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endlessly-cursed · 7 months ago

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Primrose Gray's Legacy, Act One: The Younger Years, Chapter Eight: Infatuated

A/N: It's been sooo long, but it's finally here!! Completing this chapter was no joke, but it's done and I'm proud of how it turned out, not to mention this was one of my faves to write so far! Enjoy!!

Summary: Primrose has a crush. The problem? She's a promised woman and must have some discretion, however, it is not an easy task

OCs featured: Teddy Ellison and Hestia Herron ( @cursebreakerfarrier ) Roxie Haley and William Berkeley ( @mjs-oc-corner ) Niamh Kelly ( @unfortunate-arrow ) Siobhan Llewellyn ( @kc-and-co ) Gwendolyn Archeron ( @thatravenpuffwitch ) Professor Capel ( @camillejeaneshphm )

OCs mentioned: William Devlin ( unfortunate-arrow) Abraham Alden ( @cursed-herbalist ) Miranda Iverach ( cursebreakerfarrier )

Word Count: 2.1k

Taglist: @gaygryffindorgal @nicos-oc-hell @camillejeaneshphm @hphmmatthewluther @catohphm @thatravenpuffwitch @magicallymalted @cursedvaultss

March, 1893

Primrose found herself once again distracted in Charms class. The reason? A brown-haired, boyishly handsome Gryffindor boy who was snickering with his friends and plotting something. Probably a prank. She sighed. He was simply charming, handsome and quite witty when he wasn’t tormenting the staff with said pranks.

“Lady Gray,” Professor Herron called “while I am aware that one cannot pay me attention forever, I suggest you come back to us.”

Primrose cleared her throat and flushed deep red. Roxie arched an eyebrow and elbowed her “So, who is it that you’re looking at? Certainly is not your oh-so-dear fiancé.” She smirked.

“Later,” she whispered “I am still in Professor Herron’s field of vision.”

She chuckled, amused by how nervous and distracted the ever-perfect Primrose Gray was. After class, she linked arms with her and beckoned Shiv and the others: Gwen and Niamh. Mira had fallen behind, talking to the gruelling Mr. Hawthorne.

“So,” Roxie asked “who were you staring at?”

Primrose bit her lip “I do not wish to drop names or point. Tis quite rude.”

“Then whisper! C’mon, don’t leave us hanging!” Gwen pleaded.

“Aye, we won’t get to see you so flustered again, lady.” Shiv teased.

They all rounded a corner and the lady gathered all of her friends and, out of earshot, she whispered “Arthur Ellison.” Then she quickly broke up the congregation and put her face in her palms as the girls squealed and Shiv laughed at her “You have a crush on him?”

“As if you don’t make eyes at Galen!” Gwen defended.

“I dinna!” Shiv retaliated.

“Focus! Prim has a crush on—,” Primrose shushed her, now aware of the portraits around. She then whispered low enough “Prim has a crush on Teddy!”

They all laughed and Primrose moaned with embarrassment. All of the girls gathered around and started teasing her. Mira at last joined and, after being told of the situation while whispering, she joined the teasing “Oh, perhaps you’ll write him some poetry!”

“Oh, good heavens, no! Tis but… a small fancy, that’s all.”

“For now.” Roxie giggled.

“Ooh!” Gwen gasped, “what if we put him a secret name? So nobody may overhear!”

“I vote for Gryffindor Git!” Cried Shiv.

“How about Pukwudgie?” Gwen suggested.

“Too obvious! He’s one of the few transfers from Ilvermony!” Primrose cried.

“True! Oh! How about Bear? Like the teddy bear!” Roxie suggested.

Shiv started chanting “Prim likes Bear! Prim likes Bear!”

Primrose covered her face in shame once again, all the girls chanting, calling the attention of some older students and the occasional teacher. She spotted Professor Falcon and quickly told the girls to hurry to class now.

“Why?” Shiv asked “I dinna want to go through history o’ magic!”

She whispered “Professor Falcon is within earshot. The man is a terrible gossip and very meddlesome!”

“Except when it comes to his daughter.” Gwen giggled.

“Aye. If looks could kill, Earl Abe would’ve died burned a’ the stake.” Shiv continued.

They all laughed before entering Professor Capell’s class. Some girls sighed “The subject’s boring, but my, is he dreamy…” Gwen commented.

