#Transfiguration Mastery

[cherryslyce]

By NEWTS & Nott | Theodore Nott

Synopsis: The stress from studying for your NEWT level classes has you spiraling into confusion from burnout, and perhaps, simultaneously inspiring a certain slytherin to approach you. But it was all a coincidence, right?

Pairing: Theodore Nott x Gryffindor!Reader

Notes: Cursing, Affection (oh my goodness). I love Theo. Like my mind is constantly just <3 Theo <3.

The gloom that permeated through the air was unusually suffocating. The grey clouds that scattered across the almost equally dull sky left little room for enthusiasm to float about. Many students were beginning to fall into the pattern of procrastinating on their essays, the notorious wave of burnout that swept through the student body every year was at its most unforgiving. 

This year seemed almost worse than last year’s and you were sure it has already done a number on you. Hermione, ever the scholar, was amongst the very few who were managing fairly well for the most part. Your frizzy-haired friend was currently sitting across from you in the library, face buried in a book as she mumbled quietly, albeit furiously, about Harry’s sudden overwhelming success in Potions.

You yourself were quite impressed at Harry’s new penchant for the subject and you weren’t sure if his newfound success had anything to do with having a Potions professor who didn’t seem to loathe his existence or if he was suddenly gifted by mother magic with a potions mastery. 

NEWT level classes were definitely proving to be a challenge for you, and your head was pounding from trying to make sense of the Runes assignment in front of you. You weren’t Hermione by any means, but you would consider yourself to be another top student in your year, having a particular talent for Transfiguration. 

“‘Mione, maybe Harry just studied a little bit extra or something. Besides, it’s a great thing that he’s thriving, especially in potions. Merlin knows this spurn of success was needed given his previous record.” 

The girl’s head shoots up at your words, eyebrows drawn in frustration, “But Y/N, it just doesn’t make any sense! I followed the instructions exactly! Harry said he did as well, so why are all of my potions off?” 

Ah, ever the perfectionist. 

As she continued her tangent, her voice began to slowly rise in volume before her last words were bouncing around the bookshelves and causing other students to turn towards you. 

“Mione, please speak a little lower! And it doesn’t matter, you’re still the top student in a lot of the other classes anyway. Besides, Slughorn is still impressed with your work regardless, that Slug Club invitation is proof of it.” Your hushed whispers seemed to quell her and she nodded along, seeming to accept your encouragement. As if suddenly feeling the burning gazes being shot at the two of you, she quickly turned and apologized silently to everyone she disturbed. 

As she turned back to the book in front of her, you slowly looked around to rest your eyes. As your gaze flitted to the table next to yours, your eyes widened as you made eye contact with a familiar slytherin. 

Of course, it just happened to be him of all people. 

Theodore Nott happened to be one of the very few students in your year who could match Hermione’s academic prowess. You remembered starkly him beating out Draco and Hermione in Charms and Runes last year, shocking your friend group immensely– Hermione most of all. He was often seen walking with Draco and Daphne Greengrass, but he kept to himself for the most part. Despite his quieter disposition, you heard his name whispered often by girls who were longing to gain his attention and affection. 

And from the way he carried himself, it was obvious that Theodore Nott was an impressive wizard. 

He also just so happened to be staring at you at the current moment, no doubt having been disturbed by Hermione moments earlier. 

Slapping on an apologetic smile, you nod to him before turning back to your Runes assignment. 

Nope. Not awkward at all.

Your heart was beating furiously in your chest and you were beginning to fear that its quickened pace would either cause you to pass out or be loud enough for him to hear. You had never really talked to the boy, only being able to recall moments of fleeting nods and awkward eye contact between the two of you. 

Of course, that didn’t stop you from admiring his talents and his admittedly, above-average looks. You also appreciated his tendency to ignore people rather than berate and bully them like other slytherins in your year. 

You were sure that he at least knew of you, if not due to your involvement in Harry’s circle, then due to your consistent residency at the top of the academic hierarchy.

And a little part of you did hope that he took notice of you, not that you’d ever admit it aloud. 

–

The bags under your eyes could probably carry the weight of the troll you accidentally concussed in your first year, the unforgiving curriculum chipping away at the amount of rest you got every night. 

The library was unusually empty that evening, allowing you to peacefully sigh and slam your head into your books without looking like a complete maniac. Moving your head from side to side to try and relieve the tension in your neck, you move to slap your hands over your cheeks. 

After you were done waking yourself up, you drew your eyebrows together and began to tackle the large chunks of small text. 

‘Often mistaken for each other, the words ehwaz and eihwaz have different meanings, partnership and defense, respectively.’ 

You were definitely not making much progress with your Ancient Runes work, and you were growing increasingly anxious about the upcoming exam as you could slowly feel yourself slipping in the class. 

Feeling a prickle on your forehead, you shoot your gaze upwards and suppress a startled gasp as you lock eyes with an amused Theodore. 

When did he get here? Wait, did you get here after him? If so, how did you not notice him until now?

Perhaps, your sleep deprivation was beginning to interfere with how you function. Your lapses in memory were concerning enough for you to think of reining in your hours of daily study. As you slowly close the textbook in front of you, you watch as Theodore’s eyes dart to observe your sluggish movements. 

Clearly taking pity on your hunched form, he observes you for a few more moments before sliding over a sheet of parchment. Feeling your fingers twitch in suspicion, you carefully eye him before deciding that he wouldn’t try to blow you up or anything to that degree. 

As you read through the paper, you feel your mouth part in shock as you realize that it was an organized chart of notes on the words you were struggling with. Theodore Nott had just given you his notes like it was the most casual thing in the world–and they were his nice notes too. 

Feeling a smile pull at your lips, you shoot your head up to thank the boy, only to find the chair across from you vacant. Looking around your table, you’re only met with endless rows of bookshelves. You were left to your lonesome again, the paper in your hand being the only assurance that you hadn’t hallucinated your interaction with the quiet slytherin. 

Quickly packing up your notes and books, you carefully slide Theodore’s notes into your folder as you exit the library, parting with a quick farewell to Madam Pince. 

Briskly walking back to the Gryffindor common room, you shake off the strange interaction in favor of contemplating what a disaster your next Potions lesson is going to be. It was pretty formulaic by now with Harry finishing flawlessly, Hermione wandering out of the class with a lost look, Ron flying by the seat of his pants, and your constant thoughts of giving up and laying your head down. 

Potions had transformed from a tense, strict environment to one of the most entertaining in a matter of just a single year. You respected Snape’s intellect and proclivity in Potions, but his prejudices diminished any inkling of passion you had for the subject. 

–

You were correct in your assumption that the class would go exactly how it always went. Currently, Ron’s cauldron was smoking up a cloud that put Seamus’ usual catastrophes to shame. As you ran your finger along the list of directions for the umpteenth time, you realized that you were missing a stem of Baneberries. 

How you missed it, you could only ponder at another time. You were bustling about frantically, running on a couple hours of sleep, and feeling beside yourself. 

Eyeing your cauldron, you estimated that you could probably run to the storage closet and nick the stem quickly without causing too much havoc by leaving it unattended. Moving from around your table, you quickly weaved around frustrated Gryffindors and confused Slytherins and towards the high shelves of glass jars in the back of the room. 

You were getting dizzy from scanning the identical towers of jars, all the labels suddenly merging together. 

Baneberries would be near the top since all the ingredients were sorted alphabetically. Looking around for the ladder, you jump out of your skin as you nearly bump into a sturdy figure behind you. 

Holding your chest from the scare, you peer at the person only to be met with a familiar pair of amused eyes. 

Sucking in a short breath at your luck, you shoot a sheepish smile at the boy, “Nott. Hello. I didn’t notice you there. Sorry, I’m in a bit of a rush, I forgot one of my ingredients.” 

Theodore raises an eyebrow at you before partially sidestepping you, reaching up towards a shelf behind you. You gaped as you realized he was crowding you against him and the shelf, unable to wiggle around the small gap he left. 

Just as quickly as the awkward moment began, it ended, and Theodore was backing up and gingerly pushing a small stem of red and white berry clusters towards you. 

Eyes widening in shock, you carefully grab the thin stem, accidentally pinching his cold fingers in the process, “Oh, shoot. I’m sorry. Er…but thank you, Nott. I should really go though, I think my cauldron might explode if I delay any further.” 

Practically bouncing on the spot, you don’t wait to hear his response before you’re maneuvering around his figure and scurrying back to your table. Luckily, your potion was still boiling away and even looked salvageable. 

“It’s perfect! That bright pink is spot on, very good Harry, my boy.” Slughorn’s jubilant voice carries around the classroom and you could see many students suppressing their groans at Harry finishing first and flawlessly, once again. 

You purse your lips to contain your laughter as you see Hermione look more than mildly distressed before schooling her expression, shooting a small congratulatory smile at Harry. 

What a proper mess. 

Snorting quietly, you remove the stem from your berries and slowly add a few at a time, stirring the concoction three times counterclockwise. Unlike Harry’s tart pink potion, yours begins to melt into a magenta color, and you have half the mind to step back just as it gives a little rumble, a small puff of smoke shrouding over the circumference of the cauldron. 

Safe to say, that is not what’s meant to happen.

Unsure whether to mourn your failed potion (once again) or not take it too seriously, you opt to just do both, and drop your chin into your hands, laughing dryly at your fate. 

Quickly cleaning up around your work station, you risk a glance across the room and make eye contact with Theodore who looks vaguely entertained at your failed  potion. 

Later, Harry’s bottled potion is being presented by Slughorn at the front of the class, everybody gathering around in a semi-circle to see the result. As you shuffle from leg to leg, you feel a firm chest press lightly against your back. Before you could spin around on your heel, you sense their head moving towards your ear.  

“You forgot to turn down your flame and add the stem of your Angel’s Trumpet.” Theodore’s whisper sends shivers down your spine and you have to cross your arms in order to stop yourself from physically reacting. 

Turning your head slightly towards his face, you huff out in exasperation, “I’m not surprised, I was pretty much running around like a headless hippogriff.” 

You wryly smile, becoming accustomed to classroom failures. Luckily, it seemed that the wave of burnout was finally letting up for a few weeks before your NEWTS, so you could catch up on sleep beforehand. 

A breathy laugh leaves Theodore’s lips imperceptibly and you have to fight back the pleased grin threatening to pull at your face. 

Soon, Slughorn was dismissing class and you were all free to head to the dining hall for lunch. Spinning to head back to grab your book bag, you shoot a small smile at Theodore, “Nice chat, Nott. Thanks again.” 

Before you’re able to brush past him, he mutters a simple correction to you, “Theo.”

“Theo. See you around.”

– 

Your little exchange in potions doesn’t go unnoticed and before you could even stack up some potatoes on your plate, Hermione is dropping herself down next to you with a curious glint shining in her eyes. 

