#Older!Duncan

[angelplummie]

TAKING WHAT’S NOT YOURS!

ART X TASHI X PATRICK X F!READER

part 1 part 2

this one is exposition and build up for the smut eventually! enjoy my princesses

tashi duncan stole from you.

in many ways, many times. the first was when she thrashed you in your very first college tennis tournament. you would always remember the sound she made, that war cry. it was like she had decapitated you or something. she stole victory from you that day.

then she did it again, and again, and again. every single time she played you, she beat you. you could annihilate everyone but her, crushed them all to dust. but she was the one person that would not be decimated. you didn’t speak off the court, didn’t look at each other twice in the halls of stanford. but she had this look on her face. this smug, knowing look. here to lose again? it said. and you weren’t some average joe shmoe tennis girl. you were really good. people that had no reason to bolster your ego had told you that, so you knew it to be true. you were fucking brilliant, and she had no right to look at you like you were dirt. you gave her a tough match, but still she looked at you like she knew she was going to win.

when asked about her, all you could say was “i hate that smug bitch.”

what she said about you you didn’t know, and not for lack of trying. you didn’t know if she even spoke of you at all. the thought made you angrier than when she beat you. once, when at the same party, she waved at you.“hi,” she said, and gave you that same i-just-beat-you look. she was taller than you, and craned her neck unnecessarily far to look at you. where did that stupid bitch get off?

she was this towering roadblock, the one thing stopping you from entering the upper echelons of tennis royalty. you had the fucking talent, you had put in the fucking time, you were so fucking good. but you weren’t stanfords sweetheart. you just weren’t. everyone knew you were good, but you weren’t the best.

from the matches you had watched, which was nearly all of them, you were the only person she played that gave her a run for her money. she didn’t sweat the way she did when she played you, the points were never so neck and neck. she should be threatened by you, and yet she looked at you like any other silly college floozy that was the best in her high school. tennis was your life, as much as it was hers. she stole your dignity in that way.

the next time she stole from you was patrick zweig. a sort of boyfriend, an in-between, getting there boyfriend. he could’ve been yours. you could’ve been happy together. but tashi duncan couldn’t have that.

you heard whispers about a night in a hotel room, a threesome, a twosome with a watcher, two guys jacking off on tashi duncan. they could deny, deny, deny, but whatever did or didn’t happen meant patrick zweig never returned your calls anymore. you could still recount the exact tonality and pacing of his answering machine message.

it was fine. it’s whatever. he wasn’t a forever boyfriend anyway.

but once a girl has sex with someone, she expects some degree of loyalty, some sort of goodbye. it wasn’t about him, he was cute, a good-not-great fuck, and never claimed to be serious about you. he didn’t matter. it was the fact she had him. together or not, she had him. he belonged to her. even after they broke up, everyone knew he never liked any of his other many girlfriends like he loved her. they used to walk around hand in hand, kiss, and it made you brim with jealousy. not because you gave any kind of fuck about him as a person, but because she got him instead of you. it was her. all her. she had stolen one more thing.

as time passed, your hatred burned just as bright. you practiced day in day out, hoping that somehow she could see you now, somehow she would know you were her equal.

then you met a boy. art donaldson.

you had known he was involved with her. the hotel threesome stories spared no details of the parties involved, despite factual discrepancies in other areas. but you figured, while she was dating his best friend, you were safe from the curse of tashi duncan. you allowed yourself to fall in love, softly, timidly. having met in american literature, you fostered a little spark. a love, barely the size of a candles flame, flickered in your chest. maybe, you had prayed. maybe him. maybe he was yours. you kissed at new years for the first time, and days later he met your parents. it was new, fresh, but it was love. you loved him.

and then she stole from you for the final time. in one foul swoop, she took everything from you.

it was the final of the college tournament. the two stanford angels playing each other for the victory. the court was red and packed, newly redone. you both wore white. whoever won this was guaranteed a shot at the open in the summer, and that was all you needed. you were so fucking ready. no one was better than you. no one. you had trained so hard, art could attest to it, hell, the entire school could attest to it. ask anyone who saw you around that time, they would’ve seen a scowl on your face and a racket on your back. those who had the pleasure of watching you play would’ve say it: you were fucking good.

that’s why it crushed you. across from her, at match point, advantage duncan, you watched as her knee moved independent from her leg. in between grunting and pelting, there was a crack, and tashi duncan was no more. a hush fell over the crowd as she cried, fell to the ground clutching her knee. you heard that. but you didn’t hear the ear splitting scream that came from your own mouth, couldn’t feel your body sprint, jump the net to crouch by her side. beads of perspiration rolled down her face, scrunched in agony. she bared her teeth like a cornered animal, and looked up at you through her squeezed eyes. her knee looked awful, so you stared at the rest of her. without thought you placed a hand on the top of her head. to comfort her you think.

it was so quiet. the only sound was her crying, her laboured breath stilling your heart to a lifeless thud.

