#Imelda Reyes x mc x poppy sweeting

[crimsonedquill]

Two Snakes And A Badger: Chapter II

Pairing: Imelda Reyes x f!MC x Poppy Sweeting (!)

Summary: Feelings are confessed. New beginnings are made. Also, Imelda and MC find about Poppy's kink.

Word count: 12.5k

Content warning: NSFW (18+). Minors DNI. Smut, cunnilingus, fingering, face sitting, dom!Imelda, voyeurism, fluff, lots of feels, sprinkles of angst, fessing up about feelings, Sebastian being a good friend, disaster lesbians in love

Link to Chapter I

A/N: Well, here it is after another month of blood and sweat! I originally meant for this to be like a 3-parter but with the way I've been changing my mind and expanding things during writing it might likely turn out to be four, lol

Also I love these three so much my heart is soft for them

Well, for lack of a better word, this was quite the fuck-up.

You were honestly quite impressed at your talent for destruction. In the span of a mere night, you’d hurt the two persons closest to your heart, leading them both to decide they wanted nothing to do with you for the foreseeable future. And truthfully, you would have been just as likely to do the same in their position. As much as you would have liked to think that the alcohol had made you say all those things on that clusterfuck of a night, deep down you knew the Firewhisky had only brought out what had already been buried deep inside you. All of the fear, the shame, the anger you had felt once Poppy had opened up about how she really felt about you – it was all original. Ugly, but original.

Not that admitting as much made you feel any better. In fact, you weren’t really sure how to feel at all. The more time you spent trying to make sense of your emotions, the more it felt like you were trapping yourself in a web of your own doubts, not able to decide what was real and what wasn’t. Take Poppy, for one – you felt an arse for kicking her down in that moment of vulnerability, but you knew you couldn’t allow yourself to feel the same way as she did, not as your relationship with Imelda was on the verge of blossoming in something… more, something more eternal. You just couldn’t flat-out admit that your feelings had never been entirely devoted to her, knowing that she had made such a major sacrifice of her own by confronting her fears – it would make it all amount to some deceiving betrayal.

Though, of course, the mixed signals your fellow Slytherin was sending made you question that as well. As bad as it was, part of you was still inclined to believe that her keenness on outing Poppy had been a relapse to her old ways. But then again, you didn’t really understand what she’d been after. Had she meant it as a mere jest to embarrass the both of you? Or was there something more sinister behind it?

Too many questions, too few answers. But you knew at least one thing for certain – you weren’t about to throw away two of your most treasured relationships over your own stupidity.

––

You decided to wait a week or two to let the dust settle and gather your bearings before you went to seek out Poppy first. It wasn’t necessarily that you thought she deserved it more than Imelda – Merlin knew you’d hurt them both equally badly – but you figured she’d at least be more receptive to an apology. Besides, on top of your unintentional cruelty, she definitely didn’t deserve to be the victim of whatever was going on between you and your girlfriend.

The problem, of course, was that Poppy didn’t exactly turn out to be as forgiving as you had hoped.

The first time you tried to talk to her was after Beasts class. You were no longer sitting together, and she made every effort to ignore your presence as long as you were in the same room, but at least she was still showing up. So as soon as Professor Howin dismissed the class, you hurried to hand in your assignment and went after her, only to promptly come face to face with Adelaide Oakes as she stepped into your way.

“Hello, MC,” she said with a steely smile, radiating everything but friendliness.

“Uh, hello, Adelaide,” you replied, shifting uncertainly on your feet. “How – uhm, how are you?”

“Oh, I’m quite all right. Not sure if I can say the same of you. You seem a bit stressed, if you don’t mind me saying.”

You resisted the urge to come up with a retort, closing your eyes and taking a deep breath before proceeding: “Yeah, uh, look, I was actually hoping to speak to Poppy –”

“She’s not here.”

Oh, you already started to understand what this was about. Some vulture coming to see if the rumours were true, no doubt. You wondered how much Poppy had told her. She’d never been one to rely on her housemates very often, much less engage in gossip, but if she had returned to her dorm in tears that night –

“I know I just saw her,” you said. “If I could just have a word –”

Adelaide shook her head. “I don’t think that’s a very good idea. She doesn’t want to speak to you at the moment.”

“I understand, but if I could explain –”

“There’s nothing to explain, because she doesn’t want to talk to you. Were you not listening just now?”

Fucking hell. You knew a thing or two about badger loyalty, but clearly you had underestimated the intensity of these people.

“Look, frankly I don’t think it’s any of your business –“ you began, but she quickly cut you off. “And that’s where you’re wrong. I may not exactly know what transpired between you two, but I know you’ve hurt her, and as far as I’m concerned that’s enough reason for me to tell you to get lost. Maybe she’ll decide to talk to you when she feels ready. But if I were you, I wouldn’t count on it.”

You could feel the stares of other students beginning to fixate on the two of you. You briefly contemplated persisting, though you quickly realised that making a scene in front of everyone probably wasn’t going to improve your chances. Deciding to give in, you let out a sigh. “All right. Just… could you tell her that I was looking for her?”

Her face told you very clearly to fuck off, but to her credit, her actual response was at least somewhat more measured. “I’ll think about it,” she said.

“Thank you.”

She didn’t say another word as she left. You sighed before quickly making your own escape, not particularly keen on treating everyone to any more of a spectacle than they’d already been given.

You decided to wait a couple of more days to see if Poppy would change her mind about seeing you. However, after it became obvious to you that wasn’t going to happen, you pivoted to making another attempt of your own, trying to catch her by herself while she was tending to the school beasts.

Making your way down to the pens, you noticed a familiar feathery head sticking out behind the fences. You carefully approached the Hippogriff, putting up your hand to greet her. “Hello, Highwing –”

Highwing turned towards you, amber eyes seeming to bore into your soul. For a minute, you were struck by the imminent fear that the creature was about to charge you… but then she promptly turned around, letting out a sound that sounded suspiciously much like a snort.

“Guess I deserved that,” you sighed.

Looking around, you searched for the Hufflepuff between the clusters of Puffskeins, Diricawls and Jobberknolls. Just as you began to wonder if you’d missed your chance, you spotted her, kneeling next to the Kneazle pen. You took a deep breath to steady yourself and clutched the strap of your bag, walking over to the small figure.

“Poppy, hello –”

The Hufflepuff jumped up, eyes briefly widening before she turned her head away from you. “MC,” she said, her voice flat. “What are you doing here?”

You took a step forward, taking the fact that she wasn’t immediately trying to run away as a good sign. “I was hoping to speak to you. I tried finding you the other day, but –”

“I know. Now is not really a good time, I’m busy.”

She picked up a bucket and started towards one of the other pens, still not meeting your eyes. It pained you to hear the hurt still so raw and fresh in her voice, though you followed her all the same, determined to make your case to her. “Look, I just want to talk about what happened. Can you at least hear me out?”

She didn’t answer, but at least she wasn’t saying no either. After a few seconds of silence, you thought you saw just the faintest hint of a small nod, so you went ahead, “I’m really sorry for what happened. It wasn’t fair of Imelda to take advantage of your feelings like that, and it wasn’t fair of me to respond the way I did, and… I just really regret that you got caught in the middle of it all.”

Poppy remained silent, pondering your words. Then came her answer, cold and plain, “That’s all you wanted to say?”

Ouch. Not good. “You have absolutely every right to be upset. If I had just known how you truly felt –”

“Would that have made any difference at all?” Her voice grew sharper, pain turning to anger. “Tell me, MC, would you have reacted any differently?”

“Of course I would have. If you had just told me, I would have been more understanding about it – we could have figured it out together –”

“But you wouldn’t have told me you felt the same way.”

It wasn’t so much a realisation as it was a condemnation. Even though you had expected things to eventually come to this, you still found yourself thrown off balance, struggling to say something that wouldn’t tear the wound even more.

“Poppy, you know how much I care about our friendship – about you… I always have and I always will, but… the truth is that I don’t feel the same way as you do. And you deserve better than for me to lie about that –”

“Oh, do I?”

Her voice was starting to crack now, straining under the weight of her own emotions. She threw the bucket down and kneeled, turning her back to you as she began filling it with seeds.

“If you’re so keen on being honest, then indulge me and tell me what really happened on that night we brought back the Unicorn. Or shall we simply continue to pretend that never happened?”

“No, not at all, but –”

You hesitated, knowing you were treading on thin ice. “I just… I don’t think we should blow that out of proportion. We both know we were acting in the excitement of the moment.”

“Right. Of course.”

She rose and finally turned around to face you. Your heart shattered at the sight of the streaks on her delicate features, redness bleeding into the corners of her eyes.

“I think it would be best if we stopped seeing each other for a while,” she said.

“Poppy –” you tried rather pathetically, but she shook her head. “I wish to forgive you, MC, truly. But… you’ve hurt me, and I’m not certain an apology will do anything to fix that. I think… I’m going to need some time to trust you again.”

You felt tears of your own burning as you heard her confession, only now realising the true extent of your actions, realising how deep the knife had cut. There was a part of you that wanted to resist, to kneel before her and beg her for forgiveness, but you also knew that this wasn’t your decision to make.

“All right,” you said after what felt like an eternity, swallowing back a sob. “I hope, in time, we can be friends again.”

Dear Merlin, please let it be, you added in your head.

––

So, safe to say that Poppy was a bust, or a very tentative maybe at best. It wasn’t anything less than you deserved, you figured, although you weren’t feeling any more confident as far as Imelda was concerned – perhaps even the opposite. Still, you had no intention of delaying the confrontation any further. You had already wasted enough time feeling sorry for yourself, and besides, you assumed that if your relationship had ever truly meant something, surely she would at least be willing to hear you out.

Or so you hoped.

––

“Fuck off.”

Well, that was probably the best reaction you could’ve gotten.

You were closely following behind Imelda, trying to keep up with her as she marched across the field towards the training rooms. Thankfully she had been too preoccupied with chewing out the Beaters to see you approach, though she had wasted no time in turning around and walking away as soon as she’d laid her eyes on you.

“Come on Imelda,” you pleaded with her, “I just want to talk –”

“Ain’t nothing to talk about. You’re a bitch, end of story. Now get lost, before I hex you.”

Deciding to go out on a limb and assume she wouldn’t actually turn you into a frog, you pursued her into the changing room. “Please, you know I wasn’t myself that night. None of us were. I didn’t mean any of the things I said –”

“Great,” she scoffed, taking off her arm pads and throwing them in the corner. “Am I supposed to feel better now?”

“No, I just… I’d hate for the good thing we had to be ruined by some stupid shit I said when I was drunk. I know what happened wasn’t your fault, and I never meant to imply that it was.”

Imelda fell silent for a moment. You watched her as she let her flying robe slip off her shoulders, wrapping it up and throwing it on one of the benches. “Have you spoken to Poppy yet?”

“I have,” you nodded. “I tried to be honest with her – I told her that I felt really bad for dismissing her feelings like that and I was sorry that she got caught between us –”

“Us?” Imelda snorted. “What, so you mean to say it’s my fault after all?”

“No, no one’s to blame. It was all a stupid jest that spun out of control, and I panicked, and I obviously said a lot of things I shouldn’t have. So, will you be able to forgive me?”

The Slytherin turned towards you, crossing her arms in front of her chest. You wished you had a better read on the expression on her face; she didn’t seem too angry, but you were also intimately familiar with her affinity for holding grudges, and you doubted it would be as simple as smoothing it all over with a few words.

“I don’t think I’m the one you should be apologising to,” she said.

“I tried. She said she wasn’t sure and that she needed more time –”

“That’s not what I meant.”

You furrowed your brow, confusion overtaking you. Imelda let out a sigh. “Look, MC, I’m not some spiteful bitch looking for a grudge to keep, okay? I know you didn’t mean the things you said. But you’ve got some things to figure out, and it’s not going to do you any favours if I just forgive you and pretend everything’s fine and dandy.”

“But my mind is clear,” you persisted. “I love you, Mel.”

To your surprise, she walked up to you and placed her hands on your shoulders. “I know,” she said. “And that’s why I’m telling you to stop fucking about and start being honest with yourself. Maybe, once your head’s in the right place, we can talk.”

You saw her dark eyes scanning your features, as if she was trying to read your thoughts, perhaps sensing the storm wreaking havoc inside. It was funny how, after all, you were still trying so hard to deny the obvious – maintaining that you were fine, that you had never seen things more clearly. Though, deep down, you knew Imelda had planted a little seed of doubt – the humble beginnings of salvation.

––

Thoughts, thoughts, so many thoughts. You were battling a fierce enemy right inside your own mind, and the worst thing was that you had no idea how to win. You would have preferred some infamous Dark wizard or perhaps an ugly forest troll; they were also a pain in the arse to deal with, but at least you could dispose of them with spells or potions. There was no real strategy to what you were doing, and most of the time it just left you more tired and frustrated.

Of course, you tried to be honest with yourself, like Imelda had told you to. The issue being that you didn’t know what that even meant. Had there actually been more to that kiss than you’d cared to admit? And if that was true, did that also mean that you truly cared about Poppy in more ways than friendship? Did Imelda want you to admit as much? Did she want to hear it from your mouth – did she want you to make a choice?

Quite frankly, that thought scared you more than anything. The more and more you thought about it, the more it made sense; she had always valued honesty, and in light of the things she had confessed to you, you figured she wouldn’t want to commit her life to you when your own heart wasn’t fully in it. However, you also realised that if you were to declare your undivided devotion to her, you’d inevitably end up hurting Poppy even more. The idea of breaking the heart of your best friend and likely losing her seemed to weigh on you the heaviest; knowing how much you had meant to her over the years, knowing the role you had played as the first real human connection she’d formed at school… you just couldn’t bring yourself to even contemplate it.

All in all, you didn’t have the faintest clue what to do. Which perhaps wouldn’t even have been half as bad if all the fretting wasn’t starting to take its physical toll on you as well. More and more often you would find yourself losing attention in class, only to be told off by Professors who demanded to know what was wrong with you, forcing you to come up with a load of excuses you couldn’t possibly keep track of. Even out of class you tended to avoid your housemates, mostly holing up in your dorm or your Room of Requirement. The nights were by far the worst; seemingly endless hours during which you would lie awake, fears and doubts plaguing your mind, shattering any hope of quiet dreams.

Perhaps you shouldn’t have been surprised that others were beginning to take note.

––

Staring groggily at the pages of your Astronomy manual, you were largely tuned out of everything happening around you, completely focused on trying to keep your eyelids from falling shut. You’d picked out a silent corner of the library just to be safe, though you still felt Scribner watching you like a hawk, just waiting for the moment you fell asleep. Flipping a page, you shielded your mouth with your hand as you let out a big yawn, failing to notice the brown-haired boy approaching you.

“Why hello sunshine,” Sebastian greeted you with a cheeky grin, smacking down a big tome next to you on the table. “Who took a piss in your breakfast this morning?”

“Fuck off Sallow, I’m not in the mood.”

Of course, he simply ignored you and pulled up a chair, plopping down with a chuckle. “Yeah, I can tell. Then again, you’ve been walking around with your knickers in a twist all week. Something happen?”

“Nothing that’s in any way your concern,” you scoffed.

Sebastian shrugged. “Fair enough. I’m just poking my nose around anyway. Saw Imelda the other week and she seemed even more narky than usual, so I assumed something was going on between you two.”

You sighed deeply, letting your head fall to the table. As much as you really didn’t feel like talking to Sebastian right now, part of you wondered what good rotting in your own self-pity would do. And you had to admit that in any case it beat sharing your feelings with Peeves.

“I don’t know, Sebastian,” you sighed. “I think I really messed up this time.”

“Lucky for you, I may be considered something of an expert in that area,” Sebastian replied. “Come, tell old Seb what’s tormenting your poor little soul.”

You might as well have shouted it from the rooftops, though at any rate, you didn’t have much to lose at this point anyway. So you told him everything, from the kiss to your drunken fuck-up and all that had come after. To his credit, Sebastian refrained from making quips, only listening patiently until you were done, leaning in his chair as you finished.

“Well then,” he said after a couple of minutes of silence, “quite the predicament you seem to be finding yourself in.”

“Right,” you sighed. “Didn’t really need your help to understand that, though.”

He shrugged. “At least you’re finally honest about how you feel. You do care about Sweeting as more than a friend, right?”

“Obviously, but that still doesn’t help me.”

“Perhaps not. Perhaps it makes all the difference in the world. You’re so set on making this choice that you aren’t even stopping to wonder whether it’s the choice you should be making.”

You stared at him, trying to figure out whether he was pulling your leg. He didn’t sound like he was joking, but then again, you didn’t know what he was driving at either.

“Look, I won’t try and pretend like I understand everything that’s going on between you three. I’m a man of simple tastes, after all. But I’ve known Imelda since first year, and I can pretty much assure you this is not about jealousy. Or would you truly take her for someone who would waste her time orchestrating a vindictive revenge plot when she could just as easily tell you to get fucked?”

No, truthfully, that didn’t sound like Imelda at all. Furthermore, you now also realised, she had never made any attempt to get in the way of your friendship with Poppy developing into something more – in fact, you were pretty sure she had been encouraging it.

Sebastian chuckled. “See, now you’re catching on. Woman may be a marvel on a broom, but we both know she doesn’t handle emotions well. Getting the three of you together in a room and lowering some inhibitions on the other hand –”

Of course.  The first thing Imelda had asked when you’d gone to see her was if you had made things right with Poppy. Not herself, Poppy. Had she been hoping for some kind of informal arrangement? Or had she intended for you three to grow into something more serious?

“Merlin,” you cursed, “I can’t even –”

Sebastian gave you a smile. “Look, I’d say the best thing you could do right now is to be honest with yourself. Ask what you really want. As soon as you’re certain, go talk to them.”

It was so sensible. So far you had been so hung up on Poppy’s and Imelda’s intentions that you hadn’t given a second of thought to what you wanted. Perhaps you didn’t want to choose between the two of them. Perhaps you wanted something else.

“How come you know so much about this stuff anyway?” you asked, turning to Sebastian with a frown on your face.

He gave a nonchalant shrug. “Let’s just say I have some experience in these matters. Ominis can be a jealous bastard, but nothing turns him on more than watching me pound a girl from behind.”

Your jaw dropped. “Are you two –?”

“Hey, you are entitled to your little secrets, I am entitled to mine.” He smiled as he got up, shifting his book under his arm. “Take your time, MC. I’m sure you’ll figure it out.”

––

You watched nervously as the door to The Three Broomsticks swung open, nearly knocking your chair over as you stood up. Feeling your heart thundering in your chest, a series of frantic thoughts ran through your mind. Had you prepared well enough? What if they didn’t arrive at the same time? Should you have picked a different spot? Had you made a mistake by even doing this at all?

Your shoulders eased as you saw the elderly wizarding couple walk in. Sinking back into your seat, you put your head in your hands, blowing out a sigh. Perhaps this wasn’t such a good idea after all. You had been quite certain last night, feeling happy that you finally had managed to make up your mind, but ever since waking up this morning you had been nothing but a bundle of nerves. You couldn’t even be sure that they would show up, let alone that you had any way of predicting what their reaction would be. Perhaps the wounds were still too fresh. But at any rate, you felt they deserved the sincere truth at the very least – you owed them that much, after everything that happened.

Sirona came up to you to ask if you were prepared to make your order yet. You told her no, and that you were still waiting for a couple of friends.

“Fair enough,” the landlady said, casting you a suspicious glance. “Is everything all right between you and Imelda? It’s been ages since you stopped by for a Butterbeer together.”

“We’ve been through some… rocky times. I’m hoping I can make things right today,” you confessed.

“Ah, I see. Well, good luck. It’d honestly be a shame if you broke up.”

You nodded. “Thanks, Sirona.”

The landlady left you with a pat on your shoulder and you focused your attention on the door again. Minutes passed by, the hope that they would actually show up slipping away with every second. Of course you couldn’t have expected them to… there was no mending this with just some words… you would have to –

Just then, the door opened and Imelda walked in, followed by Poppy in her yellow-lined robe. You shot up, feeling your throat instantly turn bone dry. The moment of truth. Would they walk out when they saw you?

Their heads turned, scanning the room, and then you felt two pairs of eyes settle on you. You awkwardly raised your hand by way of greeting. They looked at each other, seemingly discussing something between themselves, before they walked over to your table.

“Well, ain’t this a surprise,” Imelda said, though you noted her voice lacked any hint of malice. “I suppose that note didn’t come from Nerida after all.”

“I’m sorry about that,” you quickly answered. “I just wanted to make sure you would both be here. There’s something I’d like to say to you and… I hope you want to listen.”

Your eyes automatically darted towards Poppy, expecting her to be the most resistant to your plea, though she simply exchanged one look with Imelda and then shrugged. You sat down and they followed your lead. Clearing your throat, you took a deep breath.

“I want to begin by saying… you were right and I was wrong. About everything. I was so afraid of the implications of my true feelings that I rather deluded myself into believing I was right, instead of confronting how I really felt… and ended up hurting you both. I know excuses won’t make anything right at this point, so – I think it’s about time I told you both the full truth.”

You turned to Poppy, meeting her innocent gaze. “Poppy, I can’t even begin to describe how much you mean to me. I love you, both as my best friend and more than that. You’re kind, and strong, and beautiful in more ways than you know. Witnessing you open up about your feelings so candidly… it was honestly the bravest thing I’ve ever seen, and you deserved better than for me to lie to you and hurt you.”

Your voice trembling, you then looked at Imelda, feeling shivers creep into your tone as you made your confession. “Mel… you’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me. I meant it when I said that I wanted to be with you during the most important moments of your life. I think I got so scared of mucking up and losing you that I started to act like this person I was not… when now I realise that all along you just wanted me to be honest. And I want to be honest with you now –”

Turning your attention to them both, you continued, “You two are the most important persons in my life, and I don’t even want to contemplate the thought of losing either one of you. So, will you please forgive me?”

This was it; the moment you surrendered yourself. Even as you finished you immediately started wondering whether there was more you could have said, what other words could have conveyed your sincerity better. On the other hand, if you hadn’t been able to convince them now, you doubted anything else could have made a difference.

Poppy and Imelda seemed to consider your words, trading looks as you watched on with rising anticipation. You were taken by surprise, though, as Imelda shifted and gently grasped Poppy’s hand. “Actually, MC, we have a confession of our own to make,” she said, her voice neutral.

“You must know that it pains us to tell you this,” Poppy continued, “but we should be honest with you as well. After you caused us so much pain, we started to take a great deal of comfort in each other’s presence –”

A feeling of dread started to settle over you. What was going on? Was this really happening?

“We decided we want to be together,” Imelda finished. “We’re sorry, MC… but this might just be for the best.”

You felt like you’d taken a punch to the gut. All you could do was sit there, staring as you were overcome with shock, disbelief, betrayal – until you saw the smirk beginning to grow on Imelda’s face.

“Oh,” you muttered, “oh, you mean –”

Poppy finally burst into a lighthearted giggle as Imelda smiled at her. “I told you she’d fall for it. Worked like a charm, didn’t it?”

“All right, I suppose I deserved that,” you said, relief slipping into your own smile.

“Yes, you did,” Imelda replied. “But now that we’re even, I guess we might as well give you a second chance. What about you, Pops?”

“I suppose all this bitterness doesn’t suit me so much after all,” Poppy said brightly. “Besides… I will say I have really missed our friendship, MC.”

“I did as well,” you nodded, searching for her hand and finding it; her eyes filling with a softness that made your heart leap in your chest. “From now on, I promise I won’t hurt you like that ever again.”

You noticed Imelda having a pensive look on her face. Before you could ask what was on her mind, however, she spoke up: “I suppose I owe you both an apology as well. I don’t really want to blame the booze for what happened… it wasn’t fair of me to put you two on the spot at that moment, and I’m sorry for it.”

“Perhaps it wasn’t all bad in the end,” you said with a smile, giving Poppy’s hand a soft squeeze. “Though I am curious. Why did you do it?”

Imelda shrugged. “I don’t think it was a rational decision. Not then, at least. I will say it was a little infuriating, seeing you two constantly play coy when it was obvious you fancied each other… so I figured I’d take my chance and see how things would play out.”

So you hadn’t been entirely wrong after all. Then again, you couldn’t help but feel as if Imelda wasn’t telling you the whole story.

“So you weren’t jealous after all?” you asked.

Imelda hesitated, shooting Poppy a quick glance. “Well… I’ve thought about that. To be honest, after that conversation we had about our relationship, I suppose I was happy, but something just didn’t feel right. Seeing how you were so ready and eager to completely commit yourself to me… it was flattering, but when I started paying attention to how much you two cared about each other, I just couldn’t help but feel… guilty.”

“Guilty?” you asked, raising your eyebrows. “Why?”

