#ch: tonks

[devilsmenu]

@dromeda-tonks cont. from here because beta editor

"It's not like I lived with the muggles but I could never hate them, they're still people, I don't understand why some people don't like them, they just don't have powers" Toria said with a shrug. "I'm also from Slytherin" she replied. "And thank you, I do appreciate it" she said with a smile.

[theenchantedecho]

Secret Society of Style: The Fashionable Lives and Scandals of the Wizarding World's Elite

Hold onto your hats, dear readers! Amidst the gloom and doom of the ongoing war, we've uncovered an enchanting tale filled with glamour, intrigue, and of course, fashion. Our sources have recently spotted Narcissa Black, Andromeda Tonks, and Mary MacDonald sashaying around Diagon Alley in the most bewitching ensembles. Let's dive into the magical world of wizarding high fashion and unveil the secrets behind these style icons, shall we?

The Black Sisters: A Tale of Two Styles and a Family Feud

While Narcissa Black is known for her elegant, icy demeanour, she certainly knows how to bring the heat when it comes to fashion. Spotted draped in opulent emerald velvet robes, the stunning witch oozed sophistication as she strolled through Diagon Alley with her signature grace. Rumour has it that Narcissa's wardrobe is a treasure trove of magical garments, each with its own unique charm (literally).

On the other hand, her estranged sister Andromeda Tonks, mother to the adorable Nymphadora, has embraced a more eclectic and daring sense of style. Our sources gushed about the rebellious combination of her chic black robes, paired with a daring dragonhide corset. Her bold choices have not gone unnoticed, as whispers of admiration (and envy) follow her wherever she goes.

An anonymous source close to the Black family told us that Narcissa and Andromeda's style rivalry might be rooted in their strained relationship, with fashion serving as a battleground for their unspoken tensions. "They've been at odds for years," our source confided, "and it seems their fashion choices are just another way to one-up each other."

Mary MacDonald: A Dash of Muggle Flair and a Secret Romance

It seems Mary MacDonald, a former Gryffindor, has also become a trendsetter in her own right. Mary, who's been known to dabble in the Muggle world, has brought back some delightful Muggle-inspired fashion to our magical society. From her colourful, floral-patterned skirts to her tasteful use of Muggle accessories, Mary has certainly created a buzz within the wizarding fashion community.

But the buzz doesn't stop there. Rumours are swirling that Mary's newfound Muggle fascination might be linked to a secret romance with a Muggle-born wizard. An eyewitness claimed to have seen her sharing a butterbeer with a charming Muggle-born at The Leaky Cauldron, sparking whispers of a budding love affair. We can only speculate whether this romance might influence her fashion choices even further.

The Gossip: Fashionable Friendships, Rivalries, and Secrets

As these three enchanting witches continue to turn heads in the wizarding world, the rumour mill is working overtime. Are they simply friends bonding over their shared love for fashion, or is there a more competitive edge to their stylish outings? Our sources suggest that Narcissa and Andromeda's tumultuous relationship may be a driving force behind their constant one-upmanship in the style stakes.

Fashion Expert Weighs In

We reached out to Lavinia LeFay, a renowned magical fashion designer, for her thoughts on these fashionable witches. "It's brilliant to see prominent figures embracing the beauty and diversity of magical fashion," Lavinia said. "Each witch brings her own unique flair and personality to her style, which I believe serves as an inspiration for the rest of the wizarding world."

Stay Tuned for More Magical Fashion

While the ongoing war against Voldemort continues to cast a dark shadow, it's essential to find moments of beauty, creativity, and enchantment in our lives. These stylish witches remind us that even in the darkest of times, there's still room for a touch of glamour and self-expression.

So, dear readers, keep your eyes peeled for more fashion-forward sightings and gossip from the magical world. Will Narcissa continue to showcase her refined taste, or will Andromeda's daring looks steal the spotlight? And what about Mary MacDonald's blossoming romance? Will her Muggle-inspired style evolve with her heart's desires?

We encourage you to share your thoughts, sightings, and of course, your own fabulous fashion moments with us here at The Enchanted Echo. Together, let's celebrate the magical community and the enchanting world of wizarding fashion.

In the meantime, don't forget to participate in our latest fashion poll, where you can vote for your favourite magical outfit of the month. Who knows, your vote might just be the deciding factor in our wizarding world's ultimate style showdown!

Remember, dear readers, fashion is a powerful form of self-expression, and even in these trying times, we must never forget to let our inner magic shine. Stay vigilant, stay stylish, and above all, stay safe in the midst of the ongoing war. We're all in this together, and together we'll continue to thrive and create a brighter, more fashionable future for the wizarding world.

@ablackprincess @medasgalaxy  @vclatiles

[keepmycandleburning]

Voldemort is someone who is consistently invested in other people's love lives. This was a big aspect of how I characterized him in Keep My Candle Burning, and it's not one I see explored that much.

We first see this in the Chamber of Secrets when Tom Riddle reveals he's been talking via the diary to Ginny about her crush on Harry:

Of course he says it was boring, yet he was doing this, seemingly in-depth and often, for what, the entire school year? Also, I think it's highly possible that the diary helped write Ginny's singing Valentine, due to the use of 'the Dark Lord,' a term virtually only Voldemort supporters use:

In the graveyard, Voldemort gets his body back and almost immediately starts monologuing about his parents' romantic relationship. It's so understandable that he's really tried to put all this together, but it strikes me how he says Merope 'fell in love with' Tom Riddle Sr. Canonically, he probably got this paragraph of information from his father, who believed that Merope 'hoodwinked' him (HBP Ch 10), not that she fell in love with him. Did Voldemort make this up? Why?

And again here he then acts scornful of what he just willingly said, making an ironic/sarcastic (I think, though I took it literally in my fic) comment and then denying that they're even his family at all:

I think this trait of his is most noticeable in The Dark Lord Ascending, where he spends half the meeting talking about Lupin & Tonks's marriage and their hypothetical future pregnancy, and then says Professor Burbage wants them all to mate with Muggles and werewolves (side note, I love how he says 'us all' as if he's also going to do it HAHAHAHA). His mind immediately goes to bringing up someone's marriage to get his point across to Bellatrix:

Next, the locket goes mainly for humiliating Ron about his romantic life (or lack thereoff...) Horcrux pattern... being interested in its victims' love lives, and using them as a main point of manipulation:

And then finally the big one: the fact that Voldemort, canonically, has had not just one but multiple conversations with Snape about his feelings for Lily: Snape asking for Voldemort to spare her, and evidently saying something that led Voldemort to believed that Snape 'desired' her, and then a second conversation where they apparently both agreed that there are better romantic partners for Snape:

He then immediately proceeds to interpret Harry's statement "he loved her for nearly all of his life" to be about romantic love (which to be fair he already knew, but still, I think it's notable because I'm not sure that it's true):

For a character who really has such little time on-screen, this is definitely a repeated behavior we see from him. Voldemort is not averse to topics of romance or sex, which is a huge misconception about him. There is no evidence for that whatsoever—quite the contrary

[ttulipwritezz]

King Of My Heart (Body And Soul)~ R. Lupin.

Chapter  3 - Helpless 

Ootp! Remus Lupin x Sirius's sister!Reader

Synopsis: When James and Lily died, and your brother was sent to Azkaban, Remus was the only person you had left. Until he left too. What happens when he returns after the events of Sirius's escape, only to find out you have a son? A son that's his.

WC: 2.2 k

Warnings: lots of italics, probably grammatical mistakes, kiss(es), might be ooc idk, child (?), fem reader, italics are flashbacks and thoughts ( idk), love (ew), Sirius is back, mentions of torture, abuse, walburga black, abandonment, fear of feeling helpless, screaming ig, abandonment [ look at series masterlist for all content warnings]

A/n: I am actually so, so proud of this chapter. It's slightly longer than the others and a little more angsty. LOTS of conflicting feelings. Remus is kind of an ass, but no one's perfect :) But I’ll have it be less sad in the next few chapters following ch 4. I think? Thanks for reading and please reblog and/or comment. If you like this :) likes don't do much on tumblr <3

Series Masterlist, Main Masterlist, Navigation

With a furrow of his brows, Remus glanced towards Sirius when the two of you made your way to the dining hall for the order meeting.

If Sirius noticed, he didn’t say anything. Molly ushered the children out of the hall and Kingsley started the meeting.