Raising an eyebrow at her enthused expression, you’re unsure if you’re walking into a trap as you respond, “What’s up, ‘Mione?”

Hermione leans a little towards you before quietly whispering to you as if she was sharing a heartfelt secret, “You know what. I saw you and Nott during Potions.” 

Craning your head back to look at her, you suppress the groan itching at your throat as you realize she had her mind set on getting information out of you. 

“It’s nothing of that sort, ‘Mione. He was just giving me tips on my brew is all, apparently I forgot a key ingredient. I’m a proper mess and it seems to be catching the attention of other houses.” You breathe out quietly, beginning to push your food around on your plate. 

Hermione grins like she knows something you don’t and replies with finality before scooping food onto her plate, “Well, he’s seated rather far away from us, don’t you agree? I wonder how he knew what you did wrong.” 

Her words have you pausing as you straighten up in your seat, shooting your wide eyes to her satisfied face. 

Sweet Merlin, she wasn’t called the brightest witch of your age for a half-hearted reason. In a way, you wanted to smack yourself for not realizing sooner despite how glaringly obvious it seems in hindsight. 

How did he know what you did wrong?

– 

It’s been a week since your potion incident with Theo, and you’ve been actively avoiding looking in his direction since that day. You absolutely would not focus on the boy, you couldn’t afford a crush, especially not one on one of the most eligible bachelors of your year. 

Plus, a crush would be detrimental to your grades, and you had barely just recovered from your chronic sleep deprivation. 

Unfortunately, your active avoidance of the boy only made him drift through your head more often. You even caught yourself writing his name mid-sentence while you were doing your Transfiguration essay. 

At the current moment, you were sitting with your friends in the common room, listening to Harry rant about Draco, once again. It was entertaining, but you could feel Hermione shooting small glances at you from time to time, still remembering your incident with Theodore. 

Crossing your arms, you finally speak up as Harry stops to catch his breath, “Harry, are you sure you’re not just interested in Malfoy? No one pays this much attention to someone without having a crush on them, I mean seriously, how do you even know how Draco likes his apples?” 

Harry gapes at your words, fishing around for a logical rebuttal, but you can see how his eyes widen in realization. Ron seems plenty amused by Harry’s flailing and leans back like a satisfied wingman, even though you were the one who did all the mental gymnastics for Harry. 

Hermione raises her eyebrows at your words, turning to face you before echoing your words quietly, “Yeah, no one pays that much attention to someone without it involving a crush.” 

Shaking your head, you dismiss her insinuation, “It was one lesson, ‘Mione. I doubt he’s looking to court me or anything.” 

Your words grab Harry and Ron’s attention and they suddenly lean over to you for an explanation. Raising your eyebrows in challenge, you successfully harden your resolve despite their puppy eyes. 

Realizing that you were going to remain tight-lipped, Hermione decides to enlighten them, “A certain slytherin has taken interest in Y/N.” 

“Oh please ‘Mione, I’m telling you that he’s just really observant and really good at potions.” Your last words catch a little in your throat. 

Hermione grins like cheshire cat, having successfully roped you in, “Sure, and him giving you his nice notes was just a casual ordeal as well.”

Ron and Harry swing their heads back and forth between the two of you, eyes brimming with anticipation. 

Ron seems to have reached the end of his patience and grabs hold of your forearms, shaking you playfully before exclaiming, “Well don’t just keep fighting, tell us who!” 

Huffing in defeat, you dart your attention to the fireplace as you satiate their curiosity, “Theodore Nott.” 

Harry falls back on the floor and releases a noise of surprise while Ron’s hands rip away from your arms and fly to his face. 

“What? Is it that surprising?” Honestly, you were mildly insulted.

Harry is the first to speak, shaking his head reassuringly, “No, no, it’s just, you’re not considering it are you?” 

Tilting your head, you’re quick to reply, “What do you mean? I mean I don’t consider it as a possibility, but what’s so wrong with Theo?” 

Ron gapes in shock, “Theo?” 

Hermione looks at the both of them sternly before turning to you, “I think what they’re trying to say is, Theodore might be bad news. I haven’t the faintest clue why they’d feel that way though.” 

Shaking your head firmly, you shoot down their apprehension, “No way, he’s probably the most tame out of that friend group.” 

The boys don’t look convinced, but Harry concedes with a quiet, “If you’re sure.” 

Tired of the conversation, you stand up from the sofa and stretch your arms above your head, “Enough about me, it’s about time for dinner. Let’s head to the dining hall and talk about Harry’s crush on Draco.” 

“It’s not a crush!” 

—

It’s the very next morning after your conversation in the common room when something bizarre happens to you again. You had successfully evaded Theodore for a little over a week, and sometimes you could feel a pointed stare aimed at you. 

As you’re pouring orange juice for yourself during breakfast, a letter drops in front of your plate as everyone gets their post. Confused by the envelope, you cast a charm to make sure it hasn’t been tampered with before picking it up. 

There wasn’t a sender address on the envelope, but as you neatly tear it open and unfold the paper inside, you realize that you knew exactly who it was from. 

The words were neatly written on the paper, and even without the letter’s content, you already recognized the penmanship. 

Meet me after dinner tonight? Astronomy Tower. 

Don’t worry, you’ll be back before curfew. 

P.S. Do you need my notes again?

Unable to stop yourself, your head shoots up and towards the direction of Draco’s friend group. Immediately, your eyes lock with Theodore’s and he sends you a small smile, tilting his head subtly to ask for your answer. 

Slowly nodding, you feel warmth flood your face as he breaks into a pleased grin and his eyes twinkle in victory. His expression catches the attention of his friends as they all immediately stop their conversation and follow Theodore’s gaze. 

Your eyebrows nearly shoot off your face as you’re suddenly under the scrutiny of the slytherin circle. Surprisingly, Draco doesn’t jeer at you but rather smirks at you ominously, but surprisingly not with malice. Blaise and Pansy look back at Theodore and whisper furiously, their words seemingly so obscene that it tears Theo’s gaze from you and to his smiling friends. 

You weren’t sure if you should be worried. Swallowing down your nervousness, you carefully fold the letter back up and tuck it away into your book bag, keeping your head down for the rest of the meal. 

– 

Your day seems to pass by in a blur, and soon enough you’re rising out of your seat during dinner, eyes trailing to glance at Theo, whose attention darts to your rising form. 

Harry raises his head to look at you in confusion, “You’re done eating already?” 

Nodding quickly, you plaster on a reassuring smile to settle your nerves, “Yeah, I’m just going to go take a walk. I’ll meet you guys in the common room before curfew.” 

Your friends bid you farewell and you pace out of the hall, seeing Theodore push his plate back out of the corner of your eye. Not ready to face him quite yet, you pick up the pace as you head towards the Astronomy Tower, head filled with racing thoughts. 

As you enter the top tier of the tower, you walk towards the ledge to look at the sky, deciding to just leave the door open for Theo. 

A few minutes pass before you hear footsteps approaching you, your shoulders tensing in anticipation. 

Theodore slowly makes his way to stand next to you, resting one arm on the stone ledge and maneuvering his body to face you. Unable to face him just yet, you opt to break the silence first, “So, why did you want to meet with me?” 

“I thought you would have figured it out by now. After all, you’re quite brilliant.” Amusement colors his tone, and you were sure he was smiling at you right now.

Feeling your brain lag at the sudden compliment, you turn your head and survey him with questioning eyes before finding your voice, “It’s not like you to do all this.” 

His lips tug a little at your attention, “Like what?” 

Turning your body to face him fully, you’re keenly aware of the warmth emanating from his body, “Like approaching people you’re unfamiliar with and giving them your notes. Asking them to meet up with you at night. Helping them with their potions. You’re not possessed are you?”

Theodore’s nose wrinkles in amusement as his smile seems to grow impossibly wider, “So you watch me too. But no, I’m not possessed. I think we both know what the deal is though.” 

Dropping your shoulders as your nerves seem to turn to jelly, you release a shaky sigh, “Then, you like me too?” 

Your eyes flit across his face quickly, watching his eyes widen slowly. Smiling at you in fondness, he carefully brings up his hand to cup your face, his cool rings soothing your burning cheek. 

His thumb slowly brushes across your cheek and he steps closer to your figure, leaning to close the distance between your faces, but leaving just enough room to have you wanting more. 

His gaze flickers between your lips and eyes, finally breaking through the silence that settled between the two of you, “Yes, I like you too. Have for a while.” 

You can’t fight your smile, and Theodore seems to be unable to wait any longer, ducking his head further towards yours, “Tell me to stop if you’re not ready.” 

Laughing breathlessly at his words, you bring your hands to rest behind his neck, tugging him closer to close the faint gap between your bodies, “Not a chance in hell.” 

Theodore brings a hand to wrap around your body, quickly connecting your lips. His firm grip on you has you melting against him, and you’re sure that the world completely stopped in that moment, nerves running like fireworks in your body. 

You both break apart for air, donning identical grins of bliss. Unwilling to let you stray too far, Theodore doesn’t loosen his hold and opts to softly nuzzle his nose against yours, occasionally planting kisses on your cheeks. 

Rubbing circles on the back of his neck, you softly laugh as you suddenly remember something, “Hermione was actually the one who helped me realize that you liked me.” 

Humming at your words, Theo only pauses briefly from kissing your face to answer, “Remind me to thank her.”

Smiling softly at his clinginess, you pull your head back to get a good look at him, “Didn’t realize you were the affectionate type.” 

His eyes are hazy from bliss, and he cranes his head forward to try and bring you back to him before answering, “Hm, well the last week has been rough with you avoiding me. ‘M making up for it.” 

Your laugh echoes around the room, urging Theodore to lean over to nip at your ear, “What’s so funny?” 

Carding your fingers through his soft lock, you have a fleeting thought about curfew before you brush it aside to answer him, “Nothing much. Just didn’t think you would get pouty about it.” 

Reeling back at your words, his mouth parts in playful shock, “I don’t pout, baby.” 

“That’s good since we should get going before the prefects head out.” Your words are met with a loud groan and Theodore does the exact opposite of your suggestion, deciding to instead bury his face in your neck and cling onto you. 

– 

“Oh bugger off! He was being the biggest baby of the century all week long, ‘I don’t pout’, my arse.” Draco’s crude words have you dropping your mouth into your hands to muffle your laughter as Theo was left to gape at his friend’s words. 

Pansy nods in agreement and grabs your free hand like a relieved mother, “Trust me, I don’t know what you see in him, but I’m so glad you’re here now.” 

You beam brightly at the girl, coming to realize that your previous anxiety about meeting Theo’s friends was just a waste of energy–they were nothing like your presumptions. 

