#I'm sorry but Regulus dies in this

[the-blossica-fan]

Greetings!

I offer the possessed! Vertin AU (inspired by @cheemken 's AU and ideas on Twitter)

Arcana already wants Vertin for some reason so this post 1.9 is an AU that somehow Vertin is infected during that final battle and slowly loses to Arcana.

Kinda the Manus infected Vertin possession by Arcana where she slowly infects Vertin, like the subtle infection where only people like TF, Madam Z, Sonetto and probably Mesmer Jr and Matilda notice personality changes in Vertin until right in the middle of Foundation Headquarters all hell breaks loose. Maybe a critical point with Constantine bringing up the Breakaway Incident that finally sends Vertin over the edge.

Consider an all out battle with suitcase and co. Plus the threat of a higher up using the Scorching Heart Incantation to just eliminate Vertin as she becomes the greatest threat to the Foundation.

(Vertin gets the Manus drip ofc ofc)

Outcome? Up to you.

(I really can go really angsty with this, like Sonetto getting injured by Vertin probably will send her over the edge)

But again up to you 👍

Bites you, hard.

Comrade, what the fuck is this? (Starts thinking about the outcome)

You know me, lover of Slight angst and hurt/comfort.

On the POSITIVE side, like the good ending, Vertin is able to get out of Arcana's possession. After the whole fight against everyone in the suitcase - final boss style, Vertin's connection with Arcana breaks because Arcana wants it to. Much like with Schneider, after having destroyed so much, injured so many people and ruined everything for her and the others, she is released.

There's Sonetto lying on the floor, holding the wounds caused by Vertin's arcane skills given by Arcana, deep wounds I must add. There's Mesmer Jr in a corner, unable to participate because she doesn't trust her Arcane ability and then there's Matilda, unconscious maybe alive maybe dead, the reason why Sonetto is still alive is her.

And there's The Foundation pointing their guns at Vertin, there's Madam Z unable to do anything, there's Tooth Fairy with a face worse than simple pain. Everyone has no idea what to do, then, she gets taken by the Foundation.

The people in the suitcase are being taken care of, Team Timekeeper no longer exists because there is no Timekeeper, they become soldiers of different branches of the foundation. There's a couple of dead bodies in those. Those who tried to get close to Vertin to stop her never made it too far, the healers are doing their best to bring them back, healing the wounded and treating the traumatized.

It's a mess, really. And Vertin is sealed until they're able to take care of Arcana, and maybe, she might not be released.

But it's the good ending, because she's alive and despite what has happened, there's still a silver chance to repair what has been broken, to severe that connection with Arcana.

And perhaps the deaths of her close friends, Matilda who gave her life away (we all know that if she had the chance to save Sonetto she would jump), she would feel insanely guilty.

As for the bad ending, however... Not a lot get the privilege to live. Vertin doesn't go back because she's Arcana's priced pawn, and she needs her for more moves. So they're gone, most of them either way. The British branch of the foundation in shambles, those who managed to survive are trying to save Vertin. It's too late though, Vertin will never be the same as long as Arcana has her claws around her.

It's the end.

[rosekiller-addict]

rosekiller is one of the saddest examples of right person, not enough time because they had plenty of time but they just didn't use it

[random-catto-named-reg]

Oh.

"Please, Reg, tell me what I did, what's wrong with me, please-" James was nearly hysterical as he tried to figure out what the hell was wrong with him because Regulus could not have said those words.

We have to stop this.

Regulus' dark, sad eyes made him pause, mouth open with more pleads on the tip of his tongue.

Finally, Regulus spoke, and even though his voice was a mere whisper, his words punched the air out of James' lungs. "Why is it that you can see the beauty in everyone else, but you're blind to your own?"

Crouching down next to the distraught boy, he cupped his face in his hands, drawing in a shaky breath as James unconsciously leaned into his touch. "James," He breathed, the single syllable spilling almost reverently from his lips.

James had no reply, other than to close his eyes against the mournful, almost pitying gaze he was faced with.

"Please." His broken whisper seemed to break Regulus' resolve.

He sighed, shifting into a sitting position to pull him into his arms. "Oh, James."

His hand began running through the other boy's hair, gently untangling the curls and scratching his scalp with his blunt nails, and slowly, James began to relax, his sobs abating, his eyelids dragging shut, no matter how valiantly he tried to keep them open.

Regulus noticed, because of course he did. He always noticed things, his eyes sharp to everyone but James.

Only when he would look at James, would they soften to something other than the stone they seemed to be carved out of, grey and impenetrable.

"Get some sleep, James," Regulus said softly, rubbing his shoulder as he hummed under his breath.

"Don't leave-"

"I'll be here," Regulus promised.

James wakes up.

[psychoticallykind]

Coffee

"Bottle" - Jegulus Microfic - @into-the-jeggyverse - 407 words

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

"Reggie, I'm grabbing a Dr. Pepper, do you want a bottle?"

Regulus didn't look up from his book. "No, James is bringing me a drink."

"What?" Remus gave him an uncertain look. "How do you know? Your phone's been dead all day."

"It's 4:15," Regulus pointed out. "James got off at 4. He'll come here after work, but he'll stop at the coffee shop on the way and get us both coffees. Yours, too, and SIrius's if he knows he's here."

"He knows," Sirius spoke up. "'Cause I text him earlier. But no one's mentioned coffee."

Regulus knew what he was talking about. "No one had to mention it."

"Are you sure I shouldn't just call him?" Remus asked. "Just to - look, I know James is great, but he isn't psychic, Reg."

"Wait ten minutes," Regulus told him. "You'll see."

Remus exchanged a glance with Sirius that Regulus ignored. "I'm seeing unrealistic expectations, but okay. Have it your way."

Nine minutes later, the door opened. Regulus smiled.

"Hey, I brought caffeine!" James announced, walking into the bookshop. He kissed the top of Regulus's head before handing him his cup. "How's your day been?"

"Slow," Regulus replied, smirking at Remus. "Which was nice. I finished that book I showed you yesterday."

