#Life After Hogwarts

[judediangelo75]

Day Two: First Kiss

Okay, Day Two for @hphm-ship-week! Had to scrap my original Soulmate AU fic because I'm exhausted and can't pull another 8000+ word story out of my brain. I'm honestly not sure if how I approached this makes sense, concept wise, but I tried.

Enough of my yapping, enjoy the story! (Do I even need to as what version I'm using at this point? Already know I love me some Papa Kendrick and plan on keeping him around until he's completely old and gray)

Word Count: 3,512

Mentioned MCs: David Willows ( @that-scouse-wizard )

Main Pairing: Talbott Winger x Judith Harris (Talith)

Side Relationships: Merula Synde x David Willows (mentioned), Kendrick Harris x Madam Villanelle

(2006)

"Hey, Dad?" Red eyes looked up from the book he was reading, finding two pairs of eyes trained on him. Talbott watched as his two sons walked up to him, sitting at his feet.

"Yes, Bakari, what is it," he asked, placing a bookmark on the page he was reading. Bakari and Kendrick looked at each other, doing that weird sibling communication thing he had seen Judith do with her siblings, both biological and adoptive. He mentally groaned.

'Gods, I hope Merula gets just as lost as I do when her husband does the same thing...'

It was Kendrick who finally spoke up.

"Is today the day you married Mama?" Talbott blinked at his youngest with a baffled look. His eyes glanced at the calendar on the wall not too far from them. He could see today's date marked with his wife's signature burgundy lipstick.

June 17th. Their 11th year anniversary. 

The Ravenclaw alumni returned his gaze to the two boys sitting at his feet, who were still awaiting his answer.

"It is... how did you two find out about that," he asked. Kendrick turned to his older brother with a raised brow, telling Talbott all he needed to know.

"Where did you go snooping this time, little falcon," Talbott asked. Bakari crossed his arms with a pout.

"Storage... not my fault you guys keep all the cool stuff there." Talbott tried to muffle his chuckle with little success. He swore the older Bakari got, the more he believed he inherited a bit of Judith's chaotic energy. Either that or their godfather has been more of a terrible influence on his kids than he initially thought.

But then again, what else should he expect from David Willows, the biggest pain in his arse since 3rd year?

"We know that, but you know not to go there without an adult with you. But I'm not going to scold you over that. What did you find to find out about our anniversary?" He watched as Bakari got up from his seat to run and get something. Only a few seconds later, he returned with an old book in hand. But it wasn't just any book.

It was a photo album, one Talbott immediately recognized.

Bakari flipped to a page before turning it to show their dad. The page held a picture of Talbott and Judith sharing a kiss on their wedding day. Written on the bottom was an inscription.

'June 17, 1995: Our first kiss out of many as husband and wife'

It was in his lovely wife's handwriting, with a love heart at the end.

"Was that your first kiss with Mama, Dad," Kendrick asked, his gold eyes shining with curiosity. The father of two chuckled.

"Yes and no. We shared a lot of first kisses in our lives." He smirked at the confused looks on his sons' faces.

"Wait, how," Bakari asked. Talbott shrugged, settling in his chair. He knew he wasn't leaving that seat until his sons' curiosity had been satisfied. Hopefully, it's before he and Judith get to leave to go out for dinner, leaving the boys with their Grandpa Kendrick and Grandma Villanelle.

"We had many first kisses that each meant something different at that certain point in our lives. That picture is physical proof of our first kiss as a married couple. But we had many first kisses before that and even first kisses after, surprisingly." Kendrick tilted his head as if he was an owlet.

"When was your very first kiss then, Dad?" Talbott grinned at the memory, before sharing the tale as it played before his eyes as if it was just yesterday.

"I haven't had this much fun ever since I came here. I never want this day to end," Judith sighed as they sat in their tree. They were watching the sunset from within the branches, watching the breathtaking view. Talbott glanced at the girl, her eyes solely trained on the sunset. Her locs had a bit of curl to them as she allowed him to put them in some braids before undoing them, opting to put them in a half-up half-down style.

'She's so pretty like this...'

"Same here, I never felt this way before," Talbott quietly confessed. Judith looked over at him.

"Felt what way," she asked. He fidgeted nervously, trying his best to control his heart.

"I'm not sure what exactly I'm feeling," the boy mumbled with a blush. Judith pouted.

"Well, try to describe it." The boy spared a glance at her before taking in a breath.

"I feel all warm and fuzzy on the inside. Especially when I see you smile... and it's because of me... my heart feels like it wants to beat out of my chest sometimes when you look at me," Talbott said, feeling his ears burning. Judith was silent for a few moments before letting out a soft laugh.

"Sounds like love to me," she chuckled. Talbott spluttered a response, forgetting himself as he slowly lost his balance. A pair of arms wrapped around his waist.

"Woah! Easy there, you could've fell," Judith chided, though there was no real heat behind her words. He could feel his blush worsen at the feeling of her arms holding him so close. He could smell the same unfamiliar warm, sweet scent coming from her. It threatened to make him dizzy.

"S-sorry..." The two noticed just how close they were. Judith cleared her throat and pulled away a little.

"W-well maybe love is too strong of a word..." Talbott watched as the girl frowned mid-sentence, seemingly remembering something before shaking it off.

"I've read Muggle romance books that talk about similar feelings... you could just like me and care about me. I..." the girl trailed off again to look at Talbott.

"I... I know I like and care about you," she softly confessed. Red eyes went wide with shock at this revelation. She likes and cares about him...?

He let out a breathless laugh, holding her hand.

"I'm glad you feel the same too, little bird," he told her. The girl looked confused for a moment.

"I'm not the one who can transform into a bird, bird boy," she teased, which Talbott chuckled at.

"Consider it my pet name for you. Who knows maybe you can become like me and transform into a bird," Talbott mused as he nuzzled her cheek.

"Really? You'll teach me," the girl asked with a smile. Talbott held out his pinky to her. Her smile widened as she hooked her pinky finger with hers.

"I promise, little bird," he swore. Judith leaned in and gently pressed her lips to the young boy's cheek. When she pulled away, Talbott raised a shaky hand to the spot Judith kissed.

"Wh-what was that f-for?" The girl giggled shyly, eyes sparkling with warmth.

"A little way for me to say 'I care about you, bird boy'." Talbott blushed and leaned in to press a kiss to her cheek. Judith sighed through her nose.

"I care about you too, little bird," the boy whispered against her cheek. The two looked into each other's eyes with a soft smile playing on their lips as the sun set behind them...

"So Mama kissed you first? But she seems so shy," Bakari pondered aloud. Talbott chuckled.