“Because…” She wavered for just a moment, swallowing before she said, “Because it’s not fair to ask you to make that sacrifice… when I’m not sure I could ever do the same. I want to try, but even then I don’t know if I will ever be able to give as much of myself as you do. So, I made a decision. If you want to keep seeing each other, I won’t stand in the way.”

You could feel the air practically being sucked out of the room with Imelda’s confession. Your head was spinning with so many emotions all at once; gratitude, desire, happiness. Perhaps a little ironically, it was as if you had never been more in love with the Slytherin as you were then, knowing that she was willing to make this kind of sacrifice for you. But you loved the kindhearted Hufflepuff on your other side just as much… and you had already made your choice.

“Actually, I have been giving a great deal of thought to what I really want,” you said. Reaching over the table, you took Imelda’s hand, noticing her surprised eyes shooting up to meet your own. “I realise this is a lot to ask, but… when I look at you both, and I see how much we are able to share with each other, it feels selfish to keep either of you to myself. I don’t want to choose between you, or wish for this to be an arrangement where I only can enjoy one of you at a time. What I want… is for us to be together. Truly together – all three of us.”

You waited patiently for your words to sink in. Perhaps surprisingly, you felt less anxious about their reaction than earlier. It felt good to finally be frank about your feelings, to let these two persons closest to your heart know exactly how much they meant to you – the kind of future you wanted to share with them.

The girls seemed a bit lost for words, although you noted they didn’t appear as shocked as you had expected them to be. Perhaps they’d had a sense of where you had been heading after all. Imelda’s lips hinted at a burgeoning grin, while a fresh blush bloomed on Poppy’s cheeks, her eyes sparkling brightly.

“Well?” you asked. “What do you think?”

“It is… an intriguing thought.” Poppy replied. “I must confess I’m not much experienced in these matters, but… you are both very dear to me and I suppose I wouldn’t mind an opportunity to deepen our bond –”

You turned your head. “Mel, what about you?”

“I guess I have some questions about the practicalities  as well, but on the other hand, a chance to enjoy you both sounds too good to pass up.” She smiled at you. “You know what, fuck it, I’m willing to give it a try.”

You gave both of their hands a squeeze, gratitude filling your voice at their embrace of your wish. Already you could hardly wait to grow even closer to them, to share all of yourself with these beautiful souls.

“We can take our time to figure this all out,” you said. “There’s no need to rush into anything. We’ll take it slow, and we’ll be open with each other. But I don’t think it’s too premature to say that I’m excited to be exploring this new chapter in my life… and there’s no one else I’d rather do it with.”

You looked around you, sharing looks of gratitude and excitement with each other, knowing that no matter what happened from here on out – your bond had just grown into something stronger, more profound.

“So,” said Poppy with a shy smile, “I suppose this would qualify as our first date, then?”

––

It had been a month since your meeting in The Three Broomsticks, and honestly? Your life had never felt so full of promise – of meaning. You had never found anything to be lacking even back when it was still Imelda and you, but the introduction of Poppy to the equation had opened up a whole new part of your relationship to explore. It was like you were getting to fall in love all over again, and it was the best feeling in the world.

You noticed the change in Imelda as well. If she had any trouble adjusting, she wasn’t really showing it. As a matter of fact, she seemed more relaxed than usual; less likely to walk around with a snippy attitude, more comfortable in her own skin. You had assummed she would have wanted to adopt a more controlling role in your redefined relationship, though most of the time she seemed fine with letting you and Poppy have some moments to yourself, if that’s what you wanted.

Which wasn’t to say that you weren’t setting some rules. You were very sensitive to balancing your commitments yourself, wanting to make sure you gave both of your girls equal amounts of attention. You and Imelda would often get to spend more time with each other due to being in the same house, so you made sure to see Poppy whenever you could, even if it was as simple as a kiss after breakfast, or holding hands when you walked back to the castle together after Beasts class. Most important of all, you agreed to be frank with each other. You were constantly mindful of each other’s needs and boundaries, communicating what worked for you and what didn’t. Imelda still wasn’t too fond of exhibiting your affection for all of Hogwarts to see, but she didn’t mind if you and Poppy were being cuddly in public. Poppy liked kisses, though she preferred secluded areas if you were to go any further beyond a quick peck to the cheek. Also – under no circumstance were you to use your pet names for each other in the vicinity of other students. (Which, admittedly, had been at your own insistence.)

Overall, the three of you managed to make things work pretty well. There was just one minor point of contention. You and Imelda had broached the subject of bedroom rules pretty early on, thinking it best to establish clear boundaries before you initiated anything, though Poppy had kindly requested a delay of any more… intimate activities. She felt bad for asking, but you assured her that you didn’t mind, that you were willing to take this at whatever pace she was comfortable with. Even though Imelda agreed as well, you knew that she felt slightly less excited about having to put off sex with you, especially since you’d never gotten the chance to… ‘reconcile’ after your brief separation. Still, to her credit, she was putting up with it, and you supposed it would just be a matter of time anyway.

––

“I have to say, green suits you better than I thought,” you chuckled.

“Oh, I don’t know,” Poppy sighed, fidgeting with the emerald green scarf around her neck. “I felt bad enough putting it on this morning. Everyone else in Hufflepuff is coming out for Ravenclaw…”

“But you still decided to wear it,” you said, wrapping an arm around her shoulders as the two of you followed the crowd to the Quidditch pitch. “I’m sure Mel will be thrilled when she sees you.”

Poppy smiled up at you. “You don’t suppose anyone will wonder who arranged those first-row seats for us?”

“Maybe,” you shrugged, “but I don’t see why we should care.”

Entering the corridor leading up to the stands, you couldn’t help but feel some curious looks being cast your way. As much as you didn’t really feel bothered by them, you were a little concerned about Poppy. “Say,” you said, “I know I’m probably repeating myself, but if at any point you feel that we should calm things down a bit –”

Your sentence was abruptly cut off as you were yanked into a small alcove, Poppy pulling you down by your own scarf to press her soft lips to yours. You let out a groan at the surprise gesture, leaning into the kiss, savouring the sweet taste of the Hufflepuff. An eternity later, Poppy pulled back, her face glowing. “I don’t think I want to. I really like kissing you too much.”

“The feeling is mutual,” you smiled, tenderly stroking her cheek. “But we probably shouldn’t be wasting too much time. Come, the game is about to start.”

You extended your hand, and she eagerly took it. Moving through the bustling crowd of supporters, you swiftly located your seats. You were already accustomed to Imelda reserving prime spots for you at Quidditch matches, though you could tell Poppy was rather new to the experience. A smile graced your face as you watched her gaze in wonder at the magnificent surroundings.

You leaned over to whisper to her. “The best thing is that you won’t even have to stand on your toes to see anything.”

“Again with the quips about my stature,” she said with an eye roll. “You’re the only one who keeps doing that, you know.”

“I did know that. But I think you might prefer it over the things Imelda likes to joke about.”

The look she gave provoked a chuckle from you. There was no time to mess around for long, though, as an eruption of cheers heralded the arrival of the players. You didn’t search long for Imelda. She stood out, soaring above her teammates, a striking figure in her billowing robe and long black hair.

Poppy leaned over to you. “She looks so pretty, doesn’t she?”

“That she does,” you agreed.

As the match began, you couldn’t help but feel the slightest bit of anxiety. Surely you knew better than to question Imelda’s skill, but at the same time, it was easy to wonder whether she had in any way been distracted by all of the recent developments. You would never forgive yourself if she lost a game because of you; and you assumed neither would Poppy, for that matter.

Of course, it turned out that you never had anything to worry about. Each of the Slytherins played their role to perfection, and Imelda herself was like a lightning bolt, handling the Quaffle with a ferocity that Poppy aptly likened to a Kneazle protecting her cubs. It hardly came as a surprise when the game was called merely thirty-sixth minutes in with a decisive win for Slytherin: 270 to 60 points.

“Let’s go!” you shouted to Poppy, trying to make yourself heard over all the excitement exploding around you. “I know a shortcut to Imelda’s quarters; we can wait for her there!”

Poppy nodded, quickly grabbing your robe to keep herself from being dragged along by the crowd. With some effort, you managed to clear a path to the changing rooms and the Captain’s quarters, quickly moving inside to avoid any curious gazes. You leaned against the desk as you watched Poppy curiously peruse the many books and notes outlining Imelda’s tricks and strategies.

“So, how was this for you?” you decided to ask. “Attending a Quidditch match, I mean.”

“Oh, well, it’s amusing, I suppose…” Poppy replied, awkwardly rubbing the back of her head. “To be frank, it’s still a little daunting to be around so many people.”

You nodded in understanding. “Even so, I think it’s brave that you took a step you wouldn’t normally have taken. I’m sure it means a lot to Imelda – and me as well.”

The Hufflepuff turned towards you, her eyes gleaming with the kind of radiant innocence you’d come to fall so deeply in love with. “I’m glad to hear that,” she said, though you sensed hesitance in her voice, a thought plaguing her mind. Having gotten accustomed to reading her emotions, you waited patiently, offering her a chance to bring up the subject on her own accord.

“MC…” she said.

But then the door swung open. You instantly veered up from your seat to greet Imelda, who came in bearing the most smug grin you’d ever seen.

“Well, if it ain’t my two favourite persons,” she smiled, before turning to Poppy and embracing the girl in a warm hug. “Thanks for coming, Pops. It was really good to see you before the game.”

“I’m glad I could do my part,” Poppy said with a chuckle. “You were marvellous today, Imelda.”

The Slytherin grinned as she pulled back, her gaze only lingering just a second before she moved in again and kissed her. Poppy immediately responded to the gesture, the pink shade of her face deepening as their lips met. You failed to prevent a tinge of validation from seeping into your smile as you watched them, happy that their friendship had already started to blossom into something more.

Sure enough, you had expected Imelda to be eager to move on to you, but one thing you’d failed to anticipate was just how pent-up her craving for you was. Almost instantly, you could feel her tongue wrestling your lips open, a warm moan flowing into the depths of your throat. You gasped as you separated, a thin strand of saliva breaking apart on your chin.

“You were amazing out there, love,” you somehow managed to whisper between the audible thumping of your heart.

“Thanks,” she smiled, and Gods, the primal look she was giving nearly did you in right there and then. “Though I must confess I was kind of hoping for a different prize…”

“Oh?”

“Mhm.” She leaned in to whisper in your ear: “Frankly, all I could think about when everyone was cheering me on was the taste of your cunt.”

“Bloody hell, Mel,” you chuckled nervously, glancing over at Poppy to make sure she wasn’t overhearing you.

“What?” Imelda asked with feigned innocence, purposely grazing the skin of your lobe. “She can join in if she wants. I wouldn’t mind.”

As much as the thought of getting to share your body with both Imelda and Poppy made you feel hot in all the right places, you knew you couldn’t go along with the idea – not yet.

“We can’t,” you whispered, fighting back the sense of intoxication. “We promised, remember?”

You anticipated greater persistence from her, though to your mild surprise, she eased back and let out a sigh. “I know. But we’re going to have to talk about it soon. I hate being so close to you without ever getting to be intimate again –”

“We will,” you promised, lightly pecking her lips to reassure her. In an instant, she reverted to her former self, grinning broadly at both of you. “So, I’d say this calls for a celebration. How about a couple of drinks over at the Three Broomsticks?”

“Fine by me,” you agreed.

“Actually, I had an idea –” Poppy replied. “I was thinking… I still regret that our previous ladies’ night ended the way it did, and I’ve been wanting to propose a do-over now that we’ve… well, become more than friends –”

You exchanged looks with Imelda, noticing a familiar hopeful spark in her eyes. It wouldn’t have taken Legilimency to discern that the two of you were thinking the exactly same thing; that perhaps this could be the first glimpse of Poppy’s less… ‘restrained’ side.

“That wouldn’t be too bad of an idea,” Imelda said. “I’ll probably be caught up in events all week, so it’ll be nice to have a quiet moment to ourselves. What about you, MC?”

You nodded. “Yeah, I like the Room better. We’ll be less likely to get bothered by someone.”

Maybe that wasn’t what you were really getting at, but either way, it seemed best not to get ahead of yourself right now. You looked at each other, eyes filled with gratitude, just calmly enjoying the moment.

That was, until Imelda’s voice cut through the silence. “So,” she said, putting her hands on her hips, “are you two going to leave, or are you just waiting for me to drop my trousers?”

––

“Either way, that’s when he gave me this look and… even though he didn’t say as much, I think he basically confessed that they’re fucking.”

Across from you, Poppy stared at you with an open mouth, while Imelda started laughing. “Of course they are. Good to hear that little Sebbie is still as predictable as ever.”

You cocked an eyebrow, taking another swig of your drink before you retorted, “Oh, I assume this is the part where you say that you knew all along?”

“Girlie, if you thought all that attitude from Ominis was just fashionable snark, I honestly don’t know what to tell you. Now, what I’m most curious about is – who gets to be on top?”

You let out a groan. “Merlin, I don’t want to think about that.”

“Oh, come on. Like you wouldn’t start dripping at the thought of two sweaty boys… right, Pops?”

“Oh, I am hardly qualified to comment,” Poppy deflected, quickly taking a sip from her drink as the tips of her ears started to glow crimson.

“I don’t know Mel,” you chuckled. “It sounds like you’re the one taking an awful lot of interest.”

Imelda growled. “Pussies, the both of ya. That’s all I get for spreading the seeds of love?”

“Aw, sounds like someone is in need of a hug,” you taunted, and before Imelda could stop you you were already on top of her, your hands searching for the spots you knew to be particularly ticklish. Imelda cursed at you, trying to push you off, but all those hours spent familiarizing yourself with her body had really paid off. Poppy chuckled as she watched the two of you struggle, the glimmer on her face betraying a light tipsiness. Eventually you relented and decided to release her, the both of you panting as you settled on opposite ends of the couch.

“Merlin’s Beard, MC,” Imelda grunted, though you hardly failed to notice the smile on her face, “if you want to get into my knickers, just tell me next time.”

“The night is still young,” you chuckled, wondering much of that was an actual promise rather than a mere joke. Despite your lack of intention to push anything tonight, it would have been difficult to ignore that the easy flow of the moment – the booze, the flirting, the suggestive jokes between you three – was giving rise to some… particularly charged energies. Still, you were determined not to push anything beyond the limits of your comfort; that was to say, Poppy’s.

After a few moments and another round of drinks, Imelda piped up, “Well, here’s a fun question. Most scandalous thing you’ve ever done?”

“Come on,” you said with a laugh and an eye roll, “aren’t you just trying to put Poppy on the spot again?”

“Maybe I am, or maybe I just like to see you get all riled up and defensive again. You’re pretty cute like that, you know?”

“I do have to agree,” Poppy chimed in. “Particularly when it’s on my account.”

You gave the Hufflepuff a look of disbelief while Imelda’s laugh rang through the chamber. “Poppy! I can’t believe you would just side with her like that,”

“Can’t fault her for speaking the truth,” Imelda piled on. “Besides, we both know you wouldn’t actually have anything serious to tell.”

“Excuse me. I’ll have you know that I have gotten up to plenty of kinky shenanigans in my time. In fact, just a few months ago, I touched myself –“ you paused a second for dramatic effect – ”in the library.”

Poppy looked at you with proper shock, but Imelda seemed considerably less impressed. “Please,” she scoffed, “that ain’t nothing. Try getting yourself off on a broom in the middle of a training session.”

You burst out in laughter. “Oh, fuck off. Did you really –?”

“Damn right I did. Ain’t no stopping me when I’m proper horny – I figured no one was paying much attention to me anyway, so I put some distance between myself and the rest and… well, the rest is history.”

Goodness gracious. As amusing as it was trying to imagine Imelda furiously rubbing away while she was shouting profanities at other players, it was hot as hell too.

“Anyway, Pops, I’m sure you have us beat,” Imelda said, turning to the Hufflepuff with a devilish smirk.

Poppy chuckled apprehensively. “I’m not quite sure about that, but… I suppose I’ve been up to some salacious misadventures of my own –”

Surprised as you were to see this bolder side of her, you were much more curious to see just what kind of misadventures she was talking about. Imelda, too, leaned in closer, despite making a halfhearted attempt to mask her interest with her usual nonchalance. “Well now girl, can’t leave us hanging like that. Spill the goods!”

“Okay, well, um –” Poppy shifted in her seat and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear – “so this was a while back… I was looking for someone, and in my attempt to find them, I accidentally stumbled across something I wasn’t really meant to see…”

Imelda perched her eyebrows. “You caught some people going at it in public?”

Poppy’s features took on a noticeably pinker hue. She offered just the tiniest of nods, causing the Slytherin to let out a laugh. “Well, colour me impressed! Turns out our innocent angel has a deviant side after all. Tell us, were you turned on?”

Poppy giggled nervously. “I… I suppose I was. It was all rather exciting; the thrill of witnessing something forbidden, the risk of being discovered… it… it was as if I was being a part of it, in a sense.”

Merlin’s Beard. You’d always seen Poppy as some supreme embodiment of innocence, so much so that discovering this perverse side of her did more to arouse you than you had been expecting. So many thoughts were occupying your mind all of a sudden that you didn’t even notice Imelda moving closer to you. “So…” she said with a cheeky smile, “would it turn you on if I did… this?”

Her lips smothered any hope you might have had of stopping her – not that you did. You entered a state of physical flux as she gave you the deepest, most sultry French kiss you’d ever had, your eyes closing as if guided by a will of their own. Merlin, how much you had longed for her, how could you have ever have willingly resisted her perfect taste –

Oh, that was right. With some effort, you broke the kiss, swallowing back a gasp. “Mel, wait, we can’t –”

“Oh, yes we can,” Imelda replied in a growl that gave you goosebumps all over. “She’s loving this. Aren’t you, Poppy?”

You turned your head to catch her response. Much to your surprise, the Hufflepuff seemed mesmerized, her eyes speaking the confession you maybe had deep down been wishing for all along.

Her head bobbed up and down, nodding.

A finger pulled your chin back to where your attention was sorely needed. Imelda’s breath was hot to your face, dark eyes lavishing every inch of you. “Come on, let’s give our girl a show.”

She kissed you again, this time running a hand up your body to give your breast a firm squeeze. You moaned into her mouth, your back arching as if to seek her touch. Oh Merlin, it was nothing short of perfect; she wanted you so badly, and you wanted her so badly as well…

Still, you found it in you to restrain yourself, turning to Poppy one more time. “Poppy… are you certain you want this to happen?”

Poppy shifted in her seat, flashing you a warm smile. “Yes, please. I would like to watch while you… make love to each other.”

Her voice was so sweet, so full of kindness… knowing that she wanted nothing more than for you to be happy and enjoy each other’s bodies was just the cherry on top. Reassured, you now started to meet Imelda’s wanting with your own, taking her face between your hands and crashing your lips into hers. Imelda groaned, pushing herself against you, fingers finding their way into your hair. Her teeth tugged at your bottom lip, nudging you apart, and then her tongue swept in, meeting yours as your heavy breaths and moistness started to mix. There was no need to guide you, no need to coax any sounds from you, for you were as least as hungry as she was; tasting her was like tasting water after a long, merciless drought.

You broke apart ever so slightly, allowing you to relish in your mutual anticipation as you looked at each other, each of you smiling under your heavy breath. Merlin, she was so beautiful, and you wanted to know her just how beautiful she was –

“I missed you,” you whispered to her, delighting in the way her body trembled at your words. It was rare to see such vulnerability from her, but you were nothing short of proud that you were the one making her feel this way.

She responded in kind, throwing herself back at you, once again letting her hands roam to fondle you through your blouse. Only the thin layer of fabric separated her expert touch from your sensitive breasts, her grip pulling a whimper from your lips as you lost any sense of restraint. It didn’t even occur to you that you should try to maintain a semblance of composure in front of Poppy; she wanted you to lose it, and you had a slight suspicion Imelda was as least as eager to put on a show as you were.

Her pillowy lips explored along your jawbone, then down your neck, leaving a trail of wet marks in their wake. You failed to restrain a lewd sigh from escaping you as you peered over at Poppy out of the corner of your eye. You almost couldn’t believe this was truly happening, that she was becoming part of your bond in this way. Just how much was it turning her on to see you like this? Was she taking pleasure in the sound of your moans, imagining the feeling of Imelda’s lips suckling on her neck? Was she picturing a day when she would be ready to share herself – all of herself with the two of you?

All of those sensual thoughts coincided with Imelda sliding a finger into your skirt, drawing another gasp from you as she chuckled against your throat. You could feel her exploring, her digit brushing past the tense delight that protruded from your swollen folds, wetness spilling from you as you buckled against her palm, crying out her name. “Mel…”

Imelda chuckled again, tenderly kissing a spot right below your ear. Around and around her finger went, teasing your clit just long enough to leave you begging for more as she retreated up your thigh again. “You’re such a good girl… all warm and wet for me, hm?” she whispered in a husky voice, though loud enough for Poppy to hear. You noticed one of the Hufflepuff’s hands had moved down to the front of her skirt, mimicking Imelda’s movements as she drew circles around where she was undoubtedly soaking right now.

“I didn’t know you were such a dirty little slut,” Imelda whispered, tugging seductively at your lobe. “You love being watched, don’t you? You love how she’s watching me doing this to you… you want to show her just what an obedient little bitch you are…”

Merlin, yes. Your teeth dug into your bottom lip as she spread you open, using her middle finger to paint your hole with slick. You cried into her shoulder, every part of your body crying out for release, for her to have her way with you and bare every inch for Poppy to behold. Sensing your desperation, Imelda pulled back ever so slightly to look you in the eye, cupping your face with one hand while the other worked your aching cunt. “Tell me, then,” she growled. “Tell me what you want.”

Your voice trembled as you tried to speak the words, “Please…eat…”

“Louder, dear.” She thumbed your clit, coaxing another cry from you. “Let her hear it.”

Swallowing, you mustered all your physical and mental strength to make your wish known. “Please… Mel… eat my pussy…”

A wicked smile played on her lips. “Hear that, Pops? She wants me to munch on her muff. Do you think she’s deserved it?”

“I suppose it would be cruel not to…” Poppy chuckled under her breath.

“Liar,” Imelda replied, though you noticed she was still smiling. “You just want to see her pussy, don’t you?” Turning her attention to you again, she brought up two fingertips that were coated in your slick. “Well, I guess I can’t blame you.” She never broke eye contact as she cleaned you off her fingers, the sparkle in her dark eyes making a shiver run down your back.

“Hm,” she hummed, “you taste delicious, dear. Maybe I should give you something after all.”

Before you could respond, you were suddenly thrown backwards. You let out a giggle as your back hit the cushions, Imelda rushing to wrestle your skirt down your thighs. Your moist heat only contained behind a layer of silky fabric was met with a gust of cool air, leaving you gasping for breath as Imelda pushed her nose into your damp crotch.

“Oh, yes,” she groaned as she inhaled your scent, “you smell so fucking good, love. I love how much your body is crying out for me. So fucking needy.”

You had to admit to feeling a little shock as she took your soaked underwear between her teeth and ripped them off with one swift tug. She had never been this fierce with you before, never so primal. You figured having an audience was bringing her drive to perform out in a stronger way than you had been expecting. Not that there were any complaints to be had; the way you were throbbing once your slick lips were bared to her ravenous gaze confirmed as much.

“Look at our poor girl,” Imelda cooed, pinching your folds between her digits, leaving you a soft whimpering mess. “What do you think of MC’s pussy, Pops?”

Poppy, positively hypnotized by the sight of you, ran her tongue past her lips as a wave of red crept up from her collar. You noticed her drooling a little as she responded, “She’s… exquisite –”

“Mmm, right. Such a pretty pink pussy.” Imelda used her hands to coax you further apart, the feeling of her proximity to your swollen heat eliciting the most desperate of cries from you. Her thumbs lightly caressed your skin as she leaned in, providing but a mere shred of relief as her breath tickled your clit. “So bloody sweet too.”

A flick of her tongue made your legs spasm. How fucking close you were to perfection – but you knew it wasn’t for you to make demands. She really wasn’t about to leave you hanging, not as she was about ready to damn well devour you, and not with another pair of eyes observing her every move…

You released a throaty moan as she lapped at you with a single, broad stroke. Imelda had eaten you out many times before, and yet she never failed to make every time she put her tongue on you feel new and special. You loved her so much, and you wanted her to give you the relief only she was capable of providing.

You breathed a sigh of happiness once she finally drove her tongue inside of you. She dutifully cleaned up the juices gathered around your fleshy curls before swirling her way inside, probing the tight hole. Your head fell back at the feeling of her, your lips mouthing a silent prayer, thanking the high heavens for giving you the attention of this lovely nymph.

