelot" questions #1

Questions by @tansyuduri

Tagging: @miyriu

Books used for reference: A Fighting Chance, Poisoned Chalice, Merlin Complete Guide and The Traitor Within

Question: Historically, it wasn’t uncommon for knights to be a commoner that was knighted for acts of valor in battle, great service to a much higher lord, or marrying a noble woman.

So Lancelot coming there a commoner and hoping to be a knight is unusual, but not unheard of?

My answer: It’s possible that other kingdoms might have different rules concerning the eligibility of knights, but Uther created Camelot’s first knights and the first code of their knighthood ensures that only those of noble houses can serve.

Interesting enough, Merlin initially tells Arthur that Lancelot is a noble, because in his mind, the “tall, dignified young man” who saved him in the forest was more noble than the other knights he knew.

Merlin mentions twice in this book that he isn’t overly fond of the knights, given their tendency to throw custard 🍮 during food fights, make a mess and ruin the prince’s clothes.

He also mentions that the food fight from the previous ‘feast of Beltane’, reminded him of his time in the stocks and being pelted with old vegetables. 🥬🍅🥔

Book description:

Arthur still wasn't taking him seriously. 'That's great, Merlin, I'm sure he's terrific. But you forget the First Code of Camelot. Only those of noble blood can serve as knights. So unless your friend is a nobleman ..:

No! Merlin wanted to shout in frustration. But then ... well, Lancelot might be a nobleman for all he knew.

The tall, dignified young man certainly seemed more noble than a lot of those custard-throwing knights that Arthur hung around with. 'He is a nobleman!' the warlock said hurriedly.

- Merlin had no particularly romantic view of the knights - their most recent battle had been a food fight during a celebratory feast - it had taken him hours to clean all the custard off Arthur's clothes.

- Merlin sniffed again and instantly regretted it. Putting on a brave face, he started sifting through the robes, flapping them out at arm's length and folding them.

Inevitably, all the movement wafted the smell around some more. It reminded him of his time in the stocks, being pelted with old vegetables, rather than of any feast.

'Did it end in a food fight?' he wondered, wrinkling his nose.

Question:

Arthur: “Pass this and you are a knight of Camelot. Fail and you're no one. Grimmond second son of Wessex. Your time starts now.”

OKAY lots to talk about here? First of all Knight of Camelot must be a great honor. This dude is the second son of at LEAST a noble family? So being considered no one is huge?

My answer:

Being a knight of Camelot is a huge honor.

It’s a much bigger deal than simply being a noble, because only the most elite of the noblemen can pass the test of skill and serve their kingdom.

1. Uther himself refers to ‘the knighthood as the very foundation of Camelot’ and tells Lancelot that he does their kingdom an honor by joining them.

2. Whereas Gaius recognizes that the king believes the knights of the realm are upright, honourable men, and beyond reproach from anyone.

3. Arthur refers to anyone who lasts in a fight against him and joins the ranks of his knights���. as the elite.

Book description:

His face was stern as he spoke. He addressed all those present, although his words were aimed at Lancelot. 

'The final challenge. Succeed, and you join the elite. Fail - and your journey ends here?”

- Merlin strained to listen as Uther drew Lancelot aside. 'You do us a great honour, Sir Lancelot, the king was saying. 'The knighthood is the very foundation of Camelot.'

Gaius looked at the dying knight and shook his head angrily. If the king knew what one of his precious knights had done ...

Gaius slumped onto a chair.

And there was the root of the problem. The king believed that the knights of the realm were upright, honourable men, beyond reproach from anyone, let alone a servant. If Merlin accused one of them without proof...

Question:

Is Wessex subordinate to Camelot?

Or are knights just coming from outside Camelot, because being a knight there is such a big deal?

My answer:

The lord of Wessex and by extension his sons, have sworn their allegiance to Uther, despite not living in Camelot (Source: Merlin Complete Guide)

Camelot knights are very well trained and even their enemies (like Morgause) have noted how talented they are as fighters.

So it’s not hard to imagine knights from other kingdoms wanting to serve amongst their ranks.

During the siege of Camelot, Morgause herself noted that Uther's men were too well trained and were able to valiantly fight off the attackers, despite being outnumbered.

Compared to the Camelot knights, the army that Cenred had put together was an undisciplined rabble.

Book description:

WESSEX - lord with allegiance to Uther

- For a moment Morgause thought that the battle might be over even sooner than she had expected, but Uther's men were too well trained and valiantly fought off the attackers, sending them tumbling and screaming as they pushed the ladders back or sent down arrows in a deadly rain.

Morgause gave a hiss of disappointment.

Compared to the Knights of Camelot, the army that Cenred had put together was an undisciplined rabble.

Question:

Why is becoming a knight of Camelot something that people want so bad. Is there some level of renown?

Uther does not seem to give out bits of land so it can't be that.

My answer:

The majority of the knights of Camelot consider it an honor, because symbolistically the knights as a whole are supposed to emphasize dignity, gallantry and honor.

Lancelot wanted so badly to be a knight of Camelot because even as a foreigner, he knew being there would give him a chance to stand up against tyranny and evil.

Something he sought out desperately after watching his parents and everyone in his village be slaughtered.

Book description:

And on top of that, it might lead to Lancelot's dream coming true. It could give him a chance to stand up against tyranny and evil. Surely that would all outweigh just one small lie ...

- The other shook his head. What made it worse for Merlin was that even now, Lancelot was displaying the dignity and gallantry that marked out the best of knights!

‘The choice was mine, the man said. 'My punishment is mine to bear, and mine to bear alone.'

Question: Gaius: “Uther knew he would have to trust each of his knights with his life. So he chose them from the families that had sworn allegiance to him. The nobility.”

That makes sense considering how Uther treats commoners and how paranoid he is?

My answer: Uther doesn’t think anyone but nobles have any worth.

Gaius is rather well regarded as a peasant, but since he’s not a noble, he’s often regarded as more of an object (like every other servant) and his worth is entirely dependent on the kings whims.

Book description:

To Uther, only nobles have any worth.

Those of lesser rank may become well regarded - Gaius, for example - but their fortune is entirely dependent on the king's whims.

Servants are regarded more as objects than people. He orders Merlin to test a drink for poison, despite the boy's bravery in speaking out and possibly saving Arthur's life.