"Oh, she definitely is. But I guess she really wanted to show how she felt about me," Talbott answered breezily. Kendrick let out a tentative hum.

"But didn't you love her? Why did you nearly fall out the tree when she suggested that's how you felt?" The older man blushed, coughing in his fist. Nothing gets by his youngest son, something he definitely gets from his mother.

"I was 8 and she 7, we were still kids. I wasn't mature enough to admit to such a serious emotion like love." Kendrick nodded and Bakari decided to ask his next question.

"So when was your next "first" kiss," he asked, playfully adding air quotations around the word "first". Gods, was he talking to his wife or their sons? They inherited a lot of her mannerisms at their young age...

"It was the night we had our first date. It was our 4th year at Hogwarts. I met her again in our 3rd year but I didn't recognize that she was the same girl from our childhood. But I was crushing her pretty bad. Your uncle Andre encouraged me to play secret admirer for a while until your godfather caught me leaving my latest love note to her. He gave me the right push to finally come clean and ask her out on a date. It was a first for both of us, so we were pretty much the exact picture of two awkward teenagers who obviously had feelings for each other. We were essentially okay for the first half until one of our old friends who came to spy on us broke some fine china, forcing the shop to close. I didn't want the night to end so I suggested we go stargazing. We were out in one of the Creature's Reserve for a few hours watching the stars, even your mom's Porlock joined us. Eventually, we had to sneak by to the castle before Mr. Filch caught us..."

"... I do hope we can do this again soon... I never said this before but... I really do like you...” Talbott gave her hand another squeeze.

“As do I. And thank you, Judith. Perhaps we could take another trip to Madame Puddifoot’s with no interference.” Judith giggled at this.

“I would like that, I never got my “unspillable” hibiscus tea tonight.” Talbott chuckled, deciding to play along.

“Very true, perhaps she’ll give us the recipe. I’d like to try it sometime.” A smirk tugged on the girl’s full lips.

“I think she would have to kill us first.” Talbott returned it with one of his own.

“Or swear a blood pact to never tell another soul lest we suffer a horrific death. Judith threw her head back and let out a warm laugh.

“That would sound about right. After all, everyone has their secrets.” Judith said this as they approached the Hufflepuff Common Room. Talbott waited for her to finish entering the secret passage to enter her Common Room before speaking again.

“I hope to find out yours, I had a wonderful time tonight...” His hand that held hers, slipped free before finding the little Hufflepuff’s waist. Judith squeaked when he pulled her flush against his body, nuzzling her temple. Judith gazed up at him with a flushed face.

“I-I... I-If you plan on sticking around, you just might...” Judith stood on her toes, pressing her lips against the Ravenclaw’s cheek. Talbott stared at her, slightly dazed as she pulled away and out of his grasp.

“G-Goodnight Talbott, s-sweet dreams.” With that parting, the girl hurried into her common room. Talbott stood there for a few seconds longer before a smile broke out on his face.

He turned to leave the basements to his common room, touching his cheek in the meanwhile.

‘I think I may have found my mate for life...’

"Mom is 2-0 as far as first kisses go," Bakari said with a giggle. Talbott couldn't help but give his son the evil eye (he didn't mean it though).

"This isn't a game Bakari," he said with an exasperated sigh. Bakari simply shrugged with a playful grin. Kendrick shook his head at his brother.

"Well, when was the first time you guys kissed on the lips? You two seem pretty shy with each other to stick to the cheek," Kendrick pointed out. The two boys watched as a frown found its way on their father's face.

"Dad? What's wrong? Was it bad," Bakari asked quietly. Talbott shook his head.

"No, no... that kiss was magical... Everything about that night was magical. It's just that... well, you know your mother has her scar?" Bakari and Kendrick nodded, It didn't escape Talbott's attention that Kendrick touched the birthmark over his left eye. It was almost the same shape as the burn scar that was on his mother's face.

"Well, she always felt like it made her ugly, a monster even... It was Valentine's Day and Madam Pince was supposed to be the one hosting the Ball. Everyone at the school knew she would make it a dreary affair so naturally David and your mother helped. I wanted to do something special for her. I wasn't the only one thinking about doing something special for their person. Your godmother and I fought over who would get to use the library. I ended up winning that battle and turned the library into something out of a storybook romance. That was the first time I saw her so awestruck. Even though we spent the entire night as each other's dates, I couldn't stop admiring her..."

They were slow dancing together, lost in their storybook fairytale world. The soft glow coming from the fairies he invited into the library illuminated his little bird's face. It made her eyes seem like glowing embers of a flame. Those long sunbleached locs were in a high ponytail, showing off her angelic face. Her red-to-black floor-length gown highlighted the curves of her body as her black heels brought her closer to his height.

She was gorgeous...

...but Talbott could see that her mind was elsewhere.

“Judith?” The dark-skinned girl mentally shook her head, looking up to meet his gaze. 

“Y-Yes,” she quietly asked.

“Is everything alright? You seemed lost in thought,” Talbott said softly. Even with faint lighting, he could tell that the girl was blushing.

“Y-Yes, I'm fine. I just zoned out for a bit,” she said. Talbott knew her well known to know when she was lying, but he didn't look to push. He couldn't help to take in her features again. From her lovely eyes down to those soft lips. Judith seemed unnerved by his staring because it was her turn to break the silence that befell them.

“W-What?" Talbott blinked slowly as if he was waking up from a daze.

“I’m sorry, Judith. It’s just that...” Talbott trailed off for a moment, his heart hammering against his ribcage as he met those eyes again. The eyes of the person that he was falling in love with.

“You’re so beautiful, little bird,” he whispered, almost breathlessly. He watched as the girl ducked her head so the Ravenclaw wizard couldn’t see her face.

“T-There’s no need to l-lie to me just because it’s V-Valentine’s Day,” she mumbled. Talbott frowned upon hearing this. The pair stopped dancing.

“I’m serious, Judith. You’re really beautiful, no matter the day...” Judith shoved him away. Pale gold eyes looked up, glaring at avian Animagus. A small shiver ran down his spine as the scar covering her left eye intensified the effect of her glare.

“Have you lost your bloody mind?! Talbott, LOOK AT ME! This burn scar is hideous! It makes me look like a monster! No wizard in his right mind would think I’m...” Judith trailed off as if she couldn't bring herself to say the word. Red eyes narrowed as the young wizard stepped closer.

“That you’re what, Judith? That you’re beautiful? Gorgeous? Breathtaking? A literal angel on Earth?” Judith floundered to find a response as if Talbott stunned her with a spell. Taking the opportunity, Talbott grabbed Judith by the waist. Judith ducked her head.

