#also kind of funny but I went downstairs to ask my mum if she wants to come with me

[gottagobackintime]

Me at work: *Talks on the phone constantly, every day, Monday to Friday, no problem*

Me at home: *Makes a phone call and end up sweating profusely*

[dreamescapeswriting]

One Summer In Paris ~ JJK ~ Three Little Words

WORD COUNT: 4.7 K 

GENRE: Fluffy, romance, ex-lovers to lovers, 

PAIRING: Jungkook x Fem!Reader

DESCRIPTION: Jeon Jungkook had always loved Paris with its amazing views, incredible museums and the small Bookshop right across from the Effiel Tower. It was were he spent a lot of his summer breaks as a kid so he loved it well into his adulthood. There was one bookshop he rented a room in the summer that changed his life. It was a place where he felt happy and at peace whenever he had the chance to stay there. Where he fell in love for the first time and had his first heartbreak, a lot of firsts for him were in Paris. But what happens when he goes back to the same book shop four years later and finds the love of his life in the arms of another with a daughter who looks suspiciously like him…

THEMES: Single Parent, Jungkook x Fem!Reader, self insert, Smut will be included in a later chapter

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The next morning you woke up early for the shop while Areum stayed in bed like she usually did whenever you opened up, instead of part-time work as you worked summers ago you were now running the shop full time and managing everything inside of the store since Grace to was far too old and busy to do any of it for herself. You carefully closed the door to your apartment before heading down the staircase to go and open the front door for Grace to come inside. 

"Morning Madame Grace, you're here early." She hummed unapprovingly at you she must have remembered who Jungkook was but she was carrying a basket in her hand.  

"I don't want any funny business with that boy, I brought this around for you and David later. He'll drop in after work," Grace stated as she looked at you disapprovingly, she made it no secret that she didn't like you and Jungkook together. Even the day he left you, she made it clear how much she hated him. You nodded taking the basket through the store and placing it into the small kitchen while Grace began making herself at home in the small shop. She still came around every day like she owned the place which was sweet since she was letting you run the place for her while only paying your rent.

"Are you staying here for the day?" You questioned her as you looked up from the basket and over at her, Grace was looking around the store before her eyes met yours. She'd been looking for any signs that Jungkook was there in the store and when she realises he wasn't there she answered your question.

"I think I'll stay here today. Watch the shop for you, Graham wants to go to the Louvre today." You nodded along with her as she began talking to you telling you what Graham - her husband - wanted to do for the day, the door to the shop opened and you glanced over your shoulder to tell whoever it was that you weren't open yet. 

"We're not open yet-" You stopped when you saw Jungkook standing in the entrance holding a brown paper bag and a tray of drinks in his hands, he held them up higher to signal what he was there for. 

"I thought I should bring some breakfast for Areum, I didn't know what she liked so I just got something of everything." Thoughts crowded your head of how sweet he was being with his daughter and you nodded slowly. Looking at Grace who was grumbling under her breath as she walked out of the shop telling you that she would be back later with David to watch over the shop for you if she and Graham were done for the day. 

"I'll just lock the door and you can come and wake her up." You spoke softly and he watched as you let Grace out, then went to the staircase with him he knew where to go but since he hadn't been here in over four years it seemed wrong to go up the staircase without you. He kept his eyes on the steps as you walked in front of him in nothing but a black shirt and some denim shorts.

"Areum?" You called out knocking on the small door that led into her room, it was originally the walk-in wardrobe since the apartment you now lived in was just a studio apartment. You'd done everything you could to make the room livable for her and she seemed to love it. 

"She's in the wardrobe?" Jungkook frowned looking at the door you were knocking on. The white door had a princess castle with her name written across it, he could already tell just how much his daughter loved the thought of being a princess.

"I decorated it to make it a bedroom, we got some dressers for our clothes instead, it's no longer a wardrobe." You told him as you slowly pushed the door open to reveal what the room looked like, he was shocked. It looked nothing like the wardrobe that used to be there, it was now a fully pink bedroom with a Princess castle bed where Areum was asleep in some Princess Pyjamas with matching sheets. The whole room had taken forever to perfect but you managed, with Grace's help as she drew out blueprints for the room to be fit for a small princess.

"She likes Princesses?" You nodded your head and smirked walking over to one of the wardrobes that were inside the room, these were all filled with her dress-up clothes and toys.

"She also loves Marvel and Star wars." You reached into the wardrobe pulling out a Kylo Ren outfit, then a baby Yoda toy that you'd recently gotten her. Jungkook smiled happy that she got his nerdy side as well and that he could bond with her on things that they liked.

"Areum, baby? Look who's here." You whispered softly going over to her and shaking her gently trying not to startle her too much from what you were sure was an amazing dream of hers, 

"Five more minutes." She grumbled tugging at the bright pink blanket and pulling it over her head but you pulled it back down and tickled her sides. The girl didn't even move an inch, she was like a rock whenever he slept.

"She's like you, so hard to wake up." You grumbled, your daughter mumbled something in her sleep before rolling over to look at you when she saw Jungkook standing there, her eyes widened as she realised he'd come back like he said he would.

"You came back?" He nodded holding up the bag of food that he'd been carrying, 

"I thought we could have some breakfast together." She immediately jumped out of the bed taking his hand in hers and began leading him towards the kitchen, telling him how she would make pancakes or something instead of whatever was in the bag. It didn't look the most appealing.

"Can we not burn our kitchen down? I have to go downstairs, Areum make sure you behave for your dad- For Jungkook." She nodded watching you walk out of the door she was making sure that you were gone before she turned back to Jungkook. She stared into his eyes taking on the confident look as she began interrogating him, 

"Why did you leave my mum?" He almost choked on the air he was breathing hearing her ask him so bluntly about something and she stared at him waiting for an answer. Tapping her foot against the floor as she placed her hands on her hips

"Do you like eggs? Pancakes?" She stared at him as he avoided her questions, she wanted answers from him 

"David makes my pancakes into the shape of Minnie Mouse...Actually, he makes them in the shape of blobs." Jungkook bubbled with anger at the thought of someone else making his daughter breakfast that wasn't him nor you. He didn't know who this man was and now he was finding out that he spent mornings with you both. His family, the love of his life and someone else was making you breakfast. His grip on the tray of drinks tightened so he placed them down so he wouldn't spill them.  

"Does David make you breakfast a lot?" She nodded her head seeing no reason to lie to Jungkook. She was only young so she didn't see the big deal with David making her food. 

"He's normally here every morning but he's busy lately." He hummed and began making pancakes for Areum making sure he was making them in the shape of Minnie Mouse for her just to prove that he was better than this David guy. Trying to push down the bubbling anger and jealously that was raising inside of him.

"Mummy! Mummy! Look!" You looked behind you on the ladder as Areum came running into the bookshop wearing a bright pink tutu, matching pink tights and a bright pink top and a tiara. You smirked as you climbed down from the ladder. 

"Did Jungkook let you pick your own outfit?" You laughed looking as she began twirling around in circles and waving a small pink wand that she had in her hand acting as though she was casting spells around the shop. 

"We're playing dress-up!" She cried out, spinning around in circles as the door to the shop opened and David walked through the shop in a pair of jeans and a white shirt holding up some flowers. Sunflowers and red roses were grouped together in a small bouquet, Areum stopped turning and looked at David giving him what you thought was a dirty look but you brushed it off, going over to David to greet him with a kiss. Areum was still giving David a dirty look but you couldn't think what her problem was, she normally loved him coming around.

"You're dressed awfully bright today, what are you doing?" He knelt down to greet Areum but she twirled away from him acting as though she wasn't bothered he was there. 

"Me and my daddy are playing dress-up together." You froze as David stared at you, you'd never told him where Areum's dad was either and not to mention who he was. David straightened as he stared at you, wondering why you hadn't told him there was another man in the apartment right now.

"Her dad?" His voice came out cold as he dropped the bouquet down onto the counter, you swallowed the lump in your throat trying to come up with something you could say that would explain it in the most basic way possible. But before you could even think of something Jungkook came into the bookshop with his sleeves rolled up exposing all of the tattoos you'd never seen before including one of an eyeball you thought looked kind of like yours. It was the same colour as yours but it was common for people to have eye's tattooed on then, you shook your head trying to stay in the moment.

"O-Oh erm, Jungkook this is David, David this is Jungkook-"

"I'm Areums father," Jungkook cut you off as he tried to establish his dominance here. They shook hands but you could tell Jungkook was squeezing David's hand just a little as they stared into one another eyes as if they were having some kind of secret men-only conversation between one another. 

"Where have you been? Y/n's been raising Areum alone for four years." David asked cockily as he tilted his head to the side. You stared at David as he said that and you stepped between them, splitting them apart so that nothing would happen. The tension in the air was thick, thick enough that you could cut it with a knife. 

"I never told him I was pregnant, not that it's down to you to know that." You told him from the start of the relationship that he wasn't going to be like a father to Areum but to David, it felt as though you were defending Jungkook.  

"What are you doing here anyway?" You questioned putting the step ladder away as Jungkook and Areum began to chase one another through the aisles of books, laughing and joking to one another. It was nice to see how close they'd grown over such a short time. You watched them both closely questioning what life would have been like if he'd stuck around with you...If he'd even have stayed if he had known you were pregnant with his child.

"Didn't Grace tell you?" Oh fuck. Your date, you'd forgotten altogether until he walked through the door. You were supposed to call in Audrey the part-timer that was working for you over the summer but you'd forgotten to when Jungkook came to the door that morning. Grace would be back later but that wasn't until later,

"I can't. Audrey isn't here and I can't leave Areum alone-" Jungkook came over after catching the end of your conversation, 

"Leave her alone where?" Jungkook questioned, raising his eyebrow at you, you shook your head, 

"David and I were supposed to go out but I was distracted and forgot to call in the part-timer or a babysitter." He shook his head looking at Areum who was now holding her head and sitting on the floor too dizzy from the spinning she had been doing. Jungkook chuckled softly looking at her and then back up to you.

"I'll watch her, shut up shop for a while. It won't hurt right?" You supposed not but you looked at Jungkook worriedly. 

"You can trust me Y/n." It wasn't the fact that you couldn't trust it, it was just that you'd heard that from his mouth before which was why you were still nervous about it but you went against your gut and nodded. 

"Thanks, you guys can sit upstairs while I go out. We won't be out late." David watched you as you walked over to Areum to tell her where you were going. He wasn't happy with the fact that you said you wouldn't be out late, he had plans he wanted to stick to with you. Jungkook took this time to look at David properly, from one look he knew he wasn't right for you in any way shape or form. David was boring, he looked like he led a boring lifestyle and had a boring job and he was clearly easily forgettable if you forgot you had a date. As soon as Jungkook saw you struggling to say no to going out he decided to offer his babysitting abilities. He would be able to tell how you feel about David when you came home from the date. 

"What do you do for a living?" It was his turn to interrogate someone this time,

"I'm an accountant, why?" David snapped, Jungkook was smirking in his mind. The guy was easily wound up which wasn't good for him, Jungkook would use that to his advantage. Jungkook shook his head and leant on the counter, he still had many questions for David but he knew he wasn't going to be able to get through all of them since you were only with Areum. 

"Do you want kids?" He began looking down at the bunch of flowers he'd brought along with him. It was a boring and plain bunch if it was Jungkook taking you out he would have brought an extravagant bunch and made sure you put them in water first.

"If you're asking if I like Areum I do, she's a wonderful girl." Jungkook stared at him and then at you as you came walking over wondering what they were talking about, David seemed tense and Jungkook was relaxed against the counter. 

"I'll go and grab the basket." You mumbled, leaving them both as you went towards the back kitchen area. 

"Where are you going?" Jungkook went back to questioning David as soon as you were out of earshot and he knew it was safe to do so again, 

"Going to take her by the Tuileries garden for a picnic," Inside Jungkook was smirking as he remembered the time he took you there for a date it was one of your favourites places to go and he wondered how many other places you'd been to together with him that you'd been with David. Then he wondered if you'd thought about him while you were out with David if you even liked him enough to keep dating him. If Jungkook still had a chance with you.

"Ready?" You asked, coming over with the basket and looking at David who was staring intently at Jungkook. You frowned watching the two of them engage in, another, silent alpha-male conversation. 

"Sure thing babe." He wrapped his arm around your waist and kissed your cheek, something David would never do with you. He was never big on public display's of affection, he regularly told you how disgusting he found it. That and he would never use a nickname with you like that because you told him how much you hated it. The only reason you hated it was because Jungkook was the only one you allowed to call you cute nicknames.

Sitting on the grass you looked around trying to ignore the thoughts going around in your head. You hadn't meant for this, you knew you were there with David but now Jungkook was back in your life you couldn't help but remember the last time you were here with him. The last time you'd been together here, the way you acted around one another.  

"So I told Quinn that if he was going to make it such a big deal..." You were drowning out the boring joke he always told you and stared over at the trees where you and Jungkook had carved your initials into it, part of you wanted to run over and see if it was still there but you knew that you shouldn't. Not while David was there with you at least. You knew you should have been focussing on whatever David was saying because he was now looking at you as if he'd asked you a question, 

"Sorry. I was just lost in thought, what?" He chuckled shaking his head at you and feeding you one of the grapes from the basket, it was filled with different foods. None of which you were hungry for, your brain was taking over with thoughts of Jungkook and Areum, how it would be to have a picnic with them instead. 

"I was asking when Areums dad came back?" You looked down at the blanket and shook your head not wanting to go into detail about it all. 

"Last night, he just sort showed up when I wasn't expecting it." He nodded going back to talking about himself as he always did and you stared at the blanket again remembering the last time you saw Jungkook like this. Walking hand in hand to go and put a padlock on the railings full of lovers padlocks, kissing at the top of the Effiel Tower, it had been the most romance you'd ever experienced in your life and you doubted you'd ever get that again. You only ever get one true love and for it it was Jungkook. Your gut sank as you thought about everything you'd been through together, the longer you thought about it the more David began to fade from your mind.

"We've never really spoken about us before..." You frowned at what David was saying, he'd just been walking in silence and now he was staring at you. You were walking side by side past the river near the shop together and he waited for you to ask what he meant.

"Our future." He said as he realised you weren't following along with what he was saying but as soon as the words left his mouth your heart sank. The truth was you'd never seen a future for you and David before, you weren't even sure you liked him as more than a friend and a friend was a push. He was so monotonous and uptight you thought he might crack if you ever told him about the things you and Jungkook used to do on days off. All the adventures you used to go on together. David's idea of an adventure was going to the Effiel Tower and travelling to the top.

"What do you mean?" You questioned dumbly as you tried to play it off as you didn't know what he was talking about. You didn't want to have this conversation. Not here, not now, not ever.

"Well, I mean...I have strong feelings for you Y/n and you've never put anything forward to suggest that back. We're together but we're not together." You knew what he meant, when you first started dating there had been something there but over time it just faded and now with Jungkook showing up your heart was at a crossroads. You'd never really wanted to date David it was just something Grace pushed you into. Telling you that you needed to get back into dating. 

"I love you Y/n." 

Walking into the shop later that day you found it to be silent so you walked up the stairs to the apartment, the sun was setting outside so it was too early for either of them to be asleep. It had taken you forever for you to convince David that you were tired and wanted to go back to the apartment alone. That you needed time to think over what he'd said to you and that you didn't need him to come back with you. You just needed to be away from him, all you could think about was Jungkook whenever you looked at him. Thinking about the first time Jungkook told you he loved you and how different it had made you feel. When Jungkook told you he loved you it was as if the whole world changed. You could have started floating on a cloud but when David said the same thing it was as if you were in a lead hot-air-balloon and heading straight to the floor. It was wrong to compare everything to Jungkook but it was the only example of love you had, it made you feel uneasy to be around David right now. The sad thing was that you were still madly in love with Jungkook and you knew you always would be no matter what happened, he was still the love of your life and the father of your daughter.

"I mourned for you!" Your daughter yelled out snapping you out of the daydream you seemed to be having. You frowned, walking into the living room to see them both watching Avengers on the big Tv, they were curled up on the sofa reciting lines from the first avenger's movie and you smiled at the sight of them. 

"Does mother know you weareth her drapes?" Jungkook chuckled before looking over at the door to see you, he smiled weakly as he waited to see what had happened on your date. You were alone so it was a good sign that things weren't going well.

"How was your date?" He could already tell by the look on your face that you didn't want to talk about it and it filled him with hope at the thought of the date being bad. You clearly didn't like David a lot since you kept him at arm's length but something was different now, Jungkook could sense that something had happened on the date that was making you feel weird.

"Areum go and brush your teeth baby," She walked out of the living room not questioning it. It was still light out so she sat in the bathroom waiting for the all-clear that she could come out. Jungkook continued to watch you as he paused the movie frowning when he saw how you dismissed your daughter from the room.  

"Did something happen?" You shook your head, you didn't need to tell Jungkook about the shit love life that you had when he'd probably danced in and out of relationships since being with you. It was clear over the years he'd had his fair share of women from what you'd seen in magazines, you weren't an idiot you kept up with the things he was doing in his life mostly to make sure he wasn't planning on coming back to Paris but there had been nothing about him coming this summer. 

"No, we had a nice date, he walked me home and that was it." Jungkook laughed softly as he already had it figured out by the look on your face and the way you were trying to dismiss him now. 

"He told you he loved you didn't he?" He scoffed, he knew how you felt about love. The first time you had a conversation about it with Jungkook you told Jungkook you never thought it could be real.

"Not that it's any of your business but yes-" Jungkook's blood began to boil again at the thought of you saying it back to him,

"Did you say it back?" You froze and Jungkook froze as he stared at you, realising that there was a possibility that you did love David, not that Jungkook could see any real reason why. 

"You don't love him?" He questioned, his voice coming out softly as he looked at you. His body slowly un-tensed as he realised you weren't sure how you were feeling. 

"I don't know." You mumbled, playing with your keys as you tried to avoid looking up at Jungkook.

"You don't know?" He quizzed,

"No," You answered blankly not wanting to get into this right now. 

"No you don't love him or no you don't know?" He questioned quickly as he got up from the sofa. You wanted to scream at him so you just threw your hands up in the air giving up with this conversation physically, 

"No, I don't know! I don't know if I love him," The door to the bathroom squeaked as it opened and Areum came out clutching a newspaper clipping with a clown on the front of it, you stopped being angry the second she came into the room.

"The funfair is in town tomorrow...Can we all go?" You looked at it, it was a Sunday so the shop would be closed for the day.  

"I'll take you baby-" You went to say but she shook her head, looking at the both of you.

"I want dad to come to." Dad? That was a recent development that you weren't used to hearing coming from her. You stared at her in shock and then looked at Jungkook waiting to see what he was thinking about all of this. 

"It depends on what Jungkook has planned, I doubt-" You tried to talk but Jungkook shook his head,

"I'll come, I'll go back to my hotel tonight and then meet you here in the morning." She grinned brightly hugging his leg as she got excited for going out as a family the next day. Though she would never tell you this out loud, going out as a family was something she'd always dreamt of. It would make her feel as though she had a normal childhood. 

"Can you make the pancakes again, mum loves them in the shape of Minnie just like I do." He nodded and she ran off towards her bedroom and you shouted that you'd be in after letting Jungkook out first. 

"You don't have to come back, don't feel forced about staying here." You whispered as you walked down the stairs to let him out of the shop, Jungkook knew what you were trying to do. Trying to push him away but make it seem like it was his idea instead of yours.

"I don't feel forced into staying. I want to spend time with you and my daughter...It'll be a nice day out, I haven't been to the fair since the one I took you to one." He mentioned your fifth date together and you smiled remembering how you kissed him on top of the Ferris wheel at midnight it was also the first night you'd spent together passionately. 

"Okay, come by the shop same time in the morning and I'll make sure the door is open for you." You told him as he walked out into the street smiling at you as he pulled on a baseball cap and some sunglasses to keep himself hidden.

"See you in the morning." You nodded shutting the door behind him and locking up as you walked back to the staircase and thinking about David again and those three little words. They should have meant the world to you, every person in the world was dying to hear them from someone but it wasn't David you wanted to hear, say it. You knew that it wasn't David you wanted to hear it from but from Jungkook, you shook your head. Turning off the lights in the shop and headed up to your waiting daughter, ready to question her on how her day went with her father.

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Tagline: @lyoongx @mitzwinchester @fan-ati--c @rjsmochii @kneel-begyourpardon @taestannie @bisexualmess007 @innersooya @sw33tnight @sweeneyblue1 @neverthefirstchoice​ @jikooksgirl19​ @jungkooksseuphoria​ @queenmasterxx​ @oosnapitskat​ @janieooo​ 

[justallmyfavstorys]

Toni Shalifoe x Reader Christmas Oneshot

~Light hearted fluff, confession~

~no tw/cw~

(Maybe part one?)

"Hey Toni! Long time no see" y/n smiled as she skipped over to her.

She couldn't help but smile as she saw her, Toni would never admit it, but that little ray of sunshine was the highlight of her day. Who would have thought that the little incident they shared a few months back would make them grow as close as they did.

...

y/n came down from the bleachers with a few people she had met on her first day at the new school, talking to them and not paying attention as to where she was walking. Toni was the one backing into her actually, as she yelled something over to her teammates, not looking where she was going. The basketball player was mad at first, having someone interrupt her practice. She looked up so she could see who the rude interrupter was, stopping herself from throwing curses at the other person as she saw her though; lips glanced with an apologetic, warm smile, eyes flickering with worry as she held out a hand to help Toni up.

...

"Hey sunshine, how was english class? Also, we saw each other on Friday? You really can't go without seeing me for two day? Wow." Toni laughed putting her arm around y/n's shoulder, pulling her in closer as they walked out of the gym.

"Really good. Miss Jones let us watch a Christmas movie.",

"So," y/n started again, fidgeting with her hands, "what do you have planned for Christmas?"

Toni smiled at her awkwardness, "nothing much, I'll probably just sit on the back of the truck, hoping it doesn't snow, looking at the stars."

"Well, as romantic as that sounds, i asked my parents if i could invite you over for a few days and they said you can stay as long as you want." Y/n said, looking up, eyes glistening with hope.

Toni's heart skipped a beat, the thought of getting to spend Christmas break with her new favourite person made her a little more excited than she would ever admit.

"I think i could make that work" She said, smirking, trying to act tough.

"Don't act all cool on me Toni! I know you're a softy deep down." Y/n laughed, poking her friend in the ribs.

"Shit, i have a reputation, don't say that out loud, sweetheart." Toni laughed looking the other way, thus not seeing how y/n's face went red.

"Anyways, are you going to come over? Please, Toni. I already have a present for you. Don't leave me hanging."

"Of course I will, we can't have you missing me for the entirety of Christmas break, can we?" She smirked again, stopping at her locker and getting all her books out.

Y/n leaned against the wall,

"I hate you."

"No you don't." Toni said, slamming her looker shut, putting her arm back around Y/n's shoulder as they walked out of the school.

...

"Y/n, Toni is here, come downstairs." Y/n's mother yelled from the hallway.

"Coming!", she yelled, sprinting down the staircase, which was already decorated for christmas.

"Shit, y/n, that was fast, miss me that much?" Toni laughed, swinging her bag over her shoulder,

"miss y/l/n, thank you for letting me stay here again, I know I can be a lot sometimes."

"Oh don't worry Toni, we love having you here, feel free to stay as long as you want." Miss y/l/n said, wearing the same warm smile as y/n on her lips.

"Want to go upstairs? Your bag looks heavy."

"Don't worry, I'm a strong, independent woman, i can handle it." Toni laughed, yet struggling to keep the heavy bag up over her shoulder.

"Mum, we're going upstairs, call us if you need anything.", y/n smiled at her mother and pulled her friend upstairs, "Get ready to listen to my Christmas playlist~~!"

"Oh god." Toni rolled her eyes, smiling at the other's excitement.

...

"Let me give you a Christmas moment we'll fill with love and joy. So beautiful kissing under mistletoes, baby with youuuu" y/n was singing along with a christmas garland wrapped around her as she tried draping it around her mirror.

"Y/n, you look ridiculous." Toni laughed, rolling her eyes again.

"Oh please you're just mad that I'm not actually kissing you under a mistletoe." She teased, throwing a plastic ornament at the brunette who was laying on y/n's bett.

"Continue being such a brat and I will have no other choice than to actually do it." Toni said, smirking, locking her phone that she used to take pictures of the other in secret.

"Oh well, i can't help it, so i guess we have no other choice." y/n said, smiling as she walked over to Toni, crawling over to her on the bed.

Toni reached her hand out to cup y/n's cheek, sitting up a bit and placing her lips on the other's soft lips.

As they parted, y/n tried hiding her smile, tilting her head to the side but Toni still had her hand on her cheek, caressing it with her thumb and feeling her smile form.

"You're so cute, have i ever told you that?" She asked.

"Yes, on multiple occasions actually, Toni." Laughter filled the room as the two sat up.

"So, y/n, I've been thinking, this has been going on for a few weeks now, I've been trying to work up the courage. I don't want to say the wrong things, i don't want to hurt you. I've been working on myself, you know? Going to that lady to talk to. I want to be the right person for you, god, i really don't want to hurt you and-"

"Jesus, Toni, I guess I have to do it. Will you be my girlfriend?" Y/n interrupted, smiling with a slight blush on her face.

Toni looked at her, shock written on her face for a spit second, a warm, genuine smile replacing it immediately thought.

"Yes, of course." Y/n felt Toni's lips on hers just moments after.

...

Miss y/l/n walked in on the girls laying all over each other, showing the other funny posts they saw on their phones occasionally, not bothering to move as they heard a knock on the door.

"Girls, as much as i don't want to interrupt you, I'm kind of in a time crunch and I still have to go out get some stuff for tomorrow's Christmas Dinner. Could you maybe bake the cookies? You would help me out a lot."

"I would love to, but i'm a little helpless when it comes to baking miss y/l/n." Toni laughed, looking at y/n.

"No problem mum, I'll look after Toni so she doesn't burn down the kitchen." She nudged Toni in the rips ever so slightly as she got up, pulling her with her.