“Happy to be here. I was honestly driving myself mad all week trying to avoid Theo.” You don’t miss the wounded look the boy throws at you as he begins to tug on your elbow to try and drag you away from his friends. 

“Theo? I remember when I tried to call him that once in third year and he nearly incinerated me.” Blaise raises his eyebrows teasingly at your deflated boyfriend, unable to resist poking fun at his usually stoic friend. 

Huffing a small laugh, you interlace your fingers with Theo’s before stepping back, “Dating privileges, Zabini. Now, it was nice talking with you guys, but Theo might die from embarrassment if we linger around.” 

You barely manage to say your farewells to the group, before Theo is steering you away by your shoulders, muttering up a storm about his friends. 

“Don’t be lax just yet, dear. You still have to talk with my friends, remember?” Your reminder has the boy straightening his posture, evidently unsure with how to approach making conversation with your capricious group.

“They’ll like me, right?” You nearly melt into a puddle at his words. 

“Hermione? Yes. Harry? Maybe. Ron? Not a chance. But I like you, and that’s all that matters. Besides, Ron is too scared to incur Hermione’s wrath to threaten you, so he won’t try to hex you or anything.” Patting his chest reassuringly, you begin to drag him through the castle, set on finding your friends. 

Smiling to yourself, you were sure that your sudden relationship with the slytherin would encourage your friends to confront their own crushes. 

“Oh, I think I see them! Theo, you can’t get out of this with your puppy eyes, now come on!” 

masterlist

[siriusblack-the-third]

The Marauders: Pranks!

(in no particular order)

31st October, 1971 (First Year): the idiots somehow managed to get Peeves on their side and messed with the feast. Additives to the food had the entire castle running towards the bathrooms. The pipes were clogged for weeks afterwards. They served detention for the entirety of the duration.

31st January, 1973 (Second Year): Sirius tricked the gargoyle that protected the headmaster's study, got into his library and took several rare tomes. Dumbledore only realised when Sirius marched into his office two weeks later and dropped 14 books onto his table, announcing, "I'll be borrowing your books frequently, thank you." Just for the sheer talent of getting through his protective spells, Dumbledore allowed him to do so. However, detention of two weeks was handed out for breaking and entering.

23rd September, 1976 (Sixth Year): everyone woke up to see that the 26ft bronze dragon statue atop the fountain in the courtyard vanished in the middle of the night. No-one has seen it since. Nobody knows where it is. However, every time James or Sirius pass by the fountain, a small smirk curves over their lips. On another (completely unrelated, of course) note, James has an exquisite new pen, made of bronze and covered in a beautiful, intricate dragon motif.

13 December, 1974 (Fourth Year): the entire castle just. Floated up into the air without a warning. Exactly 77 feet off the ground for 77 minutes. It took all four of them three months to hand carve runes into the perimeter of the castle, and before that it took all of August for Sirius to come up with the right rune sequence that would stick a timer to the magic. They didn't serve detention, only because the rune sequence was such a stroke of genius— fourth year students barely knew how to use single runes in magic, let alone sequences long enough to cover a perimeter.

12th May, 1977 (Sixth Year): any time someone touched a goblet, said goblet would turn into purple butterflies. Very pretty, but very frustrating when all you wanted was a drink after a hot day. It turned out that they had mixed a transfigurative potion into the dishwashing water, and McGonagall made James write a paper about his invention. Technically, he earned his Potions mastery before he got his N.E.W.T. results.

4th February, 1976 (Fifth Year): a vicious storm cloud hung over Hogwarts starting from the 4th all the way till the full moon, making it rain sleet and hail non-stop, 24 hours a day. Everything came to a standstill, including Quidditch (James had to be persuaded for this one). Under the pretense of a month-long detention, McGonagall and Flitwick sat Sirius and James down and had them explain the thought process that went into the spellwork— weather magic not only required obscene amounts of raw power, but the steps as well were notoriously difficult to execute.

21st December, 1977 (Seventh Year): at exactly 23 minutes after eleven at night, the entire castle got wrapped up in huge, terrifying thorny branches. They crawled through the hallways, spilled through windows, blocked the doors and crept over the suits of armour. Huge roses— about two feet in diameter— bloomed all over the castle, dark haunting pink in colour. Waking up in the morning was quite a shock for people when they found out the vines had grown literally everywhere and taken over the dorm rooms. The inspiration was Disney's animated Sleeping Beauty, and Flitwick and Babbling both gave the Marauders twenty-five points each for the creativity. They did serve four months of detention, though.

.

WARNINGS

do NOT tag w*lfst*r or j*gul*s i mean it i will block you

I do not want anyone calling Sirius or James stupid

If you wanna argue with any of these, argue with the wall. These are headcanons, not reality. Chill.

[fizzyginfizz]

WIP Sneak Peek

Fred clapped his hands together before folding them on his lap, as if he were about to start a serious lecture. “We were remiss in our brotherly duties last Valentine's Day-”

“-and have woken up at an ungodly hour this year-”

“-to save you-”

“-from yourself.”

Oh Merlin. Ginny’s head dropped in her hands. She took three breaths, then stood. “I don’t need saving from myself,” she hissed. “I just need breakfast. So I’m going-”

They pushed her back down.

“You say that now-”

“-but we know sometimes girls can’t help themselves-”

With a groan, Ginny’s head dropped again.

“-and we wanted to make sure you have not composed-”

“-anything that would be humiliating-”

“-if sang by a diapered dwarf.”

“You’ve had a bad year.”

"Bad couple years."

"You'll look back and laugh someday."

Ginny's jaw dropped.

"Fine. Too soon."

"We'll continue to mine basilisk comedy in our spare time."

"There's a vein somewhere. We'll find it."

Get up early, she had thought. Get first grab at the good scones, she reasoned. Stupid stomach. “I’m not going to embarrass-"

“We didn’t raise you to be one of those gushy girly girls.”

“You didn’t raise me at all!” Ginny cried.

“As if Mum and Dad did.”

“Cute.”

“You are our sister.”

“You are a Weasley.”

“This is not our holiday.”

“This is not anyone with any self-respect’s holiday.”

“You need to always remember:”

“Boys are gross.”

The clock on the mantle chimed six.

Ginny stared at her brothers. “Brothers are gross.”

“Yes. But brothers are a subset of boys. You need to understand, boys are gross.”

“All boys.”

“All boys will always be gross.”

“Nothing but gross.”

“Grosser than gross.”

Ginny’s head fell in her hands a third time. “Will you two please stop?”

“Harry Potter?”

“He’s a boy.”

“Boys are gross.”

“We play Quidditch with him, we know.”

“His socks smell.”

“They smell gross.”

“Valentine’s Day is not a magic day where boys socks stop smelling.”

“Nope. Boys are gross, and you are not a gushy girly girl.”

“You are Ginny Weasley.”

“You hold the Weasley record for most bones broken in a single incident.”

“So… pop quiz! Chocolate in heart-shaped boxes?”

They looked at her expectantly.

Oh barmy frotz, she was never going to get her scone at this rate.

“Alright! Heart-shaped boxes?" She leaned forward, almost spitting the words. “Stupid. You can fit more chocolate in square ones.”

“Ding! Correct-o. Diagonal lines, wasteful.”

“Poetry?”

So help her, she was going to grow up, get a mastery in transfiguration and force them live the rest of their lives as cockroaches. “The only poetry worth writing are dirty limericks.”

“Acceptable."

“Bouquets of flowers?”

“Plant murder.” Ginny huffed. “Shrub decapitation. Absolutely monstrous."

The twins stood up and looked at each other. “Our job is done.”

“They grow up so fast.”

Quidditch is for Losers

[greenerteacups]

Hi. First of all, thank you for writing Lionheart, it's been a highlight of my Fridays for a while now. :) I'm on a current reread and am on the chapter where Draco meets Petrovsky et al. and they mention researching at university. Hence my question: what's your view on post-Hogwarts education? I imagined it as more like earning a Mastery with private instructors (given how small the wizarding world is supposed to be). Which would ofc be another disadvantage for muggleborns (connection-wise)

Interesting question! I imagine you'd need a mastery to get licensed for your Boards in technical sciency-y subjects (e.g. Potions and Herbology). In other areas, however, I think you'd only need a mastery if you wanted to teach it (e.g. Transfiguration and Charms). We can assume college and grad school are definitely not the standard course — there's no reference to any of the Weasleys doing it, despite Bill and Percy both being top-of-their-grade academic achievers — so I would imagine that wizarding mastery is a more private, guild-based system of apprenticeship, or possibly small programs hidden here and there at muggle universities. For a while I toyed with the idea of writing a Dramione Oxford AU where there was an additional, magical college sandwiched onto the existing set, but it went on a sojourn to draftland and remains there to this day.

[minivantiny]

ATEEZ x Harry Potter Universe Masterlist

This is my take on what I think Ateez would be like in the HP universe. My little safe space since I'm back in my HP era and Ateez had their 3rd Japanese comeback.

Although I've been a casual reader for many unholy years, this is my first attempt at fanfiction. (Please bear with me, I swear I have some good ideas).

I post these on AO3 as well! (https://archiveofourown.org/works/54307042/chapters/137539711)

There will be updates to this post as my writing progresses!

Houses:

Gryffindor - Jung Wooyoung, Choi Jongho

Slytherin - Kim Hongjoong, Choi San

Ravenclaw - Park Seonghwa, Kang Yeosang

Hufflepuff - Jeong Yunho, Song Mingi

Student's introductions!

Who Was I Trying To Be?

Park Seonghwa

With his soft cotton-pink hair and sharp, aristocratic features, Seonghwa often turns heads as he walks through the halls of Hogwarts. His porcelain-like skin and deep, expressive brown eyes lend him a calm, enigmatic presence, one that commands respect without the need for words. He is, after all, the picture of Ravenclaw’s scholarly ideal.

To his classmates, Seonghwa is known for his relentless dedication to his studies. His favorite subjects — Astronomy, Transfiguration, and the Study of Ancient Runes—allow him to dive into the mysteries of the magical world, satisfying the boundless curiosity that defines him.

Half-blood by birth, Seonghwa has never taken anything for granted. Not even his intellect; he works hard for everything he achieves. Every grade, every achievement, is earned not only for himself but for his family.

Seonghwa's closest ally is his best friend, Kang Yeosang, a fellow Ravenclaw with whom he shares both an academic rivalry and an unbreakable bond. In a world where success often means standing above others, Seonghwa is one of the few who has earned Yeosang’s admiration — and his trust.

