#Harry is friends with all the ghosts and portraits

[omgrachwrites]

My Oh My (Mattheo Riddle)

Mattheo Riddle x Potter!Reader

Request: Do you do song based requests? I was hoping for a Matthew Riddle x potter!Reader based on the song My oh my and/or Shameless from Camila Cabello. You are so good at writing that tension in between characters that shouldn't be together but want to break that forbidden love trope lol - anon

Warnings: fluff, swearing, mentions of sex, wolfstar being adorable

A/N: I hope this is okay anon! Hope you guys all enjoy, I love you all! xxx

You crept along the silent corridors, hoping to Merlin that you wouldn’t get caught by a ghost, or Mrs Norris for that matter. You would have stolen the Invisibility Cloak if Harry wouldn’t miss its absence, you did always have to remind him that your dad had told you to share it but he wouldn’t listen.

It was well past midnight so it wasn’t likely that anybody was going to be in the Common Room. You grinned as you recalled your earlier activities and your knees almost weakened.

They say he likes a good time (My, oh my) He comes alive at midnight (Every night)

You whispered the password, apologising to The Fat Lady for waking her up and you crept through the portrait hole.

“Where have you been?” a quiet voice came from beside the fireplace making you jump.

“Fuck, Harry!” you swore at your older brother and sighed as he waited for you to answer his question, “I couldn’t sleep so I went for a walk,” the lie rolled of your tongue so easily that it surprised you.

Harry nodded, your answer seemed to satisfy him, “I’m sorry, Y/N,” he sighed as he pushed his glasses up his nose, “Hermione woke up and you weren’t there so she panicked. Then, I panicked,” he chuckled, “I was just about to come and look for you.”

Guilt twisted in your stomach as you smiled weakly at Harry, “you don’t have to worry about me Harry, I promise. I’m gonna go up to bed, night Harry.”

“Night, Y/N,” he smiled as you went up to bed. You went to bed feeling like the worst person in the world.

The morning dawned bright and early, and you were walking a little bit behind your friends as you all walked down to the carriages. You were still feeling guilty about the night before so you were keeping your distance. You felt a cold hand wrap around your wrist and you were pulled into the nearest broom cupboard.

“What the fuck?!” you yelped, rolling your eyes when you came face to face with the cocky Slytherin. The same Slytherin that you had shared the previous night with.

My mama doesn't trust him (My, oh my) He's only here for one thing But (so am I) Yeah

A little bit older A black leather jacket A bad reputation Insatiable habits

“Hello, darling,” he grinned, his hands coming up to grip your waist, “I wanted to see you before we all go home for the summer.”

“Well, you’ve seen me, Mattheo,” you laughed as he rolled his eyes, “people will get suspicious if we’re in here for much longer.”

“You will write to me this summer, won’t you?”

You cupped his cheek, trailing your fingers across the scar that he’d received from duelling, “I’ll try,” you promised.

He nodded at your answer before leaning in to kiss you, you kissed him back gently, your fingers digging through his curls. As he pulled away he bit his lip and looked away from your face, “I like you, y’know.”

You laughed at the flush that spread across his cheeks, “I like you too.”

Your friends weren’t that far ahead so it didn’t take long for you to catch up with them, “are you alright, Y/N?” Ron asked.

“Yeah, all good,” you nodded, slightly out of breath, laughing when he slung an arm over your shoulders.

It was a couple of weeks into summer when you walked into the kitchen and heard Harry whining to your mum, “why do me and Y/N have to come though?”

“Oh no, where are we going?”

Your mum looked at you with a sigh as if talking to Harry exhausted her, you knew the feeling, “we’re going to The Three Broomsticks for dinner tonight.”

“What, why?”

“Because,” Lily rolled her eyes, “Sirius wants us to meet his new partner.”

“What’s the point in that when they’re just gonna break up in a couple of months?” since your mum and dad had been in school Sirius held a torch for Remus, but he’d never said anything. Sirius’ relationships barely lasted 6 months.

“That’s exactly what I said,” your dad laughed as he walked into the kitchen.

Lily sighed but you could tell that she was trying not to laugh, “don’t encourage them, James.”

When you and your family arrived at The Three Broomsticks you noticed Sirius and Remus sitting at the table. There was no one else there and they looked pretty nervous, “do you think…?” you trailed off, looking at Harry.

Harry shook his head, “nah, they definitely would have told us by now,” you nodded but you knew first hand that that wasn’t always the case.

As you walked over to the table, Sirius smiled up at you all in greeting and you sat down, “so, everyone knows Remus, obviously,” he laughed and Remus offered everyone a little wave like you hadn’t known him for all your life.

“Does this mean that you guys are together?” Harry asked what everyone else was thinking and when Sirius nodded, your heart leapt for joy. Two people who you loved more than anything had finally found each other, you couldn’t think of anything better.

Your mum and dad whooped, “yes! Wolfstar is real!”

Remus laughed, looking relieved that everyone was taking this so well, “what the hell is Wolfstar?”

Lily flushed as she looked at James, “it was our ship name for you in school, we’re so glad that you guys are together!”

Sirius grinned, “thanks guys!”

“First round is on me,” James grinned, “come on, Y/N, you can help me.”

“Oh, dad!” you whined as you followed him to the bar.

You didn’t notice the bartender until he came to take your order, “what can I get for you?”

You froze when you realised it was Mattheo behind the bar, he stared at you in turn, his blue eyes widening. Your dad put the order in and when he wasn’t paying attention, you leaned over the bar to speak to Mattheo.

“What the hell are you doing here?”

He shrugged as he poured the pints, “thought I’d keep myself busy,” he hissed, “since the only person I want to speak to won’t reply to my letters.”

You bit your lip, you really did feel bad about that one, it had been a jam packed summer already, you hardly had any time to write secret little love letters, “Theo…” you trailed off as your dad paid for the drinks and Mattheo shook his head at you.

As Remus explained how Sirius finally had the guts to tell him how he felt, you couldn’t help but watch the handsome boy behind the bar as he walked from customer to customer with cat like grace. He grinned at a little old woman and spent a lot of time speaking with her, you wished you could hear what he was saying. You liked him like this, it always seemed as though he had to put up a front in school, you wished he could be himself but you supposed you couldn’t blame him, considering who his father was.

Unfortunately, you weren’t as subtle as you thought because your mum saw you looking at him, “who’s that behind the bar?”

“A boy from school,” you muttered, taking a sip of your Butterbeer.

“He’s Mattheo Riddle. Voldemort’s son,” Harry blurted out.

“Harry!” you hissed.

Lily scowled as she eyed him curiously over her wine glass, “he looks like trouble, I hope you’re staying away from him, Y/N.”

“Of course mum.”

When you spotted Mattheo going outside, you made excuses about how you wanted to get some fresh air as you followed him out. You found him leaning against the wall, lighting a cigarette, “those things will kill you, y’know,” you giggled.

“Among other things,” he blew out some smoke, not looking at you.

“Theo,” you sighed walking towards him, “I’m sorry that I haven’t been writing to you.”

Mattheo sighed as he looked at you, touching your cheek, “I understand, you have to protect yourself.”

“I’m not trying to protect myself, I’m trying to protect you! Do you what my parents would do to you if they found out about us? Not to mention my brother.”

Mattheo smirked at you, his blue eyes surprisingly bright in the dark of the night, “trying to protect me huh?” he grinned when you nodded, “I lied by the way, when I told you that I liked you. I meant to say that I really like you,” he flushed and you marvelled at how something like this could embarrass him, after all you would together in The Room of Requirement.

“I really like you too.”

Mattheo flicked away his cigarette as he tucked a strand of hair behind your ear as he leaned in to kiss you. You sighed against his lips, tasting the mint of his gum and the smoke from his cigarette, it was an intoxicating taste.

He was onto me, one look and I couldn't breathe Yeah, I said, "If you kiss me I might let it happen"

I swear on my life that I've been a good girl Tonight, I don't wanna be her

He pulled away from you slightly, resting his forehead against yours, “a forbidden, secret romance is actually pretty sexy, Y/N,” he smirked.

“You’re such a prick,” you laughed as you pulled him in for another kiss.

[drarry-mini-bang]

Drarry Mini Bang - Week 1 round-up

On Our Side (M, 46k) by 🖊️ PhantomGrimalkin 🎨@sweatersinthesummer

Summary: The war is over, and Harry is trying not to be obsessed with Draco Malfoy. Which would be easier if Andromeda’s desire to reunite her family didn't result in Harry and the Malfoys being invited to the same events. After a few months without insults or fights, Harry recognizes his attraction and figures out how to ask Draco on a date. Their relationship is surprisingly easy, unfortunately Harry’s life is still complicated. They're stuck navigating past traumas, the press, Black family drama, a child that no one knows exists, and a quirk of wizard biology that was left out of his sex education.

like a wheel spoke (T, 34k) by 🖊️ justdistress (ao3: harDeehar)🎨 @stazvlt

Summary: When Andromeda is hospitalized and three-year-old Teddy's temporary fate is left in their hands, Harry realizes he and Draco are not as incompatible as he thought. The exact opposite, actually. Somehow, this makes everything worse before it gets better.

Fake Happy (T, 10k) by by 🖊️@a-sentimental-man 🎨 @anzukero

Summary: Happy birthday, Harry," Draco told him, his voice soft and fond. Harry blinked, taken aback for a moment because⁠—because Draco never sounded like this, apart from a few moments where Harry could swear he dreamt it. If he thought Draco was handsome before, he was breathtaking now, gaze soft on him. "Didn't think I would forget, did you?" Harry's just broken up with Ginny⁠—if months ago could be considered "just"⁠—trying to get through his job while hating every minute of it. The only highlight of his job is Draco Malfoy. That is, until he wakes up on his 21st birthday with a small dragon tattoo on his wrist, the unmistakable mark of his soulmate.

Thorns (E, 68k) by 🖊️@orange-peony 🎨@itsphantasmagoria and @pocketlessdruid

Summary: Harry looks at his reflection in the mirror and starts his morning routine by putting a Glamour on. After a moment, it’s not Harry Potter who stares back at him, but Gustav Meris, renowned magical portrait artist. Too bad Draco Malfoy has returned to England after ten years to ask for his portrait to be painted. 

The Haunting of Hogwarts (M, 84k) by 🖊️@briamarie38 🎨@navi1088 and @regretfulcorrine 

Summary: Twelve years after the Battle of Hogwarts, Harry Potter, barely clinging to his reasons for being an Auror, is asked by cursebreaker Draco Malfoy, his best friend and not-so-secret crush for the last decade, to help investigate a developing case at Hogwarts. Animals are showing up dead and the ghosts are acting weird. After some investigation, it seems it was all a bit alarmist until the next full moon and they've got a victim drained of blood and essence on their hands. Before they know it, they're knee-deep in dark magic, and Harry is in a race against time to find the culprit before Draco is taken as collateral. Featuring lots of banter, an irresponsible level of cuddles, and drarry shippers Ron and Hermione. 

[karenandhenwilson]

I've seen so much discourse about Bucktommy and especially Tommy and it is so wild. I just want to write down some of my thoughts over all of it because that tends to help me to stop thinking about it.

"Oh, how can anyone just abandon Buddie for Bucktommy?"

Has anyone really abandoned Buddie, though? Or are they just for the moment very excited about a new and so very carefully portrait queer story line? Just because some people talk more (or for the moment only) about Bucktommy, doesn't mean they don't like Buddie anymore. They just have something shiny and most importantly canon to fawn over for the moment.

Also, I'd like to give that question back: Why aren't you all excited for a carefully and softly portrait new queer storyline about a character a huge part of the fandom—including the actor himself—hoped for years would get a queer story line?

And it's a pretty unique queer story. Of course, we had Michael figuring out his sexualtiy and growing comfortable in it right at the beginning of the series. But there are some huge differences between Michael's story and Buck's story.

For one, we ended up in the middle of that story. Michael had already done a huge part of the work of getting to know himself. He was ready to live as a gay man. And second, nothing of what we saw until season 3 was from Michael's point of view. It was all from Athena's point of view. 

So it was a "coming-out late in life" story line, sure. But it was a queer storyline from a straight perspective. And in some instances, from a very hurt perspective about it all (which are, of course, very valid emotions for Athena, May, and Harry, but it still gave the queer side of the story line a certain taint). And they did that beautifully, too, no doubt. I especially liked that the family didn't break over it, that they grew with that experience, and that Michael and Athena became great friends over the years.

But now we also have a "coming-out late in life" story line from the queer perspective! 9-1-1 is pretty much the only series I'm following right now, so I have no idea if we had something similar recently. But from all the talk I've seen, it's pretty damn unique, especially for a male bi character. So, of course a lot of people are super excited about it. Because it's honest and good representation that the writers and the actors are handling with a lot of care.

"Oh, if it were a female love interest, you'd all hate her again!"

First of all, go back read that paragraph about many people being excited about getting a queer story line again! I think that's about 40% of the answer for everyone wondering about it.

And then, of course, Tommy has now already more depth and character and background than we ever saw about Ali or Natalia. And despite some people claiming he didn't have any kind of redemption arc, he truly had a lot more of a redemption arc than Taylor ever got even if only glimpses of it were ever shown on screen. (Maybe I'll get into my thoughts about that in another post.) Not gonna talk about Abby, because I think most of the dislike for her came long after that relationship was over after she ghosted Buck (and after Eddie had shown up).

One huge difference between every love interest of Buck or Eddie we have seen in the past to Tommy is also, that Tommy gets along really well with Eddie. We've already seen a friendship develop there. That never happened with any of the women either Eddie or Buck dated before. We saw that one dinner Buck and Taylor had with Eddie and Chris, but it was very clear it was the first time, and that was over half a year into Buck and Taylor dating, probably more like nine months.

If you wear slash googles around Buck and Eddie or not, their deep friendship is undeniable. It's very much canon that they both have a hand in raising Chris. Any love interest coming in has to deal with that, and has to somehow fit into that friendship. Tommy is the very first love interest in canon we have ever been shown to have that potential at all.

I'm personally part of the fandom that thinks that Buck and Eddie have great potential in a romantic way, BUT that they are first and foremost soulmates, no matter if platonic or romantic. And at least the Bucktommy fics I've read so far have all acknowledge the friendship of buck and Eddie and Chris' role in Buck's life. With Tommy being very accepting and supportive of it. (Though, I admit I’m very careful in my selection process.)

"Oh, Bucktommy is only a steppingstone for Buddie anyway! Don't get so invested in it!"

Who are you tell anyone what they should get invested in? I also think, with the excitement right now, even if Bucktommy break up, the ship itself will live on in fandom.

And also, didn't any of you learn out of the cheating story line they settled Hen and Karen with?

There is barely any content for Henren*. And I've been looking! Most stories they are tagged in don't really focus on their relationship. And those who do focus on their relationship get barely any attention. And you know why that is? Because a lot of people can't or don't want to deal with the cheating. (I deal with it by trying to ignore it or seeking out content where it's fixed!) Do you all really want to have a second queer story line that centers around cheating?

And even if none of you care for Henren (which... I know many don't *shrugs sadly*), have you all already forgotten the real pain over Buck kissing Lucy and then not fessing up to Taylor about it right away? (Once again, I deal by either ignoring it or seeking out content that fixes that bullshit.)

I'm honestly pretty disgusted by all the speculation about 7x06 that has anything to do with Buck and Eddie cheating on Tommy and Marisol during the bachelor party. And even more so about all the fics one can find about that, or that use Tommy as a device for Buck and Eddie realizing they are in love. (Honestly, even filtering out the other relationship tag while looking for stories in one relationship tag doesn't prevent one from stumbling over those stories right now, no matter if one is currently looking for Buck/Tommy or Buck/Eddie stories. It's so fucking annoying. I've turned to only reading old Buddie fics for the moment.)

Aside from the whole cheating of it all, why do any of you think the next episode will focus on anyone else but Maddie and Chim?

"Bucktommy is so racist! But really, no surprise in this fandom!"

What's no surprise is that "racist" is once more used as a buzzword in this fandom. To the point that BiPOC fans of Bucktommy are being told they are racist for the ship they like. (Nothing new about that in this fandom either.) Honestly, half the arguments about why the ship is oh so racist either make my head hurt while I try to follow the many, many, many mental loops people are making to get there, or they just make me laugh outright.

Do some of you really believe it when you say "Buck got together with a White man instead of his Latino best friend, so of course that's racist!"??? I'm just... Are you okay? Do you maybe need something warm to drink, a snack, and a nice place somewhere in the sun far away from the internet to just enjoy nature for a little while?

As I said, I'll probably make another post about Tommy's redemption arc over the whole "He is an unrepentant racist and misogynist". That redemption arc exists and has been baked in since season 2 (even if some of people clearly lack the media literacy to see it). Though, other people already put together great meta posts about this. But maybe if there are enough of it, some people will for once acutally read and start to think instead of continuing to spew their hate.

*PS: If anyone has good Henren contant, especially fanfiction, feel free to drop me a DM. I'm always looking!

[cherryslyce]

Second Son (IX) | Regulus Black

Series Synopsis: Forbidden from contacting Harry over the summer, you opt to explore the eerie halls of Grimmauld Place where you stumble upon a lonely portrait of the House's second son.

— Chapter Synopsis: Professor Slughorn extends his invitations to the friend group. Harry and Y/N have an enlightening conversation that leads to unanticipated trouble.

Part VIII / Part X / Series Masterlist

Pairing: Regulus Black x GN!Reader

Notes: Oh boy, it's been a long time coming for this plot point. Blaise's characterization and role in the chapter was purely unplanned, but I just couldn't pass up the opportunity.

You could barely keep your head screwed on straight. As you sat in front of your parchment, quill motionlessly clasped in your frozen hand, you felt your head wobble a bit. Harry is sat next to your inert figure, lips parting then closing as he tries to grapple for the right words. 

“Well, say something.” His words have you snapping your head over to stare at him, your hand shaking from the motion, droplets of ink descending from your quill to rain on your notes. 