[enbysiriusblack]

I keep posting non marauder content and I apologise (no i dont, you just have to deal with it)

BUT HERE GO, THE CONTENT YOU ACTUALLY WANT FROM ME (probably)

A lil Jily story of angst and fluff kind of:

(its not lil,, its pretty darn long)

tw. brief physical violence and stalking

Lily hated the summer holidays. Her sister always complaining about her return, her parents struggle with keeping Petunia calm while still spending time with Lily, and Severus' change of character once they were back in the muggle town.

But this summer, she had more to worry about. Severus still hadn't left her alone after their fall out. He had started waiting for her in the library, following her in between classes, and and watching her hanging out with her friends at Hogsmeade.

And now without her friends and the separate common rooms in the way, it would be even harder to avoid him and she was worried for her own safety.

So as she stepped off the train, said goodbye to her friends and walked towards her family. She was miserable.

And as the days of summer ticked by, Lily had locked herself in her bedroom. Not wanting to go downstairs in order to avoid the endless arguments and shouting of Petunia, and not wanting to go outside to avoid Severus stalking her and pleading with her to forgive him.

But after a few weeks, her parents urged her to get some sunlight and got her to go to the shop round the corner to grab a few things.

Carrying 2 bags, filled with milk, bread, toilet roll, laundry detergent, the daily newspaper, and a litre bottle of fanta; Lily left the shop. Only to spot Severus a few feet away, and hurriedly following her.

She started walking faster towards her house, but only a few metres a way from home, a hand sharply attached itself to her shoulder.

"Lily!! I'm trying to talk to you!!" He yelled.

Lily shook her shoulder, flinging his hand off it and back to his person.

"I've told you a million times!! Leave me alone!!" She yelled back.

"But I'm in love with you" he said, stepping forwards and about to touch her cheek.

She took a step back and scoffed, "you can't love someone while hating who they are"

"It's not your fault who you're born as, it doesn't matter to me. It's like a curse being put on you, but you can still overcome it. The dark Lord himself is a half blood like me! But we know we're better than that, we just have to overcome that set back." He replied, stepping closer and closer to Lily.

A loud crack sounded and blood ran down Snape's nose. He lifted a hand to his face and felt the blood pouring out. Her grocery bags fell to the floor.

"Being muggleborn is not a setback to overcome. Don't ever come near me again" she replied, before picking up her bags and heading back to her house without looking back once more.

.

The next morning, she looked out her window to see Snape standing outside, holding a bouquet of lilies.

She shut her blinds and hid in her room. As the days ticked by, she never left the house and Snape stood there hour after hour, bringing different assortments of gifts to compensate his inability to actually care about her.

She decided she had to leave for the rest of the holiday. But Mary was visiting family outside the country, Marlene and Dorcas were in Italy together to celebrate their anniversary. Then she remembered Remus was at home.

She owled Remus straight away and got a reply from him fairly quickly, accepting her request of staying at his till the holidays had ended.

So the next morning she packed her things, said goodbye to her mum, and drove with her dad to the train station around 7 am, before Snape arrived at the house.

It was a long, confusing train journey to Wales. But once she got there after hours on different trains, she spotted Remus and his mum sitting outside one of the station cafes.

Remus looked up as she walked towards them, and he moved over a piece of chocolate cake and his cup of tea to make more room for her on the small metal table.

Lily grabbed a seat from an empty table nearby and sat it down. Hope passed a menu over to Lily and she ordered a cup of tea and a a hot sausage roll. The three of them ate and drank before getting to Hope's yellow volkswagen van to get back to the Lupin cottage.

Once they got to the cottage, Hope showed Lily around the house and brought her stuff to Remus' bedroom.

"We don't have any spare rooms I'm afraid so I hope you don't mind sharing with Remus?" Hope asked her.

"No it's fine thank you" she replied.

"Alright, oh also I need to get some more herbs and plants for my stocks so I was going to go foraging tomorrow, would you two like to join me?"

Remus looked towards Lily to see her thoughts, she nodded at him in acceptance.

"Yeah we would" Remus said.

Hope lifted her hand to affectionately stroke Remus' curls before leaving the room.

.

The next day the Lupin's and Lily set out to the forest, Lyall deciding to join them as it was his day off work. All four were carrying small handmade baskets, Lyalls was full of picnic food for lunchtime, while the other's were empty for foraging.

Remus and Lily went ahead in a different direction, agreeing to meet up at the usual spot at lunch time.

As Remus and Lily went through the woods, Remus sometimes picking up certain plants and flowers and putting them in his basket, while Lily (not knowing much about foraging or what Hope needed) only picked flowers she liked and had decided to make a nice bouquet for Hope with them.

The two chatted as they walked, talking about what topics they're studying in their classes next year, about Snape, about their what they had been up to for the last few weeks.

Once they got back to the house, Remus started writing a letter to James and Sirius, who had run away to James' a few weeks ago. While Lily and Hope were downstairs talking, after Lily had given her the bouquet.

Around an hour later, all four were sitting on the lounge for dinner, the bouquet was placed on the middle of the wooden table as a centre piece inside a tall mug with a picture of Phil Bennett on.

After dinner, Lily and Remus went out. There wasn't much to do in the small village in the evening so they ended up in the middle of someone's field. The two sat on the hill for a few hours, stargazing and mindlessly talking about whatever came to mind.

The days went by, with Lily staying at Remus' place. The duo found themselves spending most of their time in a small bookshop cafe and walking through the woods, Remus smoking his weed and Lily sometimes Lily would take a hit but she wasn't as fond of it as Remus was.

With only a week and a half till school started again, Remus and Lily planned to go to hogsmeade together tomorrow.

But midday, two figures appeared walking towards the Lupin cottage just as Remus and Lily got back from their walk in the woods.

As the got closer to the two, they saw it was James and Sirius.

Remus dropped his joint to the floor and ran to the two standing by the door to his home.

He wrapped his arms around Sirius, but felt them freeze up at the touch. So Remus moved to stop the hug, but at that withdrawal, Sirius wrapped his own arms around Remus tightly with no sign of letting go.

The two stood there for a few minutes, wrapped in an embrace while Lily and James stood awkwardly nearby them.

"... hi" James said, waving at Lily, but since they were near each other, Lily had to move backwards to avoid getting hit by his hand.

James quickly withdrew his hand, and stepped back. He looked down at his hand for a few seconds, before bringing it up again and saluting Lily.

As he was half way through saluting her, he realised what he was doing and quickly brought it straight down to his side, and froze at Lily with unblinking eyes like a deer stuck in headlights.

She started laughing, affectively ending the hug between Remus and Sirius, who turned to look between Lily and James.

At that moment, Hope came inside, calling Lily for something and waved in greeting to James and Sirius.

After Lily had walked into the house, James grinned widely.

"She laughed at me!! She thinks I'm funny!"

"She was laughing AT you, cause she thinks you're a wanker" Remus corrected.

Sirius grinned slightly at the retort and grabbed Remus' hand.

Remus looked to Sirius and James realised Sirius would talk to Remus and Remus could help Sirius, even just slightly.

"I'll go see if Hope needs some more help" James said before turning to the cottage and giving Remus and Sirius some time alone.

Inside the cottage, James and Lily were setting up cutlery around the table and helping Hope with the dinner.

James noticed the flowers in the mug, "wow, these look really nice Hope, my mum keeps trying to make some nice flower arrangements for around the house but she's not very good at it. I made this red and gold one, go gryffindor!! for her birthday a few weeks ago but it was no where near as good as this one!!"

Hope came out of the kitchen carrying a saucepan of curry.

"Oh no honey, I didn't make that, that was all thanks to Lily" she said coming round the table and softly touching Lily's arm in gratitude.

"Oh" James said, freezing again as he stared back at Lily. "Its.. um.. its really good.. I like the uhh,, its good."

Lily raised an eyebrow at him, "thank you?"

James nodded, and tapped the table, trying to think of something else to say.

His eyes glanced over the the window, spotting Remus and Sirius sitting on the edge of the woods on a small bench, still talking and holding each others hand.

"I should probably go get them for dinner" he said, about to get out of his seat.

Hope waved her hand absentmindedly, "oh leave them its fine, the lovebirds can eat later"

A few minutes later, Lyall came back from work and sat at the table with them.

The four ate in fairly comfortable silence, sometimes having small conversations.

.

The next day they went to Hogsmeade.

Sirius waringly looking out for any of their family members as they walked around doing their shopping. Remus stood by xyr side the whole time, with James and Lily awkwardly leading the group together.

Peter found them a few hours later, he was shopping with zir mum but stayed with his friends for a while.

In Flourish and Blotts, Sirius and Remus seemed to have disappeared together in a fiction section, bonding over their mutual love of books packed with monsters and adventures and swordsmen.

Lily gazed at books on the shelf closest to her, sometimes bringing one up to her eye line and reading the blurb before putting it back on the shelf again.

James stood there with Peter, who he was very glad of, Peter acting as a distraction of the awkward silence between Lily and James.

So as Peter rambled about how he's so glad ze doesn't have to do potions anymore, James took his mind of trying to impress Lily and put his focus on listening to Peter.

However in the next moment, Peter made a very tactical decision of engaging Lily into the conversation.

"So Lily, I'm guessing you're still taking Potions this year?" Peter asked.

Lily turned around, one hand still lightly touching one of the books on the shelf.

"Yeah, but it sucks that none of my friends are taking it. I tried to get Remus to change his mind and take it for weeks.. and then he blew up half the kitchen trying to make pasta sauce and realised my efforts were futile."

James laughed, "thats Remus, alright"

Lily looked over at him, contemplating. Before nodding her head and smiling slightly as she turned back to the bookshelf.

After around five minutes, Peter chiped up.

"Oh!! James is taking Potions still aren't you? You said you're dad really wanted you to get a Potion Newt. You two can hang out in class"

James sent Peter a 'what the hell' glare before Lily nodded again and clearly said the words,

"I guess we could, its better than the chance of getting stuck with Sev- Snape for the rest of the year... are you any good?"

James froze, "um.. yeah, yeah.. well no, not really to be honest"

Lily smiled again, "thats fine, I'm hood enough for the both of us"

She took a book off the shelf and kept it in her arms for the first time. And then walked back to James and Peter.

"If I'm helping you in Potions though, you've gotta help me with transfiguration."

She lifted up the book in her arms to show the cover, the transfiguration book they needed this year.

"I skimmed this a little, and it barely made any sense at all."

James lifted a hand to his hair, ruffling it up on a nervous habit.

"Minnie gave me a group of younger years to tutor last year, maybe you could come to those? .. not that I think you're as dumb as first and second years, far from it, you're one of the smartest people I know. But I just mean that a lot of our topics this year our ones that we did in first and second year but with more context and more advanced. So I thought that if you revised the basics then the more advanced parts would make more sense to you.. if you wanted?"

"Yeah that sounds great" she said, before moving to another bookshelf and flicking through it.

The rest of the day, the two of them talked and talked. And back at Remus' cottage Lily walked up to him before he had to leave with Sirius.

"Today was fun, friends?" She asked.

James nodded, "friends"

As him and Sirius left, Sirius hit his shoulder.

"What were you and Lily talking about? Declaring your undying love for her?"

James shook his head, "We're just friends, I need to just... move on i guess, friends is as best as it'll get. And its enough for me."

[me-myself-and-my-fos]

Family Dinner

Pairing: developing!Gary King x Nic Blake, ft. Elizabeth Blake

Word Count: 2k

Summary: Nic, Elizabeth and Gary have their first dinner together

Warnings: mentions of bugs, mention of bugs in food

Tag List: @certified-soft-si-content @selfshipfeelings @dancing-with-skeletons @hyperionshipping

“If you don’t stand still I swear to God, Gary–” Nic snapped as she walked into the dining room. He had been pacing all day and she swore he was going to wear a trench into the floor. She set a plate of fish and fries on the table and headed to the kitchen to get the other two. Elizabeth had been insistent on having fish and chips for their first dinner as a family and Nic wasn’t one to deny her daughter that.

“I’m nervous!” He told her exasperatedly. He had been waiting for this since Nic told him Liz was more than happy to meet him. Living arrangements were still up in the air, but worst comes to worst Andy might let him crash on his couch for a bit. But this was big. Liz even decided to come home early for this. She was supposed to come home Monday after school but it was now Sunday evening and she was expected to be dropped off any moment.

“I get that but stop fucking moving,” Nic told him, putting the final two plates on the dining table. “Liz is probably just as nervous as you are. She’s been waiting for this her whole life, you only found out she existed yesterday.”

“But what if I fuck this up? Say something she doesn’t like?”

“She has the biggest heart, it’ll be hard to make her not like you. Unless you tell her that you hate bugs. Then it might be a deal breaker.”

“Wait what?” For the first time in an hour Gary stopped pacing and stared at Nic.

“Oh yeah, Liz adores bugs. She likes making worm farms. She wants to be an entomologist when she gets older.” She told him, going back to get the drinks. “She’s also a huge nerd. Very into D&D.”

“Into what?”

“Dungeons and Dragons?” Nic set the cups of water on the table.

“Oh yeah. Didn’t you do that in school?” Gary asked her, peeking through the curtains to see if Elizabeth had arrived.

“Excuse you, I didn’t just play it. I founded the club at school. And I was the president of the club.” Nic half-bragged, walking over to where he stood. She took his hand gently and squeezed it, and he looked at her. “She’s going to love you. And the fact that you want to meet her is a huge deal for her.” From the look in his eyes he didn’t seem too convinced. Nic sighed and brought his hand up and pressed a kiss to his knuckles. “You’re gonna do great, Gar.”

A car door slammed outside and Gary snapped his attention back to the window. “I think that’s her.”

Nic leaned over to look out the window. “Yep, that’s her.”

“She really does look like you,” Gary commented.

“But she has your eyes,” Nic said as she let go of his hand. She walked over to the front door and looked back at Gary. “Quit looking out the window. You look creepy.” He grumbled something under his breath and moved away from the window as Nic opened the front door. Elizabeth came running up excitedly, bag on her shoulder and backpack in her hand. Nic gave a quick wave to Catherine before bracing herself for the hug from Liz. She stumbled back a moment when Liz tackled her into a hug, but hugged back immediately. “Hi my love, I missed you so much.” Nic pressed a kiss to Liz’s head.

“I missed you too!” Elizabeth told her, grinning up at her mother. Gary cleared his throat and gave a half wave to Elizabeth when she looked over. She looked back at her mom. “Is that him?” She whispered.

“Yeah, and he’s a little nervous so give him hell,” Nic whispered back.

Elizabeth nodded and kicked off her shoes before dropping her things to the floor. She walked over to Gary and held out a hand to him. He glanced at Nic—who gave him a nod—before taking Liz’s hand and letting her shake it. “I’m Elizabeth.”

“I’m Gary King.” He smiled at her.

Elizabeth pulled her hand away and stared up at him. “You’re shorter than I thought you’d be.” His face fell as looked at Nic. She snort-laughed and hid her face.

“Liz, have you washed up for dinner?” Nic asked.

“Not yet,” Elizabeth admitted.

Nic ruffled her daughter’s hair. “Go upstairs and wash up.” Liz nodded and ran up the stairs to the bathroom. Nic closed the front door and smiled at Gary. “She likes you already.”

He let out a nervous breath. “She does?”

Nic nodded and took his hand, squeezing it comfortingly. “I can see it in her eyes.”

Elizabeth came back downstairs and the three sat at the dining table. They were about to start their meal when Elizabeth spoke up.

“Oh mom, you forgot the mayonnaise!” She said, jumping out of her seat and running to the kitchen. She grabbed the bottle from the fridge and came back to the dining table.

“That’s right, I’m so sorry,” Nic said as she cut into her fish.

“It’s okay!” Liz told her, squeezing the mayonnaise onto her plate. She set the bottle on the dining table before Gary took it himself and put some mayonnaise on his own plate. “You like mayonnaise with your fries too?”

Gary nodded. “Where do you think you got it from?”

“So are you like a rockstar?” Elizabeth asked him, taking a bite of her fish.

“Would it make me cool if I said yes?” Gary asked her. She nodded. “Then yes.”

“Awesome.” She grinned.

Nic shook her head as she cut her fish. “No, Gary, no.”

“No?” He cleared his throat and leaned back in the dining chair. “No, I’m not a rockstar. But I used to be in a band…”

“That’s still pretty cool,” Elizabeth told him. “Do you like bugs?”

“Uh…” Gary looked to Nic for help but she was too busy eating, pretending she didn’t hear the question. He looked back at Liz. “I don’t mind them?”

“Mom’s really scared of them. I love bugs. But I get in trouble with them sometimes.”

“What kind of trouble?” Gary asked. That at least might mean she’s more like him than at first glance.

“Well there was one time I dug up some worms from the schoolyard and I really didn’t like my teacher so I just put them in her coffee.” Elizabeth grinned at the memory. “I got in trouble for it and mom wasn’t too happy, but I thought it was funny.”

“That sounds hilarious,” Gary laughed at the image. “I would’ve loved to see that. Did your mum ever tell you the time she released–”

“Woah,” Nic spoke up and waved her hand, interrupting Gary. She knew exactly what story he was about to tell. “She–she doesn’t need to know about that.”

“Aw come on,” he whined. “Why not? She needs to know how cool her mum was in school!”

“Some memories are best left forgotten,” she insisted.

“I wanna hear the story!” Elizabeth protested.

Gary nodded, gesturing to Liz. “See? She deserves it. After all, curiosity killed the cat.”

“And satisfaction brought it back!” Liz added.

Nic sighed, rubbing her temple. “Fine, this once.”

Gary clapped his hands together happily, looking at Liz with a grin. “Your mum released some chickens into the school! It was beautiful, they shat all over the principal’s desk!”

“Okay, language,” Nic said sternly. “No swearing in front of Elizabeth. I don’t want her picking up that kind of language.”

“You’re not fun,” Gary huffed as he leaned back in his chair, absentmindedly playing with his food with the fork.

“But Mom, you swear all the time in the car!” Elizabeth added.

Nic’s face went red with embarrassment. “Well– sweetheart, I do it out of frustration. Your father does it for fun.”

“Swearing is fun!” Gary protested.

“Can I hear more stories?” Liz asked.

“I’ll tell you stories if you tell me stories too,” Gary proposed. The ten year old nodded happily, a large grin on her face.

Dinner was composed of them swapping stories, Nic interjecting to correct Gary on any details but mostly sitting in silence. She couldn’t stop smiling, though, as she noticed how similar they looked at the moment. The same twinkle in their eyes, the same smile and mischievous energy. She swore they even had very similar laughs. Once dinner was finished, Nic washed dishes while Gary and Liz talked some more before Elizabeth had to go take her evening shower. When she got out they watched Family Feud, a tradition Nic and Liz had on Sundays, something Gary was happy to join in on. Closing in on 8:30pm, Nic told Liz it was time to start getting ready for bed. It was disappointing that the evening was over so soon but Nic assured her that she would see Gary again in the morning.

What surprised Gary was when Liz got halfway up the stairs before rushing back down. She ran over to where he sat on the couch and hugged him while saying “Goodnight, Dad,” before rushing upstairs to brush her teeth. He looked to Nic who only gave him an encouraging, but also teary eyed, smile and followed their daughter up the stairs.

As she tucked Liz into bed, Nic pressed a kiss to her forehead and rubbed her thumb over her daughter’s cheek. “I hope you had fun tonight.”

Liz nodded. “He’s cool and funny. I like him.”

Nic laughed softly. “I’m glad. This was really important for all of us.”

“Mom?”

“Yes, sweetheart?”

“Is it okay if he stays? Like, lives with us?” Liz asked.

Nic nodded at her. “Of course, if that’s what you want and you’re comfortable with it.”

“Okay. ‘Cause it’s what I want.” Liz said.

“I think him living here will be good for both of you,” Nic said quietly before pressing another kiss to Elizabeth’s head. “Goodnight, Liz. Sleep well, my love.”

“G’night, Mom,” Liz mumbled tiredly, burying her face into her pillow. Nic gently got off the bed and shut off the bedroom light. She smiled at the sight of Liz for a moment before closing the door, leaving it only cracked open. Quietly she headed downstairs to where Gary still sat watching the tv.

Falling next to him on the couch, she muted the tv. “Elizabeth said she’s okay with you staying.”

His head snapped over to look at her. “She is?”

Nic nodded. “She likes you a lot. I think spending time together will be good for you both.” He stayed quiet after she said that. She could tell something was up, like he was busy thinking. “You okay?”

“I didn’t expect her to be calling me ‘dad’ so soon,” he admitted with a slight laugh. Nic reached over and took his hand, squeezing it. “I just hope I don’t mess it all up.”

“You won’t,” Nic assured him. “I have faith. I’m really happy you wanted to meet her, though.”

“She’s a good kid. You raised her well.”

Nic smiled bashfully. “I will admit it wasn’t easy, she’s your daughter after all. Absolutely knows how to give me hell.”

“But she is a good kid. Better than I ever was.”

“Hey, you weren’t bad, just… wild.” Nic smiled at him. “But that’s the past. Now we have the present and the future.” She gave his hand another squeeze. “After Liz goes to school tomorrow, we have a lot to talk about, you and I. We have some rules to put in place, appointments to make you, and for the love of God, I am getting you new clothes.”

“What’s wrong with what I’m wearing?” Gary asked, offended.

“They’re literally the only clothes you have at the moment.” Nic laughed. “But that’s for the morning.” She leaned over and pressed a kiss to his cheek. “Thank you for this.”

“Thanks for letting me meet her,” he replied, throwing an arm over Nic’s shoulder.

[halothenthehorns]

TLTNL- HERMIONE'S HELPING HAND

Between The Boy Who Lived, and this chapter title, Ron is once again left out of the gift of getting one explicitly named after him, poor thing. Hell, even the twins and his mum got one.

 HPHPHPHP

Remus hesitated, his eyes lingering on the book, his hand brushing where his chapter had ended, but his eyes traveling from Lily, whom he owed the book to, to Harry. James' words lingered in his mind now more than ever, and well, he couldn't think of a better opportunity, while Harry still seemed so pale and unsure, and the topic had just been presented...

"Harry can I talk to you?" He made the snap decision, not letting himself talk himself out of it again.

James and Sirius exchanged a pleased smile when Harry said yes at once, nothing but surprise, and perhaps a hint of guilt as he followed him out of the room up the stairs.

Lily watched them go just as curiously, before turning accusing eyes on the boy's left, "and what's that about?" Easily recalling Remus' foul mood this morning and hoping it was all going to be put away for good when they came back.

"Why should we tell you?" Sirius asked with a slight touch of sulk in his voice. "You won't tell us who the Half-Blood Prince is, though you clearly know."

Lily pursed her lips in answer, preparing to launch a volley of defenses as James turned to her as well, but then shocking both of them, he said, "Dumbledore hasn't been the only thing on Moony's mind of late, the way he's been acting towards Harry in this future, or I should say hasn't been around him at all, it's really been getting to him. I encouraged him to have a chat with Harry about both of those things, I'm glad to see he's finally taken my advice."

"Prongs," Sirius whined. "You've gone soft! Where's my Marauder that would dangle this over her head until she gave something up!"

James just shrugged without answer, and it was Lily's turn to frown at the expression on his face as he turned to Sirius and easily distracted him with a chat about Tonks, offering new solutions to a problem they weren't even sure she had yet. Still, she eagerly jumped into this least anything else surface.

    Harry waited patiently for Remus to order his thoughts. He'd known he deserved whatever was coming for ages, and whatever had finally gotten Remus to deliver it he was grateful. He just wasn't sure what to expect. His past experiences only offered what Vernon or McGonagall would have done. He was positive in this instance to lean more towards McGonagall, with a stern lecture about his temper and how Harry should think before he vented what he had on Remus the previous day. He wanted to start with another apology, which Remus truly deserved. He even still had some unanswered questions about their last talk, but held it all in, letting him speak first like he was owed.

"Harry, I just wanted to say before this went on any farther," he couldn't help making an agitated face already, the whole summer had been bad enough, but for him to not have even been heard of that breakfast, "I really do understand why you lashed out at me, I deserved it and can quite easily believe how you grew to resent me over the years. Just please hear me that I'm trying, I won't so blindly follow Dumbledore again-"

"Remus, I never resented you!" Harry finally cut through, hardly able to believe what he was hearing. "The thought never even crossed my mind! I guess, I mean, you could have turned out worse." He felt a little guilty for adding that, but he also seemed determined to speak his mind. "You could have been like Snape."

The thought had been lingering for ages. He often wondered why the idea didn't baffle him a lot more than it should, his mother being friends with someone like Snape. It made him briefly at times consider he'd somehow learned this on his own, though he had not a clue how that was possible, clearly Snape wasn't sharing that information. It still made his point though, "Snape hates me even though he and my mum used to be best friends, and you could have been the same way. You could have blamed it all on me." Remus' scandalized expression simply made Harry nod, thinking that proved his point.

"I'm still ashamed I took that out on you," Harry went on before Remus could pull himself back into speaking, forcing himself to get this all out while he had the chance. "If I can find a way to make that up to you I will-"

"You already are," Remus promised, only hesitating for a moment before reaching out and taking his shoulder. "What you're giving us is a gift we wouldn't have even known to ask for, that's more than we could ever thank you for, so everything in between should just stay in this house, eh?"

Harry grinned at once, completely relaxing and all at ease now just as he was. It was still baffling, how little his proximity seemed to bother Harry. No matter how much he kept seeing to the contrary, he still kept expecting Harry to pull away from him for any number of reasons, but he never did. There was a longing in his eyes, one that didn't quite match what he held for the rest of the family. It was almost regret, or something more, but what Remus was sure of was that Harry wanted to know him. If it really was because they grew closer in this future then he could finally rejoice he'd done something right at least.