They began with new information and ended with assigned missions. With your absence from the order for so long, you seemed to be the least informed amongst them all. So far you knew that Kingsley worked for the ministry and was secretly helping lead the order under Dumbledore's guidance.

And that there was an incredibly intelligent woman at the end of the table. Nymphadora Tonks. Don’t call her that though.

The name Tonks was awfully familiar to you. Until it clicked. She was your niece! Your cousin’s daughter.

Oh how she’d grown up. 

Along with this, you got to know about Peter’s betrayal and how he had framed your brother. Peter… You really did treasure his friendship at one point. You grieved him just as you had the others. To know that he was a traitor and sent your brother to Azkaban and was partially responsible for your husband's leaving, left you seething, to say the least.

You wanted to crush that thick skull of his with your bare hands.

 Noticing your discomfort, Sirius put a hand over yours, so as to say…you’re okay.

~

“you’re okay. You’re okay” At this point you weren’t sure whether Sirius’s words were meant to convince you or convince himself. His chest rising and falling rapidly to accommodate his frantic state.

Walburga’s yelling could be heard from the other room.

“YOU DISGRACE! YOU IMBECILE! GET BACK HERE THIS INSTANT!” Her yelling did little to calm your trembling and even littler to quiet your sobs.

You do not know what began another one of her scoldings, you don’t remember what you’d done to be on its receiving end yet again. All you knew is that Sirius was punished with the cruciatus curse and you were going to be next. Despite his state, all Sirius thought about was you. How his baby sister was hurt, scared and in so much pain.

That night Sirius left, with you, nothing but his wand and jacket hung about his arm as he led a trembling you out of the house and ran.

That night Sirius ran, he ran till his legs burned. His calves ached and his chest heaved. He ran and ran and ran. He ran to the only place he could think of. He ran.

“Don’t you dare come back! You disgrace to the Black Family name!” Walburg’s words were still ringing in his ears by the time he made it to potter manor, and you weren’t in a much better state yourself.

As soon as the door opened to the frantic knocking, it seemed as though all the adrenaline left Sirius's body and he collapsed right into James's arms. You stood there, eyes stinging, heavy with exhaustion. That was when you truly felt helpless.

~

The next morning, you awoke to voices. Not the ones in your head, ones from outside. With little energy you opened up your eyes. The brightness of the morning sun blinded you for a moment, and that suffocating feeling came back.

You sat up so fast that your head started to spin. Your eyes were wide and your breathing erratic. 

As you were ready to look around your surroundings, ready to see exactly where Walburga had put you again, a hand came into your field of vision. A bruised hand, ready to help.

Sirius gently hovered his hands over your cheek, careful as to not touch you. His eyes held the utmost kindness and compassion. He had woken up from one too many nightmares himself.

“Y/n?” His voice was unsure yet it provided you with the comfort you seeked at the moment.

Your shoulders relaxed and you Jumped forward to embrace him. You were safe, you were okay.

Once most of the order members left, You began to count just how many people will be staying at grimmauld place for the time being.

You had a place further away from this merlin forsaken house. That felt like home. This didn't 

You and Regulus had only shown up a couple days ago to tidy up and be prepared. Technically, you owned it, and there was nothing your mother’s portrait that hung in the second floor corridor could do about it. She was dead.

The Weasleys, Harry, Hermione and Sirius were all staying, there was more than enough room for them. What you dreaded was Remus’s presence. 

Gathering up all the courage you could, you decided to talk to Remus. No time like the present! Should be a piece of cake!

Wrong.

Remus avoided you every chance he got. And you can’t blame him. 

Okay...perhaps you were avoiding him a teeny, tiny, itty, bitty bit as well…

Okay! you were avoiding him fully.

But you can’t blame yourself! It’s hard.

What are you supposed to say?

“Oh hey husband who left me to process severe trauma and grief on my own..you have a KID! He’s 13! You know him already! :D ”

Making faces at your inner monologue wasn’t helping though, because you jumped the moment your eyes caught a figure leaning against the doorway, right arm up against the arch as the other finds purchase on his hip.

Remus.

Remus, your husband, was watching you make faces at yourself to talk to yourself for the past..you don’t know how long.

For a moment you just stared at each other, blinking and making no noise.

Then a smile broke out on his face, which subsequently led to one on yours.

He was the first to break the silence.

“So…How are you?” he pursed his lips after he spoke.

Strange, you considered. That’s how he begins a conversation?

Your eyes move across the room, he’s staring straight at you. It feels like he can see right through you. That he can see the gears turning in your head.

“I’ve met Regulus before…At Hogwarts, I mean. I was his DADA professor.” He says after noticing your silence.

Getting a noise of affirmation from you in return encourages his to speak further.

“Who is he? To you? I know the name isn’t exactly new” His head tilted to the side in the way a kicked puppy's would. 

From where you’re standing, in the little light, you can see his adam's apple bobbing up and down as he gulps, nervousness obvious throughout his being.

You don't lead with “he’s your son”. No. You begin short and simple. 

“He’s my son.”

You hope your voice doesn't reflect the fact that a lump has formed in your throat. You hoped your voice wasn't trembling like your hands.

A look washes over Remus's face. One you’d describe as recognition…or perhaps disappointment. In you or himself, that you wouldn't know.

Being from the Black family, you never hid your true thoughts. Feelings? sure, but thoughts? No.

“Disappointed are you? In me or yourself?”

There was a sass to your words you didn't expect. Once again a smile seems to tug at Remus's lips, stretching the scar, you didn't recognise yet, ever so slightly.

“Ever the witty one, my love” his words were airy. More relaxed.

Certainly too relaxed for your taste. There was no way he was so apathetic towards this. Not when it hurts you like a thousand hexes.

“Don't.” 

You don't know what gave you the sudden strength, the sudden courage, to stand your ground. What made you narrow your eyes and cross your arms.

What made you suddenly reject the light atmosphere he had created, while you so clearly longed to be in his arms. Heaving a sigh, you continued.

“You don't get to just come back and call me your love. You can't do that to me. Not again.”

Your voice was but a mere whisper towards the end of your sentance.

Not again. That's what you told yourself when you saw Remus this morning. You weren't going to throw yourself into his arms again. 

But how could you not when his arms just looked so warm and comfortable?

How could you when you’d spent fourteen years without them?

You were hoping he’d pick up the forgiving glint in your eyes and apologise.

His gaze flickered throughout the room. As if somehow that would answer you. First the lamp, in the furthest corner. Then the carpet caught his attention. Then suddenly the marble countertop seemed oh so interesting.

After what felt like hours, but really must've been a minute, he began to break the silence.

“Right…uhh-”

You watched as he paused, a divot appearing in between his brows, scrunching together, as a look of realisation crossed his features.

“-how old is he?”

The words escaped him with urgency, as if knowing this was extremely crucial.

It was, you just didn't know that.

“He’s fourteen- will be this year.”

Your mind was racing with thoughts, surely Remus wouldn't need to ask something so trivial.

It felt as though you could see the gears turning in his mind. He was so deep into thought.

But then his eyebrows shot up and his eyes widened.

“He’s mine.” He wasn't asking though, despite it sounding more like a question than affirmative.

That, you didn't expect.

And now you were the one who’s gaze was skittering across the room in hopes of finding an answer.

He knows. He knows. Oh Merlin he knows!

“He’s mine.”

Remus repeats, his voice comes out choked. As if he was ready to cry any moment.

Hearing a sniffle, you looked up to see Remus bringing his hand up to his face, which was rather red, and covering his eyes much like a little kid would.

You felt horrible, how could you hide this from him.

No. You did the right thing. He didn't want you. He wouldn't want Regulus either. He left! Awful. Awful! Bad!

“I have a son?”

You could definitely hear the tears in his voice, his light, choked up sobs echoed through the room. 

Hey, that's how you reacted when you found out too. 

You felt the sudden need to apologise. You shouldn't have to.

“Yes.” 

You settled on that. Yes. That's all he needed to know.

A flurry of questions bombarded his mind.

“Why didn't you tell me?” 

He looked angry. Why was he angry? He has no right to be angry.

You were furious.

“Why do you think Remus? Why do you think I hid him from you? Are you that daft!?”

 An incredulous chuckle accompanied your words. You were seething. And you weren't done, so you continued.

“You left me! James and Lily died! My brother was sent to Azkaban. And you left!”

Your volume was rising by the second. You're certain a little more and the whole house would hear it.

Maybe also hear the sound of your heart breaking along with.

You felt ridiculous. How is he angry at this? He has no right.

“If you’d told me I would have stayed! How long had you known!?”