Remus took his drink with a faintly confused look. "Thanks. Did you - did Regulus text you earlier?"

"No," James replied, handing Sirius's over. "I kind of thought his phone might have died, actually. I tried to text you," he directed that last one to Regulus, who winced.

"Yeah, I forgot to charge it. Sorry," he apologized.

"It's alright." James smiled at him, settling on the arm of his chair. "What are you reading now?"

Regulus turned the book so James could see the cover. "Remus didn't think you loved me enough to get me coffee."

James frowned, looking at his friend. "What?"

"Not what I said," Remus defended himself. "I just wasn't sure you would know that Reg wanted coffee when he hadn't actually told you. That's all."

"He was very sure of it, though," Sirius chimed in. "Did you plan it this morning?"

"Oh." James shrugged. "Not really. But I told him that I got off at four today, and he's here 'til six, so it was pretty obvious."

Regulus smiled, leaning against James. "I love you."

"I love you, too." James grinned at him. "So much."

"I know," Regulus replied, and it was true.

[sophsicle]

okay, hold my drink *hands u cursed ancient goblet full of mead* i gotta talk my shit for a second.

ive been seeing a lot of severus snape love recently. and this is fine, obviously, y'all can love whomever you want. but. i need to rant or i will explode. if we're talking about canon. severus snape spends his adult years, seven books of it in fact, abusing children. and his excuse for this is the girl he loved (tho not enough not to join a group actively trying to exterminate her) fell for the hot jock instead of him (a tragedy indeed, i weep 4 him, i really do). and also she died, which, admittedly is very sad.

it is simply crazy 2 me 2 look at that and think *romance* or *genuine care and affection*. LIKE. fo real. snape calls her a slur in public, apologizes in private, hangs out with dudes who commit hate crimes against her friends (CANONICALLY, she says "you've been hanging out with that douchebag Mulciber, how could you do that after what he did to Mary???" this is not a direct quote but like, it's close enough). lame. loser behaviour.

"Oh but what about regulus" i can hear you say "he loves James potter but snape doesn't love lily???" well. idk. maybe. bit different tho, innit? due to james not being the demographic regulus is attacking (which doesn't make regulus a better person but does make the dynamic between him and james different). ALSO. Regulus chooses to turn against voldemort without hope for anything in return. snape doesn't seem to give a shit about voldemort, he's just sad he's not gonna get to bang lily evans. he switches sides for that reason alone. also doesn't care about what happens to her husband or her son which like. considering lily would be pretty fucking destroyed if they died. once again points to my whole, he doesn't really give a shit about her, theory. lame. loser. behaviour.

also. im sorry. I"M SORRY. but what snape does to neville? to hermione? to harry? gross. a grown ass man out here telling an eleven year old neville he's worthless or hermione she's ugly and annoying. or spilling harry's potion and refusing to grade him for it???????????????

reg and draco are children when we see them at peak suckage and therefore they feel like they can be redeemed much more compellingly (CAN be, not SHOULD be, not HAVE to be, just narratively i think they are easier to turn into interesting, sympathetic characters). but snape? snape grows up into a garbage adult. like he doesn't get better. and again, the only real excuse we're given is his obsession with lily. not very demure. not very cutesy.

ALSO. yall remember that time he got a destitute, struggling Remus Lupin fired from the best job he ever had just because he felt like it? remember that time snape weaponized Remus's lycanthropy and people's prejudice against him just cause. like. literally just cause??? his ego was bruised after the shrieking shack incident so he was like "get wrecked Lupin I'm going to tell everyone your secret so you will be forced back out onto the streets" DO YALL REMEMBER THAT BITCH ASS MOVE????????? THAT HE DID AS A FULL ADULT.

IN CONCLUSION, this is silly and, of course, like i said at the start, everyone can have their own thoughts and feelings about characters, but i simply needed to interject here on behalf of snape haters everywhere because i feel like so much of snape's shitty behaviour as an adult during a time when he was really under no duress and was very safe and cozy, is ignored. and my hater heart just cannot let that stand.

[immortalbutterflycos]

Girldad Rosekiller vs. Girldad Wolfstar: Selling Girl Scout Cookies

(Yes I'm aware the Girl Scouts are an American thing. Indulge me.)

Rosekiller:

They aren't so much "selling" the cookies, as they are threatening people to buy them in support of their daughter "Or else".

Some Dude: "Nah, sorry man, but I gotta sell my own kid's cookies." Barty, pulling a knife out of fucking nowhere: "You'll buy the damn cookies or the only thing you'll be selling is your own severed hands."

Short, Sweet, and highly effective.

Wolfstar:

They have a whole plan. They used to just go to James first because this man will just buy every single one of those fucking cookies with no buyer's remorse, but Regulus has a firm ban on allowing any more than 3 boxes in the house at any given moment because they just had palets of the damned things sitting in their cupboard and now he gets physically ill at the very thought of anything other than thin mints.

So instead, Remus has a sale plan that he and Sirius created. It lays out the best locations, and with their encouragement, their daughter is very easily one of the best salespeople in the business.

Sounds normal right?

Wrong.

Because even a well-thought-out plan can be somewhat derailed based on Sirius's influence alone.

Let me set the scene:

[[On a sale day, Sirius and their daughter are sitting at the breakfast table before Remus wakes up. Sirius drinks some bougie iced espresso drink he made, and she has a plate of smiley-face pancakes out in front of her.]] Sirius: "So what do you say when someone starts to walk close to the table?" Their daughter, smiling up at him: "Hello, would you like to buy some cookies?" Sirius, nodding: "Good. Now, what do you say when they say no?" Their daughter: "Please sir, my mum just died of cancer." Sirius, grinning proudly: "That's my girl." Remus, having just walked into the kitchen, his hair a mess, and his jumper hiked up due to the hand scratching an itch on his stomach: "Please tell me that you did not teach our daughter to use Cancer as a sales tactic..." Sirius: "Of course I did! It's brilliant!" *She raises her hand from her seat* Remus, with a soft sigh: "Yes, Angel?" Her: "But I have two dads. I never knew my mom." Sirius: "Ah, but that's the trick, Darling." *He pokes her nose.* "Sales is all about the blatant exploitation of other people's emotions in order to make a profit." *looking to Remus* "Tell me I'm wrong." *Remus breathes out a resigned laugh and shakes his head incredulously* Remus: "It's the fact that I genuinely can't that upsets me the most..."