Cursing quietly, you quickly spell away the mess and sigh, “Harry, isn’t it just a little strange? I mean for a good chunk of our last year, Dumbledore acted like you were a ghost, and now he’s giving you private lessons on what? Voldemort’s childhood?” 

Nodding at your (extremely justifiable) response, he runs a hand through his hair, turning to face the window in front of your table. 

“And you’re saying bloody Voldemort was an orphan– one that Dumbledore tried to intimidate? Bloody hell, the welcoming committee for Hogwarts back then was rubbish, I mean, setting an orphan’s meager possessions on fire?” Your words are tinged with amusement and Harry’s lips curl up ever so slightly. 

Shaking his head lightly, he drops his chin into his palm, “Magical fire,” he corrected, “but yes. It was strange to see the Dark Lord look so baby-faced and innocent. But Dumbledore thinks that I’ll somehow figure out Voldemort’s weaknesses and secrets from these lessons.” 

Sobering up at his words, your voice turns grave as you take in how exhausted your friend looks, “It’s all really happening then. The war,–” you pause to glance at your surroundings, “it’s near, and everybody’s putting you at the center of it all.”

Your words are even, but Harry is able to pick up on the bitter undertone, sending you a strained smile in appreciation. Of course, Harry couldn’t help but be in the middle of it all. Wretched prophecy. 

“I wish we could run away.” The boy next to you makes no move to echo your sentiments, “Once this is all over, I want to go to the beach.”  At your last statement, he smiles and his eyes glaze over, muttering his own silent wish. 

Your wishes fall on silent ears, both of you knowing that the likelihood of making it out of the war was slim. For now, you could enjoy this moment of solace with your burdened friend. 

But it seemed that peace would not befall Hogwarts for a long while. 

It was finally the day of the Hogsmeade trip, a time of year that usually had students bustling about in excitement. This year however, the energy fell flat as many shuffled in hushed whispers, either mulling over school work or worrying about the increase in death eater attacks. 

Hannah Abbott’s mother had been murdered less than a month before, and the girl’s continued absence at school had set the tone for the following months. Lady Abbott’s demise marked a new era of the war, and becoming accustomed to death would be a tough pill to swallow for everyone. 

The thought weighed heavy on your mind even as you sat with the trio inside the warmth of The Three Broomsticks, four glasses soon being placed down in front of your hunched figures. As your eyes dart around the tavern, you accidentally snort as you look into the corner of the room. 

‘Something amusing, little bird?’

Your surprised flinch goes unnoticed by the table’s occupants as the rest of your friends take notice of the source of your amusement. You had forgotten that you brought Regulus with you, his portrait lost in one of the many pockets of your jacket. 

‘Nothing much, crowface, it just so happens that Ron’s sister and an old dorm mate of his are snogging right in front of us.’

‘Merlin, will you ever let that nickname go?’ 

Smiling into your butterbeer, you’re quick to shoot him a teasing response, ‘Never. What’s so wrong with it? You’re my crow after all.’

Regulus doesn’t respond to your comment, and you were unsure if he was annoyed or too tired to engage in banter with you, but you barely have time to dwell on it as you see Professor Slughorn approaching your table with a twitchy grin. 

“Harry, my boy!” Harry is quick to spring from his seat, enthusiastically shaking the man’s hand in an exaggerated show of excitement. You were amused by Harry’s efforts, unsure if he was trying to impress the man for networking purposes or if he was trying to siphon information from him. You suspected it was likely the latter.

Harry barely respected authority. You were sure he only actually liked Professor McGonagall, and he surely never beamed like the sun in her presence. 

His conversation with Slughorn continues and you only snap your gaze up to look at the pair when you hear Slughorn say your surname, followed by Hermione’s name. 

“You’re both welcomed as well! Ah–Nice to see you, Wallenby.” You snicker at his remark, watching Ron sour at the man’s words. As Harry sits down, you can’t help but cluelessly ask what your Potions professor was talking about, having been preoccupied by your own thoughts. 

You nearly drop your butterbeer into your lap when he tells you that you’ve been invited to a friendly supper with him and ‘Mione. It seems that the man was already collecting trophy students for his Slug Club, and you were a little flattered to be on par with your two friends in his eyes. 

The Slug Club would be an opportune time to start networking, Merlin knows the connections you’ll need once you graduate from Hogwarts.

The high from the invitation seems to swell and soar higher, the embers of delight crackling wildly in your chest as you trek in the snow with your friends. Hills of unsullied snow stretched for miles and seemed to brighten up the grounds, consequently lifting away the veil of tension that clawed at the student body. 

Your high is obliterated almost instantaneously when a high-pitched scream hits you like a bludger. A chill cuts through your core at the sound and you find yourself racing towards the distressed noise, recognizing the shouting girl to be Leanne Trembley. The Hufflepuff was furiously gesturing to a crumpled figure in front of her that you failed to notice until that moment. 

Before you can even register her words, the motionless body in front of your feet begins to shove from side to side, before being dragged into the air. As the girl is suspended above you all, you curse silently and begin to look around for help. 

She was another student above your year, and quite a well-known one at that. 

Before you can run off to find help, you jump back as she suddenly comes crashing down, the snow crunching under her in protest. Nearly tripping over yourself, you peer down and see a tangled necklace glittering on the ground near her unconscious figure, a sudden pull of magic making your fingers twitch. 

Slowly releasing your magic, you flinch back harshly as it makes contact with the magic emanating from the gaudy jewelry piece, realizing it was likely a cursed item–dark magic. The magic surrounding it was like an inky void, its vicious nature barely contained by some haphazard spellwork. 

What the hell?

Katie Bell had been tossed around like a ventriloquist’s puppet in broad daylight. But who would want to hurt her? And who the hell was passing around cursed objects? 

You don’t get any answers from the adults. As expected. Instead, you all simply get brushed off with uneasy looks.  

‘It just doesn’t make sense, Reggie. I mean you should have seen it, she was being flung around like a ragdoll, and now she’s being shipped off to St. Mungo’s for who knows how long.’ 

After you were all dismissed from the necklace incident, you decided to head to the library for some quiet time, needing time away from your friends to think. 

‘A cursed necklace making rounds in the student body? Be careful, birdie. This is likely a ploy from a junior death eater trying to impress their parents. The Dark Lord would never be that sloppy, and he certainly would never allow the victim to live.’ Regulus’ words do little to soothe your worries, but you know you also have no lead to investigate even if you wanted to. 

Plucking a book from off the shelf in front of you, your eyes widen as something flashes quickly across the other side of the gap. Waiting with bated breath, you continue to watch as it flashes back and forth. 

It was only after a few more moments that you realized someone was aggressively pacing back and forth in the next row over. 

‘Reggie.’

‘Hm?’

‘Yes or No?’

‘No.’

‘Okay.’ Yes it is.

Padding around the bookshelf, you peer into the aisle to see a disheveled Draco, mumbling to himself like a mad man. His composure was nowhere to be found and you’d never seen him look so pale. 

“Malfoy, everything okay?” Your words are filled with genuine concern and have the boy snapping his frenzied eyes to you, a sudden shock coloring his expression before it’s twisting into a sneer. 

“None of your concern, L/N. Shouldn’t you be off with Weaslebee or Potter?” His words are fueled with malice and you have to fight the urge to roll your eyes. So much for being nice. 

Despite your sudden eagerness to stick your nose in the Slytherin’s business (clearly Harry’s been rubbing off on you), you knew when to stop prodding. 

“Friendly lad you are. Do head to Madam Pomfrey, you look sickly. And as always, it's been a joy.” Shaking your head, you breathe out a small dismissal before you’re cutting past him and leaving the library behind you, head spinning from the wild trajectory of events. 

You should have dropped out of this damn school the moment that troll tried to splatter your brain across the bathroom sinks. 

You have little time to simmer over your thoughts about Malfoy and his distress, spending the following days chatting with Hermione and Harry about what to expect at the first Slug Club meeting. Harry had enlightened you both on the fact that he was chumming up to the older man on Dumbledore’s request. Of course, this news had you twisting your mouth peevishly, not liking the fact that Dumbledore was plotting something and using your best friend to achieve his goal. 

You found yourself becoming increasingly off-put by the headmaster with each passing day, but you’d remain complacent as long as he didn’t push it too far. 

As the evening of the Slug Club meeting emerges, you’re left to fret over your appearance and worries with a bemused Regulus. 

“Your circling is making me dizzy. Merlin, don’t stress yourself out, little bird. It’s just going to be a small get-together, and he’ll ask you questions about your career goals and studies.” 

Reasonable enough. 

Nodding in exasperation, you fling yourself onto your bed, careful to not lay on Regulus’ frame. Your head felt heavy with stress, and you couldn’t shake off the chilling feeling that’s been bothering you since the beginning of the year.

“Reg, can I take you with me?” Your words come out a little small, and you feel almost awkward by making the request, feeling like an anxious child. 

The boy responds almost immediately, “Of course, birdie. You don’t have to ask, I’ll be wherever you want me to be.” His words are light, but genuine, clearly not affected by your almost odd request. 

Feeling immensely reassured by his conviction, you can only release a small sigh of relief, feeling your nerves settle down. 

“Thanks Reg. I suppose I’ve just been out of it since there’s so much going on nowadays.” 

Regulus hums in understanding, and you’re almost tempted to just roll over and go to sleep with his portrait clutched to your body. The feeling of wanting to stay in your blankets forever has been a persistent one for the past few months. 

Just as you feel your eyes growing heavy, Regulus’ soft voice cuts through the haze that threatens to drag your consciousness away, “You should get going, Y/N. Unless you’re feeling unwell, if so then you should change into more comfortable attire.”

“Mm, no, you’re right, I should go now.” Your mumble is entirely unconvincing, but you knew you’d regret it if you decided to abandon your plans, besides, you had other matters to attend to aside from the Slug Club meeting. 

Getting up from your spot, you quickly slip Regulus’ portrait into your pocket and make way to grab your wand. You promised Harry that you would meet up with him earlier in order to discuss something. 

Harry’s words had been vague, but the look in his eyes when he asked you had you agreeing almost immediately. You weren’t sure if Harry was struggling with a life-threatening issue or if it involved Draco’s erratic behavior, but you were curious nonetheless. 

The questions flooding your head go flying out of the window when Harry hits you with a statement that has you floored from shock. 

“I think I have feelings for Ginny.” 

You feel your eyebrows drag together in bafflement, mouth creasing down into a slight frown. Across from you, Harry seems beside himself, looking even more lost than he’d ever look in his entire school career.

Snapping out of your shock, you place your hands on Harry’s shoulders before giving him a hard shake, “When the hell did this happen?!”

The boy allows you to manhandle his body, glasses bouncing around with the movement. Perhaps if you shook him harder, the bouncing of his head would be enough to wake up his brain.

“I don’t know! It’s just that lately with the whole Dean situation, I’ve just been…well, you know.” Finally stopping your movements, you’re unable to help the laugh that escapes you. 

“You’ve been jealous then?” To his dismay, your teasing words are paired along with a shit-eating grin that has him reconsidering all of his life choices thus far. 

Shaking his head and readjusting his glasses, Harry releases a heavy sigh before going to say something again. Before he’s able to though, his eyes go wide as he reaches for your arm, attempting to tug it to the side in a hurry. 

You’re confused for a split second, but before you can question your friend, a heavy body goes slamming into your back, sending you stumbling forward. A yelp pushes past your lips and you see Regulus’ portrait go flying into the air, before tumbling to the ground and sliding a few feet away. 

Shit. You forgot that this jacket didn’t have a pocket zipper.

Swinging your head around in irritation, you’re met with a shocked Cormac McLaggen standing behind you. The imbecile had been too distracted with fixing his sweater, which was still clutched in his hands, to notice that he was rapidly stalking towards your unknowing figure. 

“Woah, sorry, my bad.” You feel your eye twitch at the apology and you barely grunt out a response before he’s stepping around you and making his way further down the hall. 

Harry goes to put a hand on your shoulder to steady you, but becomes distracted by the item on the ground, making his way over to it before you can stop him. 

“No, wait, Harry, I got it!” As you rush forward, you only make it in time to see Harry flip the frame over, his body going rigid at the sight of an unimpressed Regulus. Your hand only pauses in the air for a split second before it’s snatching the item away from Harry’s hands at the speed of light. 

The mantra of curse words that go flying through your head would be enough to send McGonagall flying off the handle.

Clutching the frame to your chest, you hold your breath as Harry continues to stare at his empty hands, eyes alight with confusion. 

Slowly turning towards you, his voice is surprisingly even for the amount of shock you could see in his face, “Why do you have a picture of Regulus Black in your pocket?” 

Gripping the frame tightly in your hands, your words come out breathless as an intense wave of unease washes over you, “How do you know it’s him?” 

Harry sighs harshly, pinching his thumb and middle finger on the bridge of his nose as he answers, “This summer, Dumbledore took me from the Dursleys to go find Slughorn at his home. When I was looking around the place, I saw old photos of him and a quidditch team. He pointed out Regulus to me.” 

Regulus’ voice echoes in your mind link at the boy’s words, ‘Slughorn has a photo of me in his home?’

Stepping back in confusion, you almost want to look at Regulus to see what expression he was donning at the revelation. 

Before the conversation can continue, a bright voice erupts from behind you, “There you both are! It’s nearly time for the meeting to begin.” 

You spin on your heel and see a smiling Hermione making her way towards you, hands tucked in her brown dress jacket. Returning her smile, you quickly slip away the portrait before she can see it, trying your best to hide how shaken up you were. 

You trusted Harry, of course. But you weren’t sure how the added information of Regulus’ existence would bode with the burden-overloaded boy. As you begin to make your way down the hall with your friends, only partially engaged with Hermione’s ramble, you see Harry shoot you a pointed look. 

Clearly, the conversation was far from over.  

The Slug Club meeting seemed less daunting now that your secret had been unearthed and, quite literally, tossed into the air. As you sit eating your dessert, vaguely aware of the way Marcus Belby was scraping his spoon furiously against his glass, you look around to survey the table. 

It was quite the random bunch, and you were surprised to see that Draco wasn’t in attendance seeing as Potions was his pride and joy. Although, you aren’t upset that it was Blaise Zabini sitting across from you instead, quite enjoying the boy’s humor despite who he chooses to associate with. Merlin knows Draco’s sardonic demeanor was overwhelming enough, you guessed it was only fair that there was Blaise to balance it all out. 

Continuing to look around the table, you feel yourself do a double take before narrowing your eyes. 

Wait–is that McLaggen? Why the hell was he here?

“So, Y/N, I hear quite the praises about you. Yes. Yes, Professor Babbling and Professor Flitwick are chuffed to have you in their classes. Is there a particular area of study you are interested in?” Slughorn’s words have you snapping your gaze away from the source of your stress, eyes growing imperceptibly wider at the attention. 

Clearing your throat, you shoot a quick glance at your friends before smiling lightly at the older man, “Oh, well I’m quite interested in runes and I’m also partial to researching ancient charms. I spent most of my summer reading old tomes and heirloom books.” About the Dark Arts, not that you would say it aloud. 

Slughorn nods quickly, pleased by your words. Observing the other occupants at the table, you see Blaise meet your gaze with intrigued eyes, while Neville shoots you a warm smile. You supposed it was better than them looking at you like you grew a third head, and you suspected that Blaise somehow could read between the lines and knew exactly what type of research you were doing.

“Why, that sounds like quite the interest! I happen to know a few researchers in Norway and Scotland who are versed in archaic charms. I’ll be sure to reach out to them, perhaps you will be able to meet them at the Christmas party.” Slughorn’s words send a beat of shock through your spine and you find yourself beaming at the man, not expecting such an opportune offer. 

As soon as you nod at his words, the man turns towards Hermione, asking her about her parents and what they do for a living. You try to ignore the awkward silence that spears through the atmosphere once Slughorn realizes he knows very little about the muggle world, choosing to instead send glares at McLaggen when you notice how much your back hurts. 

You had heard he was trying out for a position in Quidditch this year, so maybe you could ask Ron to barrel dive into him as payback. 

The meeting seems to wrap up in the blink of an eye, and you’re soon trailing through the dark corridors behind the rest of the club members. Hermione quickly parts from your side and says she needs to go check out a book before curfew, but you’re less concerned about that and more concerned about Harry’s noticeable absence. 

He was probably still with Slughorn, no doubt already enacting his plan to get information. You only hoped that Dumbledore would leave the man alone soon, or at least until the Christmas party. Opportunist you may be, but the biting nature of the real world demands that you never turn away from such a golden ticket. 

You are dragged away from your thoughts as you feel someone fall into pace with you, looking up to meet a familiar set of eyes. 

“Zabini, what can I do for you?” 

The boy’s lips twitch at your forthright words, hands tucking away into his pant pockets, “Heirloom books. I wasn’t aware you had such…proclivities.” 

Nodding your head, you manage a small smirk at the Italian, “It’s been a strange summer.” 

“It would seem so.”

You both fall into a comfortable silence and you see a few people begin to break away, leaving for their respective destinations. As you reach the grand staircase, Blaise steps away from you, turning his head to give you one last assessing glance. 

You take the initiative to wave at him, still surprised by his cordiality, “Later, Zabini.” 

“It’s been fun. See you around, L/N.” With a small smile, he nods before strutting down the stairs.

As you continue through the darkness you reach into your pocket and pull out Regulus’ frame. You aren’t able to make out his expression, but his presence is comforting nonetheless. 

‘I think I just made a new friend, Reg.’ At least, you hoped you had. 

‘Just be careful.’ 

‘I will be. But I’m sorry about earlier, I should have pinned my pocket or something. Now Harry knows.’ 

‘It was bound to happen eventually.’ 

Huffing through your nose, you set your mouth into a firm line, ‘He won’t tell anyone, promise.’ 

‘I trust you. I know you’re good at picking friends, little bird.’ 

You send a brief pulse of amusement through the mind link, making no comment about the obvious self-praise in his words. 

The next day would be an interesting one, and you were already planning out what to say to Harry, but you weren’t sure how he’d feel about you keeping such a big secret for so long. 