You stole a glance at Poppy as Imelda continued slurping from your oozing honey-sweet treasure. One of her small palms was buried in her skirt, pumping underneath the fabric, while the other fondled her chest through her white blouse. Her face was gleaming with perspiration, her parted lips releasing a shallow panting that you could hear even over the sound of your own moaning. But it was through her eyes that you felt most strongly connected to her; those sweet, brown eyes, burning with a kind of lust you instantly were addicted to. No matter the physical distance of your bodies, she was becoming a part of you, feeling your pleasure, the pure release of ecstasy as if it were her own.

You decided to give her even more to appreciate, shedding the loose garment covering your torso. Poppy’s eyes widened at the sight of your full, round breasts, her gaze drawn to your sharp-pointed nipples, achingly hard from your arousal. You seductively bit your lip as you rolled one between your fingers, the physical pleasure only adding to the delight you felt at the cute little whimper she emitted.

Imelda must have noticed the increased flow of juices trickling from your slit, as she began lapping at you with greater fervour. You pushed away the black strands from her face, adoring the way her eyes would roll up to look at you as her tongue swept through your folds.

“You’re so fucking pretty, eating my pussy like that,” you whispered to her. She smiled at you before wrapping her lips around your clit, sucking on the nub while she eased a finger into you, taking over where her tongue had left off. You moaned as if something had possessed you, forehead creasing in desperate bliss as your hips started grinding against her face of their own volition. Even in your wildest dreams you would have never dared to imagine this scenario; your Imelda, committing herself fully to your pleasure, while your Poppy watched on, lost in her own haze of pure, unadulterated lust. The Hufflepuff was shedding all semblance of modesty as Imelda fucked you so well to your release, riding her hand, pushing her lips together in a largely futile effort to stifle her obscene cries of pleasure.

Imelda must have taken note too, for you felt the vibrations of her grunting deep inside your pussy. She was sucking with more strength now, no longer set on any intent but to make you come, hard. Your hips bucked as she added another finger, the digits sloshing in your essence, your walls tightening around her as you felt the familiar onset of naked release.

“Oh fuck, right there –” you gasped, encouraging her as she hit that perfect rhythm that was sure to bring about your orgasm. The room filled with wet sounds and sex-fueled moaning, each of you lost in your own sensual cadence. It was pure fucking depravity of the best sort, and it was about to reach its perfect climax –

Your body locked up as you finally reached that state of being that made your vision go white and your voice climb to inaudible heights. Imelda held you tightly while your orgasm washed over you, making sure you didn’t accidentally hurt yourself as your back rose from the couch and your limbs strained under the powerful release of your pure ecstasy. Your reward came to her in a gush of juices, which she swallowed greedily, only climbing up on top of you once she had fully licked you clean.

“Merlin’s Beard,” you sighed, “I think that’s the hardest I ever came –”

Imelda smiled, pressing a pleasantly you-flavoured kiss to your lips. “I think our little audience liked it as well.”

You both turned to look at Poppy, unable to resist a chuckle at the dishevelled figure splayed out on the armchair. She only managed a lopsided smile as she sighed, “That was… wonderful…”

Well fucked out as you were, you felt that Imelda was owed a little more than your pussy juices for her mind-blowing performance. You swept her lips up in yours once more before flashing her a smile. “Want me to return the favour?”

“I thought you’d never ask.” She took a moment to relieve herself of her own clothes, and of course, her deliciously bare form was just begging for your attention. So you spent a few minutes doing exactly that, kissing her freckled shoulders and cupping her smooth globes. It didn’t take her long to push you back onto the sofa, however. “Enough.” She positioned her athletic frame on top of you, allowing you to lovingly drink in the glorious nakedness of your Slytherin goddess as she made her intentions plain. “I hope you’re ready, love, because I’m going to ride that pretty mouth of yours until I’m cumming and screaming your name.”

Gods yes, there was nothing else you wanted more, as if servicing her was all you were made for. You watched in anticipation as she lifted herself on her knees, remembering to take a deep breath just before she mounted your face. Her slick folds met your lips, the taste of her arousal drowning out all of your other senses. Merlin, she would be the death of you someday…

You probed carefully, trying to find a pace that would satisfy her, though she swiftly began grinding on her own accord. “I didn’t ask you to go easy on me, girl. Stop fucking about.”

Fair enough. You seized her hips, holding her in place as you drove your tongue inside of her. Her reaction was mostly invisible to your eyes, but judging by the earth-shattering groan she emitted and the way you were suddenly drowning in her juices, you figured you were doing something right.

Content with her response to your ministrations, you settled into a nice pace, flicking your tongue up and down her slit while you paid close attention to the sounds she was making. Her fingers gripped into your hair, holding you steady as she rocked her hips into you. “Right there…” she moaned, “fucking eat me like the good girl you are…”

You hummed against her clit, lapping at her like a greedy little pup. A delightful shiver tickled your skin at the menacing chuckle she emitted, this time directed at Poppy. “You like watching us, girlie? You like how I’m riding this precious mouth you like kissing so much? You want me to see come all over those pretty fucking lips?”

Good grief. Even if you weren’t the intended audience in this scenario, Imelda was doing an awfully good job at turning you on. You tried very hard not to lose rhythm as she continued her taunting, worried that any drop in pace might cause her to stop.

“Maybe I’ll let you come over and clean her up when I’m through with her,” she chuckled under her breath. “It would be so hot to see you two make out… tasting me on her lips… fuck, even thinking about it is getting me so wet –”

Yeah, you could tell. You were starting to feel lightheaded, and not merely because of the excess of Imelda trickling down your chin. Though you kept the pace, not wanting to disappoint your lover.

“Oh yes,” Imelda cursed, “I see you touching yourself. You’re wishing it was you she was fucking, aren’t you? You’re thinking about it… having her tongue inside of you… seeing those beautiful eyes look up at you while she’s completely devoting herself to making you cum…”

Enough. You could honestly listen to Imelda egging on Poppy for hours, but a mischievous part of you was very eager to knock the so-called Queen of Quidditch down a perch. So you decided to shift gears, grabbing her arse, nails burying themselves into her toned cheeks while you started properly fucking her senseless.

Her reaction was beyond satisfying. From your place between her thighs, you had a perfect view of the delightful sway of her breasts and the desperate expression on her face as her taunting gave way to the lewdest moans you’d ever managed to elicit from her. You had successfully moulded her into a creature of nothing but pure pleasure, wiping every rational thought from her mind as she rode you fiercely, desperate to claim any bit of physical relief you had to offer. And you were keen to provide. You kept tongue-fucking her, nuzzling her clit until your vision blurred and the sounds ringing in your ears were nothing but the combined gasps of your two lovers.

It was only a matter of time before Imelda came crashing over the edge, collapsing on top of you as she screamed “I love you both!” at the top of her lungs. You were smothered with her honey, your senses straining as your body cried out for oxygen. The following moments were more or less a dizzy haze as you felt Imelda’s weight shift off your face, spotty colours filling your vision.

It took you a while before you managed to regain control of your senses, opening your eyes to Imelda’s glorious visage, her flushed cheeks framed by her damp black hair. A hint of concern had been visible in her eyes, though it quickly dissipated as she flashed you a loving smile. “There you go. Seems as if you’d almost passed out for a minute – sorry about that.”

“Honestly, suffocating between your thighs is the only way I would want to go,” you sighed contentedly, causing her to chuckle as she crawled on top of you and planted a tender kiss on your lips. “That was amazing, dear. I didn’t know you could be so… fierce.”

“I will admit I had an incentive to put on a good performance.” You turned to the other presence in the room. “Are you all right, Poppy?”

Poppy barely managed to raise her head to look at you, looking positively even more like a mess after her second orgasm. “Never… better…” she muttered, before falling back again.

You let out a giggle as you turned back to Imelda, who met you in another sweet kiss. “What about you?” she asked. “Happy?”

“Happy,” you replied with an eager nod.

[choccy-milky]

⭐ HL x animal crossing ⭐

something for fun bc why not......i have free will their personality types?? maybe?? : seb = smug clora = peppy poppy = normal/sweet imelda = snooty ominis = lazy (or cranky tbh) leander = jock natty = sisterly

[whizzing-fizzbee]

Girls' Night

Sebastian Sallow x F!OC

Summary: Emmeline Alexander plans a girls' night for Anne Sallow and their friends at the cottage in Feldcroft, but her best friend and crush Sebastian insists on crashing the party. In other words, MC (Emmeline) and Sebastian take advantage of the Silencio spell in Sebastian's bedroom after a night of playing Never Have I Ever. Rating: Explicit 18+ (Minors DNI), all characters are 18+ Themes: Friends to lovers, slumber party, sleepover, girl talk, smut, romance Word count: 7,568 Notes: Every time I sit down to write my chapter fics, I accidentally write some nonsensical smut. Oops.

Characters are all seventh years and 18 years old. MC is an original female character named Emmeline Alexander.

Part 1 is clean, Part II has all the smut. Both can be found on AO3 or below the cut.

Part I: Girls' Night

Nightfall was reaching Feldcroft as Emmeline Alexander approached the quaint hamlet. She was tired from a long day of studying, but had decided to fly her broom there from Hogwarts. The fresh air was good for her and gave her some time to relax before what was sure to be a boisterous night.

Once she touched down, Emmeline made the familiar short trek to that same cottage – the one she’d been visiting regularly for over two years. Now, the cottage was larger – the handiwork of some transfiguration spells and charms she had mastered in the Room of Requirement. The home had two floors and separate bedrooms now, and she’d even added some flower boxes to the windows with simple, yet pretty landscaping outside.

It felt like home. In many ways, it was her second home.

The lights inside the cottage were on and Emmeline could hear joyous laughter and voices inside. She grinned to herself with anticipation as she knocked.

The door swung open and she was surprised by the first face to greet her.

“Sebastian?” she said stupidly.

“How nice to see you, too,” the freckled 18-year-old replied. He grinned at her and Emmeline felt her stomach flip. 

“Emmeline!” Anne Sallow, Imelda Reyes and Poppy Sweeting waved from their seats around the dining table inside. 

Emmeline moved to enter the home but was blocked by Sebastian, who held an arm across the threshold to prevent her from entering. “Wait,” he said, his lips forming a smirk. “You have to answer a security question.”

“Security question?” Emmeline repeatedly stupidly. “Seb, it’s me.”

“A likely response from an imposter,” Sebastian quipped while Anne, Imelda and Poppy giggled.

Emmeline sighed at the frivolity of it all. Clearly the group had already opened the firewhiskey. “Fine,” she sighed. “What’s the question?”

“Who was your first crush at Hogwarts?” Sebastian asked.

“Why is that the question?”

“Because the answer’s funny.”

Emmeline sighed again. “Do I have to?”

“Yes.”

“Fine. Ominis,” Emmeline muttered quietly. 

“Who?”

“Ominis Gaunt.”

The group inside roared with laughter as Emmeline shoved her way past Sebastian, tossing her satchel on the floor once inside.

“Bastard,” she mumbled. Sebastian threw an arm around her and pulled her in for a sideways hug. 

“You know you love me,” he teased before Emmeline shoved him away.

“I’d love to be rid of you,” she sneered. “Besides, isn’t this supposed to be a girls’ night? Why are you here?”

“Don’t worry, darling, I’ll be out of your hair soon,” Sebastian said. “I’ll retreat to my room so you lovely ladies can do whatever it is you do.”

“Why aren’t you at Hogwarts?”

“Because it’s the weekend and all of my favorite people are here… except Ominis, but I reckon he’d appreciate a break from me,” Sebastian said.

“I’d appreciate a break from you too,” Emmeline huffed. “Especially after that stunt you pulled at breakfast this morning.”

“That was an accident, darling. I didn’t know the goblet was going to explode like that.”

Emmeline rolled her eyes and slinked past him to take a seat at the table with her other friends. She was quick to pour herself a glass from the firewhiskey bottle that sat on the table.

“Where’s Natty?” she asked as she reached for a handful of pear drops from a bowl.

“She’ll be here any moment,” Poppy answered. “She was having dinner with her mum.”

“And Nellie?”

“She’s not coming. She had a date.”

Emmeline’s eyes widened with curiosity. “With whom?”

“Everett.”

“Clopton?”

“Do we know another Everett?” Sebastian chimed in from the sink where he was cleaning dishes. Emmeline turned to glare at him.

“Excuse me, but I do believe this is supposed to be a girls’ night,” she chided. “These conversations are not meant to include you.”

Imelda and Poppy shared a glance, their understanding mutual. It was going to be a long, albeit entertaining night with Sebastian and Emmeline egging each other on. It was the nature of their friendship, and neither could help themselves.

But despite their ceaseless banter, Emmeline and Sebastian were incredibly fond of each other, carrying a close bond that traced back to the start of their fifth year. Since then, their lives became irrevocably intertwined, woven by the threads of adventure, trauma and mutual secrets.

They were inseparable most days, except when Sebastian inevitably said or did something foolish. He provided an edge that contrasted Emmeline’s poise, an amusing juxtaposition to all who had the privilege to sit back and observe the tandem. 

What neither of them could admit, though, was that their bond, no matter how unyielding, wasn’t quite enough to satiate either of them.

A brisk knock at the door signaled Natty’s arrival. Sebastian answered it again and offered Natty a much more hospitable welcome than the one he’d given Emmeline.

“Why doesn’t she have to answer any security questions?” Emmeline demanded.

“Because she is trustworthy,” Sebastian said, flashing an innocent grin. Emmeline shot him a glare, which only seemed to bring him more glee.

The five girls settled in around the table, catching up on their latest life updates. Though Emmeline, Imelda, Natty and Poppy saw one another daily at Hogwarts, Emmeline had taken it upon herself to ensure Anne wouldn’t feel left out. She knew Anne missed Hogwarts and her friends, especially now that it was their seventh year, so she arranged a slumber party to bring some cheer to the Feldcroft cottage.

“Natty, how was dinner with your mum?” Emmeline asked.

Natty sighed. “Not good,” she replied. “My mother doesn’t like the idea of me dating Eric.”

“Why not? Eric’s nice,” Poppy said.

“She doesn’t think Eric has enough ambition,” Natty explained. 

“Well they can’t all be Slytherins,” Emmeline laughed.

“Too true!” Anne laughed.

“And they can’t all be Leander, who still seems to think he’s going to be a world-renowned duelist,” Poppy muttered.

Emmeline offered her a sympathetic smile. “He’s still on about that?” she asked.

“More than ever,” Poppy sighed. “It’s rather insufferable, really. Makes me wonder if there’s something wrong with my head for fancying him.”

Meanwhile, Sebastian listened to their conversation with fascination as he pretended to dry dishes in the kitchen. Sure, he knew girls had these kinds of discussions, but they usually chose their words carefully or withheld certain details when boys were around. He felt like they were providing him with some kind of answer sheet that could help him crack the code to what it was that women actually wanted. 

“Leander always means well,” Emmeline continued. “Sometimes it comes off a bit obnoxious or paltry, but his intentions are always good.”

“I wish I knew what his intentions are with me,” Poppy sighed. “He’s all over the place. Anyway, I guess I should be patient with him. He may be delusional at times, but at least he has ambitions.”

“Eric does have ambitions, though,” Natty sighed. “He’s very brave and has a good head on his shoulders. He just isn’t sure what he wants to do after Hogwarts yet. I told my mother he’d figure it out and find a good job, but she doesn’t seem convinced.”

“She’ll come around,” Emmeline assured. “She’s just being a protective mother. She just needs to get to know him a little more.”

“I hope that’s true,” Natty said. “I really like him.”

“He really likes you too,” Imelda noted. “I overheard him singing your praises to Weasley in Potions last week. You know, before the class had to clear out because of Garreth’s rogue potion.”

“Speaking of Garreth,” Poppy giggled. “I heard you had to let him down easy, Emmeline.”

“What?!”

The five girls jumped at the sudden intrusion, turning to stare at Sebastian, who had been listening intently from his spot near the sink.

“Will you mind your business?!” Anne chided.

“Weasley asked you out?” Sebastian asked, his gaze fixed on Emmeline as he ignored his sister’s scolding.

Emmeline furrowed her brow at him, still taken aback by his sudden outburst. “What, is that so hard to believe?” she demanded. 

“That’s not what I meant and you know it,” Sebastian replied. He was fortunate he was standing with one side turned away from the group of girls, because a vein in his neck threatened to expose just how irritated he was. “I’m just surprised, is all. Didn’t know Weasley had it in him.”

“Well I told him thanks but no thanks,” Emmeline said, still eyeing Sebastian suspiciously. “I like Garreth but he’s not my type.”

“And what is your type?” Imelda asked. “Judging from your past dating history, I’m not sure you have one.”

Emmeline paused. It was true, the boys she’d gone out with were all quite different from one another. Her first crush at Hogwarts had been Ominis, which all of her friends gleefully reminded her of much too frequently for her liking. She had fancied him because he was noble and composed, yet just playful enough to avoid being deemed too stuffy. But that crush had been fleeting as she and Ominis became close friends, and Emmeline’s affections were replaced by the other member of their trio, who was just the right amount of daring and incalculable she adored.

Then there was Amit Thakkar, who had been incredibly romantic and sweet, but not quite adventurous enough for her. There was also Andrew Larson, who intrigued Emmeline with his artistry and creative spirit, but was also too keen on staying indoors and out of trouble.

Emmeline had agreed to a handful of Hogsmeade visits and informal dates with other boys in her year, but none had reached more than one or two outings before she offered some excuse, usually that she was too busy to date.

In truth, Emmeline’s preoccupation had little to do with her schedule and everything to do with the only boy who had never pursued her. 

She and Sebastian teased, flirted, even made suggestive remarks not suitable for most platonic friendships. They spent most of their free time, meals and classes together, far too often even for best mates. They shared secrets, musings and inside jokes that no other ears would ever hear, but they remained unaware that their biggest secret was mutual.

“I guess Garreth is just too… superficial for me,” Emmeline finally said with a shrug. “Don’t get me wrong, I like him. He makes me laugh and he’s always fun to hang out with, but I can’t recall ever having one deep or meaningful conversation with him in the two-and-a-half years I’ve known him. I want someone who makes me laugh but also makes me think.”

“But didn’t you say Amit was too deep for you?” Imelda pointed out.

Emmeline sighed. “There’s no such thing as too deep,” she said. “Amit was just too… philosophical. He was always trying to apply some underlying meaning to everything. It was just too much for me. Sometimes, I think things just happen because that’s how life works. There’s not always any rhyme or reason to its occurrences. That said, I also enjoy reflecting on how life shapes us.”

“I’m not sure you’re ever going to find someone who offers you that right balance of perception and candor,” Natty laughed. 

“Maybe you need to stop dating so many Ravenclaws,” Sebastian, who had been hanging onto their every word, chimed in.

“What’s wrong with Ravenclaws?” Emmeline demanded, turning to glare at him.

“They don’t match your sense of adventure,” Sebastian replied simply. “They’d rather bury their noses in books than use their wands.”

“Says the bloke who owns more books than anyone I know,” Emmeline said.

“There’s nothing wrong with a thirst for knowledge,” Sebastian said smoothly. “But what’s the point in all that knowledge if you aren’t going to apply it to the real world?”

Emmeline couldn’t argue with that. It was precisely why she and Sebastian had become best friends. He was smart, yet daring enough to keep her guessing. Sure, that recklessness had nearly destroyed their lives at one point, but Emmeline had been patient and understanding with Sebastian as he worked to repair his past mistakes. Since that fateful fifth year, he had proved to her that he was remorseful, and Emmeline’s fondness for her friend morphed into something much heavier.

But she would never admit that, nor did she want to discuss her dating history with him. Instead, she retreated to her best defense – the wit and snark that masked her fear of ever confessing her feelings.

“And what’s the point in having a girls’ night when you’re here?” she retorted.

Sebastian responded with a smirk. “You love me.”

“I’d love to murder you.”

“Murder?” Sebastian drawled. “Such violent thoughts from such a tiny, little thing. Didn’t know you had it in you.”

“Careful, Sallow,” Imelda laughed. “We’ve all seen what she can do to you in a duel.”

“And I went easy on you last time,” Emmeline added.

“You’re anything but easy,” Sebastian shot back. The room fell quiet, Emmeline’s eyes growing wide while Poppy’s mouth fell open. Sebastian regretted his words instantly, knowing damn well the girls would giggle about them and dissect them later. 

Imelda, ever the bold, mouthy one of the group, was the first to bark a laugh. “You two are something else,” she said, shaking her head. Emmeline also shook her head in an attempt to appear unbothered by Sebastian’s jeer.

“Say, I have an idea,” Anne said, her eyes carrying an impish gleam. “Let’s play a game. Sebastian, you can play too if you want, considering you’re practically one of the girls.”

“Hey now!”

The girls giggled but Sebastian made no attempt to leave the room. Instead, he finished drying the final dish – the same one he’d been “drying” for the past 20 minutes – and placed it away inside a cupboard, tossing the dish towel on the counter before he pulled a chair up to the table between Anne and Emmeline.

“Fine. Since you ladies clearly insist on my presence,” he said smoothly. “What’s the game?”

“Let’s play Never Have I Ever,” Anne said innocently. She flicked her wand, another bottle of firewhiskey sailing from a cabinet until it landed neatly on the table with a soft thud. Anne flashed a grin at the circle of friends. “We’re going to need this.

Part II: Never Have I Ever

“Never have I ever bailed on detention.”

“Poppy, have you even had detention?” Sebastian laughed. The group echoed him with a warm chuckle, a signal that the firewhiskey was in full effect.

“Precisely why I’ve never bailed on it,” Poppy said proudly.

Sebastian and Natty both drank from their glasses, sparking another round of giggles.

“Of course,” Anne mused. “Sebastian’s skipped more detentions than he’s snogged girls in broom cupboards, which is really saying something.”

“And how would you know about my broom cupboard escapades?” Sebastian demanded.

“I know everything,” Anne answered, gesturing to the ring of friends around them. “I have eyes and ears everywhere.”

“More like eyes and ears in the form of a certain quidditch captain,” Sebastian muttered, shooting a pointed glance at Imelda, who straightened in her chair with a smug smile.

“Someone has to keep your sister informed on your everyday life,” she said. “Merlin knows you’ve had enough extracurriculars to entertain us all.”

Emmeline was decidedly quiet throughout the exchange. Of course, she knew of Sebastian’s illicit activities. He had become the talk among most of the girls at Hogwarts, particularly since the start of their seventh year when it had become clear that Sebastian was more of a man than a boy. Now 18, Sebastian’s features were much more handsome than cute, though he still clung to his boyish charisma.

Though Emmeline wanted to fling herself from the top of the Astronomy Tower every time she heard a new rumor about Sebastian and his latest fling, she typically kept quiet on the matter. Despite all the secrets they shared, she and Sebastian rarely discussed their love lives. It was the one element of their lives they chose to keep from one another.

Imelda’s turn came next. “Never have I ever snogged someone in a broom cupboard,” she cackled.

Sebastian groaned and took a drink. So did Emmeline.

“Who have you been snogging, and in which broom cupboard?” Sebastian demanded, setting his glass down with an audible bang.

“What’s wrong, afraid all the good cupboards will be taken?” Emmeline teased. Sebastian glowered at her, much to her satisfaction. “You aren’t the only one with secrets, Sebastian Sallow.”

Anne was the only one who noticed how Sebastian’s jaw tightened. She smiled to herself as she realized it was her turn.

“Never have I ever wanted to snog my best friend,” she declared boldly.

Imelda snorted as Sebastian and Emmeline both froze, rather noticeably. Everyone else sat, their drink glasses untouched, leaving the pair to glance nervously toward one another. Finally, Emmeline sat back and folded her arms across her chest for emphasis. 

“No one?” Anne asked innocently. “Someone here must be lying.”

Emmeline averted her eyes while Sebastian stared at the table as if it had suddenly transformed into the most interesting book he’d ever read. The silence that settled over them roared with implication evident to everyone but Sebastian and Emmeline.

“Well, I suppose it’s my turn,” Sebastian finally said, shooting an annoyed glance at Anne who smiled innocently. Sebastian thought for a moment, his eyes flickering toward Emmeline for a fleeting second. “Never have I ever used Polyjuice to impersonate a headmaster.”

Emmeline gasped at his audacity, provoking a chortle from Sebastian. “I swore you to secrecy on that!” she hissed.

“It was two years ago, might as well have a good laugh about it now,” Sebastian said. He reached in front of Emmeline to nudge her drinking class closer to her. “Go on now, drink.”

Emmeline huffed at him before taking a sip. “Bastard,” she muttered before she was forced to recall the time she broke into Headmaster Black’s office. When she finished the story, she turned her head slowly toward Sebastian for emphasis. His gaze matched hers as he tried to appear unbothered, but Emmeline knew him too well. And he knew her too well, meaning he sensed payback was brewing.