“T-Talbott... d-don’t-”

“Don’t tell me how to feel, Judith. I refuse to hear you talk down about yourself when you’re so much more than your physical looks,” Talbott said firmly. A firm but gentle hand cupped the girl’s cheek, forcing her to meet her date’s eyes. The two stood in silence as Talbott’s thumb slowly swiped across Judith’s bottom lip.

“T-Talbott,” Judith whispered.

“Mmm... yes, little bird,” Talbott answered in kind. A sharp canine peaked from behind plump, glossy lips, biting down on the soft flesh of the lower lip. Talbott silently observed the small motion, feeling warmth blossom on his cheeks and inside his chest.

“K-Kiss me... p-please...”

That was all the wizard needed. Talbott didn't even remember closing the gap between them. All he remembered was suddenly feeling those sweet lips shyly moving against his. The tentative caresses of their lips coming together, hands pulling their bodies closer, the faint sound of hearts beating as one...

When they finally pulled away after what felt like forever, Talbott found himself looking at his little bird's eyes for what was the umpteenth time that night with a single thought on his mind.

'So this is love...'

"I can't believe Mama could ever believe that she was a monster. Monsters aren't lovable like her and she's plenty beautiful! That man at Flourish and Blotts last week wouldn't have been flirting with her if he thought she was ugly," Kendrick retorted, upset on his mother's behalf. Though Talbott could've gone without the memory of the man trying to hit on his wife. When he was less than three feet away. With their boys, one with her facial features and another with her eyes, sitting right next to engrossed in a book.

For God's sake, he was positive that the man didn't even bother to look at her left hand to find the gold diamond ring nestled on her ring finger.

If it wasn't for the fact that he was in his mother-in-law's place of work, he would've made a scene. Talbott has always been an overprotective and territorial man when it comes to his wife. He knew what kind of treasure he held for years. Any man would be blessed to have her and Talbott always felt blessed to be able to hold her fancy, becoming her boyfriend, later fiance, and now husband.

While he didn't deck the man, he did make a point to walk over to greet his wife with a lingering kiss on the lips before addressing the suddenly flustered man.

When the man scurried off, Judith lightly scolded her husband who didn't even look the slightest bit ashamed of what he had done. Bakari rolled his eyes at his dad's antics while Kendrick giggled endearingly. Even Madam Villanelle fondly shook her head with a small smile.

Before Talbott could reply, the blessed sound of the front door opening and closing signaled the arrival of his wife and her parents.

"Talbott, boys, I'm home," Judith called. Bakari and Kendrick tripped over themselves to rush to greet their mama. Just as Judith entered their study, two beings latched themselves onto her legs.

"Mama!" Judith laughed at the joyful cry her boys made, kneeling down to hug them.

"Hello, my little princes," she cooed lovingly, kissing their foreheads. Each boy was branded with the same lipstick that adorned the calendar.

"Happy anniversary, Mama," Bakari said with a grin. Judith raised a brow and looked at her husband. Talbott simply raised the old photo album as an answer. The 33-year-old year witch let out a laugh, squeezing her oldest.

"Thank you, my love. Why don't you two go see your grandparents in the living room? I'm sure your old grandpa would love to see you and your grandma brought a new book for you to look at."

"I may be 68, but I still heard that baby girl!" The Winger family laughed at the indignation heard in Kendrick Senior's voice. The two boys ran off to greet their grandparents as Judith walked over to her husband, gracefully making herself comfortable in his lap.

"Let me guess, Bakari went snooping in the storage room with no one there to watch him?' A nod.

"And Kendrick did nothing to stop him, not wanting to get caught up in his shenanigans?" Another nod.

"And he found the picture of us on our wedding day?" One last nod.

Judith let out a fond sigh.

"I've birthed a nosey fiend," she groaned, resting on Talbott's chest. Talbott chuckled, kissing her forehead.

"It's only going to get worse since he has you as a mother and David as a godfather." Now Talbott was laughing at the offended pout on Judith's face.

"I admit, it did lead to an interesting conversation. About our first kiss." Judith raised a brow.

"Which one," she asked, causing her husband to grin.

"Oh, just the one from when we were kids, our first date, and the night of the Valentine's Day Ball." Judith laughed.

"That's it? I'm surprised you didn't tell them about the others. They love it whenever you tell them stories about us growing up," she teased. Talbott only shrugged, picking up his wife like when she was a bride on their wedding day.

"We would've been here all night and if I remember correctly, we have a date tonight," he drawled as he walked out of the study to head to their bedroom. Judith giggled, wrapping her arms around his neck.

"You're definitely right. It's always nice to have time with each other whenever our anniversary comes around," she sighed blissfully. Judith looked up at her husband, who was already looking back at her with that same lovesick smile from when they were students at Hogwarts. Talbott leaned in to kiss her lips.

"Happy Anniversary, little bird," he whispered against her mouth. Judith returned the kiss with a small smile.

"Happy Anniversary, bird boy..." The two stared at each other for a few moments longer before the sound of something dropping broke the trance they were in. Kendrick and Villanelle were quietly laughing as their boys stared at them with gobsmacked expressions.

"DID WE JUST WITNESS THE FIRST KISS ON YOUR 11TH ANNIVERSARY?!" The two couples laughed at the boys' enthusiasm for witnessing their parents' love on their special day.

Life was good.

[houseofmarcella]

dear god Albus Potter do you utterly haunt my thoughts

Just… Albus in the cursed child, for as mixed as people seem to be on it… Albus as the certified middle child who doesn’t have the cloak, doesn’t have the map, who doesn’t even have a family name?

Can you imagine little Al (not yet Albus because that’s a name he truly goes by once he has Scorpius) tucking himself into the cracks of the door as he hears his parents talking, hears his dad say it would have been better to know they were having two boys so they could have just called him Sirius

Al, getting teased by his invisible brother, yet seeing so distinctly that his father chose James over him for their family legacy

Al, who grew up on the filtered advice of a distant, out of reach mentor who he could never live up to. Not like James with his fun, his humor, or Lily with her love and her girlhood.