[noblehouseofgay]

ok so since you liked obliviate so much i expanded it!! (although i was working on expanding anyways just thought i'd share this with you)

“James,” he whispered, his voice cracking. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry I couldn’t be the person you deserve.”

He turned to Sirius. “Brother,” he murmured. “I’ve always envied your strength. I wish I could have been more like you.”

Finally, he looked at Remus. “Thank you for listening. For understanding.”

Regulus raised his wand, his hand trembling. The spell came softly, almost lovingly: “Obliviate.”

As the memories of him slipped from their minds, Regulus felt a sharp, unbearable ache in his chest. He stepped back, taking one last look at the people who had given him a glimpse of what life could have been. Then he turned and disappeared into the night, leaving only the faint echo of laughter behind.

G o d I'm gonna sob

I love him so fucking much

These fuckers make me ILL

Christ

Genuinely Regulus obliviating them is one of the most FOUL headcannons ever

And yk what makes it worse

It'll undo the second Regulus dies, snd they'll all know he's gone

[impishtubist]

Okay, so we’ve talked about how Sirius’s death was sort of stupid (and weirdly humiliating/like a punishment to Sirius?), but obviously, it was meant to leave the door open so he could come back if the author changed her mind. Part of me wonders if she made wrote Regulus’s/R.A.B.’s story with the crumb of an idea that Sirius might come back and have to deal with that.

SO! If Sirius DID return from the Veil, when do you think he should/would have come back? (And would he have come back wrong???)

Well, not to shamelessly self-promote myself, but I think he comes back years after the end of DH and becomes a grandfather to Harry's kids and falls in love with Kingsley: Dead Man Walking. Or Remus and Harry refuse to believe he's dead and literally pull him out of the Veil and he goes on to fall in love with Remus and be a dad to Harry and Teddy: let our candle always burn.

But seriously, I think there are SO MANY WAYS he could come back. I really do think JKR was leaving it open to bring him back, and then didn't because doing so would have ruined her direction for books 6 and 7. Sirius was too smart! He would have figured it all out and rendered the books moot! I hate, hate that line in the OOTP movie where Luna says something about how things we lose always return to us. Why have that line and not bring back Sirius??

I think Harry and/or Remus could get really into dark magic and resurrect him, but bring him back wrong. I think the Veil could spit him out as soon as the final battle ends - maybe it takes a life for a life, so once Bellatrix dies, Sirius comes back. Maybe James forcibly pushes him back into the land of the living - he refuses to let both of them abandon Harry. Maybe Harry runs into Sirius at that train station in the afterlife (or limbo?) in DH, not Dumbledore, and brings him back. Who knows! JKR's world-building is so wishy-washy and inconsistent that literally anything is possible.

I really love your idea of him coming back after the RAB revelation and having to deal with that fallout, too. Ugh, delicious angst!

I'm sorry not to have a solid answer for you, but that's because I can see it happening a million different ways, and I want to read about it happening a million different ways. I could read 10,000 Bring Back Black fics and never get tired of them.

I do think people should bring him back wrong more often, though.

[aithusarosekiller]

I know that Dorcas doing on a mad killing spree to destroy voldy after Marlene dies is a popular headcanon and even though I usually don't subscribe to that one because in my head Dorcas doesn't need motivation, she's just like that- I think it would be really cool to imagine a world where she and James both meet up in the middle of their madness driven voldy-hunting and manage to take him down together. Because she had the will but not the means. So...I wrote a little something about James' perspective on the lead up to it where he obtains to means to do it (a horcrux)!

-

Specks of saltwater, a small scrap of paper, and a rusted old locket lay in the centre of James' kitchen table waiting to be inspected further by him, but he ignored them and paces up and down the room whispering urgently. He was lucky the boys weren't home or he would've looked mad. Luckily, the tears and yelling had passed a while ago and it was only the anger and confusion that remained.

Kreacher stood obediently at the foot of the table for him to calm down and give an order. Technically he didn't have any true ties to James Potter, but Regulus’ dying wish had been for him to go to James, so he assumed it was on his best interests to listen even if he despised the man and his traitorous family. Gently, James picked up the paper and contributed to walk back and forth while he straightened it out between his fingers.

I'm sorry. it read. Nothing else, just…I'm sorry.

I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

He swore under his breath and pressed it back down onto the table, flattening it out and continuing to stare at it.

“Why did he even-” With a sigh, James looked over to the house elf to his left. “Kreacher.” The elf looked up in expectation. “Why are you here?”

“Master Regulus ordered it.” He replied, voice steady and trained, if not with a pinch of distaste.

“Yes, I know, but why?” James hissed. “To torment me? To- I don't know, be remembered? What’s the fucking point? I know the story, I know he's dead, what more do you want?” Kreacher remained silent, blinking once.

Giving up, James looked back to the table and snatched up the dripping locket. He turned it over in his hand a few times before clicking his tongue and holding it up for Kreacher to see.

“I still don't get what this is. Why did you bring it to me, why was Regulus so willing to kill himself for it, and why did He so desperately want to hide it?” When Kreacher moved to speak he waved his free hand to cut him off. “Stop, I'm trying to figure it out in my head.” A few moments passed. “This has to be important to Voldemort somehow. How?” Kreacher didn't respond. “Okay, well, if he wanted to hide it, there must be some sort of personal value. If Regulus ordered you to destroy it, it must be pivotal. What does he want the most? Power? No, he wouldn't keep that hidden away…what else?” He began to pace again, Kreacher watching every step he took intently.