She cleared her throat for dramatic effect. “Never have I ever worn my sister’s dress.”

The room paused in silent shock as the other girls processed Emmeline’s words. Finally, a burst of laughter erupted and Sebastian’s cheeks tinged red as he took a drink.

“That was one time!” he insisted, which only provoked more laughter from the girls. “I was drunk!”

Emmeline leaned back in her chair, her eyes glinting with satisfaction as Sebastian was forced to retell the time he drank too much the previous Christmas in Feldcroft and got into Anne’s wardrobe.

“In my defense, Ominis and Em were the ones egging me on,” Sebastian huffed.

“My only regret is not taking a photo to remember the moment,” Anne laughed. “Not that I could forget it if I tried.”

“Always knew you had a kinky side to you, Sallow,” Imelda teased.

The game carried on for several more rounds until the group’s drunken antics had Poppy slumping in her seat. She nearly toppled backward in a fit of giggles at something Imelda said, stirring concern from Sebastian and Emmeline, who were the most sober.

“Poppy!” Emmeline shouted as the chair tipped dangerously. “Maybe you should lie down for a bit.”

Sebastian checked his pocket watch. “It’s nearly two in the morning,” he said. “Perhaps we should all get some sleep.”

Emmeline nodded in agreement as she helped Poppy from the chair, using her wand to conjure five sleeping bags on the living room floor. 

“Oh, are you and Sebastian sharing a bag?” Imelda pestered. Emmeline rolled her eyes and eased Poppy to the floor to help her inside a sleeping bag. 

“As much as Sebastian would probably love nothing more than to sleep in a room surrounded by 18-year-old women, he has a room of his own,” Emmeline replied as Poppy curled up sleepily. 

“Wouldn’t want you ladies fighting over who gets to sleep next to me,” Sebastian drawled.

Imelda heaved a sound of disgust as she helped Natty, who was also quite inebriated, into a sleeping bag. 

“Emmeline, please do something about your boyfriend,” Imelda ordered.

“He’s not my boyfriend! He disgusts me just as much as you do!”

“Oh please, the two of you have been verbally edging each other all night. Get a room. Just make sure you use a silencing charm,” Imelda teased.

Sebastian chuckled at the girls and headed toward the staircase.

“Goodnight, my darlings!” he called before he disappeared up the stairs to retreat to his bedroom.

Emmeline slipped down the hallway to change into her pajamas before walking a lap around the cottage’s first floor, extinguishing the lights. She climbed into a sleeping bag next to Anne, who was just settling down herself.

“Thank you for planning this evening,” Anne said. Emmeline rolled onto her back, the dim cottage falling quiet except for Poppy’s light snoring.

“Of course,” Emmeline said. “I’m glad we got to have a fun girls’ night. Or girls’ night plus Sebastian.”

Anne giggled. “He just can’t help himself, can he?” she laughed. “Always has to be the center of attention.”

“I think he just likes to be included in things,” Emmeline noted, her voice falling quiet as her eyes scanned the ceiling, where she knew Sebastian was sleeping overhead. “Ever since you and Ominis let him back into your lives, he’s made it a point to spend time with you. Doesn’t want to take you for granted.”

“I know,” Anne replied softly. “I’m glad he’s worked so hard to change. And I’m glad he has you, you know. Maybe he doesn’t admit it, but you’re just as important to him as Ominis and me.”

Emmeline let out a gentle laugh. “I’ll continue to give him the dignity of believing I don’t know that. Even if the moron doesn’t deserve it.”

Anne giggled in acknowledgement. She listened to Imelda’s breathing change next to her, indicating she had also fallen asleep. 

“I really am glad you didn’t give up on him, after everything that happened, after what he did,” Anne said quietly. “I like to think your support was what kept him from breaking.”

“He’s a good person, one of the best I know,” Emmeline responded. “He shouldn’t have to spend the rest of his life paying for what he did when he knows how wrong it was. He deserved a second chance and I’m always going to support that.”

“He deserves a good punch in the face sometimes, too,” Anne muttered, drawing a giggle from Emmeline.

“That, he does,” she agreed. 

The pair allowed silence to settle over the room until Anne suddenly shivered.

“Are you cold?” Emmeline asked, sitting up to peer at Anne through the darkness.

“Just a little,” Anne replied. “It gets rather drafty in here.”

“Are you sure you don’t want to just sleep in your own room?” Emmeline asked. “I know you wanted to do the whole slumber party thing, but it seems silly for you to sleep here on the floor when you have a perfectly comfy bed upstairs.”

“It’s girls’ night,” Anne insisted. “I want to spend time with my best girl friends.”

“At least let me fetch you another blanket,” Emmeline said, rising to her feet.

“There’s one upstairs on my bed,” Anne answered. “Oh, and there’s a second one in the closet in Sebastian’s room.”

Emmeline paused. “You need both?”

“If you wouldn’t mind,” Anne replied innocently. Emmeline nodded and crept carefully, tiptoeing around the other sleeping girls toward the staircase.

She stopped in Anne’s bedroom at the top of the stairs first, gathering a quilt from the bed before continuing down the hallway toward the last door. It was slightly ajar but the lights were out, causing her to linger in hesitation.

She stood quietly, listening carefully for a sign that Sebastian was still awake. The only sound she could hear was the snores from the living room below.

“Sebastian?” she finally whispered as she gently shouldered the door open. She poked her head inside, squinting to peer at Sebastian. He was under the covers, seemingly fast asleep.

She tread quietly toward the closet door, where she found another quilt folded on the top shelf. She stood on her tiptoes to reach it and gently pulled it downward, tucking it beneath an arm.

Sebastian stirred quietly, but didn’t react. Emmeline retreated slowly toward the door, holding her breath as if any more noise would be disastrous.

Suddenly, one of the blankets caught beneath her foot and pulled as she stepped. Emmeline stumbled, her footsteps pounding loudly on the wood floors before she finally lost her balance and toppled over with a thud.

“Who’s there?!” Sebastian sat upright, one hand fumbling over the nightstand for his wand.

“Shh! It’s me! Sebastian, it’s me!” Emmeline hissed, still sprawled out on the floor.

“Em?”

“Yes!”

“What the hell are you doing in here?”

“I was getting another blanket for Anne!”

“And you entered my bedroom unannounced?”

“You were asleep!”

“What if I’d been doing something private?”

“Ew! Were you?”

“No! I was sleeping!”

“Then what’s it matter?”

“This is my bedroom!” Sebastian squinted through the darkness as he tried to make out Emmeline’s form. “Why are you on the floor?”

“I tripped.” Emmeline managed to untangle herself from the heap of blankets and climb to her feet as Sebastian found his wand. 

“Lumos!” The tip of his wand cast a warm light throughout the room, revealing Emmeline standing about three feet from the door. She couldn’t help but sneak a double-take as she realized Sebastian had been sleeping shirtless.

Sebastian swallowed. Emmeline’s pajamas revealed much more skin than he’d been accustomed to seeing from her, the neckline of her top dipping dangerously low across the tops of her breasts. He’d never seen her in her sleep attire before, their separate Hogwarts houses keeping them apart at night. Besides, whenever he pictured her in bed, she was wearing far, far less.

Meanwhile, Emmeline took in Sebastian’s tousled hair and sleepy eyes. She hated how enticing he looked, even in such a vulnerable state. 

“Uh, are you okay?” Sebastian finally asked.

“Yes, I’m fine.”

“Okay. Is everyone else asleep?”

“Yes.”

“Okay.”

As the room fell quiet, Emmeline willed her feet to move. Instead, she remained rooted to her spot, as if she were looking for a reason to linger.

Sebastian watched her curiously, his own brain searching for an excuse to keep her there. “Boy, Poppy’s quite the lightweight, isn’t she?” he finally said with a soft laugh.

“She sure is,” Emmeline giggled. “To be fair, she weighs about a fraction of the rest of us.”

“I didn’t realize she was so enamored by Prewett,” Sebastian continued. Emmeline shrugged.

“I suppose you learned quite a bit from crashing girls’ night, didn’t you?” she mused.

“Positively enlightened.”

“Anything you care to share with the class?”

Sebastian masked his hesitation with a smirk. Though he didn’t consider himself to be drunk, firewhiskey had never been his friend. He’d had a fair amount that evening and it was making it more difficult than ever to quell the tightness in chest that could only be traced back to Emmeline.

Seventh year would be over before they knew it and Sebastian feared their friendship would vanish too. Emmeline was set for a position within the Ministry of Magic’s Department of Mysteries, where she hoped to become an Unspeakable. Sebastian had a position laid out for him as a cursebreaker with Gringotts. He was excited for those possibilities but terrified adulthood would drive a wedge between him and the one person he couldn’t envision a life without.

“I didn’t realize you had such high demands for your romantic partners,” he finally teased.

Emmeline narrowed her eyes at him, her lips parting in shock. “I am not demanding!” she hissed. “You take that back!”

Sebastian sat back against the headboard of the bed with his arms crossed. “Point proven,” he said smugly.

A loud snore echoed through the cottage and Sebastian couldn’t help but bark a laugh. “Was that Poppy?” 

“I think that one was Imelda,” Emmeline replied as another snore cut through the room. “It’s going to be a long night.”

“Here,” Sebastian said, scooting to one side of the bed. “Just sleep here. I’ll cast a silencing charm to take care of the snoring.”

Emmeline’s hesitation was clear as she stood, her feet frozen in place as  Imelda’s earlier teasing came to mind. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to join Sebastian in bed – she had daydreamed of that particular scenario more than she’d ever admit – but it was the implication, the expectation, and most of all, the temptation of what it meant.

“Come on,” Sebastian said. “I don’t bite. Unless you’re into that sort of thing. Besides, it’s not really all that different from all the times you’ve slept on my shoulder while studying.”

But it was different, and Sebastian knew it. The two of them sharing a bed in his cottage, away from the confines of the Hogwarts castle and all its propriety, would absolutely be different – especially when he wasn’t sure how he could possibly keep his hands to himself when Emmeline was next to him looking like that .

“All right, fine,” Emmeline sighed, the spare quilts forgotten on the floor. She moved slowly toward the bed, sliding next to Sebastian who still had his wand lit.

“Silencio,” he said, the room falling dark and quiet. “There, that’s better.”

Emmeline nodded quietly as Sebastian tossed his wand back on the nightstand to settle in beneath the covers. She swallowed as she fought to maintain gentle and light breaths, her chest rising as her body betrayed her. She was certain Sebastian could hear her heartbeat hammering against her ribcage.

Next to her, Sebastian was having the same thoughts. He could smell her shampoo, light and floral, and if he moved any closer, his hand would brush the silkiness of her pajamas. He wondered how that fabric would compare to the softness of her skin, or dare he think it, the velvet feel of her…

“Sebastian?”

“Huh?” Sebastian was pulled from his sinful thoughts.

“I asked if you’re alright,” Emmeline said. “You seem to be breathing heavily.”

“Oh. Sorry.”

“It’s okay. Just making sure you’re okay.”

“I’m fine. You know, other than the fact you’re hogging all the covers.”

“I am not!” Emmeline huffed. She shoved the blanket toward Sebastian who merely chuckled. “It’s not my fault it’s freezing in here,” she said.

“It’s nearly 21 degrees,” Sebastian pointed out. “It’s plenty warm.”

“Not for me.”

“Fine, come here.” Sebastian hooked an arm around Emmeline’s waist and pulled himself closer to her as he nestled against her back. He instantly melted into her, but could feel her shoulders shift as she tensed. “This okay?” he asked, worried he had crossed a line.

“Mmhm,” she answered sleepily. “That’s better. You’re nice and warm.”

Sebastian relaxed a little and could feel Emmeline’s body do the same, though she was hyper-aware of the way his hand rested gently against her waist.

“Emmeline?” Sebastian asked quietly.

“Hmm?”

“Anne’s right, you know.” His tone was soft yet serious enough that Emmeline couldn't help but lift her head slightly from the pillow to hear him better. “I overheard the two of you earlier. What she said about you being just as important to me as her and Ominis… she’s right.”

Emmeline held her breath as he spoke and carefully mulled over a response. This was precisely what she had meant earlier when she said she wanted a romantic partner who could share meaningful conversations with her. Sebastian could be impulsive, even reckless at times, but he wore his heart on his sleeve and didn’t shy from saying how he really felt, even if it made him vulnerable to her. She always liked that about him.

“Well,” Emmeline started after drawing a shaky breath. “Despite your obnoxious eavesdropping, I meant what I said, too. You did deserve a second chance. You’re a good person and I’ll never stop having your back.”

Sebastian nuzzled the back of her neck gently, a bold move that made Emmeline’s breath hitch. “I like having your back for a change,” he murmured. He knew he was potentially risking everything – their friendship and her trust, but years of longing and suppression had become too unbearable to endure any further for him. He had to know if he stood even the slightest chance at the rare privilege it would be to touch her.

“You sure you wouldn’t be more comfortable in a broom cupboard?” she quipped.

“Sounds like I’m not the only one who finds them rather cozy,” he murmured into her ear, his breath warm against her skin. 

Emmeline knew him too well. She could sense the push in his voice, testing her to see how she’d react and how far she was willing to let him go. She decided that enough was enough – she had been drained by the past few years she’d spent practicing poise and self-control when it came to him, stifling all her impulses and redirecting her feelings to boys who would never measure up. If Sebastian was going to tempt her, she was going to ace his tests.

She whipped her body around so that she was facing him, startling Sebastian who tensed. She could feel it in the way he was subconsciously gripping her hip.

“Just curious,” she cooed softly. “Which broom cupboard is your favorite? Is it the one in the dungeons near the Slytherin Common Room? Seems like you might appreciate the convenience in location. I find that one a bit too snug to move around in, though. Perhaps you’re more of a fan of the cupboard in the North Hall, near the History of Magic classroom? That one’s nice and secluded, especially if you make a lot of noise.”

“Emmeline,” Sebastian warned.

“Personally, I think my favorite’s the little room in the Clock Tower Entrance,” Emmeline continued. “Ever been in that one? I showed that one to Amit after Crossed Wands once – we spent a good hour in there, but I don’t think he appreciated it as much as I did.”

Sebastian had to grit his teeth. He didn’t want to think about her doing those things with someone else, but the notion that she was willing and capable of them made him tense, particularly below the waist.

“So which is it?” Emmeline pressed. “Which is your favorite?”

“I like the one off the Reception Hall, near the kitchens,” Sebastian replied through clenched teeth. “Easy to get to and convenient if you work up an appetite.”

Emmeline’s eyes widened at his remark but her lips formed a seductive smirk. “Oh, I wasn’t aware of that one,” she purred innocently. “Perhaps someone will show me someday.”

“Perhaps.”

“Is it spacious? I don’t like when I have to stand the entire time.”

Sebastian sucked in a sharp breath. “Merlin, Emmeline. You’re killing me.”

“Whatever do you mean, Seb?” Emmeline asked, still feigning naivety.

“Stop making this so hard on me.”

Emmeline shifted, her hips pressing gently against Sebastian’s. “Oh, you weren’t kidding about the hard part.”

“I’m going to hex you.” Sebastian growled.

“Fine. Just wait until we’re done and make it worth my while.”

Sebastian was certain he had to be dreaming. Emmeline – his Emmeline, was practically throwing herself at him, daring him to take a chance. And Sebastian was a true Slytherin – ambitious, cunning and determined to get the things he wanted. He didn’t let chances escape his grasp.

He kissed her. He could feel the breath of air she sucked in through her nose when their lips met, her eyes fluttering shut as she returned it. Sebastian wasn’t sure what this would all mean come morning, but the hunger in her kisses made it clear that she wasn’t in the mood to worry about it.

Bed sheets rustled and hands grabbed at whatever skin was exposed. Hearts raced as both realized they were about to satiate their biggest fantasy. Sebastian’s hands roamed beneath Emmeline’s top, brushing over her stomach and down her sides until his fingers found the hem. He pulled away, his eyes heavy as he tugged the shirt upward. His lips found her neck, drawing a soft moan from her. 

“Seems I’ve found a sensitive spot,” he murmured against her skin. He left a trail of kisses from her neck to her collarbone, ending between her breasts.

The darkness made it difficult for Emmeline to see much, but she could certainly feel. Sebastian’s hands were everywhere, yet it still wasn’t enough for her. As she rolled onto her back, Sebastian paused to kiss her again, sparking more impatience from her. She could feel the familiar swell of heat that only happened when she thought of Sebastian late at night, alone in her bed, her own fingers forced to mimic Sebastian’s.

Emmeline lifted her hips as Sebastian tugged her bottoms off, followed by her panties. She silently praised whatever higher power was responsible for Sebastian’s impatience too.

Sebastian’s fingers dragged between her thighs, over her slick entrance. The moment was fleeting and she whimpered a plea for more. Sebastian obliged her as his index and middle finger made contact with her core again. He rubbed her until her breath became a heavy pant and her hips rocked upward demanding more. 

A loud moan carried through the room as Sebastian’s fingers disappeared inside her, the wetness immediately coating them. He curled a finger and Emmeline gasped, her submission making his cock stir.

“Fuck, Em. You’re so fucking perfect,” Sebastian whispered, his eyes roaming her body in the moonlight that poured through the window. 

“And you’re… overdressed.”

Sebastian flashed a smirk and moved to remove his own remaining garments, kneeling over Emmeline once he was rid of them. Emmeline couldn’t help but stare at his form. He was fully erect, the length of his cock proudly anticipating her touch.

She wasn’t sure how she was going to take all of it, but she was damn sure she’d die trying.

A groan escaped Sebastian’s lips as Emmeline gently took him in her hand, gently tracing from the base to his tip. He twitched, his arousal unlike any he’d experienced.

“Emmeline,” he breathed as her mouth engulfed him. He could feel her tongue flatten against his shaft, slowly running over every vein and ridge with deliberation. “Emmeline,” he repeated, his eyes squeezed shut. The sight alone of her lips wrapped around him was enough to nudge him to the edge. “I don’t think I can take it.” 

He hated that confession. As much as he loved this girl and would willingly follow any order she asked of him, his pride remained firm. He didn’t want her to think he was incapable of pleasing her, of lasting long enough to ensure she was good and finished. But this moment, this feeling, had consumed his free thoughts for so long, there was no way he could remain composed much longer.

Emmeline removed her mouth from him, her smirk indicating the satisfaction she felt from the power she clearly held over him.

“You may not be able to take it,” she said, eyeing his cock pointedly, “But I can.”

Sebastian decided she was going to be the death of him, but at least he’d die a happy man.

Emmeline straightened up to rest back on her heels, her eyes maintaining their challenging gaze. “What do you want me to do to you?” she asked, her voice husky with desire.

Sebastian chewed at the inside of his cheek. No girl had ever asked him that. It made his cock pulse. “I want you to do whatever’s going to make you moan my name,” he replied.

Emmeline couldn’t believe she was lucky enough to exist in the same world as Sebastian Sallow. 

“On your back,” she ordered. Sebastian, who typically preferred to be the assertive and dominant party in such situations, obliged. He was too eager to please, and to discover that sweet, supreme moment when she’d cry out his name and show him how she looked when she experienced ultimate pleasure.

As she climbed over him, her legs straddling either side of his torso, his hands snapped instinctively to her hips. His fingers gripped her tightly, drawing a shaky laugh from her. 

“Careful,” she mewed as she positioned herself above him. “Can’t have you leaving any marks.”

Before Sebastian could form a smart reply, her wet heat met the tip of his cock as she lined him up against her entrance.

“Fucking hell.” Sebastian exhaled slowly, his jaw and eyes clenched tight as he welcomed the feeling of her warmth stretching around him. She seemed to be moving at a glacial pace as she eased herself downward. 

“God, Sebastian,” Emmeline breathed. She had to still herself for a moment, her open palms resting against his bare chest as she stretched to accommodate him. She rocked backward slightly to straighten upward, the tiny movement forcing Sebastian to swallow.

“I love you,” he blurted out. If it hadn’t been for the absolute ecstasy currently coursing through his cock, he would have Avada Kedavra’d himself on the spot. Leave it up to him to say something so utterly stupid during the most exciting moment of his life.

Emmeline paused, her eyes wide with disbelief as her gaze met Sebastian’s.

“Really?” she asked.

There was no going back now. “Of course,” Sebastian replied, annoyed at himself for provoking a life-altering conversation mid-sex. “Hasn’t exactly been a secret these past few years.”

“Oh.” Emmeline held her position, stunned at the revelation, though the feeling of Sebastian lingering inside her was difficult to ignore for long. “Well, I love you too,” she finally said. “But given how I covered up a murder for you, stuck by you for two years and threw myself at you tonight, that shouldn’t be a secret either.”

“...Oh. Well when you put it that way…”

“Yeah.”

“Guess I should have told you then, huh?”

“Would’ve saved us both a lot of trouble, it seems.”

“Sure would have.”

“Hey, Sebastian?”

“Yeah?”

“Can we have this conversation later? As thrilled as I am to hear you finally confess your love for me, I’m going to spontaneously combust if you don’t shut up and fuck me.”

“Oh. Right.”

They shared a quiet laugh, but Emmeline’s eyes quickly darkened as her thoughts returned to a sinful state, the feeling of Sebastian’s tip pressing against the soft flesh inside her.

She moved slowly at first, rocking her hips up and down to ensure she’d found the spot. The moan that fell from her lips confirmed it, and Sebastian’s grip remained rigid on the flesh of her hip bones as if it were steadying him.

In truth, he was desperately fighting his own body’s response to the euphoric feeling Emmeline was creating for him. 

“Feels so good,” she panted as her pace quickened. Her eyes fluttered shut so she could focus on the sensations, which were building an inevitable wave of pleasure in her walls.

Sebastian could feel her wetness pooling at the base of his cock, her slick cunt gripping his shaft as she moved up and down. He wanted to move more, to show her how capable he was in the bedroom, but he was fearful he’d fuck himself into an embarrassing moment. He wanted to prove to her he was worthy of this privilege.

As Emmeline lifted herself upward again, Sebastian forced his own hips upward, evoking a surprised moan from her. He slammed himself inside her again, causing her to hover over him so that he could control their movements. He fucked her with determination, his cock railing against the spot that threatened to unravel her.

She could feel it building, sensed it ballooning in the form of a tiny twitch that would soon erupt into a full convulsion. “Don’t stop,” she begged through ragged breaths, her head tossed backward as the force of Sebastian’s thrusts made her breasts bounce.

“Sebastian, I’m going to-” She couldn’t complete the sentence as she heaved a cry, all of her weight settling down as she collapsed around Sebastian’s cock, her orgasm pulsating around him.

The sensation was new territory for Sebastian, her walls beckoning him with their quaking until a familiar throbbing coursed through his cock.

He released himself inside her with a grunt, the sensation prolonged as she continued to bounce on him to ensure they both were fucked to completion. When he had no more to spill, Emmeline stopped, her full weight still on top of him as she recovered.

“Bloody hell,” Sebastian breathed as the room returned to focus, the moonlight shifting from blurred lines to a sharp focus that shined a spotlight on Emmeline’s body still perched on top of him.

“All right?” Emmeline asked, her chest rising and falling as she panted.

“Never better.”

Emmeline managed to breathe a laugh before she climbed off of Sebastian, returning to her sleeping spot next to him.

Sebastian pulled her close so that he could appreciate the feeling of her sweaty skin, sticky yet warm.

“We should have girls’ night more often,” he mumbled happily.

In the living room beneath them, Anne pulled a blanket around herself, smiling as she drifted off to sleep.

[magicingray]

After the Ignorant travesty pt 2.

MC: What? No, Poppy. Sebastian and I have broken up…

Poppy: I thought you were still dating.

MC: Absolutely not. Does anyone else think Sebastian and I are still dating?

Ominis, Imelda, Garreth, Natty, Amit, and Sebastian all raise their hands.

MC, pinching the bridge of her nose: put your hand down, Sebastian…

[lavenderandturpentine]

Garreth: Would you fancy going on a date with me?

Seb: *passing by* Did I just hear you ask Ominis out on a date?

Ominis: He’s practicing so he can ask mc out tonight.

Seb: But I’m supposed to be asking mc out tonight…

Garreth & Seb: *both staring at each other in realization before taking off running towards the library*

Seb: I’m going to ask first!

Ominis: *sighs* You idiots are going to end up in detention tonight instead of on a date.

[5sospenguinqueen]

Professor Fig: I said you could invite one friend.

MC: Sir, they don't come separately.

Sebastian: Yeah, we're pack animals.