(Albus, who will hear Cedric called the spare and understand far too well what it’s like to be of secondary importance)

Al, who out of all his siblings looks the most like his father, a reflection to every family friend of what harry went through and an eternal reminder to himself and the world that he will always be his father’s legacy (he will look in the mirror for most of his adult life and see his father before he sees himself)

Al, age 11, seeking comfort on the train platform as everything changes around him and getting another lecture about bravery that he doesn’t feel he has

Al becoming Albus on that train, when the boy who would become the most important person in his life actually asks him, asks him what he wants to be called

Albus, under the sorting hat, struggling but thinking about who he wants to be outside of his family’s legacy and getting put in Slytherin for it

Albus, who grew up on war stories and hogwarts hyjinks staying up half his first night because he’s afraid of his peers, but doesn’t want them to know that because he so desperately and conflictingly wants to both fit in and stand out

Albus, who is bad at flying, humiliating himself in front of his peers, because he isn’t harry but isn’t Quidditch player Ginny either… Albus, who all the adults see as Harry’s extension; Albus, who struggles with charms like Lily never will, who can barely make his matchstick silver under the blue eyed portrait in the room, who struggles to parse through the moving and unequal words of wizarding textbooks, who attracts bullies like flies and doesn’t yet have his mother’s hexes to fight back

Albus, struggling to write that first letter home, to tell his parents and little sister that he’s different from them; Albus who doesn’t even get to tell them because James tells them first

Albus, who doesn’t get a green scarf and hat until after the first snow, unable to parse if it’s the color, the fact that he’s the second born, or maybe just that it’s him that made it come later than James’ had

Albus, who goes back home for Christmas and faces his father’s disapproval for befriending a Malfoy, his father’s distrust and attempts to assure his morality for befriending someone harry assumes cruel and antagonistic

Albus, having to hold awkward conversation with Rose and Ron and Hermione, because neither of the kids want their parents to know they’re not talking (they find out eventually, and though they’re nice about it, Albus knows they’ll always put Rose’s feelings first)

Albus, who is suddenly assumed more malicious and problem causing than he ever was before, who suddenly is seen as a prime person to scot the blame off to when things go wrong

Albus, who gets chosen after his sister (“just like her mother!”) during the family quidditch match; who gets meaningful looks from his Uncle Percy; whose Christmas sweaters are no longer red but never green; who suddenly cant seem to talk to his uncle ron anymore, someone who used to understand what it was like to be James’ brother

Albus potter who stradles the line of too Potter for Slytherin and too Slytherin for his family.

Albus Potter, who’s ambition has been squashed out by bullies and disregard and distrust, struggling to find his identity in a house and world that is still in the midst of undoing decades as an indoctrination machine…

[sky-of-fantasy-stars]

Sebastian: Please say words of encouragement to me so I don't murder someone right now. Ominis: There are no books in prison. Sebastian: *sighs* Thank you.

[lilithofpenandbook]

Sometimes Severus comes up to Minerva. Right up behind her when she's busy. He'll stand there for a good minute as she works on marking assignments and cursing the boy's youthful energy and brilliant eyes- both of which directly responsible for his finishing his work in half the time it takes her.

"What is it, Severus?" Minerva sighs. Might as well get the obligatory nonsense over and done with, she was due a dose of Severus's antics by now (Merlin forbid he go more than three days without bothering her with nonsensical questions or infuriating wit).

"Am I ugly, Minerva?" he asked. Never there was a being with such innocence in their voice.

Minerva took a moment to take in a breath and silently call on all her patience and all her strength. "Yes, very." Her tone was blunter than the knives used to decorate at Halloween- an incident with some particularly idiotic third years had them ban anything sharper than the corners of a book during the Halloween celebrations.

Severus gasped as if stabbed. "What? Minerva, I thought we were friends!"

Minerva snorted. "Any time we interact, it's completely against my will."

"Minerva! you lie so shamelessly it shocks me." Severus made as if to swoon, a hand clutching the right of his chest.

"You must be shocked; your heart isn't where it should be."

Honestly, Minerva had to admire the fact that the insolent little kitten did not falter in his dramatics with her pointing out the key flaw in his act. If anything, he seemed to be encouraged.

"Ay! The pain of the shock, it has spread throughout my chest! Ah, I cannot breathe!" Severus swayed on his feet, leaning against the chair that Minerva was sitting in. "Oh, how your lie shocks me!"

"Well, then, you had better tell me what exactly I lied about," Minerva said briskly, "before you gasp all the air out of your skinny little lungs, laddie."

"You said," the boy said, a sudden glint in his eye and none of the apparent weakness, standing to face her and one of those long, delicate fingers pointed straight at her, "you said, that our interactions are without your will."

"That is no lie, what part of this looks like it's my will?" Minerva replied, knowing full well she wasn't going to appreciate the cheeky answer Severus had prepared for her.

"Why, the part where you remain for my company, mother," Severus replied, his voice light. "Surely, if you didn't want this, you would have, in your infinite wisdom, simply have employed your great power and assumed your famous feline form and just walked away from me."

Minerva fought her smile. His cheek was infuriating while his logic impeccable. "Perhaps I am simply conversing my energy, you arrogant wee rascal."

"You? Too lazy to avoid a nuisance?" Severus scoffed. "Minerva, you wound me. Don't you know how I know you? You've done much more to avoid the mildest of annoyances, do you truly think I believe that you are here against your will merely to converse your energy?"

Minerva let him see the flicker of a smile disgusted as a smirk, letting the bothersome raven have a little treat for his cleverness, hinting to him that he had essentially won this particular argument. "At my age you no longer have the patience to waste on annoyances. You learn to value your peace. You will understand that some day, I hope, little one."

"And if I die, my hair still black and my skin still smooth?"

Merlin, did the child have a turn towards the morbid. Minerva ignored the voice in her that told her that this would have been a retort of her own had she been in a similar conversation.

"Then you'll die a fool."

"A fool, perhaps, but my funeral will be the biggest," he replied, moving to sit on her desk and grabbing the biscuit jar. Minerva intercepted, lifting it from his grip and replacing it with a towel. His protests died in his confusion at the towel, and Minerva huffed and began to wipe his hands as if he was a child. She did not trust him to correctly clean his hands after handling goodness knows what when experimenting with his potions and she didn't care if he knew it.

"Aye, and how did you figure that?" she asked.

"Surely if I die young, I shall be the first. Therefore you all will be part of the funeral-"

"What makes you think I would want to attend your funeral, you little rascal?" She let go of his hands, almost satisfied that they weren't contaminated.

Severus ignored her and instead took a biscuit from the jar. "You will all be there, therefore I will have the biggest funeral. If I die old, you all shall be gone, so my funeral will be the smallest."

Minerva tried not to think of how depressing that sounded, how lonely it seemed. For a brief moment she felt guilty for being so old and he so young. She involuntarily could see him in her mind's eye, going through their funerals until he stood alone. She and the others- Rolanda, Pomona, Poppy, even Fillus and Hagrid- they were all of an age, weren't they? They could expect their lives to reach the end around the same time, surely? Severus was but a child next to them, he'd stand alone one day.