If you told him.

He wouldn't have stayed for you. He would have stayed for the kid.

Not for you.

“Two weeks before-”

You managed to get out before he interrupted you.

“And you didn't think to tell me!?”

Why did he have to say it like that? Like he hated you?

It hurt.

“I tried.” 

Your chest felt heavy as you uttered those words. It felt like a wound had reopened.

Once again you were meek. You felt like a child being reprimanded by their parent. You've had a fair share of that already. You didn't need more.

You felt...helpless.

This was your husband. He wasn't supposed to be angry at you.

Suddenly all the feelings you’d been shoving down came right up.

“No Remus. You have no right! You cannot come back after years and pretend that we are fine! I did the right thing Remus. And I will not have you make me believe otherwise.”

You felt ridiculous. Yet again, he has made you feel small. That didn't happen before. 

Remus, your remus always made you feel loved. And seen.

This isn't your Remus.

“I don't know who you are. I know I did the right thing. I know…”

Right?

You shook your head as you spoke those words, you seemed to close in on yourself. Backing away until you couldn't. You can't do this right now.

His words seemed so collected when he replied. As much as they could, when he had been sobbing a moment ago. They still held anger in them.

“But I am his father.”

A gasp echoes through the empty corridor.

Not yours…

Regulus's.

"He is my father?”

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[sideprince]

Re-read this bit in Half-Blood Prince again and thinking about how blatantly it seems to be telling us that Harry is biased against Snape and our impression of him thus far has been clouded by seeing him through Harry's eyes (emphases mine):

‘The Dark Arts,’ said Snape, ‘are many, varied, ever-changing and eternal. Fighting them is like fighting a many-headed monster, which, each time a neck is severed, sprouts a head even fiercer and cleverer than before. You are fighting that which is unfixed, mutating, indestructible.’ Harry stared at Snape. It was surely one thing to respect the Dark Arts as a dangerous enemy, another to speak of them, as Snape was doing, with a loving caress in his voice? . . . ‘He tried to jinx me, in case you didn’t notice!’ fumed Harry. ‘I had enough of that during those Occlumency lessons! Why doesn’t he use another guinea pig for a change? What’s Dumbledore playing at, anyway, letting him teach Defence? Did you hear him talking about the Dark Arts? He loves them! All that unfixed, indestructible stuff -‘ ‘Well,’ said Hermione, ‘I thought he sounded a bit like you.’ ‘Like me?’ ‘Yes, when you were telling us what it’s like to face Voldemort. You said it wasn’t just memorising a bunch of spells, you said it was just you and your brains and your guts - well, wasn’t that what Snape was saying? That it really comes down to being brave and quick-thinking?’ Harry was so disarmed that she had thought his words as well worth memorising as The Standard Book of Spells that he did not argue.

Half-Blood Prince, Ch. 9

There's a direct contrast being drawn from one scene to the next between Harry's perception of Snape and Hermione's less-biased, more critical one. Where Harry hears a "loving caress" for the dark arts in Snape's voice, Hermione hears the passionate, determined explanation that Harry gave a year earlier - one based in a firsthand understanding of what it takes to protect oneself from harm against dark magic.

This is also the first scene in this book where we see Snape teaching a class. The first time he shows up in the book is when he's entrusted by Tonks to deliver Harry safely to the Great Hall from the school gates. So the first encounter with Snape in HBP is as Harry's protector, be it begrudging or not, and the second is one where an immediate parallel is drawn after between him and Harry, Hermione questioning the latter's bias and hinting to the reader that judging him based on Harry's perception may not paint an accurate picture of Snape. Through the rest of the book we see Harry have an increasingly hostile relationship with Snape while developing a great fondness for the Half-Blood Prince, despite it also being Snape, only Harry doesn't know that, so he's able to see his humor and cleverness.

This theme is a dominant one throughout the book, though it doesn't become clear until the end when we find out Snape was the Half-Blood Prince, but by then our impression of the Prince is murky given the unexpectedly violent outcome of Harry trying out Sectumsempra (and it can be argued he's to blame for doing so against another person instead of finding out what the spell does in a safer way), and our impression of Snape is even worse given that he'd just killed Dumbledore. We don't find out until the next book that Snape had been fighting on the same side as Harry the whole time, risking - and eventually losing - his life for the same cause. In retrospect, Rowling (boo, hiss) spends a lot of time in HBP dropping breadcrumbs that Harry's impression of Snape - and thus the reader's - is affected by bias and thus inaccurate.

[celestemagnoliathewriter]

Lupin & Tonks: Order of the Phoenix Moments

If you've ever looked for all the Lupin & Tonks moments in OotP, look no further. I spent some time today compiling all the times we see Lupin and Tonks together (so you don't have to), with a few of my own notes for each of these moments. Something that came up for me while compiling this: we rarely see Tonks without Remus. If Tonks is anywhere near Harry, you can almost guarantee that Lupin is there too. I don't think this is coincidental.

We meet Tonks when we see Lupin in The Advance Guard. Tonks has a few sassy lines until Lupin introduces her as "And this is Nymphadora--". Tonks of course tells him not to call her Nymphadora (she calls him Remus), and then Remus finishes with "--Nymphadora Tonks, who prefers to be known by her surname only." My own notes: like many Remadora fans, I see this as subtle flirtation on Remus's part. Is it conscious? Probably not. I like to think he likes to rile her up every now and then because he finds it charming.

Lupin and Tonks carry Harry's trunk together in the next chapter. I picture Lupin behind Tonks so he can check out her trunk ;)

We learn from Harry that Remus steps in to help with cleaning Grimmauld Place, and sometimes they're joined by Tonks (she helped remove a ghoul from a toilet). This gives us an idea that Remus and Tonks are spending time together--with others around, presumably--in addition to any Order missions. I have a little HC that when Tonks comes over and Remus is at GP, he drops whatever he's doing to come see her and help with cleaning (even if he hates it).

We see Tonks again at the beginning of ch. 7, The Ministry of Magic. Harry wakes up and finds Arthur, Molly, Sirius, Lupin, and Tonks waiting for him. Tonks is tired but immediately greets Harry. Meanwhile, Remus: "Lupin glanced at Harry, then said to Tonks, 'What were you saying about Scrimgeour?'" I find it interesting that Tonks greets Harry while Remus just takes a look at him and goes instantly back to talking to Tonks. Harry: mild panic over upcoming hearing. Remus: glance and go back to talking to his crush. I HC that at this point, Remus is still unaware that he is developing feelings for Tonks, and Tonks is clueless about it.

Tonks shows up for the prefect party thrown for Ron and Hermione. Harry notices her with Sirius, Lupin, and Kingsley. Tonks wears her hair long and red, which makes Harry think she looks like Ginny's older sister (a high compliment, considering Harry finds Ginny very pretty). Tonks also says she wasn't a prefect, and then Harry finds out Sirius wasn't either, nor was his father, James.

Both Lupin and Tonks accompany the kids to King's Cross. Tonks goes with Harry (she's morphed as little old lady), while Lupin arrives with Ginny, Fred, and George. I picture the gang going back to GP, with Sirius in a great mood, and then Lupin and Tonks having some more bonding moments.

(The only time we see Tonks without Lupin is when Arthur is attacked and the kids go to St. Mungo's. It's Mad-Eye and Tonks who take the kids across London to the hospital.)

Lupin and Tonks escort the kids back to Hogwarts via the Knight Bus. Tonks is disguised as a tall, tweedy woman, and Lupin leads the way to the bus. It's a bit unclear if Lupin and Tonks take the Knight Bus back to London or if they Apparate away. As Harry only mentions the bus having disappeared, I assume that Lupin and Tonks went back on the bus to have some quality time together.

(We get a good bit of Lupin when Harry sees Snape's Worst Memory. One of the few times Tonks isn't around Lupin, but I think it's the middle of a workday and Remus and Sirius have nothing better to do than sit around at GP and relive the good old days.)

Tonks and Lupin show up at the Ministry in ch. 35, Beyond the Veil. Tonks gets seriously injured by Bellatrix and topples down many stone seats. Lupin tells Harry to take the others and go. Then Sirius dies and Lupin holds Harry back from going after him. We learn later that Tonks likely had to spend some time at St. Mungo's, but she should make a full recovery. I always like various interpretations of this injury and its impact on Remus: does he panic when he realizes she's unconscious? Is he there with her at the hospital? Did he bring her there? Is that when he meets her parents? So many options for these scenes.