“If Voldemort was so certain that it had to be hidden away and protected from everybody, it remaining intact has to be a matter of life or death. Therefore…” Upon passing the table, he loudly placed it back in its spot and refused to look away from it. “I believe I have the future of You-Know-Who’s life sitting in my kitchen. His life is in my hands. Just as Regulus’ life was in his.”

It was a strangely satisfying full-circle moment.

Finally, Kreacher piped up. “What do you wish to do, Lord Potter?”

James smiled down at the ancient jewellery. Flashes of secret smiles, icy eyes, and long-ago kisses came back to him in blurs of longing and regret. Years of love were mingling with the bitterness and anger he felt. With the grief. It became instantaneously blinding. A sense of power flooded through his body, revenge taking over all of his senses entirely. If it hadn't been personal up until this moment, at the deaths of Marlene, the twins, his parents, it certainly was now. If he'd hated that man before, now the high of holding power over the man who drove his only love to death was only amplifying the feeling beyond control.

When he looked up, it was with an almost crazed expression and utmost determination racing through his brain.

“We are going to kill Lord Voldemort, Kreacher.” With that, he held out his hand to the elf, gesturing to come forward so they could apparate. Seconds before they left, he used his free hand to snatch up the note and locket, not wanting to leave any indication to the others that something was wrong. He had business to attend to now, and he didn't want to worry any of them into finding him and stopping him from doing so.

[hollowed-theory-hall]

Did you ever write a meta about the First Wizarding War?

I am just so curious about it, although we know almost nothing of it. I know in fanfictions, people tend to make the war something very open, very active, with the Order fighting the Death Eaters in the streets but it feels... off to me?

Like, first of all, how would they know when the DE attack? By the time they would learn about the attack, it's most likely the DE would already have left. And overall, when you read about the 2nd Wizarding War, they never attack place like Diallon Alley or Hogsmeade, but rather kidnap people like Ollivander and Fortescue. Which make me wonder how Voldemort was able to ask teens James and Lily to join him (like said in JK's interview).

When you read what Arthur said about this war:

"You-Know-Who and his followers sent the Dark Mark into the air whenever they killed. The terror it inspired… you have no idea, you're too young. Just picture coming home and finding the Dark Mark hovering over your house, and knowing what you're about to find inside… Everyone's worst fear��� the very worst."

Well, it sounds more like they would attack people at their home, so the DE are more likely to target people when they attack, while they would cause havrock in the Muggle world. Something that made sense since they don't want to destroy the Wizarding World and the wizards.

Although to be fair, it's not like they have much place to attack in the Wizarding world: the only place we know are Hogwarts, Hogsmeade, Diagon Alley and the Ministry.

I just have a hard time imagining how the war would be like, considering the Ministry was not taken by Voldemort. It's like this world is too small for a war of that kind.

Also, it makes me wonder what was really the role of the Order? Like what did they do? What kind of mission would they do? How would they know when to intervene? I know Remus had missions with werewolf during the 2nd war, but we don't know if he had the same during the 1st. Sirius was away busy with a mission during Harry's first birthday, but I wonder what he was doing. Was it a last minute battle?

"No, but believe me, they thought Voldemort had the right idea, they were all for the purification of the Wizarding race, getting rid of Muggle-borns and having purebloods in charge. They weren’t alone either, there were quite a few people, before Voldemort showed his true colors, who thought he had the right idea about things… They got cold feet when they saw what he was prepared to do to get power, though. But I bet my parents thought Regulus was a right little hero for joining up at first.”

It's implied people actually thought Voldemort had the right ideas, which makes me wonder if back then, the muggleborns were less accepted. What was the climate that made it happen? Was it that a bit like with jews, which is how Hitler got to powers?

Also the line in bold always interested me because it didn't feel like the Blacks knew about the Horcruxes, so I wonder what else would give them cold feet.

Sorry for the long text, I just never found someone to talk about it. Nobody seems to get me when I try to think too much about how it was like lol

Hello 👋

Honestly, this is really interesting and I have written about the first war as part of my Voldemort analysis here and here and also here and here. And I'm honestly really curious about the timeline of the first war and what exactly the Order and the DE actually did.

I would say you're right about it not being a war. I mean, for a war, you need armies and countries, and there wasn't a single army involved in this war.

The DE are somewhere between a cult and a terrorist organization. In the first war (and in the second one while Voldemort manages them, tbh) their operations are limited to more targeted killings and in general spreading fear and chaos while keeping a not-super-high death tool (in the first war) and avoiding hurting muggles when possible. Like, up until 1979, basically no one died. We have less than 10 unnamed and named characters that might've died before that and the rest died afterwards. Like, almost all deaths happened in the final 3 years of the war.

Then you have the ministry, which doesn't have an army, it has law enforcement. The aurors and DMLE are not an army and don't really function as one. They are trained to catch criminals, not to fight large-scale battles (not that there were any battles in the first war).

The Order, which if we're generous we can call a paramilitary group (but realistically it's a vigilante armed civilian group).

So, it's hardly a war when it's small-scale attacks and skirmishes fought between a cult/terrorist organization, the police, and an armed civilian group. Its timeline and death tool and how it operates as a whole really doesn't fit a war. Well, it's a terror guerilla sort of war, but not your traditional kind of war. The second Voldemort war was more of a real war than the first one, and even that wasn't a traditional war in any sense and I would hardly call it one. But at least it had battles. Like 2.5 of them.

I outlined more of the timeline here with the evidence for it, but in general:

1967ish - Voldemort returns to the UK and has his interview with Dumbledore. At this point, he already has somewhat of a following. Unclear if these were his "friends" from school or their children, but they are likely the older "friends" from school:

“Then if I were to go to the Hog’s Head tonight, I would not find a group of them — Nott, Rosier, Mulciber, Dolohov — awaiting your return? Devoted friends indeed, to travel this far with you on a snowy night, merely to wish you luck as you attempted to secure a teaching post.”

(HBP)

1970 - the war starts.