The smile dimmed for a moment, but before Remus could even start to worry what crossed his mind, Harry offered, "ah, I feel like I should, I don't know, apologize for everything Dumbledore does as well. I don't know, it's kind of weird since he hasn't done it to you all yet, but I can see how much he means to you. I, get that, for so long he's the only one who," he stopped with a now familiar pained expression, but waved him off, promising he wasn't pushing any farther. "Well, considering how my first lesson with him went, let's just say now they probably won't be going better the rest of this year, but I just, can't, despise him for everything." He finished lamely. He really couldn't wait until he never had to deal with this feeling again, of being incomplete. A piece of his mind that was missing a huge chunk of this conversation, that just like no matter what Snape did, he couldn't hate him with all his being.

Remus surprised him by laughing. "I'm a big boy Harry. I promise I can deal with whatever thoughts I have towards Dumbledore without blaming you."

Harry winced in shame, and Remus realized that wasn't the best choice of words, so he soothed, "we promised you we wouldn't do anything until we heard all you have to say." Not that they had a choice, he couldn't help mentally grumbling with one eye out the window, but his point still stood.

"Thanks Remus," Harry grinned at him. When he looked like he was just going to wave it off, Harry insisted, "I mean it, for everything, then and now."

Remus beamed, and Harry grinned right back. That look never failed to make the premature lines across his youthful face vanish, and Harry wished he'd seen that smile outside this house. He couldn't recall one though, and very much hoped it was somewhere in his future.

He led the way back downstairs, the cheerful mood still pouring off both of them now. The other three noticed at once. The slight tension between the two for the past few days finally leaving almost a physical thing. James and Sirius felt like hugging them, they couldn't stand to see the two fighting, or whatever that passive ignoring each other nonsense had been.

Lily almost happily picked up the book and began at once. Despite the climate Harry was still living in, his sixth year having the same air as all seven years of their school with the way it had started, there was finally something to be smiling at that couldn't be taken away by this book.

As Hermione had predicted, the sixth years' free periods were not the hours of blissful relaxation Ron had anticipated, but times in which to attempt to keep up with the vast amount of homework they were being set. Not only were they studying as though they had exams every day, but the lessons themselves had become more demanding than ever before.

"You're giving me horrible flashbacks," James sighed, rubbing his own forehead with the memory of those first few weeks coming back, all that homework that never seemed to end.

Harry barely understood half of what Professor McGonagall said to them these days; even Hermione had had to ask her to repeat instructions once or twice.

Sirius mock fainted in surprise.

Incredibly, and to Hermione's increasing resentment, Harry's best subject had suddenly become Potions, thanks to the Half-Blood Prince.

Lily began giggling hysterically again like that was still the funniest thing she'd ever heard. James rolled his eyes at her while Remus and Sirius just grinned at Harry, congratulating him on at least finding one class he could have an ease of, they wished they'd had this thing in school.

Nonverbal spells were now expected, not only in Defense Against the Dark Arts, but in Charms and Transfiguration too. Harry frequently looked over at his classmates in the common room or at mealtimes to see them purple in the face and straining as though they had overdosed on U-No-Poo;

Causing at least the four graduates to burst out with further laughter and Harry to huff he was just so glad it was so funny to look back on for them, he certainly hadn't been as amused at the time.

but he knew that they were really struggling to make spells work without saying incantations aloud. It was a relief to get outside into the greenhouses; they were dealing with more dangerous plants than ever in Herbology, but at least they were still allowed to swear loudly if the Venomous Tentacula seized them unexpectedly from behind.

"One of the very few reasons I actually liked that class," Sirius agreed with a crazy grin still in place. "Got to use quite a bit of language in that class, and the one time she ever told me off for it was when it was directed at Snivellus."

"He deserved it," James said fairly when Harry looked like he was trying not to laugh. "I don't know what crawled up his arse that day to decide to drop that thing down Padfoot's pants, but-"

He was cut short by Harry bursting out laughing as hard as they just had. He was honestly a bit relieved, he hadn't been entirely convinced Harry still would laugh at that kind of thing after what he'd seen in Snape's memories.

One result of their enormous workload and the frantic hours of practicing nonverbal spells was that Harry, Ron, and Hermione had so far been unable to find time to go and visit Hagrid. He had stopped coming to meals at the staff table, an ominous sign, and on the few occasions when they had passed him in the corridors or out in the grounds, he had mysteriously failed to notice them or hear their greetings.

"Oh," Lily sighed, she couldn't imagine how much that would sting for the poor dear.

Remus just clucked his tongue. He felt a little bad for Hagrid, but surely a teacher would know not to take it so personally a student wouldn't continue with the class. He had any sympathy at all because this would be his first year with such a sudden drop, especially his three favorite students.

Over breakfast Hermione was looking up at Hagrid's huge empty chair at the staff table that Saturday and insisting to the boys they should explain themselves.

"I'm sure he's just busy," Sirius tried to sooth, as Harry started to look very guilty for this. Neither of them believe it, but Harry appreciate the attempt anyways.

Ron protested they had Quidditch tryouts this morning.

"Whoo!" James hooted at once.

And besides that, how were they supposed to tell him they hated the stupid subject?

"Next time start with the bad and end with the good news of tryouts," James huffed when Lily had kept going, but he was still smiling hopefully for that to come.

Ron told her to speak for herself, if they hadn't dropped that class they'd be teaching Grawp to tie his shoes right now.

"Ehh," Sirius waved his hand vaguely, and Harry wasn't all that reassured no one here really denied Hagrid may have tried to get away with that for an 'advanced' class.

Hermione insisted she hated not talking to him, so Harry assured her they'd go over there after tryouts.

"Priorities," Lily huffed, wishing he'd set his friend first, especially after a full week of not going to see him.

He too was missing Hagrid, although like Ron he thought that they were better off without Grawp in their lives. Still, he reminded her that with as many people had signed up, this was going to take all morning. He had no clue why the team was so popular this year.

"It comes and goes every year," James waved off.

Hermione got impatient with his naivety, telling him it wasn't Quidditch that was popular, it was him. Frankly, he'd never been more fanciable.

Harry suddenly looked quite alarmed at his friends deduction, surely she couldn't be right about this one! It didn't help no one in here looked likely to protest it, they just looked a bit amused. Now that his affection for Cho had been entirely eradicated, they'd actually been really curious who would catch his eye next, so Hermione bringing it up was quite entertaining.

Ron gagged on a large piece of kipper. Hermione spared him one look of disdain before turning back to Harry and explaining now everyone knew he was right, they found him quite brave holding his ground like he had last year. You could still see the marks that evil woman had left on his hand last year.

Harry's hand twitched uneasily at the reminder again, and it didn't help they all adopted the same murderous faces now as they had first hearing of this. Whatever those centaurs had done still didn't feel like good enough retribution for leaving a permanent mark on their boy.

Ron inserted you could still see the marks where those brain had attacked him, even beginning to shake his sleeve back to prove it.

-And it didn't help he'd shot up a few inches, Hermione finished, ignoring him.

"Honestly, if those two dance in anymore circles, they're going to put a moat around Hogwarts," Remus sighed.

Ron inserted he was tall.

Sirius snickered hard for Harry's friends, somehow finding this even more entertaining than Prongs and Evans had been.

The post owls arrived, swooping down through rain-flecked windows, scattering everyone with droplets of water. Most people were receiving more post than usual; anxious parents were keen to hear from their children and to reassure them, in turn, that all was well at home. Harry had received no mail since the start of term; his only regular correspondent was now dead and although he had hoped that Lupin might write occasionally, he had so far been disappointed.

Lily's heart had started to grow heavy at the start of this, the sting always present of being denied this for her child never appreciated when it was pushed to the for-front of her mind. By the end she was trying to stop herself chewing on the inside of her cheek, the unease for Remus squirming so much inside her she thought she was going to be sick. With an uneasy glance up though, she saw both were trying to pretend like they hadn't heard a thing. It was of some relief, at least, that their little chat had soothed what once could have been a very awkward moment, but for now she tried to get past that as fast as she could like the boys clearly wanted.

He was very surprised, therefore, to see the snowy white Hedwig circling amongst all the brown and gray owls. She landed in front of him carrying a large, square package. A moment later, an identical package landed in front of Ron, crushing beneath it his minuscule and exhausted owl, Pigwidgeon.

Harry, unwrapped the parcel to reveal a new copy of Advanced Potion-Making, fresh from Flourish and Blotts.

Remus couldn't help it, even knowing Harry didn't hold that against him, at least now, like he did, he still made a face that a bloody book store sent more mail to him than he did. That could just never be right. It helped that James, sitting right next to him, still just looked miserable like the rest of them rather than resentful like Remus wouldn't have blamed him for.

Hermione was delighted, saying now he could give that graffitied copy back.

"Graffitied," Lily gave a half-hearted giggle to at least try and push the good mood back in.

Harry told her she was mad, and proceeded to mutter 'Definido' over both covers of the books, while Hermione looked scandalized.

"For what you're doing, or ruining a book?" Sirius asked with genuine curiosity, clearly ignoring Moony's moment as much as he could.

"Couldn't tell you, a bit of both probably," Harry answered naturally enough.

He then swapped the covers, tapped each, and said, 'Reparo!'

There sat the Prince's copy, disguised as a new book, and there sat the fresh copy from Flourish and Blotts, looking thoroughly secondhand.

All four of them started chuckling, a pure sound of amusement they all needed. "Clever," Lily couldn't help but congratulate, having never thought for a moment he was going to give it back, now he even had an excuse. The temptation to tell him exactly whose book he was keeping was still on the tip of her tongue, but she restrained herself, they'd just gotten their good mood back, no need ruining it with certain information.

Harry decided he'd give the 'old' copy back to Slughorn, who wouldn't complain, it had cost him nine Galleons.

"And that man has never passed up a bargain," Remus smirked.

Hermione pressed her lips together, looking angry and disapproving, but was distracted by a third owl landing in front of her carrying that day's copy of the Daily Prophet. She unfolded it hastily and scanned the front page.

Ron determinedly asked with a casual tone if anyone they knew was dead this morning, as he had every morning.

Lily sighed, this was honestly the reason she hadn't gotten the paper through much of her youth, it was depressing to turn every page and expect as much.

Hermione did tell of an arrest, and Harry asked with some curiosity who, keeping to himself the hope it was Bellatrix Lestrange.

All five of them scowled for her name being brought back up, Azkaban was almost too good for what they owed her. Almost.

Stan Shunpike, apparently.

"Ouch, didn't see that one coming," Lily muttered, her lower lip pouting in surprise.

She read out the article which gave the details f his arrest as being under Death Eater suspension.

Harry at once said there was no way, while Ron offered he could have been under the Imperius Curse.

"They still shouldn't have arrested him until they knew for sure," Harry seethed.

Sirius just gave his shoulder a reassuring pat, honestly wishing this was more of a surprise to them. They heard all the time of arrests from the last people you would think. Crouch was a good example, but there were others out there doing explicit things you wouldn't think to point a finger at.

Hermione read out the rest, he'd been caught overheard knowing of Death Eater plans, and that didn't seem the kind of thing the Imperius Curse would let you shout about.

"That's even worse!" Harry snapped.

"Calm down Harry, I'm sure it won't last long," Lily tried to placate, though none of them were really any happier about this development, they weren't sure why Harry was in such a temper over it. It was just too common place to them.

"He shouldn't be in there, he doesn't deserve it!" Harry insisted.

Ron instead switched to saying he was probably showing off then, hadn't he been that bloke boasting to a veela at the World Cup about becoming the next Minister of Magic.

"That was also a moment you claimed a broom could reach outer space, so," James trailed off with a pitiful shake of his head.

Harry agreed that was him, and was still aghast anyone could take Stan seriously.

Sirius suddenly flinched, his favorite joke escaping him as they all realized where Harry's ire could be stemming from, and maybe he didn't even realize it except his own choice of words.

Harry couldn't say anything, not looking at any of them. Sirius sighed unhappily, not wanting to say any empty words, but shimmied just a bit closer to him anyways, as much a promise as he could offer they wouldn't let this happen to anyone again.

Hermione explained the Ministry wanted to look as if they were doing something, people were terrified after all. The Patil twins almost hadn't come this year, and Eloise Midgens had just been withdrawn last night by her father.

Harry's misery only grew at this news, that was as depressing as it could get, hearing of more parents like Seamus' mother. It was somehow even more sad to see this didn't surprise anyone around him, this sort of thing must have happened all the time.

Ron was dumbfounded, surely parents knew Hogwarts was the safest place for anyone with Dumbledore here.

Hermione lowered her voice to the barest whisper as she pointed out they may not really have that.

Harry glanced to the staff table in surprise to find he wasn't present. In fact when he cast his mind back, their headmasters seat had been as empty as the Gamekeepers this week.

"That is, unusual," Remus agreed slowly, trying to keep the accusation out of his voice and almost getting there this time.

"I mean, not really, if you think about it," Lily tried. "Maybe the Ministry reinstated all of his titles in the community, plus the Order of the Phoenix, he can't just be sitting around in his office all day."

"We never exactly kept tabs on him at the table, so I couldn't say how often he was there at our time," James agreed slowly.

Hermione kept lowering her voice further as she wondered if he was doing something for the Order? It was all looking very serious.

Sirius was already smirking, and without any preamble this time stated, "I always look Sirius! I hate using anything to change myself otherwise, who would want to deny the brightest star!"

Harry snickered in surprise while his friends rolled their eyes.

Harry and Ron did not answer, but Harry knew that they were all thinking the same thing. There had been a horrible incident the day before, when Hannah Abbott had been taken out of Herbology to be told her mother had been found dead. They had not seen Hannah since.

Harry felt cold chills erupting all along his arms as that memory was given back. He didn't even have to pretend what that news was like, he'd lived it only days ago hearing his parents weren't going to be in this world with him much longer.

When they left the Gryffindor table five minutes later to head down to the Quidditch pitch, they passed Lavender Brown and Parvati Patil. Remembering what Hermione had said about the Patil twins' parents wanting them to leave Hogwarts, Harry was unsurprised to see that the two best friends were whispering together, looking distressed. What did surprise him was that when Ron drew level with them, Parvati suddenly nudged Lavender, who looked around and gave Ron a wide smile. Ron blinked at her, then returned the smile uncertainly. His walk instantly became something more like a strut. Harry resisted the temptation to laugh, remembering that Ron had refrained from doing so after Malfoy had broken Harry's nose; Hermione, however, looked cold and distant all the way down to the stadium through the cool, misty drizzle, and departed to find a place in the stands without wishing Ron good luck.

"I'm sensing a triangle forming," James said extra loudly, well aware Harry just couldn't keep a smile in place this time around. Surely even the coming Quidditch tryouts would help with that!

"At least I'm not anywhere in that shape, though I'll still probably be hearing about it," Harry huffed.

As Harry had expected, the trials took most of the morning. Half of Gryffindor House seemed to have turned up, from first years who were nervously clutching a selection of the dreadful old school brooms,

"Poor things, not being Harry Potter and all," Sirius snickered while James puffed up his chest, well aware none of them would be making the house team, breaking his sons record of being the youngest in a century.

to seventh years who towered over the rest, looking coolly intimidating. The latter included a large, wiry-haired boy Harry recognized immediately from the Hogwarts Express.

He came forward with confidence, reintroducing himself as Cormac McLaggen, and explaining he was here for the Keepers tryouts.

Harry asked if he'd tried out last year, thinking the size of him would surely block all the goal hoops without him even needing to move.

Remus snickered in surprise while James mind was already wiring clinically. "Nah, doesn't necessarily mean skill if he can't stay on the broom."

"Or Ron just beat him out," Sirius sniffed.

He explained he hadn't, he'd been in the hospital wing that day. He'd eaten a pound of doxy eggs on a bet.

"Well I can't help but like him just for that," Remus burst out laughing even harder.

"Honestly, I'd probably be rooting for him if Ron weren't trying for the same spot," Lily agreed.

Harry made a face at both of them, he had no good will towards him, even if he couldn't explain the feeling.

Harry dismissed him then to stand with the others, pointing over to the edge of the pitch, close to where Hermione was sitting. He thought he saw a flicker of annoyance pass over McLaggen's face and wondered whether McLaggen expected preferential treatment because they were both 'old Sluggy's' favorites.

"He'll learn fast," James scoffed.

Harry decided to start with a basic test, asking all applicants for the team to divide into groups of ten and fly once around the pitch.

"Not bad at all," James approved, his eyes many miles away back on the pitch himself. "Get a good handle on just how often they're in the air."

Harry couldn't help the shy smile, blushing a bit at the praise he hadn't been expecting. He was only doing what he thought was obvious at the time, to help out his team.

This was a good decision: the first ten was made up of first years, and it could not have been plainer that they had hardly ever flown before. Only one boy managed to remain airborne for more than a few seconds, and he was so surprised he promptly crashed into one of the goal posts.

Causing all five of them to burst out laughing, Harry hardest of all as he'd tried to hold it in at the time.

The second group was comprised of ten of the silliest girls Harry had ever encountered, who, when he blew his whistle, merely fell about giggling and clutching one another. Romilda Vane was amongst them. When he told them to leave the pitch, they did so quite cheerfully and went to sit in the stands to heckle everyone else.

Lily scoffed at that one, they would have made better cheerleaders. She didn't even like the game and couldn't understand why they'd bother if they didn't either.

The third group had a pileup halfway around the pitch. Most of the fourth group had come without broomsticks. The fifth group were Hufflepuffs.

The Marauders laughed extra hard at that one while Harry rolled his eyes, thinking they could go annoy their own tryouts.

Harry was getting seriously annoyed,

"What did I do?" Sirius demanded.

"I'm sure you weren't any help to dad when he was going through this," Harry shrugged without remorse.

"Don't encourage him by responding to that Harry," Remus groaned, when he laughed was bad enough.

"No, Harry was right that time, Sirius was laughing his arse off and I had half a mind to kick him off the field. I was Siriusly annoyed by him too," James couldn't help joining in with a chuckle that time, causing Remus to make a face at him of pure betrayal while the others just laughed harder.

as he shouted that anyone else who wasn't from his house should leave now! There was a pause, then a couple of little Ravenclaws went sprinting off the pitch, snorting with laughter.

"At least someone was enjoying themselves," Harry gave a grudging laugh as well, everyone around him still giggling too much to hold onto that agitation that had been hovering over him at that time.

After two hours, many complaints, and several tantrums, one involving a crashed Comet Two Sixty and several broken teeth, Harry had found himself three Chasers: Katie Bell, returned to the team after an excellent trial; a new find called Demelza Robins, who was particularly good at dodging Bludgers; and Ginny Weasley, who had outflown all the competition and scored seventeen goals to boot.

Harry was beaming at this, he had a really good feeling at least these weren't decisions he'd regret. It was the other positions he wasn't feeling as sure of, and hoped he wouldn't let his dad down with any of the others.

Pleased though he was with his choices, Harry had also shouted himself hoarse at the many complainers and was now enduring a similar battle with the rejected Beaters.

He had to even threaten some away with hexs if they didn't stop badgering him about it.

"Yeah, I'd believe him," Sirius nodded along, having actually done as much to one who had the gall to tell Prongs what a sham he was after all that.

Neither of his chosen Beaters had the old brilliance of Fred and George,

"A shame twins don't come along more often," James sighed, still eyeing Lily hopefully, who was ignoring him.

but he was still reasonably pleased with them: Jimmy Peakes, a short but broad-chested third-year boy who had managed to raise a lump the size of an egg on the back of Harry's head with a ferociously hit Bludger, and Ritchie Coote, who looked weedy but aimed well. They now joined Katie, Demelza, and Ginny in the stands to watch the selection of their last team member.

Harry had deliberately left the trial of the Keepers until last, hoping for an emptier stadium and less pressure on all concerned. Unfortunately, however, all the rejected players and a number of people who had come down to watch after a lengthy breakfast had joined the crowd by now, so that it was larger than ever.

"Ah well, I'm sure Ron's over all that by now anyways. He won the last tournament after all," James smirked.

"This next one both will be playing in it, it's going to be a blast," Sirius already agreed with high energy to get to that!

As each Keeper flew up to the goal hoops, the crowd roared and jeered in equal measure. Harry glanced over at Ron, who had always had a problem with nerves; Harry had hoped that winning their final match last term might have cured it, but apparently not: Ron was a delicate shade of green.

"He could be nervous and still readying himself," Remus pacified, all of them at ease and sure Ron would do fine. He'd lived through the worst of it last year after all.

None of the first five applicants saved more than two goals apiece. To Harry's great disappointment, Cormac McLaggen saved four penalties out of five.

"A tough score to beat," James grudgingly nodded. "I suppose if they tied you'd just have them do it over again?"

"Yeah," Harry sighed with agreement, fingers crossed it wouldn't come to that and Ron would do brilliantly.

On the last one, however, he shot off in completely the wrong direction;

Harry blinked in surprise, rubbing his forehead for why that would cause a stir in his memories.

the crowd laughed and booed and McLaggen returned to the ground grinding his teeth.

Ron looked ready to pass out as he mounted his Cleansweep Eleven.

Someone called a good luck for him.

Harry looked around, expecting to see Hermione, but it was Lavender Brown.

"Ooh, bet Hermione loved that," Sirius rolled his eyes. He already disliked her for her previous tendencies in Trelawney's class and hoped Ron didn't really return the affection. He'd still take Hermione's stubbornness over some giggly girl.

He would have quite liked to have hidden his face in his hands, as she did a moment later, but thought that as the Captain he ought to show slightly more grit, and so turned to watch Ron do his trial.

James gave a sympathetic nod, thinking there had been many times during his captaincy he'd had to show more restraint than he had all previous years of school because of that badge.

Yet he need not have worried: Ron saved one, two, three, four, five penalties in a row. Delighted, and resisting joining in the cheers of the crowd with difficulty, Harry turned to McLaggen to tell him that, most unfortunately, Ron had beaten him, only to find McLaggen's red face inches from his own. He stepped back hastily.

McLaggen began smearing at once, stating his sister hadn't really tried, she'd given him an easy throw.

"Urgh, what a sore loser," Remus wrinkled his nose up in disgust as well as the comparison.

"Honestly, even if they had tied I'd rather Harry give it to Ron now just for that," Sirius agreed.

Harry coldly responded what rubbish that was, Ron had nearly missed that one.

McLaggen took a step nearer Harry, who stood his ground this time.

"That'a boy," James approved, his eyes narrowing and his hand twitching for his wand. Even knowing Harry could handle himself against some pompous seventh year didn't mean he was going to stand for that.

McLaggen demanded another go, but Harry refused. Ron had the better score, he was Keeper. End of discussion, now McLaggen needed to leave.

He thought for a moment that McLaggen might punch him, but he contented himself with an ugly grimace and stormed away, growling what sounded like threats to thin air.

"And good riddance," Lily sniffed, as happy as any of the boys for the way this turned out.

Harry turned around to find his new team beaming at him.

Ron was congratulated on doing brilliantly, and this time it really was Hermione running toward them from the stands; Harry saw Lavender walking off the pitch, arm in arm with Parvati, a rather grumpy expression on her face.

"Wonder if Hermione did something to her, or said something," Sirius snickered.

Ron looked extremely pleased with himself and even taller than usual as he grinned at the team and at Hermione.

After fixing the time of their first full practice for the following Thursday, Harry, Ron, and Hermione bade good-bye to the rest of the team and headed off toward Hagrid's. A watery sun was trying to break through the clouds now and it had stopped drizzling at last. Harry felt extremely hungry; he hoped there would be something to eat at Hagrid's.

"Quick, check he has all his teeth!" James yelped in alarm.

"And all his sense," Lily agreed with a giggle while Harry rolled his eyes at all of them. Not all of Hagrid's cooking was that bad...

Ron was happily running them through his experience, applauding Demelza for what a tricky shot she'd pulled, had a bit of a spin on it.

"I missed Ron doing this!" James laughed.

Hermione looked amused as she again agreed how brilliantly he'd done, and Ron furthered this by laughing at McLaggen going in the completely wrong direction for his last shot! He'd looked like he'd been Confunded, he finished with a laugh.

Harry missed the others laughing around him this time, an idea just on the edge of his mind-

To Harry's surprise, Hermione turned a very deep shade of pink at these words.

and then he nodded to himself, a slight smile in place as he thought it was all but confirmed.

"Oh, she didn't," James said, a look of mingled exasperation and amusement in place.

"I'm thinking she did," Sirius nodded slowly, like he couldn't decide if he should be outraged at such a display of interference in Quidditch or laughing his arse off she'd pulled something like that.

Lily easily decided on laughter, at all of the boys expression for this, for Hermione herself, she was just giggling up a storm for so long they couldn't help but join in. Hermione was very many things, but they couldn't deny she helped her own too.

Ron noticed nothing; he was too busy describing each of his other penalties in loving detail.

The great gray hippogriff, Buckbeak, was tethered in front of Hagrid's cabin. He clicked his razor-sharp beak at their approach and turned his huge head toward them.

Hermione backed up a step with nerves, saying she still found him a bit scary.

Sirius scoffed, he quite liked that beast and was honestly considering getting his own now.

Ron scoffed she'd ridden on his back once!

Harry ignored them both and came forward to bow, waiting until it was returned before going up and stroking him. He whispered for the hippogriff alone if he missed him too?

Lily's voice hitched in her throat, her hands shook across the cover. They'd actually managed to go two whole chapters without that being brought up, and yet somehow it was worse as Harry reminisced with a beast of all things about it.

They were interrupted by an angry shout telling them to get away, he'd take some fingers off! Then Hagrid recognized them. He stood and looked at them all for a split second, then turned and strode into his cabin, slamming the door behind him.

"Oh dear," Lily sighed.

"That could have gone better," James agreed with a wince.

Hermione looked stricken, but Harry grimly said not to worry about it.

"I disagree," Sirius looked a bit wide eyed with alarm. "The last people Hagrid was ticked off with got their heads nearly knocked off."

"I haven't cursed McGonagall lately," Harry half-heartedly defended.

"It's been a week, surely he's just making his point clear they offended him." Remus pacified. "Soon as they get to talking to him he'll come around."

"Wish he would have already," Lily sighed, still wanting to smack him for treating her son that way.

He walked over to the door and knocked loudly, telling Hagrid to open up.

There was no sound from within.