Minerva tried to ignore the ache in her chest at the thought of him standing alone. Merlin, no. He was far too young. No.

"You truly are besotted with the morbid and the miserable, you melanchonic masochist," she said, her tone just a trifle too sharp to be a simple retort.

Severus paused, swallowing the biscuit. Then he answered. "Ah, but the morbid is much more fascinating, the forbidden has a certain thrill, dear mother." His voice was a little softer, and his fingers, slightly coated in crumbs, were gentle when he tapped her forehead. He was sorry he upset her.

"You and your thrills," Minerva scolded, "yet you cannot even eat a biscuit without making a mess of yourself." Yet even as she spoke, the hand that she used to swipe the crumbs away, was gentle, almost tender, in its movement. She had quite forgiven him.

How could she remain angry? At this boy who looked at her with a scowl of indignation yet whose deep, dark eyes twinkled with mischief and cleverness and brilliance, who stood taller than her, yes, yet was far more delicate in his build than she had ever been, whose hair was as dark as hers had been in her youth, carelessly falling across his forehead. No, she could not remain angry.

If only he had been in Gryffindor, perhaps then she would have noticed him sooner. Or rather, if only her eyes didn't only open for her Gryffindors. How this boy could ever look at her without resentment and anger, she didn't know. Then again, he had been so incredibly isolated and lonely, was it any wonder he let go of his rightful grudges and instead accepted her friendship?

Minerva blinked as if soot from the fireplace got in her eyes. She didn't want him to notice the tears that almost inevitably formed whenever she thought about him. Who would have thought that she'd cry so much for the little devil?

"I'll leave you to your work, dear mother," Severus said cheerfully, hopping off her desk.

"Aye, after you've cleared out my biscuit jar, you villain" Minerva grumbled, looking into the empty jar. Severus shrugged.

"You ought to see it as a compliment towards your taste, really," Severus said. "But I see I have taken the last of your patience"- for indeed, Minerva looked ready to strangle him- "so I shall take my leave. Good night, my good Headmistress, and may you have peace in the silver embrace of the moon!"

And with a laughing twinkle in his eye and a boyish bow, Severus Snape left the room.

Minerva sighed. She wasn't sure if it was out of relief, or because she may have felt some sorrow at his departure.

The door opened again, and a rather meek Severus poked his head in.

"Er, Minerva?" he asked.

"Yes, Severus?"

"Er." Severus stepped in, looking away from her, walking with the awkward gait of a newborn foal, and the nervousness of a deer. "Er, Minerva?"

"Yes, Severus?"

"Am I really ugly, mother?" His voice was a whisper. His raven hair curtained his face, hiding his shame at asking such a pathetic question, and his fingers picked at one of the cuticles of a nail.

Minerva smiled, and walked to him. Softly she brushed the boy's hair out of his face and gently tucked it behind his ear.

"Only as long as you let yourself believe it, dear heart."

[myokk]

Being this close to her mother, Eloise was struck by their physical similarities. As a young girl, it had been impossible to see, but now that she was a young woman they were striking. She felt as if she were looking in a mirror, but a twisted mirror: everything that was warm about her appearance was turned cold in her mother: hazel eyes to a frigid silver, unruly brown hair to straight black; her mother’s skin was somehow even more pale than Eloise’s, as if she were cut from marble. Everything soft about Eloise was made sharp in her mother, and Eloise wondered what had made her this way. She was terrified that in twenty years’ time, the two of them would be indistinguishable.

Had Elladora Black always been like this? Eloise couldn’t imagine any time when her mother might have smiled, or even huffed in quiet laughter. No moments where she had been caught staring at her husband with love and warmth in her eyes. Eloise had only ever known her as an ambitious, cold woman who was always striving towards some goal, even if it was known only to her.

Someone couldn’t spend their whole life like that, could they? Even growing up at the manor, Eloise had always had Leo to confide in and love unconditionally. Had her mother ever had something - or someone - like that?

“Soon, we will be the family we were always meant to be,” Eloise’s mother said, causing Eloise to startle out of her thoughts and stare her mother in the eyes. They were filled with longing. They were mesmerizing. Eloise shivered under the intensity, but couldn’t tear her eyes away. “Soon, we will be back on our way to being the most prominent pureblood family in Britain, with the help of you and your brother. You can’t fail us. You can’t.”

From chapter 23 of my fic, Before It Felt Like A Sin

this post is dedicated to @elliecutte the only other person who is as crazy about Elladora Black as I am😌🙏

[epsilonblack]

This song has been playing in my brain (and playlist) for weeks now.

If you haven't listened to The (After) Life Of The Party - Fall Out Boy — do it.

I've loved this song since it came out. And now I know why.

You're welcome.

[kay9leo]

Monster

MC: There's no way around Ominis. He's my best bet. 🥺

Ominis: MC, you know there's no going back if you go to him. He will never leave you alone. You know how Sebastian is like. 🧐

MC: I can't afford to not.😞

Ominis: *sigh* if you must. 😮‍💨

....

Sometime later with a regretful MC:

MC: Sebastian, can we please stop?!?! This is hurting me!!! 😭😭😭

Sebastian: Oh hush MC, you think this is hurting you? You're hurting me! 😤😡😤

MC: How?!?! 😭

Sebastian: You got the citations wrong -when you're citing from two different sources in the same sentence, you have to cite it in that sentence and list them in alphabetical order! Not at the end of the paragraph! You're not going to get an O on this if you ignore it and do it the lazy way! 😤🙄🧐

MC: I just need an A on this 😩 My class grade can take a hit if I get an A from this research term paper 😭😭😭

Sebastian: An A?!?! 🙄 You can do better than that! We're aiming for an O!!! 😤

MC: We been at this for hours! 😭😭😭

Sebastian: You defeated Ranrok, dont be so melodramatic about this 🙄 Now here's what you need to do 🧐*Processed to nitpick and give positive criticism on MC's research term paper for the next four hours, forcing MC to reread it outloud to make sure there are no wonky sentences, making sure his bestie will get nothing less than an O for that term research paper*

...