The last time we see Tonks in OotP is at King's Cross. She's recovered, has bright pink hair, patched jeans, and a Weird Sisters t-shirt. She's standing next to a shabby-looking Lupin. She joins in the effort of intimidating the Dursleys, her sentence being finished by none other than Lupin. Tonks: "The point is, if we find out you've been horrible to Harry--" Lupin, finishing her thought: "--and make no mistake, we'll hear about it."

All of these moments are from Harry's POV. We can assume that there are missions that Lupin and Tonks did together, and many more moments of bonding at Grimmauld Place with the Order. Tonks is with Lupin when we meet her for the first time in OotP and again when we see her at the end.

From Harry's POV, we can't really see their relationship building, but given what we know later in the series, it's not hard for me to imagine each of these moments as bigger points in time when Lupin and Tonks grow closer to one another.

[lilbeanz]

Hello! NEW FAN HERE! I hope u have a wonderful day, AS WONDERFUL AS YOUR WORK!! Rlly! I LO VE IT! I just founded 4 days ago and I haven’t stop since. Girl were should I star?

First book­­ - SO REFRESHING! A Draco who still behaves like the child he grew up to being and not noticing the social cues? *Chefs kiss* all the book I was like: noooooo pls baby boy! Date cuenta! Not like dat!!

Second book – you telling me that Draco is the possessed now?!! GRL IM ON IT!! Yes! So sad and so good at the same time! The valentine day made me think, IT WOULD make sense for Draco to send the poem, also Pansy! Haha rlly clever of her to make him do that! I scream all the time (like it was happening to me LOL) AND THE FINAL? God! How I hate Lucius! Like “oh really? That's your reaction? LITTLE DRAGON NEEDS A HUG Goddamit!”

Third Book – THIS! This is what I begin to read ur work! THIS IS WHY I PAY MY INTERNET BILL! YES!! Abba? ABBA?!!! I read all the book listening to Voulez Vous! Thank U very much! The trauma with the quills and the ink? And then Hermione gifting stationary? Omg cute! Yule day? I love the time alone with Harry. Now, Chiquitita? CHIQUITITA? I died and revived at the same time, the realization of the FELLINGS? Girl I feel that! and the end? THEY CAPTURE PETTIGREW? YES!!! FINALLY! THAT’S MY CANON! The last dance make me giggle like crazy, so happy :,)

Fourth Book – If the third made me love it, the FOURTH MADE ME WANT TO PROPOSE! I love everything! Tonks family? I was so happy with that! Narcissa choosing his son and begin to live a common life? QUEEN! Homesick feelings were understandable. NOW! ERIK? God, I love him, such a gentleman! Yule ball? 10000/10 from Hermione and Pancy preparation, Draco suit, the canary dance, THE BI PANIC??? Hahaha LOVE EVERYTHING! And the after party? So funny! I loved Dumbledor's reaction with it and the Golden Snitget! Denial Draco is the best! Make me laugh so much (I can relate LOL) AND JEALOUS HARRY?? HAHAHA serves him right! Muajajaj and Veela powers? Hahahaha that’s my other canon. The lasts parts make sad for the fight and the depression (How I hate Harry for that) but at the same time was happy for the outcome Heheheh BI Harry is so funny!

NOW! I BEGIN WITH THE 5TH LIKE… 4 Hours ago LOL, SO FAR! SO GOOD!  I’m in my working hours and all the time I was giggling. Ngl the tags of harassment scared me but if u put a warning I can be prepared. So far, I love all Ch2, the interactions were everything hehe, Kreacher make me laugh, I hope there is an interaction with Walburga's painting too (is not necessary or anything, if there is no one, for me is still an excellent work)

Finally, I really love JDT! please KEEP GOING! U ARE A GREAT WRITER! AND NOTHING TO SAY ABOUT YOUR DRAWINGS OTHER THAN THEY ARE BEAUTIFUL! I was watching them at the same time I was reading. I’m so ready for Ch 5 and more! Do you have any schedule for the uploads? If not is OK, please take your time with them if u need it, bc so far this is a wonderful work and it's worth the wait.

Babes I am a puddle 🥹❤️

This is such a lovely encompassing comment for the series so far! I am SO glad you're enjoying the story hehe. I hope YOU have a wonderful day too💖

The second hand embarrassment in some scenes, especially the Valentine's Fiasco of '93, is so cringy I knowww🫣 (just try and stop me)

Our boy has grown so much 🥲

And Welcome to the cult!!!! Have a mandatory biscuit! 🍪

In this household we enjoy the silly goofy ahh shenanigans ✨️

[maelstroumwaterfall]

Arbormagic Sydrome (The End Of The Wizarding World) | Hogwarts Mystery Infection AU Chapter 7

(Warning: Blood; Description of disturbing scenes.)

Chapter 7 | Not her time yet

- No! It's all my fault!.. I must find her! - were the last words Barnaby heard before he had to rush after Penny to stop her from going to the Forbidden Forest alone. She was running towards the front doors, she was sure it was her fault that Tonks went missing.

She ran out of the castle, sobbing and wiping her tears. Many people have already been asked and nobody knew when the young witch could be. Tonks was last seen at Olivander's and nobody saw her since she leaved that place.

- Penny, no! - Barnaby called out after her and after a few moments reached to catch her. She tried to pull out of his grip but he held her close as he couldn't let her put herself in danger. - You can't just go to the Forbidden Forest and look for her, especially in such condition! You need to stay in hospital wing. She can be anywhere, you'll only put yourself in danger this way..

She made a few more attempts to get away while listening to him, but his words made her stop for a moment and let her regain her breath. Her voice was trembling, not just cause she was sobbing but also due to the cold wind that made her shiver. - But what if something happened to her? What if she needs our help?..

He couldn't find the words that would comfort her. Just staying at Hogwarts wasn't easy for him either, he would probably go to search for Tonks with Penny, but he just can't let her go anywhere in this condition and besides.. it wasn't like he himself felt good. He felt symptoms similar to the myalgia, his veins and muscles were aching and he couldn't get rid of the constant exhaustion with any sleep.

- She's being rescued. I'm sure she'll soon be found. It'll not help the situation if we also go missing. - as he said it he felt like some of her tears fell down on his hands. He felt like crying himself when he saw her suffering so much. She's haunted by the guilt and constant pain.

She's been transferred to the hospital wing recently, it enabled Barnaby to spend more time with her, but also to see in how much pain she's in. She had to constantly get the wounds she causes herself disinfected, but then she would still keep scratching them futher, causing even more harm to her already damaged skin.

Her eyes were red and irritated cause she was barely able to sleep, he could also hear her always crying at night. He was trying to comfort her, but it wouldn't help the agony of pain she was going through. Nobody knew what was going on with her.

She just leaned back in his arms and buried her head in his chest while the tears kept falling down her cheeks. Lee tried to comfort her and gently stroked her back while holding her close to himself, hoping it would help to relieve her pain, at least just a little bit.

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

- So you're sure it was him? - Murk whispered so only Rowan and Merula would hear. They were in the library as Merula stated this place for her meeting with Ismelda and it happened that she also took Rowan with her.

Merula told her about what happened in the Slytherin common room and how Maelström sneaked in her dorm room while she slept. Rowan still felt very conflicted, like he's betraying his best friend. He really wanted to trust Waterfall but just couldn't after everything he saw him doing.

- I know it. It couldn't be anyone else. And what happened at the Care For Magical Creatures lesson just proved it! - Snyde responded and glanced at them to see if they understand what she means.

- You mean.. That Kneazle attacked him cause he was a danger? - Rowan asked her and immediately remembered the terrible pictures of his friend screaming in agony and his bare skin that was torn off his face. He felt like his mind became dizzy again, it was definitely a very heavy and traumatic memory for him.

- I would choose a word "scum" instead of "danger", but yes, that's exactly what I mean. Professor Kettleburn told us that Kneazles have an uncanny ability to detect untrustworthy people. Isn't what happened with Maelström not a proof that he hides something? - she noticed how Rowan was struggling with the memories about his friend and couldn't help but felt a kind of pity for him.

Two Slytherins looked at eachother and nodded. For Ismelda it was more like a game, she was just curious about the whole situation while Rowan's intention was to understand if Maelström needs help or is a danger to others.

- You're probably right. I - Ismelda didn't manage to finish as she was interrupted by Rowan. His tone was uncertain but he felt like the idea makes sense.