"I'm just picturing him on the other side, arms crossed, pouting," Sirius laughed a bit, though it did nothing to erase Harry's uneasy frown.

Harry threatened if he didn't, he'd blow this door down, even pulling his wand out.

"You've been a bit violent today," James noted.

"Not taking any nonsense with his friends, right after you," Sirius agreed good naturedly.

"You actually pulled it out!" Lily gasped, she honestly couldn't picture it.

"I'd have really done it to," Harry said without too much remorse. He wouldn't just let Hagrid ignore him.

But before he could say anything else, the door flew open again as Harry had known it would, and there stood Hagrid, glowering down at him and looking, despite the flowery apron, positively alarming.

"I, can almost imagine," Remus said slowly. Despite the obvious contrary, he rarely thought of Hagrid as intimidating. It wasn't pleasant picturing that anywhere near directed towards Harry.

Hagrid growled he was a teacher, even calling him Potter to emphasize this.

Lily couldn't help but make a little face at that. It hadn't even registered until this moment Hagrid, as a teacher, had never actually referred to Harry as such and the contrast now was startling.

Harry apologized at once, addressing him as sir.

Hagrid was stunned at this, asking since when did they call him sir?

Harry returned since when did he call him Potter?

"Harry's really got all the teachers on their toes this year with that mouth," Sirius gave an appreciative laugh.

Hagrid was not impressed, calling them ungrateful little things,

"Ungrateful is a little harsh," James frowned in defense. "Honestly Hagrid, would it have been much better if they'd forward you they were dropping the class?"

"Maybe a bit," Remus sighed, he still felt some sympathy for Hagrid despite his attitude about it.

still mumbling darkly, he stood back to let them pass. Hermione scurried in after Harry, looking rather frightened.

All five of them scoffed at that. Honestly, even at his worst they'd never actually be afraid of him, and after what Hermione had just done, they would have thought she'd be more bemused at his behavior like they were.

Fang was happy enough to see them, drooling over their robes at once, while Hagrid demanded what they wanted? Thought he was lonely down here without them?

"Um," Lily muttered, feeling a little bad she'd never really thought about it. The other teachers could all converge in the staff room if they wanted company, but it was a bit depressing to suddenly wonder how many went out to go see Hagrid just for a chat.

Harry at once corrected they'd missed him, and Hagrid snorted in disbelief.

"This is getting offensive," James sighed. "I'm all for the theatrics to prove your point man, but you're holding a bit of a grudge against students not wanting to take a class."

"Hagrid's always been big on gestures, I'm sure this seemed like a significant one to him," Harry sighed, though even looking back he wasn't sure what he could have done differently.

He stomped around, brewing up tea in his enormous copper kettle, muttering all the while. Finally he slammed down three bucket-sized mugs of mahogany-brown tea in front of them and a plate of his rock cakes. Harry was hungry enough even for Hagrid's cooking, and took one at once.

James still had the urge to knock that out of Harry's hand for his health.

Hermione began talking to him timidly, when he joined them at the table and started peeling his potatoes with a brutality that suggested that each tuber had done him a great personal wrong.

"Never pictured your face on a potato before," Sirius snorted, "though I'm sure it's helping Hagrid a bit."

She said they really had wanted to continue with his class. Hagrid gave another great snort. Harry rather thought some bogeys landed on the potatoes, and was inwardly thankful that they were not staying for dinner.

"Thank you, now I'll never eat at Hagrid's again, not that there was much of a chance before," Remus muttered.

Hermione insisted they had, it just wouldn't fit in their schedules.

Harry agreed without belief.

"Oooh," Lily huffed, wishing to make him look at her and really acknowledge what his problem was. She couldn't blame him for being a bit hurt, but now he was starting to make her son look guilty for something he really couldn't help and she wouldn't lightly stand for that.

There was a funny squelching sound and they all looked around: Hermione let out a tiny shriek, and Ron leapt out of his seat and hurried around the table away from the large barrel standing in the corner that they had only just noticed.

They felt some concern start lighting up the room, surely Hagrid hadn't found something even more horrible than Grawp already!

It was full of what looked like foot-long maggots, slimy, white, and writhing.

This was so entirely the opposite of what they'd just been fearing, they all got a good laugh for the harmless things and the overreactions to it.

Harry asked what those were, and Hagrid crisply answered grubs.

Ron uneasily asked what they'd grow up to be, and Hagrid said nothing, they were for Aragog.

"Naww," Remus offered, though he was the only one who bothered, the others got a shifty look in place at the reminder of him.

And without warning, he burst into tears.

"Ooh, that poor dear," Lily said in sympathy at once, suddenly realizing Hagrid's overreaction to the kids may have actually been out of focus for something else.

"Please tell me you're talking about Hagrid," James still had his nose crinkled in disgust, even as it flagged a bit for Hagrid in sympathy.

She ignored him, actually trying to keep going with just the tiniest bit of hope they were misunderstanding this. She never would have thought she'd be hoping for an Acromantulas good health, especially this particular one, but Hagrid had this way of making her care for things she never would have thought she could simply by his own huge heart.

He explained in half broken sobs Aragog was dying, he'd been getting more ill over the summer! He didn't know what to do, they'd been together so long!

Sirius couldn't help but frown for the poor man as well. Aragog had technically been the reason Hagrid was expelled, and yet Hagrid still cared about him so much. It really was sweet, even if he couldn't bring himself to feel the same for something that had once condoned eating Harry.

Hermione patted Hagrid's shoulder, looking at a complete loss for anything to say. Harry knew how she felt. He had known Hagrid to present a vicious baby dragon with a teddy bear,

Sirius still managed a gag for that, he'd somehow prefer the man eating spider to that monster!

seen him croon over giant scorpions with suckers and stingers, attempt to reason with his brutal giant of a half-brother, but this was perhaps the most incomprehensible of all his monster fancies: the gigantic talking spider, Aragog, who dwelled deep in the Forbidden Forest and which he and Ron had only narrowly escaped four years previously.

Hermione offered if there was anything they could do to help, ignoring Ron's look of panic.

"I'm sure Ron would be exempt from this offer," James offered half-heartedly.

"Remind me to grow arachnophobia so I can be as well," Sirius huffed.

Hagrid explained there wasn't, his family had been acting a bit funny lately and it probably wasn't safe for anyone else with how restless they've been.

"Funny?" Remus repeated slowly, wondering if Hagrid was really ignorant of their true nature in this. It didn't seem likely, with as knowledgeable as he was of species in general, but surely Hagrid knew it wasn't common of someone to go in and out of a nest like theirs so freely.

Ron muttered he'd seen that side of them.

Harry was the only one who managed an uneasy laugh, the other still couldn't for that not so friendly reminder.

He thanked them through, it meant a lot they'd offered.

After that, the atmosphere lightened considerably, for although neither Harry nor Ron had shown any inclination to go and feed giant grubs to a murderous, gargantuan spider, Hagrid seemed to take it for granted that they would have liked to have done and became his usual self once more.

"Was that all it took?" James sighed. "Next time I'll bring one along with me!"

"Please don't dear," Lily muttered, not entirely sure if he meant it or not.

He explained he'd known they would probably have to drop his class anyways, they'd have to get a Time-Turner with how busy they already were.

Hermione said it wouldn't work anyways, they'd all been smashed in the Department of Mysteries, she'd seen it in the Prophet a few weeks ago.

Lily shivered, but altogether tried to ignore the goosebumps flying up her and her soul crushing for once again having to remember all that had transpired in there.

He still apologized for the way he'd acted, though the errant thought slipped out if Grubbly-Plank had still been teaching they'd probably-

At which all three of them stated categorically and untruthfully that Professor Grubbly-Plank, who had substituted for Hagrid a few times, was a dreadful teacher, with the result that by the time Hagrid waved them off the premises at dusk, he looked quite cheerful.

"See, lying and flattery really does get you everywhere!" Sirius burst out laughing. Even Lily gave an uneasy chuckle back just to hear him keep saying such things, the constant reminder he may not be able to one day made almost all of his many annoying habits just a bit funnier than usual.

Harry, who had abandoned the rock cake after an ominous cracking noise from one of his back teeth,

"I was joking," James muttered.

was eager to get back to the castle for dinner, especially before he had to endure Snape's detention.

As they came into the castle they spotted Cormac McLaggen entering the Great Hall. It took him two attempts to get through the doors; he ricocheted off the frame on the first attempt.

Lily snorted enthusiastically and Remus couldn't help snickering as well. The two Quidditch zealots still looked more torn than anything, deeply wanting to praise Hermione's clear conniving skill and even the lingering effects the spell had, but she'd interfered in Quidditch!

Ron merely guffawed gloatingly and strode off into the Hall after him, but Harry caught Hermione's arm and held her back.

He flatly asked her if she really had Confunded Mclaggen?

Hermione blushed, but admitted to it, he should have heard the way he was talking about Ron and Ginny.

"Urgh, I'd have done it on principle as well," Remus scowled.

James gave a little huff, but the worst part was he really could picture Moony doing the exact same thing, and he still wasn't sure if he'd laugh or scold him for it either.

He had a nasty temper, there was no way Harry actually wanted him on the team.

"This is true," Sirius sighed. "It's just the principle of the matter, it's like cheating Ron's way onto the team!"

"The one time you don't condone cheating," Lily rolled her eyes.

"Quidditch," James insisted, "is not to be trifled with!"

Harry didn't disagree, but pointed out her prefect status, this was a bit dishonest of her.

"And?" The three Marauders muttered, that really was the least awful part of this, it was quite brilliant under any other circumstances in fact.

She snapped at his smirk to be quiet, while Ron reappeared and looked at the two suspiciously what was keeping them.

"Poor Ron's jealousy might be making a comeback," Sirius chuckled uneasily, hoping Ron didn't get the wrong impression and pick another row with Harry.

Harry just scoffed, it was a ludicrous idea to him what Sirius was implying, but at the same time something uneasy lingered in him for it about Ron getting the wrong idea.

Harry and Hermione together said it was nothing, and they hurried after Ron. The smell of roast beef made Harry's stomach ache with hunger, but they had barely taken three steps toward the Gryffindor table when Professor Slughorn appeared in front of them, blocking their path.

He was enormously pleased to have caught up to him, asking if he'd instead like to spend the evening with his group of classmates from the train again?

"Ugh, and so it begins!" James groaned.

"You're lucky you had so much practice ducking away from Lockhart, you'll be using that on this one as well," Sirius groused.

He'd already invited McLaggen and Zabini again, and Melinda Bobbin would be coming, her family owned a chain of apothecaries,

James was already miming snoring at this point, and Sirius and Remus were shifting restlessly like they would have walked right past him already. Harry honestly wished he'd done the same.

and, of course, he hoped for Miss Grangers company as well.

Lily was ignoring them and smiling fondly at this, having quite the flashbacks to her own years in school again, some of the happier times.

Slughorn made Hermione a little bow as he finished speaking. It was as though Ron was not present; Slughorn did not so much as look at him.

"Ouch," all five of them muttered, Remus most potently as he'd experienced that along with... well every time Slughorn had tried to catch up with James and Sirius.

Harry said he couldn't, he had detention with Professor Snape tonight.

"The fact that you use his title," James scrunched up his face in disgust, even as he weighed in his mind which would be more reprehensible to listen to that night. Both really were coming out equally unappealing.

Slughorn gasped almost comically, saying he couldn't stand for that. He'd speak to Snape and see them both later!

Sirius did get a good laugh out of that, very much wishing Harry could sit in on that conversation.

"I'll bet Slughorn's hoping to use his old status on him to get his way," Lily said fondly.

"Was Snape in this?" Harry asked in disgust, his respect for this stupid club dropping every moment more it was discussed.

"Yes," Lily frowned reproachfully. "We spent so much time debating in class, trying to outdo each other with our potions, he thought we were a riot and invited him along all the time."

Harry tried very hard not to roll his eyes while Lily bit her tongue for a moment to stop herself pointing out Harry should be very grateful to him this year in particular.

Harry hardly waited until Slughorn was out of earshot before scoffing Slughorn had no chance, Dumbledore had been the only one that detention would be postponed for.

"It's honestly a miracle he did it the first time," James agreed.

Hermione wished he would come, she didn't want to go alone! Harry guessed she was thinking about having to spend more time around McLaggen.

"Don't know what she's thinking, I'd take the chance to further Confund him," Sirius' smirk turned into that cruel little twist Harry uneasily recalled getting first hand experience of in a Pensive. He'd seen it several times in here as well when they were speaking of Snape. "Wonder just how many times you can use that spell on someone, think they'll miss their mouth and start shoving food up their-"

"And this is why I never wondered why Slughorn only invited you to his big parties, instead of all his gatherings," Remus rolled his eyes.

"She does know she can just, not go," James snorted.

"Suppose she felt morally obligated or some such, him singling her out like that," Harry shrugged without much concern.

Ron snapped Ginny had probably been invited! He didn't seem to have taken kindly to being ignored by Slughorn.

Remus sighed in pity for Ron while the others seemed happy enough to gloss over this. They obviously couldn't care that much, since his friends blew them off and Lily couldn't find them much of a big deal since she went to so many. He however knew exactly how Ron was feeling, and he hadn't even cared that much for it.

After dinner they made their way back to Gryffindor Tower. The common room was very crowded, as most people had finished dinner by now, but they managed to find a free table and sat down; Ron, who had been in a bad mood ever since the encounter with Slughorn, folded his arms and frowned at the ceiling. Hermione reached out for a copy of the Evening Prophet, which somebody had left abandoned on a chair.

She was again asked if there was anything of interest in there, and Hermione agreed she'd found Ron's dads name, hurriedly tacking on he was alright as he looked up in alarm.

"That's not how you start a conversation!" Lily squeaked as Harry had nearly startled out of his seat in alarm as well. Considering all these kids had been reading of the paper, not to mention past events, Hermione should start with the end of that sentence!

She read out how his job had been tipped off about the Malfoys house, though nothing had been found.

"Aw, see Harry, he wasn't dismissing you at all," James grinned.

"Pity he didn't find anything," Sirius sighed.

Harry told the two about their conversation back on the platform, and decided Malfoy must have taken whatever this was with him into the school already.

Hermione disagreed he couldn't have done, they'd all been searched upon arrival.

Harry was startled at this news.

"The Boy Who Lived to be the Chosen One is far to special for such a thing!" Sirius dramatically declared while Harry fought back the compulsion to whack him upside the head, he hated both of those titles, let alone them being strung together!

Hermione explained of course he hadn't because he was late, but Filch hadn't let anyone in until they'd been probed, she knew for a fact Crabbe had a shrunken head confiscated.

"Eww, why would he even have that," Lily muttered.

Momentarily stymied, Harry watched Ginny Weasley playing with Arnold the Pygmy Puff for a while before seeing a way around this objection.

Harry got a blissful little smile in place for just such a small moment the others hardly noticed. They hadn't thought about this at least since Malfoy had stamped on Harry's nose, quite the distraction, but now they were back to wondering just what was up with that. Hermione did have a point it should be next to impossible for Malfoy to get anything to horrible into the school, could he possibly be putting this project of his off until next summer?

Harry redirected his mum could have owled it to him.

"Nah, mails probably still being checked," Sirius disagreed.

Harry was painfully wrenched from his little memory of watching Ginny, her hair the same color as the fire behind her surely making her stick out more than she should, and responded with agitation, "thought only Umbridge did that mess!"

"She was much more invasive about it," Lily seethed at the reminder, but more calmly explained, "but it has been known to happen in a more broad sense, just to know the kind of thing getting in, not what it actually says or what it is."

Hermione replied Filch had been bragging that was checked as well.

Really stumped this time, Harry found nothing else to say. There did not seem to be any way Malfoy could have brought a dangerous or Dark object into the school.

"It's a good thing Malfoy doesn't know about the secret entrances into the school," James agreed with a sigh.

He looked hopefully at Ron, who was sitting with his arms folded, staring over at Lavender Brown.

Sirius gave a suggestive smirk, muttering what could possibly be on Ron's mind, while the others ignored him.

He tried to ask his thoughts on the matter, but Ron snapped at him to drop it.

"Well he's not in a fun mood," Remus rolled his eyes.

Harry was riled at once, saying it wasn't his fault Slughorn had ignored him.

Ron didn't want to hear it, announcing he was off to bed considering he didn't have any party invitations.

Remus winced while the others just sighed, honestly feeling a bit bad for Ron but there was no good answer for that problem.

Demelza Robins came in then, and went to Harry with a message from Snape. To quote, he was to come to his detention tonight no matter how many party invitations he'd received.

"Of course he'd rub that in, as if Harry asked for it," James grumbled.

"The one time Slughorn could have done some good," Sirius sighed in agreement.

He should also know he'd be sorting rotten flobberworms, and there was no need to bring gloves.

"He wouldn't have bought gloves anyways!" Remus snipped. "So the warning was just a preinsult."

"That's Snape for ya," Harry agreed.

Harry grimly thanked her for the message.

"I'm finished," Lily told with a shake of her head. That could have been, worse, she supposed. At least overall it wasn't getting into the terrible state it could have been, considering Harry's past track record.

[twoidiotwriters1]

Written In The Stars CXXII (Harry Potter xF!Oc)

A/N: I think the second half of this book is my best work yet. I know I always say this and that’s bc I’m always getting better -Danny

Words: 4,073

Series’ Masterlist

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Chapter Twenty: St. Mungo's.

At five in the morning the mood hadn't changed much in the room, Fred had fallen asleep on her shoulder, George and Ginny were across, staring intently at some point on the wall, Ron kept his face hidden behind his hands.

Harry and Sirius would look around the room with a lost air, unsure of what their part in this whole thing was. Mel and her mother had the same worried expression, none of them was known to be patient, but they didn't have a choice, they were all waiting...

Mel was worried about Mr Weasley, but she was also worried about her uncle back in the castle, about Umbridge and how she'd react to the missing Gryffindor students... She was also worried about Erick, all alone and having to deal with the death of the man he'd admired his whole life.

That was all Mel could feel at its fullest lately, no happiness was lasting, no bliss was ever-present. Mel was in a constant state of worry and distress, part of it because of her own trauma, and because all around her there was simply no safe place where to hold on to.

Mrs Weasley came rushing through the door. Mel stared at the woman, trying to find any hints of the possible news. She didn't have to wait for long, though.

"He's going to be all right," The woman said. "He's sleeping. We can all go and see him later. Bill's sitting with him now, he's going to take the morning off work."

Fred sat back beside her with heaviness, Mel pulled him closer with one arm and hugged him sideways, George and Ginny stood up and hugged their mother tightly. Ron finished his butterbeer, his usual colour slowly going back to his face.

"Breakfast!" said Sirius, standing up with newfound energy. "Where's that accursed house-elf? Kreacher! KREACHER! Oh, forget it, then. So it's breakfast for — let's see — nine... Bacon and eggs, I think, and some tea, and toast —"

Harry got up swiftly and walked over to the stove, clearly wanting to be of use in a room where he felt he had no place to take. He was wrong. Mrs Weasley made her way to the boy and took the plates out of his hands, encasing him in a fierce hug.

"I don't know what would have happened if it hadn't been for you, Harry. They might not have found Arthur for hours, and then it would have been too late, but thanks to you he's alive and Dumbledore's been able to think up a good cover story for Arthur being where he was, you've no idea what trouble he would have been in otherwise, look at poor Sturgis..."

Before Harry had a chance to reply, she let him go and turned to Sirius and Emily.

"Oh, I'm so grateful... They think he'll be there a little while and it would be wonderful to be nearer... Of course, that might mean we're here for Christmas..."

"The more the merrier!" Sirius smiled openly at the woman. Emily nodded in agreement.

Mel knew Sirius loathed having to spend all his time inside the house, even with the company of Emily it surely was annoying, having nothing to do given the circumstances of his life.

"Sirius," Harry moved closer to the man and whispered something Mel couldn't quite hear.

Sirius gave the boy a funny look and followed him to the pantry. Mel felt the irresistible need to follow them as well, but she figured, whatever Harry wanted to talk about in private was not her business, not anymore. That much she'd said to him a few hours ago.

Fred stirred in his place and finally moved away from her grip, hastily cleaning his face before anyone could notice, Mel pretended not to see for his benefit.

"I'm going to help my mum with breakfast," She told him. "I'm happy your dad's well."

Fred nodded, half-listening to the girl. When she moved over to get something out of a shelf, she listened to Harry's voice coming from the little room next to her.

"Sirius, I... I think I'm going mad... Back in Dumbledore's office, just before we took the Portkey... for a couple of seconds there I thought I was a snake, I felt like one — my scar really hurt when I was looking at Dumbledore — Sirius, I wanted to attack him —"

"It must have been the aftermath of the vision, that's all. You were still thinking of the dream or whatever it was and —"

"It wasn't that. It was like something rose up inside me, like there's a snake inside me —"

Dumbledore's words felt heavier than before, if Harry was truly affected by some kind of dark magic... it reminded her when Ginny started to act strange, when she'd been...

"Possessed," Mel whispered.

The door to the pantry opened abruptly and Sirius walked out of it causing her to jump, Mel directed herself to the stove, doing her best to not look back to where she knew Harry was currently standing.

She listened to Ginny's slow breathing unable to fall asleep. Her mind was replaying every moment of the last few months after the third task, trying to see if there were any hints that could point to a possession.

Mel thought hard about every time she had touched the boy, which to be fair, wasn't that many. Harry was acting up more often, that much was true, but who wouldn't after the hell he'd been through? Everyone had a limit, and Harry's got surpassed by a wide difference.

She didn't want to think about this, but she couldn't ignore it, not when it could lead to some of her friends getting hurt. It wasn't that she didn't trust Harry, but once again, Ginny was absolutely trustworthy and yet she'd petrified Hermione without meaning to. It could've ended worse if it weren't because Hermione got the answer on time.

When it finally was time for lunch Mel followed everyone downstairs with very little energy. No one but Harry seemed to notice, and that only because he too hadn't slept. Mel was once again torn between her duty and her personal interests. On one side, she felt she owed to her uncle to pay close attention, but that meant staying as close as possible, and that was something she didn't want to do.

Maybe it wasn't about being close physically, maybe she just had to get closer to his head. That one she could do without having to spend time with him. Legilimency and Occlumency.

That afternoon they were meant to visit Mr Weasley, the trip could be useful, she could stand next to Harry and try to perceive if his energy had changed. It was hard work, and she couldn't fully trust in the little trick, but right now that was all she had.

An hour later and an awkward train ride with Tonks and Moody, she found herself entering 'ST. Mungo's hospital for magical maladies and injuries' through the glass of what appeared to be an abandoned department store.

The things Mel saw in the waiting room were certified to give her nightmares, or at least, very peculiar fever dreams. A group of wizards and witches were walking around the rows of people writing down things on clipboards and asking questions about their symptoms. Beside her, she heard Harry asked Ron if those were doctors.

"Doctors?" Ron asked in a tone of bewilderment. "Those Muggle nutters that cut people up? Nah, they're Healers."

"Hey, they're not nutters!" Mel argued. "Muggles can't heal each other magically, they had to find their own solutions..."

"Yeah, yeah," Ron rolled her eyes. "Look, mum's there!"

"Over here!" Mrs Weasley called from the line where she was standing.

Behind the desk, she saw the portrait of Dilys, the witch that was also inside Dumbledore's office. Mel timidly waved at her, the witch did a quick count to make sure all the Weasleys were there along with Harry and Mel and she discretely returned Mel's greeting, disappearing from her portrait right after that.

"It's these — ouch — shoes my brother gave me — ow!" A man at the front of the line caught her attention. "— they're eating my — OUCH — feet — look at them, there must be some kind of — AARGH — jinx on them and I can't — AAAAARGH — get them off —"

"The shoes don't prevent you reading, do they?" said the witch at the front desk. "You want Spell Damage, fourth floor. Just like it says on the floor guide. Next!"

Two more people went before them, one worried father holding a little girl by the ankle, with fluffy white wings coming out of her back, and one man that was there looking for a wizard that apparently was confused to the point he was sure he was a teapot.

"Hello," Mrs Weasley said when they arrived at the front. "My husband, Arthur Weasley, was supposed to be moved to a different ward this morning, could you tell us — ?"

"Arthur Weasley? Yes, first floor, second door on the right, Dai Llewellyn ward."

"Thank you. Come on, you lot."

They followed through the halls and Mel continued to look around curiously, she probably had a funny dreamy look on her face, because Ron nudged her side, smirking.

"What now, you're adding 'Healer' to the list of jobs you want when you grow up?"

Mel snorted.

"No! Didn't you see all the crazy things happening in the waiting room? I wouldn't get used to that! I'm afraid that even though I've spent years as a witch now, at heart I'm still a muggle."

"Give it time, Lady," George replied. "It's been like what, four years? You won't even remember your life without magic after a decade living like a witch."

For some reason, that made her feel slightly uncomfortable. She loved being a witch, but her muggle life wasn't something she wanted to forget, especially when it had been the best years of her friendship with Harry...

Why did her mind insist on bringing Harry to every discussion?

"We'll wait outside, Molly," Tonks said. "Arthur won't want too many visitors at once... It ought to be just the family first."

Harry and Mel immediately stepped back, but Mrs Weasley reached out to get Harry and the twins grabbed her by the arms, pulling her along.

"Don't be silly, Harry, Arthur wants to thank you..."

"And there's no way you're staying behind," Fred said playfully. "Dad would love to see her daughter-in-law..."

"If you keep saying that you'll end up believing it," Mel warned him.

"I bet my parents would rather have you as a daughter instead of this bad copy of me," George teased.

"Who are you calling a copy, you idiot?" Fred reached to hit his brother, but George hid behind her. "Everyone knows I'm more attractive than you!"

"You two stop fighting!" Mrs Weasley hissed. "This is a hospital room! Please act your age!"

The three of them stopped, trembling with contained laughter as they reached Mr Weasley's bed.

"Hello!" The man called happily. "Bill just left, Molly, had to get back to work, but he says he'll drop in on you later..."

"How are you, Arthur? You're still looking a bit peaky..."

"I feel absolutely fine, if they could only take the bandages off, I'd be fit to go home."