(Ominis, Poppy, Imelda, Natty, Garreth and Leander nod)

[elinoracia]

⁑ Someone else flirts with you // Hogwarts legacy characters reactions x reader ⁑

~ Hogwarts Legacy headcanons ~

Warnings: Jealousy, fluff, f!reader, use of Y/N, not proofread, swearing (censored) Pairings: Sebastian x reader, Ominis x reader, Garreth x reader, Amit x reader, Poppy x reader, Natty x reader, Imelda x reader, Leander x reader.

Feel free to request anything!

→ [All characters are aged up to 18 y.o. or more (7th year)] ←

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

Context: Following the events that took place during the 5th year, you became more popular without really wanting it. A few people have started to take a closer interest in you. But you still only have eyes for one person since you arrived. However, a boy has started flirting with you and talking to you more and more often. His name is Spencer Rooks. Spencer is the captain of the Hufflepuff quidditch team, also in 7th year. His soft blue eyes, freckles and blond messy hair could make anyone feel flustered around him. But he only has his eyes on you and the person you like took notice of that. Today, Spencer passed you a note to meet him after class. You chose to accept his offer and listen what he had to say to you. Someone seems to not be too pleased by that... (pre-relashionship)

THEIR REACTION:

Sebastian:

Oh he's pissed. You're his! Well...not yet but you are his! He tolerated Spencer's flirting for way too long. He has to intervene.

"Spencer, leave her alone. Can't you see Y/N is not interested?"

All means are good if it makes him leave you alone. But if Spencer insists too much to talk to you, Sebastian will definitely raise his wand at him. He's not scared to be in detention again.

"Let's leave Y/N. He's not worth you time at all." He takes your hand and leads you somewhere else.

"What a prick! Touching you like that and flirting with you. Trust me, he's not good enough for you."

You ask him if he's jealous and you see him frown.

"I am not jealous, I would just prefer if he didn't exist near you! I-I mean...I know you can take care of yourself but- I just don't like others around you that can't respect you."

He'll cross his arms and will stare into your eyes.

"Next time, tell him you're mine. Tell him you're my girlfriend. And if he tries anything, I won't need my wand to hurt him. Besides, I bet he only likes you because you're Hogwarts hero or something like that...NO! I'm not jealous! I just think you deserve better!"

He will make sure that everyone knows you're his, even if you're not yet in a relationship with him.

He WILL be more affectionate and touchy in public.

He's very possessive and will remind you that you both were best friends before you saved Hogwarts and the wizzarding world in general.

"I liked and still like you for you, don't fall for guys like Spencer who only notice you for what you did. He's an opportunist! And you deserve someone who can see how wonderful you are."

Ominis:

Now he is more discreet about his feelings for you and how he handles jealousy. But when Spencer asked you to meet him after class, Ominis couldn't let that happen. He realises he was too slow to be the first to ask you out and he had to do something...quickly.

"Y/N, is that true that you planned to meet Spencer after class? Well...I advice you to reconsider. He does not seem like a very proper gentleman."

You ask him if he's jealous. You see his cheeks redden.

"Jealous? Why should I be jealous Y/N? You obviously are too good for him. And he does not seem like the type of individual you would be into...isn't he?"

He is worried you are into another boy but he tries to keep his composure.

"I heard a few people gossiping about him. Apparently, he has a new girlfriend every month. You deserve to feel special Y/N."

This might be the first time he pays attention to meaningless gossips. But he just has to convince you not to give Spencer a chance.

"Besides, I might need your help after class to prepare myself for our next potion exam. My concoctions are still utter rubbish and you seem to be the only one who actually make me improve my skills."

Any reason is a good reason if it makes you stay away from the Hufflepuff.

He will sit next to you in every class to make everyone understand you are with him, even if you're not his girlfriend yet...

He will frown everytime he hears you talking to another guy. And if Spencer dares to speak to you, he will drag you away and find an excuse to justify it.

"I hope he was not bothering you. I can make the Headmater expel him if he tries anything inappropriate. Just tell me if anything happens."

He didn't mind boys talking to you but when Spencer got a little to close to you for his liking, he became a bit more protective of you. He doesn't want to let that happen again.

Garreth:

He is not usually the jealous type because he knows you're not interested by the other boys/girls who are flirting with you on a daily basis. But Spencer seemed to have your attention for some reason... And when Garreth is jealous, he is not very classy about it.

"What is going on with Spencer and you? I heard you two whispering during class. Since when the both of you are that close?"

You explain to him you planned to meet up with Spencer after class because he had something to tell you. You hear the red-haired boy scoff.

"I bet he'll confess to you...that idiot. Hum...please tell me you don't reciprocate his feelings?"

He'll try to invite you somewhere else so you don't join Spencer after class. He thinks he is being sneaky about it.

"Please I can't find those ingredients without you, it's very urgent matters! Screw Spencer! Besides, you'd rather spend time with me than him...right?"

You're making the poor boy anxious. He is scared you might find Spencer better than him.

"I can also play quidditch you know? And I bet Spencer is not a talented potionist like I am! I'm just saying..."

You ask him if he's maybe...jealous? He left you no time to finish your last word that he quickly retorts.

"Me? Jealous? Please Y/N, you can't be serious. Why would I be jealous? We're...friends... and he is just some guy. I simply don't want you to shift your attention on him and forget about me, alright?"

You try to reassure him with some light-hearted teasing that he was your favorite flirt and that you couldn't possibly forget about him, even if you tried.

"Well...now I know. Could you maybe repeat the part where you said you could never forget me?"

Amit:

He is really not the jealous type because he understands why and how popular you became. But when he is jealous, he does not dare to talk about it to not seem possessive or selfish. But the way Spencer acts around you doesn't sit right with him...

"Y/N? I hope you don't mind if I bring up a rather...private subject. It's about you and Spencer. I noticed you two during class... Are you perhaps- please stop me if you do not feel comfortable sharing- b-but are you two...together?"

You ask him if he's just curious or maybe... jealous? You see him stiffen at your question.

"J-Jealous? I'm really not! I swear! I just think he might not be the right fit for you... You deserve someone who sees you for who you really are; the shiniest star in the sky. Nothing less..."

You reassure him by certifying that you were not in a relationship with Spencer. You then explain he just asked you to meet you up after class to tell you something. You see Amit slightly frown.

"I...I don't think you should meet with him."

He then instantly apologizes. His facial expression is a mix between confusion and fear. He's torn between telling you not to go or let you do what you want...

Out of the blue, he gently grabs your hand.

"What if I said I also... wanted to see you? Who would you choose?"

You can't help but let out a small chuckle. Of course you would choose Amit over him...over anyone actually. But he is so cute when he is jealous. But you finally give in to his request.

"R-really? You'd rather be with me? Then let's go to Honeydukes after class! I could also let you try the new lense of my telescope!"

Seeing him compete for you attention definitely made you feel really hot... He is so adorable.

Poppy:

She is way too obvious when she is jealous. She just can't hide it. This Spencer boy is seriously getting on her nerves...Why can't he just leave you alone? She's the only one who has the right to be glued to Y/N!

"Hum...Y/N...Are you and Spencer a thing? Because he seems really interested and you don't seem to mind it. I-I'm just curious, that's all! You know you can tell me anything."

She looks nervous and you can see it. She is twisting a strand of her hair between her fingers.

You tell her that Spencer actually asked you to meet him after class. Seeing the look on Poppy's face, you might have actually thought she saw a ghost. She was petrified.

"M-Meet him after class? Does he like you? Do you think he'll confess? Oh Merlin... Do you like this guy?"

She bombards you with questions. You're trying your best to reassure her but she doesn't seem to focus on what you're saying. You then take her hands into yours to calm her down.

"I-I'm sorry. But, as your friend... of course... I am just worried this guy is just not any good for you at all. He doesn't seem like the type to treat you right or anything. And you're worth so much better!"

"And who do I deserve then Poppy?" You asked with a playful giggle. You like to see her all flustered. It was so cute.

"W-Well...maybe someone who like you before all the stuff that happened during 5th year...A-Anyway! It's not about that, we are talking about Spencer here!"

She pouts at your light teasing. She is so terribly obvious about how she feels.

You have to reassure her and tell her that you don't feel anything for the Hufflepuff boy. She lets out a big sigh of relief.

"Good...So...does that mean you're free after class? Wanna do something with me?"

Natty:

Now Natty is very mature and can handle her jealousy very well...that's what she thought until Spencer grew a little too close to you. She usually doesn't mind your multiple admirers but this time it felt different. She has to do something...

"Y/N, I was wondering... Spencer seems quite persistent. Maybe you need help to tell him off?"

You explain to Natty he actually became a good friend and that he wanted to talk to you after class. She keeps a neutral face, not wanting her emotions to get the best of her.

"That is good to hear. I wonder what he has to say to you."

Natty knew exactly what Spencer wanted to talk to you about. But she felt selfish... She was biting her tongue to not say anything more.

"I hope he is not in love with you Y/N. I heard he was quite a flirtatious guys and that he treated his ex-girlfriends very poorly... Yes those are gossips but sometimes they are right! Well...maybe he is just pretending to be nice to you for now, you know how boys are."

She would let you meet Spencer after school but she would overthink about what your response to his confession would be.

"So? What did he say? Tell me everything!" She was trying to keep a smile on her face but she was really really anxious.

As you explained to her, you see her gently relaxing her shoulders. You don't share the same feelings as Spencer, to her delight.

"That's good. He was not right for you anyway." You then dare to ask her why she was so happy you didn't reciprocated his feelings. She was taken aback.

"P-please don't think I was jealous. I just know you well enough to assume he was not your type at all. You deserve someone who will treat you like a princess."

She has never been more relieved you rejected someone. She will keep a close eye on you the next time someone talks to you. She can't let that happen again.

Imelda:

When she is jealous, she usually just bullies you. She hates to see you with other people no matter who they are. So, you can be certain that she cannot stand Spencer being all flirty and chatty with you.

"He just can't leave you alone, can he? Always trying to get your attention. It's so pathetic. Don't give him the time of the day, he's a twat."

You tell her that Spencer asked you to meet him after class. You see her almost explode of rage in front of your very eyes.

"What the f*ck? Who does he think he is? I mean, please let him embarrass himself, I know he doesn't stand a chance...right? Don't tell me you like him? Oh good...not that I care or anything, you do you."

You ask her if she's jealous. She lets out the meanest laugh you've ever heard. Ouch...

"Me? Jealous of him? I can prove it to you that I am, in fact, better than him. I'm also a MUCH better quidditch player. Just saying... Don't look at me like that! I'm not jealous! Just stop hanging out with him, that's all!"

She might sound agressive but she really just needs to be reassured.

"And you promised me to be there at every one of my quidditch practices. And if he doesn't like it, I'm not afraid to punch him in the throat and break his precious broom."

You notice how agitated she is by the fact that Spencer might like you. You say nothing to preserve peace but...how cute it was that she wanted to fight someone for you.

"Forget about him. You deserve a much better contenders for your love. You also deserves someone that is as good as me on a broom. Spencer is way too slow. Why are you smiling at me like that? What did I say?"

She'll make sure you only look at her during practice and during other classes. She'll make sure to remind you that she is the best person to hang out with you.

Leander:

Now he will go about it the hard way to keep people who are interested in you away. He usually straight up lies and tells everyone you are actually his girlfriend so nobody will flirt with you. But Spencer just directly asked you...not fair. He has to do something about it... and now.

"What? He asked you to meet him after class? Well...just don't go? Or tell him you have a boyfriend? Oh come on, it's just a little white lie."

He tries to convince you not to go. But you still want to hear what Spencer has to say.

"Okay but only if I go with you. I can't leave you alone with that creep. Do we have a deal?"

When you wait for Spencer after class, Leander was waiting with you. Leander just couldn't hold back the urge to mark his territory and show that you were his...not officially but in his mind your were his.

"So, please tell us what you wanted to say. Don't be shy."

Leander is touching VERY inappropriately while Spencer tries to speak. He runs his hands down your back, around your shoulders and…on your hips.

You want to stop it but you can't. You...like it. It makes you feel all nervous and you feel your cheeks redden.

At the end, the poor Spencer just gave up and excused himself from the conversation.

"I think he got the message. You're not interested by him and you'll never be. I was helpful, see? "

You scold him gently, telling him how innapropriate that was. He just smirks and chuckles at you. He's so childish...

"Oh don't pretend you didn't like it Y/N. Maybe I should do it more often, that seems to keep the others away."

You stroked his ego unintentionally.

But...what if...nobody stopped you from going?

Spencer:

He waits for you after class. He looks so nonchalent, you almost refuse to think he might confess to you.

"You came! What a relief. I just wanted to tell you that...I know that we've not been friends for long but...hum...I like you. I almost lost my last quidditch match because you were the only thing on my mind."

You were just speechless. Your face was burning up and your cheeks were red. He took notice of that.

"Sorry, I just blurted it out but I'm really serious. I like you Y/N. And if you just let me one chance to prove that I'm worthy of your affection, you won't regret it! Does it sound too corny? I just really like you sorry, I'm letting my heart speak for me right now."

The Hufflepuff's face was also red. He looks so sincere. His blue eyes staring right into yours.

"Do you need time to think about it? I can give you some space. I just... I would give you the world if you ask me to. You're just...so wonderful. But I'll give you the time you want to think about it! Or maybe we could go on a date? Just to make sure I'm your type."

He lets out tiny nervous chuckles as he speaks. He is a blushing mess and he is trying his hardest to speak clearly and not be overwhelmed by his emtions.

Will you give him a chance?

[moonstruckmoony]

HL x Kuroshitsuji ✨

“Humans are easily tempted. When they are poised on the edge of hellish despair, and a spider-thin thread of salvation presents itself, they will invariably grasp it. No matter the human.” -Sebastian Michaelis

Winter Blackstone as Ciel Phantomhive

Sebastian Sallow as Sebastian Michaelis

Ominis Gaunt as Snake (Featuring Snake’s snakes: Emily, Oscar, and Wilde)

Phantomhive Household:

Poppy Sweeting as Finnian

Samantha Dale as Mey Rin

Garreth Weasley as Baldroy

William Blackstone as Vincent Phantomhive

Snowball as Sebastian the Black Borzoi

Midford Household

Anne Sallow as Elizabeth Midford

Natsai Onai as Francis Midford

Others

Amit Thakkar as Soma Asman Kadar

Imelda Reyes as Grell Sutcliff

Another disclaimer that the BG for the first one is inspired by AFK Journey, just think they look fitting for this.

· · ─────── ·❆ ❅ ❆· ─────── · ·

Happy New Year everyone! I’m back. This was actually a fun idea that was supposed to be for Halloween, and I did start working on it on Oct but some things happened to me so I had to take a step back for a while but I’m ok now and am present here! But hey, it isn’t Chinese New Year yet but 2025 is the year of the snake so posting it this year is kinda fitting, no? 🫢 I had no intention of going back on my word on finishing all the MCtober prompts no matter how long it takes (bcs the prompts are fun!) but I’ll take my sweet time and if I had ideas outside of the prompts I might work on those first before going back on track.

I just wanna say that I’m very grateful to be in this fandom, it let me rediscover the joy of drawing for myself again after years of not doing it consistently (I was mostly drawing for work.) I’ve been loving everyone I got to meet and make HL friends with so far.. love u guys 🫶✨Hoping for a year full of love, joy and stability (as stable as it can be) for everyone.

[myokk]

💘

[fierymiasma]

❀ And You Look Fetching in Yellow ❀ // Sebastian Sallow x f!MC

Summary: Hogwarts couples exchange scarves to signify their intention with each other. Unfortunately for Sebastian, MC is new to the whole magic thing.

It's been weeks since Sebastian had gifted her his scarf. And yet nothing romantic has happened between them.

How was she supposed to know that she had to give him something in return?

Part 1: You Look Better In Green

♪ Tags: Slight Dark!Sebastian, angst, sadness, manipulation, making out, heartbreak

Word Count: 5k

|| Masterlist || AO3 ||

"Did you see what the new girl was wearing?"

"Obviously, do I look like I live under a troll's bridge?  The whole school is talking about it!"

Sebastian preened, sitting a bit straighter in his seat.  He had been lounging on a bench with Ominis in the Dark Arts Tower, bored out of his mind.  About ten paces away, a gaggle of 3rd year girls were giggling and loudly whispering amongst themselves.  The student body of Hogwarts never had anything better to do then to guess who started courting who.  Sebastian had never cared much about this (often incorrect) news, having always found it dull. 

But it was looking like Hogwarts was just about to get bit more interesting.

"What was she wearing?" one of the shorter girls asked.

"She was wearing a Slytherin scarf!" another whispered conspiratiously as if it was an unspeakable secret.

There were gasps around the group.  The new Hufflepuff student?  Wearing Slytherin's green and silver scarf?  It could only mean one thing.

"Ohhhh, she's seeing from someone from Slytherin."  There was much fervent whispering.

"I bet so many hearts are crushed now.  Someone finally got to her first."

Sebastian couldn't' help but puff out his chest.  Finally, in his time as a 6th year at Hogwarts, the natural order of things were being corrected.  No longer did he have to worry seeing his Hufflepuff in ugly red and yellow. 

"Who do you reckon gave it to her?" one of the Ravenclaws bounced on the tip of her toes. 

"Well, there's not that many Slytherin boys that she associates herself with."

Sebastian grinned.  He leaned back against the wall, crossing his hands behind his head.  He was constantly next to her side whether that meant on the battlefield or at the library.  His devotion to her had most definitely discouraged any potential suitors who thought they were worthy of wasting her time.  An effortless arm thrown around her shoulder.  His coarse hand tucking a strand of hair behind her ears.  His chin resting on her much shorter head.  Now that the whole school knew that the most amazing girl in all of Hogwarts history was his, Sebastian's worries could finally-

"I heard from someone in Charms that it's Ominis."

Sebastian stilled.  What?

There were squeals of delight.

"Of course!  That makes so much sense! They look so cute together!"

Sebastian scowled.  No they didn't. 

"Awww, I'm so happy for them.  I bet he swept her off her feet!" 

"It's the eyes isn't it?  All the Gaunt kids have those gorgeous eyes."

In Sebastian's personal opinion, blue eyes were incredibly overrated.

"That makes so much sense!  They're always in the library studying together."

One of their voices took a cheekily tone.  "Studying?  Is that what the kids are calling it now a days?"

Yes, Ominis and his Hufflepuff were always studying together, only because Sebastian invited both of his best friends to his study session.

The group of girls all squealed bouncing up and down like a group of Puffskeins.  They were loud and annoying enough that Professor Hecat had opened the doors to her classroom.  With heavy scolding, the professor shooed them outside, to spread their gossip elsewhere in the castle no doubt.

Sebastian felt as though he took a troll club to the head. That was his green scarf around his Hufflepuff.  It was Sebastian's scarf that she was wearing every day.  Not Garret's.  Not Natty's. Not even Ominis's.  It was Sebastian's.  Turning to stare at his best friend, he was startled to find that Ominis was still engrossed in his book.  The other boy looked completely at ease, as if Sebastian's entire life hadn't been entirely upended.

"What," Sebastian spat through gritted teeth, "in Merlin's name, was that all about?"

·͙⁺˚•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙˚⁺‧͙⁺˚•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙˚⁺‧͙⁺˚•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙˚⁺‧͙

The hero of Hogwarts laid on her back like a starfish on the grounds of the Transfiguration courtyard.  Having successfully commandeered a quiet corner of the courtyard with Natty and Poppy, she tried her best to relax between classes.  Poppy was playing with Gerald.  Natty attempted hastily to finish her astronomy homework before the next toll of the bell.  The ancient magic user scowled at the bright blue cloudless sky as if it personally had cursed her.   

She was still wearing Sebastian's scarf.  The new Hufflepuff hadn't taken it off since Sebastian had kindly (or possessively?) wrapped it around her.  His signature bergamot and oak scent was starting to fade. 

She had learned quite quickly the ins and outs of courting at Hogwarts thanks to her friends.  Coming from the muggle world, it was dizzyingly confusing all the fake rules that witches and wizards put upon themselves.  She wasn't sure if it was wizard conservatism or teenage boredom that forced the students of Hogwarts to play these stupid courting games.

Wearing another House's colors was a walking advertisement to the rest of Hogwarts that you were officially being pursued by classmate of another House.  The second that a Gryffindor was caught wearing green and silver or a Ravenclaw was caught wearing red the whole school would erupt in commotion and gossip.  

In her opinion, the student body of Hogwarts needed to go outside more.  Experience some of the real world for once. 

After all it was their coy games that put her in this whole mess.  She thought, as any rational being would, that after a whole year's worth of 'dates', alone, unsupervised, not under the watch of any adult, that something more would come of her relationship with Sebastian.  She had hoped by now she would be wrapped in his strong arms with his green scarf wrapped around the both of them, joining them together. 

She had thought wrong.  Instead, it was the still the same Sebastian.  Teasing tone, seductive one-liners, coy looks when he thought she wasn't watching.  He always held her at an arm's length, never getting too close.  Despite all of his flirty comments, he never made a verbal hint that they were anything more than friends. 

Ugh, this was all so maddening.  If she had it her way, she would march right up to Sebastian, grab him by the beautiful luscious curls of his, and kiss him silly until he finally got the message through that thick skull of his.

"Why isn't my brilliant plan working?"  She whined as she laid beneath the sky, as if hoping it would give her the answers.

"What plan?"  Natty asked, not looking up from her astronomy homework.  "Your mind has been up in the clouds all day."

She groaned, throwing her arm over her eyes to block out the sun.  "Why hasn't Sebastian made a pass at me yet.  For Merlin's sake, we went to Three Broomsticks and Sirona gave us her Valentine's Day Special.  We shared it, together.  Using one spoon, like a couple."

"Have you considered that Sebastian might think you two are actually exclusive?" Poppy interjected.  "I mean, you're wearing his scarf.  That has to count for something."

The new student groaned.  She started ripping the grass next to her in frustration.  "I don't think we're dating.  At least, I don't think Sebastian Sallow is the type to not snog his girlfriend silly when she drops obvious hints."

Poppy made a show of gagging at the thought of her friends making out.  In retaliation, the other Hufflepuff half-hearted threw some of the plucked grass in Poppy's general direction.  The strands lamely flew everywhere but their intended target.

Natty sighed, brushing the grassy debris from her astronomy chart.  "Honestly, Europe is so behind.  Back at home, things were much simpler.  Girls do not have to wait for the man to ask them to be in a relationship!  Anyone could do the asking!  All of this exchanging of clothes is so silly to me.  What if two people from the same House start dating?  Then what? This makes no sense to me."

Poppy hummed in agreement.  "Dating at Hogwarts does seem like such a headache compared to Uganda, Natty.  But," she squeezed Gerald tightly, "you can't deny how cute it is when you see the couples together wearing each other clothing.  They're so mismatched and adorable."  Poppy paused awkwardly.  "Come to think of it, I've never seen Sebastian wearing even a hint of yellow."

The air stilled.  Both Poppy and Natty turned to stare at their friend who was still in the process of pulling out all of the blades of grass in her vicinity.  It was a long awkward moment before the hero of Hogwarts realized that her two good friends were looking at her, expecting a reaction out of the wallowing girl.

"What?" She asked.

Poppy gave her a pitying look.  "You…you did give Sebastian your scarf right?"

The new student blinked owlishly, her hands stilled in their destructive action. 

Natty sighed.  "A hat?  Your tie?  Cufflinks?  Merlin's beard, even your socks would do.  Anything?"

For being a wielder of ancient magic, she sure didn't have a clue as to wizarding culture.  "Um, no?  Was I supposed to?"

Both girls groaned.  Natty shook her head, disappointed in the lack of charisma her friend had.  Poppy looked at her pitifully as if she was the runt of a Niffler litter.

"What?  We're supposed to trade scarves?  Who made up that rule?  Is that why Sebastian hasn't made a move on me?"

"YES!"  The other girls replied, getting fed up with the drama.

"No one told me about this!"

The three girls bickered back and forth, homework now entirely forgotten.  So lost in debate, they missed the Slytherin that was approaching them.

Imelda Reyes, captain of the Slytherin team, stood in front of them, interrupting the trio of girls.  "Oh good, the losers are all gathered together."  She looked rather bored as if she would rather be on the field than here.

Poppy frowned.  Gerald stuck his tongue out at the offending girl.  "Imelda, why do you keep calling your only friends at Hogwarts losers?"

Imelda ignored the remark, flipped her hair behind her shoulders.  "It keeps the fans in line.  Got to remind you lot of your place."

The Slytherin girl turned her sights onto the other Hufflepuff who was still wallowing in the grass in self-pity.  "Anyway, I came to collect on my good deed.  Some token of appreciation would be nice.  Even a thanks would do."

The Hufflepuff sighed.  She pinched her nose in frustration at the annoyance that was Imelda Reyes.  Rolling over to her side, she faced the Slytherin captain.  She propped up her chin on her hand.  Nothing that Imelda ever have to share was interesting.  "Imelda, what is it now?  Why should I be groveling at your feet for this time?"