“You can’t blame them,” said Dumbledore gently. “We’ve had precious little to celebrate for eleven years.”

(PS)

Since Dumbledore says this on November 1981, it means the DE started operating in late 1970. Arthur tells us Death Eaters outnumbered the Order 20 to 1, but I think the Order only started operating later in the decade.

I believe that in the early 70s, they weren't too violent yet. There were some attacks, some chaos similar to what we see in the World Cup perhaps:

I suppose they had a few drinks tonight and couldn’t resist reminding us all that lots of them are still at large. A nice little reunion for them,” he finished disgustedly.

(GoF)

Attacks that strawn fear and unrest and stretched the ministry and the DMLE thin with how many obliviations had to be done — but no one died, not yet. At least, no one important. We know all of the Order members that died were only killed after the infamous photo was taken much later, so it seems in these early days of the war, they didn't really kill anyone perhaps a few muggles here and there (but not as many as the fandom sometimes like to think!) but no wizards died, at least not at first.

I assume this period is mostly marked by small-ish riots and growing normalization of anti-muggle and anti-muggleborn propaganda.

This is the point where Voldemort amassed his followers and purebloods like Walburga and Orion Black thought he had the right idea. Even during the time in the books, muggles are seen as beneath wizards, and muggleborns like Hermione are quietly pressured into not talking about their muggle families because no one cares. Muggleborns like Hermione and Ted Tonks clearly leave their muggle families behind and don't look back and that's accepted as the norm in the wizarding world.

Even in the 90s we see Slughorn is surprised Hermione, the muggleborn, is so talented. Bigotry is still very much present and as I calculated here, muggleborns are only around 5% of the population, with the majority being purebloods (or wizard-raised half-bloods). The blood purity agenda was always there, Voldemort didn't even believe in it himself, he just used it because it was an easily accessible platform that was just there. It was an easy way to gain followers and create unrest, so he took it. It was opportunistic.

So, in that way, yes, it is similar to Nazi Germany. Antisemitism was already there and prevalent in the culture for centuries, Hitler made use of the ideology already present and normalized it, and even made it righteous to believe in his horrid and bigoted ideology. He pushed the culture to more extremes, but the ideas and philosophies were already there, he didn't invent antisemitism in Germany. It was opportunistic. It didn't come out of nowhere and it wasn't just recent either. Antisemitism has a long history in Europe which I'm not going to go into in this post.

1975 - the war gets more violent and wizards are actually killed. We know from Pottermore that:

Eugenia Jenkins 1968 - 1975 Jenkins dealt competently with pure-blood riots during Squib Rights marches in the late sixties, but was soon confronted with the first rise of Lord Voldemort. Jenkins was soon ousted from office as inadequate to the challenge.

(From Pottermore)

It's said Jenkins was ousted from office "soon" after the rise of Voldemort, which again, suggests the more violent attacks only started mid-70s, around 1974 and 1975. From the list of deaths in the post I already linked throughout this post I posed the deaths that ousted her from office were Mr. and Mrs. Bones who we don't have a death date for and were likely important enough in the magical community to send the shockwaves of war that would get the minister kicked out of office. After all, you need something big to rock the wizarding community, a few muggle deaths aren't going to cut it.

(Also the mention of pure-blood riots earlier in the 60s show blood purity was nothing new, just something Voldemort took advantage of that was already there)

This is the point where Walburga and Orion probably got the cold feet Sirius mentioned. Because it's not just muggles and muggleborns anymore. Two pureblood wizards were killed — and that scared the shit out of purebloods who were a little smarter. The realization Voldemort would kill them too if he thought it necessary. It's not that they grew to care about muggleborns or blood traitors, it was self-interest. They realized that Voldemort didn't have any limits and that they weren't safe just because their blood was pure. That's at least, my take on it.

1976 - The Order of the Pheonix is founded

The Order of the Phoenix was likely founded around 1976-1977 after Voldemort and the DE got more violent and a few people actually died and it became clear to Dumbledore the ministry couldn't handle it on their own.

I believe the Order was kinda late to the party (considering how late Dumbledore was when dealing with Grindlewald). I think he advised the ministry on what to do and really hoped the ministry and the DMLE could resolve it at first. When it appeared they couldn't, that's when he founded the Order.

Now, you're right, the first war doesn't seem to have had any actual battles, my guess is that is was as I mentioned above — targeted attacks and skirmishes.

During the first war, Voldemort holds a pretty tight leash on his Death Eaters and who they kill. That's why they kill at homes and kill only specific ministry personnel and Order members for the most part. It's very targeted and specific. They aren't rounding up muggleborns as Lupin says these laws were new in the second war:

“People won’t let this happen,” said Ron. “It is happening, Ron,’; said Lupin. “Muggle-borns are being rounded up as we speak.”

(DH)

This is only in the second war. In the first one, there was no muggleborn registry or compulsive attendance at Hogwarts. The first war was all targeted terror attacks. The DE didn't have the ministry the way they did in the second one. Yes, they had quite a few members in the ministry who probably tried to pass various laws, but it wasn't the complete control they had in 1997-1998.

I assume, what the Order did in these years, was try to gain intelligence about where and when these attacks would happen so they could wait for the Death Eaters there. Again, sort of skirmish warfare and not quite open battles. Very few combatants were probably present for each of these fights.

Most of the Order missions would've been along the lines of:

Protecting expected DE targets

Recon missions and gaining intelligence through various means

Blocking DE in the ministry from getting the intel they are after or passing their laws.

Stuff that is more targeted and doesn't require a full-scale army.