“it’s ok,” you said,”you’re going to be ok, tashi.”

you remembered feeling an inexplicable sadness, a grief that you had never known before. you wanted to get rid of her pain, any and all of it. none of it came from you, you didn’t want her to have it. but that was so quickly forgotten. because as you moved to touch her shoulder with your shaking hand, it was eclipsed by another. a larger hand, the hand of a man. a pale hand. a hand you had touched before, even kissed. the hand of your man.

your eyes met, each with equal fear, horror and sadness. it was then that you knew that the curse of tashi duncan wouldn’t rest until you died. she would steal and steal and steal, even beyond the grave. he looked caught, because he was. he was caught. once you loved tashi you never stopped. he had raced into the court because she had fallen at a game he attended to watch you play, had touched her shoulder with the hand that had held you. he was not yours, as much as you needed him to be. his eyes twinkled with regret, but told you everything you needed to know.

your hand drew away with a flick, like it had given you an electric shock. you rose from tashis tortured body. his hand slipped to where yours had rested. this was all somehow not her fault, while being her fault entirely. you hated her so much it made your heart bleed. you didn’t want anything to do with her anymore. no whisper of her name, no nothing. from this moment on she was dead to you.

you didn’t bother looking over your shoulder to see if art was watching you leave. he wasn’t. the umpire boomed something through a mega phone, something like wait. but you were going home.

in the hall you bumped shoulders with patrick zweig. he was rushing to find her. he looked at you once to apologise hurriedly, twice to utter your name in recognition, and a third time to look at your back and wonder why you were so down. tashi was out. you won by default.

[king-magppi]

So I drew more of my human designs just screwing around..

Enjoy!

[jesterjaxx]

If i said genderfuck Duncan would yall shoot me (also just outfit practice)

[behindfairytales]

Lindsay Duncan in The Wheel of Time (s2) as Anvaere Damodred

[finelyageddragons]

Once again thinking about the connection between Duncan and the Grim Reaper. Imagine him, cloaked in black as he wonders the world searching for lost souls and claiming them as his own once their old life has ended and taking them for himself to sacrifice them in his war against the ancient evils. This great and valiant man with poison in his blood and the demon's song in his mind, a valiant knight slowing being eaten by the sickness he seeks to kill. A ghost who listens to the song at night and searching for warriors - for sacrifices - to give the blood the evil ones call for. Flee should you see him. Let the smell of his rotting mind ward you away and let not those cold steel gauntlets claim you. May the reaper find you before he does for the death will grant rest but a warden will send your soul to war as it dies.

[statementofjoespookie]

more but this time i [gets shot and dies]

special bonus: sexy roy painting

[luvmoonie]

am i gonna have to be the one to say it … i know the end is challengers coded

[ladychandraofthemoone]

In my au Stanley (narrow gauge) has a special interest in insects (I hc him as being into animals, they don’t judge you for your “jinx” and he’s got a soft spot for critters that are seen as “bad luck”) and tends to blurt out the most detailed information, he often info-dumps with and to Nia who encourages it cause it makes him happy once he’s freed from his “jinx” and she know every single insect name alphabetically along with their scientific names and nicknames Here we have Duke immediately regretting asking them if they can name every single species and ends up sleeping when they’re engrossed in their conversation before leaving when they were in the mid section of the e category (Nia gave him “the disappointment older sister look” awhile back so the poor guy can trapped there and wondered how did he got ever himself into this situation)

Basically it’s just Stanley to Duke in alphabetical order: Alderflies Angel Insects Anoplura (Sucking lice) Ants Antlions Aphids Archeognatha (Bristletails) Barklice Bees Beetles Bird lice Biting lice Blattodea (Cockroaches) Booklice Bristletails Bugs Butterflies Caddisflies Chewing lice Cicadas Cockroaches Coleoptera (Beetles) Collembola (Springtails) Crickets Damselflies Diplura Diptera (Flies) Dobsonflies Dragonflies-