"You should be thanking me for saving your relationship with Sallow."  Imelda nonchalantly stated.

The new girl spluttered, her chin slipping off of her hand and hitting the ground.  She made a pained noise, rubbing at the growing bruise.  "Excuse me?"

"You heard me."  Imelda inspected her glossy green nails.  "It's painful to see you two fumbling about like Quidditch little league toddlers.  I just gave a gentle nudge in the right direction."

The bottom of her stomach was in free-fall.  Imelda "helping" was never a good thing, despite what the Slytherin believed.  "Imelda, what did you do?"

Imelda grinned.  "Oh, you know, just started a rumor that Ominis was the one who gave you the scarf."

She finally sat up.  Bits of grass stick to the Hufflepuff's hair.  "Why on earth would you do that, Imelda?  The whole school is going to think that Ominis is courting me!"

"Indeed."

Natty frowned.  "I have to admit.  I do not see the game you are trying to play.  How does that help our friend?" 

Imelda rolled her eyes.  It was sometimes frustrating being the only Slytherin of their girl group.  They were so slow to stack the odds to get what they wanted.  They were so narrow-minded as they achieved their goals, seeing only a couple paths towards victory instead of the millions of possibilities Imelda always saw.

"Boys like Sallow are easy to manipulate.  Start a rumor that his best friend is seeing the love of his life, and the boy will make sure to do everything in his power to correct the record."  Imelda flicked off a speck of dirt on her otherwise well-polished nails.  "He'll come crawling back to you in a week tops."

Poppy oo'ed in approval, clapping excitedly at the new development.  Natty shot her a judging look.  Poppy dropped her "oo's" to a respectful volume.

The other Hufflepuff gaped in silence, at a loss for words.  "Sebastian's one of the smartest people I know.  He can pick up even the most difficult spells on the first try." She crossed her arms.  "He's too smart to fall for your tricks, Imelda."

Her compatriots were silent. Natty, Poppy, and Imelda ginned and looked at each other deviously.  Poppy was the first to bust out in laughter, causing the other two to join in.  The offended girl scowled behind her green scarf, annoyed.

The Hufflepuff rolled her eyes.  "You all think so low of him.  I'm telling you, Sebastian's not the type to care about this sort of petty thing.  You'll see."

"Oh, we'll see alright." Imelda sneered.  "I bet my best broomstick that your Slytherin will come crawling back to you on his knees.  Why I bet he's foaming at the mouth right now."  

·͙⁺˚•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙˚⁺‧͙⁺˚•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙˚⁺‧͙⁺˚•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙˚⁺‧͙

Sebastian was practically foaming at the mouth.  He wanted to scream and pull his hair out.  Back in the sanctuary of his dorm room, he could finally take off the mask of indifference he'd been wearing all day.  Ever since he eavesdropped on the rumors surrounding the new student, they have followed him incessantly, mocking him.  It seems like all the students, all the professors, even the godforsaken portraits were talking about the 'newest couple in Hogwarts'.  How on earth that anyone could see her and Ominis actually together was beyond him. 

Speaking of Ominis, Sebastian glanced over at his friend who was sitting comfortably in his own bed, reading a book in braille.  Ominis looked serene as if he was above the petty comments of the commoners of Hogwarts.

Suspiciously aloof in Sebastian's opinion.

"How are you not bothered by all of this?" Sebastian asked.  He squinted his eyes, trying to see if he could catch Ominis in the act of trickery.

Ominis sighed, marking his place in his book before closing it with an air of finality.  He had foolishly hoped that the silly rumors going around Hogwarts wouldn't upset his best friend too much.  The students of Hogwarts were constantly talking Sebastian after all.  Gossiping about his charm around the female students, about his duels, about him getting detention for the second time that week.  Sebastian was never bothered by gossip, seeming revealing in it.

This rumor was different, it would seem.

"I'm not sure what you're on about."  Ominis tried.

Sebastian could smell something was up.  "Don't you play dumb with me.  You know exactly what I'm referring to.  The whole school thinks our new friend is seeing you.  Now, I believe that the heresy isn't true."  Sebastian's voice threatened to crack.  "Is there any reason to believe otherwise?"

The accused boy huffed, rolling his eyes.  "Merlin, Sebastian, you really live up to the infamous Slytherin jealousy."

"Don't you avoid the subject."  Sebastian said.

Ominis frowned, confused.  "Why don't you just correct the rumors?  Haven't you been courting her the whole time?"

Sebastian scowled, turning away from his friend, hiding the disappointment on his face.  He'd thought that everything was going so well.  Her secretive smiles and stolen glances whenever she thought Sebastian wasn't looking her way.  The way she stared openly and unapologetically mid-duel as his muscles strained under the force of his spells.

"No, we're just friends, Ominis." Sebastian responded stiffly.  "That's all there is too it." 

Sebastian had thought that she returned his affections, especially when she accepted his scarf, a calling card of his intentions to woo her.  He thought things were going even better when she invited him to an date to Three Broomsticks, reminiscing about their first of many troll attacks.  Sebastian thought the date had gone perfectly when he walked her like a gentleman to her dorm.

It wasn't until she bid him a cordial, kind but only friendly, goodbye that he had realized how wrong he was.  She had not returned to give Sebastian her own yellow and black scarf, a token of her acceptance towards the courting.  And Sebastian had stood in front of the wine casket that hid the Hufflepuff common room, scarfless, lamenting in what an absolute fool he had been.

Ominis's frown deepened.  "Enough of this nonsense, Sebastian.  She's interested in you.  I mean, half of the female population is.  I can hear the way you two talk to each other."

Sebastian chuckled darkly.  "If that were true, I'd be wearing a yellow scarf."

It had stung.  The blatant, but very gentle rejection that she had given him.  Sebastian wasn't raised to be a troll to woman, and Anne had taught him to be better than his peers, so he allowed himself a few days to wallow before swallowing his pride.  It was privilege enough that she would be friends with him after all that had happened in their 5th year.

He was an idiot for thinking that someone as amazing as her would want to be with someone who's done so much bad as him.

Ominis shook his head.  "I'm sorry, Sebastian, but I am convinced that something is afoot between the two of you.  As both your friend and her friend, I can say without a shadow of doubt that the feelings are mutual.  I think the time for games is finished.  You must confess your feelings towards her."

Sebastian scoffed at the ridiculous notion.  It's like Ominis wasn't even listening to him.  Sebastian had literally just finished explaining how not interested she was in him.

"Gyffindors don't have a monopoly on courage, Sebastian."  Ominis chided.  "We Slytherins are brave enough to get what we want.  We always have been."

Sebastian narrowed his eyes.  He could feel the venom on his tongue.  "Oh?  How's courting my sister working for you?"

Sebastian wasn't sure what reaction he was expecting from Ominis.  What Sebastian was for sure not expecting was for a blush to creep its way up Ominis's neck.  His best friend sat ramrod straight, as still as a statute.  Ominis was incapable of schooling his expression and looked like a child who was caught in a lie.

Sebastian's mouth dropped at Ominis's shift in demeanor.  While he had some suspicions over the nature of Ominis's outings beyond Hogwarts grounds, it was a different matter entirely to have confirmation that Ominis was attempting to woo his twin sister. 

The two boys were quiet, frozen in place.  The air in the dorms was stifling and awkward. 

Ominis cleared his dry throat, very comfortable with pretending that he was also selectively deaf.  "Well, anyways, it is my humble opinion that our friend is head over heels for you.  All you need to do is ask."

Sebastian threw up his arms.  He was going to get nowhere with this infuriating boy.  Giving up, he collapsed, face first, on his bed, defeated.

·͙⁺˚•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙˚⁺‧͙⁺˚•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙˚⁺‧͙⁺˚•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙˚⁺‧͙

The Hufflepuff sighed, chewing on the end of her quill.  Sitting on one of the dusty decrepit armchairs of the Undercroft, she relished in these moments of silence.  No one, student, professor, or villager, was asking anything of her.  Instead, she could simply be alone with her thoughts.

Unfortunately, her thoughts often revolved around Sebastian.

She rested her head against her fist and blew a raspberry in frustration.  The parchment before her was riddled with crossed out phrases and giant bleeding blotches of ink where her quill had paused.  She had spent the whole afternoon trying to come up with…something to say to Sebastian.  Four hours of work only to come up with nothing.  Ugh.  Why did words have to be so hard?

Maybe everyone was right.  It would be much easier just to throw him a Hufflepuff jumper and call it a day.

Before she could finalize her thoughts, the iron gates of the Undercroft swung open.  She hastily stuffed the quill and parchment into a random pocket in her bags.  She couldn't help but fix her hair, just in case it was Sebastian.

In walked the very man who had been on her mind all day.  And Sebastian Sallow looked rather miffed.  Hands already clenched in frustrations, he walked up to her.  His eyes trailed up and down her form.

"What are you wearing?" he asked without preamble.

There was a sense of deja vu at the question.  "My school uniform?  Because…I go here?  I'm a Hogwarts student?"

Sebastian frowned.  "Where's your scarf?"

She huffed.  Really?  Out of millions of important things they had to talk about: Sebastian's behavior, Anne, their maybe date, their questionable relationship status.  Her scarf was the thing he chose to fixate on?  "It's warm outside, Sebastian.  Why on earth would I be wearing a scarf in the spring?"

He scowled, now pacing unable to contain his anxiety.  So she decided not to wear his scarf anymore.  What did this mean?  This only proved Sebastian's theory that she did reject his affections.  Ominis's words of encouragement last night only worsened Sebastian's current mood.  Ominis had no idea what he was talking about.  Maybe after all this time, she finally learned the symbolism behind the gifted scarf and was appalled at Sebastian's rather forward claim on her.  Maybe the rumors were to be believed, and she was interested in Ominis.  Maybe her and Ominis "studying at the library together" actually had no studying whatsoever.  Maybe-

His thoughts got interrupted when something rather soft smacked him square in the face.  Whatever the scratchy material was had hit in right in his open eyes.  His eyes watered, stinging at the insult.

"What in Merlin's beard?"  He ripped the offending fabric off his face.

In his hands was a warm, yellow and black striped Hufflepuff scarf.  The one that she had worn throughout the fall.  The one that always managed to hide her teasing smiles and blushes.  It smelled of their shared apple tarts and a bit singed at the edges as if one of her Confringo spells exploded a bit too close for comfort.

It smelled like her. 

He looked up to catch her gaze.  She was leaning with all her weight on one foot with her arms crossed, slightly annoyed at the silly affair.

Sebastian recovered quickly.  He couldn't stop the grin from his face.  He felt like he was back to his old self, just like how he was when the two of them first met.  "Well, well, I was waiting for you to pay me back eventually.  Nice to know that Hufflepuffs have some manners."

She huffed, tired of these games and double-speak.  "You know, if you don't want it, you can always give it back."

"Now hold on,"  Sebastian cut her off, already wrapping it possessively around his neck in intricate woven pattern so tight so she couldn't even separate it from him if he tried.  "I never said I didn't appreciate the gift."

She rolled her eyes.  Walking up to him, she picked at the scarf on instinct, fluffing it in a more comfortable manner for him.  "This is frankly so dumb." 

He hummed in delight at his Hufflepuff fussing over him.  With her so close to him now, he felt like a purring Kneazle.  "Well, as dumb as you think it is, I think I look rather fetching in yellow.  Don't you think so, sweetheart?"

She choked on her spit, hands frozen on her scarf.  She missed the safety of the green and silver scarf that allowed her to hide her expressions from the world around her.  With a scarlet face, she muttered.  "Sebastian Sallow, you know I find you attractive."

Sebastian smirked, preening under her words.

Whatever speech she had drafted now forgotten in favor of venting her frustrations out onto him.  "You should also know that you drive me absolutely bonkers.  I just can't believe we had to go through this whole song and dance.  Merlin, I've been drunk on the Amortentia that is you, Sebastian Sallow, for a whole two years now." Her hands tighten the grip that she had on hers (now Sebastian's?) yellow scarf.  "I've been in love with you ever since you first took me to Hogsmeade.  Merlin's beard, Sebastian, I've taken you as my companion to every poacher duel I can think of.  We explore the most dangerous dungeons together.  We fight off foul Acromantulas together.  And it takes a silly yellow scarf for you to finally realize my feelings for you?"

She finally looked up at him, her fierce eyes finding his.  What she wasn't expecting was a rare moment of vulnerability on Sebastian's face.  The confident charming boy before her looked uncertain all of a sudden.

His rough hands reached up to gently meet hers, holding her in place.  "Why would someone as good as you want someone who's done so much evil like me?"

And therein laid the truth of Sebastian's fears.  If the savior of Hogwarts was too good for people as dull and drab as Garreth or Prewett, then in what world would she want to be with someone who had so much blood on his hands as Sebastian?  No, she deserved the best.  And it certainly wasn't someone like him.

She was flabbergasted.  She was so used to the Sebastian Sallow she first met.  The boy whose Slytherin ambitions urged him to greedily take what was rightfully his.  Where was the young brash and carefree optimistic boy whose boldness and forwardness had charmed her? 

She gently removed her hands from his.  His expression was caged off from her.  Gently, she reached up to caress his face, angling his chin slightly downwards so he could look at her in the eye.  He turned to her, like a wilting flower dying for the sun.  The walls around him melted as his knitted brow soften to look at her.

"Sebastian, you are rash and reckless.  You are possessive and incredibly jealous, even though you have no reason to be."  The other boy looked away, trying to pull away from her.  She held his chin in place forcing him to look at her.  He looked gorgeous in yellow. 

"You're also the most devoted person I know, devoted to Ominis, to Anne, to me.  You fight so fiercely to protect what is yours both on the battlefield and off of it.  Everything you have done, both the good and the awful, has been because of your love.  Everything that you are, your recklessness, your kindness, has been because of your love, your devotion to those that you care for.  How could I not fall in love with you?"

The bright joyous colors brought a sunny aura to his usual darkened expressions.  The Hufflepuff scarf around his neck made him look lighter, more open to the possibilities around him.  The hues of yellow reflected the golden flecks that were hidden in his brown eyes.

He scoffed, trying not to think too hard at her words, not willing to break into a million pieces in front of her.  "You are so brilliant, sweetheart, you could have anyone you wanted in the world.  I'm just a boy from some hamlet who couldn't even save his sister."

Her shoulders softened.  Oh, Sebastian.  "That's not true.  I am here with you, Sebastian.  I am choosing to be here with you.  I will always choose to be here with you, in this moment."

He could see her eyes dip down to look at his lips.  And with that, it was like the weak dam to his flood of emotions was broken.  He surged forward catching her lips in his.  His hands flew up to cup both sides of her face, marveling at the beauty he was holding.  She responded in turn, throwing her hands around his neck.  She met the storm that was Sebastian with equal ferocity.  Her lips pressed forward, almost bruising him with the passionate intention behind it. 

He could feel the curl of her smile against his.  Her long eyelashes fluttered against his cheeks as if they were kissing the freckles that they found there.  She smelled of their shared apple tarts, and her lips were warm against his.  In her arms, he felt safe, like the world was created just for the two of them.

Lungs dying, he could barely stand ripping himself away from her.  He rested his forehead against hers, not wanting to let go of this moment even for a second.  His thumb was still caressing her cupped face, marveling at the miracle that was the savior of Hogwarts. 

"You should know, you are never getting your scarf back."  Sebastian quipped. 

She let out a breath of laughter.  Sebastian eagerly chased it with another quick kiss.  Later, much, much later, after he was finished kissing his darling silly, he'll walk out the Undercroft with a yellow scarf around his neck holding hands with his Hufflepuff wearing that green scarf of hers. 

[girl-named-matty]

Your child shows signs of magic - Modern AU

Your child shows their first signs of magic Tags: Fluff, chaos. Parings: Sebastian x reader, Ominis x reader, Garreth x Reader, Leander x reader, Natty x reader, Imelda x reader, Poppy x reader. .

requested by @celestial--sapphic a/n: this was so fun to make lol

taglist: @endeavour12345, @poet-lost-in-space, @littlexredxhoneyxbadger, @savingsallow, @enderwings12

[crimsonedquill]

Two Snakes And A Badger: Chapter III

Pairing: Imelda Reyes x f!MC x Poppy Sweeting

Summary: Poppy faces down her past. A bond is strengthened, and consummated. (Or: The Sexual Awakening of Poppy Sweeting)

Word count: 12.4k

Content warning: NSFW (18+). Minors DNI. Very soft and wholesome smut, cunnilingus, fingering, threesome, fluff, lots of feels, angst, confronting past trauma, sunflower trio being my absolute life force

Link to Chapter I Link to Chapter II

A/N: I just realised the past chapters each took me like a month but I've been so much looking forward to writing this one that the words just kept flowing and... here we are.

I'll be honest, this might just be the most wholesome piece of writing I've ever penned down. It's got angst, fluff, really steamy and soft smut... just happy feels all around. I hope those of you who have been following this series (or are maybe just discovering it) enjoy reading it as much as I did bringing it to life 🖤

You turned and twisted in your bed, letting out a frustrated sigh as any hope of sleep kept eluding you. You tried to think of anything to wear out your mind, even resorting to reciting potion recipes at one point, though you knew it would be of no use. Whatever attempts you made, your thoughts kept drifting back to that big, nameless void deep inside you, plaguing you with doubt, making you ask the same questions over and over again.

It wasn’t that you had anything to be discontent with – far from it, in fact. Over the past few months, your relationship with Imelda and Poppy had steadily blossomed, giving you something new to appreciate almost every single day. You were enjoying each other so much, always spending time together after class, studying on the stands during Imelda’s trainings or laughing at each other as you took turns trying to catch a Diricawl. There had been the curious looks and the expected rumours, of course, but over time the general Hogwarts populace seemed to have accepted the idea that you were just really an odd bunch of close friends. It probably also helped that Imelda didn’t shy back from threatening to curse anyone who dared to speak as much as an ill word of Poppy – which had turned out to be a source of ample amusement between you and the Hufflepuff.

Hell, even your sex life didn’t leave much to be desired. Imelda had always been a feisty vixen, but having an audience seemed to have brought out an even wilder side of her that was capable of doing things you had never thought humanly possible. And that didn’t even include how much of a turn-on it was for you to have Poppy watch while you fucked each other senseless. Perhaps it had taken some getting used to, but nowadays it was weirder to not have her there than the other way around. Also, you had to admit it was kind of hot to have Imelda constantly snog you and pinch your arse in Poppy’s presence as a way of teasing you both. You were glad she was comfortable enough to be part of your dynamic like this, even though maybe it wasn’t as intimate as it could be.

So what was it then that was bothering you so much? Was there any way in which you had failed them? Was there anything you hadn’t been completely honest about, either to them or to yourself? Were you really happy with the way things had been going between you three?

Your thoughts were interrupted by a weight shifting onto your bed, sliding behind you under the sheets. You felt a firm presence pressing up to your back as an arm wrapped around your waist. A warm breath tickled your ear.

“Bad dreams?” you whispered, your words slipping into a smile.

“I figured you could do with some company,” replied Imelda. “I have a sense for these things, you know.”

“You’re so considerate,” you chuckled, snuggling closer against her. “Almost makes me think you’ve gone soft.”

“Right. The sacrifices I make,” She lifted her head, planting a soft kiss right below your ear. The physical relief grounded you, allowing you to focus on something other than your thoughts for a moment. “In all seriousness though, are you all right? I’ve noticed you’ve been a little out of it lately.”

So she had caught on too. You weren’t truly surprised, but you weren’t immediately eager to tell her the full truth either.

“I don’t know,” you said. “It’s probably nothing.”

Imelda snorted. “Yeah, you always say that when something’s up. You can talk to me, you know. I’m not actually allergic to feelings.”

Part of you wondered whether there was any use to making up an excuse, but then again, you weren’t sure why you were always so resistant to being open about your emotions either. It wasn’t like you were doing a very stellar job handling them yourself, after all.

You sighed, taking hold of her hand. “I suppose it’s just… Mel, do you think I’ve been doing the right thing?”

Imelda was quiet for a few seconds before answering. “Elaborate.”

“Well,” you said, turning over so you were facing her, “I tell myself that I’m happy, and I am, though I keep wondering… have I been taking the right approach? Isn’t there more I could do to make this easier for you two?”

She cocked an eyebrow. “You make it sound as if we didn’t want this as much as you do. We’re in this all together, MC.”

“I know that. It’s just… I suppose I feel responsible, in a way. I was the one who suggested we get together in the first place, and even though I know you wanted it as well… I can’t help but feel like I dragged you along in something that perhaps none of us were really ready for.”

Imelda was silent for another minute, turning your words over in her head. Soon enough though, she shrugged. “Maybe we were, maybe we weren’t. I don’t see why that matters now. We’re happy together, aren’t we?”

“I guess. But, you know, aren’t you slightly regretting that we never got to see where our relationship would have taken us?”

This time it took her a bit longer to answer. Her eyes darted down before meeting yours again. “No,” she said. “Like I told you, I don’t think it was a relationship I would have been happy with. And in fairness, I did take a risk on you the first time, so it wasn’t too big of a leap the second time around.”

Even though you had not truly expected her to harbour any regrets, it was still a relief to hear that Imelda wasn’t blaming you for anything. Noticing your pensive look, she brought a hand up and lightly touched your chin. “Hey, this was as much my choice as it was yours. It’s not some thrill thing I was after, if that’s what you’re thinking. I wanted to be a part of this because I love you, both of you.”

You smiled softly. “I’m glad. I… well, I hope Poppy feels the same way.”

“Of course. Why wouldn’t she?”

“Well… it’s just that I remember how big of a step it was for her to come out of her shell and even trust me… so I merely hope that I didn’t rush her into anything. I know that this must be more daunting for her than for either one of us.”

“I think you underestimate her,” Imelda countered. “For all the bad your little fuck-up did, it did bring us a lot closer together. After I talked her out of feeling guilty over what happened, she confessed how much she envied our relationship – you should have seen her face when I told her I wouldn’t mind if she started dating you as well. I think, letting her be a part of this – of us –, was the greatest gift you could have given her.”

“You really think so?” you asked, hesitatingly. “I don’t know… it feels like she’s still holding back sometimes. She only ever watches when we’re getting intimate, after all.”

“I thought you liked it when she watches,” Imelda replied, adding a playful smirk.

“Shut up,” you said, giving her a light shove. “You know what I mean.”

“Look, you just need to give her some time. Our relationship was all about sex before it turned into something more. I think she wants it to be more than that. She’ll come around when she feels ready to.”

“I suppose you have a point.” You knew she was right, actually; as tempting as it was to fret about all the things you could do better, you also knew that some things just couldn’t be rushed.

“Hey,” she said, touching your cheek to draw your gaze. “Stop worrying your pretty little head so much. We both see all the effort you’re putting into making this work. You just need to remember that you can’t keep carrying the entire world on your shoulders.”

“Yeah, I know,” you sighed, finding a new sense of strength in her assurance. “You’re right, as always.”

“Just you remember it.” She planted a tender kiss on your forehead. “Now, go to sleep. Nurse’s orders.”

You smiled as you turned over once more, wrapping yourself into her warm embrace. “Will you stay and hold me like this for a bit?”

“Of course. I’ll be here when you wake up.”

Soothed by her promise, you allowed yourself until the clutches of sleep were finally coming for you, carrying you away to darker depths. Imelda’s arms were like a comforting blanket, keeping you safe from the doubts and the anxieties, reminding you that sometimes all that mattered were the simple things in the world – and there was plenty for you to have.

––

The next morning, the two of you got dressed and headed out to the Great Hall to see Poppy, as usual. When you arrived, however, you noticed to your confusion that the Hufflepuff was neither sitting at the table with her housemates, nor waiting for you at the secluded spot you sometimes used for sneaky greeting kisses. You and Imelda looked around for a while before meeting back at the Slytherin table.

“You haven’t seen her either?” you asked.

Imelda shook her head. “Not at the usual places. I’ll go ask Adelaide, maybe she overslept.”

While your fellow Slytherin set out to inquire after Poppy’s whereabouts, you tried venturing some guesses of your own. You weren’t instantly assuming something was wrong – after all, she might have merely come down with something – but it was hard to ignore the voice nagging at the edge of her mind. It was difficult to imagine industrious Poppy Sweeting oversleeping, or being late to anything, for that matter.

Fortunately, Imelda returned with at least some news. “Adelaide says she left their dorm early this morning. Packed up a bunch of things and bolted without saying where she was going, apparently.”

It was as if a cold fist closed itself around your heart. “Oh Merlin,” you cursed. “I know where she’s headed.”

Imelda looked at you questioningly. “Care to fill me in?”