Primrose noticed how the young professor pretended not to hear it before he turned to the class “All right, everybody, let us begin with, I’m afraid, a rather dull lesson: wand lore.”

Almost all of the class moaned in unison, knowing they’d be stuck there for an hour and a half hearing of different kinds of wood. Not Primrose. She looked forward not addressing Bear’s issue.

“Good morning, class!” The flying professor greeted “Today we shall learn about…”

Primrose sighed. Flying was not her forte, given her fear of heights. Despite her rooms being in high places, she was not a woman of constant adrenaline. Most of her friends seemed to get the hang of it, but she only made a fool of herself. This was not the adrenaline she was used to.

She nevertheless tried, but was, as usual, wobbly “Higher, Gray! The skies do not bite!” The teacher cried.

For some reason, her broom made a violent spin and she let out a screech as she started falling, and closed her eyes, bracing for impact… when a pair of strong arms caught her and, with their own broom, set her on the ground. She looked up to see Mr. Ellison himself, who must’ve pulled it off with his friends. Her eyes went wide and flushed deeply “I… t-thank you, sir, Mr. Ellison.”

He smiled, and her stomach fluttered “Please, just Teddy. And it is my pleasure to rescue ladies in need of assistance.”

She nodded, flushed and embarrassed before the teacher sent her to polish brooms and scare off Peeves.

Later, at luncheon, she talked to her friends about the incident. She buried her face in her hands, groaning of pure embarrassment “I can’t believe that just happened!”

“I know. It was actually quite chivalrous of him to rescue you that way!” Roxie smiled.

“Nah. I could’ve pulled i’ off.” Shiv argued.

“And your face! Oh, Prim, you had the colour of a tomato!” She giggled.

They all giggled and Primrose threw a breadcrumb toward Gwen. She shrieked and threw one back. They were, however, stopped by someone clearing its throat. She looked around, and a few Slytherins and other boys had gathered, expensive-looking gifts with them.

Before she could even put a name to the situation, they all introduced themselves as high-ranking men of all places and offering their ‘allyship’, though Primrose knew they were trying to woo her out of her current engagement to promise herself to them instead. When she realised it, she pursed her lips and held her head high, nodding and giving dry ‘thank-you.’. As one of them tried their own luck, a baritone chuckle caught her attention.

He had dark brown hair, intense blue eyes and a rather strong physique, and was looking in her direction “Whatever is so amusing?” She asked, sick of social climbing opportunists.

“All the gifts in the world and none satisfy you?” He teased.

“It is none of your business.”

He observed her further before starting to shoo everyone away, and turned to her once the herd of hyenas was gone “Allow me. Mr. William Berkeley. You are Lady Gray, correct?”

“Indeed. Pleased to make your acquaintance.”

She extended her hand, and he saluted her, and for once, she was thankful that he did not kiss it. Taking a better look, she realised she had seen him before “Do you play quidditch?”

“I do. I just started this year.”

She nodded “You have an impressive technique.”

“Tis just practise and passion for it, m’lady.”

She smiled “Prim.”

“Sorry?”

“You may call me Prim. After rescuing me, I believe we should leave formalities behind.”

He smiled “Very well, then, Prim. I shall see you around.”

Something told her that she had just made a new friend. Father would certainly be proud. Mother? Not so much.

A month had passed since the incident, and Primrose was desperate to spend some time with Teddy. It sounded stupid, but his presence was quite comforting, and she always laughed in his presence. At her age, very few people could make her laugh.

But the miracle happened: talking to Shiv, she casually commented “Oh, and apparently your Bear is looking for someone to tutor him in history of magic. That poor boy’s failing and is quite desperate to find someone patient enough to put up with him for a few hours.”

Prim grinned “Oh, Siobhan, you mad genius! That’s it!”

“Huh?”

Upon seeing Primrose’s expression, however, she caught up with her scheme.

“If you excuse me, I have a bear to save from the historical wolves.”

“Gimme the details later!”

Naturally, she entered the Gryffindor common room and cleared her throat upon seeing Teddy laugh with his friends “Do forgive me if I’m interrupting, but I believe one of you gentlemen is looking for a history tutor?”

Teddy, naturally, stepped out of the circle “That’d be me. I suppose you’re good at the subject?”

“Well, I don’t mean to brag, but Professor Capell said once that I am one of his best students.”