But beneath Seonghwa's seemingly perfect reputation, there is, of course, one person, who can strike Seonghwa's nerves just right — Kim Hongjoong. What once was a close friendship, is now nothing but pure bitterness. Seonghwa avoids Hongjoong at every opportunity, his dislike for the Slytherin’s careless attitude towards both life and magic is too strong to ignore. You might be wondering what happened. I'm sure we'll find out soon enough. wink wonk

I Used To Hear A Simple Song

Kim Hongjoong

Kim Hongjoong, despite being vertically challenged, is surprisingly impossible to overlook. His height might not be his most noticeable feature, but his half-black, half-white hair is. There’s a certain magnetic charm to him — an energy that draws people in before they realize what they’ve gotten themselves into.

To his fellow Slytherins, Hongjoong is a natural leader, charismatic and cunning, often finding ways to skirt the rules without ever facing the consequences. He wields a fascination with the mysteries of the universe and a keen interest in power, protection, and control. How convenient and obvious, given that his favorite subjects are Astronomy and Defense Against the Dark Arts. His mastery of offensive and defensive spells has earned him a reputation as one of Slytherin’s most formidable students, both in the classroom and on the Quidditch field, where he serves as the team’s captain.

But for all his bravado, Hongjoong harbours secrets darker than most would imagine. He’s no stranger to the Obliviate charm, having used it on classmates — and even a few teachers — to erase moments of failure or discomfort. His skill with the memory charm is dangerously precise, what's unsettling though, is how easily he seems to forget certain encounters. I wonder why?

Perhaps the only person who knows Hongjoong’s true nature is Choi San, his Slytherin roommate and one of his closest friends. But while San may be Hongjoong’s ally, there’s one person who knows the darker side of Hongjoong better than anyone: Park Seonghwa. Once, they had been close friends, but that friendship shattered during their third year, when Hongjoong crossed a line Seonghwa could never forgive.

Hongjoong, for his part, maintains his cocky, confident front, almost like Seonghwa’s disdain means little to him. Beneath the surface, Hongjoong is haunted by his past mistakes, particularly the fear of being seen as a failure by his uncle, whose influence looms large over his life. The use of Obliviate is his way of maintaining control — erasing the moments of weakness that would expose him to judgment.

When Will You Learn?

Jeong Yunho

With his tall frame and kind smile, Jeong Yunho is the type of person whose mere presence seems to brighten a room. His casual blonde hair, often peeking out from beneath a beanie, complements his gentle, expressive brown eyes. His friends would describe him as someone warm and comforting. His easygoing nature, his genuine laughter, and the quiet way he makes others feel heard. As a proud Hufflepuff, Yunho embodies the very best of his house’s traits: loyalty, patience, and a deep sense of empathy for those around him.

At Yunho’s side, almost always, is his best friend Song Mingi. The two Hufflepuffs are inseparable, their bond built on years of friendship and an unspoken understanding that goes beyond words.

But Yunho’s kindness isn’t just reserved for people—he has an affinity for the natural world as well. His love for Herbology is well-known, and he often spends hours in the greenhouses, tending to magical plants. Although his attempts aren't always successful. Nevertheless, he finds a quiet satisfaction in watching things grow, in nurturing life and letting it flourish.

Outside of class, Yunho expresses himself through art. He's often seen sketching in the open fields near Hogwarts or painting the landscapes around the castle. His pieces are reflections of his inner world — bright and full of life, just as he is.

But beneath Yunho’s bright exterior, something is beginning to shift — an unease that he can’t quite put into words. Yunho tries to hide his anxieties, not wanting to burden Mingi or anyone else. But the cracks are becoming harder to conceal, and as the story unfolds, it will become clear that something — or someone — is pulling Yunho into a spiral of doubt and fear. Oh no. I wonder what bad might happen.

Clever As A Devil And Twice As Pretty

Kang Yeosang

At first glance, Kang Yeosang is the epitome of Ravenclaw brilliance — sharp, refined, and seemingly untouchable. His statue-like features are impossible to ignore: almond-shaped, intense brown eyes, sharp cheekbones, and light brown hair that almost glows with a golden hue in the sunlight. He carries himself with a quiet confidence, his robes always pristine, his posture rigid. It’s not arrogance, exactly, though it often comes across that way. It’s the weight of expectation, the constant pressure to be perfect, to surpass what even his accomplished siblings have done before him.

As the youngest in a family that measures worth by success, Yeosang has grown up in the shadow of achievements that seem impossible to eclipse. A standard that his parents expect him to not only meet but exceed. This constant pressure has shaped him into a perfectionist, driven to excel in everything he does. That doesn't mean he despises the process of learning, quite the opposite. Potions, in particular, is where Yeosang truly shines. He doesn't just follow the curriculum — he goes beyond it, constantly experimenting with ingredients and modifying potion recipes to create something uniquely his own.

He spends late nights in the library, pouring over ancient texts about forgotten potion recipes, studying every detail and adapting them to modern practice. His fellow Ravenclaws often look to him for guidance, though Yeosang rarely shares his knowledge without a touch of superiority. After all, if they can’t keep up, that’s on them.

Yet, Yeosang’s ambition often comes with a price. His high standards don’t always make him the easiest person to be around. He respects only those he deems equal—like Park Seonghwa, his closest friend and the only person Yeosang feels truly understands the pressure they both face as Ravenclaws.

Behind the walls he’s built is a longing for connection, a desire to prove himself not only to his family but to those he respects. After all, vulnerability is something he can’t afford. Or can he?

And Then, The Bastard Winked At Me

Choi San

There’s a quiet mystery to San, one that draws people in. His jet-black hair is often ruffled from late-night studying or whatever he seems to be doing in his free time.

San hails from the esteemed House of Choi, a pure-blood wizarding family known for its mastery of elemental magic, particularly air and its derivatives like wind and thunder. While his cousin Jongho inherited the untamed power of thunder, San commands wind magic with skill and precision, creating his own spells that manipulate air in ways few can understand.

Despite his many talents, San is best known among his friends for his brilliance — and also the fact that he's an oblivious nerd. While others may notice the playful glances and lingering touches from Jung Wooyoung, San remains blissfully unaware. Wooyoung has had (not so) hidden feelings for San for years. But San, focused on his studies, the dueling club, or Quidditch practice, interprets Wooyoung’s flirtation as nothing more than just Wooyoung being Wooyoung.

Where San’s emotional awareness falls short, his loyalty and protectiveness shine, especially when it comes to his cousin Jongho. San knows all too well the cold, affectionless upbringing Jongho endured, having grown up in a different branch of the same family.

Then there’s Mingi and Yunho, the two Hufflepuffs who bring an entirely different energy to his small circle of friends. Despite being wildly different, San admires Mingi’s emotional intelligence and lightheartedness. Yunho is the dreamer of the group. He often pulls San into his world of sketches and paintings, where San finds himself appreciating the beauty in the little things Yunho points out.

Bonus:

A quick peek at San's personal spellbook

How Dare You Insult My Frog?

Song Mingi

Song Mingi is the embodiment of warmth and loyalty — a Hufflepuff through and through. Tall and lanky, with glasses perched on his nose, and soft brown hair usually tousled, Mingi’s charm is accentuated by his wide, genuine smile that never seems to fade.

His love for Herbology and Care of Magical Creatures sets him apart from the more academically competitive students. Mingi thrives in the greenhouses and around magical creatures, where his nurturing personality shines. He spends much of his free time in his personal garden behind the Beasts classroom, a space he has cultivated with love and dedication, surrounded by magical plants and occasional visiting creatures. His favorite companion, however, is his pet frog Pocco, who can often be found hidden comfortably in his robes.

Mingi’s relationship with Yunho is his most treasured. The two Hufflepuffs have been inseparable since their first year, with Yunho often visiting Mingi’s grandparents during the summer, spending weeks in the peaceful garden at their home. Mingi's friendships with San, Jongho, and Wooyoung are equally important to him.

Thanks to growing up with his grandparents — a very loving and open-minded household, Mingi had an almost instinctive ability to read the room. He easily picks up his friend's moods. He's the type of friend who remembers the small details. Like your favorite snack on a bad day or a quiet spot you loved to visit when things got overwhelming. His greatest strength was knowing when to be there without being asked, offering encouragement or a shoulder to lean on in such a natural way that it felt like he had known what you needed all along.

Though often viewed as the group's comedic relief, Mingi’s depth lies in his ability to recognize when his friends need emotional support — particularly Yunho, whose worries never escape Mingi's sharp eye.

Are You Flirting Or Starting A Fight?

Jung Wooyoung

Wooyoung’s presence was hard to miss. He presents himself with an energy that turns heads and draws smiles. Slightly tousled jet-black hair, along with his mischievous eyes and playful smirks made him a natural charmer.

Wooyoung’s love for Divination and Legilimency set him apart from his classmates. He had an uncanny ability to read people, sometimes even before they’d spoken a word. But Wooyoung didn’t just use this gift for fun. He wielded it carefully, respecting the boundaries of his friends, though it was always tempting to pry a little deeper into the thoughts of those around him, especially when he suspected something was being left unsaid.

Among his closest friends — Mingi, Yunho, San, and Jongho — Wooyoung was the glue that kept things lively. Endlessly teasing Mingi, who took it all in stride. Sharing quiet moments and cheeky remarks with Yunho, that always brightening Yunho's day. Prodding into Jongho's stoic exterior, knowing that he had the power to let out a loud laugh out of him.

But it was San who left Wooyoung the most frustrated — and intrigued. No matter how obvious Wooyoung made his feelings, no matter how many times he flirted, San never seemed to catch on.

Aside from his friends, Wooyoung's furry companion is a ginger cat named Ned. Just like Wooyoung, Ned wasn’t ordinary — because this is a story about magic, and that would be boring — Ned was a half-wampus breed with an almost mystical presence. Ned wasn’t just large; he was MASSIVE. With eyes that glowed unnervingly in the dark, often scaring off other pets. Or schoolmates. Some joked that the cat knew what you were thinking even before Wooyoung did. And it was true. But Wooyoung knew better — Ned was more than just a cat; he was an extension of himself, a loyal protector with a sharp mind hidden behind his curious green eyes.

As much as Wooyoung’s carefree and confident exterior suggested a life free from complications, his friends noticed. Wooyoung obviously knew they noticed. But they silently agreed to not point it out. They saw glimpses of it - the way his smile faltered slightly every time San didn't even bat an eye when Wooyoung moved closer to him. Wooyoung covered it up with a grin and a joke, hoping that one day, San would look at him and finally understand what was right in front of him all along.

The Smell Of Books Is Eminent

Choi Jongho

Choi Jongho brings an unexpected twist to the Gryffindor stereotype, defying the expectations placed upon him by his prestigious pure-blood family. Growing up in the cold halls of the Choi estate, he was surrounded by an unyielding demand for perfection, tradition, and the obsession with maintaining their lineage. But despite their hopes of him becoming the next Slytherin Quidditch champion, Jongho forcefully chose the scarlet and gold of Gryffindor, a decision that severed the already fragile bond with his family.