"Why can't they take them off, Dad?" asked Fred.

"Well, I start bleeding like mad every time they try," Mr Weasley reached for his wand, and with one wave he conjured a couple of chairs for them to sit on. "It seems there was some rather unusual kind of poison in that snake's fangs that keeps wounds open... They're sure they'll find an antidote, though, they say they've had much worse cases than mine, and in the meantime, I just have to keep taking a Blood-Replenishing Potion every hour. But that fellow over there," He lowered his voice and pointed to the man in front of them. "Bitten by a werewolf, poor chap. No cure at all."

"A werewolf?" Mrs Weasley turned to look at the man with wide eyes. "Is he safe in a public ward? Shouldn't he be in a private room?"

"It's two weeks till full moon. They've been talking to him this morning, the Healers, you know, trying to persuade him he'll be able to lead an almost normal life. I said to him — didn't mention names, of course — but I said I knew a werewolf personally, very nice man, who finds the condition quite easy to manage..."

"What did he say?" asked George.

"Said he'd give me another bite if I didn't shut up. And that woman over there won't tell the Healers what bit her, which makes us all think it must have been something she was handling illegally. Whatever it was took a real chunk out of her leg, very nasty smell when they take off the dressings."

Mel's eyes stayed on the man laying ahead of them. The newborn werewolf, a man who was probably completely fine before being bitten. Was it really two weeks before the full moon? That wasn't ideal, she wanted to see her uncle, she was missing him lots already, and having half a week wasted because of his condition made her feel terribly for him.

"So, you going to tell us what happened, Dad?" asked Fred.

"Well, you already know, don't you? It's very simple — I'd had a very long day, dozed off, got sneaked up on, and bitten."

"Is it in the Prophet, you being attacked?" asked Fred.

"No, of course not, the Ministry wouldn't want everyone to know a dirty great serpent got —"

"Arthur!" said Mrs Weasley.

"— got — er — me," Mr Weasley finished.

"So where were you when it happened, Dad?" asked George.

"That's my business," said Mr Weasley calmly, "I was just reading about Willy Widdershins's arrest when you arrived. You know Willy turned out to be behind those regurgitating toilets last summer? One of his jinxes backfired, the toilet exploded, and they found him lying unconscious in the wreckage covered from head to foot in —"

"When you say you were 'on duty,'" Fred interrupted in a low voice, "what were you doing?"

"You heard your father," Mrs Weasley hissed, "we are not discussing this here! Go on about Willy Widdershins, Arthur —"

"Well, don't ask me how, but he actually got off on the toilet charge. I can only suppose gold changed hands —"

"You were guarding it, weren't you?" said George eagerly. "The weapon? The thing You-Know-Who's after?"

"George, be quiet!"

"Anyway," Mr Weasley continued like he hadn't been interrupted, "this time Willy's been caught selling biting doorknobs to Muggles, and I don't think he'll be able to worm his way out of it because according to this article, two Muggles have lost fingers and are now in St. Mungo's for emergency bone regrowth and memory modification. Just think of it, Muggles in St. Mungo's! I wonder which ward they're in?"

"Didn't you say You-Know-Who's got a snake, Harry?" asked Fred, glancing at his father anxiously. "A massive one? You saw it the night he returned, didn't you?"

"There's no need to talk about that night," Mel said roughly. The tone she used was enough to quiet the twin, but Mrs Weasley added more to it.

"That's enough! Mad-Eye and Tonks are outside, Arthur, they want to come and see you. And you lot can wait outside. You can come and say good-bye afterwards. Go on..."

Mel stood up and wished Mr Weasley as fast recovery, then she followed the rest of her friends back outside. Moody and Tonks went in, Fred spoke up.

"Fine, be like that. Don't tell us anything."

"Looking for these?" said George, holding out the extendable ears.

"You read my mind," Fred grinned. "Let's see if St. Mungo's puts Imperturbable Charms on its ward doors, shall we?"

They gave everyone an extendable ear, Harry's hand stopped midway, hesitant to follow through.

"Go on, Harry, take it! You saved Dad's life, if anyone's got the right to eavesdrop on him it's you..." George insisted.

"Okay, go!" Fred whispered once they were all seated.

"...they searched the whole area but they couldn't find the snake anywhere," She heard Tonks voice, "it just seems to have vanished after it attacked you, Arthur... But You-Know-Who can't have expected a snake to get in, can he?"

"I reckon he sent it as a lookout," Moody replied, " 'cause he's not had any luck so far, has he? No, I reckon he's trying to get a clearer picture of what he's facing and if Arthur hadn't been there the beast would've had much more time to look around. So Potter says he saw it all happen?"

"Yes," said Mrs Weasley. "You know, Dumbledore seems almost to have been waiting for Harry to see something like this..."

"Yeah, well," said Moody, "there's something funny about the Potter kid, we all know that."

"Dumbledore seemed worried about Harry when I spoke to him this morning," whispered Mrs Weasley. "He said Mel used legilimency and found nothing unusual, but he's not so sure."

"Legilimency?" Moody said in a tone of mild surprise. "A fifteen-year-old having control over that kind of magic? No wonder why You-Know-Who wants her on his side!"

Mel gasped and Ron was quick to cover her mouth. So that was it then, Voldemort didn't want to kill her, he wanted to use her.

"...The boy's seeing things from inside You-Know-Who's snake... Obviously, Potter doesn't realize what that means, but if You-Know-Who's possessing him —"

Harry jumped back, dropping the extendable ear and looking at his friends with wide eyes. Mel kept her gaze fixed on the door.

She wanted nothing else than to follow Harry's lead and hide in her room for the rest of the day, but as soon as she set a foot on the entrance hall, Ron caught her wrist and pulled her towards the twins' room, quickly followed by the rest of the young Weasleys.

"What?" She asked, though she already knew.

"You know what's going on," Ron said. "You knew Harry was ill before Neville had left the room, and you knew Umbridge was hurting him. Not only that, but you had the same bruises as Harry on the back of your hand!"

"How..?"

"Hermione saw it one day while you were still asleep," Ron confessed. "You have to tell us what's going on."

"I don't have the answers," She said tensely. "I can't tell if what they're saying it's true, I don't know if Harry's possessed."

"But you can tell other things, can't you?" Her friend insisted. "Last June, you had the same injuries as him in your arm, only that yours were bruises..."

She looked at the twins and Ginny, they were all staring at her. Now was as good as any other day, Harry didn't care about her telling them, but she had to be careful. Mel sat down on Fred's bed and told them everything.

Well, not everything. She began her story on the night of the third task, when the thin wall dividing her lifeline from Harry's broke apart. It was simple, really. They had been through so many near-death experiences together that the magic in their souls had merged, creating their strange connection.

Dumbledore had called it survival instincts, Harry's mind would look for her whenever he felt in danger, whether he wanted to or not. Not only that, but they were able to lend a bit of vital energy to each other if they were lacking some in a crucial moment.

The Weasleys listened with their mouths wide open, Ginny kept biting her nails, Ron looked awfully confused and would look at her and then the floor as if he could see Harry through it.

"That's why we fought," She said. "Harry doesn't want to force me to feel his pain. He thought that distance would help but I don't think we'll ever go back to normal. It didn't use to be this strong but ever since he fought Voldemort I feel more things now... I see more."

"But..." Ron frowned, trying to gather his thoughts. "But it's not you in his body, right? Or Harry in your body?"

"No..." Mel hesitated for a moment, then shook her head. "I stay in my body and he stays in his. I just... it's like dreaming. You feel things, but as soon as you wake up, it goes away."

"But you've been hurt before," Fred frowned. "Ron said it just now, you get bruises, and last night when we got here, your nose was bleeding—"

"Those were my fault—" She started, but Fred shook his head in disbelief.

"How's that your fault?"

"The bruises happened because I didn't ground myself," Mel said. "Harry was going through a lot... he was dying. I had to give in a little so he could come back. I had to let him take whatever he needed..."

Her friends gave her eery looks, she let out a tired sigh.

"I know how it sounds, but I promise this is not hurting me more than it hurts him. This thing goes both ways, if I were the one hurting, Harry would feel everything. He... he would've done the same for me. You know he would."

No one talked against her, still, Ron had lots of questions.

"What about last night?"

"Last night," Mel look down, fidgeting at the idea of having felt something else than just Harry, but not wanting to scare her friends. "I was weak– I used legilimency for the first time, it drained me. I couldn't push Harry's feelings away, I just buried them inside. Which was a mistake."

"What does that mean?" Ginny asked. "If... if it turns out he's possessed, what will that do to you?"

"He can't be," Mel sentenced, but her voice broke at the end.

"Have you felt anything strange?"

"I just feel Harry, even if he were struggling with something, I doubt I'd feel it. I only feel the things that belong to his soul."

"I don't get it," George frowned. "You saved his life last June and he blames you for the connection?"

"He doesn't blame her," Ginny rolled her eyes. "Harry's scared for her. You'd be terrified too if your best friend gets hurt every time you do. Harry probably freaked out when he found out he'd taken a bit of Mel's life. That sounds awful... But he would've done the same for you, and it was your choice anyway, I think you were brave for doing so."

"Maybe if you talk to Harry he'll understand," Ron offered.

Mel let out a bitter laugh.

"I've tried. As soon as he told me his idea— I've tried to tell him that this is not his fault. The best we can do is just ignore it and try to live normal lives."

"I don't think it'll fix it," Fred replied. "Things don't usually go away like that."

" I'm not saying I'll ignore it if he's in danger, you saw it last night, I was the first to arrive and help him. I like my new life, I like having more friends and I can't help but think that maybe..."

She stopped before saying 'I don't need him anymore', realizing it was something horrible to say.

"Maybe what?" Ron asked sharply, probably guessing what she wanted to say.

"Maybe it's time I stop treating Harry like a child and let him deal with this on his own. He keeps saying he can do it, so maybe I should listen."

"What if he can't, though?" Ginny asked. "What if they're right and... and he's..."

Mel got up. "I'm tired... can we please leave it?"

"But—"

"Sure," Fred stood up as well. "C'mon, we should help mum and Emily downstairs."

He shared one significant look with Mel, she wondered if he'd gotten a new revelation with this. Maybe he understood there was more to their agreement than just her wanting to get over a crush.

It was about wanting to escape from the constant reminder of being tied to someone against her will, someone who didn't want her around.

Next Chapter —>

Taglist.

@dee123ksha @vampiregirl1797 @siriuslysirius1107 @stardusthigh @mikariell95 @vernon-dursley @thesuitelifeofafangirl @tomshollandz @kylosleftbuttcheek @reverse-hxlland @bloodorangemoonlight @omiwashere @t-rexs-world​ @just-here-to-escape-from-reality​ @21bruhs @i-am-scared-and-useless-bisexual

[fanficshiddles]

Butterfly Into Chains, Chapter 3

Esme didn’t get up until after lunch time the following day, as it had been a late one with her friends. Not at all because they couldn’t stop looking at the Alpha pack…

When she dragged herself downstairs, her Mum and Dad were sitting at the table eating lunch.

‘Did you have a good night?’ Wendy asked, smiling but it wasn’t a genuine smile.

‘Yeah it was good. Anything left for me?’ Esme asked, heading over to the cooker to see if there was soup.

‘Help yourself.’ Wendy said, then she looked at her husband.

Richard cleared his throat when Esme joined them at the table. ‘Esme… I heard that the Alphas were in the same bar as you were last night.’

Esme nodded while she had her soup.

Richard looked to Wendy, then back at Esme with concern. ‘Mason told me that one of them bought you drinks.’

Esme rolled her eyes. ‘Yeah, he did. He was being friendly though. And it wasn’t me he bought drinks for, it was us. Not just mine.’ Esme said in defence.

Richard sighed. ‘Even so. I don’t want you near them, they’re trouble.’ He said firmly.

‘Come on, Dad. They’re just visiting. They seem nice so far, the only Alphas causing trouble last night was Stuart and his pack!’

‘Esme. You know we do NOT have packs in this town.’ Wendy snapped.

Esme rolled her eyes again. At this rate she thought they were going to roll right back in her head.

‘Cronies then. Whatever.’ She sighed and got up from the table. Dumping her half-eaten bowl of soup by the sink.

‘Where are you going?’ Richard asked as he watched her grab her jacket and bag by the door.

‘Work. They asked if I could cover for a few hours. Mandy is off sick.’

‘Well, come straight home after.’ Richard said, but Esme didn’t take in what he was saying as she was out the door as quickly as possible.

When the young omega got to work, she forgot about her little spat with her parents and was smiling once more, greeting everyone into the carnival.

But half way through her shift, she caught the whiff of a familiar scent… One that made her skin tingle all over and her insides heat up.

Looking up, her breath was caught as she spotted two of the Alphas. When they saw her, their eyes lit up and they smiled warmly when they went over to her booth to get entry.

‘Hello, love. It’s Esme, isn’t it?’ The first one asked charmingly.

‘Yes, it is. Hi!’ She said with a bright smile, secretly ecstatic they remembered her name.

‘I’m David, it’s nice to meet you properly.’ He put his hand out and just like last night with Tom, when she took his hand he bent over and kissed the back of it.

‘And I’m Benedict, but just call me Ben.’ Ben took her hand before David had even let go properly and he also kissed the back of it, making her heart flutter.

‘Nice to meet you both. Are you wanting full tickets or just entry?’ She asked, quickly remembering her job.

‘Just entry, please.’ Ben grinned.

She was a little flustered as she took their money and then counted out their change. When she handed them the tickets, David made sure to touch her fingers and she felt what was like a little jolt of electricity between them that made her jump.

‘Enjoy your day!’ Her voice went a bit too high, making her blush.

‘When do you finish work?’ David asked before they moved on.

‘In an hour.’

‘Well, how about we come back here and meet you then. Since you did say to Tom last night that you’d show us around.’ He grinned.

Esme’s eyes widened. ‘Oh, uh… Yeah! Of course!’ She nodded.

‘Excellent. I’ll tell the others to meet us here, too.’ David said in delight, rubbing his hands together. ‘See you soon, love.’

Ben gave her a cheeky wink before they went into the carnival. She felt like she was going to faint from swooning so hard. But she got herself together and downed some water, then continued on with her job and tried her best not to think about meeting with all five of the Alphas at once…

After her shift, she spotted the five Alphas all gathered opposite the entrance to the carnival. She took a moment to compose herself, feeling ridiculous for letting a bunch of men get under her skin. But she knew deep down it was natural, it was in her DNA to be affected by Alphas.

The five Alphas were dressed down compared to last night. But they still looked smart with their shirts, sleeves rolled up their forearms and they were wearing sunglasses aside from Tom and David.

Taking a deep breath, she emerged from her booth and walked over to meet them. All five of them turned and locked eyes on her, making it feel like the longest walk she had ever done.

‘Hi.’ She said shyly, awkwardly putting her hand up in greeting.

‘Good to see you again, darling.’ Tom purred, making the first move, kissing her hand again.

‘I believe you’ve not met Chris and Michael yet.’ He said, motioning to said men.

They both in turn removed their sunglasses to kiss her hand politely. She thought perhaps that was just the way that gentleman greeted woman where they were from. Not that she was complaining about it, not at all. All the kisses to her hand gave her more pleasure in just a few seconds than Mason ever had in all the time she’d known him.

‘So grateful that you’re showing us around your lovely little town. And such a perfect day for it, too.’ Michael smiled, falling into step next to her as they all made their way along the seafront.

‘It’s my pleasure. I love showing visitors around, there may not seem much to this place at first. But it’s full of history and exciting stories.’ She beamed happily.

David looked to Tom and smirked, he leaned in close so only he would hear. ‘She’s a spritely little thing, isn’t she?’

Tom nodded and replied without taking his eyes off her. ‘She’s an absolute delight.’

The five Alphas enjoyed being shown around by Esme. She had stories for every place they went to. She was bright, bubbly and fun to be around. Seemed to know everyone as she said hi to almost every single person they passed, even the ones that looked daunted at who she was with.

At the end of the tour Michael bought them all ice creams on the pier.

‘You must let us take you out to dinner as thanks for giving us all your time today.’ Chris suggested, looking at Esme with hope in his eyes.

‘Oh… There’s no need, honestly. I’ve enjoyed spending some time with you all.’

Tom smiled and put his hand on her arm gently. ‘Very kind of you. But Chris is right, we need to repay you in some way. Besides, we would just love to spend some more time with you.’ He grinned.

Esme looked a little surprised at these Alphas wanting to spend time with her. But she sure as hell wasn’t going to say no.

‘Alright then. That would be nice.’ She nodded.

‘Where’s your favourite place to eat?’ Michael asked.

‘Uhm… I don’t mind really. I’m not too fussy.’ She shrugged.

‘But you must have a favourite place.’ Ben said.

‘Hmm… There’s a really nice restaurant just off main street. It’s got a good variety on the menu.’ She suggested.

Michael nodded. ‘That’s where we shall go then.’

Esme actually felt like she was on top of the world when she went for dinner with the pack. She had never felt so safe and secure before. Even though she knew she was safe in her little town, it was still a more warm and homely kind of feeling she got from being with the Alphas.

Over dinner, she got to know them all better. They were all really kind and friendly, funny too. She had a good time with them. And she was comfortable enough to share about herself, too. How she grew up in East Meadowridge, had never been anywhere else. But she loved her job and had enjoyed being in education beforehand.

‘Do you ever wonder what might be out-with this town? Never thought about traveling?’ David asked, sipping on his drink as he watched her across the table.

She was sat between Tom and Michael with the other three opposite.

‘Uh… Sometimes I do wonder what’s beyond here. But from what I’ve been told, I’m not really missing much. I mean, I don’t mean to offend yourselves. But I’ve heard that some packs can be quite nasty.’

Chris nodded. ‘They certainly can be. But that’s why you have to be careful, and also why an omega would usually stick with her pack or Alpha when out and about. Is there no Alpha here that you have your eye on, who would perhaps show you the world?’

Esme had a forkful of her pasta before answering him. ‘No, not really. I have been paired off with someone, but I doubt we will ever leave here.’ She shrugged.

Tom raised an eyebrow. ‘Who is it you’ve been paired with?’ He asked, turning more towards her.

‘Mason. He was in the group of Alphas last night at the bar.’ She said sheepishly. ‘He’d never take me anywhere like this though, the best place he took me to on a date was to the Indian buffet down the road.’ She scoffed.

‘So, you’re not happy with being paired with him?’ Michael asked.

‘Not at all. It’s the one thing I hate about this town. Being an omega, I’m forced to bond with an Alpha from here. But I’m sure you’ve all noticed the Alphas here are… well… not exactly anything to write home about.’

The pack laughed and nodded.

‘We certainly have noticed that, yes.’ Ben chuckled.

‘Perhaps you need to find yourself a different Alpha, one who will treat you right, as a beautiful omega should be treated. And one that will take you out of this town, show you the world.’ Tom purred, smiling sweetly at her.

She blushed and looked down at her food. ‘I wish it was that easy.’

After dinner, David and Chris walked Esme home since it was getting dark. And they wanted to make sure she got home safely. Which Esme thought was really sweet of them.

‘I really appreciate you both walking me home.’ She said when they reached her house, they stopped on the pavement outside.

‘No problem at all, love. Thanks again for showing us around today.’ David smiled.

‘Esme?’ Her Dad called as he appeared at the door, narrowing his eyes at the two Alphas who were escorting his daughter.

Esme glanced at him then looked back at the two Alphas. ‘It was no problem. Thank you for dinner, I really enjoyed it.’

‘You’re very welcome.’ Chris picked up her hand and kissed the back of it, David then did the same and thanked her again.

‘Esme. Get inside, now!’ Richard called.

‘I’m just coming, Dad!’ She shouted back.

‘We were just making sure that she got home safely, Sir.’ David said politely, smiling over at the Alpha.

Richard narrowed his eyes at David.

‘Thanks again.’ Chris and David said to Esme as she made her way up the path, waving back at them.

The two Alphas watched, smugly, when Richard ushered Esme quickly inside.

‘She’s adorable.’ David said as they made their way back to the hotel.

‘And she smells delicious.’ Chris growled, making David chuckle.

-

‘So what’s the plan?’ David asked Tom later that night. The pack was in their common room, chilling with some beers.

‘I think we can afford to play around for a while. I rather like it here, keeping the locals on their toes.’ Tom chuckled darkly. ‘Besides, there’s no rush. The more she trusts us, the easier it will be to take her away. And the bigger blow it will be to the Alphas of this town.’

David nodded in agreement.

‘What about this Mason guy?’ Michael asked.

‘I’d say we can deal with him rather easily, if he becomes an issue. But he hasn’t claimed her this far, I doubt he will do it within the next few days anyway.’ Tom shrugged.

[endydancer1]

We used to be strangers | Part 3

Pairing: Tom Holland x Y/N Lincoln

Summary: Tom has just finished his latest movie and his heading back home to London. While he is passing the high building, suddenly something happens what changes his life completely. What is the shadow up there?

WARNING: Mentions of injuries, blood, depression, thinking of suicide.

..................................................................................

Tom POV:

"Uhm.. Yeah, sure. I'll be there tomorrow morning. Is everything alright?" I asked quite nervous.

"Yeah, but someone wants to meet you."

I could feel her smile when she said that. My heart started pounding.

"O-Okay. I'll be there."

"Thank you. Goodbye, Mr. Holland."

"Goodbye."

I looked at Harrison, who was looking directly at me the whole time. "What happened? Does it have anything to do with the girl you saved yesterday?"

"Yes. I think... I think she is alive. Someone wants to see me. Maybe that girl wants to thank me or I don't know."

"Oh, right maybe she can thank you another way, Hm?" Haz winked at me and chuckled.

I rolled my eyes. "Very funny, Harrison, I don't even know how she looks like. Her head was covered with blood. Why would I want to sleep with her?"

"Maybe because you are single like forever and you are like pain in the ass?! Like really Tom, just get fucking laid down already!" Harrison tried to sound annoyed but quickly he started laughing at me. I was quite shocked to hear him talking like this. Yeah, we were teasing each other all the time, even about our sex life, but Haz had never told me something like this. I wasn't mad at all. Maybe he was right.

"I know Harrison, but I've just never met a girl who would catch me like..."

"Like Anna, right? I know Tom. But... You should move on. It has been.. Almost 6 years already. It's time for you to date again, don't you think? To be happy with someone else? Seriously, Tom, my parents are starting to think we are dating. Not that there is something wrong with it, I love you, you are my best friend. But not like I would touch your pe... "

I nudged Harrison into the arm and started giggling." Alright, alright I get it Haz, stop talking about it. You're gross. "

We both were laughing for a good minute. I was happy to have Harrison. He was my best mate and supported me in everything.

After a few other games of Fifa, we went to our bedrooms saying good nights to everyone. I closed the door and jump into my bed. I was undressing myself slowly, recalling everything that had happened in the past two days. I was happy for the girl to be okay. Or at least I hoped so. I actually wondered if this girl was single. Harrison's words resonated in my head. Maybe... I should try to find someone and start to date again. I would lie if I told you I didn't miss all these things you do as a couple. But I have been single for 6 years and it wasn't that bad. I didn't feel sad and alone. I spent most of the time with my friends, I am sure that was the reason I weren't thinking about girls at all. But maybe it's time to change it. With these thoughts, I was slowly falling asleep.

The next morning I woke up very early. It was like 6 a.m. Boys were still sleeping, so I went to the kitchen quietly and made myself a tea. Couple of minutes I was only sitting there, scrolling Instagram,and drinking my tea. I liked few pictures of my fans with me. I always smile when I see all these kind words and the joy they feel when they meet me. I love my fans so much.

After I drunk my tea and my heart was almost melted, I relocated myself into bathroom to brush my teeth and to do my hair. I put on some casual clothes, took my keys from a car and went outside. Hospital was quite far from my home, so walking there would be stupid idea.On my way to hospital I stopped at the mall. I bought some croissants as a breakfast and also some flowers for the girl. I hope she will like them.I thought as I paid for the little bouquet of tulips.I didn't know what the girl liked,so I bought her a chocolate and some fruit too with the get well soon card.I put it all into my car and drove to the hospital.

Babygirl POV:

"Come here little girl, someone wants to meet you. Don't be shy, come on!"

I was slowly walking down the stairs.I was scared. My little body was shaking. My hands were holding onto staircase railings tight.

"Hey, babygirl, don't be scared. We just want to meet you." Not so young man smiled from the downstairs. I slowly came down the stairs, eyes darted to the ground. There was one of the nurses with a couple.

"These people would like to adopt you.Say hello to them.They are excited to meet you.You needn't to be scared.They won't bite, will them?" she joked and looked at them. They chuckled and nodded their heads saying no. The man knelt on his one knee to be at the same level as me.

" Hi. I am Sam. I heard a lot about you. This is Chloe. My wife. We have two kids, a boy, Matthew, who is a bit older than you. He is 8. And we also have a girl, Melanie, who is younger than you. She is only 2. They are really nice and can't wait to meet you. So what do you think..Will you come with us? "he smiled warmly and held out his hand for me. I was standing there quietly. Thinking. I wasn't ready to go with them.I would never be ready. I wanted my mommy back. Her face was still in front of me. She was crying,hugging me tightly. It felt like it was yesterday when she had abandoned me. But she didn't want to. I knew it. She said it to me.

"I love you, babygirl. You know it, right? I would never do this if I hadn't to. I want the best life for you and I can't give you that right now. I promise you, I will come for you, when the time is right."

"Mommy, I want to stay with you. We can go to Daddy. I know he loves you. And maybe me too.."

"We can't, baby. He doesn't know about you and I can't tell him. Promise me something, please. Don't be mad at me. I need to do this. I love you so, so much. You are my world. But I wouldn't be a good mum for you. I promise you, honey, I will come back for you. One day, we will meet again. Bye, my love. I love you more than Severus loves Lilly." She kissed my forehead one last time and put me into nurse's hands.

I love you more than Severus loves Lilly. I will always remember these words.

My eyes started watering and tears formed in my eyes.

" I.. Want my.. Mommy back." I cried.