- You said something about the traces on your wand, right? - Rowan looked at Merula and she nodded. She was a little surprised at his sudden interruption but she was curious about what he had in mind. - What if it's a creature? I mean.. A magical creature?

Both girls glanced at him with questioning expression and he had no other choice but to continue.

- Well.. I haven't heard of such things before but.. there could probably be magical insects that can live in wood? Like.. Literally merge with it. - he suggested, feeling a little foolish but he noticed that Merula really had some thoughts about it now.

- Or it gets into the people's bodies through their ears while they sleep! - was Murk's suggestion that made both Rowan and Merula scowl in disgust. - What? That would actually explain Waterfall's behaviour.

- What if both? - Merula suddenly exclaimed and caught Madam Pince's attention. She made her tone more silent and bent down to Rowan and Ismelda so they could hear her better. - It would explain why Maelström sneaked into my dorm room.. And why he stole my wand too..

- And it would explain the Kneazle's reaction to Maelström. I mean.. Maelström isn't a bad person as you might think.. What if the Kneazle could somehow detect this.. creature? - Rowan still hoped that they were wrong about Maelström. He knew him more than any of them. He couldn't just pretend to get on well with him this whole time, could he?

- We might do some research on it. I would ask Professor Kettleburn about Kneazles if he only was at Hogwarts.. - Merula thought about who else she might ask about these creatures when Ismelda suddenly spoke up.

- Why not ask Filch? He cares about Mrs. Norris like she's his wife. Sure he knows everything about the species of her beloved. - that was actually a good idea from Ismelda. Merula didn't expect her to finally say something useful but it happened just in time.

- Then I'll go and find him right now. It's almost a curfew so I must hurry. You can look for more information here in the library while I'm gone. - Merula stood up from the seat and was already about to go out of the library and rush to find Filch. It was already late but she still had some time.

Both Rowan and Murk accepted her plan and Merula was already walking down the corridor to find the Hogwarts' caretaker. It was very dark in there, the moonlight that came through the windows was the only thing that could help her to navigate in the confusing row of the corridors and the staircases.

She couldn't help but noticed how silent it was there. Almost every student was already in their common or dorm room to avoid being caught by Filch.

As Merula walked she felt like having a some kind of peace. She took a deep breath and relaxed her lungs, she felt quite good. How long ago she had such feeling? She couldn't help but remembered the moments when she lived at her house with her parents, when she could sleep with the feeling that when she wakes up she'll see her mom and dad that love her, and then she suddenly remembered all the times when she woke up with only the feelings of loneliness and longing in her heart.

She learnt to ignore those feelings over time, but they still were constantly haunting her. She tried to push these thoughts away, she's not a child anymore. She was a child before, the one who got everything she had taken away. Now she was absolutely different person, right?

She couldn't answer the question in her head now. Suddenly, she heard someone's steps through the sound of her own. She immediately stopped and regretted that she didn't rush away as soon as she heard these footsteps. This someone sounded like his legs were moving randomly but rapidly, and when Merula wanted to turn and see who it was she suddenly felt someone's strong, death grip from behind.

It stumbled her legs and covered her mouth so she wouldn't be able scream. She didn't need much to see who it was. The side of eye enabled her to see Waterfall's distorted face. He tore his bandages off and his bloody, clawed off face was bare and even more disgusting. She felt like vomiting when she noticed how there were long, squirming worms moving under his bare skin. At least they looked like worms..

His only eye looked like it will fall out while the other one was replaced by the black hole that also had these worms coming out. This was everything she noticed in these two seconds before she barely managed to block the sharp knife that threatened to cut her throat.

She yelled in pain as she sharp metal pierced through her palm but she held onto it. She wouldn't give up her life so easily. Nobody could hear her screaming as her voice was muffled by the attacker's palm. She clenched her palm onto the knife even through it was bringing her the almost unbearable pain, she needed to do that to stay alive.

- DIE YOU WORTHLESS SLUT!!!! DIE!!!! - Waterfall yelled loudly, causing the blood fall out of his distorted mouth filled with the countless amount of worm-like creatures. Saying that he sounded absolutely mad is like saying nothing.

She felt like her mind became dizzy and how she was slowly losing control over her hand due to the sharp and burning pain. It felt like the knife pierced her bones and that she couldn't last holding this knife any longer anymore. This was a rare moment when she wanted to call, yell, beg for someone's help but she just couldn't.

That wasn't like she wanted her life to end.

( Btw Mrs. Norris is a Kneazle in my au ;> Thnx for reading 🩷🌟💝)

[herohimbowhore]

My fyp is filled with Lewis x Hamilton the Musical edits and they’re all very good. It led me to rewatching Hamilton. And again really good, I always forget how good the songs are.

But something that’s been stuck with me since I watched Hamilton, is that You’ll Be Back is so Christian Horner to Daniel Ricciardo coded.

Here’s a few lyrics that are the most CH to DR coded:

Remember, despite our estrangement, I'm your man

You'll be back, soon, you'll see

You'll remember you belong to me

You'll be back, time will tell

You'll remember that I served you well

When Daniel was dropped by McLaren in 2022, Christian Horner reached out and the whole Mexico hotel room conversation. It had been years but Red Bull was willing to take Daniel back into the fold.

You say our love is draining, and you can't go on

You'll be the one complainin' when I am gone

Daniel leaving Red Bull in 2018 and Christian saying that he’s running from a fight. Then Daniel not having as much success with Renault or McLaren as he did at Red Bull.

And no, don't change the subject

'Cause you're my favorite subject

Christian Horner has favorites and one of them is Daniel Ricciardo. The things he does for Daniel would not be done for most of the other Red Bull drivers. The honky tonk during the Nashville show run comes to mind because that was so over the top.

[hillnerd]

WAKING UP - CH 15

AO3   FFN      Beginning of story | Previous Chapter

chapter word count 13 114

Gigantic thank you to my beta @abradystrix. Check out her work as it's truly lovely writing!

previously in 'Waking Up'(honestly, I recommend re-reading the chapter before as lots of it ties to this chapter)

Ron briefly connects with Ginny and she tells him how worried she is for him before she leaves the Burrow- she had a confrontation with Harry the night before about Ron's safety that the couple are still reeling from.

Ron learns some spells to use in his Combat Readiness Exam. Harry and Ron go to the Ministry for their C.R.E. but are confronted by loads of reporters, including Rita Skeeter. Robbie rescues them with a side room to weigh their wands.

They get ready for their C.R.E. and Ramona is late and looking bedraggled.

It's time for the C.R.E.- it's a hostage situation, they're all wearing the same safety vests as before, and they split up to find the hostage.

Harry Ron Ramona Claudia and Neville take out a team of 3 Aurors- one of which was a rooftop 'sniper' type Auror Ron was able to overpower.

They meet with the other recruits and get the 'hostage dummy' in a flurry of action- Ron's definitely experiencing PTSD symptoms and his arm is doing poorly-

There are 3 'enemy' Aurors left- Robards (head of Aurors), Sealy-Pearce and Musaad. They are in a 'squid room' that deflects spells and dove into the earth.

Neville and Vyse help with his arm that's numb and acting up.

The recruits split up to find the squid, Ramona Claudia Ron and Harry go underground, while the rest are above.

Harry and Ron split off and hear a voice:

"Harry?" came a voice. They both turned to the sound of the feminine voice.

"Was that—?" asked Harry.

"Harry?"

That was Ginny's voice! What was Ginny doing here? Her voice was there, clear as day, but there was no sign of Ron's sister. It had come from a different smaller tunnel.

"Gin?" Harry called out, going down the tunnel a few paces.

"Harry… I don't think—" Ron began.

"Harry?" came Ginny's voice again.

They slowly crept down the tunnel, wand's light being eaten up by the darkness.

"Harry!" They swung their wands and there was Ginny, covered in blood, reaching towards them.

Chapter warnings: cannon level violence, descriptions of cannon dead characters, ptsd symptoms, cursing, hallucinations, nightmarish creepy imagery, spiders, mention of blood and having trouble breathing, implied sexual assault memories, choking and water going up sinuses, reference to dead parent, reference to severely disabled parent, broken bone, characters with limited control of emotions/selves, strong emotions

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

CHAPTER 15 - C.R.E. #4

Ron wrenched back from his blood-covered sister, feet submerging in sludgy water.

“You didn’t do enough!” Ginny accused, pointing a bloody finger.

At first Ron thought she was directing her words at himself, but he soon realised she only had her piercing gaze set on Harry.