His strong build suggested an athlete, but Jongho turned down Quidditch, much to his family’s dismay. Instead, his interests lay elsewhere — Divination, Potions, and Charms, where he finally found his peace. To Jongho, the family’s obsession with blood purity and their rigid ideals felt like a chain he was eager to break. He wasn’t afraid of walking away from the Choi legacy if it meant choosing his own path, even if it meant being misunderstood.

Surrounded by close friends since his first year at Hogwarts, Jongho's reserved nature was accepted without question by Mingi, Yunho, Wooyoung, and his cousin San, who knew better than to push him too far. San, especially, was the family connection that Jongho cherished, understanding the weight of the Choi name and the pressure that came with it. While San embraced his wind magic, Jongho was more hesitant about his thunder magic. Fearing the raw power that simmered beneath the surface. His magic always felt unpredictable, dangerous even, and he preferred to keep it locked away, scared of what might happen if it ever slipped out of his control.

Jongho’s presence often made him seem unapproachable, yet his closest friends could see beneath the surface. In the art room, he found an outlet for his unspoken emotions, working quietly alongside Yunho, creating pieces that reflected the storms inside him. But there was another storm brewing, one he couldn’t ignore — Yeosang. The Ravenclaw’s presence unsettled Jongho in a way he couldn’t explain.

While maintaining his stoic exterior, Jongho couldn’t shake the feelings Yeosang ignited in him. His usual control — over both his emotions and his magic — was slipping, and it terrified him. What would happen if he let go? If he allowed himself to feel something for Yeosang? He feared not only what he might do with his uncontrollable power but also how deeply he might fall if he let Yeosang in.

[modern-harrypotter]

Young Adult Chronicles - 3

Part 3 of the Young Adult Chronicles! Meet the married kids - a whole bunch of “high school” sweethearts! Timeline is a little wobbly but it’s okay 👍

✨👇 Further Details Below 👇✨

Seamus and Dean got engaged a few months after the War finished with the Battle at Hogwarts, and got married on the one year. Harry had officiated, with plenty of press considering Harry shoved off the Ministry Gala to be there. Dean is an artist and taking commissions for muggle or magical services. Seamus is a house husband. They have three Irish Wolfhounds named Dionysus, Aphrodite and Hera.

Millicent and Daphne married in the same year, but they followed a more pure blood courtship, so their engagement and wedding was more of a private affair at the Ministry. They had a baby via surrogacy, with a male from the Bulstrode line and Daphne’s egg. Similar to In-Vitro Fertilization but with more wizard shit. Their daughter is Gabriella Jane Bulstrode-Greengrass, and she is only a few months old. Millicent and Daphne don’t work as they are busy with their baby. Millie is in the works of getting her Transfiguration mastery and Daphne works away at managing the estates they have. Both are heirs and are considered Lady Bulstrode-Greengrass. They often can be found attending various garden parties or outings with other ladies amongst the notable Purebloods who are more progressive.

Draco and Harry had a similar situation, with a small marriage at the Burrow, surrounded by their friends and family. Hermione officiated with Blaise and Ron as their best men (respectively). There was no press, no notice and no announcements. Harry was going to have a quiet wedding if it killed him. They never have announced it since then. Draco wants to announce it, if only so the letters flooding their mailbox would cease. The warding on it to deter the shameless witches and wizards begging for the more uncouth aspects of a relationship can only do so much. Draco would gladly take the Howlers over the sexual fantasies people kept sending his husband… A man can only take so much…

On a side note - Harry and Draco have considered adopting a child as well, but are in the mindset of waiting until Draco is home more instead of being elbows deep into his barrister work. Especially since Harry is teaching DADA at Hogwarts, they don’t have enough time to raise a child. They do have a cat named Lily (Orange Maine Coone) after Harry’s mother. They also help raise Teddy with Remus and Tonks as well!

Hermione and Pansy were recently married, and they had a very big wedding, celebrating the success of Hermione taking over the Ministry. Her political reforms have shaken the wizarding world of Britain but it’s been peaceful. They have no children and no plans on having children, but Hermione’s cat Crookshanks is still kicking!

Ginny and Luna aren’t married or engaged. They are solely just dating. They don’t have plans to marry, but they are young and there is no war forcing them to grow up any faster than they already have and are taking it slow and enjoying life.

Neville, Blaise and Ron are not married on paper, but they have taken each other’s last names which is the same for them. Neville and Blaise had a fight over who’s last name Ron would get, but eventually Ron pointed out that if Neville took Blaise’s and Blaise took his, then it was only fair that Ron would take Neville’s too make it even. He didn’t care for the Pureblooded aspect of what being a “Longbottom” or a “Zabini” would bring him, but rather he cared that each of them took another last name to tie them all together more seamlessly. No children but Ron took over for Madame Hooch as the flying instructor and he loves it! Neville is apprenticing under Professor Sprout for his Herbogy major and Blaise is happy being a kept man and maintaining their ever growing forest of plants and animals. They have two dogs, and a cat! (Named Felix (Yorkshire Terrier) Leigh (Teacup Poodle) and Harold (American Shorthaired Tabby (brindle coloring), in honor of the dearly departed Trevor. Neville insisted on the more human names because it’s a little funny.) Harold stats at Hogwarts with Neville and Ron in their shared office and room, while Felix and Leigh are at home with Blaise.

Lavender and Parvati are married! They live in France actually, but keep in touch with their Hogwarts alumni. Parvati is the Divination teacher now, after Trelawney retired after the War. Lavender keeps up their house and is neighbors with Fleur and Bill and their children! Lavender and Parvati have two children of their own - Twins named Nicholas and Calista. (Nick(ie) and Callie for short. They have a few aunts and uncles, like Uncle Ron, Blaise and Neville, Uncle Bill and Aunt Fleur, Auntie Daphne and Millie, Aunt Hermione and Pansy, Uncle Harry and Draco, Uncle Theo and Mausi Padma. They were adopted into a magical family after their muggle parents gave them up after an incident of accidental magic almost set their house on fire. The French Ministry of Magic located and regimes the two magical children. The twins are 4 years old as of the “modern day”. Lavender and Parvati raise them to be bilingual in English and Hindi, but they are also learning French in primary school. They do know they are adopted but they love their mothers dearly!

Padma is living her best life learning Wandlore and getting her certifications in wand making. Ever since Ollivander told her that she had a knack for intuitions and the wand that chose her would be best suited for divinations- she spent most of her spare time studying Wands and how to make cores throughout her time at Hogwarts. She hated arithmancy as the tiring subject often caused her to derail from homework into the applications of her profession. She is set to open her own shop by the end of the year and allow Ollivander to retire from wands. He is insistent on helping her run her own shop though, primarily clerk and stockings.

Theodore has taken over the History of Magic classes. He has revitalized the curriculum to be more modern than 800 year old battles. When the First and Second Blood Wars arise, Headmistress McGonagall has school wide assembly with former students speaking about their experiences. Harry doesn’t speak much at these, instead has a class dedicated to answering questions from his students when Theodore covers the topic.

- Lots of headcanons but that’s the beauty of an AU.

[kay-elle-cee]

For the Taylor Swift prompts, how about "Loved you three summers" for Jily!!

Hi Em! Thanks for sending this in...as promised, I fought the angsty urges. I hope you enjoy! Read here on ao3 or below the cut!

Follower Milestone Celebration

James hummed something upbeat and off-key to himself as his wand moved in a lazy pattern, the dishes hovering low above the sink and cleaning themselves as he read a folded-back copy of Transfiguration Monthly. His focus was all on the magazine in his left hand, and Lily had to raise her own wand from where she sat at the kitchen table to ensure rogue streams of water didn’t end up puddling on the floor.

She watched him with a small, serene smile, her legs propped up in the neighboring chair as her left hand rested on the swell of her belly where their darling boy wiggled restlessly. It was mornings like these—the summer breeze drifting in through the open windows of their cottage, the promise of their friends’ visits as Lily’s due date drew near—that made everything seem perfect.

Two years out of Hogwarts and life wasn’t exactly what she had pictured—she’d never expected to get pregnant halfway through her Potions Mastery, but days like this just felt…right. Like it was always supposed to happen this way. 

Just the three of them. The Potters. In feeling, at least, if not in name. James and Lily had fallen in love hard and fast, once the planets aligned during their seventh year, but she had never wanted to be a young bride. She wanted to make her way through her Mastery on her own merits, not wanting the Potter name to give her any sort of special advantage or attention. It had seemed so important, at the time, but it was starting to feel…silly. She was still Lily, regardless of what followed. Her work ethic was still her.

And right now, here in this kitchen, the missing moniker felt like a cavern in her chest, all other desires small in comparison.

Blinking away the sudden surge of emotion that pricked the back of her eyes, she inhaled a sharp breath. “James?” 

The emotion must have overflowed to her voice, because James turned quickly, the dishes falling lifelessly into the sink with a gentle splash. His eyes were wide behind his glasses, quickly taking stock of her. “What’s wrong?”

“I’m not going anywhere, you know that right?”

The divot in his forehead smoothed out, a small, amused smile playing on his lips as he nodded to her elevated feet and round belly. “Not like that you’re not.”

“No I mean…us,” she pressed, only slightly embarrassed by the waver in her voice. “I love you. And I love this.”

He put Transfiguration Monthly down on the counter and swiftly crossed the little kitchen, kneeling down next to her so that he was at eye level. Covering her hands with his, his voice softened. “Lily, I know, love. What’s brought all this on?”

“I just—” the tears began to trickle down her cheeks, and she tried to wipe them away. “You standing there. Harry kicking the shit out of me. My heart is just so full and this is it for me and I know when we found out I was pregnant I was very clear that I didn’t think we needed to get married just because of it but—”

His sharp inhale interrupted her. “But?”

Now it was her turn to take his hands, the earnestness of her words spilling forth. “I love you so much, James. So much. What if we did something small. Just for us right now.”

“Are you asking me to—”

“Yes.”

He carefully pulled her towards him, lips meeting hers in a fierce, urgent kiss. Breaking apart with a breathless laugh, he rested his forehead on hers.

“Evans, I’d marry you in a heartbeat. No questions.”