Y/N POV:

"No, no, no! This can't be real. This has just not happened. Please, no. Omg! I need to..I need to go..Please..NO!"

Someone's hand woke me up from the nightmares. I tried to open my eyes, but quickly closed them again. The light in the room was so strong, it hurt my head.

"Ouch! Can you.. Can you please.. Turn off the lights. It's too strong.Please." I begged the person who held my hand.The person let go off my hand and dimmed the lights.

"How do you feel, Y/N?"A familiar voice asked me. I managed to open my eyes a bit. I saw Neil sitting next to me, holding my hand.

"N-Neil? What are you doing here? Where.." I looked around. I recognized this room. I have spent there every minute. Every day, week, month, year.. I spent there most of the time, trying to save lives of my patients and now I am lying there, as one of them.

" What has happened to me? "

" You fell off the building. One young boy saved you. What did you do there? What happened Y/N? Tell me, please. I was worried about you." He squeezed my hand. I looked at our hands and then into his eyes. He was so worried. His hands were shaking and his eyes gleamed from tears. His lips were parted and about to say something again.

" I... " I gulped.

" Dr. Melendez, we need you! There is a girl with the deep cut." Claire, the resident, urged him out of the room. I was thankful for that.I wasn't really in the mood to explain anything to him. I closed my eyes for a bit and took a deep breath. Only a few seconds after they left there was a knock on my door. I signed.

"Come in."

The young boy appeared in the door. He had  curly brown hair, hazel eyes and.. He wasn't tall at all. He was young. Probably he was less than 20. But he looked familiar. I had seen him before.

"Ehm.. Are you... Are you Y/N Lincoln?"

"Yes, that's me. And who are you, may I ask?"

"I am Tom. Tom Holland. I... Saved you, when you, when you... fell." He was so nervous. Aaw, it was kinda cute. He was a cute young boy.

"Oh, so it was you. Come in, please." I invited him.

He closed the door and came to my bed.

"Uhm.. I.. Bought you flowers. Hope you will like them."He handed me a bouquet of tulips.

My eyes lit up.

" They are for me? Oh, thank you so much. They are my favourites. They are beautiful. Thank you. " I kissed his cheek. This definitely made my day better.He blushed immediately.

" I am glad you like them. And this is also for you. Hope you feel better. Is everything alright? "

" You are so nice, thank you. And thank you for saving me. " I smiled at him. His cheeks were still red.

"You're welcome. I couldn't leave you there. I am happy that you are okay now. So... The nurse called me yesterday that someone wanted to meet me. So.. I assumed it was you. So...do you need something?" he looked at me and his eyes were running down my face, from forehead to my lips. He stopped there for a little while and then came looking back into my eyes. It was strange. It felt like I had seen these eyes before.

" Uhm.. It's nice to meet you, but... It wasn't me. I've just woken up."

A/N: Let me know what you think about this story so far and what you think about the new character - babygirl. Sorry for my English, it's not my first language and I am new with this. So I would be happy and thankful about the feedback. Have a nice day! 😊

[steponmepinkjun]

FELIX BI ANON HERE AND I AM ABSOLUTELY ROLLING your reaction made me laugh way too hard omg. ok if you'd been a stay for a while it's an ongoing gag that every australian knows a guy who knows a guy who knows felix. we dont know if Half the shit is true or not (i have some... Very Interesting claims i've heard, but never directly from the people who knew him themselves... i do believe them tho, knowing him and his predebut pics lmAOOo) but like just abt every aussie stay knows someone at this point, so yeah it Is just your average tuesday here LMAO

abt me meeting him, it was when they came here to australia! i went to their concert and got vip tickets so we got to do the high-touch at the end, but it all happened so fast its kinda blurry. its like my brain just Cant Comprehend the beauty of those fine ass men up close so its just. a muddled blur. but it was hands down one of the best nights of my life, i managed to make our lixie laugh at the Dumbest joke known to man (dont ask im embarrassed) but its been two years and my soul hasnt returned to my body yet. that man's laugh? i want it tattooed inside my eardrums, please and thanks.

I DO NOT FOR THE LIFE OF ME REMEMBER HOW THEY SMELLED IM SORRY my nose is Very Bad i cannot smell things unless theyre like 2cm away from my nose and the whole arena kinda just smelled like sweat bc they set up the hi touch where the mosh pit was beforehand. i will give the insider stay knowledge tho that chris's cologne i believe is called eros or some shit? idr but ik its like $80 and according to the ppl whove sampled it, smells like "liquid heterosexuality." ill have to dig if u want me to find the exact cologne. ON THE OTHER HAND MINHO USES STRAIGHT UP FUCKING FEBREEZE which honestly just says plenty abt those two.

god i talk a lot i dont apologise tho bc theres more where that came from. anyway ur mum calling skz "our boys" is so precious and its hilarious that she roasts you like that LOL but pls. there are no bootleg felixs or chans to be found here. they were one of a kind, aussie blokes are... something else, in the most neutral sense of the word. either they're off the shits completely but its funny and theyre always down for a drink and a chat, or they WILL make you want to commit homicide but i suppose thats just men in general. they dont make men like chanlix no more and im upset abt it!! i aint living no fantasy i just went to [1] concert and my dumb ass bitch ass pea brain ass crusty motherfucker ass of a mind can barely remember. its tragic. im just waiting for them to come back for a take 2.

FIRST OF ALL BESTIE IF YOU DONT SPILL THOSE QUESTIONABLE LOCAL FELIX RUMORS...... like I need to know if any of my personal crackhead thoughts and impressions regarding The Felix™ are represented. Esp because I feel like every aussie bitch ever I ever encountered is the funniest bitch I ever met without even trying, like funny in a way I can't even put into words, yall just talk and I LIVE for it, I don't even need to know half of what the fuck yall talkin bout or get any of the references, I'm living from start to finish

Also I literally CRY thinking of Chan wearing Eros because I s2g at my last job I used to go downstairs to the men's cologne counter just to waste time and stare at the Resident Hot Lesbian and BRUHHHH...... All Versace scents are questionable cause they all smell like the morning after a Hot Girl Summer type excursion, that one night stand walk of shame didn't even make him wear a rubber type beat, you know? 😂 And Eros is very much That™ so like thinking of Chan wearing it is just like HOLD ON... WHEN DID THIS BECOME A WHORE HOUSE jduehajshdjajshdjsjsge 🤣 NO SHADE NO SHADE 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

The REAL shade of it all is that my motha even daring to make that comment is just... So pointed, because she KNOWS that even with the most busted, crusted, dusted, bootleg dreamworks DVD in a cracked jewel case type of knockoff counterfeit "if you squint real hard there's a resemblance I swear" type Bang Chan impersonator, the closest I could EVA get is thrown his discombobulated ass in the trunk of my car after giving him a throat-chop to discombobulate him, she KNOWS this, so it was RUUUUUUDE 😭😭😭

And but like I deadass live solely for the rare lil glimpse of the boys un-whitewashed..... It is my brains whole ass source of both dopamine and seratonin.......... they are obvi gorgeous literally any way but when you get to see their real skintones irl, melanin checked in and present, ugh it's just like (incomprehensible screeching) you know? They're literally perfect as is. I know it's a way more complicated issue than I could even begin to try to understand and I won't even attempt to speak on it, but sometimes I'm sad at how whitewashed they are in a lot of photos cause it's just like, you can't improve perfection, in my eyes at least, you know? Like the Cleo promos I just wanted to hurl a bottle of Lancome waterproof makeup remover like it was a molotov cocktail 😭 and the way they CLEARLY tried to contour Chan's nose to make it thinner n shit, oh bitch I was HEATED, I was like LEAVE HIS NOSE TF ALONE???? ITS LITERALLY PERFECT???? He doesn't need to have a thin crispy lil eurocentric button nose to be beautiful, god fuckin damn, leave that man be. They do look hellllllaaaaaaaaa pretty in every makeup look tho 😳 Ive been saying since my scene kid days, if men learned how to do makeup and have fun w it and respect it as an art form maybe they'd get more of the attention they want from women 🙊 OH and I absolutely fucking died when Felix was saying he wants to learn how to do makeup 🥺 my lil former makeup artist heart was JUMPIN, I was like BRUH I AM RIGHT HERE?????? I AM RIGHT HERE. RETURN MY CALLS SIR AND I WILL GIVE YOU WHOLE ASS TUTORIALS, DONT PLAY 😩 UGH I literally fantasize about doing some really avante garde makeup on Felix, his face is just so visually stunning but also dynamic, he has a perfect face for artistic, eccentric makeup looks, I would die to put him in some crazy early 2000's Galliano for Dior makeup looks. Or just anything where I could paint all his lil freckles like stars with the eye look reminiscent of clouds and the sky............ Since he did say "is anyone gonna have the whole universe in their eyes?" and then didn't wait for an answer 😪

[minervahopebeyond]

Blood Petals.

Hello! Omg, this chapter took so much workkk! I really hope it was worth it and you like it 🙌🏻🙌🏻✨ Tell me what you thought about it on the comments 🥰 Enjoy!!

Ps: I checked, but I’m sorry if you find errors (grammar or vocabulary)

Chapter 7: July 31st.

Chapter Text

‘You'll know that you have fallen in love, Dragon prince, when you would do anything to make them happy’He remembered when mother told him that. At the time, he didn’t understand what it meant. Now Draco knew, it meant that his mother didn’t actually believe in the cause but she loved his father too much to get away from all that. Draco felt much like his mother these days.

He sighed as he was finishing Potter’s birthday present. He had a debate with himself, whether he should give him something or not (for days) and he actually decided not to... but then he heard Mr. Potter talking to Sirius.

“Did you know that for his eleventh birthday, Lily’s awful sister didn’t even cook a cake for Harry? He told me that his first present ever was my cloak, that he got it for Christmas at Hogwarts. It’s just awful Padfoot, I could make the best birthday party ever and it wouldn’t erase all shit he lived.”

So now, Draco found himself working on a present for the boy who lived.

It was one of his best works. In the drawing, Potter had one hand on his broom while the other was reaching out to get the snitch. His hair was all over the place, messy from the wind and there was a perfect smile on his face. The gryffindor red collided with the green of the pitch. Draco drew it all by heart. He didn’t even looked at a picture of the boy, didn’t asked the boy to smile so he could get it right. The blond boy just took a piece of his best parchment and his favorite set of pencils and drew.

He took the drawing and rolled it up, before tying it up with a green ribbon.

This is why he understood mother. His only goal for the day was making Potter happy, and it didn’t matter if Draco had coughing fits today because he would make the beautiful boy happy.

Draco casted a tempus. 9 A.M , great, right on time. He grabbed a plain white shirt and some dark blue pants and changed out of his pijamas. Then he fixed his hair putting a little potion on it to make it seem with more volume. It wasn’t much but it wasn’t as anyone would look, so...

The blond boy got downstairs as quietly as he could. Everyone was still sleep because it was a Saturday and the party wouldn’t start until lunch. Just a little bit and he would get to the kitchen.

“Disgrace! Shameful blood trait-“

“Shut it, old hag!” Draco hissed at the portait. “Go to sleep.” And he closed the curtains. He kept on walking to the kitchen, once he was there he called for Kreacher.

“Yes, mister Malfoy?”

“Today is Potter’s birthday, I was thinking that we could do a cake for breakfast.” Kreacher just nodded and started to walk away.

“Wait, no, what I meant was that I could cook it and you would supervise that I don’t set the kitchen on fire.”

The elf was looking at him as if he had lost his mind, and maybe he had but this was for a good thing. Insanity was justified.

Draco had to admit that it wasn’t so bad. Cooking was kind of like brewing potions but with things that smelled nice. He found it very soothing. And the best part was the decoration, because it felt like drawing. He had decided to cover the whole cake with chocolate and then he asked Kreacher to get him frostings of gryffindor colors to draw on it. Once it was done, he helped Kreacher set the table and waited for everyone.

When Potter entered the kitchen he opened his green eyes very wide. He had Mr. Potter’s arm around him and Sirius by his side who also looked surprised.

“Happy birthday, Potty. Smile at least, I got up early to cook the bloody cake.” The dark haired boy stared at him, he opened his mouth but no words came out.

“Little cousin, did you make all of this?” Sirius was smiling so brightly at him. He walked to where Draco was sitting and pulled him into a hug. They didn’t do this, affection was not their strong suit,but he tried for Sirius anyway and hugged him back.

“This is amazing, kid! The lion on the cake looks really good. Did it make your Slytherin hands bleed?” Draco laughed at that. He loved Mr. Potter sense of humor. Scarhead was still staring.

“Say something. You are giving me the creeps, Potter.”

The green eyed boy pushed some hair out of his face. Draco knew it was a thing he did when he was uncomfortable in a situation. So he didn’t like it. Great.

“ I don’t know what to say. This is too much..”

‘Too much’. Yes, his feeling were too much, he was aware of it. It wasn’t as if he was proposing, though. He just wanted Potter to have a happy birthday, a real one. The ones that start and end with a smile. He started to feel tickles on in his ribs. Shit.

“Okay, I’ll take a shower before everyone gets here. Eat the cake if you want, if not, I think Kreacher can still prepare you something.” He said and left the room before the coughing fit started. Draco felt the tickles all over. He could hear Potter’s voice calling him (he ignored it).

“Malfoy, you prat, i didn’t mea-“ And Draco closed his door a little too loudly.

———————

He could hear that Weasley and Granger had arrived. Draco found himself on his bed, looking at Potter’s present. He should burn it. If the cake was too much, a bloody handmade gift was worst. Because cake could be eaten and it wouldn’t exist anymore. This would be something that Potter got to keep and ,every time he would look at it, he would remember that Draco drew this.

He heard a knock on his door.

“Go away, I feel sick.”

Ron opened the door and entered the room.

“You don’t look sick. It’s Harry’s birthday, don’t be a prat.” Draco glared at him. He didn’t even ask Of course bloody Malfoy would be the selfish idiot who didn’t attend to the birthday party of the Chosen One

“Leave.”

“No.”

Stupid weasel with his stupid loyalty to stupid Potter. He looked at the ceiling waiting for him to be gone so he could cry in peace.

“There were a lot of versions when I asked what happened.” Draco kept avoiding his eyes. “From what I gather, you did a nice thing for Harry and he said the wrong thing.”

“It wasn’t the wrong thing.” He muttered. “I’m not deluded. I know we are not friends. It wasn’t my place. I just can’t go down there and be at the party after that, it’s too embarrassing, weasel. I’ll just stay here.”

Ron shook his head and got up to leave.

“The only thing that Harry asked for was for all of us to be there.”

And he closed the door leaving Draco feeling like shit.

—————————

He had changed his clothes again. With the dark blue shirt and the black pants, he looked more mature. Draco knew that joining was a bad idea. He was too emotional right now, which made it easier to get the coughing fits. The more coughing fits he got, the more chances of starting with the petals he had. Bad idea, indeed. He blamed Weasley, always asking him to be nice. He missed his Slytherins friends, they didn’t make him feel guilty for anything.

When Draco finally got to the gardens he smiled. Potter and his father were flying around and Sirius was taking pictures of them together on the air. They looked so happy together... It always made him feel peaceful. He was watching them when he heard Granger beside him.

“Ron said you would join eventually, I wasn’t so sure”

He shouldn’t hex her and go upstairs again. He shouldn’t hex her and go upstairs again. He shouldn’t hex her and go upstairs again. He took a deep breath. It not like he spend time with Granger for her to know that Draco was actually decent.

“ Well, I’m here.” He said and went looking for the weasel.

Everyone was talking and having tea. There were a few tables with food distributed around the garden, he found Ron sitting in the one that was next to the ‘quidditch pitch’. The redhead was talking to a Weasley he did not knew. ‘That must be Charlie’, he thought as he walked to where they were.

“Are you happy now, weasel?”

Both of them turned to look at where he was standing. Charlie was gorgeous. His freckles were all over his face but in a good way (which was weird because he didn’t particularly liked freckles), his eyes were intensely blue and his face was perfect, strong jawline and everything. Because of the nickname that Draco used, Charlie was glaring at him. Weasley, on the other hand, had a smug smile on his face.

“I am, ferret, thanks for asking.”

Draco huffed and sat with them.

“You are really emotionally manipulative for a Gryffindor. It’s ridiculous.”

“Yeah, well, it got you here so I regret nothing”

He glared at him. Charlie was looking at both of them with an amused expression. Then, Weasley introduced them.

“Charlie, this is Draco Malfoy. He’s the one that helped us in the ministry.” If anyone asked, that was the only thing that he did that day. “And this is Charlie, I already told you about him.”

The blond boy tried to fight the blush that was appearing on his face. He offered his hand to greet Weasley’s brother, the redhead took it, shook it kindly and smiled at him.

“Thank you for what you did. Mum always says that the twins and me are a nightmare, but since this one started at Hogwarts” he said pointing at Ron. “ he’s been involved in more deathly situations than me in my entire life. And that’s saying something.”

Draco laughed at that, Weasley was right, he did like Charlie. He could tell he was kind and funny... and very attractive too, but that was just a bonus.

“Draco here is out and proud.”

Draco widened his eyes and turned to look at him. ’What the fuck are you doing, you stupid git ‘. Then he saw the surprised expression on Charlie’s face, before he smiled brightly at him.

“At hogwarts? That’s amazing! I wished I could had done that when I was at school...” Draco shook his head softly.

“I never actually made a big deal or shout it to everyone...” He shifted in his seat, trying to feel a little more comfortable. “But I don’t try to hide it either. There was only this one time in which my best friend asked me how I knew I didn’t like girls if I hadn’t even kissed one; I kind of ended up kissing her and it wasn’t pleasant at all.” Draco shrugged and made a dramatically disgusted face. “ And my parents weren’t thrilled about it but they always said that ,as long as I got married and had a heir, I could do with my privet life what I wanted.” The problem was that Draco didn’t have any interest in getting married unless it was for love. The pureblood duty be damned.

The redhead nodded at that and told him about how the first thing that Molly had asked about was ‘grandchildren’. Weasley seemed to be amused by how well they were getting along, occasionally making a comment or two in the conversation. He was laughing about something that Charlie said when Potter interrupted them.

“Malfoy, you came.” He looked surprised and the blond boy couldn’t decided if it was a good thing or a bad thing.

“Do you want me to leave or...” He heard Weasley groaned as he put his hands on his face. Potter shook his head quickly.

“No, I meant.. No.” He sighed. “Do you want to play with us? You could be seeker on Ginny’s team. Ron is on my team as keeper but Padfoot is-“

“No, thanks for asking me though. I do not feel in the mood for quidditch right now.” That was a lie. He missed playing, but because of what happened this morning, playing against Potter would be too much. They always ended up chasing each other and Draco didn’t want to start coughing in the middle of the match, it would ruin it for everyone. Potter raised an eyebrow as he was looking at him. He knew Draco was saying bullshit. “Maybe Ginevra could play seeker for her team.”

Potter frowned at him, he was clearly pissed of about his response. He turned to look at the redhead beside him.

“Charlie? Are you playing?” Great, so his plan was to leave Draco to bore himself to death to teach him a lesson. So predictable.

“ I think I’m going to stay here and chat with Draco some more, Harry.”

Weasley, who was looking at the scene in front of him, trying not to laugh, grabbed Potter by the shoulder and drag him away from the table. He could heard him saying to his best friend ‘Come on, mate. Let’s go.’ The green eyed boy turned to look at Draco before walking away.

He had a nice time at the end, chatted with Charlie for a while and then spent some time with Granger and professor Lupin ( call me Remus, Draco). When he realized, the party was over and didn’t have any coughing fits. He was so distracted by everything that there wasn’t a chance for him to get any.

—————————

Draco was looking at Potter’s present again. It was almost midnight now. A few more minutes and it wouldn’t be a birthday present, just a regular drawing. He heard a soft knock on the door, and hided the drawing under his pillow.

“Come in.”

Potter entered the room and closed the door behind him. The boy muttered a soft ‘Hi’ and stood there, shifting his weight between his feet. He kept looking at the bed like he was debating with himself whether he should sat down or not. Draco rolled his eyes and made room for him to sat down beside him.

As he was sitting on the bed, Potter started talking.

“ Thanks for today.” Draco looked away.

“It’s nothing, Potter. I was feeling a little sick but Weasley told me to go to the garden when I could.” That... was a very distorted version of the conversation they had. Potter frown at that.

“I’m not stupid, Malfoy.” Yes, Draco was aware that Potter was not stupid. What was he supposed to answer him then? He didn’t even want to talk about it. “I don’t know what did I say at breakfast to make you this mad but don’t treat me as an idiot.” He sounded tired, like if he lacked the energy to fight about this.

“You didn’t say anything bad. It was me, Potter. I was out of line. I should’ve suggested to Sirius the cake so he could do it himself or whatever.” The dark haired boy was looking at him with a confused expression.

“Is that what you think? That I didn’t want the cake because it came from you or some rubbish?” Potter moved his hair away from his face and Draco could see his intense green eyes. He didn’t know what to answer him so he just looked away and shrugged.

“ When I said ‘It’s too much’ I didn’t mean it was too much because it’s you.” He sighed. “What I meant was that you didn’t have to. You got up early to do something that I really didn’t need because in just a few more hours I was going to celebrate my birthday.”

Draco opened his mouth to say something but he interrupted him.

“Just let me finish. I didn’t need that and you did it anyway and of course I liked it. I can’t believe this is even up for discussion.” Potter tone was so annoyed about everything. He could tell that the boy was trying to sound patient but he sounded exasperated. “The cake was brilliant, nobody ever did something like that for me before, so thank you.”

He started to feel the soft tickles. Potter smiled at him then and Draco felt like something about that day was fixed.

“I’m a little disappointed that we didn’t get to play against each other.” The green eyed boy said softly.

“Oh please, you played with Ginevra and got to flirt with her some more.” He was so pathetic. He just had to bring this up, didn’t he? Potter blushed horribly and looked away.

“I don’t flirt with her. She is Ron’s little sister and she’s with Dean.”

“Sure, Potter. Just in case, remember that your father knows how to woo a redhead.”

He was so blushed. Draco was enjoying this too much (strong tickles of jealousy a side). The blond boy chuckled a little.

“You are one to talk about flirting. I saw you talking to Charlie the entire party.” He couldn’t place what Potter’s tone meant.

“That was hardly flirting and he is too old for me. Remus would kill me.”

The dark haired boy nodded. Draco casted a tempus: 11.55 P.M. Fuck it, maybe if Potter liked the cake he would like the gift. He searched under his pillow for the parchment.

“Happy birthday, Potter.”

He just kept looking at the drawing, touched the way the lines were traced, with a look of confusion on his face.

“How?”

“Well, I did it myself. I thought it was clear.” Potter stared at him, as if he couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Then, suddenly, Draco was being pulled into a hug. He froze.

“I love it, thank you.” He was still hugging him, which was both good and bad. It was good because Potter couldn’t see his horribly blushed face, it was bad because the tickles were crazy right now. He fighted the urge to cough, if he didn’t want people at school to know about the Hanahaki he needed to be able to control himself.

That night, Draco dreamed about The boy who lived. About being close to him and hugging him. How his hair moves while flying and how he always smelled as broom polish and treacle tarts. Mostly he dreamed about kissing the smile on his lips.

[bmongmong]

Chapter 1 - Just me

Blue pill or red pill - Jungkook

Description: You're a young girl, who's a little bit introverted and afraid to be under everybody's eyes. You only have your best friend, but it's ok for you. You don't want to be popular and believe in minimal things. One day you meet a guy. Or two?

Jungkook x Reader

The imagines I used are not mine Credit to the owners

Y/n pov

"Ufffffff" I scoff.

"In a couple of days, school starts" I complain.

Right now I'm in my bedroom, talking to my favorite teddy bear. Don't worry, I'm not crazy. But sometimes I need to talk to someone when my best friend is not around.

My best friend's name is Rosé. She's very kind and funny and also very reliable.

We've know each other since kinder garden and, since then we've been together.

Talking about the devil: she's calling me right now.

I smirk. I'm not going to answer, because I know what her reaction is going to be. She's going to be so mad at me ahahah. I always do this, I like to bother her a bit.

I'm sitting on my bed, with my legs crossed, with an evil smile on my face.

She's calling me again. Ok I'll answer, but I have to be ready...1....2...3!

"Hi Ros-"

"STOP DOING THAT!!! YOU KNOW THAT I HATE WHEN YOU IGNORE MY CALLS!!" she scolds me.

I can't help but laugh at her.

"Good morning to you too princess!" I say, trying not to laugh.

"Yeah, yeah. I swear y/n, I'm going to kill you someday" she scoffs "By the way, school is going to start in two days!!" she protests.

"Don't tell me about it. Oh Rosé, I have an idea" I say whispering.

"Tell me, tell me!!" she seems excited.

"Why don't we meet up tomorrow? It's going to be our last day of freedom. We need to have fun!!"

"Yeah, why not?"

"Oh by the way" I say twirling a lock of hair "How is it going with the prince of school?" I smirk really hard and she seems to notice.

"I'VE ALREADY TOLD YOU THAT THERE'S NOTHING BETWEEN US! He just likes to tease me. And you know that we hate each other" as she explains this, she seems kinda annoyed.

"Ok flower, calm down, I was just kidding" I say laughing a bit.

After chatting for a bit, we end the call and now I'm looking outside of my window.

There's a really bright sun and a clear blue sky. It's really beautiful, but I don't know why it gives me anxiety.

"My life is so boring..." I snort as I touch the glass wall in front of me.

That's right. I'm just a normal student that only studies and hangs out with her only friend.

Regarding her, she's more popular and beautiful than me. I'm not saying that I'm ugly, it's just that I don't have much confidence.

But now I'm used to this. As much as I complain, I'm starting to like this lifestyle. No troubles, no enemies.

Just peace.

My parents are a bit worried, because I just stay in my room all the time.

I mean, I guess it's understandable. Their only child is a nerd, who just studies all day long and comes out of the room just to shower and eat.

But that's the way I like it.

When something is wrong or I have the feeling that something bad is about to happen, I just rush to my room and lock myself inside. Maybe I'm just running away from responsibilities. Or maybe I like to stay alone. I really don't know.