It was truly unfortunate that you couldn’t stay buried in your bed forever. 

tag list: @krazyk99 @venomsvl @valsarchives @bunny24sstuff @novella12nite @elia-the-bibliophile @txoru @surelysherly @xlifexdeathx @trikigirl271 @the-marauders-world @sleepydang @blueberry-thrawn @lestat-whore @chanaaaannel @clockworkherondale @peachyaeger @wilmasvensson @thegayhoenextdoor @l--absinthe @ok-boke

[hlficlibrary]

HL FIC LIBRARY ✤ AUTHOR REC

AO3: crinkle-eyed-boo

Tumblr: @crinkle-eyed-boo

STATS:

✤ Number of fics: 11

✤ Posting Since: 2018

TOP 5 FICS:

1️⃣ Mine Would Be You {E, 114k}

Louis blinks his eyes open, his eyelids fluttering as the room swims around him. He takes several gulps of beer once he confirms that he’s definitely not hallucinating, that the very first portrait Harry Styles ever painted of him is hanging on that wall.

Louis stares at the wall, his heart jackrabbiting in his chest as he realizes that there’s not just one painting of him, there’s five, the portraits lined up like they’re some sort of storyboard depicting the rise and fall of his deepest love. His greatest heartache. A pain that cut him so deep that he left the fucking country, severing all ties with his life in New York, now suddenly surrounding him as if he’d never left.

Fucking shit motherfucker fuck.

Louis returns to New York City five years after he left it – and the love of his life – behind. He didn't intend to see Harry again, but fate has a funny way of pulling them together, whether they like it or not. After making a begrudging truce, they both start to wonder: Would it be so bad if history repeated itself?

2️⃣ Own the Scars {E, 144k}

“But I don’t belong here,” Louis insists. “Why do you say that?” James asks. “These people are all drug addicts and alcoholics,” Louis shrugs. Something sparks in James’ eyes. “And you’re not?”

Louis has never felt like he was good enough: for his stepdad, for his life-long best friend, for the life he's supposed to want. After an accident that nearly costs him his life, Louis' parents send him to rehab where he’s forced to face his demons. On the long and difficult road to recovery, Louis must confront the truths he’s been avoiding about his future, his relationships, and his sense of self-worth. Because before he can love anyone else, he’s got to learn how to love himself first.

3️⃣ No Bunny But You {E, 13k}

“So you saw the bunnies then?” Harry clarifies, a smirk tugging at his lips. “Yeah, those were a bit of a surprise,” Liam huffs. “I mean, they definitely weren’t part of what we commissioned from him, but they’re kind of cute, right?” Harry sputters a laugh. “What?” Liam asks, the furrow in his brow deepening. “They are cute little bunnies!” “Cute little bunnies that are fucking,” Harry snickers. “What?” Liam gasps. “Liam,” Harry says, trying to school his face into a serious expression. “Those bunnies are fucking.”

A slow Monday night behind the bar turns into something else entirely thanks to a new mural and a new customer.

4️⃣ Let Our Hearts Collide {M, 76k}

“Liam is in a coma.” “Yeah, we can see that,” the father says, throwing his hands in the air. “God, this is the most depressing Christmas ever,” the blonde sister mutters. “His vital signs are strong,” Dr. Higgins assures them. “Brain waves are good–” “Brain waves?” the mother wails, taking Liam’s hand in hers. “Oh my God!” “How did this happen?” the father demands. “Um, he was pushed from the platform at the subway station,” Harry pipes up. The entire family turns to look at him, confused. Harry shrinks back, wishing he could have just kept his big mouth shut. “Who’s this?” the father asks, pointing at him. “Um, I’m Harry–” he starts. “He’s Liam’s fiancé!” Jade adds helpfully from where she stands by the door. Every jaw in the room drops, including Harry’s. Oh, shit. Shit shit shit. What?

When Harry, a lonely transit worker, saves the life of the handsome commuter he's been secretly pining for, an innocent mistake results in Liam Payne's family believing that Harry is engaged to their son. In the Paynes, Harry finds the big family he's always longed for...and a love he never saw coming.

A While You Were Sleeping AU

5️⃣ There's Such a Lot of World to See {E, 125k}

“Why do you keep looking at me like that?” Harry asks, thumbing at Louis’ hip. “Like what?” Louis asks breathlessly. “Like you’ve seen a ghost or summat,” Harry muses. “You did it all the time the other day and you did it just now.” Louis swallows hard, studying him intently. “You remind me of someone,” Louis says softly, tucking a curl behind Harry’s ear. “Someone I lost.”

Louis has seen a great many things throughout his travels in time and space, but only one he can’t explain: He keeps meeting the same boy, who says the same thing to him each time. The boy should be impossible.

Maybe he is.

A love story that defies the boundaries of space and time. Doctor Who AU.

HIDDEN GEM:

💎 I'll Still Feel the Same Around You {E, 2k}

He finds himself wishing that the bedsheet would slip down a few more inches so he could get a good look at Harry’s perfectly pert–

Louis’ breath hitches as his cock stirs, suddenly very interested in this train of thought.

Oh.

Oh.

The answer to all of Louis’ troubles is so fucking obvious he can’t believe he didn’t think of it until now.

Nothing puts him to sleep like a good orgasm.

Louis finds the cure for his insomnia in the form of his husband.

[momo-t-daye]

"Now, Severus, the sword! Do not forget it must be taken under conditions of need and valor-" the portrait recited, an echo of Albus Dumbledore, a recording unspooling predetermined plans. It wasn't Albus Dumbledore, it was paint and canvas and curated memories and trained habits, it was a simulacrum that could only ever offer false connection and empty comfort.

Minerva thought it was a mockery of remembrance, hanging the portrait of Albus behind the desk Albus had once occupied. She had refused to enter the Headmaster's office a second time as staunchly as she refused to look at Severus with anything but hatred now. It was torture. Every parroted guile and canned expression of concern and impersonation of Albus' intelligence was another knife twist in the knot of grief and guilt that had replaced his heart in the last terrible year.

It was continuing on, another reminder that Severus mustn't let Potter see him, mustn't let Lily's son know of Severus' allegiance lest the child become a liability before he could be a sacrifice.

"I know," Severus said, curt, hoping to skip past the pre-recorded reminders of all the promises he'd given to a dead man.

He didn't need the portrait to press a hand against some invisible wall as though it wanted to reach him, he didn't need it to make that expression of determined concern Albus used to make when Severus had marched off to another terrible meeting with the Dark Lord for the sake of the Order and keeping the boy alive and as safe as they could.

Yet despite the mimicry of care, it wouldn't even tell him why he had to get the sword into Potter's possession; perhaps Albus hadn't trusted his own portrait enough to imbue it with that knowledge even as he had trusted it to continue to haunt Severus.

It was a ridiculous dedication to his little mind games, like that note on the inside of the firewhiskey label, as if Albus had feared that, left to his own devices, Severus might go and haunt himself off Dumbledore's plotted path with grief over his own wasted loyalty and rage at the fate sewn under Harry Potter's skin and memories of his once best friend. As if Severus wasn't an expert at closing his mind and shuttering his heart and ignoring furious wailing of his own ghosts.

The portrait was still talking, another formulaic warning to take caution while accomplishing Albus Dumbledore's plans.

"Don't worry, Dumbledore," Severus said, speaking more to himself, his disappointed devastated selves, than the portrait, "I have a plan..."

For Unofficial Snapetober 2023 prompts "Ghost" and "Remembrance" The idea of haunting ones own self/of seeing the ghost of your past self seemed like it would be suitable for Severus- Sev is different from Severus is different from Snape is different from Professor Snape etc. etc., right? I mostly work with traditional media and do a little bit of digital tidying up to try to get the colors on the screen to look like the colors on paper, but I had a bit of fun figuring out how to put the ghosts of past Snapes (young Sev, Teen Sev, and Professor Snape) haunting Headmaster Snape into the picture. I painted each of the ghosts separately- in dark orange over black inked lines- and then inverted the colors once it was scanned and put those as semi-transparent layers on top of the separate painting of Headmaster!Snape in Dumbledore's office (...I am not very good at drawing backgrounds inside of a building where furniture and walls have too many straight lines, let's just put the characters in the woods with trees and lots of nice wavy wobbly lines...). Also! Have you all read "Stronger than a Butterbeer" (https://archiveofourown.org/works/10786743)? It's such a precise gut-punch of "the absence of Severus" that haunts me so I just had to make a reference to it.

[femmmie]

Review of Smosh's Funeral Roast

I am harsh at times, but know it all comes from a place of love!

Spoilers under the cut

I live in Europe. This is relevant because of timezones: the funeral roast of Anthony Padilla was live at 6pm for them, meaning 3am for me. I am not the youthful insomniac I once was so I had to train my sleep schedule the entire week - otherwise I would miss it because I fell asleep. But I wanted to witness this live. I love smosh.

The trailer for this roast deserves an award: Ian and the cast have a movie night as suddenly the light turns blue and everyone but Ian freezes. He seems to know what's going on and discovers a zombie or ghost like Anthony levitating. The cast of the roast are all introduced and all play a gothic, churchy kind of character. See the full trailer here (it's currently at 666k views, how fun):

Around 1am I got impatient and decided not to wait for my alarm clock but to install myself on the couch, with a blanket and a scarf, and a hot cup of tea, god knows I would need it. I watched episodes of the Scott Pilgrim Netflix series to kill the time. The character Todd Ingram reminded me a lot of Anthony and I wonder whether Anthony has 'vegan superpowers' as well. Probably so.

Finally, the pre-show begins. This is pretty uneventful as they play a game and succesfully convince thousands of viewers to buy their tickets to the main show. I look at them. Everyone is gorgeous. But I can't look away from Ian and Anthony. And here is where I stray from actually reviewing the show to let my inner fangirl out: holy fuck they are hot. Me and my friends on tumblr have been making 'forgive me Father, for I have SINNED' jokes because his character, 'the pastor', just brings that out in people. We're not used to Ian in black, or in a robe, and he looks phenomenal. And then there is Anthony, clothed in a ridiculous Harry Styles-esque lace top with lace gloves, resting his head on Ian's shoulder. It's such a cute moment, Ian pushes him upright. He can be alive for a second before his funeral. My heart melts. Honerable mention: Courtney's bikini girl cleavage right behind Ian. The girls were ready to rock. Okay, okay, back to the review.

The room feels kind of small and a bit claustrophobic. The Smosh art dept. always steps up, so the stained glass "friendship never dies" high-five looks incredible, and the megachad-Anthony portrait hilarious. The casket is huge. But the props make the set look even smaller. I think the problem is the cameras. I realize how difficult camerawork is when you have multiple focus points to switch between, but next time they should do a lot of practice with this to streamline, to get everyone in the shot and better capture people's reactions to the roasts.

Ian walks in. He starts off with a bit about who Anthony is: a hot, hardworking guy with a big dick. Those are the main takeaways of his roasts.

Amanda is next. She looks beautiful but very wacky. Her deliverance and accent are stellar, though. She truly is top talent at Smosh. Her roasts are also some of the most scorching of the night. She doesn't shy away from calling out Anthony's past problematic behavior and less than stellar performance in the bedroom ("look it up!") She gets a round of applause and deservedly so.

Tommy follows with a kind of angry roast, and proceeds to read the will, from which nobody comes away unscathed. I feels like his words about Anthony supposedly hating the cast are a necessary evil. Just the same day Anthony posted his interview with Shayne on his personal channel. There we learned that Shayne didn't know before if Ian and Anthony actually had wanted to hire them. Anthony said they were very much involved, something I don't know whether to believe. As apparently, Ian never talked about it with Shayne either, for all those years. Shayne had also been very apprehensive when Anthony came back, not knowing what would happen and the first change was to boot the entire cast off the main channel. I feel like Tommy's roast puts the topic on the table and hopefully they will talk about it more until nobody has any doubt left.

Now I have to insert that one of my main critiques of the night is that lots of people both did a lot of obvious jokes (tattoos, leaving smosh, general appearance) and did not go hard enough. Anthony kind of has an awkward CEO vibe (he's not the ceo but still) about him that seems to make even the cast a bit wary of him. I had hoped for jokes about that.

Brandon Rogers is next and rightfully points out the lack of celebrities in the line-up. Doesn't Anthony have more friends who want to roast him? Either he doesn't or the rest of Smosh don't have access to them. Which is both fine, because it is a Smosh party after all.

Arasha comes in swinging with all kinds of Zoomer slang that I frankly don't understand but her deadpan delivery is like a breath of fresh air. She ends with a very nice message. That kind of undercuts her roasts though, I wish she would have been meaner.

Now it is time for the musical half-time show, which actually deserves its own review. Performed by Angela and Chanse, this is incredible. By far, the most professional part of the evening. These are no theater kids, as they still call themselves. These are Broadway acTORS! I was really taken away by their talent. Not only do they act, but they also sing amazingly? Did you hear Angela do screamo?! And Chanse's riffs? They pointedly mention the sexual tension between Ian and Anthony, both on- and off screen. This has been occupying my mind ever since. Wow, sorry I went fangirl-mode again. But the halftime show simply is that good. Keith makes an appearance at the end and brings the show back down to earth with his humor.

The biggest surprise guests are next in what I can only describe as Dan telling the horny tale of his years long obsession with Anthony, and the many, many times he unloaded on the 'sexy Anthony' calender (which is a real calender, I was there when it came out but was broke at the time, darnit). Dan and Phil have been shedding their PG personas on their own channels for a while now, but for those who don't watch them daily this December - they're doing gamingmas and it's chaos - it is shocking what X-rated stuff comes out of their mouths. Anthony is visibly taken aback. Good!

As the show progresses, Ian keeps moderating as the pastor. It is great to see him so in control and enjoying the roast of his best friend. The joke of Ian not being able to show his emotions comes up a lot, but today I see him mainly just having fun.

Of course, then there is Bikini Girl, whom I had high hopes for, maybe too high. She is hilarious, but nothing really stings. Courtney does also direct the whole show, so super kudos to her. I just don't think she has the best roasts. She is followed by Rhett and Link, who just do their regular thing. It is funny but not very original. You can only hear so many tattoo jokes before it gets old. We do see Link's bare torso, so a win for fangirls (gender neutral).

Then Shayne, or should I say the Chosen has his turn. He is absolutely in character and does great. I just don't know if the Chosen is the best person to deliver roasts. It feels more like a Shayne party than a roast of Anthony. Which enough people love all the same, I'm sure.

Angela is 'the vessel', a possessed girl, reading the roasts from the audience. These roasts are very mid (they should have included mine! /j), but her delivery is again stellar. Smosh is really lucky to have her.

And last but not least, Ian goes on a second roasting spree. Only, it isn't a roast? He just makes fun of Anthony’s baby picture and then proceeds to tell Anthony how grateful he is for him, how he's so glad they are friends again and that he loves him? Anthony is crying by this time, which makes the moment even more tender.

Of course, Anthony has to do a counter-roast. It is apparent that he is still affected by all the roasting or 'love-bombing' as Amanda calls it. And he's not as good at live comedy yet. Still, his jokes are funny and really in Anthony's own style. He concludes with Ian's quote of being happy to burn Smosh to the ground with him. I knew that quote would be ingrained in Anthony's mind. It was one of the sweetest things Ian had ever said to him, after all. Until Ian has now told him he loves him, of course.

And then it was 5 am. I got a healthy two hours of sleep in! I came away from this roast with a content smile and a full heart. This was well worth the ticket, the staying up late. I am happy to be a member and support them monthly, I've loved their humor even before they started their youtube channel. I love Smosh. I'm so happy that Anthony is back. Smosh is whole again. And it brings out that light in Ian's eyes. He is funny in an unhinged way again. I truly love Anthony and Ian and their dumb videos. I want them to continue to make them forever. These kinds of live shows are fun. But Ian and Anthony truly shine in their off the walls absurdist sketches.

Special shout-out to my bestie @only-frann who I could scream at this whole day.

[markliving]

MASTERLIST

That's my masterlist, some things are a little older and I don't write for them anymore, like BTS. My ask is not open for now and i do not write nsfw.

All the titles will be posted, i just need translated them. And remembering, english is not my firt language.

masterpost | who do i write |

GOT7

mark tuan

one-shot

let snow - mark tuan x f!reader, friends to lovers, fluff, a little of angst |

your favorite song - mark tuan x reader, fluff |

destination cafe - mark tuan x f!reader, fluff, alternative universe

series

til' the road and sky align - mark tuan x f!reader, stable relationship, travel, fluff, angst | ongoin

im jaebeom (jay b)

one-shot

jackson wang

ghost of you - jayb x f!reader, hurt/no comfort, angst | based in "ghost of you" by 5 seconds of summer

one-shot

my star - jackson x oc!star, fluff and happiness |

park jinyoung

there are good witches, you know? - jackson x f!reader, magic, fantasy, fluff | 1585 words

one-shot

lie to me - park jinyoung x f!reader, drama, happy ending? |

BTS

min yoongi

one-shot

better man - yoongi x f!reader, fluff | based in "better man" by 5 seconds of summer

unforgettable - yoongi x f!reader, fluff, stable relationship, travel, fluff |

Stremers/Youtubers

Foolish

One-shot

not always enemies - percy jackson!au | son of aphrodite!foolish x son of athena!reader | hurt/confort, enemies to lovers, fluff

Harry Potter (marauders era)

sirius black

one-shot

five of september of 1978 - sirius black x f!reader, angst, hurt/no comfort, but a happy end?? | 657 words

behind the portrait - sirius black x f!reader, angst, hurt/comfort, stable relationship |

Top Gun: Maverick

jake seresin

one-shot

meet me in the pale moon - jake seresin x f!reader, fluff, drama |

Football

son heung-min

one-shot

strawberry - son heung-min x f!reader, just fluff |

Marvel

bucky barnes

one-shot

after you - bucky barnes x m!reader, angst, fluff, happy ending

DC

jason tood

one-shot

a kiss heals everything - jason tood x f!reader, just fluff | 1076 words

beyond the mask - jason tood x f!reader, a little of romance, angst

One Piece

portgas d. ace

one-shot

roronoa zoro

special day - ace x f!reader, fluff |

one-shot

reunions - roronoa zoro x f!reader, after marineford, angst, happy ending, fluff |

Jujutsu Kaisen

gojo satoru

one-shot

Nanami Kento

miss you - gojo satoru x f!reader, platonic!megumi x platonic!reader, exes to lovers, drama, fluff, a little of angst, happy ending | 2499 words

one-shot

by your side - nanami kento x reader, fluff, confort | 1057 words

[ghaniblue]

Fics I enjoyed recently in October/November last year, left in my drafts and never posted oops: 3xDrarry, 1xJegulus

🥵🕶 Bang the Bodyguard!!! by @milomoonsies (Jegulus, 7k, E)

Dear god this Reg. Their dynamic is fire elmo emoji. I'm obsessed.