From what I recall:

(American) Muggle grades vs Magical Grades

A = O (Outstanding)

B = E (Exceeds Expectations)

C = A (Acceptable)

D = P (Poor)

E = D (Dreadful)

F = T (Troll)

[espressoristretto-patronum]

🎶GUESS WHO'S BACK, BACK AGAIN, CHAPTER 5 OUT, TELL YOUR FRIENDS (?)🎶

Just a little warning: usually my chapters are 4000/5000 but this one is

Hope you'll like it ���

[filmindustrysortinghat]

SCHOOL SPIRITS CHARACTERS SORTED INTO THEIR HOGWARTS HOUSE 🦁🐍🦅🦡

• Maddie: Gryffindor 🦁

• Wally: Gryffindor 🦁

• Charley: Hufflepuff 🦡

• Rhonda: Slytherin 🐍

• Janet: Ravenclaw 🦅

•Dawn: Hufflepuff 🦡

• Quinn: Hufflepuff 🦡

• Yuri: Ravenclaw 🦅

• Mina: Ravenclaw 🦅

• Mr. Martin: Slytherin 🐍

•Mr. Anderson: Hufflepuff 🦡

•Sandra: Slytherin 🐍

• Sheriff Baxter: Gryffindor 🦁

• Xavier: Gryffindor 🦁

• Diego: Ravenclaw 🦅

• Simon: Ravenclaw 🦅

•Nicole: Hufflepuff 🦡

• Claire: Slytherin 🐍

* This was a tough one since some of the characters we don’t know much about yet and others may be suited for more than one house. Let me know what you think! ☺️

[katakosmos]

jasmine zabini / mary mcdonald

they knew each other before hogwarts. they lived on the same street, but they had never spoken: jasmine was three years older than mary, and she was only home during the holidays, because she spent the rest of the year at a distant private school. mary didn't remember its name. but, apparently, her father did, because as soon as mary received her letter from hogwarts, he ran out of the house and asked mr. zabini if he could speak to his daughter. he came back with a beautiful girl with long hair, who gently smiled at mary. the first words jasmine said to her were: "don't worry, i'll help you now."

mary deeply admired jasmine, not only because she was older and more skilled, but also because she was nice and understanding. jasmine was beautiful and popular, lots of boys drooled over her and all the girls were jealous of her. she was a model, and she worked for some magazine that mary always secretly bought just to look at her photographs. the real jasmine always smiled at her in the corridors, and the photographed jasmine always recognized mary when she turned the pages, enchanted.

jasmine taught mary many things: how to wear makeup and dress fashionably, who to trust at school, how to make boys fall in love with her, how to kiss. she taught her how to be beautiful, popular, and accepted despite her muggle born status. mary loved her, and she was incredibly proud to be her friend. jasmine always found time to spend with mary, even when she was with the "older girls".

and in the end, when mary erased every memory of hogwarts from her mind, she still couldn't forget jasmine. she searched for her, she found her; jasmine welcomed mary into her home as a "cousin". together, they learned how to really live. jasmine showed mary how to use her magic again: because, even if mary had forgotten the names of the spells, she possessed them within herself and she only had to recall them. together, they planned the murders of jasmine's husbands, and together they chose their next victims.

together they enjoyed their inheritances and built their home. blaise grew up calling mary "aunt." yet, sometimes, he saw her and his mum kissing in the kitchen while preparing dinner.

he never thought too much about it, though.

[polly-sly]

[esotericesther]

you are the universe and the whole universe is inside you.

[weirdraccoon]

That time they kidnapped Ominis.

Ominis: Did you have to kick my brother in the balls?

MC: Of course. It made it more believable.

Sebastian: We would've kicked your dad too, but he didn't even get down from the carriage.

MC *frowning*: And your mom yelled at us to not give you back.

Sebastian *making light to avoid a murder*: I guess that means you're ours now, Ominis.

Ominis *sighing*: It surprised me Marvolo tried to stop you.

MC *frown deepening*: He didn't. He came after us because Sebastian told him he was a cowardly chicken more than a snake.

Ominis *also sensing a possible triple murder, smirking*: To be fair, tho, I was already yours.

[boxdstars]

Terrible Deals and Better Company

This little drabble is dedicated to @damn-it-a-hogwarts-legacy-blog who's work is absolutely incredible, both her writing and her character interpretations and narratives. I've been dying to write something within this verse, canon or not - I hope you enjoy!

This fic is entirely self indulgent, and is mostly banter between Ominis and Amara (with background Ominis x f!MC) as an exploration of their adult characters

This fic probably won't make a whole lot of sense without reading THIS first, as it was my muse and explains the conflict.

Word count: 2.1k

The journey had been ghastly. Awful was quite the understatement. There was no easily accessible portkey from England to the States, at least none that he’d been familiar with. No doubt there was something tucked away within the Ministries walls themself, but he wasn’t privy to those secrets. So Ominis had to defer to the muggle ways of travel. By boat. Even the word hellish felt too kind to refer to the voyage, which had made him queasy the entire time, and entirely dependent on quick charms to alleviate the nausea.

But he was here now. In the office of the Chief Auror herself. The Magical Congresses up-and-coming pride and joy. But before she was all of that, she was the nuisance who pestered him throughout her time at Hogwarts. And his friend too, of course.

“You look awful,” Amara remarked bluntly. “Merlin’s sake, how come I haven’t seen you in four years? I wish you’d write more candidly, I knew it was bad but…” There was the click of a lighter, and the sound of her breath as she pulled a cigar to her lips, “This is something else entirely. When’s the last time you slept?”

“Last night.” 

“You know what I mean. Slept well. Anything more than six hours?”

He mulled it over, brows furrowing as he did so. Though he’d always had a penchant for napping.. six whole hours of uninterrupted peaceful sleep felt wholly unobtainable. His wife was such a dear, but even her warmth felt so far away in lieu of recent happenings. Though it was scarcely the truth, and despite their best efforts the pervasive anxieties never seemed to fade entirely.

“I can’t recall.”

“You’ve gotten worse at lying I see.” Her lips curled upward into an impish smirk. “Try again.”

There was no point in beating around the bush. She’d called him across the sea for some catching up, and he might as well get the kneazle out of the bag. He sighed in defeat and pulled out several sheets of bound parchment from within his inner coat pocket. 

“Here.”

_

Amara skimmed the pages a thousand times over. Ominis sat across from her, his unseeing eyes ghosting just adjacent to where she sat at her desk. No longer did she don her blazer, only clad in her suspenders, pinstripe trousers, and her white dress shirt whose sleeves were pulled up high above her forearms, resting at her elbows. Her legs crossed over the ornate desk, occasionally bouncing to a rhythm only she could hear. 

“Nasty business.” Amara sat the parchment down. “Figures, with the Ministry. I keep my business with them cut and dry for this very reason.” 

“I didn’t have much of a choice in the matter. I did what I had to.”