“There’s no time. We’ve got to get to the Forbidden Forest, now.”

She didn’t need another word; the urgency in your voice had told her all she needed to know. “We can use my broom,” she said, already starting towards the flying grounds. You followed close behind, desperately hoping that for Merlin’s sake, you wouldn’t be too late.

––

“Mind finally telling me what we’re looking for?” Imelda yelled over her shoulder. Beneath you, a sea of meadows and the occasional cluster of trees zipped by as you soared across the highlands. Your eyes were fixated on the perimeter of dark oaks held back by a small, meandering river, searching for any sign of life amongst the crooked trees.

“She should be around somewhere,” you yelled without looking away. “She often uses this stretch as a staging area! Look for Highwing!”

Imelda gave a small nod in understanding, leaning forward on her broom to accelerate. You were trying very hard to channel all your attention into finding Poppy, though even so, it was difficult not to feel upset at the entire situation. Why had she not mentioned anything to you or Imelda? Had she felt that she couldn’t trust you for some reason? It didn’t make sense – you had accompanied her many times before, so why had she decided to cut you off now?

Finally, you noticed a shift in Imelda’s trajectory as you started plunging downwards. Strengthening your grip on her waist, you peeked over her shoulder and noticed the welcome sight of a white Hippogriff against the tree line. Imelda made a dive right for the spot, not slowing down until you nearly crashed into the ground. You wasted no time in climbing off the broom and running towards Highwing. The creature lifted its head to look at you as you approached, emitting a single surprised-sounding squeak.

Imelda came to stand next to you. “So? Where is she?”

“She must have already entered the forest,” you concluded. “But she can’t have gotten far. Come, let’s find her.”

The two of you formed up in a single line and made your way into the forest. The trees quickly began closing in on you, forcing you to light your wands to make out your surroundings. You were at least thankful Poppy had made little effort to cover her tracks, leaving you the occasional small footprint in the mud to follow.

“I’ll tell you what, she could at least have found a more decent place to host a surprise party,” Imelda growled behind you.

“I’m just dying to know what’s gotten into her,” you sighed, shaking your head. “I knew she could be reckless, but she’s never blindsided me like this before. Why didn’t she at least tell us?”

“Perhaps because she predicted we would insist on coming with her? It’s not that complicated, you know.”

Your fist tightened around your wand. “Well, she didn’t have the right. She can’t just put her life on the line like this and expect us to do nothing.”

Driven by a sudden bout of anger, you were so caught up in your marching that you were a little thrown off when Imelda put a hand on your shoulder and forced you to stop. “Hey, I’m not saying that I disagree,” she said, looking you straight in the eye. “But remember to count to ten before you open your mouth. You don’t want to say anything you’ll come to regret later.”

The irony of Imelda Reyes telling you to cool it was not lost on you, though you ultimately knew her to be right. After all, you had made a promise, and you doubted whatever reason Poppy might have had for surprising you like this was worth jeopardising your relationship over.

You pushed her hand away, letting out a sigh. “Let’s just concentrate on finding her, all right? I just want to make sure she’s safe.”

Without waiting for her reply, you continued pushing forward. As you made your way deeper and deeper, you started to get increasingly worried about the possibility of something having happened to the Hufflepuff, though before you had any chance to properly panic, Imelda forced you to stop again.

“What is it now?” you asked, annoyance growing in your voice.

“Hush,” she hissed. “I heard something. It might be –”

Without warning, a bright flash shot right past your ear and struck a tree behind you. You immediately swivelled around, flinging a curse of your own in the direction the spell had come from. Unsure of whether you had hit your intended target, you and Imelda assumed an offensive position, wands pointed at your mysterious target.

“Whoever you are, you better come out before we blast you to pieces,” Imelda called out. You held your breath as you waited for a reply, the sound of your heart beating madly in your chest the only disturbance, though the response wasn’t exactly what you had expected.

“MC? Imelda?”

You lowered your wand with an audible sigh of relief as a small figure appeared from the trees. She pulled her hood back, revealing a pair of confused brown eyes. “What are you doing here?”

“What does it look like?” you responded, slightly more aggressive than you had intended. You felt Imelda throwing you a cautious glance, though she didn’t say anything. “What were you thinking, coming out here by yourself? You’re pursuing poachers again, aren’t you?”

“Would you please keep your voice down?” Poppy snapped back, the commanding tone in her voice catching you off guard. “They might have a patrol nearby. I’d rather not have you draw them straight towards us.”

After taking a minute to calm yourself, you nodded to signal to her that you were ready to behave. She took a deep breath and looked up to meet your eye. “Look, I meant to tell you, and I would have. But my window of opportunity was closing fast, and there was simply no time to ask you along, so I did what was necessary.”

“Why didn’t you at least let us know where you were going?” you asked. “It wouldn’t have been too difficult to leave us a message.”

“Because…” She hesitated, briefly, before proceeding, “Because I didn’t want to make it easy for you to follow me.”

So, there it was. She really had not wanted you to find her. But why? What was the reason for this stunning betrayal?

“Poppy, I don’t know why you think you can’t trust us, but –”

“You misunderstand,” Poppy said. “It’s not a matter of trust. It’s just that… this is something I needed to do on my own.”

“But we’re your friends. You can’t possibly expect us to –”

“I understand,” Imelda said.

You and Poppy immediately fell silent at the voice of the Slytherin. She looked straight at Poppy, leaning on her broom. “Really, I do,” she said. Obviously this is important to you, so much so that you felt you could only rely on yourself to handle it. I used to think the same for most of my life – only trusting myself, pushing away everyone because they would never be able to be as serious as I was. You might think of it as a strength, but it won’t feel that way when it really matters. I wish I had found that out for myself sooner.”

Rarely had you heard her speak with such a solemnity before – the last time, as far as you could remember, was that night when she had opened up about her feelings for you in the Slytherin common room. You knew her message was more directed at Poppy than you, of course, though that didn’t mean you were any less stirred by it.

You turned back to the Hufflepuff. “Please,” you urged, “we know it’s not for us to interfere. But at least allow us to protect you. It would destroy us to see you get hurt.”

At last, and to your great relief, Poppy nodded. “All right then. But we must be quick about it, and I would ask you to follow my lead at all times.”

“Of course.” You were pretty sure you would have agreed to any condition at this point; so relieved you were that she had at last decided to put her faith in you.

You resumed your journey together, Poppy in front, Imelda behind. You walked in silence for a while, keeping your ears peeled for any unnatural sounds from the forest around you. After a few moments, Poppy slowed her pace to allow you to catch up with her.

“I would have told you, truly,” she whispered.

“I know,” you replied. “I’m sorry I reacted so harshly. I was just worried sick about you.”

A spark of gratitude shimmered in her eyes. “To be perfectly honest, I was already having regrets from the moment I departed the castle. For what it’s worth, I was relieved to see you both, even if I didn’t say as much at the time.”

“Well, all of that doesn’t matter now. We’re in this together. And we will always look out for you, no matter what.”

That being said, you couldn’t help but feel some lingering uncertainty about her lack of elaboration. You thought back to the conversation you’d had with Imelda last night, the reservations you’d expressed about Poppy’s part in your relationship. You figured it would at least be worth prodding a little.

“By the way,” you said, “if for whatever reason you feel as if you need to prove something to Imelda and me –”

Poppy shook her head. “Oh no, that’s not it at all. My motivations are strictly personal, as with the other times… it’s simply about righting wrongs. Making up for the destruction my parents have wrought.”

You felt an instant pang of sympathy. At the same time, you knew it would be useless to try convincing her that her parents’ choices weren’t in any way her fault, having had that conversation many times before. So instead, you asked, “Clearly this time is different, though. This isn’t some simple rescue mission, is it?”

Poppy hesitated before replying, “I… I managed to intercept a communication a few days ago. I had been tracking this group for a while, so I easily deduced that it must have come from them. But the peculiar thing was that the note bore a seal I recognised – it was the same seal stamped on several letters my Gran kept at her home. That’s when I realised… the seal meant that this particular group was affiliated with my parents.”

Your eyes widened at the discovery. “That’s…” you said, trying to find the right words, “does that mean –”

Poppy shook her head. “They never stayed long with any group. They were a paranoid lot, rightfully so – always worried someone would tell on them or try to steal their… ‘merchandise’. But that doesn’t mean I have any less of an obligation to burn every trace of them to the ground.”

The belligerent fire in her voice may have surprised Imelda, but not you; at last you understood. This was not some heroic effort, or even a selfless rescue mission, for that matter. Poppy was here to bring cold vengeance – and you were merely along for the ride.

After trekking through some more miles of dense forest, the three of you finally reached the edge of the poacher compound. You managed to find a secluded spot up on an elevated stretch of terrain that allowed you a good look at the camp’s layout. Beckoning you closer, Poppy pointed out the difficulties you would face in your approach. “See how they’ve clustered all the cages at the centre? Very clever – they’ve made sure to cover every path leading into the camp. It’s most likely that their patrols are randomised as well, so even if one were to be able to sneak past their defences and get to the animals, they’d almost certainly be caught if they tried to make their way out.”

“Doesn’t seem like they want to make it any easier for us,” you grumbled. “So, what is your plan? We can’t exactly go in wands blazing.”

“Quite simple now that you’re here, actually. We cause a distraction.”

“But how? You just said they will be able to see us coming from every direction.”

“But not from the sky,” said Imelda.

You assumed she was merely trying to lighten the mood at first, but when you saw her clutching her broom with an all too familiar look in her eyes, you honestly wished she had been. “Don’t even think about it,” you said firmly as you shook your head, “it’s far too dangerous –”

“No more dangerous than if we were to storm in there together,” Imelda countered. “It makes perfect sense. I can swoop in and out before they even realise what hit them, which should give you enough time to release the beasts and make your escape.”

“But there must be some other way,” you maintained. “You can’t be out there risking your neck all by yourself –”

“Be realistic, MC, it’s not like we have the luxury of being picky here,” Imelda snapped back, her tone growing more annoyed. “It’s the best option we have right now. You know that they won’t be able to catch me as long as I stay on my broom. I won’t take any unnecessary risks.”

You knew she made sense, of course; even Poppy conveyed as much by not saying anything. You sighed before conceding. “All right. But at the first hint of trouble, you turn back and get to safety. Don’t try to pull off any stupid heroics.”

She didn't say anything, which you supposed was as good as you would get from her. After exchanging one more look with you both, Imelda turned around and snuck away through the bushes.

The two of you turned back to spying on the compound, trying to find the best route for approaching. As the gravity of the situation finally started weighing down on your shoulders, though, you couldn’t help but keep looking up at the sky now and then, anxious to see a sign of Imelda.

Perhaps in an effort to calm your nerves, Poppy said, “She’s a very brave soul, that one.”

“I don’t know if it’s so much brave as reckless,” you sighed. “I truly hope she’s not going to try anything stupid.”

Poppy placed a hand on your wrist. “She’s as safe as she can be up there. We will be facing the greatest risk – we will need to be ready as soon as she launches her distraction.”

“You’re right,” you nodded, grateful that the Hufflepuff at least had a better sense of mind than you did. “Just… let’s try to be swift about this, all right? I know how much this means to you, but I don’t want you to get hurt.”

You were afraid to look at her, expecting to see that vengeful flame burning in her eyes, though a wave of relief washed over you when you saw a familiar sparkle of innocence. She flashed you a soft smile, briefly touching your cheek. “Don’t worry, I won’t try anything rash. I… I’m glad I’m not facing this alone, MC.”

Before you could respond, you heard a loud screeching sound, followed by a blast that nearly knocked you off your feet. You turned just in time to see one of the tents exploding in a large ball of fire, a barely visible shadow shooting through the black fumes.

“Well, she certainly didn’t waste any time,” you cursed under your breath. “Let’s move!”

And so you set off, using the cover of the distraction to make your approach. Imelda reduced a few more tents to ashes as you slipped through the bushes and past the makeshift fortifications, which were quickly all abandoned. The poachers had devolved into a complete state of disarray, shouts of panic and rage filling the air as shadows sped past you, paying no attention to you at all.

You managed to reach the cases without too much trouble, only having had to dispatch one stray trapper with a Body-Bind Curse. Poppy quickly turned to you, holding out her hand. “There’s no time to catch them all. Hand me the Nabsack, I’ll rescue the weakest while you set the other ones free.”

You nodded in understanding, conjuring the bag and throwing it over to Poppy. After you split up, you hurried over to the cage holding the Mooncalves, pointing your wand at the lock and disposing of it with a well-aimed Unlocking Charm. As you watched the quirky creatures practically jump over each other in their rush to escape, your thoughts returned to your girls, wondering how they were faring. Your heart was pumping rapidly, adrenaline flowing through your veins, panic threatening to overwhelm you at every turn. Something was wrong. You hadn’t heard anything from Imelda since she had attacked the camp, and freeing the animals was taking far too much time for your liking. You should return to Poppy and make your escape; you couldn’t allow yourselves to get caught.

No, you thought, slapping some sense into yourself. Your collective success depended as much on you as the others; the best way you could protect your friends was by moving fast, and ceasing this meaningless maelstrom of dread.

So you set about finishing your mission, moving from cage to cage, opening the doors without wasting a single second. The risk of being caught at any moment pressed on your mind, though you simply ignored it, not allowing yourself to fall victim to your own hesitance.

At last, you reached the final cage, which contained a large Thestral and a smaller one – presumably a family. You removed the lock with a flick of your wand and pushed the door open, but the mature Thestral didn’t budge, merely looking at you before she went back to nursing her calf.

“Well, come on then,” you hissed, beckoning the pair. After your call went unanswered again, you moved into the cage, trying to see what was wrong. You had to circle a few times before you finally noticed the calf was limping; approaching cautiously, you discerned a large gash running down one of its hind legs.

“Animals,” you growled under your breath. The wound did not seem to run deep, though you had no way of knowing whether it was infected, and you lacked the expertise to apply any sort of treatment. Poppy would need to have a look, but this meant that you would need to find a way to get the creatures out of here, fast.

Aiming your wand, you stood back and tried to get the larger Thestral’s attention. “Step away,” you said, hoping at least your meaning would get through. But the mother was defiant, letting out a snort as she refused to leave her young.

“Listen, I wish to help you,” you tried again, enunciating each word. “But you have to step aside so I can move your young one.”

Still no response. Well, this clearly wasn’t working. Seeing as you had no other option, you pocketed your wand and strode over to the small Thestral. The mother eyed you warily, but you gently placed your hands on the black leathery skin to make your intentions plain. “See, I mean you no harm. Please let me help.”

You saw your reflection captured in the misty orbs, nostrils flaring, though there was no protest as you moved to lift the calf from the ground. The young was heavy, but you somehow managed to pick its delicate body up in your arms, carefully adjusting your hands so as not to inflict any needless discomfort. The mother followed close behind as you began carrying the creature out of the cage. By now most of the compound was covered in thick black smoke, obscuring any landmarks you might have been able to use to find your way back, so you simply kept pressing forward, hoping you wouldn’t run into any poachers. Every once in a while a yell in the distance would cause you to increase your pace, gritting your teeth against the weight of the body in your arms, which started to feel even heavier with every passing minute.

Finally, you reached a clearing which you seemed to recall connecting to one of the entrances of the camp. You hurried along, ignoring the wailing Thestral in your arms, feeling the breath of its mother down your neck. Just a few more meters… almost in the clear… you would have to –

“Stop right there!”

A red curse shot right over your head, causing you to freeze in your tracks. A gravelly voice called out to you, “Looks like I caught myself an intruder. Are you just going to leave without saying goodbye, you little pest?”

Turning around slowly, you faced the poacher, the mother Thestral taking shelter behind your back. You sensed her anxiety, the sound of her rapid breathing and the silent cries of the young filling you with rage. You wouldn’t have minded an opportunity to renovate this brute’s face with a Blasting Curse, though unfortunately you were unable to reach your wand like this.

“I already suspected you were just a bunch of pitiful vermin,” the poacher scoffed, keeping his wand aimed at your chest. “Where are your friends? Ran off back to school?”

“Like I’d ever tell someone as vile and cruel as you,” you spit back. “You’ve lost. We’ve released every single one of the creatures you took back into the wild, where they belong.”

The poacher’s expression hardened, a scowl etched into a solid rock. “Creatures can be recaptured. You, on the other hand –” he lifted his wand – “I think we’ll just have to write you off.”

Your sense of time eluded you, slowing down every single movement. An almost serene tranquillity washed over you as you watched the poacher prepare to kill all three of you with one simple incantation. This wasn’t supposed to happen. You hadn’t made peace with your fate yet, not really; after all, there was so much more of your life to live, so much to be explored. There was Imelda, fierce and brave like the valkyries of old tales, and Poppy, sweet Poppy with her kind heart and her majestic strength. Would they be able to live on without you? They would still have each other, after all, but it was hard to imagine anyone living with that kind of hole in their heart…

Just as you braced yourself for the green flash and the light to disappear before your eyes, then, suddenly a different voice cried out, “Expulso!”

The poacher managed to deflect the curse just in time, but was nevertheless forced backwards by the sheer power behind it. From the black curtain at the edge of the clearing emerged Poppy, clenching her wand, her eyes blazing with a kind of fury you had never seen before.

“Leave them alone, you bastard!” she yelled.

The poacher, having recovered from Poppy’s surprise attack, bared his teeth. “Well, if it isn’t little Poppy Sweeting, all grown up. You must be a special kind of foolish to come back here, girl.”

The Hufflepuff didn’t back down. “I’ve sat by and watched all of you inflict your terror upon innocent beings long enough. I’m not going to let you hurt my friend as well.”

They began circling each other, Poppy moving in front of you and the Thestrals. You contemplated grabbing your wand to come to her aid, but you feared any unexpected moves would only provoke your adversary.

“Your parents were right about you,” the poacher said. “Such a disappointment you grew up to be. If you were of my own blood, I would have put you down where you stood.”

The fire in Poppy’s eyes grew stronger. Tears burned in their cores. But her voice was powerful, never once breaking under the strain of countless emotions.

“Disowning me was the kindest thing my parents have ever done for me,” she spoke. “I was nothing but another piece of merchandise to them, ready to be cast aside the moment I no longer wanted to serve your evil purposes. I won’t allow you to carry on their hateful legacy, even if I have to destroy every last bit.”

“If only you fought as well as you talked. Let’s see it if you’re willing to do what it takes, then.” the poacher growled, and with the last word he flung a spell at her, which she barely managed to parry. She immediately followed up with a curse of her own, though he was quick to deflect it.

“Pathetic!” he yelled. “Come on – fight me like you mean it!”

Another exchange of spells lit up the clearing. Poppy held her own, but the poacher was better. You felt so useless watching her, wishing there was some way you could offer her help, but you couldn’t risk the Thestrals’ lives.

A Blasting Curse forced the small Hufflepuff backwards, nearly knocking her over. She was panting heavily, trying to keep her wand steady, keeping her eyes on her foe. Merlin, you couldn’t bear to watch this much longer –

“You were never able to do what’s necessary!” the poacher yelled. “You’re a pathetic, weak little girl, and I will break you like a twig –”

But then it happened. Poppy changed, transformed almost, the fire in her eyes spreading to envelop all of her body. Your breathing shallowed as you regarded her in all her furious glory; she was no longer a shy, small girl, but a stunning young woman, exuding all the power of a fierce warrior.

“Enough!” she screamed, and she unleashed a barrage of spells on the poacher, her wand becoming an invisible blur as it flicked up and down, firing off curse after curse. Eyes bulging, the man tried deflecting her attack, but then let out a cry of rage as a spell hit him squarely across the chest. He stumbled backwards and gripped the front of his robe, his eyes merely red orbs as he looked up at the Hufflepuff. “You’ll pay for that, you miserable –”

“Hey, arsehole!” came a voice from above. “Fire in the hole!”

The poacher’s roar was lost in a massive blast as the ground behind him exploded, the impact sending mud and patches of grass flying everywhere. You weren’t particularly eager to wait for him to get up again, so you snapped out of your reverie and yelled for Poppy. The girl seemed to return to her old self again as she blinked and quickly pocketed her wand, rushing to help you. “Wait, let me –”

She took the Nabsack and caught both of the Thestrals, finally allowing you some relief. Your breath was not to be wasted on talking, though. She grabbed you by your elbow and the two of you started running away from the compound, not looking back for one second, expecting to hear the yelling of pursuing poachers any moment. Your heart stopped when a large shadow fell over you, panic quickly turning to elation when you saw its owner.

“Highwing!”

The Hippogriff let out a triumphant cry, swiftly striking down a few meters ahead of you. Poppy quickly mounted her and pulled you up, and before you knew it you were safely up in the sky, the traces of black smoke behind you slowly shrinking on the horizon as you glided across the sea of dark leaves.

You relished in the feeling of the soft breeze against your cheeks, your heartbeat slowly assuming its normal rhythm. When you noticed neither of you had said anything ever since you escaped, you softly tapped Poppy on her shoulder. “Hey, are you all right?”

To your relief, you noticed the innocent spark had returned to her eyes, though it almost was as if something was different about it – it seemed brighter, more alive.

“I couldn’t be better,” she smiled. “Thank you.”

You were suddenly interrupted by a laugh, and Poppy you and both turned to see Imelda flying next to you, looking as if she had just come straight off a victorious Quidditch match. “Let’s fucking go!” she yelled, slapping her broom. “We properly kicked their arses, didn’t we?”

Chuckling, you concluded, “I suppose we make a pretty good team.”

“I’d say we do,” Poppy replied, her sweet laugh filling the skies.

––

“There, good as new.”

The Hufflepuff stepped back from the Thestral calf, which curiously sniffed at the new cast around its leg. It tried walking a few steps, and then suddenly burst forward, frolicking joyfully around the bog as its mother kept a watchful eye.

“Looks like we’re not the only ones with an appreciation for your talents,” you chuckled as you observed the peaceful scene, leaning against one of the trees with your arms crossed. Poppy tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and smiled at you. “I’m just glad I could help. You did all the heavy lifting, quite literally.”

“What can I say, I was glad to do my part,” you shrugged. She grinned sheepishly before suddenly being alerted by the loud croaking of one of the Giant Purple Toads. Swivelling on her feet, she let out a cry of surprise. “Oh no, naughty girl! You can’t eat Walter!”

You could hardly resist the temptation of a giggle as Poppy hurried after the calf, who was now happily chasing the toad through the vivarium. Tearing your gaze away from the hilarious sight for a moment, you noticed Imelda approaching through the entrance, dressed in casual attire like the rest of you.

“No need to worry about our absences today,” she reported once she reached you. “I told Kogawa I had you two help out with a special Quidditch training. She scolded me for not clearing it with her beforehand, but I think she bought it.”

“That’s the second time you rescued us from certain demise today,” you laughed. “There is such a thing as overdoing it, you know.”

“Oh, shut up. You love it when I get to act cocky.” She wrapped an arm around your shoulders, pulling you close. You smiled as she kissed your cheek. “In fairness, you weren’t so bad yourself,” she said.

“Hm? Had any more ‘interesting’ thoughts while you watched me give it to those big bad poachers?

“Honestly? I was more concerned you would end up getting yourself killed by accident. But I’m glad you had enough luck to pull through.”

“Yeah, fuck you too.”

You shared a chuckle between yourselves. Leaning her head on your shoulder, Imelda looked at Poppy, who was shepherding the excited Thestral calf back to its mother. “I will say, that feisty badger… never knew she had that side to her. She was like a Hungarian Horntail out there.”

“I don’t think she ever meant for us to see that side,” you said. “Though I’m glad that we did. It takes a lot of courage to face down your past like that. And yet she never showed anything but strength… everything around her seemed much less real, as if she was the only thing that truly made sense.”

Imelda gave you a sideward glance. “Sounds like you have a little crush on her.”

You smiled back. “Don’t you?”

At last, Poppy returned. A vibrant, healthy glow made her face seem almost ethereal, and she flashed you that particular kind of toothy smile that made you feel warm and fuzzy in your stomach. “Imelda! I’m so glad you’re with us again.”

“I couldn’t leave you alone with MC for too long, now, could I,” Imelda grinned. “How are our new guests settling in?”

“Oh, they’re doing just wonderful! The injured creatures are all patched up and should be back on their feet soon. The Thestral is an excited little rascal, though, so I merely hope she doesn’t exert herself too much before we are able to remove the cast.” She skipped a beat before adding sheepishly, “Of course, they all have you both to thank.”

“Don’t be silly,” Imelda retorted. “They’d still be stuck in their predicament if it wasn’t for you. We just did what you told us to do.”

Poppy gingerly rubbed her elbow. “Even so, I can’t ignore what you have done for me. You put yourself in harm’s way, risked your lives… all for me.”