1980 - The Prophecy and Potters going into hiding

(Edit: More notes regarding the timing of the photo and corrections to this section here. James and Lily went into hiding in the winter of 1980, but the Order's photo was taken while James and Lily were in hiding in July 1981, meaning all the Order members died in the 4 months between Harry's birthday and the end of the war)

The prophecy was made about two months before Harry was born:

He stepped forward. Not as tall as Ron, he had to crane his neck to read the yellowish label affixed to the shelf right beneath the dusty glass ball. In spidery writing was written a date of some sixteen years previously, and below that: S. P. T. to A. P. W. B. D. Dark Lord and (?) Harry Potter

(OotP)

We also know from Harry's birthdate that Lily would've gotten pregnant with him around late October 1979. Due to how the Fidelius Charm works I believe the Potters went into hiding before Harry was born, right after the Prophecy was made, so around May 1980. All this means the photo Moody shows Harry was taken at some point in 1979 or early 1980 before Lily's stomach was showing with the pregnancy, but I'm leaning towards late 1979.

This means that almost all deaths in the war (and all the deaths of the Order) happened after 1979. This was probably caused by two things:

Voldemort escalating for some reason (after 1980 the prophecy might've had a hand in the escalation of violence for various reasons I discussed in the linked posts)

Wormtail started spying mid-1980:

“DON’T LIE!” bellowed Black. “YOU’D BEEN PASSING INFORMATION TO HIM FOR A YEAR BEFORE LILY AND JAMES DIED! YOU WERE HIS SPY!”

(PoA)

So it's possible Wormtail revealed exactly where and when the Order was waiting for the DE and the DE could get the jump on them with more wizards than the Order thought there would be.

These two combined factors practically wiped out most of the first Order.

But we're still talking about skirmishes, just larger ones with a higher death tool, but still no large-scale battles like the Battle of Hogwarts. Enlisting the giants wasn't really because Voldemort used them in the war, there were no battles to use them in. They were a threat, kinda like nukes. It was something you have so your enemies won't attack you. Werewolves were similar, although they were probably employed in some of the skirmishes.

This time period since 1979 is probably when this quote from Sirius becomes the case:

“Imagine that Voldemort’s powerful now. You don’t know who his supporters are, you don’t know who’s working for him and who isn’t; you know he can control people so that they do terrible things without being able to stop themselves. You’re scared for yourself, and your family, and your friends. Every week, news comes of more deaths, more disappearances, more torturing . . . the Ministry of Magic’s in disarray, they don’t know what to do, they’re trying to keep everything hidden from the Muggles, but meanwhile, Muggles are dying too. Terror everywhere . . . panic . . . confusion . . . that’s how it used to be.

(GoF)

More wizards are now being killed/targeted. Most of them probably get tortured/imprisoned rather than killed. Like Neville says about the Carrows:

“Doesn’t matter. They don’t want to spill too much pure blood, so they’ll torture us a bit if we’re mouthy but they won’t actually kill us.”

(DH)

These are terror attacks meant to create compliance. So most are tortured, kidnapped as ransom and assurance of loyalty, or imperious rather than killed. Those that are killed would only be those that really have no hope to turn them onside — like the Order, hence why Voldemort allowed them to be killed.

1980 - The added deaths and skirmishes caused another minister to be kicked out of office:

Harold Minchum 1975 - 1980 Seen as a hard-liner, he placed even more Dementors around Azkaban, but was unable to contain what looked like Voldemort’s unstoppable rise to power.

(From Pottermore)

As I mentioned, in the final years of the war, shit got way worse with more deaths happening in the span of these 3 years than all the 8 years of "war" before combined. So another minister who doesn't know how to crack down on the terror organization is kicked out.

October 1981 - Voldemort goes after the Potters and the war ends.

And we know what happens from here.

These are my thoughts about the timeline of the first war and how it went. We don't know as much about it as I would've liked to know, but this is my impression of how it went down more or less.

[hyacinthstars]

the marauders as sufjan stevens song bc I love sufjan stevens and i love the marauders so I'm mashing them together:

james

all of me wants all of you is him to regulus black i said what I said

and then at the end, when the lyrics say "now all of me thinks less of you," is him to regulus after he got the mark

no shade in the shadow of the cross, the entire song is him, especially the "fuck me, I'm falling apart" lyric.

sirius

John wayne gacy jr and i stand by this

"the neighbours they adored him"

the marauders to Sirius before the prank if yall get me

"and in my best behaviour, I'm really just like him." sirius after the prank??? that's exactly how he would think.

also, i see him as Eugene as well, him to Remus after the prank

remus

the only thing is him after the prank

id pick a lyric but the entire song just encapsulates how I think he would feel after it.

regulus- i have a list for him bc he's me and I am him:

should have known better-

"i should've wrote a letter explaining what i feel."?????

in a canon divergent au "my brother had a daughter, the beauty that she brings..."???

blue bucket of gold:

him to Sirius after everything goes to shit basically

mystery of love, that doesn't need to be explained i fear

pandora

this is going to be an unpopular opinion, but fourth of July is her to regulus after regulus dies.

"and I'm sorry I left, but it was for the best, though it never felt right." pandora to regulus after she sees the dark mark and decides she can't be friends with him anymore.

I'm going to make a part two with the fem characters!!

[anxiousthoughts365]

Ruin

TWs: NSFW - minors DNI. BDSM themes, both parties are entirely consenting. Ambiguous language around Reg's anatomy

Regulus likes a lot of things about James. He likes his gentleness, his thoughtfulness, his unbreakable optimism. The contrast to Regulus' own nature makes him want to do better, allows him to drop his walls and soften his own sharp edges.

He likes that James knows what he needs before he does, even if he sulks about being made to look after himself. He likes that he never has to remind James of important dates, whether that's anniversaries for themselves or significant events for their friends and family. He even likes the chaos that James brings to their house, because it makes it feel more like a home.

But right now, in this exact moment, the thing that he likes most about James are his hands. Hands that have been gradually teasing over Regulus' body for the past 30 minutes, skating over each newly-exposed body part with a reverence that should only be reserved for holding the most sacred of items.

'Jamie.' The nick-name hitches on its way out, staggered by Regulus' breath catching in his throat when his boyfriend's calloused but careful fingers glide higher up the insides of his knees. It's a weak spot for him, something that James found in their very early days and quickly learned how to efficiently use to his advantage.