[jazzdailyblog]

Transfiguration: Alice Coltrane's Spiritual Journey Through Music

Introduction: Alice Coltrane’s album Transfiguration stands as a testament to her musical genius and spiritual depth. Recorded live at Schoenberg Hall, UCLA, in April 1978, this double album showcases Coltrane’s mastery of the piano and organ, accompanied by bassist Reggie Workman and drummer Roy Haynes. The album features six tracks, including an extended version of John Coltrane’s “Leo,” and…

[corneater3000]

i have suuuuch a love/hate affair with words and using them as tools to describe experience and to be seen and heard in that expression. like. i want to share about the past 9 months as a tower card - healing crisis - creation/destruction cycle series of events in my life and what i have grappled with & endured and the conclusions i have come to as i sat in discomfort + all the taboo spaces but it remains infeasible. last night during my blessingway the mother named me her divine listener and there exists truth in that. it was an incredibly affirming title to hear and tears began to flow immediately. i am leaps & bounds more skilled at listening/receptivity than i am at sharing the wisdom that wells within me as i integrate that which i have sat with & heard & heeded. i am completely transfigured by all of this, by life, by words, by color, by song, by others, by nature and i desire to embody a burgeoning external display as powerfully as i feel it in my internal landscape. an enormous part of me simply longs to feel recognized. the rest of me wishes to share with the world the things i know have the capacity to effect change. the things that have so wholly changed me. i want the keys to fall into the right hands. i want those hands to unlock doors with them. i want this hallway of doors & mirrors to be the path to liberation. i want to be someone worth listening to. but for now i will sit and listen and let myself be thrown about by the forces at play and allow them to strip me of all that is not truth and fill in those gaps with that which is knowledge, mastery, love.

i am sitting with the grandmother spirit ayahuasca for the first time in a few short weeks. i have so far been imperfect in my fasting before the dieta. the mother woke me up in the middle of the night months ago and told me that this is what i must do as the final initiation of the last 9 months. my hands tremble as i type this, but when ma gives me an order i must obey. and i will always be better for it. this is what it is to be in service: to serve the mother is to serve yourself is to serve the All. and who would i be anyway to rob the world of the gifts i have been given? they are my gifts because i have been the one assigned to share them, the one through whom they wish to be expressed

[consistentsquash]

10 Age gap f/f fics with 10 Hermione pairings

Femslash February!!!!

Pretty crazy life right now so no blurbs, sorry :/ But wanted to get this out before February is done.

Hermione/Minerva McGonagall

Sesquipedalia by kelly_chambliss

Length - 7000 words

During her free period, she went to the library. She wanted to read more about transfiguration and theory and experiments, and (she didn't deny it), she wanted to look through issues of Transfiguration Today to see if she could find Professor McGonagall's name mentioned. Seeing that name in print always gave Hermione a little thrill, like the jolt of excitement she'd felt as an eleven-year-old in Ollivander's shop, when her wand had found her. Getting her wand had made her feel grown up, the first step towards being taken seriously, the way Professor McGonagall was.

Rec note - @kellychambliss is on Tumblr!!! Definitely go say hi!!! <3

  Hermione/Andromeda Tonks

Bookworms and Broomsticks by tattooedsappho

Length - 4400 words.

Rec note - HP Beholder fic! This fest has some brilliant fics. Check out their AO3 collection.

Hermione barely had time to stand before Andromeda swept her into a hug and her head was swimming in galangal, heliotrope and vanilla as the butterflies begin dancing in her stomach again.

  Hermione/Delphi

Homily by eldritcher

Length - 17000 words

Rec note - It's got Delphi, but trust me this is a huge improvement over Cursed Child's plot. Because it's got a sentient and senile Castle to start with!

Womanhood has its seasons. Death was the spirit of a crone that lived in an elder tree. The first woman was an elm, and Embla was her name. The Castle wants and ails, and seeks mastery while binding her masters to her. The women of Homer were not the women of Euripides. Menopause has left me changed. It is not an ending. It is merely a season's turn.

 

Hermione/Lily Luna

Now and Before by tray_la_la

Length - 1600 words

Lily is bolder today, though her movements are tentative as she scoots back farther from the edge of the bed, settling on her back with her legs spread. Her teeth bite into her bottom lip, fingers playing with the hem of her shirt. She can’t possibly realise the effect, Hermione thinks, the throb between her legs racing through her chest to lodge in her throat. Once again she is struck by Lily’s innocence, delicate and overwhelming and hanging in the balance.

  Hermione/Molly

Lesson One by pauraque

Length - 2400 words

"Hermione, you are anything but stupid," Molly says, with the practised firmness of someone used to being turned to for encouragement and comfort. "And you're hardly the only girl in the world to be nervous about her first time." She takes Hermione's glass from her and sets it down, then cups both her hands in hers, peering at her with a smile that wrinkles the corners of her eyes. "If you want to talk about it, you can always come to me. And I promise I won't tell you to lie back and think of England."

  Hermione/Narcissa

Union by Titti

Length - 2200 words

"Of course, education is extremely important and one should always apply oneself to the subject at hand," Hermione said in her most studious tone.

Rec note - lots of great fics in this ship. So I am just going to go with the oldest fic on AO3.

  Hermione/Rolanda Hooch

Notice Me by Max Sinclaire

Length - 2200 words

Spinning around quickly she stared up into eyes that, in the past, she had always thought were a dull yellow. Now, under the pulsing and dancing, neon lights, she realized that the eyes she was staring at were actually gold. Hair that she previously thought was grey, was in fact a beautiful silver to match the gold tones in her eyes.

  Hermione/Poppy

Remedial Healing by Hijja

Length - 4500 words.

"There are natural means of dealing with the cramps," she explained. "Massage, for example, is quite helpful..." Granger's expression vacillated between puzzled and inquisitive, without showing any sign of dawning comprehension. "So is orgasm, Miss Granger."

  Hermione/Bellatrix

The Perfume and Suppliance of a Minute by Lillielle

Length - 260 words

Who else can say their existence is so gloriously planned?

Rec note - Darkfic which has a lot going on in just 260 words!

  Hermione/Lily Evans

Dangerous Times by SecondSilk

Length - 410 words

"What year is it?" Lily demanded. "Nineteen ninety-nine, or almost."

[birlwrites]

what were the other slytherins' career meetings with slughorn like?

the way i had half of this typed out and then lost it 😔 we soldier on

most of the career meetings were pretty uneventful because most of the slytherins know exactly what they're doing - they're going to graduate and become full-time aristocrats. whether they're CONTENT with this is another matter - emma in particular is itching to go pro in quidditch, she just hasn't worked out her angle, and charlotte's considering a variety of masteries because she's uncomfortable with the idea of suddenly having No More School - but they were still uneventful

which leaves barty and lucinda!!!

barty's meeting was straightforward enough in that they talked about potential future careers using runes, slughorn told him babbling would be delighted to help him out with that since it is after all her field of study, and as far as the 'what newts you need to take' conversation, it was literally just 'make sure you get into newt runes. getting an o on the owl is a good idea. take some other classes too to be well-rounded on mastery applications, the traditional supplemental subjects are transfiguration and charms but runes are an inherently interdisciplinary field so you can basically get away with anything as long as you're decent at it and can sell them on it in your application'

lucinda, on the other hand, was basically vibrating out of her seat the entire time, stressed out of her mind at being The Only One in their year who really needs to Do Something Special to be successful in life. maeve has jokingly (she was dead serious) offered lucinda her own set of rooms in the bulstrodes' ancestral home, but lucinda hates the idea of just sitting around all day living off of her best friend So Much. So Fucking Much. so she needs a CAREER and she needs to be GOOD AT IT and her friends don't UNDERSTAND because they are SACRED TWENTY-EIGHT ARISTOCRATS WITH FORTUNES (and barty is. barty. he'd probably gladly live in maeve's house for the rest of his life and his only regret would be that it wasn't regulus's)

so slughorn had 4 totally straightforward very chill career meetings (regulus, maeve, barty, and evan), then BAM LUCINDA!!!!!!!, then 2 basically straightforward very chill career meetings (emma and charlotte)

emma hasn't really. Externalized her desire to become a professional quidditch player to anyone other than evan and like. geoff. house vanity isn't suuuuuuuuper conventional so it's not like it's hopeless (like - can you imagine regulus being like 'mother, father, i shall not become lord black, i am abdicating so that i can play seeker for the falmouth falcons'), but they're not... *un*conventional. emma's not the heir which gives her more freedom but she's also part of a family that is very much In the sacred twenty-eight, unlike, for example, the weasleys. so it would be pushing boundaries for her to become a pro athlete and mentioning it to slughorn would feel a little. embarrassingly optimistic to her

slughorn may be able to connect lucinda with someone at witch weekly, and if she plays her cards right, she could probably get an internship there the summer after her sixth year, which plays very well into both her love of accessorizing and her newfound interest in journalism as a viable profession (thanks geoff!! team dad all the way. even for people who aren't on the team yet)

charlotte can't decide which mastery she wants to pursue (first)

[athenasparrow]

Mid Week WIP

Thanks for the tag @practicecourts : )))

Sharing a snippet from a new story I'm working on:

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

“What’s got your knickers in a twist?” Sirius muttered glancing at James as he chucked his shirt with more vigour than perhaps was necessary.

James turned to his brother to find a perfectly arched eyebrow raised in his direction.

“Healer Evans,” James grunted, glancing to the place where a crumpled piece of parchment sat at his desk.

Sirius’ eyebrow remained raised, unimpressed.

James rolled his eyes. “He wants me to gather eucalyptus under a full moon from the grove just outside of Taghazout. I mean honestly doesn’t Dad know we’re busy with our Transfiguration Masteries? We are almost done, but still. I don’t quite understand how he managed to always hire such eager tofts,” James groaned

James paused when Sirius didn’t have an immediate reply, turning to look at his brother

Sirius was staring at him, head cocked, a slight smirk on his face

“What?” James said

“Nothing,” Sirius said straightening his face “I’d just forgotten you hadn’t come in with me to visit Dad when we dropped home last weekend.”

“Right” James said turning away to dig a piece of parchment out of his bag. “So you’ve met Evans then - I just hope he’s better than the last one.”

I am tagging @wearingaberetinparis, @abihastastybeans, @winryofresembool, @charmsandtealeaves (sorry if you've been tagged) xx

[uncertainwallflower]

Fanfic writer self-appreciation! Answer this, then pass the ask along to your favorite writer, your mutuals, or just someone who needs to answer it. If I were to read one fic of yours that best reveals who you are as a writer, or the one you’re MOST proud of, which fic should I read? (I hope you are doing well! )

Hey, Nena! Sorry for taking so long to answer this (the other asks in my inbox are shaking their fists at me as we speak).

This comes as a surprise, to even myself, but I'm going to say 'Sunburnt Skin Hitherto Forbidden' which I wrote in August but only just published on AO3 (having rediscovered it deep in the archives approximately fifteen minutes ago). It's a good snapshot of my style but is only ~700 words, so not too big a commitment. Here is the first paragraph as a little taste test:

It started out as innocent fun. A day spent under the blistering sun ending in half a dozen lumpy mattresses transfigured from couch cushions and crammed into the library on the bottom floor of Potter Manor. Innocent fun. They had had to share a mattress. Innocent fun. James always slept with his shirt off. Innocent fun.