Aren’t you just the littlest bit proud of me?” Regulus asked. “Made it all the way back home without you knowing.”

“Six security officers watched you climb and then fall off a fence. We have it on camera. You could’ve just told me you wanted to leave. I would’ve taken you out the back, you muppet.”

Regulus stifled a laugh. Maybe he wasn’t as sober as he thought.

x x x

Regulus is the unwilling son of the foreign secretary. James is his six-foot, sex-on-legs, Krav-Maga-wielding, Margaritaville-loving "Specialist Protection Officer".

Regulus has no choice but to fuck him.

🐲📻 Ten Visits to Fire and Flight: The World of Dragons by SanderVanSunshine (Drarry, 17k, E)

@hd-fan-fair fic, delightful banter and delicious pining, the Weasley children + Teddy are chaos incarnate. How do I subscribe to the Lee & Harry radio show?

A decade after the war, Draco Malfoy has made a new name for himself, running the dragonology department at the British Museum of Magic. And in spite of his cranky assistant (and her rude drawings), the other department heads (jog on, Janet), and three untamed children (menaces), it’s brilliant.

Or it would be, if Harry Potter didn’t have so much bloody free time after his morning show (which Draco does not and will not listen to).

🎠👻 if the bees know by @oflights (Drarry, 20k, T)

@hd-fan-fair fic, dad!Draco is my weakness, Scorpius and his ghost friend are adorable

Scorpius' playground is haunted, Harry specializes in helping ghosts pass on, and Draco just wants his son to be safe.

🖌❄️ All the Earnest Young Men by @tepre (Drarry, 29k, E)

This Draco is such an annoying chatterbox. I love him.

All over London portraits are disappearing from their canvases.

Auror Harry! Expert-in-Magical-Art-Theory Draco! There's running, dancing, falling through ice, what’s this paper giraffe doing here? A great time was had by all.

[racfoam]

Happy Halloween, everyone! 🎃🍬👻 Have a nynn Halloween Special

***

“So, why can’t we fifth years do the Muggle tradition Halloween?” asked Harry in the Common Room, pouting. The fifth to seventh years were all situated in the common room, stocked with candy, while the younger year students, all dressed in their costumes, had gone out around the castle for trick or treating.

Harry wished she could go, too. She never went trick or treating in her whole life. All she'd need to do was put on the Invisibility Cloak and she'd be Headless Nick.

“Because we’re too old.” said Hermione patiently.

“You’re never too old for trick or treating.” grumbled Ron; Harry had explained how Halloween worked in the Muggle world and he was positively bereft. “It's free candy! I want free candy!”

There was a knock at the portrait. As one, everyone in the common room scrambled up. Harry wondered which group of kids it would be, Ravenclaws or Hufflepuffs. She doubted the Slytherin kids (at least the purebloods) would go trick or treating around the castle.

Harry, Ron and Hermione were the first to make it to the doors, carrying the candy to give out to the kids.

“Open," said Ron to the doors.

When the doors opened, Harry's jaw promptly fell to the floor.

Hermione released a delighted squeal. There were small first years dressed in many different costumes, be it of Muggle heroes or magical creatures. However, the most dominant costume was...

Harry was faced with a row of... well, Harrys. Boys and girls, wearing glasses, Gryffindor robes and the lightning bolt scar drawn by a sharpie on their foreheads.

“Trick or treat!” chorushed the kids.

“Harrys!” said Ron, amazed.

“You're all so cute!” cooed Hermione, quickly moving to give everyone as much candy as she could into their open pumpkins, be they a Harry or a ghost or a clown.

The kids blushed, grinning at Hermione.

Harry grinned down at them, feeling something warm bloom inside her chest. “Wow, you all look very cool! I love your glasses!”

The kids beamed. Harry went to give them as much candy as she could.

“Okay, Harrys, pull out your wands!"

It was like Harry became a gang leader. At once, all the Harrys pulled out their wands.

“And say, with your full chest: Expecto Patronum. On three, all right? One... Two... Three!"

“Expecto Patronum!” called the kids along with Harry, and much to their delight, a large, silver, shining stag burst from Harry's wand, circling everyone and bumping his snout against every kid's nose.

“Thank you!” said the kids, and off they raced, talking about how much candy they got.

Harry heard a thump behind herself. Alarmed, thinking one of her friends had fainted, she turned, only to blink.

Lord Voldemort laid sprawled across the carpet of the Gryffindor Common room. He had fainted, apparently too overwhelmed by the crowd of tiny Harrys and their adorebleness.

Harry snorted fondly.

[scarydeadlavender]

꧁༺ 𝓢𝓮𝓮 𝓵𝓲𝓴𝓮 𝓲𝓷 𝓪 𝓶𝓲𝓻𝓻𝓸𝓻 ༻꧂

Request of : @thedogisontopofthecarmom

I hope you like it and I hope I managed to write your idea haha

Resume : Can you do one where the reader and Daniel are together and aged up and one day the golden trio come to Hogwarts for something and the see Daniel and they think he’s Snape ( for this can we pretend that Snape had a wife) and they think you are snapes wife and they ask if we know who they are we say no and they go and show you there portraits and it’s like looking in a mirror ( and Daniel and us are the potion and Herbology professors)

-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-

Harry got off the train and arrived on the flowery platform that was familiar to him. He stretched and put his glasses back in place, feeling very nostalgic. It had been an eternity since he had been here.

?: Hey Harry!

The man turned around and smiled at the sight of his friends Ron and Hermione. He ran towards them and hugged them tightly. The Golden Trio reunited, and they burst into laughter.

Hermione: It feels strange to be here, don't you think?

Ron sniffed the fresh air before putting his arm around Hermione's waist, a small sparkling ring on her finger.

Ron: Yeah... so much has happened...

The three friends looked in the direction of the famous castle.

Harry: I think... it's time to go home.

Throughout the journey to reach Hogwarts, they recounted their most beautiful memories, such as their encounter with Luna Lovegood or the Quidditch matches, seeing the pitch and its towers in the colors of the different houses, rebuilt after the Battle of Hogwarts.

Once they arrived in front of the grand entrance of Hogwarts, a mix of emotions was present: joy, sadness, nostalgia. So many feelings impossible to express all at once. Harry turned to his friends; they stood a few steps below, looking at the great courtyard that had once been shattered, broken by his battle with Lord Voldemort.

Harry: Guys, I think we should visit our old school. I mean, it's been a long time since we came back here!

Hermione: Harry, you can have good ideas sometimes!!

Hermione ran up the stairs and hopped a little.

Hermione: Let's become Hogwarts students again, at least for a day!

Without further ado, the two boys joined her as in the good old days. In the corridors, many students, all in different colors, looked at them with curious eyes, whispering from time to time when they saw the famous Harry Potter in their midst. After all, it's not every day that they see the famous modern wizard!

Sometimes, a few brave students would approach him and ask for an autograph. After all, it's not every day that you meet the famous wizard of modern times!

The first place they decided to visit was the grand library, where Hermione loved to come. When she entered this familiar place, the smell of books brought back many memories. She smiled softly, seeing her favorite book still there.

Although he was happy to be there, the library was not Harry's favorite place. He wandered through the aisles, looking at the various books present when suddenly, out of the corner of his eye, he thought he saw someone he knew. He quickly put the book he was holding back and went in search of the individual.

But there was no sign of him anymore, disoriented; he didn't notice his two friends approaching him from the side. Ron put his hand on Harry's shoulder, seeing his pale face.

Ron: Are you alright, Harry? You look like you've seen a ghost!

Harry: I... I think I saw Snape...

Hermione: Snape? Are you sure? You know he's...

Harry: Dead? Yes, I know... I'm telling you, it was him! Same haircut, same style of clothing!

His two friends looked at him perplexed... Seeing this, Harry changed the subject.

Harry: Nevermind, let's continue our visit!

The second place they visited was the haunted bathrooms with Moaning Myrtle, the same bathrooms where they had discovered the Chamber of Secrets. Surprisingly, the place was cold and filled with dust, no living soul was present, except for the ghostly girl who descended from the large window where she stood. The sun passed through her cold body, and she was surprised to see the famous trio!

Moaning Myrtle: You!

Ron: You!

He shuddered at the memory when she passed through his body. She stood close to them.

Moaning Myrtle: Oh... how I envy you...

Hermione: Come on, Myrtle...

Hermione went to put her hand on the girl's shoulder, but she passed through her.

Moaning Myrtle: I'm both happy to see you again and sad to know that you were able to leave this place... Boohoo...

She started crying harder.

Harry: Come on, come on! Don't cry so much!

Ron: That's right! It's cool to be a ghost!

Moaning Myrtle: Cool? COOL?

Despite several attempts to calm her down, the sound of her crying echoed far enough for a familiar silhouette to appear.

?: What's going on here? Harry, Ron, Hermione!

A laugh they could recognize anywhere resonated.

Hermione: Hagrid!

The trio turned towards Hagrid to give him a hug. Hagrid's large arms embraced them in return.

Hagrid: It's so good to see you again! You haven't changed!

The trio chuckled, digressing on various subjects. However, Harry still seemed troubled by the mysterious encounter. He couldn't remain without an answer.

Harry: Hagrid, do you know if... well, I mean, if Snape's ghost would be present at Hogwarts?

Hagrid narrowed his eyes.

Hagrid: Snape? It's been a long time, Harry. If he had become a ghost, I would have seen him!

?: What ghost? Do we have a new resident?

A mysterious voice was heard.

Hagrid: Ah, Professor!

Hermione: Professor?

Hagrid stepped aside so that the trio could get a closer look at the new person present. He was about 25 years old, wearing green robes with some gold details adorning his sleeves, and on his wizard hat, several flowers were attached around a golden ribbon. In his hand, where a pair of brown gloves protected his fingers, he held a bouquet of flowers and herbs, all different.

Hagrid: Harry, Ron, Hermione, this is the Herbology professor. Professor, this is Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger.

The professor smiled and took off one of his gloves to shake hands with the trio. Hermione squinted her eyes.

Hermione: Your face looks familiar...

The professor looked puzzled.

Professor: Oh, I have a doubt, haha, I'm sorry, I must leave, I have to go give this to the potion classroom.

Ron: Oh, can we come with you? We'll go there!

The professor smiled and motioned for them to follow him, bidding farewell to their old friends. This time, it was Hermione who seemed lost in thought, reflecting on where she had seen this face that seemed so familiar to her. Harry noticed and approached her while waiting for the stairs that changed positions to come towards them.

Harry: What's going on?

Hermione: His face seems familiar to me; it's getting strange. First, the sudden appearance of Snape, and now this face...

Throughout the rest of the journey, she pondered and didn't notice their arrival in the potion classroom. The classroom hadn't changed, the tables made of white tiles, the various dried flowers, the numerous potions, the large cabinet containing all the most dangerous products, and that unique smell.

The classroom was empty, at least the main classroom. Another person was present, another professor who was manipulating a green potion that he poured into a cauldron.

Professor: Honey, here are the herbs and flowers!

The famous potion professor turned around and looked at the flowers now placed on one of the tables. The professor had medium-length curly hair, a black cape, a white shirt with a vest adorned with golden buttons underneath, and, in his hand, a bouquet of flowers and herbs, all different.

Professor: That will be perfect for the pro...

Ron: OH MY GOD, SNAPE IS ALIVE!!

All eyes turned towards Ron, who had spoken a bit too loudly.

Potion Professor: Uh... I beg your pardon?

Hermione's breath caught in her throat as she looked at the two figures side by side.

Hermione: You are Professor Snape, and you are his wife!!

Hermione turned to Harry.

Hermione: Oh, Harry, you were right! Snape is indeed alive!

The trio was overjoyed, yet the couple didn't seem to understand the situation, not knowing how to respond to the many questions from the trio.

Potion Professor: No, we don't know who that is, unfortunately... Can I help?

Hermione passed the book to the potion professor, who flipped through it while looking at the herbology professor.

Potion Professor: Ahh, I see, you're former students...

He smiled sadly.

Potion Professor: Sorry for not being the people you were looking for... but let me introduce ourselves.

He cleared his throat.

Daniel: I'm Daniel Page, Potions Professor, and this is Tp (your last name), Herbology Professor!

Tp: More precisely, Tp (your last name) Page recently!

Daniel smiled at Tp before taking her hand. Time had passed, and several years had elapsed. Now, all their years at Hogwarts were memories that could be sad, boring, angry, but above all, happy.

Their friends had taken different paths, artist, Quidditch player... And they had decided to stay in the academic field, but this time as professors! Daniel had become a Potions professor, and Tp, an Herbology professor... and of course, the two lovers had married each other.

Ron: Oh, congratulations, and sorry for mistaking you for someone else.

Tp smiled sadly and put her hand on the redhead's shoulder.

Tp: We're sorry for not being the people you were looking for... but if you don't mind telling us more about them...

Daniel gestured for the group to sit at one of the tables. They took their seats on the wooden stools.

Hermione: So, you really don't know who they are?

Daniel shook his head again before seeing a small portrait slide towards him. He was shocked himself by the great resemblance. He felt Tp's arms on his shoulder; she rested her head on it to see better.

Tp: It's true that the resemblance is striking!

Daniel: I feel like I'm looking at myself in a mirror!

The Golden Trio laughed, sharing some details about the two lovers.

Harry: Are you sure you don't have any family connections?

Once again, Daniel shook his head negatively.

Daniel: I'm a half-blood; my father is a Muggle.

Tp: Sorry, I don't know, but admit it's quite extraordinary to have such a resemblance! Daniel, admit it! You are actually Snape, but you took a rejuvenation potion!

Tp tugged at Daniel's cheek, who groaned a little at the slight pain.

Daniel: No, no, I was born in London, and I'm definitely a half-blood!

Tp looked at the small clock before noticing that several hours had passed. She got up hastily.

Tp: Excuse me, but my next class is in 20 minutes, and I have to prepare everything!

Hermione: Wait a moment, please!

Tp stopped in her tracks.

Hermione: Do you mind... if I add a photo of you to my album? Just to remember you and... your resemblance to them!

Tp smiled and stood next to Daniel, who entwined his fingers with Tp's, giving her a light kiss on her forehead. They smiled, unable to stop laughing.

CLICK

Hermione: There you go!

She shook the photo to make it appear more quickly, and once it did, she smiled, giving it to the couple.

Tp: I thought...

Hermione: I made two; accept this one, you both look adorable in it.

.

.

.

When Hermione put the photo she had taken into the photo album, she placed it on the same page as Snape and his wife. What a surprise to see that they were both in the same place, and both couples had their fingers entwined, laughing... She felt like she was seeing two different timelines or even... ❝𝐒𝐞𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐦𝐢𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐫❞

-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-

number of words : 2333

I really like writing this Thanks again for your request! I hope that I have respected it and that you will have liked it

[somefanficrecomendations]

Summer Monthly Roundup

Heyyyyyyy, so it’s been a hot minute since we last spoke. This roundup will have the highlights from May, June, July, and August so buckle up ‘cause we have a lot of fics to get through!

DC

Homecoming as Labyrinthian by cabezas_de_vaca Batman, (gen), 25k, Case Fic, Birds of Prey In which Barbara returns home, starts a girl gang, goes toe-to-toe with a serial killer, and figures out what she wants from life.

yourself or someone like you by suzukiblu My Adventures with Superman, (multi), 9k, Kon-El "Crap!" the food truck worker shrieks in alarm. "Don't hurt him, Superman, he's just a kid!" Clark . . . pauses, then looks up from the kid that he is currently pinning into the street as said kid struggles underneath him. "'Hurt him'?" he asks in reflexive confusion, and then realizes how batting a teenager around like a person-shaped cat toy and pinning him to the street hard enough to crack it probably actually looks to an outside observer. . . . um. Whoops. "Um," he starts awkwardly, and then the kid slips his pin while he's distracted and throws his arms around his neck with a gleeful laugh and a bright grin. "Dad!" he crows triumphantly, and hugs Clark harder than literally anyone has ever hugged him before.

Foreign Counsel by icarus_chained Batman, (Clark Kent/Lois Lane), 34k, ID reveal, A/B/O If Clark thought that Lois Lane would be content to sit back in Metropolis while he fell on his sword like she hadn't kept the exact same secret for the exact same reason ... well. His head hadn't exactly been in the game the past week or so. She'd probably forgive him. But what he didn't know wouldn't hurt him, and she had her own appointment with Gotham City. With ... Leslie Thompkins, in particular. But more than that. Because Gotham had an entire alien invasion happen, and nobody seemed to give a shit, and Lois hadn't written some of the best pieces of her life trying to bring attention to this city only to let it slide into the sea unremarked now. She had a meeting, and a job to do, and ... maybe more of both than she'd planned for going in.

MISC

Triangulating Nothing by cabezas_de_vaca Harry Potter (gen), 84k, Genre tag, Genre tag Slytherin, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff-- houses have never mattered, not for the Trio. And now there's a war on. What would it look like to build a side of their own for a change? And Justin's careful and best friends with all the ghosts and the portraits, and Neville's coming into his own, and Ginny won't even hesitate to punch you in the face if you bad mouth her crew. And why exactly does Voldemort care so much about some vague prophecy? Or: fifth year means Umbridge, the DA, and learning how to fight a war.