Nia joining in cause she was mad at Duke: ah yes the alderfly which are megalopteran insects of the family Sialidae. They are closely related to the dobsonflies and fishflies as well as to the prehistoric Euchauliodidae. All living alderflies – about 66 species all together are part of the subfamily Sialinae, which contains nine extant genera. Sialinae have a body length of less than 25 mm (1 inch), long filamentous antennae, and four large dark wings of which the anterior pair is slightly longer than the posterior. They lack ocelli and their fourth tarsal segment is dilated and deeply bilobed. Dead alderfly larvae are used as bait in fishing-

duke:shooketh (Nia’s is basically the train version of a encyclopedia also her design is based off of MrTerrier673 on Twitter)

[covertblizzard]

Anyway, the issue where the Teen Titans meet the four horsemen of the apocalypse might be the strangest thing I've ever read like, first they crash their bus, and then they run across this little shack with a blacksmith, right?

And this dude is all, I've got some horseshoes to fix but I'll fix your bus later. And he has like the funkiest looking horses ever or something but sure, they agree.

Then plot happens and they end up in this fictional country and when Wally tries to prevent a slaughter from happening, the first horsemen, War, knocks him out. And this is only very subtly references with Robin saying "War is stupid!"

Then after that, they try to get (read: steal) some food for some rebels who are being starved, but Famine, the second horsemen, burns away all the food. Lilith (of course) makes the connection and announcement that what they were seeing/meeting, but Robin doesn't buy it (which incidentally is hilarious because Robin was one of the quickest to believe Lilith when she said she was Juliet's reincarnation).

Anyway, so they meet and fail to stop the third horsemen, plague.

And finally, faced with death, they actually finally succeed! They rescue some refugees and beat death!! (Also giving us the hilarious panel with Robin saying "Get the child, Flasher!" which wasn't funny then but is kind of funny now with our use of the term flasher T.T)

Whether or not they do beat death does end up being kind of debatable because death then kills their friend, but these two specifically do not die.

And finally, when they get back to the blacksmith guy, he fixed their bus, and claims he hasn't done blacksmithing in 30 years and the forge has not been lit since then, BUT Wally does fine a hot ember in the fireplace so... WHAT? (Also, Wally zooming around secretly to check on stuff and/or change stuff happening since forever lmao)

Anyway, I don't really know where I'm going with this, it's just SUCH a strange story but also I recall someone mentioning the Sins of Youth lowkey making the Titans immortal and I'm just thinking about how this story could conceivably be made to tie in to that since they successfully evaded Death at the very least which is fun to think about so do with that what you will!

[sceletaflores]

‘where there’s sparks, there’s fire!’ Was seriously so bloody good!!! The tension was honestly chefs kiss 🤌🏽 I seriously love your fics and cannot wait for the next one, it couldn’t come soon enough!

stop or i'll kiss you...like right on the forehead...

i'm so glad you liked it!!! currently i'm trying to finish my older!patrick fic while simultaneously writing an art/tutor!reader and a tashi/ball girl!reader locker room situation kind of thing lmao

tashi is being neglected by me so that'll probably be the next thing i post :) but i'm not sure :) cause i really like the patrick fic :) and the art one too :) who knows :)

[anxiously-sidequesting]

So I once made a funny shit post about the Young Wizard actually beaming to the Spiral at the tender age of 45 but it got me thinking of the opposite. What if the Wizard was incredibly young

Since in the game it isn't specified at what exact age we arrived in the Spiral I think it's just up to the player to come up with that part. I personally like to think The Wizard was around 7 or 8 when this happened but what if they were actually like four or five years old

Like shieeeet that's young enough where we wouldn't really remember our time on Earth very clearly right? Our family and maybe our friends but unless we had like ungodly memory powers, we wouldn't be able to remember all of the details of our original home. Like isn't it proven that human beings first gain self and special awareness at 3 or 4? Something like that

And this can open up for some sweet scenarios - little kid Wizard running up to Malorn with a scribbled drawing of him with a big smile on his face, or us and Ceren reading picture books together or clinging onto Nolan's robes as we attempt to stand on his feet as he walks like a penguin, but there's also this sad and messed up undertone that in this universe Ambrose took what was essentially a child just out of toddler stage and decided to keep them in the Spiral instead of returning them to their family

And like imagine how that would affect us. We would see it as normal at first because we grew up in the Spiral, we spent more years in the wizard world than in our home on Earth, but what if the Wizard gained awareness later on in life and actually realized what happened. Would they even care at that point because the Spiral was integrated in them at such a young age? Would they feel any yearning towards their original family, would they miss them at all? Would the Wizard be bitter about not getting to know them?