“Everyone’s dead because of you. You killed Fred. You killed Lupin and Tonks. Dobby and Sirius and Cedric and—”

“Don’t listen, Harry,” said Ron. He tried to step in front of him, but his boot caught fast in the slurry at his feet.

“Bill and George and Dad and Ron and I all nearly died because of you! Everywhere you go, people die for you! You use us as human shields and everyone ends up dead! Ron’s the next one to die becau—”

“Riddikulus!” Ron shouted at his sister. With a crack, she was in clown makeup, complete with clown nose and hat. It wasn’t particularly funny, but at least she wasn’t terrifying anymore.

Harry was pale beside him, eyes wide.

“Nothing that thing said is true,” Ron immediately said. “Not one word of it. Ginny doesn’t think that!”

Harry mutely moved his head in a pale imitation of a nod.

“Fucking Boggarts…” muttered Ron,

pulling at his leg until it squelched with a loud ‘thhhwip’ and came free.

“Here, let’s move before it changes into a giant spider.”

There was a crack behind him. He began to point his wand when he heard the voice rasping, “Got you to scream good and loud for me, didn’t I?”

A claw of terror raked over him, rendering him unable to move, to utter a single word.

That voice brought back every strike, every sensation… It felt like an iron suit of armour had dropped onto his chest from a fourth story window.

He turned and there stood the hulking figure of Otho Crowthers lurching towards him. His brow was as sloped as the last time he’d seen him, his steps as heavy and menacing. It even had that rancid smell of his body and breath. Ron thought he might throw up as that same smell rolled over him. How could the Boggart know the smell of him?

“Riddikulus,” he gasped, waving his wand.

“Bet I can make you scream without a wand… Can’t I?”

“Riddikulus!”

He couldn’t make it funny. He couldn’t think of anything. This wasn’t funny. His mind raced, searching for a way to lighten the darkness that surrounded him, but all he found were the suffocating grip of shame and the gnawing bite of fear.

“Who’s—?” Harry began to ask.

“I like raw meat like you, ginger.”

“Ri-Riddikulus,” Ron croaked.

“You know what I want to do to you? I’m gonna tear—” Crowthers crooned.

“Riddikulus!” cried Harry, stepping in front of the Boggart. Crowthers changed into an oversized Gorilla with a kazoo.

A tsunami of shame overwhelmed him, battering him to and fro until he was a pulp of useless flesh. He couldn’t bear to look over and see Harry grimly studying him.

The things it had said…

Every particle of him wished the cave would collapse on him. He didn’t want to see or be seen. How many times did he have to have his soul ripped out and put on display for his friend?

“Ron, who was that?”

“No one,” his mouth said before his brain could even begin to create an explanation. “Let’s… Let’s…”

“Ron…” He could hear the pleading in Harry’s voice to tell him what was going on; to let him help in some way. He couldn’t give that to him, as much as he wanted to spare his friend an iota of hurt, he just couldn’t.

“Please can we move away from the Boggart? Please?”

He was already pathetic, why not add begging to the mix?

“We can go back to the other tunnel,” agreed Harry, tone horribly gentle. They both ignored the Boggart as it latched onto Harry and turned into a bloody Ron on the ground. “Yeah, let’s go.”

Ron felt a hand on his back and jerked away.

Harry took a deep gulp of air, as if he was about to dive underwater. He tended to do that before an unpleasant conversation topic.

“So,” Harry began, but before he could say more the earth beneath their feet shook, and a great rumble echoed through the tunnels.

“The Squid,” Ron exclaimed, running towards the noise.

Harry hesitated, but quickly caught up with him.

Their wrists heated as their watches showed the message: ‘Found Squid! We’re at a manhole near Bethune! -Claudia’

They didn’t need a map; the crashing of the Squid was practically upon them.

As they rounded the corner, chaos unfolded and the air cracked with magic.

Ramona and Claudia were in the corner throwing spells, taking cover behind fallen stones and fragments of ancient columns.

Through the small red window, the Squid room churned out a destructive onslaught of hexes and blasts, each more destructive than the next.

Harry and Ron joined the fray, launching a flurry of spells, but nothing seems to hurt the Squid.

The Squid's tentacle-like limbs effortlessly blocked each spell, nullifying the magic as if it were nothing more than a puff of air.

“Can’t get anything through!” Ron panted.

Harry’s only response was to yell his spells louder.

One of Harry’s spells deflected off a metallic arm and struck the red window, causing a blink-and-you-miss-it crack to form.

“The window!” Ron yelled at him.

"Aim at the window!" Harry shouted to the team. Claudia and Ramona promptly responded, and the tunnel was alight with destructive spells.

"Reducto!" bellowed Harry. With his final hit, the crack spread across the window.

"We're doing it! It could break!" exclaimed Claudia.

The Squid's massive arms thrashed, striking the tunnel's side with a bone-shaking force and a pillar fell, pinning an arm of the Squid.

The Squid struggled to move, pulling at its trapped arm like a dog tugging at a rope. With a final lurch, it shook itself loose.

A horrifying crunch followed as the pillar was thrown across the alcove, taking out masonry as easily as one would brush away cobwebs.

“GET BACK!” yelled Harry.

Time slowed as pillars of brick crumbled, one brick at a time popping into dust, shaking the stone floor beneath their feet.

The tunnel walls groaned like an old whale, then gave way to the impending collapse.

The ground was gone from beneath Ron.

For a moment he was weightless and his stomach swooped. There was nothing to grab or do, but hang in the air and feel everything falling.

The impact knocked the wind out of him as he landed on unforgiving rocky terrain. Stones and masonry fell around him. He couldn’t breathe, but managed to pull his legs and arms in to protect himself.

The sound of everything collapsing was a deafening roar. Every pitch of sound both high and low was hit at once, surrounding him as he was shaken and hit.

The ground lurched again and he was thrown like a limp doll into darkness.

He struggled through his nose to take in air. He’d had the breath knocked out of him before, and knew what to do, but surrounded by dust and detritus it was hard to feel like his inhales were doing anything.

The cacophony of collapse finally eased.

Amid the darkness, he heard the moans of his companions.

He squinted up and it took a moment for his eyes to adjust. He found himself trapped between sections of the collapsed floor and a slanted piece of ceiling. He was not able to stand fully upright in the tight space and his arms began to ache.

He was filthy, and from head to waist he was sprinkled in a thin film of rust-coloured dust he tried to wipe off. Each brush against the orange dust only moved it around.

"Everyone okay?" called Claudia from somewhere above him.

"We're down here! We're alright!" came Harry's voice. “Where are you?”

“I’m in the tunnel we were in, but I don’t see anyone!” cried Claudia.

"Harry?" Ron coughed, swatting away the dust.

"Here!" A wand illuminated, and an orange hand waved from a corner of his alcove. There was a small opening; enough for an arm to fit through, but not enough for a whole body, even one as wiry as Harry's.

Ron peered into the hole.

Harry and Ramona were deep within the crevice, the wall and collapsed floor of the tunnel blocking their escape. Covered head to toe in a much thicker coating of orange dust, they looked like a duo of mutant Crookshankses.

Ron could feel a pressure building around him and the hairs on his neck began to rise. Something was wrong.

"Can you Apparate out?" Claudia called from up above. "I'm afraid to move any of this rubble without help. I don’t want to cause another collapse!"

Ron attempted to Apparate, but the anti-Apparition Ward was still in place. "I can’t Apparate. We'll have to wait until everyone regroups."

"Got you to scream good and loud for me."

Ron whipped his head around, certain the sound had originated from behind, but there was no Boggart in sight, just stone and dust motes still settling.

"Harry, do you see the Boggart?" he asked.

"No," Harry quietly replied, before adding, “but I can hear Ginny again.”

"You hear Ginny?" Ron questioned. “Can you hear anyone else?”

“No… Why? What do you hear?”

“Mum?” called Ramona.

“Ramona, what do you hear?” asked Harry.

“It’s… It’s my Mum… She’s begging for help… You said it was a Boggart? Where is it?”

Ron couldn’t hear Ginny or Ramona’s Mum.

A bloodcurdling scream rent the air. Hermione’s.

“Ron! Please! Help!”

He stood and yelled into the dark, “Riddikulus!”

But there was nothing to see, nothing to transform into something humorous.

The pressure from before was pounding on Ron now. He could feel the magic of the place swarming them. They were surrounded by it.

“I reinforced the walls so you won’t get crushed,” called Claudia. “But I’m nervous to move anything on my own up here. Hold tight- we’ll have the others help soon!”