To Know My Enemy by Menel X-Men (Logan/Scott Sumers), 36k What if Scott and Logan once struck a deal in order to better facilitate their working relationship? What if that deal grew more complicated over time?

Double Agent Vader by Fialleril (multi), 90k, AU-Canon Divergence The one where Vader turned double agent for the Rebellion about three years after ROTS, and Leia is now his primary contact with the Rebellion. This is a collection of oneshots that all fit into the same universe, but posted in no particular order. Updated when the muse strikes me. Alternate summary, according to TV Tropes: A man attempts to escape slavery by turning into one of his culture heroes, teaching his daughter how to do magic, killing people, and flower arranging.

CROSSOVERS

This Bitter Earth by art_savage Supernatural x Criminal Minds, (gen), 12k, Case Fic  The Winchesters and the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit investigate the same case, a series of mysterious deaths on the grounds of a South Carolina plantation. 

It's a Weird New World by Rhino (RhinoMouse), RhinoMouse Criminal Minds x Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D (Jennifer “JJ” Jareau/Daisy Johnson), 51k, Time Travel, BAMF Daisy The BAU has a new agent assigned to them against their wishes. After-all they don't need a new agent, especially one with a file so classified they can't see anything but the agent's name in it. But Strauss's orders are Strauss's orders. It would help if this Daisy would stop taking stupid risks and acting like she's bored. Of course Daisy really is bored and isn't exactly allowed to mention that after fighting aliens, Inhumans, and Hydra, dealing with regular serial killers is kind of low stakes.

While You Were Missing by basil_coffee_and (Roy Harper/Jason Todd) 85k, Accidental Baby Acquisition A familiar redheaded child darts across the bullpen with a shout of “PAPA!” and barrels into Jason’s arms. “Lian–” He breathes. Jason's undercover work as Neal Caffrey is difficult for several reasons. He didn't anticipate that single parenting would be one of them, though.

[auroramoon-draws16]

I can’t stop thinking about this, but it’s not Assassin’s Creed, sorry folks.

Hogwarts Legacy x Harry Potter

(No real spoilers, mostly vague references, iykyk)

I just need BAMF! Player Character/MC to pop up in the Harry Potter era. I’ve thought about several ways how:

1. Ghost. MC is the damn best duelist in history, but they can’t win ‘em all. Keep fighting the hardest fights, or get caught in a bad ending, and it’s curtains. So, what if MC didn’t feel like they did enough, hadn’t been able to help their friends enough, so they stayed, and in that decision, the wizarding world’s history changed. You call that defense against the dark arts??? That’s bullshit is what that is! Hey kid, here’s how you properly duel a bitch. Yes, it’s entirely legal to throw furniture and other objects at your opponent. Yes, you can throw your opponent. Prophecy? You guys traumatized a child! Hey, you, Harry was it? I gotchu, kid.

2. A painting. It’s pretty clear that the portraits all over the school are alive and retain some personality and characteristics of the subjects. Mostly when the subject actually adds more to their portrait to have a better effect. The MC was also one of the few who could use ancient magic, so that could be a reason they decided to have their portrait done, to ensure the next generation would have some sort of guidance they didn’t get. Not only that, but also help future duelists. So maybe the portrait can only be accessed by asking the Room of Requirement, mostly because ancient magic secrets are best kept between users. Imagine that portrait being found by Harry, he asks the room for help teaching Dumbledor’s Army spells and suddenly a portrait of a person no one has heard of, but apparently is the best duelist in the history of the wizarding world perks up and goes “alright, bet.” (This can also work for the ghost version) Well, the portrait could also just be out in public, but the MC is just not there, cue mystery to be solved!

3. Time travel. Ancient magic is wonky, it can happen! Cue sudden transfer student shenanigans. Also, chosen one? That is a child, MC has seen enough shit to know that’s fucked up and Harry needs better supports in his life, dammit. Older sibling MC goes brrrrr.

4. Apparition. Ancient magic wonky shit, part 2! Prophecies are bullshit. That is a child, and that bitchy 80 year old snake face needs to eat concrete. Harry stumbles upon an ancient magic item before he gets to Hogwarts. A necklace or a bracelet or some shit. Now baby Harry has a friend! MC takes one look at this child and goes “anybody gonna love and care for this one? No? Aight, mine now.” They can’t do much, but they are visible and heard only to Harry, so that means they can keep him company and tutor him wherever possible. How did they end up like this??? Uh…. Don’t worry about it.

5. Pensives. Somebody has to learn from history, and books are boring dammit. And easily edited. MC’s got your back kiddos.

6. How long do wizards live? Oh shit, yeah, MC is still alive. Heyyyy bitches, I’m your new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor! Who here knows how to throw a bitch at a wall? No? Well we got a lot of catching up to do. I may be old, but I’m still the best damn duelist around.

Idk, I wanted to have some fun with this and I haven’t seen anyone do this with an actual character. You can add backstories and shit. I hate reader inserts, okay? Don’t judge me :/ (also I’m tired of the romance, I love me a good ship, but my aromantic ass wants to see cute platonic shit, okay?)

Here’s my MC for Hogwarts Legacy, even tho I don’t have the game, lmao:

Morgan Diane Rook (They/Them)

Black wavy hair that goes just past their ears, gray eyes, tan skin, freckles, round face, scar on their cheek, and in Hufflepuff (my house, also for the rep)

Sass master, protective friend, and just a little bit feral, will laugh in the face of enemies. Unforgivable curses? I don’t need to be forgiven, I just need you to cease existence. You were very rude to my friend.

Obligatory Slytherins need a designated Hufflepuff best friend.

Blame the attitude on the Uncle who took them in after their parents died in an accident. Uncle Jack is from the states and ran in a gang before he went straight for his kid, he’s trying his best dammit. It’s also why they’re a transfer student, they spent a few years with Uncle Jack in the states before moving back into Mom and Dad’s place. He hired a wizard tutor, no worries. He don’t get all this magic shit, but he loves his kid, and that’s enough reason for him. They’re a damn good duelist for a reason.

Morgan also knows how to use a gun, just because :)

Idk, I think they’re neat

[seriousbrat]

Seriousbrat, you know what celebrates the end of #bratsummer? Halloween. I have prepared for you a series of spooky themed maurauders questions:

- Which marauder is most likely to enjoy ghost stories?…and who’s really scared of them?

- Who’s the most likely to enjoy fancy dressing (that’s british for “costumes”, I believe)?

- Party at the common room! What are they dressing up as?

- Who borrows/nicks their friends clothes the most?

- Who’s always letting friends borrow their stuff?

- Who’s the most likely to have befriended Nearly Headless Nick? (I know it in my heart it was Remus, champion of the lonely and misunderstood, but give me your take)

- Who’s the most superstitious?

- Who’s the most squirmish around blood? Who’s the least?

- Last but not least, what are each’s biggest fears?

Hell is empty! All the devils are here! See you next time.

Sorry for the delay in answering! also omg i hadn't even started to think about halloween yet. here it's been the city's official 'festival' so that's partially what I've been busy with/recovering from lol.

let's get stuck in!

- Which marauder is most likely to enjoy ghost stories?…and who’s really scared of them? So I think Sirius enjoys telling them the most-- mostly because it's funny to get a reaction out of Peter, who is ofc the most scared. Though I think Remus would be surprisingly good at telling them.

- Who’s the most likely to enjoy fancy dressing (that’s british for “costumes”, I believe)? Haha yep, fancy dress! I think it's James, who would go all out and make everyone go along with it. Sirius would definitely have the most low-effort costumes of all time.

- Party at the common room! What are they dressing up as? So as I said Sirius is very low effort, but you also have to consider that the lads are skilled in human transfiguration. I think Sirius would give himself a beard, go shirtless, and he'd go as Dumbledore on a beach holiday.

James would definitely have something complex and funny, verging on try-hard. Probably some weird thing like "Wimbourne Wasps beater if all the balls got magically stuck to his robes."

Peter and Remus would be fairly basic. They'd either go along with whatever group theme James proposed (I can see them all doing Hogwarts professors or specific portraits around the castle) or do something classic like magical creatures. I'd like to think Remus would ironically go as a werewolf but idk if he'd have the balls tbh.

- Who borrows/nicks their friends clothes the most? Peter, who has few scruples about these things. It would be more like he can't find clean socks so he dips into his friends' dressers.

- Who’s always letting friends borrow their stuff? James absolutely, he is very generous with his belongings- it helps he has the most belongings.

- Who’s the most likely to have befriended Nearly Headless Nick? (I know it in my heart it was Remus, champion of the lonely and misunderstood, but give me your take) I can see Remus, but the thing is I think it's James. Nick is very proud of Gryffindor's achievements and James is their Quidditch star and a popular student, I think Nick would gravitate (literally) towards him the way he does with Harry.

- Who’s the most superstitious? Peter, absolutely. He'd definitely be Ron-like in this regard.

- Who’s the most squirmish around blood? Who’s the least? Peter's the most, Remus the least. I feel like turning into a violent monster monthly probably puts everything else into perspective.

- Last but not least, what are each’s biggest fears? I'm going to focus on more psychological fears since probably everyone's main fear is dying/their loved ones dying in the war.

Remus is obvious, he clearly fears his own condition and specifically being discovered or hurting someone. Deeper than that, I think he fears rejection very strongly.

Peter also fears rejection, but moreso exclusion or abandonment.

James I think fears insignificance or irrelevance. He fears that he secretly isn't good enough.

Sirius is kind of a tricky one for me. Maybe he fears becoming like his parents. I also think out of all of them he fears betrayal the most.

[yatorihell]

In The Darkness Chapter 87 - The Battle of Hogwarts Part Three

Noragami x Harry Potter au

Word count: 11,931

Summary: The battle rages on, Yato Hiyori and Yukine work on destroying Horcruxes, and a twist of fate changes the course of the battle.

Read on AO3

The West Towers Coridoor was deserted, near silent if not for the distant sounds of discord stirring in the bowels of the castle beneath the flagstone. Hiyori stood at the bottom of the spiral staircase, standing guard but also giving Yato the privacy to speak to Rowena alone - they say she was shy. It was best not to overwhelm her.

Yato stepped carefully. He had heard of the Grey Lady - the most elusive ghost Hogwarts had to offer -, and he knew that she hid herself high up in the castle. Opalescent light filtered through the latticed windows and dappled his face as he made his way forward. The profile of a woman, forlorn and young and beautiful, watching over the Forbidden Forest greeted him.

She turned, and Yato’s heart flipped unexpectedly. A flash of recognition seemed to cross her face before it was covered with apprehension as if she herself had seen a ghost.

“You're the Grey Lady. The ghost of Ravenclaw Tower,” Yato said softly.

Helena’s face shifted, anger and hurt mixing in a grimace as she turned and floated away. “I do not answer to that name!”

“I’m sorry!” Yato lurched forward, a hand futilely reaching out though he could never touch her. “I’m – I need help, there is something in this castle. A dia –.”

“You seek my mother's diadem?” the ghost cut him off, dress swirling in the air as she stopped and turned back to him. The hurt hadn’t left her face, but the anger was replaced by suspicion.

Yato paused, staring at the Grey Lady’s questioning expression. The familiarity of the shell of the woman before him clicked into place, each feature near identical to the portraits of her mother that watched the halls. Hiyori was right – the only person who would know where the diadem was had been long dead ��, it was Rowena’s own daughter.

“You’re Helena Ravenclaw.” It came out as a statement rather than a question.

“Yes.”

Yato shook himself from his stupor. “Hiyori – my friend – said that you can help, that you know where the diadem is,” Yato began, but he was abruptly cut off.

“I cannot help you!” Helena turned once more, retreating into the dark shadows of the abandoned turret in a gauze of ashen crinoline.

“Wait, please! I want to destroy it!” Yato lurched forward again, feeling more and more encroaching on Helena’s ancient territory but unable to stop himself in his desperation. “I thought you wanted to do it. Isn't it, Helena? You want it destroyed?”

Once again Helena paused, wavering in consciousness and appearance.

“Another promised to destroy it many years ago,” she said softly. “But he lied.”

“I know, I know what he has done, what he can do-,” Yato started.

“I know what he's done! I know who he is! He defiled it, with dark magic!” Helena screamed. Her face had contorted supernaturally for the briefest of seconds, reminding Yato that this was a woman who had lived and loved and died with a broken heart centuries before he was even born.

“I can destroy it, once and for all! But only if you tell me where he hid it! You do know where he hid it? Don't you, Helena?” Yato pleaded. “You just have to tell me.”

“You remind me of him a bit,” Helena said softly, head tilted to the side.

Yato inwardly flinched.

“It's here, in the castle. In the place where everything is hidden. If you have to ask, you will never know. If you know… you need only ask.” Rowena drifted away, and the implications of her words lit the lightbulb within Yato’s head.

“Thank you!”

~

Out in the dark night, Yato saw bursts of light in the distance and heard the first scream. He looked down at his watch. It was midnight. The battle had begun.

He hurried along the corridor. Yato could hear movement through the corridors all around: running footsteps, and shouts, and through the windows he could see more flashes of light in the dark grounds.

The first casualties of the battle were already strewn across the passage ahead. He skidded around a final corner and with a yell of mingled relief he saw Hiyori and Yukine.

“I know where to go,” Yato said.

There was an explosion from overhead; all three of them ducked, then looked up as dust fell from the ceiling.

"I know what the diadem looks like, and I know where it is,” said Yato, talking fast. "It's where I hid my old Potions book, where everyone's been hiding stuff for centuries. He thought he was the only one to find it. Come on.”

As the walls trembled again, Yato led the way back through the concealed entrance and down the staircase into the Room of Requirement. It was empty except for one person. Kofuku turned, wand raised in defense before she realised who had entered.

"Tell us what's going on! Is everyone okay?" Kofuku asked.

"I don't know. Are there still people in the passage to the Hog’s Head?" Yato asked. He knew that the room would not be able to transform while there were still users inside it.

"I was the last to come through," said Kofuku. "I sealed it, I think it unwise to leave it open now Amaterasu is here.”

Yato looked at Kofuku. "I thought you were supposed to be with Daigo?”

'I couldn't stand not knowing…," Kofuku looked anguished. “Have you seen Daikoku?”

“He was planning to lead a group of fighters into the grounds.”

Without another word, Kofuku sped off through the Room of Requirement towards the doors on the opposite side.

It was clear, as the three of them stepped back into the corridor upstairs that the castle had deteriorated severely. The walls and ceiling were shaking worse than ever; dust filled the air, and through the nearest window, Yato saw bursts of green and red light so close to the foot of the castle that he knew the Death Eaters must be very near to entering the castle.

They saw Professor Tsuyu and Professor Takemikazuchi, both with their wands drawn at the next shattered window. Even as they watched, Professor Tsuyu sent a well-aimed jinx into a crowd of fighters below.

"Good shot!" roared a figure running through the dust toward them, and Yato saw Daikoku, storming headfirst into the fray with a small group of students past. "They're breaching the north battlements, they've brought giants!”

Yato briefly thought of Kofuku searching for Daikoku, but shook the thought away. They had to find the diadem. They ran back to the stretch of wall beyond which the Room of Requirement was waiting to do the bidding of the next entrant.

I need the place where everything is hidden, Yato begged of it inside his head, and the door materialized on their third run past.

The furor of the battle died the moment they crossed the threshold and closed the door behind them. All was silent. They were in a place the size of a cathedral with the appearance of a city, its towering walls built of objects hidden by thousands of long-gone students.

"And he never realized anyone could get in?" said Yukine, his voice echoing in the silence.

"He thought he was the only one," said Yato. "Unfortunately for him, Hiyori found it in the first place. And I've had to hide stuff in my time. This way."

Yato gestured down an aisle ahead. "I think it's down here.”

They passed the stuffed troll and the Vanishing Cabinet, then hesitated, looking up and down aisles of junk; he could not remember where to go next…

"Accio Diadem!" cried Hiyori in desperation, but nothing stirred. It seemed that, like the vault at Gringotts, the room would not yield its hidden objects that easily.

"Let's split up," Yato suggested. "Look for a stone bust of an old man wearing a tiara! It's standing on a cupboard somewhere near here…”

They sped off up adjacent aisles; Yato could hear the others' footsteps echoing through the towering piles of junk. Bottles, crates, broken chairs, thick tomes, rusting weapons, outdated broomsticks, and Quidditch bats all littered his field of vision.

"Somewhere near here," Yato muttered to himself.

Deeper and deeper into the labyrinth he went, looking for objects he recognized from his prior trip into the room. His breath was loud in his ears, and then his very soul seemed to shiver: There it was, right ahead, the blistered old cupboard in which he had hidden his old Potions book, and on top of it, the pockmarked stone warlock wearing what looked like an ancient, bejeweled tiara.

Yato stretched out his hand when a voice behind him spoke.

"Hold it.”

Yato turned abruptly, wand drawn. Two Deatheaters were standing behind him - unmasked yet unrecognisable -, shoulder to shoulder, wands pointing right at Yato. Through the small space between their bodies he saw Nora.

"That's my wand, Yato," said Nora, pointing her own through the gap.

“Not anymore," Yato replied, tightening his grip on the hawthorn wand. " Winners, keepers, Nora. Who's lent you theirs?"

"Father,'" said Nora.

Yato laughed, though there nothing very humorous about was the situation. He could not hear Yukine or Hiyori anymore. They seemed to have run out of earshot, searching for the diadem.

"So how come you aren't with the Sorcerer? Or Father?" asked Yato.

“We're gonna be rewarded," a Deatheater interrupted. "We bring back Yaboku and he will reward us."

'Good plan,'" said Yato in mock admiration.

He could not believe that he was this close, and was going to be thwarted by Nora and these idiots. He began edging slowly backward toward the place where the Horcrux sat lopsided upon the bust. If he could just get his hands on it before the fight broke out…

"So how did you get in here?" Yato asked, trying to distract them.

"I lived in the Room of Hidden Things all last year,” said Nora, her voice brittle. "I know how to get in.”