It's different when you're 7 - 10 and onwards because at that stage in your life you've more than gotten used to Earth life. You've gained awareness and it has been emotionally and mentally established that THIS (Earth) is your home. You know your parents and you know your friends and you know your environment. You will miss that when it's gone and feel it's absence because you're old enough to at least notice when you're taken away from it. But when you're still at that impressionable and oblivious stage of like 4 - 6 years old? The Spiral is all you know now. Your parents faces will be blurry, you may not even remember the details of what your home looked like. You may remember certain smells, colors or feelings you experienced when you were on Earth but that may be about it. And the saddest part about that is depending on what Ambrose and the other adults put our Wizard through, we may grow to completely forget even those essential memories. That Earth part of us would TOTALLY be gone and that would include even our parents (or other caretakers). I'm crying actually

[arabela25]

The Liverpool Songbook | Eurovision Song Contest 2023

[enigmatist17]

This is 100% pandering for probably me :')

I am absolutely feral for Simon, and Steve is 100% the kinda guy to have friends (well he doesn't think of them as friends because Steve doesn't have friends, but Danny is working on that with him) all over the world, and if they need help? He's got your back :)

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

They all drive on the wrong side of the road here.

It's the first thing Simon thinks when he steps out of the airport, duffel bag readjusted as he scans the cars coming in and out of the pick up zone. The heat isn't as suffocating as it was back home, the Australian almost wondering if he was going to need some sort of sweater when a silver camaro pulls up just in front of him. 

"Always on time eh?" The taller man who piles out of the car just chuckles, moving to help scoop up the other bags piled behind where Simon had been standing up and into the luggage rack attached on top.

"Pretty sure my commanding officer would appear from thin air if I wasn't."

"Probably not, but thanks all the same, McGarrett."

"Don't mention it. Come on, my place isn't far and you look like you need a day to just blackout." 

"Tell me about it mate." Simon climbed into the passenger seat, sinking back with a relieved groan. "Forgot how much I hate flying."

"Well, you're not going anywhere anytime soon, so no more worries for now." The SEAL slipped back into the driver's seat after making sure everything was secured, and soon the duo were driving out and into the island after some minor traffic.

"Mate, the pictures you've sent don't do this place justice." Simon whistled, taking in the area while digging out his phone to take a short video. Steve just smiled to himself while turning on the radio, the occasional crow from the Aussie beside him breaking the amicable silence between them.

"Do you mind if I swing by work to grab something real quick?" Finally distracted with taking videos and pictures, Simon glanced over with a shrug.

“I’m not bitin’ to go anywhere, s’long as we can get some brekkie afterwards.” 

“It’s 14:00, but I know a few people who can hook you up, my treat.”

“That’ll work.” Simon’s back popped a little bit as he stretched, eyeing some of the older buildings with an interested hum. The police department they pull up to is no different, Steve pausing for a moment when Simon got out alongside him. “Need to stretch is all.”

“C’mon, you can meet the gang.”

“Is your Danno bloke there?” Simon grinned, catching the way Steve’s head jerked in surprise. “What?”

“He’s not my Danno…” The SEAL grumbled as they headed up and into the building, the Aussie eyeing the station up and amused to find it wasn’t too different from his own once you stepped inside. Desks from 1975, coffee machines that barely ran as such, and desk chairs that probably needed to have been thrown out ages ago, Simon shakes his head in amusement as Steve takes him into an area that was finally part of modern times. He can see a small group huddled around some sort of central monitor station, a shorter blonde man waving his arms around while he explains something Simon can’t quite catch until they’re within range.

“Did I miss something?” Steve interrupted the blonde, who shot him an annoyed look before catching sight of Simon.

“Yes you did, and who is this?” The accent made Simon smile a bit, and he stepped forward with a wave.

“You’re Danno right?” The look Danno shot Steve would have sent just about anyone running, but the other just smiles a bit before heading for his office while pulling out his phone.