“WHERE IS IT?” screamed Ramona.

“I— I don’t…” Ron began— but Hermione was screaming as she did in the Manor as Crowthers crooned in Ron’s ears what he’d do to them. “Harry? Do you see it?”

He knelt down and peered into the darkness expecting to see Harry next to the opening, but his friend was bent over, hands on his ears.

“Harry!” Ron yelled at him.

Harry shook his head, green eyes wide and unseeing.

Ramona was pacing the back of the room, arms clutched around her middle. “We have to get out of here! They’re going to get us!”

“Who?” asked Ron.

“The Snatchers are coming!”

“Ramona, It’s not real! Whatever you’re hearing, it’s not—”

Hermione’s screams ripped through him.

Ramona was in the corner screaming. “Mum! Mummy! No! Please, Please!”

Harry on the ground with hands over his ears muttering to himself. “I’m sorry… I’m sorry!”

“Mate, it’s okay, we’re going to get you out of there!”

“I’m so sorry!” cried Harry.

“Riddikulus!” Ron shouted again, but nothing stopped the cacophony of terror; it rang through him as screams and nightmares flooded his ears.

“Someone tell me what’s happening!” Claudia pled.

“We’re… We’re hearing things!” he managed to say between hitched sobs. When had he started crying? Why couldn’t he Apparate to Hermione? He had to get out of the cellar! No… No he wasn’t in Malfoy Manor.

“Ron! Please help me,” sobbed Hermione before letting out another blood-curdling scream.

“Hermione!” he called back, punching the wall, but nothing helped.

A quicksand of fear was pulling him ever down down down. He wiped at his face, which was wet with something. Tears? Blood?

Where was he? Everything was dark… He couldn’t Apparate to Hermione! She needed him, or Crowthers would… Wait, she wasn’t there with him. He was alone… How… How did they get them all in Malfoy’s cellar again?

“I’m going to make you scream,” growled Crowthers.

He punched at the walls. He had to get to her! He couldn’t let Crowthers touch her!

He could see her on the other side, small and pale as she was dragged along the floor by her hair. She didn’t even flinch as she was thrown onto a stump and tied in place.

“Hermione!” He screamed and sobbed, but couldn’t get to her. His hands were bleeding as he madly scrabbled for her. “Hermione!”

Spiders of every size were crawling over him and he nearly vomited as their sharp little legs caught on his skin.

He tried to shake them off and get to Hermione, but blood was on the ground,slowly oozing towards him, and Crowther’s toxic breath was in his nostrils.

“Ron!” came an insistent voice from above him.

He shook his head. His mind felt flayed open, a rupture of raw hurt and confusion.

“Please answer me, Ron! What’s going on down there?!”

Suddenly Malfoy’s cellar was brightly lit, blinding him as he sobbed into the ground.

“Christ— he’s covered in Boggart dust! Put your shirt over your face or bubblehead charm yourself,” came a male voice.

There were murmurs, but the main thing he heard was Crowthers in his ear whispering, “tell me your name, pretty…”

A hand latched into him and he could see Fred, corpse pale, blood pooling down his neck and bits of brain falling onto the ground.

“It should’ve been you… George even said so,” said Fred without malice. He was right.

“Ron, don't let him kill me!” pleaded Hermione, tears in her eyes.

His head was wrenched back, and he threw an elbow trying to stop Crowthers. A stinging rush of something went up his nose. It had to be spiders crawling up inside his face scrabbling and tearing out his brain to lay eggs.

He was drowning and gagging as water flushed through his sinuses.

“Sorry, we need to get it all out of you,” a voice apologised.

“Get… What? Weneedta get Hermione…” he slurred. Another course of water flushed up his nose and down his throat, making him retch on the ground. He was sprayed down, and the cold made every muscle twitch.

“I needta stop ‘im… Crowthers!”

Hermione screamed in his ears and he struggled to get to her, not minding the sting of the cuts in his hands.

“He needs at least one more flush out once I pass him up to you,” said a male voice.

His teeth chattered as a spell lifted him into light.

“I’m sorry, but it looks like we need to do it once more, Ron,” someone said before water flushed through his sinuses a third time, stinging his eyes and even the inside of his cheek bones.

He coughed and felt snot dripping from his nose and hocked even more of it on the ground.

A warm hand was on his shoulder.

“You with me?”

He squinted up into the face of Neville.

“Nev?”

“Yes! Where are you?”

“I’m…” Ron blinked around the dark cavernous room. It wasn’t Malfoy Manor. It was well-lit compared to the hole he’d been in. Hermione wasn’t there. Crowthers wasn’t there… Fred and the spiders were gone… “The… The C.R.E. In a tunnel.”

“That’s right,” he nodded, giving a tight grin. Neville had the film of a bubblehead charm around his face, and Ron belatedly discovered he had one as well. The charm slightly distorted his view and made his breath feel hot on his face.

With a sudden realisation he scrambled for the hole they’d just lifted him from. “Oh fuck, we need to get Harry!”

“We’re getting him. It’s going to be okay, Ron,” said Neville, gently pushing him back until he was lying against the wall.

For some reason Ron started crying again. His voice was broken as deep sobs shook him. He wrapped his arms around himself. “M’sorry!”

“Don’t apologise. You all fell into an old Boggart breeding den, it looks like. That’s what Vyse said, anyway. There’s ‘Boggart dust’ everywhere. It basically makes you mad with fear and hallucinations until it works its way out of your system fully. Emotions of every kind will be intense for a bit, so we’ll stay here until you’re feeling up to moving.”

Ron looked over the side as he continued to cry.

The stones keeping Harry and Ramona imprisoned were floated aside.

“Spray down the area first, then we’ll get them individually,” ordered Vyse.

He could hear Ramona sobbing and screaming for her mother, but nothing from Harry. For minutes he waited, but he still hadn’t heard Harry’s voice.

Ron shook his head. “I need to help.”

“We’ve got it,” said Neville.

“No you don’t. Not with Harry.” Ron stood on wobbly knees and unshrunk his broom. They didn’t understand! Ron had seen Harry afraid before and he knew what he was capable of. He had been on the receiving end of punches as Harry was rent out of nightmares, and had seen his friend destroy an oak door because it slammed too hard.

He flew down to ground they’d cleared of Boggart dust. Ramona was sobbing on the ground, struggling against Theold as Vyse attempted to Aguamenti her face.

Harry was shaking, but otherwise limp on the ground, arm protectively grasping his shoulder with white knuckles. He was wet all over, a bubble charm in place.

“Ron? Shouldn’t you be up with Neville?” asked Kevin.

“M’fine,” he said, kneeling beside Harry. “Harry? You okay?”

“He hasn’t responded to any of us, and we’ve flushed him out like five times,” said Claudia, worry pinching her features.

For a moment Ron considered putting a restraint on Harry, but the thought of doing that to him after whatever he’d been forced to listen to was repugnant.

“Harry, I need to get some water into you again. It’s going to sting. Can you hear me?”

Harry stared ahead with open eyes, tear tracks or water running down his cheeks— Ron couldn’t tell which.

He removed the bubble charm.

“Aguamenti,” whispered Ron with a shaking voice. His own face was wet with tears again as he flushed Harry’s face with water and his friend barely flinched.

“Harry, wake up!” Ron said, giving his friend a shake.

“Flush him again,” he dimly heard Vyse say.

Ron performed another ‘aguamenti’ and with a start Harry flinched and vomited up orange tinged water on the ground.

“That’s it, get it all out,” Ron croaked.

Harry choked and spasmed before his bleary eyes caught Ron’s.

“R-Ron?” he whimpered.

“Yeah! Yeah it’s me,” Ron blubbered, unable to stop himself. Fucking Boggarts…

Claudia washed off Harry’s glasses and handed them to Ron. He put them in place and cast another bubble head charm on Harry.

Harry was pale and patted his hand along the ground for his wand.

“Here,” said Ron, handing it to him.

His friend took the wand, but didn’t try to move again. As Ron explained the Boggart dust, he could feel the wet tracks down his face and a gross itch at his nose. He wished he could wipe his face, but that might get more dust on him.

“Let’s get out of here,” Ron urged.

Harry weakly nodded, and limply let Ron guide him to a standing position.

“Here Ron, let me help,” said Kevin.

He put a hand on Ron’s back.

It felt like Crowthers was about to rut against him and he gave a small cry of alarm at the contact.