I look at myself through the mirror attached to my closet.

"I'm actually not that bad" I say as I try to look like a model during a photoshoot. But then I realize I'm talking to myself, again.

Why do I have to be this cringy? Luckily I'm alone.

Now it's time to eat and I can hear my mum calling my name. I have to go downstairs to the kitchen.

"Bye bye, my little shelter" every time I have to leave my room, it kinda hurts. And I'm a bit scared.

I swear, I look so dramatic ahahah.

I'm walking down the stairs and the first thing I see is a big picture of me and Rosé. It has always been there but every time I see it, my heart becomes warm.

My mum insisted on hanging it on the wall. She really loves Rosé, because when I talk about her my face lights up. That's what both of my parents say.

"I'm here mum and dad" I say as I walk towards them and sit at the dining table.

"Hi beautiful" my dad says as he sees me "are you ready for school?"

"Yes, as always I have to be prepared. I've been studying for a while" I tell him as I smile.

"Y/n, I know you want to be the top student" my mum interrupts us "but you have to enjoy life, go outside, make some friends and maybe bring home a boyfriend"

"BOYFRIEND?!" both me and my dad shout.

"Yes. B-O-Y-F-R-I-E-N-D" my mum marks that word and then continues "you're already 19 and you've never brought home a boy"

"Thanks for reminding me how single I am" I say giving up.

After I finished eating and cleaning the kitchen, I went straight to my room and now I'm here in my bed, looking at my white ceiling.

That color reminds me how much I love simplicity. Even when I was a little kid, I loved minimalism. When my dad was painting my room he asked me what color I wanted the walls. "White" I said. Even the furniture it's all white. Back then I thought that if my room was all white, people wouldn't have noticed it that much, so that I could stay away from problems.

I guess it was the same with my personality. I wanted to be noticed as little as possible. Until I met Rosé. The first thing she told me, when she first saw me, was "Why are you all white and black?". But that day I was wearing a pink skirt with a purple t-shirt. So I looked at her confused and she told me "I was talking about your personality".

Even though she was only four years old, she was very smart and fast-learning.

Since then, when I'm with her, I act like myself, without being afraid to be judged. Only when we go outside I contain myself in order to not be noticed.

She knows that I don't want to get in trouble, that's why, when it's only me and her, I'm a crazy weirdo, while when we're with others I'm the basic nerd who sits in a corner.

"Mmmh what can I do today?" I question myself still laying down.

"I think I'm going to study today too, since tomorrow I'll be with Rosé"

And that's how my afternoon and evening went.

Now it's Sunday morning. I'm very nervous for tomorrow, because today I cannot review my notes. This gives me much anxiety. But it's ok I guess. I think I need some fresh hair.

In the morning I cleaned a bit my room, I don't like when it's messy. Every single thing has his little spot, like everything in this world. Also I have a very very little spot in this planet and I don't actually mind to stay there.

Now it's early noon and I receive a message from Rosé.

Rosé:

Y/n I know you don't like to go outside, but at least wear something cute. I'll be there in 30 minutes!!! 😊

Something cute? I usually wear a basic pair of jeans and a white or black t-shirt.

I only have one cute shirt, but I've never worn it because I was afraid people would look at me.

It's not that I don't want to be observed by others. I just think that if someone starts complimenting me, people are going to talk a lot and then I'll be under everybody's eyes.

I just don't want to become "popular" among my classmates and other teenagers.

While thinking about all this, I changed into today's outfit. It looks cute, I already knew it. I just hope nothing will happen.

In the end it's nothing special. Just a pair of blue jeans and a white cute shirt.

As I put on my shoes I hear my phone vibrating. It's Rosé. She says that she's waiting for me outside.

I quickly run downstairs, say hi to my parents, who look at me shocked by seeing their daughter wearing something different, and then head outside.

I see my friend waiting for me. She's so beautiful, I swear.

"Hi y/n!! I was waiting for you!!" she says smiling brightly.

After walking down the street, we decided to stop at a cute café. We asked the waiter, if we could sit outside, because it was such a beautiful day.

While we're enjoy our coffees, someone greets us.

"Hi Y/n, Hi Rosé!"

We turn around and it's him.

I look at Rosé. It looks like she has mixed emotions. She seems nervous but at the same time annoyed.

"What are you doing here Jimin?" she asked him.

"Calm down honey, I'm just hanging out with my friend here" he answers pointing at a guy next to him.

"Honey my ass!" Rosé seems pissed. But I'm not really paying attention at what she's saying back to Jimin. I keep looking at the guy next to him.

Not going to lie. He's handsome.

Why am I even looking at him? He's way out of my league. He's too much. But I don't know why I can't stop looking at him.

"Why do you keep looking at me?" this mysterious guy says.

OH MY GOD IS HE TALKING TO ME?!

"O-Oh s-sorry..." I say at a really low voice looking at the ground.

"Ahahaha don't worry y/n" Jimin says smiling "he's always mad. It's not because you were staring at him. Nothing will happen"

After cutely arguing with Rosé, Jimin snd his friend leave.

"I swear to god, I'm going to beat Jimin's ass!" my friend says angrily.

"But it looked like you enjoyed talking to him, even though you seemed annoyed" I say smirking.

"W-What?" she's all red. Ahahahh I love making her feel all flustered.

It's the end of the day and now I'm in my bed. I'm so nervous. Tomorrow morning will be the first day of school.

I have a whole plan in my head. Be plain, white. Like the wooden beams on my ceiling.

[mydemimonde]

‘muse’: ch. 3 | matt (bbtl)

here’s chapter 3 for y’all matt supremacists! remember that if you want to be included in the taglist, just comment or send me a message!

CHAPTER 3

The news felt like a big bucket of cold water falling on top of her head. Of course she was Matt’s girlfriend. Javed’s father would never approve of her, if she ever wanted to date Javed.

Emma smiled at her. “Hello Mia! Matt told me a lot about you” Matt looked at her proudly.

“Oh, he did?” it almost sounded like a whisper. Emma nodded and gave Matt a peck on the lips. Mia was about to throw up. At least she wasn’t the only one, because Javed’s expression was the reflection of what she felt inside and was trying to hide. “Well, it’s a pleasure to meet you Emma”

“Nice to meet you girl!” she turned to Javed. “You must be Javed, right?” he nodded, a little bit awkward. “Nice to meet you too!” Well, she seemed nice. Mia tried to think that at least. “Matt told me you’ve never had a girlfriend” she looked confused. “Is that against your religion?”

Uhm… what the fuck?

Javed shook his head. “No…”

“I was trying to find him a girl” Matt said as he put his arm around her shoulders. “Do you remember your cousin, Lyla?”

Emma’s eyebrows raised and smiled. “Yes! Javed, you’ll love her. She’ll arrive here tomorrow, so you’ll meet her”

Javed smiled awkwardly. Poor lad, this is so embarrassing thought Mia. She wanted to punch something.

“We have to go now, see you tomorrow?” he said as Emma grabbed his arm, almost pulling him towards her.

“Sure mate” said Javed reluctantly. Mia just nodded and smiled. As soon as the lovebirds left, Javed turned to Mia. “Are you ok?”

“Of course, why you ask?”

“Don’t do that. Everything was just fine before we got here, and when you saw Matt and Emma kissing it seemed like you saw a car crash happening right in front of you” she sighed. “You’re still in love with him”

“Maybe” she said, lengthening the ‘m’. They walked to her house and sat on the sidewalk. “Definitely”

“Then tell him”

“How? He’s got a girlfriend now. And she’s beautiful…” she mumbled, looking at Matt’s house and remembering how gorgeous Emma is.

“Don’t tear yourself down Mia, you’re beautiful and interesting. Besides, you have no idea how Matt was always talking about you after you left. He wouldn’t stop”

“Yes, because he’s my friend and he missed me”

Javed looked at his feet. It broke his heart to see his friend, the one who has always been by his side, defending him from bullies at school, totally heartbroken.

Mia shook her head to clear her mind. “Anyway J, my mum wants to invite both of you for lunch. On the weekend, I think, before we start school”

“Sounds great! Mum wants you to come over too, after she’s done with work. She’s been busy these past days”

She smiled. “Tell her I miss her too, your sisters as well. Where are they, by the way?”

“They’re at my aunt’s house. They’ll be here in a few days, before starting school” he looked at his watch. “I should be going; lunch will be ready in a moment”

“Yeah, me too. Bye J, see you later” they got on their feet and returned to their houses.

 - - - - - - -

Lunch was delicious, but Mia wasn’t very hungry. She just wanted to have a warm bath and sleep all day. Is this what heartbreak felt like? She helped her mum with the dishes and quickly ran to her room, playing some music in her record-player. She let her body fall onto her bed.

Then, a knock on the door. “Mia? Can I come in?” asked Nellie, head poking.

“Sure” she sat on her bed. Nellie sat next to her. “What’s up?”

“You ate very little, are you ok?”

“I’m not really hungry, but I’m fine. Liar.

Nellie tilted her head. “I know you, something’s bugging you. You know you can count on me, right?”

Mia forcibly smiled. “Matt’s got a girlfriend” her sister’s eyes widened. “Her name’s Emma, she’s beautiful. Long legs”

“That sucks. You can’t give up, though. I bet they won’t last long” Mia chuckled, her sister always tried to make her smile, and she was thankful for that.

“Oh, may the gods hear you. I don’t know Nell, he seemed really into her. Maybe I should just focus on getting high marks so I can attend a good college” she stood up and looked through her window. “Boys ain’t shit”

“Amen” Nell put her hand on her heart, agreeing with her sister’s statement. “Still, try a little bit more”

Mia thought back about what Javed told her earlier. “You know, Javed told me Matt wouldn’t stop talking about me after I left” she turned to her sister.

“If Javed told you, it means something. But as I said before, you have to try” Mia nodded. “Oh, I was forgetting. Mum prepared some smoothies”

“Strawberry?” Nellie nodded. “Yes” she extended her arms in the air, celebrating. They went downstairs and took their glasses. “This is delicious mum” Mia was tasting heaven on her tongue.

“Thanks honey. Oh, have you told Javed and Matt about lunch?”

“Aha, Javed can’t wait for Sunday to come, and Matt… oh damn, I forgot to tell Matt. I will this afternoon” she sat on the couch and turned on the TV. Bruce Springsteen was giving an interview. “Look mum, your crush”

Susie quickly ran to the couch. “He’s dreamy. Don’t tell your dad” both sisters laughed. “Oh, if you’re going to Matt’s house this afternoon, tell him that your dad wants to talk to his. Something about a job offer”

“Ok, will do. Well, I’m gonna take a shower” Mia cleaned the empty glass and went upstairs to the bathroom. The water was warm and she relaxed at the second. She thought about what Javed told her earlier, feeling a little bit of hope.

 - - - - - - -

When nap time was over, Mia finished reading her favourite book and went downstairs. She went out and saw Mr Evans taking care of his plants. She smiled and waved hello. He returned the smile. “Have a nice day, Mr Evans”

“You too, little Mia” she turned to Matt’s house, hoping to see his father and say hello. She hasn’t seen him since she returned, and was a funny lad. It was like an uncle to her, always making her laugh with stupid jokes.

She knocked on the door. Nothing could’ve prepared her for the sight she’d have to witness in the next few seconds. Emma answered the door, hair messy, wearing just a shirt. Matt’s shirt.

“Emma!” Mia heard Matt’s voice coming from inside the house, he sounded kind of annoyed. “Why are you answering the door just wearing that?” Matt had the first three buttons of his red shirt unbuttoned; he fixed his leather pants before smiling at Mia. “Oh, hi Mia” he crossed his arms, leaning on the door frame.

Mia felt her throat dry. “Hi…” it sounded almost like a whisper. Suddenly, she felt small. “Uhm… sorry for interrupting, I, I should go…” she turned around to leave the most awful scene she’s seen. But Emma pleaded her to stay.

“No, Mia, actually you came just in time” Mia’s eyebrows furrowed. “I’m organizing a party tonight, here in Matt’s house, and we wanted you to come. It will be small, we’re welcoming my cousin” she smiled.

“Oh, really?”

“Yes!” exclaimed Matt. “Javed’s also invited, I should tell him now. Why did you come here, by the way? Do you want to talk to me?”

“Uhm… actually…” she seemed to forget the words. “I came here to tell you that my dad wants to speak to yours”

“Okay, he’s not here at the moment, but I will tell him. Are you coming tonight?” she doubted for a few seconds. “Oh Mia, pleaseeee” he pouted.

“Alright, yes, I will” Matt exclaimed a ‘yay’. “Okay, I’ll go now, goodbye guys” she turned her back to them, fighting the tears.

“Wait! Could you tell Javed about the party? I’m sure his father hates me, and he doesn’t want me near his son”

“Sure, don’t worry” answered Mia, not turning back.

The door behind her closed and she went to Javed’s house. She wiped a tear away before knocking on the door.

- - - - - - - 

tag list: @blueeyedheizer​

[mouse507]

I Want To Be Your Man Ringo X Reader part 2

Hey, this took a while to upload I'm sorry. I'm in the process of opening a show and dealing with midterms in highschool.

Warnings: some kissy kissy

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

It was around 5 pm the next day. "Maybe I should get dressed now..." You stood up from your bed, and walked to your closet. You wanted to wear a nicer shirt today. Not to impress Ritchie or anything, but you also didn't want him or his friends to think you were strange.Some mascara wouldnt hurt either you told yourself. Or lipgloss. By the time you finished picking out a nice outfit and putting on makeup it was around 6. You couldn't remember if Ritchie was picking you up at 7 or 8, but it's better to be ready than wrong.

You walked downstairs to grab a drink and and some money. After grabbing a glass of water, you sat down at the kitchen table. Your mom looked up from her coffee and newspaper to look at you. She had a big smile painted on her face, "So, Y/n. who's that boy you hung out with yesterday?" She asked.

"Oh, him. He's new to his neighborhoodd, and I wanted him to feel welcome here. He and I, and maybe some friends, are going to the movies later today. I-if that's alright, I mean," you asked looking down into your glass of water.

"Of course! Just make sure you're home by 10." Mom said.

"Thanks, Mum," you finished your water and

"But no funny business, make sure you stay safe."

"Yes Ma'am "

I waited in the living room until he arrived, it wouldn't be for another hour or so. You read a bit more of the book being read in class, trying to catch up before school started back up. You were touching up your mascara when the door was knocked on.

"Bye Mom I'm leaving!" You yelled from the living room as you grabbed the money from the counter, and shoved it in your pockets.

"Bye sweetie, be safe!" she yelled after me.

"I will!" You stopped to take one more look in the mirror before opening the door.

Ritchie pulled up with his friends and they were jokingly pushing him out of the car to go knock on your door. "Go get the doll then won't you?" said Paul as pulled his collar up around his neck. John lit a match and put it to his cigarette, "Yeah hot shot, go show us this girl you've been talking about. Work your moves," He laughed at their foolishness.

"I will, I will. But promise don't be stupid,"

"Yeah, that'll be hard for 'em," a high pitched blonde girl spoke to him. This was Paul's girl for the evening, her name was Chloe, or Katy, or lilac, something of that manner. Paul sighed and rolled his eyes.

John and Paul had been friends with Ringo for a few years, and usually dragged him around to all kinds of things. Tonight, they were seeing a horror movie, with Paul and his newest lucky lady for the night, and you.

Ritchie walked up to your door, took a breath, and slicked his hair back. He checked himself in the reflection of the glass in your front door, then finally knocked, putting his hands in his pockets. You opened the door and stared up at him, "Hey love, ready to go?" He said. He looked at you up and down. You looked stunning to him, you thought you just looked nice, but to him you were gorgeous.

Your clothes made you seem so bright and lovely, and your hair framed your face so well. Your eyes sparkled from your porch light, and your hands looked so soft and delicate. You thought he looked good aswell, really good. His hair was slicked back, he had a black jacket on, really tight pants, and a smile that was so warm and inviting. You thought he glowed in the dark, and he thought you were a ball of light.

"Yep, ready to go," you broke the silence, it was a nice, comfortable silence though, so you almost felt bad for breaking it. You closed the door behind and walked with him to the car. "Y/n this is John and Paul. And uh, Katy." He said opening the door for you. "It's Lily!" The girl in the back shouted. "Right.. he mumbled. John and Paul waved at you, "Right how are you love," asked John as he started up his car.

"I'm lovely, thanks" you said watching Ritchie open the door for you.

You slid in, and Ritchie cane in after you. John had one of those typical no-roof-black cars. All three of the boys seemed to be your average greasers: black leather jackets, cigarettes, slicked back hair, and a really nice car. You felt out of place, everyone was wearing all black and seemed so, cool. Here you were, wearing something bright and childish.

Ritchie thought you looked lovely as the odd one out. You seemed to be the only one who put any thought into what they were wearing. He appreciated the effort you put in. He started thinking to himself, did you think this was a date? He didn't know if it was or not, he definitely liked you. He learned he liked you ever since you took him around the neighborhood. He likes how you care about things, you make everything seem personal to you.

"So, Y/n, how long have you known Ringo?" Said John.

"Ringo? Ooh Ritchie! Just for a few days. By the way, I really appreciate you letting me come with you guys."

Paul started laughing and mocked you "Ritchie" he said very quietly. John hit him in the arm, "You're welcome Y/n, we don't mind it." You couldn't hear him mock you, but you felt bad that he was laughing at you. Ritchie whispered to you, "Ignore them, they're pricks at first. They wanna see if they can scare you off." Ringo leaned back into the seat and lit a cigarette.

"Thanks," you whispered back at him. The car ride had been so long, that you hadn't noticed Ringo's arm ending up around your shoulders. He felt warm, it made you forget that is was 40 degrees outside and windy. We pulled up the drive in, and you sat up. Ringo moved his arm from around you, and straightened his back up some. Suddenly the silence wasn't comfortable anymore.

You remembered that this wasn't a date, this was just you getting a chance to meet Ritchie's friends. Well Ringo I guess, however that name came about. Ringo threw his cigarette butt on the ground as John pulled into a spot near the back. Ritchie coughed, "I'm gonna go get some snacks, want anything Y/n?"

"Oh, a Coke would be lovely actually," you reached in your pocket and handed Ritchie a dollar.

"Oh don't worry about it, I'll pay for it," he stated pushing your hand back.

"Are you sure? I'll feel bad,"

"Honestly Y/n, it's fine, you don't need to feel bad. I want to pay" he chuckled.

"Fine, but no more, I'll pay for my stuff from now on." You didn't want him buying you your food, this isn't a date. Unless he thought it was a date, then it's definitely a date. But he hasn't said it was date, so you declared that it wasn't.

He laughed "Alright alright, just let me get this," he turned towards the snack booth and walked off. Paul and Lily had left and we're arguing over something. John turned around to you.

"Well, enjoying yourself so far?" He spoke up Turing himself around in his chair.

"Yes actually, thank you for taking me" you said and leaned back against your seat. You were tense from the awkward moment before pulling in.

"So Y/n, I heard you like rock and roll?"

"Um yeah actually, how'd you know that?" You seemed dumbfounded, you only listened to music in your room. And with Ritchie.

"Oh god, Ringo Doesn't shut up about you. Your favorite band, what book you're reading, even what the hell you wear," he turned back around as Ringo came back with a glass bottle of coke for you, and one for him.

'He talked about me' You thought. You smiled to your self and looked at Ringo, "Thanks, 'Ringo'," you said as you opened your bottle.

He chuckled at you, "You're welcome,"

"What kind of movie is this anyway," you asked him.

"Oh eh, one of them scary ones. I hope that's alright, I mean if not we can leave!" He looked at you. He hit him self mentally, he didn't know if you liked scary movies or not. He should've asked you if you wanted to see that kind of movie, before you left with him.

"Oh yeah that's fine! I love scary movies," you smiled and took a sip of your drink. Ringo sighed in relief.

The lights around the drive in began to go out as the screen turned a bright white. You and Ringo sat in the middle of the back seat watching the movie start. Paul and Lily gone to another friends car to go talk for a bit, and ended up staying there to watch the movie.

The intro seemed very long, and it made you begin to really notice your surroundings. Like how cold it was, it was a fairly windy might and it had snowed the night before. You ignored it though, it would go away eventually. Ringo, on the other hand, noticed your shivering.

"Y/n are you ok? You're shivering. Oh, want my jacket?" He asked as he grabbed at his leather jacket.

"Um...yes actually. I'm quite cold." You rubbed your arms to create some heat.

He took his jacket off and wrapped it around you. You curled yourself up in it, and enjoyed howe its warmth. It smelled like him, cigarettes and cologne, and was fuzzy on the inside. Ritchie was left in a tight white T-shirt, that fit his arms very well, and black jeans. He looked, really good. You just wanted to lay in his chest and fall asleep, taking him in. You caught yourself staring," Um Y/n you ok?" He waved his hand in your face.

"Oh yeah, but um... aren't you cold?" You asked pointing at his lack of a jacket.

"No I'll be fine, it's not that cold for me anyways." You focus went back to the movie. The movie itself had a pretty ok story, but it also had you average bad actors and special effects. Once again, you isn't noticed Ringo's arm make its way back around your shoulders. You didn't mind it, it was still cold to you, and you leaned into him to get warmer. He liked your being close to him, he was a bit chilly and you being next to him warmed him a bit. He played with your hair, twirling bits of it in his fingers, he also rubbed his hand on your arm and leaned his head on yours.

"I'll be right back, gonna go get something to eat." said John. He got out of the car and walked away, leaving you and Ritchie in the car by yourself. John noticed how close you two were getting, so he left to get food and hangout with Paul for a bit.

"So, Y/n what do you think of the movie?" Ringo asked you.

"Oh well it's got your basic special effects, and the actors are just god awful. But it's nice nonetheless." You smiled at him. You sat back up, making your hips touch. Ritchie laughed.

"Yeah it's not the best. But I'm glad you're here," he smiled at you. That smile could make you do cartwheels if it asked you to.

You noticed his lips, soft and light pink. You bit your own as looked at him. The two of you had slowly leaned into each other, you could feel his breath on your cheek. His breath was warm, which was a nice contrast to cold aie around you He leaned in and closed the space between you, it was warm, and his lips felt like clouds. You moved your hand to the side of his face, and he put his on your hips.

The kiss was ended quickly, as you pulled back and looked at him. "That was um...nice," you hut yourself mentally, could you not think of anything better to say.

"It was..." You leaned back into him under his arm, and closed your eyes. There was since for a long time, about 20 minutes. The entire time all you thought of was the way his lips felt on yours, and how warm he was. He made you feel light inside, like a ball of fuzz.

Ringo thought about how his lips fit yours, like a puzzle piece. And how cold your hand felt on his VERY hot face. You couldn't see it but he was lit up like a Christmas tree, and your cold hand calmed his blush. He thought you under his arm, wrapped in his jacket made you the most precious thing to him.

"Ritchie?" You spoke up.

"Yeah Y/n?" He looked down at you, and rubbed your arm.

"Is this a date?"

He thought about it, was it? It didn't start out as one, but he guessed it was now.

"Yeah, it's a date."

You smiled to yourself, you worried over nothing. This was your first date and it turned out fantastic. At the end of the movie, John dropped you and Ritchie off in your neighborhood. Ritchie had talked to John to dropped you off ways from your house so he could talk to you a bit before leaving you for the night.

As you walked down the sidewalk, you pulled the jacket close around you. "Thanks Ritchie..." You looked at your feet as you walked.

"What for?"

"For a very nice first date," you looked over at him and stopped in front of your house. "and for walking me home."

He smiled at you, and looked at his feet. "You're welcome...Y/n can I um. Can I kiss you again?"

You chuckled and stepped towards him, "Yes, you may," you leaned in and kissed him, wrapping your arms around his neckas he put both his hands on your hips, pulling you closer. After he pulled back, you leaned your forehead on his, and smiled at him.

"Thanks love... I'll see you tomorrow yeah?"

"Of course," you separated and walked back into your home. It was barely 10, a little past that. You mom was already asleep, so you locked the door and made your way to bed. You were still wearing his jacket, as you laid down in bed you used it like a blanket. Taking in Ritchie's scent, making you feel comfortable and warm.

[sarah--goff]

Their Dark Materials: Chapter Two; Nevermore

Also available on A03 under Sarah_Goff works

notes: The name 'Sloane' is said as 'Slow-n', ('Ferris Bueller's Day Off' fans will probably recognise this name !)

Enjoy :)

Chapter Two:

The sun on your face wakes you groggily, by some miracle you didn’t oversleep.

You roll over in your bed, sleepy eyes landing on the bird staring at you from its nest.

“Good morning, bird” you say through a yawn, hand under your head.

At your vanity table, you kiss the noir Polaroid of your parents stuck to your mirror, the last one taken a few weeks before they died in a fatal car crash. You’ve lived with your only remaining family- your mother’s sister and her husband- since then. Living in the little room in the large house, in a dreary town.

It’s not that you didn’t get along with your aunt and uncle exactly, it’s just they never seemed to have time for you. You didn’t care so much now, you’d grown used to the deflecting affection. Brian and Kari weren’t terrible people, they just didn’t want kids- it wasn’t their fault they got you, but it wasn’t yours either.

You lived together and that’s as far as your relationship went. They weren’t your parents, nobody could replace them.

You planned to move out later this year after your birthday. You could access the savings your parents left you then. Where to you didn’t know. You probably wouldn’t go to university. Your family wouldn’t be much support anyway.

Dressing, you noticed smugly that the berries and seeds in the dish were gone. Not even crumbs were left.

It was still chilly outside after last night, so you don’t think twice about pulling on your thick scarf with your brown leather jacket.

You look over yourself in the mirror satisfied. You loved this jacket with all your heart, it had belonged to your father and still smelt of him even after all these years.

You re-fill the empty dish again with the seed mix and open the window enough to let air in but not enough for the raven to wander out.

On your way out of the room, you linger at your bedroom door hesitantly, looking at the raven sitting by your bed. Wondering where you’re going.