“Detective Danny Williams. So, c’mon, name.” Danny waved for Simon to speak, clearly sizing the Aussie up. Simon doesn’t get a chance to open his mouth before the woman beside Danny nudged his side hard enough to make the Jersey detective grunt.

"Before he hogs all the attention, I'm Officer Kono Kalakaua." Kono grinned, offering a hand to give Simon a firm handshake. "And that's my cuz Chin."

"Lieutenant Chin Ho Kelly." The men across the table gave a small wave, and Simon clocked him as probably one of the calmer team members. "Nice to meet you."

"Likewise, I've heard only good things about you lot." Simon waved back, aware that Danny was still staring at him. "Detective Senior Constable Simon Joyner, nice to meet ya.” Simon flashes his biggest smile, and the grumpy blonde softens just a fraction.

For a moment blonde hair turns black, pale skin sunkissed, and Simon can let himself be selfish for a moment before the familiar image fades in the blink of an eye.

“Fancy title, but nice to see another cop ‘round here. Four of us might finally outrank the super SEAL, which I’m curious to know exactly how you know him?” Danny crossed his arms as he leaned back against the monitor, the movement more relaxed rather than cautionary.

“Uh, well I nearly ran over ‘im when he and some of his buddies were celebratin’ something.” Simon let out a slightly embarrassed laugh, noting quite a few eyes looking over at Steve in his office, the man looking slightly confused at all the looks as he spoke on the phone. “Stevie remembered me, tracked me down somehow, and treated me to drinks as thanks for making sure he and his lot got back to their hotel.”

“Stevie? Since when can anyone call him Stevie, because I sure as hell can’t call him Stevie.” Danny complained, earning a few chuckles from the other two who had been watching most of this in amusement. 

"Didn't know he was one of them fancy American soldiers, and we just kept in touch after that." Simon hummed, stretching a little bit with a slight wince. 

"So are you visiting then?" 

“Uh, sorta?” Simon shrugged, “Always been meanin’ to catch up with Stevie, and nows a time as any.”

“In the middle of the holiday season?” Chin asked, and luckily Steve exited his office before Simon could squirm in discomfort.

“Simon, I’m ready to head out if you are.” The Aussie nodded, noting some files tucked under Steve’s arm. “Call if you guys need me.”

“Will do, now off with you.” Danny made a shooing motion. “Poor kid looks like he’s about to drop.”

“‘M not a kid…” Simon groused, but gave a cheerful wave as he and Steve headed back to the car, fighting back a few yawns. The island state was beautiful enough to keep the Australian alert enough as they eventually pulled to the stop outside a modest little home, Simon pilling out and glancing around with a low whistle.

“You’re set up here mate.”

“It’s nothing special.” Steve shrugged, grabbing the carry-on luggage. “I’ve got the guest bed set up, room has an attached shower.”

“Don’t mind if I do.” Simon grabbed whatever was left before following Steve inside, figuring he’d get the rest of his stuff later. “You lot need to worry about spiders here?”

“Uh a little bit, not as bad as what you’re used to.” Steve watched as Simon set his shoes upside down by the door before scanning the floor, quietly glad they didn’t have as much deadly wildlife here at home. The guest room was a decent size, the queen bed dressed with fresh sheets and a newly assembled set of dressers tucked in the corner. “If we need more let me know, and I’ll go pick up an extra set.”

“Nah I can make it work, this is too much already mate.” Simon dumped his backpack on the bed, clearly blown away by the generosity. 

“Hey, I get it.” The meaning hung heavy in the air as Simon kept his eyes on the floor, and was glad that Steve was not one to press. “Need a drink or anything?”

“No, I’m fine.” He manages to scrounge up a strangled thing of a smile, and Steve places the two suitcases he’d carried in by the door before vanishing without a sound, the door closing with a soft click. Simon wastes no time pulling out a fresh set out lounge clothes and his travel bag before retreating to the bathroom.

The warm water did it’s job washing away the weariness of travel, and for a good minute Simon looks out the window that slowly fogs up, the crashing waves a small comfort. It’s not like back home, not the same sounds of Bondi that had filled many a happy afternoon, not what he heard with a certain kis-

Simon curses and flicks the water so it’s cold, and the sea vanishes behind the condensation as he finishes his shower and shuts the water off. He’s trembling a little when he dries off and slips on his comfort clothes, throwing his phone to charge on the bedside table before crawling under the sheets.

The waves are the last thing he hears before exhaustion finally takes hold, a blinding smile flashing in his mind's eye before Simon drifts into a dreamless sleep.