"Yato?" Yukine's voice echoed suddenly from the other side of the wall to Yato's right. "Are you talking to someone?"

The speaking Deatheater whirled around, pointed his wand at the fìfty-foot mountain of old furniture, broken trunks, old books, and unidentifiable junk, and shouted, "Descendio!"

The wall began to totter, and then the top third crumbled into the aisle next door where Yukine stood.

"Yukine!" Yato bellowed, as somewhere out of sight Hiyori screamed, and Yato heard innumerable objects crashing to the floor on the other side of the destabilized wall. He pointed his wand at the rampart, and cried, "Finite!" and it steadied.

"No!" shouted Nora, grabbing the Deatheaters arm. "If you wreck the room, you might bury the diadem!"

“What's that matter?" He growled, tugging himself free. "It's Yaboku the Sorcerer wants, who cares about a diadem?"

"Yato came in here to get it," said Nora with impatience at the slow-wittedness of her colleagues, "so that must mean-”

"Must mean?" He turned on Nora with undisguised ferocity. “Who cares what you think? You're just a filthy -.”

"Yato?" shouted Yukine again from the other side of the junk wall. "What's going on?"

In the split second the Deatheater had turned to sneer at the wall, Yato had lunged for the tiara. A curse missed him but hit the stone bust, which flew into the air; the diadem soared upward and then dropped out of sight in the mountain of objects on which the mass bust had rested.

"STOP!" Nora shouted, her voice echoing through the enormous room. "Father wants him alive-!”

"So? I'm not killing him, am I?" yelled the Deatheater, throwing off Nora's restraining arm. "But if I can, I will. The Sorcerer wants him dead anyway, what's the diff-?”

A jet of scarlet light shot past Yato by inches: Hiyori had run around the corner behind him and sent a Stunning Spell straight at the Deatheater's head. It only missed because Nora pulled him out of the way.

"It's that Mudblood! Avada Kedavra!"

Yato saw Hiyori dive aside, and his fury that he had aimed to kill wiped all else from his mind. He shot a Stunning Spell back at the Deatheater, who lurched out of the way, knocking Nora's wand out of her hand. It rolled out of sight beneath a mountain of broken furniture and boxes.

"Don't kill him! DON'T KILL HIM!" Nora yelled at the two Deatheaters who were both aiming at Yato.

Their split-second's hesitation was all Yato needed.

"Expelliarmus!"

The first Deatheater's wand flew out of his hand and disappeared into the litany of objects beside him. Nora jumped out of range of Hiyori's second Stunning Spell, and Yukine, appearing suddenly at the end of the aisle shot a full Body-Bind Curse at the remaining Deatheater, which narrowly missed him. He wheeled around and screamed, "Avada Kedavra!"

Yukine leaped out of sight to avoid the jet of green light. The wandless Nora cowered behind a three-legged wardrobe as Hiyori charged toward them, hitting the offending Deatheater with a Stunning Spell as she came.

"It's somewhere here!" Yato yelled at her, pointing at the pile of junk into which the old tiara had fallen. "Look for it while I go and help Yukine!”

"Yato!" she screamed. A roaring, billowing noise behind him gave him a moment's warning. He turned and saw both Yukine and the Deatheater running as hard as they could up the aisle toward them.

A wall of fire had engulfed the room behind them, licking up the sides of the junk, which were crumbling to soot at their touch.

"Aguamenti!" Yato cried, but the jet of water that soared from the tip of his wand evaporated in the air.

"RUN!"

Nora grabbed the Deatheater closest to her and dragged him along. Yato, Yukine, and Hiyori pelted along in their wake, and the fire pursued them.

It was not normal fire; whatever curse it was Yato did not know. As they turned a corner the flames chased them as though they were alive; sentient, intent upon killing them. Now the fire was mutating, forming a gigantic pack of fiery beasts: Flaming serpents, chimeras, and dragons rose and fell and rose again, and the detritus of centuries on which they were feeding was thrown up in the air into their fanged mouths, tossed high on clawed feet, before being consumed by the inferno. Nora, and the Deatheaters had vanished from view. Yato, Yukine, and Hiyori stopped dead; the fiery monsters were circling them, drawing closer and closer, claws and horns and tails lashed, and the heat was as solid as a wall around them.

“What can we do?" Hiyori screamed over the deafening roars of the fire. "What do we do?"

"Here!"

Yato seized a pair of heavy-looking broomsticks from the nearest pile of junk and threw one to Hiyori, who pulled Yukine onto it behind her. Yato swung his leg over the second broom and, with hard kicks to the ground, they soared up into the air, missing by the horned beak of a flaming beast that snapped its jaws at them. The smoke and heat were becoming overwhelming. Below them the cursed fire was consuming the secrets of the past, lost treasures, and guilty pleasures that had been squirreled away. Yato couldn't see a trace of Nora anywhere.

He swooped as low as he dared over the marauding monsters of flame to try to find them, but there was nothing but fire

What a terrible way to die… He had never wanted this…

“Yato, let's get out, let's get out!" bellowed Yukine, though it was impossible to see where the door was through the black smoke.

And then Yato heard a thin, piteous human scream from amidst the terrible commotion the thunder of devouring flame.

"It's too dangerous-!" Hiyori yelled, but Yato wheeled in the air. He raked the firestorm below, seeking a sign of life, a limb, or a face that was not yet burnt to ash.

And he saw her: Nora with an arm shielding her face, perched on a fragile tower of charred desks. Yat threw a desperate look at Hiyori and Yukine, and despite the evident understanding of his intention, Yukine bellowed, "IF WE DIE FOR HER, I'LL KILL YOU!"

Yato dived. Nora saw him coming and raised one arm, and as a great flaming chimera bore down upon them, Yato's hand grasped Nora's and heaved her into the air. The broom rocked and pitched dangerously as Yato hauled Nora up behind him, the flames rising higher than he could climb.

"The door, get to the door, the door!" screamed Nora in Yato's ear, and Yato sped up, following Yukine and Hiyori through the billowing black smoke, hardly able to breathe. All around them, the last few objects unburned by the devouring flames were flung into the air, as the creatures of the cursed fire cast them high: cups and shields, a sparkling necklace, and an old, discolored tiara.

“There!” Hiyori cried, her finger eagerly directed ahead. “The door!”

Then, through the smoke, Yato saw a rectangular patch on the wall and steered the broom at it. Nora was screaming and holding Yato so tightly it hurt, and he cast a final look back into the rushing flames. The diadem seemed to fall in slow motion, turning and glittering as it dropped toward the maw of a yawning serpent, and then it vanished, and Yato's vision whited out.

~

My Lord…

The Sorcerer stood in a strangely familiar room. The sounds of the assault on the castle were muffled and distant. The single unblocked window revealed distant bursts of light where the castle stood. He was rolling his wand between his fingers.

"Aren't - aren't you afraid, my Lord, that Yaboku might die at another hand but yours?" asked Oshi, her voice shaking. "Wouldn't it be… forgive me, more prudent to seek him y-yourself?"

“I do not need to seek Yaboku. Before the night is out he will have come to find me.” The Sorcerer dropped his gaze once more to the wand in his fingers.

"Go and fetch Kuguha.”

""Kuguha, m-my Lord?"

"Kuguha. Now. I need him. Go."

Frightened, stumbling a little through the gloom, Oshi left the room. The Sorcerer continued to stand there, twirling the wand between his fingers, staring at it.

"It is the only way," he whispered.

And then it hit - the Horcrux, consumed by cursed flame, rendering another part of the Sorcerer's soul incinerated. He doubled over with a sharp gasp, and the splintering of wood filled the air.

Yato saw flashes before his eyes and the Sorcerer's figure doubled and collapsed to the floor; the glitter of black scales shifting and transforming to flesh. Black hair…

Blue eyes.

~

Yato heaved a wheezy breath as he came too, soot blurring his sight. Clean air filled his lungs and he rolled to his side. The door to the Room of Requirement had vanished, and Yukine and Hiyori sat panting on the floor. Nora was nowhere to be seen.

“What the hell was that?” Yukine demanded, more so at the blank walls than anyone else.

"It must have been Fiendfyre…” Hiyori coughed. Yato and Yukine looked at her, and she elaborated. "Cursed fire - it's one of the substances that destroy. No one dares use it, it's so dangerous…”

“At least that's another Horcrux destroyed,” Yato murmured.

There was silence, apart from panting and coughing. Then a number of huge bangs shook the castle. The battle was still going on all around them. They could hear more screams. Panic flared within Yato.

"But don't you realize?" whispered Hiyori. “This means if we can just get the snake-.”

But she broke off as yells and shouts and the unmistakable noises of dueling filled the corridor. Yato looked around and his heart faltered; Death Eaters had penetrated Hogwarts.

Yato, Yukine, and Hiyori scrambled forward to help, leaving Nora on the floor coughing. Jets of light flew in every direction, teachers and students dueling masked and hooded men in the corridor ahead. Bodies littered the floor, the injured being protected and half-dragged into the cover of alcoves. Yato raised his wand, the beginnings of a curse on his lips, and the air exploded. Yato felt himself flying through the air, and all he could do was hold as tightly as possible to his wand and shield his head in his arms. He heard the screams and yells of his friends without a hope of knowing what had happened to them.

And then the world shuttered itself into darkness.

He was half buried in the wreckage of a corridor that had been subjected to a violent attack. The cold air blowing over his face told him that the side of the castle had been blown away, and hot stickiness on his cheek told him that he was bleeding. Then he heard a terrible cry that pulled at his insides, and he stood up, swaying.

Hiyori was struggling to her feet in the wreckage. Yato grabbed her hand as they staggered and stumbled over stone and wood. Yukine's filthy blond hair rose from a shattered frame, and Yato gripped him bodily and hauled him up, holding him tightly, vision blurred but mind functioning as he tried to piece together what had happened. A body fell past the hole blown into the side of the school, and curses flew in at them from the darkness, hitting the wall behind their heads.

"Get down!" Yato shouted, as more curses flew through the night. He and Yukine had both grabbed Hiyori and pulled her to the floor.

Hiyori screamed, and Yato, turning, did not need to ask why. A monstrous spider the size of a small car was trying to climb through the huge hole in the wall; one of the Sorcerer’s disciples. Yukine and Yato shouted together; their spells collided and the monster was blown backward, its legs jerking horribly, and vanished into the darkness.

"There's more!" Yato called to the others, glancing over the edge of the castle through the hole in the wall the curses had blasted.

More giant spiders were climbing the side of the building, liberated from the Forbidden Forest, which the Death Eaters must have into penetrated. Yato fired Stunning Spells down upon them, knocking the lead monster into its fellows so that they rolled back down. Curses came soaring over the building and out of sight. Then more over Yato's head, so close he felt the force of them blow his hair.

"Move, NOW!"

Pushing Hiyori ahead of him with Yukine, Yato shot Stunning spells behind at the end of the corridor, which was now full of dust and falling masonry, glass long gone from the windows, he saw many people running backward and forward, whether friends or foes he could not tell.

"Yato, in here!" Hiyori screamed. She had pulled Yukine behind a tapestry and into an abandoned room that had been overlooked. Yato slammed the door shut behind him, the cries of battle barely muffled through the thick wood.

“We need the snake, we've got to kill the snake!" said Hiyori. She turned to Yato. “Where Yato? Where do we go?”

Yato hadn't a second to consider what his latest vision had meant, but one thing was for certain:

"He's in the Shrieking Shack. He's just sent Oshi to find Kuguha.”

Hiyori recoiled. "The Sorcerer is in the Shrieking Shack?" said Hiyori. "He's not even fighting?"

“He doesn't think he needs to fight," said Yato. "He thinks I'm going to go to him.”

"But why?"

'He knows I'm after Horcruxes - he should be keeping Nagini close beside him - obviously, I'm going to have to go to him to get near it.”

“Right," said Yukine, squaring his shoulders. "So you can't go, that's what he wants, that he's expecting. You stay here and look after Hiyori, and I'll go and get it -.”

Yato cut over Yukine. "You two stay here, I'll go under the Cloak and I'll be back as soon as I-.”

"No," said Hiyori, "it makes much more sense if I take the Cloak and-.”

The door behind Yato was ripped open.

"HERE!!"

Two masked Deatheaters stood there, but even before their wands were fully raised, Yukine shouted, “EXPULSO!”

Yato threw himself to the ground with Hiyori, the curse just missing his head. Both Deatheaters let out yells and were sent soaring back across the corridor, hitting the wall with a sickening crunch before falling in a heap on the floor.

Yukine flung himself towards the door, wand raised as he checked for reinforcements. There was a clatter of wood scraping on flagstone as a herd of galloping desks, chairs, and wardrobes thundered past, shepherded by a sprinting Professor Tsuyu. She appeared not to notice them; her hair flew behind her and there was a gash on her cheek. As she turned the corner, they heard her scream, "CHARGE!"

"Yato, put the Cloak on," said Hiyori. "Leave us and just-.”

But Yato threw it over all three of them; large though they were, he doubted anyone would notice their disembodied feet through the shattered stone, broken glass, and ongoing chaos.

They ran down the next staircase and found themselves in a corridor full of duelers. The portraits on either side of the fighters were crammed with figures screaming warnings and encouragement, while Deatheaters, both masked and unmasked, dueled students and teachers. Yato, Yukine, and Hiyori raised their wands at once, ready to protect each other, but the duelers had paid their cumbersome entrance and out-of-place body parts no mind.

'LET'S GO!" Yato yelled, and he, Yukine, and Hiyori gathered the cloak tightly around themselves and pelted, heads down, through the midst of the fighters, toward the top of the marble staircase into the entrance hall.

There were more duelers all over the stairs and in the hall; Deatheaters everywhere Yato looked, students in every direction, some carrying or running and dragging injured friends.

Yato directed a Stunning Spell toward a masked Deatheater; it missed but nearly hit BLANK, who had emerged from nowhere brandishing armfuls of Venomous Tentacula, which looped itself happily around the nearest Deatheater and began reeling him in.

Yato, Yukine, and Hiyori sped down the marble staircase. Two bodies fell from the balcony overhead as they reached the ground, and a gray blur that Yato took for an animal sped four-legged across the hall to sink its teeth into one of the fallen.

"NO! shrieked Hiyori, and with a deafening blast from her wand, the creature was thrown backward from the feebly stirring body of Touma. It hit the marble banisters and struggled to return to its feet. Then, with a bright white flash and crack, a crystal ball fell on top of its head, and crumpled to the ground and did not move.

"I have more!" shrieked Kofuku from over the banisters. "More for any who want them! Here!”

And with a movement like a tennis serve, she heaved another enormous crystal sphere from her bag, waved her wand through the hall and smashed through air, and caused the ball to speed across the window. At the same moment, the heavy wooden front doors burst open, and more of the gigantic spiders forced their way into the entrance hall.

Screams of terror split the air: The fighters scattered, Deatheaters and Hogwartians alike, and red and green jets of light flew into the midst of the oncoming monsters, which shuddered and reared, more terrifying than ever.

"How do we get out?" yelled Yukine over all the screaming, but before either Yato or Hiyori could answer they were bowled aside by one of the spiders scuttering past into the fray.

“RUN!" Yato roared. The night was full of hideous yells, and he seized Hiyori's hand and tore down the steps into the grounds, Yukine bringing up the rear. He ran so fast that they were halfway toward the forest before they were skidded to a halt.

The air around them had frozen. Yato's breath caught in his chest. Shapes moved out in the darkness, swirling figures of rags and decay, moving in a great wave toward the castle, their faces hooded and their breath rattling.

Yukine and Hiyori closed in beside him as the sounds of fighting behind them grew suddenly muted, deadened because a silence only Dementors could bring was falling thickly through the night.

"Come on, Yato!" said Hiyori's voice from a very long way away. “Patronuses, Yato!"

He raised his wand, but a dull hopelessness was spreading through him. How many more lay dead that he did not yet know about? How many more? He felt as though his soul had already half left his body.

'Yato, COME ON!" screamed Hiyori.

A hundred dementors were advancing, gliding toward them, sucking their way closer to Yato's despair, like blood to a shark.

He saw Yukine's silver hare burst into the air, flicker feebly, and expire; he saw Hiyori's wolf twist in midair and fade, the begins of a howl dying on its snout, and his own wand trembled in his hand, and he almost welcomed the oncoming oblivion, the promise of nothing…

And then a silver lion leaped overhead, followed closely by a bounding labrador. The Dementors fell back before the creatures approached. Yato's vision blurred back, and the thundering of hooves beside him brought him back to reality; help had arrived. Astride a snapping Hippogriff, their wands outstretched and tethered to their patronuses.

Bishamon and Kazuma.

"That's right," Bishamon encouraged. "That's right… come on, think of something happy.”

Something happy? Yato thought. It seemed impossible right now.

“We're going to win this," Kazuma whispered.

There was a silver spark, then a wavering light, and then, Yato's Patronus burst from the end of his wand. It cantered forward, and now the dementors scattered in earnest, and immediately the night was mild again, but the sounds of the battle were loud in his ears.

“Thank you," said Yukine shakily, turning to Bishamon and Kazuma. "You saved us.”

With a roar and an earth-quaking tremor, a troll came lurching out of the darkness from the direction of the forest, brandishing a club taller than any of them.

“RUN! Yato shouted again. They all scattered, and in the next moment, the creature's vast foot had fallen exactly where they had been standing.

Yato looked around - Yukine and Hiyori were following him, but the Bishamon and Kazuma had vanished back into the battle aside Buckbeak.

“Move out the way!" yelled Yukine as the troll swung its club again and its bellows echoed through the night, across the grounds where bursts of red and green light continued to illuminate the darkness.

"The Whomping Willow," said Yato, "Go!"

Somehow he walled it all up in his mind - its secret tunnel, and the memories of the Shrieking Shack where he has finally met Sakura.

He could not think of it now. They must reach the snake and the Sorcerer, because that was, as Hiyori said, the only way to end it.