“Of course,” you said. “There’s no way we would have let you face this alone. We share a bond. Wherever you go, we go.”

When she looked up to you again, you seemed to notice just the flimsiest mist of tears in her eyes. You couldn’t exactly fault her; a strong sense of love was filling you as well, making you feel tingly all over.

“I admit… seeing you two display so much bravery… makes me want to be brave as well,” she said, her voice solemn. “I’ve given this much thought, but I now feel that my heart is ready. So, I have one more request to make of you.”

You felt your chest tightening. Was this really…? Could it be…?

“Name it,” said Imelda, who hardly sounded any less excited than you were. Poppy stepped forward, taking Imelda’s hand in one hand, and yours in the other. She looked at you both, her gaze filled with love.

“I would like for you… to be my firsts,” she said.

Merlin, you couldn’t have been more ecstatic even if you tried. At last she was ready to become even closer to you, to give all of herself to the both of you. Understanding the solemnity of her wish, you cast a look at Imelda, who returned your gesture with a grin.

“Well, I suppose we can’t really say no to that,” you smiled. “Will we do it… now?”

“Might be as good a time as any,” Imelda said with a nonchalant shrug. “Who cares about school, am I right?”

Poppy let out a nervous giggle. “I would very much like for it to happen now. I can’t bear to wait any longer… I want to be with you.”

“All right then,” you nodded, elation adding to excitement. “Though we probably should find a more private place. I know I said I like audiences, but…”

“Say no more,” Imelda said, letting go of Poppy’s hand to lead the way back to the vivarium entrance, “I know just the spot!”

You looked back at the Hufflepuff, meeting her gaze. “Shall we?”

She nodded eagerly, which elicited a chuckle from you. So pure, so innocent she was – you could hardly wait until you would be able to explore her in all her precious, bare glory.

Taking her by the hand, you led her out of the vivarium, following Imelda towards the bedroom on the other side of your Room of Requirement.

“I’m so glad you decided to share yourself with us,” you said.

Poppy smiled softly. “I confess I feel a little nervous, but I’m also relieved. Before, it would always feel like I was intruding on you two while you… you know. I suppose that’s what made it exciting. But I realised that I wanted more, and now I know that I have nothing to fear with both of you around.”

“Of course not.” You leaned over to whisper to her. “To be perfectly honest, I’ve wanted you ever since that first kiss.”

The revelation made her tremble with delight. You couldn’t resist a mischievous smile, squeezing her hand affectionately. This was going to be better than you could have ever imagined.

You walked into the large bedroom together as Imelda went around lighting the candles with her wand. A flick of your own wand made the deep blue curtains of the four-poster bed slide open, the altar of your imminent bonding revealing itself in all its glory. You felt Poppy’s grip tightening at its sight.

“We don’t have to rush it,” you assured her. “How about I start kissing you and we’ll see where that takes us?”

She looked up at you with a deep blush blooming on her cheeks. “I-I’d like that very much.”

You smiled as you gently cupped her face, dipping your head to reach her lips. You started slow, like always, giving her ample opportunity to set her own pace, though once you sensed she was ready for more you let the tip of your tongue slip through to press for entrance. She parted her lips, a sigh melting into your warmth before your tongue slid into her mouth.

Merlin, she tasted so sweet. Her moves were a bit hesitant, and the way she awkwardly danced around your tongue betrayed more than a fair amount of inexperience, though the passion with which she latched onto you made more than up for it. She emitted a cute little whimper when you closed your lips around her tongue, causing the corners of your mouth to rise up into a smile.

“Well, look what we have here,” a familiar voice purred. “You weren’t thinking of keeping her all to yourself, were you, MC?”

You begrudgingly broke off to see Imelda standing next to you, arms crossed. You didn’t really want to stop; it was so much fun to kiss Poppy. If the Slytherin hadn’t stopped you, you might have just ended up devouring her.

But you knew you had to play fair. Sharing was caring, and besides, it seemed like there was plenty of Poppy to go around. So you gave her away, enjoying the longing gaze in her lovely brown eyes before she turned her attention to her other lover. There was not a single shred of envy or jealousy in your heart as you watched them start to make out. You relished the way Imelda closed her eyes and slightly twisted her head to have better access as she draped her arms around Poppy’s neck; the way Poppy moved her hands to Imelda’s hips as she moaned softly, a sign of her growing confidence. It was like witnessing the sprouting of a seed you had planted a long ago; the blossoming of a beautiful sunflower.

The whole experience was perfectly topped off with a surprised yelp from Poppy when Imelda slapped her perky arse. You shook your head, laughing. “Never been one to behave yourself, have you, Miss Reyes?”

“Can’t fault a woman for having good taste,” she retorted. “Now come here, you.”

You didn’t have to be told twice. Surrendering yourself to her embrace, Imelda rewarded you with the steamiest kiss she’d ever given you, chewing on your bottom lip as if she were trying to draw blood. After you separated and affectionately held each other for a little bit, you were eager to get back to Poppy. She gingerly pulled the tie from her neck, dropping the garment on the ground.

“Here, allow me,” you said, stepping up to her to help her with her blouse. You noticed just how tense she was as you started undoing the buttons.

“Hey, look at me.” You lifted her chin with your finger. “You needn’t be ashamed. You’ve seen us naked before, haven’t you?”

“I know,” she replied, flashing an apologetic smile. “It’s just the nerves. I’ve never shown myself to someone else like this.”

You tenderly kissed her forehead. “You’re gorgeous. I can’t wait to see all of you.”

Reassured by your compliment, she allowed you to proceed, shivering a little as the white fabric slipped off her bare shoulders. How delicate she looked; your gaze wandered down from the light dusting of freckles on her shoulders to her small chest, encased in a yellow lace bra. Figuring you needed to take a few more minutes to put her at ease first, you removed your own blouse before kissing her again, tracing a line from the corner of her mouth to the upper end of her jaw. She sighed with every brush of your lips, whispering a quiet “Yes…” when your hands travelled from her hips to her back. Her arms instinctively shot up to shield her chest when you unclasped her bra, but then she lowered them, and the garment fell away.

Poppy’s breasts were a sight to behold. They were smaller than Imelda’s, though they had a cute perkiness to them that you found hard to resist. She nodded shyly when you asked for permission to touch them, letting out a gasp when you cupped one of the supple globes, rolling the rosy nipple between your fingers.

“I might have a hard time controlling myself like this,” you chuckled. “You’re such a sweet little treat.”

“I agree,” Imelda said, suddenly appearing next to you. She reached out and took hold of Poppy’s other breast, forcing a tiny squeak out of her as she started fondling the soft mound. You smiled as you watched her respond to your combined touch, her breathing quickly picking up.

“Does this feel good?” you asked her, kissing the tip of her ear.

“Yes…” she whimpered, “it does…”

“I know something that’ll feel even better,” Imelda said, before sinking to her knees and leaning in, closing her lips around the nipple. This drew an audible moan from Poppy, her forehead creasing as the Slytherin suckled on her breast. “Oh, oh… Imelda…”

Hearing your one lover moan the name of your other in desperate bliss was enough reason for you to follow Imelda’s example. You knelt next to her and stuck out your tongue, wetting the hard bud before taking it between your teeth. Soon you had the Hufflepuff panting both of your names as she nursed you, the two of you gently purring against her warm bosom.

After a few minutes of licking and tugging, Imelda let her treat go with a wet ‘plop’ and rose to give Poppy a long, seductive French kiss. She then pulled you up and repeated the gesture, letting her dark gaze wander from you to Poppy, a mischievous smile tugging at her lips. “I can already say this is the hottest thing I have ever done,” she laughed, before leaning over to you. Her husky whisper never failed to make you feel weak in the knees. “I think I’ll hang back for a little bit. Why don’t you warm her up for me, dear?”

There was no way you could ever have said no to that, especially if it meant getting to have Poppy to yourself for a few minutes. But first things first. You reached back and unclasped your own bra, wasting no time in bridging the short gap between you and Poppy to press your tits together, catching her moan with your lips as you did. The feeling of her body was even better than you had imagined; you felt her heart beating inside of her chest, her flushed skin rubbing against yours. Your hands sneaked around to her arse, not able to resist a quick squeeze as you moved together.

When you pulled back, you couldn’t help but notice she was once again very entranced by the sight of your breasts. She looked up at you questioningly. “May I… touch them?”

“Yes please,” you smiled. “Tonight is all about you, baby girl.”

The use of the pet name did not fail to elicit another shudder from her. She reached up to place one of her small hands on your full breast. Her movements were more like groping than a soft fondle, though you didn’t mind either way, softly cooing as she played with your tits.

Eventually, you slipped your hands down, fingers hooking into the band of her skirt. Poppy froze, though she didn’t protest either, giving you her silent approval. You slipped the piece of clothing down her thighs, baring more yellow lace inch by inch. You were delighted to find a sizeable moist patch at the location of her slit.

“I see you’re already very wet for us,” you complimented her. “Very good.”

A flush swept up from her neck to her cheeks, colouring her freckles a delightful shade of red. Sinking to your knees once more, you started planting open-mouthed kisses in the valley between her breasts, slowly trailing down the light curve of her torso. You kissed around her belly button, then moved down to her thighs, covering them in small pecks as you looked up into her half-lidded eyes. Her breath was shallow, her chest rising in a quick rhythm as you tended to the sensitive skin. You felt her muscles tighten as you inched closer to her throbbing core, though you weren’t ready to go there just yet. Standing up, you took her hand.

“Are you ready for the next part?” you whispered, your lips hovering close to hers.

She nodded eagerly.

“Good.” Smiling, you led her to the bed, where you slowly pushed her down on her back. You took a moment to admire her as she lay there, your precious angel of innocence, chestnut hair spread out around her head, clad in nothing but her yellow underwear and her black knee-high socks. Merlin, she was so precious, so perfectly sculpted in every way. You were so lucky to be with her like this.

You made a show of stripping out of your skirt and throwing it aside with a flourish, causing her to giggle. Then you climbed on top of her, giving her a slow kiss before you put a finger on her lips, tracing down to her chin.

“Are you all right, baby girl?”

“Very much so,” Poppy smiled. “I had no idea it would feel like this. I’m feeling all warm and tingly inside.”

You let out a chuckle. “It’s going to feel even better soon, I promise. But first, I’d like to touch you some more.”

Meeting with her approval, you settled against her side and started to tenderly stroke her arm, leaving a trail of goosebumps in your wake. You were content just lying with her like this for a while, watching the steady rising and falling of her breasts, counting the small imperfections in her skin as you petted her. You loved the way she squirmed when you drew circles around her nipple.

“I’m the luckiest girl in the world right now, you know?” you whispered to her. She bit her lip as she looked at you from the corner of her eye. “Y-yeah?”

“Mhm. Getting to pamper you like this, showing how much I care for you,” you nuzzled the crook of her neck, “giving you all the love you deserve.”

She made a sound like a small whimper.

“Because you do,” you continued. “You deserve to be loved, and cared for, and cherished –” you planted a little kiss on her temple – “to the end of your days.”

It was not so much a spell to arouse her as a sincere promise. The events of today had only solidified your resolve; you weren’t certain what the future held, or what your life after Hogwarts would look like, though you knew it was one you would share with Imelda and Poppy. Whatever doubts or differences may have existed between you had fallen away, becoming part of a past you no longer cared for; all that mattered was right here beside you, melting away under your loving touch.

Your fingers travelled across the soft landscape of her belly to her thighs, caressing every bit of skin you happened to come across. Feeling you so close to the dripping pit between her legs must have shocked her out of her trance, for she suddenly looked up at you. “What about Imelda?”

You locked eyes with the Slytherin, who so far had seemed very content with just watching the two of you. She had taken one of her breasts out and was twisting and pulling the dark nipple, licking her lips as she pleasured herself.

“What about her?” you asked.

“Will she… you know…” Her blush darkened. “Eat my pussy?”

It was a little jarring to hear such vulgar a word from the usually proper Hufflepuff’s lips, though then you smiled to reassure her. “Of course, baby girl. But first I need to spread you open nice and wide to prepare you for her. All right?”

She nodded softly. “Will it… hurt?”

“You’ve touched yourself before, so you shouldn’t feel any pain. You might feel a little fuller than normal, though, so I’ll go slow and you can tell me when you’re ready for me to go further, okay?”

“O-okay…” She offered you a thankful smile. “Thank you for being so considerate.”

“No need to thank me.” You pecked her lips. “Now, be a good girl and lift your hips for me.”

She did as you requested, raising her pelvis to allow you to work her underwear down her thighs. Poor angel; already you could tell she was so painfully swollen that you were honestly surprised she wasn’t crying out for your relief yet. Her pussy was like a perfect red flower, lips gleaming with slick desire. You discovered she had kept her landscaping in order as well, observing the most adorable patch of fuzzy brown hair above her fleshy hood.

You indulged the temptation of tracing a few teasing circles around her folds, delighting in the way her flesh quivered under your fingertips. You had no intention of making her wait any longer than necessary, though. She gasped as you finally put your middle finger at her entrance, hazel eyes shooting up to look at you as her hands gripped the sheets.

“Are you ready, my love?”

She yielded her assent before her mouth fell open and her eyes widened. “Oh, Merlin!”

She was tight. Very tight. Her walls clung to you from the moment you pushed into her, practically sucking you further inside her velvety depths. You fought the urge to go all the way, instead occupying yourself with brushing away the strands of hair that were matted to her forehead. You smiled when she opened your eyes to you. “Is it… all the way in?”

“Not yet,” you said. “You’re doing very good so far. Are you ready to take more of me?”

Blessed with her nod, you pushed even further, feeling her walls tighten around your digit as you just kept sliding and sliding into her throbbing heat. You supposed she had never used more than one finger judging by how she had a little difficulty accommodating you. Her uninhibited flow of juices helped ease you along though, and soon you sank in to the knuckle, holding perfectly still for a moment as you allowed her to adjust.

“There you go,” you cooed to her. “I’m inside of you, baby girl. How does it feel?”

She slightly shifted her hips, groaning through her teeth. “It definitely feels a bit fuller than normal. I can feel you stretching me out. It’s a good kind of feeling, though.”

“I’m glad.” You placed another kiss on her temple. “I’m going to start moving now. Tell me if at any time you want me to stop.”

You waited a few seconds before you started withdrawing, alert for any reactions from her. It wasn’t made any easier by the fact that her cunny was very much trying to keep you in place, but you persisted nonetheless, and thankfully Poppy didn’t seem to be experiencing much discomfort. She had closed her eyes again, mouthing your name over and over as you withdrew up until your fingernail, then started pushing back in again.

Seeing as she didn’t say anything, you soon ventured further. Starting with tender strokes, you commenced pumping, wet sopping sounds mixing with her moaning. The change of pace was enough to lure Imelda, who soon joined you at the other side of Poppy, propping herself up on her elbow.

“Look at our precious little thing,” she chuckled, lightly stroking Poppy’s arm. “How does she feel, MC?”

“Oh, very snug,” you smiled back. “But we’re getting her all nicely stretched out for you, aren’t we Poppy?”

She nodded with pursed lips, lacking the words to muster a response. Imelda kissed her cheek, hovering close to her ear, “I can’t wait to feel you on my tongue. I wonder if you taste as sweet as you look.”

That coaxed another whimper out of her, her pussy twitching around your finger as you kept bottoming out. You noticed her lips moving, trying to whisper something to you.

You leaned in closer. “Yes, my love…?”

“More…” she murmured, “please…”

You had not expected the request so soon, though on the other hand, you were hardly in any position to decline. You freed up your index finger, swirling around her clit before you added to the finger already pushing inside of her, stretching her slick little lips even further. By now Poppy was coming properly undone, letting out a high-pitched whine before Imelda smothered her mouth with her own.

You settled into a steady but forceful pace, eager to induce her release. As you watched her body move on the rhythm of your fingering, your thoughts drifted back to past times, all the adventures you had been through together. Just a few years ago, it seemed like such an unlikely pairing; a serpent and a badger, strangers meeting by some weird twist of fate. And yet, as it had turned out, you were more similar than you could have ever realised. Both burdened by a fate that was greater than you, having to find your way in a hostile world. You were grateful for Imelda too, of course, and there was no vision of the future that didn’t include you three sticking together. But the shy, brave Hufflepuff had stolen your heart from the day you met her in that afternoon Beast class.

And here she was, grown into a beautiful young woman, ready to cum at a twist of your fingers. Once more, you leaned closer to her, your breath warmly rolling across her face, “I want you to come for me now, baby girl. Come, come for us, show us what a good girl you are…”

As to stress your command, you used your thumb to press down on her clit, making her back arch off the bed. She let out a short series of hiccups, her heat growing almost impossibly tight around you before she slowly relaxed again. You carefully removed your fingers from her folds, essence that had been plugged up spilling out as you did. You brought your fingertips up to your mouth to taste her, only to find yourself surprised when she grabbed your hand and cleaned herself off you instead.

You smiled, kissing her moist lips. “You did so well, baby. Now, are you ready for Imelda to slide her tongue inside you?”

“I am, but just give me a minute,” Poppy replied, giving you a crooked smile. “I think you might have done just a little too good of a job warming me up.”

“Of course she did,” Imelda huffed. “MC always ends up breaking things because she can’t contain herself.”

“Are we sure we aren’t talking about someone else here?” you laughed.

“I don’t know what you’re on about.” Imelda got up and crawled over to the end of the bed, positioning herself between Poppy’s legs. “Everyone knows I never fuck up.”

“Right. You’re definitely fucking something else, though.”

“Don’t fight now, please,” Poppy interjected. “I’m sure you both have something better to attend to.”

You and Imelda shared an amused look before you broke out into a burst of lighthearted laughter. “Sounds like our girl has gotten a bit of an attitude,” Imelda said, lips breaking into a mischievous smirk. “I suppose we should do something about that, huh?”

You slightly worried this meant she would go a bit rougher on Poppy than the Hufflepuff might have been comfortable with, though as she laid down on her front and hooked her arms under Poppy’s thighs, her dark eyes swiftly met her gaze. “Tell me if you need me to go any faster or slower. I want you to get the most out of this.”

Poppy nodded. “You can start slow now, please.”

As Imelda got herself ready, Poppy turned towards you. “MC, will you… talk to me while she eats me out?”

Seeing as that had been very much your idea, you were eager to agree. “I’ll make you feel as good as I can,” you assured her.

At last, Imelda was ready. Poppy sought your hand as the Slytherin moved in, squeezing it tightly as she shuddered at the feeling of Imelda’s breath on her clit. As promised, she started slow, her tongue flicking at Poppy’s fleshy petals before she moved to a rhythm of quick kitten licks.

You kept a close eye on your precious angel, watching her lips part as her breath started to quicken again. “Does it feel good, baby girl?” you asked her.

“It does…” she sighed. “I can feel her tongue… it tickles a bit,”

“You’re probably still a little sensitive.” You kissed the small bit of skin just below her ear, the tremble of her body confirming your assessment. “It will start to feel much better soon. Just relax, let her set the pace.”

Imelda kept licking, gradually building up towards bigger strokes until she was properly lapping away at Poppy. You turned to fondling her breasts again, tickling her nipples, caressing the smooth flesh as you observed the determined expression on Imelda’s freckled features, the way she fully threw herself into pleasing her lover, just as dedicated as she would be out on the pitch. Merlin, what had you done to earn the love and blessing of these horny little nymphs?

You met Imelda’s gaze, a flash of understanding passing between you. So you once again nestled into the crook of Poppy’s neck, nibbling on the skin, adding to the sensation of Imelda’s tongue finally sinking into her tight slit. Poppy cried softly, her neck craning back as you kept nursing her, her hips raising from the bed as Imelda devoured her whole.

“Tell me what she’s doing to you,” you ordered her.

“I can feel her… inside,” she moaned between gasps, “she’s – oh, gods –“

You chuckled against her throat, sucking a hickey into her neck before you pushed yourself up on your elbow to take in all of her flushed visage. Her hair was sticking to her forehead, cheeks blazing crimson red as a never-ending mantra of breathless prayers rose from her open mouth

But her eyes. Those sweet, chocolate brown eyes, peering out at you from under their hoods, luring you in with their innocent gaze. You felt like you would drown in them if only you looked at them long enough.

Moving your hand down to join Imelda’s tongue in servicing her sensitive nub, you whispered sweetly to her, “You won’t ever be alone again… you will always be loved, always be cherished. We will comfort you, make love to you… you can have us whenever you want…”

You cradled the Hufflepuff against your breast, feeling her hot breath on your skin, the sound of her desperate cries like music to your ears.

“We’re together now… and always will be… We'll have our own little family, somewhere safe, and happy… imagine it, bearing our children… us taking care of you just like this as your breasts swell with milk and your belly grows with our babies –”

Imelda’s muffled grunts blended with Poppy’s, forming a growing stereo as you laboured together to bring about her inevitable climax, the vivid pictures you were painting with your words only adding to your harmonious ecstasy.

“We are your home now… we’re yours… and you’re ours. So come for us, baby girl. Let us see you come undone.”

At last, she did. Her release arrived in a tidal wave that swept all of you away. She buried her face into your chest, letting out a deep groan as every part of her body shook and trembled with pure blissful energy. You saw Imelda pushing her mouth into her folds, not wanting a drop to be spilt. Just as you thought the high has passed, however, a soft, gurgling sound came from Poppy’s pussy, followed by a spray of essence that hit Imelda squarely in the face.

To her credit, she didn’t retreat, but you definitely couldn’t keep yourself from bursting out into a hysterical giggle as soon as you figured out what had happened. Poppy quickly rose from your chest, cheeks red with embarrassment. “Oh goodness, sorry, I didn’t mean to –”

“It’s all right,” you reassured her, still chuckling. “That happens sometimes. Besides, I don’t think Imelda minds.”

The Slytherin removed herself from Poppy’s core with a wet sucking sound, sitting up as she wiped her eyes. “I don’t, but next time, maybe give me a heads up before you decide to hit me between the eyes.”

That could count on a spirited laugh from all of you. As the charged energy from your lovemaking slowly dissipated, you briefly left the bed to gather a couple of plushy towels. You offered one to Imelda before turning to Poppy, relishing in the way she lovingly looked up at you as you dabbed her face.

“There, all clean,” you smiled, pecking the tip of her nose for good measure. You then settled back against the pillows, Poppy snuggling up to you as you watched Imelda freshen up.

“Well, I guess we know who won tonight’s round,” Imelda said after she had disposed of the towel and settled against the other side of Poppy, wrapping an arm around the Hufflepuff’s small frame.

“I’d say we did,” you replied. “She obviously was the loudest with me.”

“Oh, come on. I was the one who made her squirt!”

“You should both be quiet,” Poppy piped up. “I think it’s very clear that I’m the undisputed winner tonight.”

You flashed a cheeky grin, letting out a chuckle. “I suppose that settles it.”

“Oh, fair enough,” Imelda said, feigning exasperation. “Are we getting a consolation prize at least?”

Poppy giggled before giving both of you a loving kiss on the lips. You felt the fatigue of today’s whirlwind of events finally beginning to weigh on your eyelids, letting out a yawn as you settled in for the night. Before you could even drift into sleep, however, you sensed Poppy’s weight shifting on your chest, prompting you to open your eyes to meet her warm brown gaze.

“Are you all right?” you asked.

She smiled. “I am. Tonight was wonderful. Thank you… for giving me this.”

“I wasn’t any trouble at all, my love.” You kissed her cheek. “Like I said, we are a part of each other now.”

She briefly lowered her eyes, contemplating a thought. Then she looked up to you again. “MC, what you said about beginning a family, did you really mean those words?”

The question took you a bit by surprise, but you supposed she was right to ask. Truth be told, there was a lot to contemplate about your future after the way your bond had changed tonight. You didn’t want to pretend to have all the answers, though at least you were certain about one thing.

“The only future I want is the one that has you two in it,” you confided. “What it will look like, I cannot yet say… but if settling down and starting a little family of our own is what will make you happy, then so will it be with me.”

Her eyes brimmed with love and understanding, a kindness you had witnessed countless times, but now appearing even more profound and potent. She finally put her head on your chest, closing her eyes. “I love you, MC.”

You planted a kiss on top of her head. “I love you too. Both of you.”

[choccy-milky]

⭐ HL x ghibli! ⭐

[boxdstars]

actually my worst post ever

[lavenderandturpentine]

MC: Sebastian, I have something I need to confess.

Seb: As do I...

MC: On the count of three?

Seb: On the count of three.

MC: One…

Seb: Two.

MC: Three…

MC: *simultaneously* I accidentally caught feelings for you…

Seb: *simultaneously* I accidentally set fire to your potions homework…

MC/Seb: Wait… what!??

[5sospenguinqueen]

MC: Are we really going to let Poppy keep that dragon?

Imelda: We kept Sallow.