[behindfairytales]

icons of Lindsay Duncan in The Wheel of Time (s2) as Anvaere Damodred

[moocha-muses]

Wow, look at all those pictures of the best pop duo in the biz! All the White-Lined Sphinx fans in your game will love this merch for Duncan Welsh and Jyoti Lee’s new album Ten Thousand. (Read the interview here!)

Everything’s on a variety of meshes (named accordingly, and with custom meshes included in the .rar) and also compressed. I’ve also included the original art; feel free to put it on any mesh you’d like!

Download@SFS

Download@Dropbox

Font Credit: Simlish Freeplay, Simlish Merry-go-Round by @bigbadbunnysims, Simlish Deja Vu,  Old Book Smell, Square Dance, and Round Pegs by @franzillasims.

[carewyncromwell]

"No more, the crap rolls out your mouth again! Haven't changed -- your brain is still gelatin! Little whispers circle around your head... Why don't you worry about yourself instead!?"

~"Holier Than Thou" by Metallica

x~x~x~x

[transcribed from art, for easier translation]

Olivia: Cool your jets, Jacob, that prat isn't worth it. Duncan: Better to get back at Lockhart when there isn't a Hall full of witnesses around. Olivia: Not helping, Duncan.

x~x~x~x

Happy belated birthday, Jacob Cromwell!

In celebration (?), I thought I'd salute one of my personal favorite headcanons about Jacob that I haven't had much of a chance to explore...namely, that Jacob shared a dormroom with the one, the only Gilderoy Lockhart!

Yes, as you can imagine, Jacob hated Lockhart's bloody guts. 😂

Really, though, it wasn't hard for Jacob to hate Lockhart when that "toothy prat" would act like the smartest guy in the room and yet cowardly avoid any challenges or duels that could contradict that overly shiny self-image Lockhart had of himself. Old Gilderoy was also prone to grab more attention from female students than Jacob did, even with his ridiculously puffed-up ego, for his good looks and (marginally) better people skills. Oh yeah -- and then there was Lockhart's attempt to marginalize Jacob, Duncan, and Olivia's hard work dealing with the Cursed Vaults terrorizing Hogwarts by acting like he'd suspected how to break each curse all along and (even more insultingly) insinuating that it was really him who'd instructed the three Cursebreakers in the methods they'd used to break them. Lockhart even brashly reiterated this one infamous Valentine's Day in his and the Trio's fifth year when he received 800 Valentine's cards and presents (which, as it turned out, were all from Lockhart to himself) --

" -- such beautiful gifts and cards! No doubt from fans both across and outside Hogwarts itself! They must've heard of my heroic efforts toward helping break the curses on the Cursed Vaults! Taught Duncan Ashe everything he knows about puzzle solving...and poor Miss Green was clueless in dealing with those boggarts until I showed her the proper method! And those Acromantula, ho ho...I daresay our favorite Cursebreakers would've been helpless in communicating with those beasts, if it weren't for me teaching Jacob some basic phrases..."

Even if his friends successfully held Jacob back physically, they didn't stop him from verbally tearing into Lockhart.

"'TAUGHT ME SOME PHRASES?!' Acromantula are capable of HUMAN SPEECH, you brain-dead numpty!"

Ultimately Lockhart's little stunt came to an end when the Great Hall had to be cleared of students so the teachers could properly deal with the 800 owls and their 800 packages and letters cluttering up the room. Lockhart's interest in stealing credit for dealing with the Cursed Vaults waned for a short time after Olivia's disappearance, Duncan's death, and Jacob's expulsion, but came back in full when Jacob's sister Carewyn likewise had to deal with them. Fortunately Lockhart failed to collect enough information about Carewyn's adventures to take credit for them and was forced to retreat with a very basic Memory Charm as his goodbye before she or her date Andre Egwu could put together his true intentions. And more fortunately still, about six years later, Lockhart got his just desserts when all of the lies he told to score cheap fame and success came to light.

No one was more pleased when the world finally conjured up enough brain cells to see Lockhart for the idiot and fraud he was than Jacob Cromwell. And ironically enough, the world had also finally conjured up enough brain cells to see for who Jacob really was by then -- not a delinquent as so many had presumed for so long, but an eccentric, brilliant wizard with iron-clad loyalty, incredible magical talent, and a heart as brave as Lockhart's is cowardly.