He sprinted, half believing he could out-distance death itself, ignoring the jets of light flying in the darkness all around him, through grounds that seemed themselves to have risen in rebellion. He ran faster than he had ever moved in his life, and it was he who saw the great tree, its roots with whiplike, first, the Willow that protected the secret with slashing branches.

Panting and gasping, Yato slowed down, skirting the Willow's swiping branches, peering through the darkness toward its thick trunk and its entrance.

Yukine and Hiyori caught up, Hiyori so out of breath she could not speak.

Yato raised his wand and free hand and the Whomping Willow stilled, its branches floating into the air as if it had broken the laws of gravity.

“Perfect!" panted Yukine, taking a step forward.

"Wait."

For one faltering second, while the crashes and booms of the battle filled the air, Yato hesitated. The Sorcerer wanted him to do this, wanted him to come… Was he leading Yukine and Hiyori into a trap?

But then the reality seemed to hit: The only way forward was to kill the snake, and the snake was where the Sorcerer was, and he was at the end of this tunnel…

"Yato, we're coming, just get in there!" said Yukine, pushing him forward. Yato wriggled into the earthy passage hidden in the tree's roots.

It was a much tighter squeeze than it had been the last time they had entered it.

Yato went first, his wand illuminated, expecting at any moment to meet a threat, but none came. They moved in silence, Yato's gaze fixed upon the path ahead.

At last, the tunnel began to slope upward and Yato saw a sliver of light ahead. Hiyori tugged at his ankle.

“The Cloak!" she whispered. "Put the Cloak on!"

He groped behind him and she forced the cloth into his free hand. With difficulty he dragged it over himself, murmured, "Nox,'" extinguishing his wand light, and continued on his hands and knees, as silently as possible, all his senses straining, expecting every second to be discovered, to hear a cold clear voice, see a flash of green light.

Then he heard voices coming from the room directly ahead of them, only slightly muffled by the fact that the opening at the end of the tunnel had been blocked up by what looked like an old crate.

Hardly daring to breathe, Yato edged right up to the opening and peered through a tiny gap left between the crate and the wall.

The room beyond was dimly lit, but he could see Nagini, swirling and coiling midair. He could see the edge of a table, and a long-fingered hand toying with a wand. Then Kuguha spoke, and Yato's heart lurched.

“My Lord, their resistance is crumbling,” Kuguha said appeasingly. “Let me find the boy. Let me bring you Yato. I know I can find him, my Lord.”

Kuguha strode past the gap, and Yato drew back a little, keeping his eyes fixed upon Nagini, wondering whether there was any spell that might penetrate the protection surrounding her, but he could not think of anything. One failed attempt, and he would give away his position.

The Sorcerer stood up. Yato could see him now, black robes swinging. "I have a problem.”

"My Lord?"

The Sorcerer raised the Elder Wand. "Why doesn't it work for me?"

In the silence, Yato imagined he could hear the snake hissing slightly as it coiled and uncoiled.

"My Lord?" said Kuguha blankly. "I do not understand. You… you have performed extraordinary magic with that wand.”

"No," said the Sorcerer. "I have performed my usual magic. I am extraordinary, but this wand… It has not revealed the wonder it has promised. I feel no difference.”

The Sorcerer's tone was musing, calm, but Yato's head had begun to throb and pulse. Pain was building in his forehead, and he could feel that controlled sense of fury building inside the Sorcerer.

"None at all," said the Sorcerer again.

Yato could not see his face. He wondered not whether Kuguha sensed danger.

The Sorcerer started to move around the room. Yato lost sight of him for a few seconds as he prowled, speaking in that same measured voice, while the pain and fury mounted in Yato. "I have thought long and hard. Do you know why I have called you back from the battle?"

And for a moment Yato saw Kuguha’s profile; his eyes were fixed upon the coiling snake in its enchanted cage.

"No, my Lord. But please allow me to find Yaboku."

"You sound like Oshi. Neither of you understands him as I do. He does not need to be found; Yaboku will come home to me. I know his weakness. He will hate watching the others struck down around him, knowing that it's his fault. He will want to stop it at any cost. He will come.”

"But my Lord, he might be killed accidentally by one other than yourself-.”

“My instructions have been perfectly clear: Capture Yaboku. Kill his friends, but do no more, do not kill him. But you," the Sorcerer ceased pacing. "You have been very valuable to me. Very valuable. It's you that I wished to speak, not Yaboku.”

Kuguha shuffled his feet. "I seek only to serve you. But - let me go and find the boy, my Lord. Let me bring him to you. I know I can -.”

“I have told you, no!" said the Sorcerer, and Yato caught the glint in his eyes as he turned again, and the swishing of his cloak was like the slithering of a snake and he felt his impatience in his head.

“Why did the wands I have used fail when directed at Yaboku?"

"I cannot answer that, my Lord."

"Can't you?"

The stab of rage felt like a spike driven through Yato's head. He forced his fist into his mouth to stop himself from crying out in pain. He closed his eyes, and suddenly he was there, looking into Kuguha’s pale face.

"I-I have no explanation, my Lord.” His dark eyes were still. Kuguha was not looking at Voldemort now. Fixed upon the coiling serpent in its protective sphere.

"I sought a third wand. The Elder Wand, the Wand of Destiny, the Deathstick. I took it from its previous master. I took it from the grave of Tenjin.'

And now Kuguha looked at his master. There was panic in his eyes. "My Lord - let me go-.”

"All this long night, when I am on the brink of victory, I have sat here,'" said the Sorcerer, his voice barely louder than a whisper, “Wondering, wondering, why the Elder Wand refuses to be what it ought to be, refuses to perform as legend says it must perform for its rightful owner… and I think I have the answer.'

Kuguha did not speak.

"Perhaps you already know it? You are a clever man, after all. You have been a good and faithful servant, and I regret what must happen.”

"My Lord…”

"The Elder Wand cannot serve me properly, Kuguha, because I am not its true master. The Elder Wand belongs to the wizard who killed its last owner. You killed Tenjin. While you live, the Elder Wand cannot be truly mine.”

"My Lord!" Kuguha protested, raising his wand.

"It cannot be any other way," said the Sorcerer. "I must master the wand. Master the wand, and I master Yaboku at last."

He swiped the air with the Elder Wand. It did nothing to Kuguha, who for a split second seemed to think he had been reprieved: But then the Sorcerer's intention became clear. The snake's cage was rolling through the air, and before Kuguha could do anything more than yell, it had encased him, head and shoulders, and Voldemort spoke in Parseltongue.

"Kill.”

There was a terrible scream. Yato saw Kuguha’s face losing the little color it had left; it whitened as his black eyes widened, as the snake's fangs pierced his neck, as he failed to push the enchanted cage off himself, as his knees gave way and he fell to the floor.

“I regret it," said the Sorcerer coldly.

He turned away; there was no sadness in him, no remorse. It was time to leave this shack and take charge, with a wand that would now do his full bidding. He pointed it at the starry cage holding the snake, which drifted upward, off Kuguha, who fell sideways onto the floor, blood gushing from the wounds in his neck. The Sorcerer swept from the room without a backward glance, and the great serpent floated after him in its huge protective sphere.

Back in the tunnel and his own mind, Yato opened his eyes: He had drawn blood biting down on his knuckles in an effort not to shout out. Now he was looking through the tiny crack between crate and wall, watching a foot in a black boot trembling on the floor.

"Yato!" Breathed Hiyori behind him, but he had already pointed his wand at the crate blocking his view. It lifted an inch into the air and drifted sideways silently. As quietly as he could, he pulled himself up into the room.

Yato did not know why he was doing it, why he was forcing his way into the dimly lit room. He did not know what to feel as he approached Kuguha, whose breath rattled and neck was bloody.

Yato took off the Invisibility Cloak and looked down upon the dying man, whose widening eyes found him and Hiyori and Yukine as they clambered out of the gap behind.

Yato grimly drew his wand.

“Yato…” Yukine said hesitantly, almost with a warning tone.

“I'm not,” Yato said softly. “He has information. I need to know what comes next.”

Yato knelt in the growing pool of blood and drew in close. His wand hovered at Kuguha’s head, and a silvery hue, neither gas nor liquid, pulled from his temple, meeting the tip of Yato's wand.

A flask, conjured from thin air, was thrust into his shaking hands by Hiyori. Yato lifted the silvery substance into it with his wand. When the flask was full to the brim, a terrible rasping, gurgling noise wheezed from Kuguha’s throat, and his grip on Yato's robes slackened.

There was a pregnant pause before Hiyori whispered, “Is he dead?”

Yato opened his mouth to reply.

A low, cold voice spoke so close that Yato jumped to his feet, the vial clutched in his fist as he cast his eyes frantically around the room.

The Sorcerer's voice reverberated around the room, and Yato realised the disembodied words were addressing everyone within the castle and the surrounding areas, reaching down into the homes of families in Hogsmeade like a breath down their necks.

“You have fought valiantly," said the cold voice. “The Lord knows how to value bravery. Yet you have sustained heavy losses. If you continue to resist, you will all die, one by one.”

Yato’s heart pounded in his chest, thumping against the fragile glass in his hand.

“I do not wish this to happen.” The voice continued. “Every drop of magical blood spilled is a loss and a waste. Our Lord is merciful. command my forces to retreat immediately. You have one hour. Dispose of your dead with dignity. Treat your injured.”

The voice shifted as if stepping around Yato, moving to speak to him directly, faceless.

"I speak to you now, Yaboku. You have allowed your friends to die rather than face me yourself. I shall wait for one hour in the Forbidden Forest. If, at the end of that hour, you have not come to me, then battle recommences.”

Yato missed the panicked looks Hiyori and Yukine exchanged, the Sorcerer's terms unfathomable. “This time, I will come myself, and I shall find you, and I shall punish every last man, woman, and child who has tried to conceal you from me. One hour.”

The voice rang in Yato’s ears.

Both Hiyori and Yukine shook their heads frantically, looking at Yato.

"Don't listen to him," said Yukine.

“It'll be all right," said Hiyori wildly. "Let's get back to the castle, if he's gone to the forest we'll need to think of a new plan”

She glanced at the body, then hurried back to the tunnel entrance. Yukine followed her. Yato gathered up the Invisibility Cloak, and then looked down at Kuguha. He did not know what to feel, except shock at the method of his execution, and the reason for which it had been done.

They crawled back through the tunnel, none of them talking and Yato wondered whether Yukine and Hiyori could still hear the Sorcerer ringing in their heads, as he could.

You have permitted your friends to die for you rather than face me yourself. I shall wait for one hour in the Forbidden Forest… One hour.

The three of them hurried toward the stone steps. The forecourt yard was littered with debris and the fallen, Deatheaters and comrades alike. It must've been the small hours of the morning, but the sun had not yet broken over the crest of the mountains.

The castle was unnaturally silent as they hurried across the grass, wands drawn and alert despite the abandoned battlefield. There were no flashes of light now, no cries or screams. The flagstones of the desolate entrance hall were stained with blood, chips of marble, piles of stone, and splintered wood from the banisters creating a carpet that they trod over gently.

“Where is everyone?" whispered Hiyori.

Yukine led the way to the Great Hal, followed closely by Hiyori. Yato stopped in the doorway and took in the ruin before him.

The survivors stood in groups, their arms around each other, or lay on the floor eerily silent. The House tables were pushed to the sides of the Great Hall or acting as medic tables, haphazardly arranged and littered with medical supplies. The injured were being treated by Professor Tsuyu and an assortment of helpers.

Yato’s eyes raked over the devastation. A litany of bodies lay uncovered beneath the enchanted ceiling, some of which he could recognise. Tsuguha, pale and unmoving, with Aiha weeping beside her - her own legs were wrapped in bandages that were already bleeding through. A small girl with black hair and blue lining of her jumper hems; Touma.

Further away he could see more figures. Whether or not they were alive he could not tell, and the fact that there was a medic kneeling between the two forms did not comfort him. His eyes had nearly flicked away when the medic moved, leaning over to the next patient, and Yato caught a glimpse of pink hair and a large hand nearly touching theirs.

The Great Hall seemed to shrink, all the oxygen sucked away as Yato reeled backward from the doorway. He could not breathe. No. He could not stand to watch, to see who else had died for him. He could not bear to join his friends. He could not look into their eyes when if he had given himself up in the first place, this might never have happened.

He turned away and ran up the marble staircase. He wished his heart would stop so that this testing pain would cease, that each screaming heartbeat would still into a peaceful oblivion. His feet instinctively took him to the one place where he would find answers.

The castle was completely empty; even the portraits and ghosts seemed to have joined the mass mourning in the Great Hall.

Yato ran without stopping, clutching the crystal flask of Kuguha’s last thoughts, and he did not slow down until he reached the stone gargoyle guarding the headmaster's office.

"Password?" The door groaned, unfeeling of the chaos around it.

“Tenjin!" said Yato bellowed, fiat slamming against the door. The gargoyle slid aside, revealing the spiral staircase behind.

But when Yato burst into the circular office he found no one. The portraits were empty; not a single headmaster or headmistress remained to see him. They had left to see the ruination of their school, and their beloved students and peers.

Yato glanced hopelessly at Tenjin's deserted frame, the largest which hung directly behind the headmaster's chair, then turned his back on it. His eyes fell on the cabinet to the side of the room. Tenjins pensieve. It had been left open, carelessly, as if its user was abruptly taken from it by some unfolding disaster downstairs.

If Tenjin were not here, then his memories were. And maybe someone else's.

Yato poured Kuguha’s memories and dunked his head to drown out the world.

~

Yato emerged in a dark room with few plush items. Three people stood before him, bathed in firelight. Yato stepped forward, a sense of dread pulling him closer. He knew this place. He knew these people.

“If it's true, should we not keep an eye on the boy? To kill -,” a male figure spoke. He was dressed in white and had grey dreads that reached down his back. Kuguha. He was addressing another man, polarized by his black robes and short dark hair. He was turned away from his guests and Yato, staring into the fire with an arm resting on the mantlepiece.

“No,” the dark-haired man said with the slightest shake of his head, and Yato’s blood ran cold. He knew that voice. “My son will never cease this mission.”

“My Lord,” Kuguha murmured with the slightest inclination of his head. “If you were to destroy the Horcrux yourself -.”

“It is necessary,” the dark-haired man said. “Given the circumstances.”

Yato stepped forward again, wary of his presence being detected though he knew in the back of his head it shouldn't be possible.

"I don't understand, your soul - fractured as it is - cannot bear close contact with a soul like Yato's. We were talking of minds!” A female voice shrilled and Ytao’s head snapped to the carrier - Oshi.

This must have been before recent events after Oshi was installed as Headmistress, Yato thought to himself.

The fire crackled and cast shadows over their faces. Yato moved closer. He knew who he was looking at - he’d been looking at him for half of his life, hiding for the rest. So why was he talking about his soul and Horcruxes?

“I knew what burden I would bear if I chose to do this to my children,” the dark-haired man said softly. “Because I knew that I would do anything to protect them. I am them. They are me. Now neither can live whilst I survive .”

Yato could feel the memory starting to blur at the edges, the voice becoming watery.

"In the case of Yato and I, to speak of one is to speak of the other.” The dark-haired man said. The vision went black, and the last words barely reached Yato’s ears.

“Our fates are intertwined.”

~

A whirl of color, and now everything darkened. Yato stood in the headmaster's office, unchanged. It was nighttime and the portraits were full once again of headteachers past and present. Yet the main difference was its most recently departed was sitting in the high-backed chair.

Yato stepped around the room carefully. Why was he seeing Tenjin’s memories? Surely the Pensieve would have been rinsed of all prior recollections - but then again, it would have proved a valuable source of intel for Oshi and the Sorcerer.

He had arrived mid-conversation but Tenjin hadn't noticed the interruption of course, nor had Madame Kofuku who sat adjacent, glaring at Tenjin with her green eyes.

"The Sorcerer does not expect Nora to succeed,” Tenjin said, fingers steepled in front of his face. “This is merely punishment for her recent failures… slow torture until my murder is committed.”

This must be before Nora's attempts on Tenjin’s life happened, Yato thought to himself. Everything was rewinding, going back in time. He knew from the beginning?

“Do you believe the Sorcerer foresees a moment in the near future when he will not need Nora's eyes in the castle?" Madame Kofuku asked, eyes narrowed.

'He believes the school will soon be in his grasp, yes.' Tenjin agreed.

There was a beat of silence.

"And if it does fall into his grasp," said Tenjin, “Do I have your word that you will do all in your power to protect the students of Hogwarts?"

Madame Kofuku gave a stiff nod.

"Good. Now then. Your first priority will be to discover what Nora is up to; a frightened teenage girl is a danger to others as well as to herself. Nora blames me - thinks I have enabled Yato to stay away from their father for so long. And I do not deny it.”

Tenjin stood from his desk and Yato took an unnecessary step back to allow him to walk past, circling the desk.

"All the same, I am concerned less for myself than for accidental victims of whatever schemes Nora may attempt. Ultimately, of course, there is only one thing to be done if we are to save her from the Sorcerer's wrath.

Tenjin came to a stop beside Madame Kofuku’s chair, hands behind his back as he stared at the door.

Kofuku raised her eyebrows as she asked, "Are you intending to let her kill you?"

"Certainly not.” Tenjin chuckled, and both Yato and Madame Kofuku both failed to see what was so funny. "That girl's soul is not yet so damaged. I would not have it ripped apart on my account.”

~

The world spun away and came back a moment later. Yato was at Grimmauld Place, in the dining room. All the paperwork and books had been cleared away neatly, indicating that this memory had come later on during his sixth year at Hogwarts. He heard muffled voices from the living room and followed them, taking a moment to soak in the nostalgia of his once home.

“- is the key to the Sorcerer’s undoing, no matter if the prophecy is destroyed.”

Yato gently pushed open the living room door. Tenjin sat in an armchair right before him holding a cup of tea to his lips. Sunlight painted his lined face, the curtains pulled back to let in a gentle breeze that rocked the curtains and the view of the budding cherry blossoms. His eyes flitted to the sofa and his heart lurched.