The link to the original post is here. The link to the prompt list by @omgjumin from whence the instigating ask came is here.

P.S. I am doing well! I just finished reading Lolita after MONTHS—Christ, it was taxing—and feel a great weight lifted from my shoulders. It was so good. I can see the effect Nabokov has had on my writing (he has such a mastery of pace and scene and just EVERYTHING), even in the above-mentioned micro, which I wrote three months into Lolita. I, too, hope you are doing well.

[itsviankagaunt]

Year 5. Visiting Anne Sallow

As the crisp November air rushes by, signaling the end of another semester, the looming holiday season brings with it a never-ending stream of daunting essays and overwhelming homework assignments. And as if that weren't enough, Vianka and Sebastian find themselves constantly embroiled in battles against their enemies. Amidst all this chaos and responsibility, they struggle to balance their academic endeavors, studying tirelessly for Professor Fig's notoriously challenging assignments while also finding moments of respite in the dimly lit, emerald-toned Slytherin common room

The absence of Ominis from the trio has sparked rumors and gossip among the students. Malfoy made a snide comment, saying that “it was good to see that despite his blindness, Ominis could still recognize someone as unworthy as a mudblood." Lestrange added that “this was a relief, now, I could send an owl to my father claiming that Ominis was back to normal”. Vianka, though saddened by having to part ways with Ominis, could see that this separation had a positive effect on him. For the past year, he had tirelessly defended her in front of her parents, and now at least one family is at peace. After all, I was just a mudblood in their eyes

Tensions had risen between Sebastian, Vianka, and Ominis. Sebastian felt a twinge of guilt for teasing Vianka and Ominis - perhaps I had crossed a line. But how could I make amends? He was at a loss, unsure where he went wrong and when he should apologize to Ominis.

Meanwhile, Vianka reflected on her initial goals in Hogwarts: I need to accumulate enough wealth to support my family and help them rise out of poverty. She was determined not to let any love story sway her from this path. After all, Ominis was a Slytherin heir - there was no way he would give up his throne and leave his kingdom behind to run away with a mudblood like her.

Ominis watched as his oldest friend Sebastian fell deeply for Vianka and she just throw him out of her life. But just after their intimate moment during the birthday and Halloween dance party, it was as if Vianka had already forgotten about him. Ominis couldn't help to think perhaps she only chose me out of pity due to my disability, as no other girls showed interest in me.

His suspicions were further confirmed when he found out that Imelda had spiked her pumpkin juice, causing her sudden excitement and invitations to do unspeakable things with him that night.

Feeling lost and shattered, Ominis sought out Anne for guidance. As a girl, maybe she could offer him a different perspective on Vianka's recent actions, of which he was completely clueless about. Even if Anne couldn't provide any solutions, at least he needed a shoulder to cry on.

***

Meanwhile, Sebastian and Vianka had completed their final task of subduing the Trolls for the villagers. With Vianka's newfound mastery of transfiguration and ancient magic, she was now able to complement Sebastian's impulsive fighting style. She summoned a nearby boulder with an accio spell and quickly transformed it into exploding barrels. As they enlarged in size, she hurled them at the Trolls' heads with precision. Sebastian beamed with pride as he applauded her. "Well done, well done! Finally, my training has paid off!" Vianka laughed and replied, "I couldn't have improved my dueling skills without your help!"

Sebastian waved his hand and a magical tent appeared before them. "Let's go inside," he said, gesturing towards the entrance. "We can clean up, eat some food, gather some flowers, and then head to Feldcroft to see my sister." Vianka hesitated, "Does your sister really want to see me? If this is a family event, I don't want to intrude. Your time with her is important." Sebastian reassured her, "Don't be silly, darling! I've told her so much about you in my letters. She's been begging me to introduce you to her. She would love to meet you." Vianka smiled and nodded, "I hope we can become friends." Sebastian chuckled, "Of course! You two will get along famously."

"Sebastian, what are your sister's preferences? Her personality? Her appearance? Her dreams before being cursed? I never took the time to truly understand her. Please forgive my self-absorption," Vianka reflected on how she tends to talk more than she listens, despite having two ears and only one mouth.

Sebastian patted her on the back and reassured her, "Don't worry about it, sweetie… The girl just looked like a female version of me but pale. Despite being cursed and enduring immense pain, she still managed to be playful and fun, always with a smile on her face. However, there were many differences between us... She was more similar to Ominis in many ways. Mostly they loved indoor activities such as playing gobstones, cooking. Also, they both loved cleanliness and order, while I enjoy making a mess. They also enjoyed attending classical music concerts and even won a dance competition a few times. On the contrary, we excel at rocking out and jumping around erratically."

Vianka suddenly filled her emotion bags with tension and many bad voice whispered her brain now. Good, now that Anne could cook and dance beautifully without tripling and stepping the dance partners’ feet, something that I am incapable of… Perhaps, Anne was destinied for Ominis…

Vianka tried to maintain a calm expression as she asked, "Do Anne and Ominis both excel in dancing? Does Anne also play the piano like Ominis?" She hoped her words wouldn't give away her feelings and raise suspicion from Sebastian.

“They will work well together when Anne plays the violin. Our parents taught us classical music, and Anne excels at it. I, on the other hand, struggle a bit... you know how it is.”

Vianka's heart sank as she realized, Oh, Ominis and Anne were a perfect match

“Does she have similar behavior to Ominis? Does she also tend to adhere strictly to rules and maintain a strong moral code?”

Sebastian's grin widened, "What are you saying? Am I the rebel with a lax moral code?"

Vianka said flatly, "Sebastian, we are aware of our true identities, aren't we?"

“Yes, darling… that's it, they were always in sync with each other. Anne seemed to trust Ominis more than me, her twin brother. And unfortunately, Ominis often took Anne's advice over mine, even though I had been his closest friend for years. And please don't mention to Anne that we exhausted every possible avenue, from white magic to dark magic, from stones to ancient spells, in our search for a cure for her. She wouldn't appreciate it."

"It's not a problem. If something were to happen to my brother, I would do the same as you," Vianka responded.

Sebastian messed up Vianka's hair with a grin. "Thanks, sweetie" he said. "We have a great understanding."

"That's why you love me so much, isn't it?"

“That is true, my queen... If your love affair with Ominis doesn't work out, you can always come to me and force me to marry you instead. You have my words..", Sebastian reached Vianka hands, squeezed them, and then kissed them in the back, pretend to be a prince

"Do not let your imagination run wild. Remember, even though I am helping you, you are still under my employ."

Sebastian put on his best surrender face and knelt before her. " Yes my princess, You are such a strong, dominant woman," he said. "I would love to be your submissive."

Vianka rolled her eyes at Sebastian and gave a playful push to his chest. She could see the mischief in his expression and the dramatic way he knelt before her, grinning like a fool. “Stop, you’re such drama king”

Sebastian's laughter is infectious, filling the room with joy and mirth, his voice echoing against the walls as he continues to roll on the floor, “Yes I am the drama king but you are my queen”

***

Sebastian opened the door to his house in Feldcroft, gesturing for Vianka to come inside. She carried a bucket filled with Lily of the Valley, small and delicate white blooms that hung from slender stems with an alluring scent. Vianka had chosen these flowers after learning about Anne's personality from Sebastian; which similar to Ominis's.

As they approached the house, instead of seeing Anne and Uncle Sollomon inside, they found her with Ominis. The two were talking intimately, sitting close together and sharing a meal that they may have cooked themselves. Vianka couldn't help but think that the food smelled delicious unlike my own cooking abilities

Ominis jumped in surprise, unable to conceal his startlement as Vianka and Sebastian entered the old stone house.

Sebastian let out a sigh, clearly relieved to have found his friend. "Hey there, buddy. We've been searching for you everywhere!" Ominis remained silent, the tension between the two boys palpable.

As the tension in the room grew, Sebastian attempted to ease it by changing the subject. "Anne, this is my darling Vianka," he said with a smile. Anne reciprocated the smile and opened her arms to greet Vianka. "You're like a living doll, so beautiful, Im so pity you must stand my brother" she exclaimed. Vianka handed a flower to Anne, who was amazed. "How did you know my favorite flower? Even Sebastian can never guess."

Vianka couldn't help feeling jealous as she watched Ominis sitting closely to Anne, but she couldn't deny that she likes Anne personality.

“Sebastian mentioned to me how you differ from him,” Vianka began, gesturing towards Ominis. “He said you enjoy indoor activities like dancing and playing classical music, and that you have a passion for cooking and keeping things clean and orderly. He also mentioned your strong moral code, which is just like his.” Despite her glare, she attempted a sincere smile. “I believe those traits would be a good fit for this,” she pointed at the flowers.

Anne let out a loud laugh and patted Sebastian's shoulder. Sebastian gave a small smirk, but Ominis was feeling anxious. "That's exactly how my twin brother told you about me," she said.

"Did you actually not like it?" Vianka asked, curious about her reaction.

“Not that Ominis!” Anne said, “I was actually just trying to avoid him," Anne was gesturing towards Sebastian. "He's the real troublemaker here." Vianka joined in on the laughter, while Sebastian grinned and retorted, "Sis, you're overreacting... I'm an innocent and obedient kid, how could you accuse me like that? Sweetheart, do not believe my sister" The two girls continued laughing even harder.

Anne invited Vianka to join her and Ominis for Butterbeer at the dining table. Instead, Ominis chose to listen in on their girl talk rather than joining Sebastian for a drink of firewhisky in front of the fireplace.

Sitting side by side, the girls took turns braiding each other's hair. Anne admired Vianka's long, black locks and radiant complexion and joked, "If you keep this up, a prince charming might come knocking." But Vianka replied, "There's no time for love when I have to focus on building my fortune." The girls hugged in agreement before continuing their bonding session.

"I heard about what happened to you from Sebastian," Vianka said, her voice full of sympathy. "I'm so sorry... I hope you can find a way out of it." Anne reached over and gently brushed Vianka's hair as she replied, "It was a while ago. I've learned to cope with it now. When the pain hits, I just have to let go and accept it." She opened up about her vulnerability to Vianka in that moment.

Vianka was saying, "Now I understand why Sebastian never gave up and worked tirelessly day and night to find a solution." Vianka responded from the heart, "He did? Why would he sacrifice his youth?" To which Anne replied, "No, he was right from the beginning to never give up on you, Anne. If anything were to happen to my brother, I would do the same for him. And now, if there's anything you need, I will do everything in my power to help you." Vianka held Anne's hands in a show of empathy and emotional support.