Teddy grinned “There is nothing wrong with a little bragging. Shall we?”

Primrose nodded. Although her expression was calm, inside she was about to faint. Her heart beat fast, and she felt like she was out of breath. Sitting down in one of the couches, Teddy started explaining “I admit I am not good at memorising so many facts, and have failed several exams. Professor Capell has assigned me a four-page essay on any apprentice of one of the founders, but I don’t know where to start.”

Primrose smiled calmly “You’re in luck! The age of the founders is one of my favourites. In fact, during some personal research, I found that my ancestor, Henriette, was an apprentice of Helga Hufflepuff and key to the founding of Hogwarts.”

“Influential how?” He had his quill ready.

“If I remember correctly, at nine and ten she had raised a small army that rode into one of the most key battles of the Mages Wars and won it because of a stirring speech.”

As she spoke of her ancestor, she couldn’t help being mesmerised by his beauty: his russet brown hair, his calming brown eyes, his soft skin, untouched by age, his overall presence. He was beautiful, and she had to restrain herself from stroking his hair. After taking notes, she smiled at him “Got everything you need?”

“Yes. Your ancestor sounds incredible! It must be amazing, to have such a long family history.”

Primrose bit her lip “Well… there is also the price of legacy. Of maintaining it. Having a powerful bloodline is complicated.”

Teddy nodded, somehow understanding it. Then, he shrugged “Shouldn’t stop you from being twelve years old in peace.”

Primrose chuckled “Technically, I’m still eleven but… thank you.”

Months passed, and Primrose tutored Teddy, and, in exchange, taught her some flying skills, and got to know him well enough. It was nice, seeing Teddy in unusual elements. During that time, she figured out how to help him learn history: telling it as if though it was a legendary story out of a storybook, which she apparently had a knack for.

“Do remind me of what happened how did the Battle of the Four Mages turn its tides?”

“Easy! Lady Henriette, with Lord Frederick as her champion, led her sizeable army to battle, all shouting for the lady’s loyalty and to justice, rather than the nobles or power.”

Primrose smiled “You got it in one! A few weeks ago, you would’ve mixed Lord Lachlann with Lord Frederick.”

He gave her a crooked smile “Thankfully I didn’t?”

She chuckled “I’m proud of you, Teddy. You’ll do amazingly on the next essay!”

“Will you proofread it as always?”

Primrose gave him a sweet smile “I think it’s time that you trust your own judgement.”

Teddy blinked “Are you sure?”

“Positive! I… have faith in you, Teddy.”

She blushed furiously and looked away. She could hear the boys’ snickers and teasing glances. Was it truly that obvious?

On the day of the submission of the essay, she observed Teddy take a deep breath and give the essay to Professor Capell, and sat with his friends, not without giving Primrose a ‘Hope this doesn’t backfire’ look.

The end of the year was almost there, and Primrose had been told by Tadgh Lynch that Professor Capell had called Teddy and would be discussing his grade. She waited outside, fussing with her uniform. Then, the door opened, and Teddy came out with a wide grin “Guess who’ll be in your class on second year!”

Primrose squealed “I knew it! I knew you could do it!”

Teddy hugged Primrose, and she, over the moon, hugged him back. They looked at one another before Primrose was called by William, who also sought her help with history. Clearing her throat and waving goodbye to Teddy, she went over to William. He arched an eyebrow “What was that about?”

“Celebrating that a good friend has passed a subject he was struggling with.” She declared, nonchalantly.

“A good friend whom you’re taken with.”

“Nonsense. The only man I am taken with is my dear, future husband.” She held her head high and walked faster towards the library, an amused William in tow.

Were she admit out loud such a thing in a place where all walls have ears would’ve been a reckless and tragic thing to do.

September 1st, 1893

Primrose sat down with her friends this year, laughing and commenting their summers. Then, Siobhan taunted “Excited to see a certain Bear?”

She chuckled “I’m afraid to inform you that my infatuation with him has washed away over the summer. Besides, it would’ve only spiralled into something treacherous, don’t you think?”

The ladies agreed, chatting away as the Hogwarts Express took them to their next adventure.

#hp victorian era #hp fanfiction #primrose gray's legacy #pgl book one #the younger years #oc: primrose gray #roxie haley #siobhan llewellyn #teddy ellison #william berkeley #oc: phineas falcon #mywriting*

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