Sakura sat with her hands folded on her lap, her cup of tea placed on the table in front of her with the delicate porcelain teapot still steaming hot. She hasn't changed at all, Yato thought for the briefest of moments, before he realised that all occupants of the room except himself were currently deceased.

Sakura’s face was painted with a mixture of heartbreak, confusion, and anger. “What are you implying, Tenjin?”

The air shifted and stilled. Tenjin lowered his teacup with a small clatter.

"Yato must not know until the last moment. Not until it gives him the strength to do what is necessary, otherwise how it must be done-.”

“And what must be done?"

“That is between Yato and me. Now listen closely, Sakura. There will come a time after my death when the Sorcerer will seem to fear for the life of his snake -.”

“For his snake?" Sakura interrupted, looking astonished. “The one Yato has seen?”

"Precisely. If there comes a time when the Sorcerer stops sending that snake forth to do his bidding, but keeps it safe beside him under magical protection, then, I think, it will be safe to tell Yato.”

"Tell him what?"

Tenjin took a deep breath and closed his eyes, the teacup balanced delicately in his fragile hand.

"Tell him that on the night the Sorcerer created the snake, so he too created Yato.”

Yato stared at Tenjin.

“The Sorcerer used his own children to create Horcruxes. To ensure that they would always live beside him, under his protection. To take the life of the Sorcerer is one thing, but to take the lives of his children? Innocent souls? It would take a heartless person to do such a thing, even have a chance to do so.”

Yato's face mirrored Sakura's; confusion yielding to sickening disbelief.

“Part of the Sorcerer lives inside Yato, and it is that which gives him the power of speech with snakes, and a connection with the Sorcerer's mind that he has never understood. And while that fragment of the soul remains attached to and protected by Yato, the Sorcerer cannot die.”

Yato seemed to be watching from one end of a long tunnel; they were so far away from him, their voices echoing strangely in his ears.

“I will not lead him to his death. I will not kill him,” Sakura shook her head. “There must be another way!”

“You cannot kill him. The Sorcerer himself must do it, Sakura. That is essential.”

Another long silence. Then Sakura said, "I thought that we were protecting him for me. For years.”

"We have protected him because it has been essential to teach him, to raise him, to let him try try his strength," said Tenjin his eyes still tight shut. "Meanwhile, the connection between them grows ever stronger, a parasitic growth. Sometimes I have thought he suspects it himself. If I know him, Yato will have arranged matters so that when he does set out to meet his death, it will truly mean the end of the Sorcerer.”

Tenjin opened his eyes. Sakura looked horrified.

"You have kept him alive, sheltered him, so that he can die at the right moment?"

"Don't be shocked, Sakura,” Tenjin said, and Yato disliked the tone he used. “How many men and women have you watched die?"

“Only those whom I could not save,” said Sakura. She stood up. "You have used me. I have spied for you and lied for you, put myself in mortal danger for you. Everything was supposed to be to keep Yato safe. Now you tell me you have been raising him like a pig for slaughter. I will not allow it!”

Sakura crossed the room in a blur of robes and dark hair, and Yato caught the faintest smell of her perfume as the world faded away with the creak of a door.

“I think it's best you leave, Headmaster.”

~

Yato rose up out of the Pensieve, and moments later he lay on the carpeted floor of Tenjin's office.

Finally, the truth of his upbringing. All his life in his Father's house, kept safe from the world as the Sorcerer grew in power.

His job all along was to walk calmly into Death's welcoming arms. Along the way, he would break the Sorcerer's remaining link to life.

The Sorcerer determined he would destroy Yato - his own Horcrux - to stop him from destroying him altogether. Nagini would be the last Horcrux remaining. At least that's what the Sorcerer would believe for a brief time.

Yato lay on the floor, arms splayed and heart pounding. His mortality struck him; this heart has to stop regardless of how many Horcruxes he destroyed.

How many heartbeats do I have left?

Yato swallowed a lump in his throat, aware of the hot tears dripping down his temples and into his hair.

Would it hurt to die?

It did not matter. It had to happen.

Slowly Yato sat up. His breath came slow and deep, and his mouth and throat were completely dry. He felt his fingers trembling slightly.

The betrayal was nothing; he should have seen this coming. A final twist of fate that ensured that he would never be free. The task of destroying Horcruxes had been passed to him, and as he slowly severed each tie the Sorcerer had to the mortal realm, he was sealing his own fate; the ultimate sacrifice he would have to make to save everyone. How tidy that the Sorcerer’s demise would come from his own hand.

They knew Yato would keep going until the end, after seeing the devastation that stopping would entail. He thought of the bodies in the Great Hall, the injured and the maimed and the dying. But they had overestimated him.

He had failed: The snake survived. One Horcrux would remain to bind the Sorcerer to the earth, even after Yato had been killed. True, that would mean an easier job for somebody. He wondered who would do it; Hiyori and Yukine would know what needed to be done, of course.

That would have been why Tenjin wanted him to confide in two others… so that if he fulfilled his true destiny a little early, they could finish the job.

I must die. It must end.

Yato's thoughts drifted to Hiyori and Yukine. They seemed so far away now - they were probably wondering where he was. But this was a journey they could not take together.

Nearly half of the hour allotted by the Sorcerer for his surrender had passed. Yato stood up, his heart fluttering what short about of beats remained. He did not look back as he closed the office door.

The castle was empty. He felt as if he had already become one of the ghosts - would his soul remain? Or had it been corrupted so that it would disappear with the Sorcerers? The portrait frames hung desolate, all flocking to the Great Hall which had become the pulsating heart of the battleground.

Yato descended through the floors, at last walking down the marble staircase into the entrance hall. He moved down the steps and out into the darkness. It was nearly four in the morning, and the deathly stillness of the grounds felt as though they were holding their breath, waiting to see whether he could do what he must.

“Where've you been?”

Yato turned. Yukine and Hiyori were stood to his left, paused in the corridor.

“I thought you went to the forest…” Yukine sighed as if relieved.

“I'm going there now,” Yato said quietly.

He avoided looking at them - he couldn't bear to look them in the eye, to see the devastation and protest on their faces. He should've gone a different way, and avoided this interaction. It would've hurt less, though Yato didn't know if he was thinking about their feelings or his own.

There was a brief pause before Yukine replied. “Are you mad?”

“No…”

“You can't give yourself up,” Hiyori said. There was a wobble to her voice, and Yato felt a lump rise in his throat.

“What is it, Yato? What is it you know?” Yukine pressed.

“There is a reason I can hear them. The Horcruxes. I think I've known for a while…” Yato said, eyes flitting between the two. “And I think you have, too.”

“You can't-!” Yukine began, but Yato interrupted.

“No. Kill the snake. Kill the snake, and it's just him!”

There was a moment where there was complete silence; the noise of the Great Hall had subsided, along with their breaths and heartbeats. In that moment it was just Yato and the two people he loved most in the world.

And then it shattered.

Yukine hugged Yato firmly, squeezing him slightly.

Yato noticed how much Yukine had grown. He was nearly as tall as he was now, and not as scrawny. After all these years of dealing with his own problems, he’d never noticed Yukine had grown up helping him. Yukine pulled back, his upper lip stiff and eyes unblinking so the tears wouldn’t fall.

“You better come back,” Yukine said in a hard voice, expression betraying his true feelings. Yato nodded dully, promising something that couldn’t be. Deep down Yukine knew it too.

Hiyori stepped up to Yato next, head tilted to look him right in the eyes. Her eyes watered threateningly as she began to speak.

“I’ll go with you,” Hiyori said in a shaky voice.

Yato smiled sadly. Stubborn until the end, as always.

“It’s me they want. You’re safer here.” Yato said softly. He outstretched his arm to her, inviting her into a final hug.

Hiyori’s features broke, her face twisting into one of pain as she launched herself into his arms. She buried her face in his chest, fingernails digging into the back of his shirt as she held him in a tight embrace. He returned the embrace, not as tightly for fear that if he held her he would never let go.

“Don’t go,” Hiyori whispered.

Gradual shuddering sobs shook their bodies as Hiyori clung to him as if it was the last time she would see him.

I suppose it is, Yato thought dejectedly.

He bowed his head so he rested against the top of Hiyori’s head. Taking a deep breath, he could smell her scent of earth and fire smoke that was oh so familiar. He gently put his hands on her shoulders and pushed her back slightly to look at her tear-stained face. A lump rose in his throat as he kissed her forehead.

“I’ll come back, I promise.”

Yato took one last glance back at the entrance of the Great Hall. People were moving around, trying to comfort each other, drinking, and kneeling beside the dead.

It would be the last lie he told.

~

Yato kept himself together as he left Hiyori in Yukine's arms, walking out of the castle and into the bleak night.

This was crucial, he must be like Tenjin: stay calm, make sure there were backups, and others to carry on. Tenjin had died knowing that people still knew about the Horcruxes; now Yukine or Hiyori would take Yato's place.

He wanted to be stopped, to be dragged back, to be sent back home…

But he was home. Hogwarts was the first and best home he had known. He and Yukine - the abandoned boys - had both found a home here. Perhaps Hiyori too now considered that castle her home with her own family gone…

With a huge effort, Yato forced himself on. Yato moved on, past Kuraha’s lightless hut, and now he reached the edge of the forest, and he stopped.

He could no longer control his own trembling. It was not so easy to face death. Every second he breathed, the smell of the grass, the cool air on his face, was so precious. To think that people had years and years, of time to waste, so much time it dragged, and he was clinging to catch second. The long game was ended. The Snitch had been caught; it was time to leave the air.

The Snitch. Yato fumbled for a moment and he pulled out Tenjin's final gift.

I open at the close.

Yato stared down at it. Now that he wanted time to move as slowly as possible, it seemed to have sped up.

This was the close. He pressed the golden metal to his lips and whispered, "I am about to die.”

The metal shell broke open. He lowered his shaking hand, raised Nora's wand, and murmured, “Lumos.”

A black stone with its jagged crack running down the center sat in the two halves of the Snitch. The Resurrection Stone had cracked down the vertical line representing the Elder Wand. The triangle and circle representing the Cloak and the stone were still discernible.

And again Yato understood without having to think. It did not matter about bringing her back, for he was about to join her. He closed his eyes and turned the stone over in his hand three times.

He knew it had happened because he heard slight movements around him that suggested shifting footing on the outer edge of the earthy, twig-strewn ground. He opened his eyes and looked, he could see that. Less substantial than the living, but much more than a ghost, she moved toward him, and on her face, there was the same loving smile.

“Sakura…” Yato whispered.

She was wearing the clothes in which she had died. She pushed her long hair back as she drew close to him, and her eyes searched his face.

“You've been so brave."

Yato could not speak. His eyes feasted on her, and he thought that he would like to stand and look at her forever, and that would be enough.

"You are nearly there," said Sakura. "Very close. I'm so proud of you.”

"Does it hurt?" The childish question had fallen from Yato's lips before he could stop it.

"Dying? Not at all," said Sakura. "Quicker than falling asleep."

Sakura's hand reached out as if wishing to brush the hair from his eyes, to caress his cheek. “He will want it to be quick. He wants it to be over."

"I didn't want you to die," Yato said. These words came without his volition.

A chilly breeze that seemed to emanate from the heart of the forest lifted the hair at Yato's brow. He knew that she would not tell him to go, that it would have to be his decision.

“You'll stay with me?"

"Until the very end," said Sakura.

“They won't be able to see you?" asked Yato.

“I am a part of you," said Sakura.

Yato looked at his sister. He was going home.

“Stay close to me," he said quietly.

And he set off.

Together they walked through the old trees that grew closely together, their branches tangled, their roots a gnarled and twisted carpet. Traveling deeper and deeper into the forest, with no idea where exactly the Sorcerer was, but sure that he would find him. Beside him, making scarcely a sound, walked Sakura's presence. She seemed much more real to him now than the living back at the castle: Hiyori, Yukine and all the others were the ones who felt like ghosts as he stumbled toward the end of his life, toward the Sorcerer.

They had traveled mere minutes when Yato saw light ahead.

A fire burned in the middle of the clearing, and its flickering light fell over a crowd of completely silent, watchful Death Eaters. Some of them were still masked and hooded; others showed their faces. Two giants sat on the outskirts of the group, casting massive shadows over the scene. Yato saw Oshi, skulking like a tattered ghost between trees.

Every eye was fixed upon the Sorcerer, who stood with his head bowed, and his hands folded over the Elder Wand in front of him. He might have been praying, or counting silently in his mind, and Yato thought absurdly of a child counting in a game of hide-and-seek. Behind him at his feet lay Nagini coiled, tongue flickering.

The Resurrection Stone slipped from between his numb fingers, and out of the corner of his eye, he saw Sakura vanish as he stepped forward into the firelight. At that moment he felt that nobody mattered but the Sorcerer. It was just the two of them.

The illusion was gone as soon as it had come. The giants roared as the Death Eaters rose together, and there were many cries, gasps, and laughter. The Sorcerer had frozen where he stood, but his eyes had found Yato, and he stared as Yato moved toward him, with nothing but the fire between them.

Then a voice yelled: "Yato! NO!”

He turned: Kuraha was bound, tied to a tree nearby. His body shook as he struggled, desperate.

"NO! NO! Leave here!”

“QUIET!" shouted a voice, and with a flick of a wand Kuruha was silenced.

Oshi, who had leaped to her feet, was looking eagerly from the Sorcerer to Yato, her chest heaving. The only things that moved were the flames and the snake, coiling and uncoiling behind the Sorcerer.

Yato could feel his wand against his chest, but he made no attempt to draw it. He knew that the snake was too well protected. Knew that if he managed to point the wand at Nagini, fifty curses would hit him first. And still, the Sorcerer and Yato looked at each other.

The Sorcerer tilted his head a little to the side, considering the boy standing before him.

'Yaboku," he said very softly. His voice might have been part of the spitting fire. "My son."

None of the Death Eaters moved. They were waiting: Everything was waiting. Kuraha was struggling, and Oshi was panting, and Yato thought inexplicably of Hiyori, her heartbroken look, and the feel of her hand in his.

The Sorcerer had raised his wand. Yato looked back into his eyes and wanted it to happen now, quickly, while he could still stand before he betrayed fear.

He saw the mouth move and a flash of green light, and everything was gone.

[honestlyyoungtyphoon]

Sovieshu's regression chapter 1 review

It opens with Sovieshu visiting the ghastly hollow western palace that used to vibrate with liveliness. He enters the Empress'bedroom that had a portrait of Navier. He says

"I'm here, Navier." 🥹 Imma cry

He regularly talks to Navier's portrait despite not having any response. He talks about his daily mundane things to her picture.

Today it starts with Sovieshu talking about Marcus Carl's grandchildren cutting of Carl's beard. 🤣 Reminds me of triplets from the "Brave" movie. Carl was exasperated but couldn't be mad at his grandkids either.

He talks to the picture for four hours until it was time for dinner. Marcus Carl comes to check on him and take him to his bedroom.

He had his dinner with him cooked by Marcus Carl's own cook. They joke about it too. Their friendship is so heartwarming 🥺 Everyone needs a Marcus Carl as a friend. Though sometimes he acts as Sovieshu's nanny especially when Sovieshu doesn't know when to stop things 😂 and Sovieshu also stops when Carl nags too much.

Carl tells him not to visit Navier's portrait and Sovieshu tells him not to mention it again. Then he takes out the watch the late Dean gave him. It was a family heirloom that the late Dean gifted him. Sovieshu tells Carl that he cherished the friendships that he developed with people. Looks like he got more friends in later life. Good for him.

Sovieshu then wishes he could go back in time when things were better with Navier. Especially their crown prince and princess days. He also mentions that they both relied on each other when they became new emperor and empress. 🫂 Imma cry again

He later tells his biggest regret was the divorce day, cause that was the last moment Navier was still his wife. 😭

After taking a shower, he goes back to sleep and imagines Navier is calling for him behind the bed curtain. He probably imagines it every night. Did Navier used to do that before? 🤔 I'm leaning towards yes.

Then the clock ticks... Dun dun dun

Sovieshu is in the courtroom. He first thinks it's a dream cause he dreamt of being in the courtroom before. Sometimes in the dream, the people can't see him and he runs around like a ghost (Imagine the Harry potter scene where people couldn't see Harry in the court scene)

But something about this feels different to him. The air, atmosphere, people's gaze feels more real to him. He sees Navier standing. He wanted to call her name and extend his hand towards her but saw her lips pressed which meant she was angry. Good to know he's scared of her angry self 😂

Her parents are teary eyed like before and her friends are sad. The high priest is looking furious. He was against the divorce, as we all know. Sovieshu keeps looking to and fro (especially at Navier) and was confused. He also sees Rashta standing behind him and smiles at him when he looks at her, which surprised him. Cause the last time he saw her, Rashta was hurling curses at him. Lol

The watch ticks again and Sovieshu takes out the watch in confusion. Cause despite making sound, the hands in the watch weren't moving. Navier looks at him being disappointed, cause she mistakenly thinks that Sovieshu is looking at the watch to hurry up the divorce 😞. She was hurt.

Then high priest asks Navier if she accepts the divorce and asks her again. Because he wanted her to say no. But before Navier could say anything, Sovieshu speaks up. He basically shouts, "I don't agree!"

Everyone including Navier was surprised. The high priest asks him if he's really protesting his own divorce? Cause he looked like a crazy weirdo 🗿

But Sovieshu says yes. He thinks that even though it's a dream, he still wants to stop the divorce (he thinks it's a dream, not realising it's real). He then glares at Birdface that was sitting in the courtroom. He remembers bridface's diva entrance in the past.

Then he approaches the priest asking him that as the priest hasn't agreed/declared the divorce yet, that means Sovieshu is still married to Navier, right? He was so desperate about it. 🥹

End of chapter one.

I really enjoyed it. The tone really matches with the main story and flows well. Also has good rating so far. Don't let antis spam the ratings.

I can't wait for the second chapter! It ended in a cliff hanger. If I didn't know ending I'd have combusted. Hahaha. Go read it! It free on YONDER in English translation.