“Ease up, I’m not accusing you of anything. Given the circumstances... I’d say you didn’t do too shabby. How’d the wife take all of this?”

“Not.. well.” He faltered. The twinge of regret flickered across his already furrowed brow. It was a classic Ominis expression, one Amara had seen many a time while the blond stewed over his potions cauldron. In a way, she missed it — if not for the circumstances.

“Just as I thought.” She tapped her cigar atop the ashtray before taking another languid drag. “Can’t say I blame her either. The whole thing is a damned mess. I take it she isn’t all too pleased?”

His wife was the interesting sort, Amara remembered her fondly back from their tenure at Hogwarts. Albeit their relationship was a bit strained to start, the girl had been headstrong, reckless, and irritatingly sharp at times. But that was a long time ago, and they hardly wrote to one another these days, except the snippets mentioned in passing from her letters to Natsai.

“It’s more complicated than that. For the time being... I think it’s going to be alright. But this arrangement.. as much as I stand by my word and my choice… part of me worries if it’s going to cause more harm than good.”

That caused her interest to pique tenfold. “Because of the workload no doubt?”

“Something to that effect, yes.” Ominis was holding back, which was of little surprise to her. They were friends, but she’d need to sweeten the pot with a few more drinks before he would start speaking candidly. Still, the fact he was telling her anything was enough to satiate her curiosity for the time being. 

Amara whistled long and low, “The old brass has got you both working to the bone.”

He nodded dismally. It was no wonder Ominis seemed so quiet. He’d always been distant back in school, but where the two of them were concerned, the banter and snark were nothing short of rambunctious. She was staring at a man now, slightly haggard from the anxiety that hung over him.

The auror exhaled a long plume of smoke from her mouth, “I could get you out of this, you know. No physical contact.. no written terms… seems like it’s just itching for someone to dig their claws and tear it all to shreds.”

“Amara…” Ominis warned. He had no doubt his friend was sincere about this as she was shrewd. But even her power base, influential as it may be, was newly established. The connections were there, but they weren’t centuries old. Getting him out of a Ministry agreement was one thing, finding a solution to the wicked nature of his family was another. 

“What? I have more Galleons to my name in just my left pinky than your family has combined! It would be no trouble.“

“It’s you. Of course, there’d be trouble.”

Amara scoffed. “That's beside the point. And it’s not like I don’t know how to take care of myself, honestly, you’re not giving me credit here. It would be quite simple.”

“I disagree..” He spoke tersely under his breath.

“..You’d have to uproot and bring your missus overseas.. but once you’re in our jurisdiction you’d be in good company. No tiresome busywork, no Ministry-sanctioned duties, and not a single Gaunt on your back—“

“Amara.” His voice hardened, turning stern. “You’re not listening.” 

She quickly shot back, “Stop calling me that, you’re in my office.”

“You’re the one acting impetuously. Let me finish first, I’m not denying any of your achievements.”

Impetuous. She gnawed at the inside of her lip. The audacity of the blond knew no bounds. Part of her wanted to refute the word, the other knew if she said anything more she’d only be proving him right. 

“Alright.. speak.” 

He sighed, rubbing one thumb over the other. A nervous tick. Had it been so long he’d started doing that around her again? 

“You are tenacious, yes. And Merlin knows there’s nothing that can stop you from getting what you want. But my family — they’re not the same thing. This is bigger than that.”

She just couldn’t help herself, “How? I'm not some useless receptionist, I'm Chief Auror! And  — and you’re married to well — her of all people! Just between the three of us, we could turn them to dust!”

His voice raised, “That’s the problem. That's what you don’t understand, that you could never understand. You can’t just throw Galleons at the problem until it goes away. And you aren’t going to threaten them either!”

“I’d wager I’d win.” She scoffed. “It’d be a waste of time.”

“Let’s not take that chance then.”

“Fine.”

“Fine.”

The silence was terse, but at least this was familiar. Many a fight had ended in this way, as the two former Slytherins would skulk off to their respective quarters. There was nowhere to hide now, and Amara swallowed the lump in her throat. Arguing was pointless, this was all so exceedingly pointless. She couldn’t win Ominis over today, but admitting that was admitting defeat. So she reveled in the silence, her gaze transfixed on the trails of smoke she exhaled every so often.

“I know you mean well.” His voice was soft now, melancholy even. “I know you’re just trying to do what’s right, in your own horrible way.”

Did he have to throw that in there? Damn him. Still, his words seemed sincere enough so Amara let it linger in hopes he’d continue. 

“It would never work. The situation is grave, it wasn’t as if this deal was thrust upon me. I had to fight with everything I had to protect her. And you must know she’d never agree to it, even less so than our current arrangements. She’ll defend our home with everything she has, no matter how tempting your real estate may be.”

At least he was starting to joke again.

“You’re a match made in heaven, the both of you. Unfathomably stubborn.” 

The clock ticked onward, and they sat there again, rotting away in their thoughts. Really, that was the last thing either of them should be doing. Amara had to do something, say anything. A sidelong glance at her expansive liquor bar seemed to be the timely distraction they needed.

“I think I need a drink after all that, you game?”

He looked as though he were about to refuse. But then, to her immense delight, Ominis nodded. She poured the liquor into two glasses, making sure to fill his a bit more than her own. Maybe it'd help ease his nerves. With a wave of her wand, she slid the glass across the desk and onto his side. The sickly sweet smell of brandy filled the room as he took a long whiff off the top of the glass. 

“Are you going to make love to that thing or should I pour it back in?” Her blunt words caught him off guard and caused his face to flush in embarrassment.

“As always, you’re obnoxious.” He snarked and took a long sip. “Well, I’ll say it. Not bad.”

To his chagrin, it was better than he’d hoped it would be. Ominis had sorely wished he could’ve found something to nag her over, but her alcohol was clearly not the case. Besides, the last thing the Chief Auror needed was him swelling up her ego any more than MACUSA already had. 

“Always delighted that my liquor pleases you, M’lord.” Amara joked wryly. The banter was coming easier now, and some of the visible tension from his forehead began to dissipate. 

The bustling enterprise within the Manhattan landscape seemed oddly quaint from within her outcropping. There was the occasional shuffling and clink of glass and the distant tune of far-off classical from.. someone indiscernible.

“It’ll be alright, Ominis.” She spoke after a few blissful seconds. “I swear it. And should anything happen, you know you can call on me.”

“I know.” He twirled the brandy around his glass, “I know if there’s one woman more hellbent on justice than even my wife, it’s you. As strange as all of this is to even consider, I’ll take that to heart. Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.”