“Be back around 3, okay” You promise, slinging your rucksack on your back. You feel a little guilty that you were leaving it trapped in your little cell of a room.

You remind yourself that no matter what you can’t let it loose in the house, if either Kari or Brian see the bird -they’d make it leave. It was in no state to fend for itself.

You pull the door closed softly and, noticing the grandfather clock in the hallway, speed down the stairs, nearly missing your footing.

In your rush to put your keys in your bag, you drop your Walkman -which you don’t have time to inspect- bounding  out the door.

                                                                                                                            _*_

Your predictions were right, you sleepwalk through the day.

You spend most of it in the library, scribbling down the essay that was due this morning but you were given an extension until tomorrow. Thank god.

The sun stayed rooted in the sky but the air was still frosty.

You couldn’t get the raven out of your mind.

You wish you had just feigned illness and stayed home. All day the bird harassed your thoughts- you just prayed Kari wouldn’t go into your room if she arrived home before you. God what a conversation that would be.

Next door’s cat was notorious for getting into the neighbourhood homes. You hoped the cat wouldn’t be able to squeeze through the gap in the window. The bird wouldn’t stand a chance.

You feel better when you start walking home, your headphones’ flimsy material keeps your ears fairly warm. You were pretty sure your Walkman had busted earlier – the tapes were all chewed up. Your birthday was coming up, you’d just have to wait it out.

You arrive home earlier than usual. You pocket the Walkman as you walk up to the path leading to the house.

You turn the key in the door, pushing it open straining your ears for the sound of shrill shrieking. Nothing.

“Hello?” You call out.

You notice Kari’s bag and keys were on the table in the living room and your stomach sinks.

You race upstairs forgetting the ‘no-shoes-in-the-house’ rule.

“Hello!” you call again huffing under the weight of your rucksack.

Your bedroom door was ajar. You burst in making Kari start.

It was obvious she had been snooping through your things again.

She clearly didn’t trust you, nor will she ever.

Her faux blonde hair ringlets shake as one when she twists her head.

“No need to shout” she places her hands on her hips to gloss over the fact that she’d just been caught red handed prying. “And what’s this again, dirty dishes left here, Sloane; how many times!”.

On the other hand, you felt relieved that she hadn’t taken a blind bit of notice of the raven. Your eyes skirt around her to look at the where your scarves had been, but they had vanished too, along with the bird.

Had it found some way to escape? Surely it couldn’t carry the scarves.  You notice she’d closed the window. So maybe it hadn’t after all? Next door’s cat clearly didn’t get to it -where was it?

“Are you listening!” she broke off your thoughts “And I had to put your clothes back in your draws again, you’re 17 years old and I’m still putting your clothes away!”

So that solves the scarf mystery.

You just smile tightly at her “won’t happen again”.

Putting my clothes away my arse.

She pushes this morning’s discarded cereal bowl into your hands. “You can start apologising when you wash this and the rest up downstairs”.

Kari made her way to the door hair bouncing in time with her step.  

You stood in the centre of your room, trying to look not at all worried if the raven might suddenly spring out on her.

“Sure”

You closed the door behind her with a sigh of relief.

In a low whisper, “Hello?” scanning the room for any movement

You ducked your head to see if it had hopped under your bed and rested there, but then you reminded yourself you were whispering to a bird and straightened yourself up.

Your eyes immediately fell on your beside table where it sat blinking at you. You grinned back, glad it stuck around.

You were sure it hadn’t been there in plain sight a moment ago. Had it been hiding?

“Clever bird!” you cheered.

You use your index finger to feel the silky feathers. In the daylight you can see the layers of black, inky blue and a hint of purple.

It was quite unsettling that it didn’t caw- or whatever ravens did- once. Maybe it couldn’t for some reason. At least it wouldn’t be at risk giving itself away.

“I had classes today” you tell it lazily looking out the window. “That’s why I had to go. I’ll be finished soon though”.

What were you going to do during the break? They’d push you into getting a tidy job so you wouldn’t hang around the house. Or at least Brian would- Kari would make you do housework, even if she clearly didn’t trust you home alone. You sighed.

“My name is Sloane- Sloane Hazel -in case you were wondering” you comically hold out your hand as if to shake with the raven.

The bird blinks at you cocking its head. “It was my parents’ name. I guess I should probably call you something over than ‘bird’ ”.

You sit at your vanity desk. You quickly straightened the bottles of perfume and make- up bits and pieces.

You begin to wipe off your eyeliner in the mirror, looking between you and the bird.

“That woman you just saw snooping around was my aunt. My uncle isn’t home yet. My parents are dead -so I live here. With them”.

The daylight melted away at the overcast sky, it had started to drizzle softly, the kind of rain that made your hair frizzy.

You pause the wiping to pluck the polaroid of your parents “that’s them” you swivel in the chair to show it to the bird. “It’s okay, I got eight golden years with them, that’s more than some”.

You pull out your wooden draws with a thunk and retrieve the scarves, rearranging them again to make a nest. The raven hopped inside, obviously glad to be warm at last in this dismal cold room it had been subjected to.

“my dad was an actor like my mum. I preform in plays sometimes -maybe I’ll follow in their footsteps, I haven’t decided yet-” You showed the bird your prize camera, remembering the film was nearly all used up “I’m okay at drawing, so I could do graphics or something but photography is my real passion-”.  

You babble on, unable to stop yourself. The raven nestled in the wool- probably asleep. You fill it in on useless details about yourself, as if it would understand anyway. You told it about your friends, the stuff you got up, to what your college was like, the places you wanted to travel, the books you’d read.

You crouch one hand resting on your thigh, in front of the bird who had its eyes closed. Rude bird.

You softened your voice.

“I’m going to call you, Never. Like ‘Nevermore’, right?”

You suddenly burst out with a bubble of laughter at the daft situation and rattled the bird to opening its eyes.

“Not that I’d expect you to understand, but it’s from a poem this guy wrote about a bird like you. He was a bit mad, but then maybe I am too talking to you”

You repeat the word under your breath, glancing at the bird who gave you the impression it was bored.

“Never” you murmur over and over.

Maybe not.

“Nevermore... Ooh what about More, like as in ‘Moore’, that’s a real name at least. It kind of suits you”.

It didn’t protest. “Moore it is”.

“Sloane! Why can I still see dishes?” Kari called from the bottom of the stairs. “what did I say about shoes in the house!” she sounded irritated.

You roll your eyes.

                                        _____*_____

“Hey, Moore, look what I found!” You called out to the raven, who was probably either sleeping or peering out by the window. It often did that nowadays.

The bird seemed to be improving but you couldn’t tell medically, it just seemed- Chirpier? You smiled at your own wit. A true comical genius.

You place your rucksack down with a thud. You’d found some real bird food at the pet store. They’d given you a funny look when you asked theoretically what a raven would eat but they told you anyway.

You pull out the shopping bag you’d hidden inside your rucksack.

The bird was nowhere to be seen. You remember the open window- to give the raven a bit of freedom- and your heart sank. Would it leave already?

‘Caaar’ Came the sound of a squawk behind you. You jump, nearly stepping on the bird.

Your eyes light up “did you just make a noise?!” this was good sign that it will healing.

You closed the window again, not wanting to draw the attention of any cats that might be around.

“Where did you come from anyway?” .

You hold out your arm for it to hope on, since it was apparent that flying was still proving difficult. Moore obliged and when you drew yourself back up you noticed it had something wide and shiny in its beak.

“What’s this? Can I see?” You tested your fingertips near its beak to hold the shiny thing for closer inspection. It dropped it in your palm.

In your hand, you it was a silver bangle with a large glittery blue stone with gold specks in the heart of it. It looked incredibly expensive. It felt weighty. How on earth had the raven managed to carry this!

“Wow, did you rob a jeweller or something?” you turned the item over in your hands and hold it this way and that in the light.

“Here” you placed it in the scarf nest. You never thought ravens would be attracted to shiny objects like magpies were. Learn something new every-day.

It made an effort to shove the item out of the nest- to get comfortable? You put in by the nest again where it pushed the bangle away with its beak. You tried again, not understanding what it was doing. They wanted the treasures by them didn’t they?

You stood in front of Moore puzzled. The bird pushed it in your direction, scraping the bangle across the wood, and when you moved to stand at the other end of the desk, it pushed it towards you again. “Wait” you said, realisation dawning on you.

“Is this, for me?” you said in an awed whisper slowly picking up the weighty piece. No way. The bird didn’t squawk or try to snatch it back so you assumed you were right.

“thank you! This is so cool! I should have started saving birds earlier” you joked slipping on the beautiful piece admiringly. It fitted well on your wrist. The blue in the stone looked to be a black opal of some kind. You wondered if the bangle itself was real silver. You felt a little guilty for the person who had obviously lost this stunning piece.

You cradle the bird “I love it” you say to Moore, feeling along its’ soft wings with the tips of your fingers.

Kari shouts you for dinner.

“Be back soon” You wave at Moore. “Oh wait!”

You forgot the bangle and slipped it off stuffing under your mattress. They’d get suspicious if they saw something as grand as that on your wrist.

“Bye!” you called over your shoulder.

Kari held out the plates for you to place on the table “Who were you talking to just then?” she said eyes narrowed.

Great.

She probably thought you had a secret boyfriend or something. Now she’d definitely snoop through your things, why did she have to be so paranoid.

You mentally reminded yourself to take extra care in hiding your stuff. The bangle for one.

“I was rehearsing lines for a new play” you shrugged, accepting the plate.

It wasn’t entirely a lie, the large theatre in town hosted an annual Christmas production, each year they chose a fairy-tale. You’d decided to go for it this year. You’d auditioned for the role of ‘Cinderella’- and got it.

“You can come along when its out, if you want” you looked between them, “both of you” you weren’t expecting her to say ‘yes’ but you felt a little pang in your stomach when she looked uncomfortable.

“We’ll…see if we can get the time off” she said uneasily.

So that was a ‘no’ then, not that it mattered. They could never seem to “get the time off”. She could at least lie better.

You switched to thinking how proud your parents would be if they knew you’d got the leading role and you felt partly better.

You placed Brian’s plate carefully in front of him indicating it was ready to which he replied with a stern wave of dismissal since he was on the phone.You took your own seat.  Kari informed you that you were running low on bread and juice and that you’d have to go to the corner store before it closed.

“My feet are killing me. I’ve bee-“

You drown her out, sighing internally, prodding the food with your fork, drawing back into reality away from your fantasies.

                                                    _*_

It happened so often you were running out of places to hide them.

You had more rings, earrings, bracelets and bangles of all materials than the Queen of England herself you were sure. The bird never ceased to amaze you.

You wore each piece bit by bit so nobody would suspect.

You tried not to think about where the bird was finding such pieces, the poor devastated people that would miss them.

“I love it all,” you confirmed to the bird with a grateful smile, tucking away today’s topaz necklace in your bag.

“But would you mind if I kept my earrings in? They were the last birthday gift from my parents. I never remove them” you smiled sadly. You ruffled Moore’s head much to its irritation, “maybe you can snatch me a Walkman for my birthday instead”.

You hid it all in your schoolbag so that Kari wouldn’t find it when you were away from the house. The holidays were fast approaching.

You had caught a glimpse of Moore flying last night. It had already been here too long you couldn’t make it stay much longer. You bit your lip uneasily, observing the bird hop experimentally from your furniture pieces in your room.

                                                                                                                   _*_

“We’re having Chinese in town” Kari announced suddenly.

You were leaning against the kitchen counter.

“Oh nice” you smiled at the unexpected plans, ignoring the pile of dishes that glared at you from the sink. Still, at last you were going out with your aunt and uncle.

See? They’re trying. Your head said.

You looked down, pulling at your casual clothing.

“Which restaurant?” maybe a dressy night was what you needed.

Nothing too over the top, a nice dress , hair up, could you get away with wearing the necklace Moore had brought you?

Kari tensed up not looking you in the eye.

“Actually, Sloane, I was wondering if you would stay home this time, you know I don’t like the house left empty…Brian and I haven’t had much time together recently. He’s been very stressed at work”

She turned her back on you to busy herself making some obnoxious soup she’d found in a cookbook and you said nothing.

‘This time’? What did she mean, you never when out together.

The rotten woman! ‘Leave the house empty’? what in the hell kind of excuse was that? It was all rubbish just to make sure they could have another evening without you.

You want to stamp your foot at that exact moment.  

You muster up the courage not to tell her to get fucked and that Chinese food made you nauseous anyway not that she’d know because she never asks. They never ask.

You look at Brian for help, but he was watching TV, not that he would ever defend you over his wife of course.

“Fine” you clomp up the stairs.

“Don’t stomp. The neighbours!” she half- yelled from below.

You close the door firmly behind you.

You threw yourself on the bed, startling Moore. The bird fluttered over to perch in front of you on the bed.

You laid on your front “It’s not fair” you complained to the raven “It’s like they don’t even want to be seen with me! Imagine! Their own niece!”.

The bird cocked its head and bent its head down for you to stroke absentmindedly. It was like it understood what you were saying, or at least what you were feeling.

The softness of the feathers calmed your bubbling anger immediately. You rested your head on the bed, level with the bird.

You lowered your tone.

“Sometimes I think it’s easier to talk to you than to some of the people I know. Like you’re my oldest friend or something. Funny, huh?”

You turn your head sideways so you can stare out the window.

“You’re lucky though, you have wings, when you’re better you can go anywhere. Where am I going? I’m going to be stuck forever. In this dismal town…” you trail off with a tear pricking in your eye at the reality of it all.

It was true. People rarely left the town,  people married their high school sweethearts and settled down, everyone knew everyone etc. It was an awful fate- one you would do anything to escape.

You play with the bangle Moore had brought you, reminding yourself how pretty it was. You felt sorry for the poor person that lost it.

“Sometimes I wish somebody would take me away” you flickered your gaze to look directly into the bird’s eyes “know what I mean?”.

__*___ You were barely listening to Kari listing all the things she expected done when they arrived home “sometime before eleven”.

“No mess, young lady” she warned. Who does she think she is? You bit your tongue.

You watched them leave and the door swing closed firmly behind them.

Head resting on your hand, you listened to the sound of the car pulling away and driving up the street. Enjoy the food.

You felt exhausted from today, you hadn’t been sleeping well lately.

Instead on starting on the chores you were supposed to do, you wearily climbed the stairs to your room where you flopped on your bed, grateful to shut your eyes. You lulled into sleep ebbing away from reality.

…

When you opened your eyes groggily, the taste of a dream you had were still imprinted on your mind. That dream. But you couldn’t remember it properly. Only fragments. None of it made sense to you. A blue coat, a mask and laughter. Lots of laughter. Everything was white.  

You shifted to lie on your side rather than flat on your back as you had been.

Your foot nudged against something rectangular.

You sat up flicking on the bedside lamp to see what it was. You shielded your eyes from the brightness of the lamp.

A book?

You pick it up, red and thin with only a gold title on it that you struggled to read in the cursive writing. The Labyrinth.

“The Labyrinth?” You murmur turning it over in your hands.

No author or blurb, you were sure this wasn’t yours.

You opened it, flicking through the pages, some had illustrations, you skimmed it lazily in your sleepy state, not reading it properly.

“Was this you again?” you hold up the book to Moore who was standing upright completely, no longer shifting its weight from claw to claw.

“First my taste in jewellery is bad but now you want to impose on my literature?” you said in mock-annoyance.

It was always a mystery how the bird managed to get these items to and from the house. It had grown back its strength sure but to carry items like these were impressive.

“I guess you’re a book thief now too, huh”

You stared at it . It felt incredibly alluring like a magnet pulling you in. The gold lettering glimmered in the lamp light. Labyrinth. The word swept away everything else you had clogging up your mind. All that mattered was this book and reading this book and-

Another yawn hit you like a wave. You couldn’t possibly read any now.

You put the curious book in your nightstand drawer and flick off the light again.

“Thanks, Moore” you mumbled putting your head in the pillow.

[chaseandjackson]

Do me a favour

chapter three 

What every mother wants for her son, a nice girl

 Annabeth had officially agreed to be my fake girlfriend and we had a contract that suited us both, I personally looked forward to not being asked a million questions about why I’m single and rather Annabeth being asked a million questions as to why she’s dating me, cant wait to hear her fake reason.

I left the coffee shop and headed home, I knew I was late for dinner, but it was take out night, so when I got home my loving family had thankfully saved me some pizza. We did our usual rounds of chatting. I asked my mum how the new book was coming along and she asked me how school was going, Estelle told us about a new boy in her kindergarten class that was left out so she asked him to play with her dinosaurs, I’m telling you she a great kid, nothing like me, at her age id already been in my first fight at school. Some things never change.

Whilst helping my mum clean up after dinner, she mentioned her book release party

“its next Saturday and the whole family’s going Percy which includes you and you need to look nice maybe a jacket and tie, and you will tuck your shirt in” she laughed

“ I promise mum ill look nice” I told her “anyway about the party I was hoping…”

“you’re not getting out it Percy”

“yeah I know mum I wanted to ask if I could bring someone” mum didn’t even bat an eyelid at my request

“yeah of course Grover can come you know he’s always welcome” she told me. You see Grover is my oldest and closest friend we’ve known each other since we were dorky losers at the age of 11. Both of us were new to the school and had no friends, we quickly had each other’s back and have ever since.

“no mum not Grover” I laughed “ I want to bring my girlfriend” that got mums attention

“girlfriend” she questioned

“yeah mum you don’t need to sound so shocked” she laughed

“I’m not shocked just surprised and pleased for you Percy that’s great it’s about time”

“muuuuummmm” I complained she only laughed at me

“what’s going on in here” Paul asked as he kissed my mum on the cheek. Yes, its gross but its much better than what the last guy she was married to did.

“Percy’s got a girlfriend” my mum proudly told him

“oh really” Paul asked “ who?”

“umm Annabeth chase” I told him

“wow really” he sounded really shocked like it wasn’t real, which obviously it wasn’t but he did know that

“whose Annabeth chase” mum asked

“she’s one of my students, a good one too, high grades she’s very popular at school as well, how did you become her boyfriend exactly” Paul laughed as my mum whacked him, though she was also laughing

I was offended that they thought she was out of my league; she is hence the fact that were not really dating but still.

“she happens to find me funny and charming” I told them

“I don’t believe that for second” Paul laughed “but good on you anyway”

“yes Percy of course Annabeth can come” mum said finally moving on from the fact that she was to good for me “any chance we could meet her first”

“umm yeah maybe” I answered

“why don’t you invite her for dinner this week” Paul suggested

I told them I would and disappeared upstairs with the excuse that I had homework which needed doing (which was true) so I could avoid talking about the fact that I have a new girlfriend (which was not true)

 I didn’t talk to Annabeth over the weekend and I wasn’t planning on talking to her until lunch, however those plans were thrown into the wind when I shut my locker and was greeted by Selina

“good morning” she said sweetly though it felt like she was about to end me

“uhh morning” ok good I sounded confident (not true)

“so what’s this I hear about you an Annabeth” right Annabeth must have told her

“what” I was coming off really dumb in this conversation

“she told me perce” I was really confused now, did Annabeth tell her we were dating or that we were fake dating

“look dumbass” rude but fair “ if you’re gonna be my best friends boyfriend you have to pass my test, Annabeth has a self destructive streak and I need to make sure you’re not the detonator”

I had no idea what she meant when she said self destructive streak, but what I did get from that conversation was that Annabeth had told her best friend that I was her boyfriend, step one of my plan complete.

“uhh ok shoot” I was not ready to be questioned but I had a feeling Selina wasn’t leaving without a interview.

“ok I use to have an intensive questionnaire but I worked out that there’s only one question that really matters and that’s why do you want to date Annabeth”

the question hit me like a train, I wasn’t expecting something so deep, the answer clearly meant a lot to Selina, and I guessed what other people had said before was, she’s hot or she popular or maybe even that she’s smart. And I may be oblivious or not the smartest guy but I’m not an idiot. I knew that they weren’t good enough reasons to want to be with someone.

To be honest with you I’m not really the type of guy to date because its fun or because I can. Even at this age I believe in dating someone to fall in love or spend your lives together however sappy that sounds, and i haven’t met anyone that I want to fall in love with yet, maybe because I’m only 18 or maybe because I’m a dumbass.

And I know that Selina has similar beliefs, I don’t know her well but I’ve know her for a long time and I knew the answer to this question was important because it’s the kind of question I ask myself when I started dating anyone, so I gave her the only answer I could

“because Annabeth isn’t like anyone else I’ve met, she doesn’t look at me like I’m a loser, or a dumbass even though I am. I wanna be with Annabeth because I’ve known her for along time and she never stops amazing me, or growing as a person, she’s hands down the nicest, smartest most thoughtful person I know, (all true) why wouldn’t I want to date her”

Selina looked satisfied by that “nice answer perce” she smiled a real genuine simile “but I’ve got my eye on you” and with that she flipped her fair and walked away

“yeah seaweed brain that was a good answer” if I was more observant I would have picked up on the fact that Selina kept glancing past me or that when she flipped her hair she threw a wink to whoever was behind me, if I paid more attention I would have noticed it was Annabeth stood there

“what can I say I’m an excellent boyfriend” I joked, Annabeth and I both knew I meant what I said but neither of us needed to say it

“apparently so” she laughed

“anyway, I was gonna ask you later but since you’re here, are you free after school at all this week”

“umm yeah I’m free Wednesday, why”

“did you wanna come over for dinner, you know meet the family and stuff”

Annabeth laughed “yeah I can do that”

“ok great ill drive you home on Wednesday then” after that we both headed to our classes.

 The next few days ran smoothly Annabeth and I talked in the morning and in between classes, we got our food together at lunch but we didn’t sit together which was ok, finally Wednesday rolled around, and the final bell rang.

In the time it took me to get to my locker Annabeth had somehow been to her locker, gotten rid of all her books, put a jumper on, said goodbye to her friends and made it to my locker, man that girl was quick.

“man, you’re slow” Annabeth laughed as I finally reached her

“yeah whatever” I laughed as I shoved my books into my locker “so ready for dinner”

“yes I will be on my best behaviour” Annabeth told me in a joking tone

“you know you’re having dinner with me right, you can be on your worst behaviour but still better than me” that made Annabeth laugh and she pushed me (in a friendly way) as we left the building.

Luckily we beat my parents home as we went straight to my house. My plan was to dump our bags in my room then go hang out in the living room, Annabeth however had other plans when she got in my room.

You don’t realise how much of yourself you revel in your room until you have someone stood in there judging it and essentially you. Annabeth turned to my open wardrobe mainly filed with hoodies and flannels, she eyed the photos of my family and friends on my desk, including photos of me holding my baby sister, and spending time fishing with my half-brother, Tyson. She looked at the posters on my wall, the marvel comics going back through the years, the office poster of Michael Scott’s movie threat level midnight, she did a double take at the worn out guitar in the corner, and the laptop which was still playing the good place on Netflix. It felt like she was judging my soul then she simply said

“cool room” I didn’t realise I was holding my breath until I breathed out. “I didn’t know you played guitar”

“umm yeah it was Pauls, when he started dating my mum he wanted to find something we could do together so he taught me, on my first birthday after they got married he gave me his guitar, he told me he always wanted to teach his kids, it was a big moment for us” I told her closing my wardrobe

She smiled at me “wow you really are a big softie aren’t you” I laughed. Annabeth spent the next half hour questioning basically everything in my room, we even got onto the topic of Tyson, Annabeth only stopped when she heard Estelle’s voice screaming for snacks

“ahh the family’s home” I joked as we walked downstairs.

“hello mother, Paul. This is Annabeth” I pointed at her; my mother hugged her instantly

“hi Annabeth, its so nice to meet you” Annabeth took a moment to recover

“umm its nice to meet you too Mrs Jackson”

“oh sweetie just call me sally”

“oh umm ok nice to meet you sally” id seen Annabeth be confident in every situation ever, but for the first time she seemed nervous, she would soon realise that my mum is the easiest person on earth to talk to

“and um hi Mr blofis”

“hi Annabeth, you can call me Paul here if you want”

“hi Paul” Annabeth smiled, mum and Paul went to put the shopping away in the kitchen

“your parents seem nice” Annabeth let out a nervous laugh

“yeah sorry about them being weird and everything, they’re just over excited I’ve never bought a girl over before” Annabeth looked surprised

“really why”

“I’ve never really had you know a proper girlfriend, I’ve been on dates and stuff but you know” I rubbed the back of my neck ( a nervous habit)

“that surprises me”

“umm yeah we’ll talk about it later” I laughed nudging her into the living room

“hi Estelle, this is Annabeth, you know the one I was talking about” Estelle was playing with her dinosaurs on the floor, she turned to look at Annabeth

“this is henry my dinosaur” she told her

“hi henry nice to meet you” Annabeth said sitting down to play with Estelle

“are all of these dinosaurs yours” Annabeth asked, Estelle nodded

“but you can have Tina so you can play as well” Estelle said holding up a stegosaurus which Annabeth happily took and played along with her

“you’re good with kids” I told her

“yeah I have little brothers, they’re twins so they needed twice the entertainment” she laughed

“I didn’t know you had brothers”

“I dint know you had a brother” she countered with

“fair point” I laughed.

Annabeth and I played with Estelle for about an hour before dinner was ready. I could tell you everything that happened over dinner but all you really need to know is that I absolutely made the right decision when I asked Annabeth to be my fake girlfriend. She was incredible, smart, funny my parents just loved her so much. It was a lovely evening.

I drove Annabeth home after dinner. I parked outside her house.

“thank you, Annabeth, for tonight. I mean really it went so well” I told her

“you know what your family are so nice and friendly I really did have a good time.” She said, I thanked her again as I walked her to the door, we hugged good night and I drove home

I walked into the living room where the rest of my family was and asked

“so, what do you think of Annabeth”

(this was my favourite chapter to write so far, thats why its slightly longer also sorry for the long wait, i started writing this chapter ages ago then it deleted its self then i moved to uni so havent really started writing again, sat down this evening and wrote the whole thing in one go. hopefully more chapters to come soon and please let me know what you think of the book so far. lots of love and all that crap)