Regulus lets out a gutteral groan when the strong digits slide higher, digging into the plump flesh of his thighs. He wants James to grip harder, to leave bruises in the shape of those hands on his delicate alabaster skin. But Regulus keeps himself firm, biting into his own lower lip to ground himself as he uses his hold on the unruly black locks in his fist to tug his boyfriend's head back, making their eyes meet.

He's changed his mind. The way that the taller boy is looking up at him now, from his place on his knees between Regulus' legs, with flushed cheeks, hazy hazel eyes with blown pupils, and an expression of sheer devotion on his dark, handsome face - this is his most favourite thing about James.

'Baby,' James grunts, his need making his voice thick and slurred. 'Please -'

'Not yet, Love,' Regulus sighs, smirking at the hungry noise that slips between James' parted lips as he lets his legs fall farther open. James' gaze flicks down to his boxers, where there's sure to be an obvious wet spot. The way he sways makes Regulus worry momentarily that the man is going to pass out. But then he looks up again, and white-hot desire floods Regulus at the pain on James' face.

'I'll be good,' James insists, and Regulus can feel himself dripping as his boyfriend goes on, 'I'll be so good for you, Baby, make you feel so good. Please, let me show you, I can do it, I can make it really fucking good for you, please, Reg, please -'

James chokes when Regulus reaches between his own legs, ignoring his boyfriend's pleading and seemingly opting for pleasuring himself. Regulus gasps, his hips bucking as he presses against his own crotch, another flood of pre-cum seeping through the material and dampening his fingers.

But then James jerks, his hands tightening almost painfully around Regulus' thighs. His eyes are rolling back, his hips thrusting against nothing, his jaw going slack. And Regulus freezes, mouth falling open in disbelief. Because he knows that face.

Then James is shaking, folding forward and gasping hard, avoiding Regulus' gaze. There's a long period of silence before Regulus finds it in himself to ask, 'Jamie, did ... Did you just cum in your pants?'

'I'm sorry,' James whispers, and he sounds so close to tears. And oh, Regulus knows he's going directly to Hell when he dies, because Holy Fuck. There will never be anything in this world hotter than James Potter's shame at having cum in his own boxers, completely untouched, just from watching Regulus barely touching himself while still relatively clothed.

'Oh, darling,' Regulus purrs, gripping James' chin roughly and forcing his head up so that he can catch the man's lips with his own. The kiss is sloppy, wet from the spit they pass between their tongues, rough as Regulus nips at James' lower lip.

Finally, Regulus shoves James back with a hand around his throat, and he grins when the broad man whines, his eyes unfocused again as he leans into the hold. On a whim, Regulus slaps James' cheek, not gently, and suddenly James is back, panting and gazing up at Regulus like he's just hung the fucking moon.

The man seems to forget how to breathe entirely when Regulus leans in once more and murmurs, 'I am going to fucking ruin you, Potter.'

[jaylienpotter]

Sirius: (in Azkaban) I'm sorry James... I'm so sorry... It should have been me... Remmy I miss you, I love you so much... Reg, I- (breaks down in sobs)

Sirius: (wakes up in a gasp)

Remus: Love! Hey, are you okay??

Sirius: Moony... Merlin, I had the worst nightmare... There- there was a war and... Everyone died! Regulus went to the bad side and died in a cave, Marlene and Dorcas were murdered by the bad guys, Mary obliviated herself and left to bloody America! And then... Pete he- he betrayed us, got James and Lily killed and blamed me for it, I was in a cell when I woke up...

Remus: wow, fuckin' wild dream. Where was I?

Sirius: that's the least believable part. We thought that YOU were the traitor.

Remus: hah, right. You know that Wormtail didn't mean to damage your jacket, right? It doesn't make him a villain.

Sirius: I know!'T'was prolly my subconscious.

Remus: well you should get up into the real, better world. We're meeting the very much alive squad.

Sirius: oh, shit! It's Harry's birthday! (jumps off the bed)

Remus: what a great godfather you are.

[hp-confessions]

hi I despise tropes that protect regulus but costs sirius. All if this is fanon btw, sorry canon lovers.

James hiding his relationship with Regulus from Sirius? No I completely understand the whole forbidden romance aspect of fucking your best friend's brother, it's what I'm here for. But there is no way James would want to hide such a big secret from Sirius, his best friend? I understand Regulus wanting to hide it but that doesn't mean James has to agree? He's not a pushover, he can stand up for himself? There's a thing called compromise??

Like to make James pick between Sirius, his best friend and Regulus, the love of his life and then make him pick Regulus?? It downplays the meaning of his friendship with Sirius and low-key mischaracterizes him too? James is a selfish lover, he wants everything he loves to be with him, obviously he can't hide it from Sirius but he won't let go of Regulus either??

It genuinely pisses me off that I keep seeing pushover, pathetic James that does whatever Regulus asks for him like he wouldn't selfishly ask for a third option so he can have everyone.

And Remus that helps hide Jegulus from Sirius? I understand this trope if it's an au where Remus isn't a mauraduer and instead Regulus's best friend because that makes sense. Of course he can distract or lie to Sirius because he doesn't really owe Sirius honesty. Usually in this AU, Remus and Sirius are crushing each other at best or something. He would pick Regulus, his best friend's relationship over telling Sirius and that makes sense, nothing wrong with that.

But established Wolfstar and Maurader Remus? No, what, how is that even possible. I see Remus having an internal argument when he's asked to help hide Jegulus from Sirius because yeah, that's James's relationship and he can tell it's going well, obviously he wants to help James, his best friend, but on the other hand, deceiving Sirius? The love of his life? His other best friend? And he picks James???

Just like James, Remus would be torn apart if he was forced to pick between Sirius and another important option and for Remus, it's James. Protecting Regulus would not be a deal breaker for him no matter how loveable platonic moonwater is. I even read romantic moonwater, but there's just no way that Remus, no matter how much he's bonded with Regulus, would pick him over Sirius. He's a maurader first, Sirius's boyfriend second, and a friend of Regulus's third (or second if you don't like wolfstar). It's literally James or Sirius for him.