“Let’s hope.” She leaned over and clinked her glass thusly against his own. “And I mean.. there’s always Sebastian. Though Godric knows what heinous mischief he’s up to at the moment.”

That garnered her a small chuckle from his end. “Whatever it is, he’s probably having more fun than the both of us.”

“Speak for yourself, I’m having a ball!” She scoffed playfully. 

“As am I.” 

That was quite a compliment. She inquisitively glanced him up and down, regardless of the fact he wouldn’t notice. But the statement seemed in earnest. In truth, it wasn’t all that rare these days in their friendship, but it still felt like she’d been doused in the freezing depths of the Black Lake.

“Don’t tell me you’re finally fond of me after all.”

Another laugh. “Oh don’t be absurd, the only reason I came mincing across the sea was to pilfer off of your liquor.”

She gave a mock gasp of dismay. “Absolutely not! I’m going to send you away at once, do you even know how much this cost me?”

“Do I want to know?”

“..Probably not.” Her voice pitched slightly in embarrassment, losing the cool confident edge she’d been carrying throughout the bulk of the conversation. 

He snickered at that, “I better get my golds worth, fill me up another won’t you?”

Amara grinned, "It would be my pleasure."

[hippogrifffeathers]

i feel like nobody talks about the immediate attachment to natty when she offers you a seat in charms, and i'm genuinely wondering if it's just me?

like, it's such a small gesture i know, but imagine this is your first day at a new school, after everybody else has had years to get into routines and seating preferences and friendships, and you are drowning amongst it all and have no idea how to navigate so many unknown variables

then someone sees you struggling, and offers you a seat with them. a friendship. notices how lost you are when the professor starts talking about charms you haven't yet studied, and offers you a book on it with an understanding smile.

and somehow sweeter is that natty gets it. she was the new student once. so she sees who must be the new fifth-year walk into her charms class, and look around the room all lost and she remembers being in that position, not knowing what seats were free and who sat with who, terrified at the thought of choosing the wrong one, and she immediately calls out to the student, offering them the spare seat with her

like, yes it's a small moment, but the second natty offers our character a seat, i was like 'oh i would die for you'

[kay9leo]

#MCtober2024 - Week 3 Alternate House AU

Based on lamieboo's #MCtober2024 event (click on #MCtober for more info).

When I first checked out Pottermore when it came out and did the house sorting quiz, I would always end up being a hat stall and could pick either Gryffindor or Hufflepuff. Most of times I would take it on other sites, my end result would essentially be GryffinPuff.

So here we have Iñaki (since she is sort of based off my younger self) in the two alternative houses that she could be in if she wasn't so dead set convincing the sorting hat to put her in Slytherin to avoid making friends.

Gryffindor AU - Relationship Changes

Imelda Reyes

I think that as a Gryffindor, she would be Imelda's worst nightmare. While Iñaki isn't much of a Quidditch player back in the States, in the UK, she end up joining the sport when Natty convinces her to try out for the chaser position. She ends up being one of the best chasers Gryffindor has had in a while. Where in the main universe where she is a Slytherin and is Imelda roommate who eventually becomes as close to her as a sister due to their shared Hispanic culture and a friendly sibling-like rivalry, as a Gryffindor (and to a minor extend, as a Hufflepuff) her relationship with Imelda is one of a frienemy rivalry where the two girls are always trying to one up each other and they have a mutrual respect for each other.

Natsai Onai

In Gryffindor, Natty becomes Iñaki main to-go person, moreso since when she is in Gryffindor, Natty is Iñaki's roommate. The two are the last people who you expect to get in trouble or go hunting down for evidence since while on the surface, they seem like goody-two shoes, it allows them to use that cover to get out of more trouble than most people expect they would get in. Where when Iñaki was in Slytherin in the main universe and was two peas in a pod with Sebastian, in this universe, you wouldn't find Natty without Iñaki  and vice versa. You would somethings hear more tales of a strange spotted big cat (aka Jaguar Iñaki) hanging out with a strange deer creature (aka Gazelle Natty) in the Forbidden forest.

Sebastian Sallow

Where in the main universe where he and Iñaki are two peas in a pod, best friends that you've ever seen, in the Gryffindor AU, to Iñaki, Sebastian is someone she sort of sees as a rival since their DADA duel and someone she would be sassy with. There are less conversations between the two compared to when she is in Slytherin due to the two house being rivals and also because she doesn't spend as much time with him compare to the Slytherin Iñaki. Sebastian is the one who seeks her compared to when she is in Slytherin (they both equally seek each other out). In short, Sebastian has his work cut out for him to be Iñaki's friend instead of rival, never mind being her main person in this AU. Heck, he even has a hard time being her rival since Imelda called dibs on it first due to quidditch.

Hufflepuff AU - Relationship Changes

Poppy Sweeting

The two were assigned to be roommates and they click pretty fast after bonding together over a cat that was sleeping on Iñaki's bed. The difference between Iñaki being in Slytherin and in Hufflepuff with her is that in Hufflepuff, the two girls tend to sneak out to have late night convos in the kitchens and Iñaki ends up showing Poppy her jaguar form before offering to teach Poppy to be an animagus when Poppy gains interest in learning how to be one (Poppy ends up being either a Great Pyrenes or Hippogriff because of this reddit post). They end up being known as the oddball duo in the school and you can commonly find them in the Beasts outdoor classroom.

Sebastian Sallow

As far as Hufflpuff Iñaki goes, she is on better terms with Sebastian since there isn't a House rivalry to be concerned with. She does find it more annoying since Sebastian assume loyalty is due to her house and not just being her friend. While he is her friend, he's not directly her main person to go to - that honor belongs to either Poppy or Natty (depending who she finds first). Their banter is more like of close classmates rather than friends and it takes a longer time for Iñaki to let him in surprisingly enough (compared to her Gryffindor self) since while they do team up in Crossed Wands, Iñaki doesn't really think much about him unless he looks for her since there isn't really a house rivalry between them to keep her attention on him. To Iñaki, Sebastian is another classmate and who happens to be friendly and it will take the entire school year before they end up becoming close friends (which is why Iñaki says that line to him in the pic, she does consider him a good friend by that point). Just know, Sebastian is always the first one to offer being her partner in class since it's the only way Iñaki will actually speak to him - he simps harder for Iñaki here to be her friend while the rest of the class thinks his not-so-secret crush is so obvious (to the point, Iñaki is wondering about it as well). In Slytherin ironically enough, it is the easiest for him to hide his crush for her since they are always together unlike when Iñaki is a Hufflepuff where he's trying to get her attention to be seen as more than a classmate and trying to be her friend.