“Thank you, Vianka,” said Anne gratefully. “Please take care of my brother while I'm gone. Now I understand why so many boys are drawn to you. You're more than just a pretty face; you have a big heart and an amazing personality.” Vianka was confused by the compliment. “So many boys? Who would fall for me? I'm a stubborn and calculating witch who can't even cook...ha ha ha,” she teased. “Oh, there was someone else, but I won't say his name,” Anne said slyly, avoiding Ominis' disapproving gaze. “And another one was Duncan Hobbhouses...”

Vianka gasped "Duncan? Duncan who?" she asked Anne, her curiosity piqued. She turned to Ominis. "He's your arch-enemy, right?" Ominis sighed and struggled to find the right words.

Anne, who had been listening in on their conversation, chimed in with interest. "So Duncan and Ominis have a history," she remarked.

Sebastian joined in, adding more fuel to the fire. "Their fights were intense and fueled by a deep-seated resentment." Vianka was confused. "But Anne, I don't think Duncan ever had any interest in me. He only asked for my help once, to obtain a venomous tentacula's leaf." Sebastian nodded knowingly. "That's why he gave you a heart-shaped stone inside the knut pouch, darling." Vianka was surprised. "Sebastian, how did you know that?" He shrugged casually. "I am your employee which did your basic accounting and calculated the revenue from that transaction."

Anne continued, "So, Amit-" but she was cut off by Vianka's interjection, "No, Amit was a dear friend". Sebastian chimed in, "My sweetheart, Amit generously provided us with an ancient interpretation of Gobbledegook while we were searching for treasure,… and dont forget he let go to you a telescope worth 50 Galleons for free". Vianka let out a sigh and turned to Sebastian, "Why are you always so calculating?" Sebastian replied, "I'm just following your example, princess". Anne laughing hard.

Ominis suddenly locked eyes with Anne, silencing her instantly. "Sebastian, Uncle Sollomon is here. Let's not cause any unnecessary commotion," she said. Sebastian quickly got up and left the group, disappearing into the snowy night.

Anne instructed, "Vianka, please follow Sebastian. He will be arguing with our Uncle, who he despised deeply. I trust in your negotiation skills and know that you can handle this." Vianka wasted no time and quickly left the house to catch up with Sebastian.

Only Ominis and Anne remained in the house. Ominis turned to her, pleading, "Can you finally support my narrative now? It’s clear they truly love each other, isn’t it?" His shoulders slumped in despair.

"Ominis, it's clear that she has feelings for you. She seemed jealous when entering this house," Ominis interjected. "But you heard that! Sebastian calling her 'darling', ‘sweetie’, ‘my queen’, ‘princess’ and leaning in to kiss her." Anne asked, "Did you actually see them kissing? And how many other girls have my brothers called darling in the past?"

Ominis wasn't sure. "Please, Anne, I ask for honesty. Don’t simply tell me what you think I wish to hear. It’s evident that she believes Sebastian is better suited to accompany her on their adventures. She loves him in return."

"I don't understand why you're so hard on yourself, but she and Sebastian have a mutually beneficial relationship. They have amassed a fortune together for their own purposes," Anne replied. Ominis still couldn't shake his doubts and slumped his shoulders.

"Ominis, After telling you my little secret, do you doubt me now?" Ominis' eyes filled with hope once again as he shook his head, resembling a happy puppy. He followed Sebastian and Vianka outside. His smile ear to ear, forget that he was once sad.

With a smirk, Anne pulled her hidden book out from under her pillow. "The Legillimens with Silenced Spells," she thought to herself, channeling Sebastian's expression when he had mischief on his mind.

"Ominis, Merlin I never thought he was a slave for love… I have a spicy story to share with you, Sebastian," she said coyly, mimicking his tone and intent. She immediate craft her next gossip owl to Sebastian.

[greenerteacups]

Dear GTC!!

Having finished my reread of your Book/Year 3, I’ve been thinking about what lessons the remaining Marauders might have to teach the Harry-Ron-Hermione-Draco foursome (whose lack of a covert group name makes them much less pretentious, but leaves open the option for us readers to suggest our own name ideas; i am partial to the “troll-toppling foursome”). In many ways, they are inheritors and foils of the Marauder legacy, not only its members, but also Snape, Lily, and the Black siblings. I’m certain this inheritance stand a chance to transmute itself into the later generation’s respective magical signatures and talents. Lupin taught Harry how to cast a Patronus; Draco recieved Snape’s old potions textbook. I think it stands to reason that Hermione and Ron individually, and the second generation foursome collectively, have magic to inherit and learn from the surviving marauders. Namely, Animagi magic, at which I think Hermione would be particularly talented, Draco and Ron would appreciate the strategic and tactical value of possessing, and which Harry might relate to on account of his being a Parseltongue. Do you think the four of them as a unit would be strong enough in magic and self-mastery to become underage illegal Animagi together? Do do you think Sirius would have any interest in teaching them, or do you think it’s something they might initiate on their own?

The phrase "Harry-Ron-Hermione-Draco foursome" is, while on the one hand a perfectly accurate and uncontroversial way to describe their group of friends, also the unique combination of words most likely to make Draco wake up screaming in a cold sweat;

The parallels you draw out between the Golden Quartet (trademark pending, someone in the comments gave them this name and I think it's cute) are really lovely, and I spent a while thinking about them! The dynamic parallels between Draco and Sirius vs. Draco and Snape are in particular things that I spend a lot of time thinking about. Chapter 29 is a sort of love letter to the Marauders, in that way.

I'm intrigued that you think Hermione would be a good Animagus; is it because she's a Transfiguration nerd? I'm not saying you're wrong, it's just not something I'd thought of before, so I'm interested by the thought. There's a brief discussion of this prospect in Book 4, before the Second Task, where Harry raises the possibility and suggests that Sirius could teach him (albeit somewhat in jest); Hermione shuts it down for safety and legal reasons, which are probably straight from McGonagall's lips. So that's why they haven't considered it seriously: animagus magic is a unique combination of dangerous and time-consuming that means it's very rarely a solution to whatever the Quartet are dealing with, and the Marauders pulling it off is kind of a small miracle made possible by the fact that, unlike the Quartet, they basically had nothing else to do.

I also slid in a reference to McGonagall giving everyone a lecture on the dangers of fucking up animagus transformations, complete with pictures. It's my headcanon that this lecture started after a Certain Three Individuals graduated, for reasons related to her sanity and blood pressure. (She does offer an elective on it to seventh years, however, so... I mean, if it were me, I'd much rather learn from her than from Sirius, who strikes me as a "straight into the deep end" kind of teacher. Come to think of it, that might be the answer to your question.)

[yhwhrulz]

Charles Spurgeon's "Morning & Evening" Devotional for September 8

Morning

“His countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.”

Matthew 17:1-9

Our blessed Lord for the most part led a life of humiliation; but occasionally, lest men should altogether forget his divine nature, he drew aside the curtain, and revealed a measure of his majesty. This he did in a special manner upon the holy mount.

Matthew 17:1

A quaint writer says our Lord took Peter because he loved Christ most, John because Christ loved him most, and James because, next to these, he loved and was loved most. The Lord knew the men whom he had chosen, and judged these three to be the fittest eye-witnesses of his glory.

Matthew 17:2

As a foretaste of the glory in which he will shine hereafter, he put on the robes of his excellency for a moment, and dazzled his disciples eyes. How great was the condescension which kept him closely veiled while here below. Brighter than the sun is he, and yet he deigned to be despised and rejected of men.

Matthew 17:3

The law and the prophets are in harmony with Christ, and when we see the glory of Jesus we behold their light sweetly blending with his own.

Matthew 17:4

Not knowing what he said, but feeling as we have often done, that we would gladly remain in sweet meditation and hallowed fellowship, and go no more down into the rude world.

Matthew 17:5 , Matthew 17:6

Astonished and overcome, they fell down as in the stupor of deep sleep.

“When, in ecstasy sublime, Tabor’s glorious sleep I climb, At the too transporting light Darkness rushes o’er my sight.”

We are not able as yet to bear too clear a view of the glory of our Lord. Before we enter heaven we shall be strengthened to bear the strain of the beatific vision.

Matthew 17:7 , Matthew 17:8

And that sight was enough. To see Jesus only is all that saint or sinner need desire.

Matthew 17:9

The mind of Jesus rushed forward to his death and resurrection. Tabor could not make him forget Calvary. Christ crucified should ever be most dear to us, since for our sakes he despised the shame of death, and counted dishonour as glory, that he might redeem us to himself.

2 Peter 1:16-18

Of this transfiguration of our Lord and the attesting voice of the Father, Peter speaks in his epistle.

2 Peter 1:16-18

The apostles, by seeing the transfiguration, were confirmed in faith and enabled to bear witness concerning their Lord to all generations.

O thou, who once on Tabor’s hill

Didst shine before the favoured three,

The souls which love thee favour still

Thy nearer glory, Lord, to see.

E’en now let faith’s far-gazing eye

The brightness of thy Godhead scan,

And view thee, throned in heaven on high,

The Almighty Lord, the Son of Man.

Evening

“Lord, I believe; help Thou mine unbelief.”

Mark 9:14-29

Mark 9:14

From glory upon the mountain to conflict in the valley is a very usual transition.

Mark 9:15

No doubt his face was resplendent with some relics of the glory which had beamed from him upon the holy mount: yet it is remarkable that the people were not terrified, but ran to him and not from him: the glories of Jesus are always attractive.

Mark 9:16-18

Without their Master they could do nothing; they were like soldiers assailed by the enemy in the absence of their commander. His coming

Mark 9:20

Matters often come to their worst before they mend. The devil had great wrath, and put forth all his power, because he perceived that his time was short.

Mark 9:21-23

The Saviour returned the unbelieving “if thou canst” to its right place; the want of power never lies in Jesus, but in our faith.

Mark 9:24

A prayer most fitting for many struggling believers, in whom faith and unbelief are striving for the mastery.

Mark 9:25

Our Lord spake divinely, charging demons as one having authority over them. Let us confide in him, for all power is given unto him in heaven and in earth.

Mark 9:29

God reserves certain blessings, and determines to bestow them only upon those who offer importunate prayer and practise self-denial. Yet where disciples fail, their Master succeeds. We may take the most desperate case to him; we may take our own.

How sad our state by nature is!

Our sin, how deep its stains!

And Satan binds our captive minds

Fast in his slavish chains.

But lo, we hear the Saviour call,

He comes to our relief:

“We would believe thy promise, Lord,

Oh, help our unbelief.”

Stretch out thine arm, victorious King!

Our reigning sins subdue;

Drive the old dragon from his scat,

With all his hellish crew.

Shall we anger’s deep defilement

Cherish in despite of heaven?

Shall we spurn at reconcilement,

Who so oft have been forgiven?

If offence that folly gave us

Should our faith and patience try,

Like our Lord, who died to save us,

Let us meekly pass it by.

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