And unlike James, he wouldn't even find a third option, he'd probably stay away from this whole mess? He wouldn't help hide it from Sirius actively but he also wouldn't tell Sirius either. In a way he picks both also neither.

I don't understand how people can make three important people in Sirius's life all deceive him together and think nothing's wrong??

I mean, canon James still messed with Severus behind Lily's back so yeah, he's definitely capable of lying to his loved ones but this is fanon James, which is the equivalent of the sun, an honest, can't do no wrong man? Why the hell is he lying to Sirius?

Because if canon matters, can we bring up how Sirius was compared to Regulus all his life in what's clearly an implied abusive way so these tropes where everyone is choosing to protect regulus and deceive Sirius would probably worsen his trauma?? They're literally picking Regulus over him like parents did??

But this is the mauraders fandom, Regulus's made up trauma is so much more important than Sirius's forgotten canon one because fuck JKR.

(everything I've read of fanon abusive house of black has Sirius going through the worst because he acts out more and covers for Regulus's mistakes while Regulus doesn't because he's the perfect, obedient son, but oh poor Regulus that got abandoned by his big brother, his savior and hero, and how dare Sirius run away even though he would've died staying in that house any longer and not bring Regulus even though he did try and it was Regulus that decided to stay because only one of them can escape and afterwards Sirius has a huge guilt complex about it but that's not the point, it's poor Regulus because his brother doesn't realize he sacrificed himself and is antagonized for it even though he purposely didn't tell Sirius this. I digress)

Literally everything that glorifies Regulus and makes him a misunderstood, forgotten hero or survivor is something that was stripped away from Sirius (but mostly Severus though none of you are ready for that).

I really do love Regulus, fanon him is amazing because he's basically an OC of multiple people, an entire fandom but my god, the way Sirius is completely disregarded for him.

~

[psychoticallykind]

The Dark Gnome

"Short" - Jegulus Microfic - @into-the-jeggyverse - 454 words

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

"James!"

"No, don't run to James! He can't help you!"

"James!"

James stood up as Remus shook his head. "I wouldn't go in there."

James nodded in agreement, though he continued on his way to the kitchen. "I know, but I can't ignore him."

"Your funeral," Remus mumbled.

Sirius and Regulus were glowering at each other from opposite sides of the kitchen table, arms crossed.

"Hey," James said nervously, glancing between them. "What's going on?"

"Do you know what he has me as in his phone?" Regulus demanded.

James bit his lip. "Uh, Reggie?"

"No." Regulus shook his head, eyes narrowed. "He has me as The Dark Gnome."

Sirius ducked his head, hiding his grin.

"Stop that!" Regulus shouted, stomping his foot. "I am not that short. James! Tell him!"

"You are!" Sirius argued. "You're like, 5 foot! You're a gnome, and you're a gloomy one!"

"I am not a gnome!"

"Sirius," James interjected, sending his best friend a pleading look. "Stop calling him a gnome."

Sirius spread his hands in a 'what do you want from me' gesture. "But he's so-"

"If you say the word 'short', so help me God -"

"When has God ever helped you?" Sirius interrupted, rolling his eyes.

"Then help me Satan," Regulus replied. "I will burn all of your clothes."

Sirius smirked. "If you can reach them."

Regulus darted around the table, but James caught him and pulled him into a hug, trapping him in place. "Remus!" He yelled. "Come get him before he dies!"

Regulus squirmed. "Let me go."

"Do you promise not to kill your brother?" James asked.

"I'll disown him first," Regulus replied. "Then I'll just be killing your best friend."

James tightened his grip on his boyfriend. "That doesn't really work for me."

Remus stepped in, giving Regulus a wary look. "Sirius. Time to go."

"Do you know what he has me as in his phone?" Regulus demanded. "Do you?"

Realization crossed over Remus's expression, and then he took a quick step back. "Sirius, darling, we're leaving now."

Sirius nodded, biting down on a smile. "So you don't want me to tell him that -"

"I really don't, no," Remus cut him off. "Leaving. Now. Let's go."

Regulus was still watching Remus with narrowed eyes. "James. I won't touch Sirius. Let me go."

James hesitated for a second, but complied. "Trusting you."

"You shouldn't," Regulus told him, darting off to the living room.

"No!" Remus called out, and suddenly he was gone, running after Regulus.

Seconds later, there was a scream.

"Traitor!"

"Reg, I'm sorry - no! No, give me the - Regulus Arcturus, close that window!"

James looked at Sirius, confused. "What just happened?"

Sirius shrugged, smirking. "Remus is the one who came up with it."

[sophsicle]

u said once that reg and lily are intrinsically a part of the other's relationship with james like he cant really just love one or the other - do u think if lily had started dating james before the astronomy tower stuff, james still would've fallen for reg/kissed him back? would it have been like jily after reg died, or would reg's general martyr-y nature "how could he ever like me" nature change that? how do u think that dynamic would play out?

so like, if james is already dating lily when he finds reg in the astronomy tower, does he still fall in love with him?

yes, absolutely

does reg still get drunk and kiss him?

almost definitely

i think what comes after that would be interesting cause like, i don't think james would know he was falling in love with regulus until that moment and then he would feel guilty and confused and not know what to do

but also at that point regulus hasn't taken the mark and mary hasn't been attacked so if james goes to lily and is like "im so sorry, i didn't mean to, but i've fallen in love with someone else"

and she's like "are you finishing with me?"

and he's like "no, i'm in love with you too, i'm sorry, i know it's confusing idk what to do"

"so you don't want to break up?"

"no, never."

"never? really Potter?"

"don't act surprised, you know how I feel about you."

"and do you feel that way about this other person too?"

"i'm sorry, i'm so sorry."

"well, i guess i better meet them then."

and then james gets a boyfriend and a girlfriend and jily saves regulus from making horrible decisions because getting to know lily changes his world view and also she adds some reasonable thinking into the mix and WOW what a different story