In an instant Harry wrenched away, his features twisting into an angry snarl. “DON’T TOUCH HIM!”

Before anyone could react, a spell hurtled through the chamber, a destructive projectile hitting Kevin squarely in the chest. The large recruit flew into the wall with a gut-wrenching crunch before he vanished into thin air.

"Oh, shit!" Ron's exclamation mirrored the collective shock, his mind racing as panic and disbelief battled for dominance.

“What the fuck, Harry?” asked Theold, pointing his wand at Harry. All the wands were on Harry.

“Wait!” Ron said, standing in front of him. “It was an accident! It’s the Boggart dust. Don’t—”

Ropes were around Harry in an instant, and his friend let out an aborted cry before toppling.

“I’m sorry!” squeaked Claudia.

Ron knelt beside Harry as he shook on the ground, writhing like a mad man.

“Harry… Harry please snap out of it…”

“More water,” said Vyse, pushing Harry to a seated position. “You hold him, I’ll flush him out.”

Ron got behind him, putting Harry’s back against his own chest.

“Ready?” asked Vyse.

“Do it, already!” he said through gritted teeth, as Harry struggled and nearly hit Ron in the nose with the back of his thrashing head.

After what seemed like an endless stream of water Ron stopped them.

“Harry? You okay?”

“Wh-what?” came Harry’s voice, sounding so small it didn’t sound like him at all. “Ron? What… What happened?”

“You fucking spelled Kevin into the wall and now we’re down a man!” spat Theold.

“I… I what?” asked Harry.

He looked feeble and lost. Ron had seen Harry like this only a few times. When he spoke Parseltongue in second year. When he’d seen Cedric die. When he’d seen Dad nearly die. When Sirius was dead. When he’d held Dobby.

He might have been reliving those nights.

“It’s okay. He’ll be fine,” Ron assured him.

Harry’s eyes shifted his way, haunted, glossy and unsure. Then Ron’s arms were holding nothing. His friend was gone in an instant.

Ron stared at the spot where Harry had just been.

The vest had taken Harry out of the Exam.

“What the fuck?!”

“Looks like they realised he was a harm to himself and others,” snorted Theold.

“SHUT THE FUCK UP, THEOLD!” Ron snarled.

A sear of vitriol scorched his insides until nothing was left but a burning hot coal.

Who were the Aurors to decide to take Harry away? Who was going to be there for Harry when he’d had to listen to Merlin knows what? They’d ripped him away and Ron had barely begun to comfort him. Had they put this snarl of Boggart dust on purpose?

Every bit of hate he’d felt now pointed in one direction: The Auror Department.

He was going to destroy them. He didn’t know how long it’d take, but he was going to dismantle them, and every one of their sick tests. He wouldn’t rest until every single person responsible for the fucked up nightmares he and Harry, and even fucking Ramona, had gone through, paid.

“Should… What should we do?” Claudia asked.

Ron glared at the group the moment eyes turned to him. “Stop fucking looking at me! I don’t know, okay?”

He stalked away from them.

He was sick and fucking tired of this stupid fucking exam, and all of them gormlessly staring at him every time they don’t know what to do.

They were still watching him in anticipation.

“Why don’t you come up with some ideas, eh? The one person who always knows what to do got fucking tortured and ripped out of here to wherever the fuck, and I’m—” He gripped his arms around himself and squeezed until his ribs ached. “I’m no one, and you’re looking at me like I have answers! I don’t have any fucking answers! I’m fucking tired and this is fucked. We’re fucked and —”

He stopped himself, seeing their faces for the first time since Harry’s disappearance. They were watching him with large eyes, not one of them moving.

They were scared.

He couldn’t stay angry.

Harry was supposed to be invincible. Hell, to them, they probably thought Ron was a bit invincible too— which still felt like putting on a jacket two sizes too small. Ramona was one of their toughest and she was still crying and rocking on the ground.

They were all shook by it.

And now that he’d yelled at them, they probably were a touch worried they’d need to have Ron in ropes like Harry.

He let out a sigh. “Okay…”

He rolled his neck, trying to buy a moment to think.

“I’m sorry… It’s okay, we’re not fucked.”

He fleetingly wished he could touch his face. He hadn’t realised how often he wiped his hands over his face and through his hair as he thought. He wanted to push on his head and hopefully wring out a wild hare idea like one would a wet towel.

“We need to get out of this hole in the ground.”

“And we’ll need to take a moment to recover,” said Vyse with a tiny nod at Ramona.

“Right,” said Ron, taking a steadying breath. No one knew what she’d been through, but he had the closest idea of it.

He didn’t like her. Not one bit. She hated him and Harry for no reason and was surly, rude, prideful, irrational; just about everything he disdained… but she’d clearly been through something terrible.

“You lot go on up. I’ll sort things out here.”

All the recruits quickly did as he said, leaving him with Ramona; All, save Neville.

“Nev…” Ron began.

“I’m only here as back up,” he said, putting his hands up and wedging himself in the far corner.

He wasn’t sure how much Neville could do if Ramona were to go full feral on him at close proximity, but he appreciated the gesture.

He decided approaching Ramona like a wounded animal was best. He’d been around a skittish animal or two over the years. He wasn’t great with beasts, but he could try.

Despite knowing she’d probably hate him more for it, he knelt down beside her and put a hand on her shoulder. She twitched but let it remain as sobs continued to shake through her.

“They got the powder off of you, right?”

She nodded and gave a vociferous sniff.

“I know it may be hard, but you need to stop thinking about things from the past. Think of right now, this moment.”

Her face seems to crumple further and her eyebrows scrunched together.

“Don’t try to be nice to me! You hate me!” she cried.

“I don’t hate you,” Ron said, but couldn’t stop himself from adding. “I don’t particularly like you- but—”

“No- you should hate me,” she said with a shake of her head, scowl turning ugly and slightly unhinged, “because I hate you! You and Potter.”

“Shock and horror, what a surprise!” Ron feigned, rolling his eyes.

“I’m only sorry they didn’t kick you out with crazy Potter.”

Ron immediately dropped all pretence of politeness.

“What the fuck is wrong with you!?” He looked to the ceiling. “Was your Dad a Death Eater or something? Fucking hell…”

A sharp, almost manic laugh escaped from Ramona's lips. "My dad isn't anything anymore."

Ron's confusion deepened, his anger momentarily clouded by her cryptic statement.

"Okay?" he responded, concern and exasperation uncomfortably mixing together.

She brooded on the ground, no answer forthcoming. Fuck it.

“At the end of this exam, either I never have to see you again or we’re going to be co workers. Either way, I’m over this. What is it, Ramona? You said you hate me and Harry— so why? What the fuck have we ever done to you?”

Ramona's gaze bore into his, her eyes holding a world of pain and resentment.

“You’ve never done anything!” she yelled, acid and venom in every syllable.

“What does that mean?!” he roared back.

“It means you are the biggest disappointments I’ve ever had to meet!” she bit. “September first last year. Do you remember what you did that day?”

Of course he remembered. Every instant he could perfectly recall, until he was splinched; then it all got rather blurry.

He nodded his head, but began to dread what might come out of her mouth.

“You lot saved the Cattermoles. The Joneses. Cynthia Dooley. Robbie Reins. And more! I know the name of every person you saved that day,” she said with a sniff. “My parents are both Muggleborn… And my Dad reported to the Muggleborn Commission Registry September the first, but he didn’t escape.”

Ron’s stomach dropped.

“When we realised Dad wasn’t coming back, the rest of us ran for it. My Muggle-born mum, myself and my little sister…” Her voice trembled with emotion.

“I was so stupid… I really thought you might help my family like you did the rest. I kept telling my little sister you three were going to end the war. That we’d be safe. You’d save dad eventually!”

She turned her head down to her lap.

“They captured my sister and took her back to Hogwarts. That’s when they killed Mum,” she said, almost conversationally.

“I listened to Potterwatch every day hoping you might do something to help. Maybe free prisoners from Azkaban, strike the Ministry again, or free everyone from Hogwarts. Anything to help!”

Big tears formed in her eyes.

“But you never did.”

Shame wasn't a new feeling to Ron; he felt it daily for over a decade. It was a heavy cloak he'd worn since his earliest memories, a cloak woven from threads of poverty, indifference, and perceived inadequacy.

Growing up poor in the cramped Burrow, he had often felt the sting of shame as his hand-me-down clothes bore the marks of his older brothers' wear. There was an ever-present whisper in the back of his mind, telling him he was the unwanted sixth boy when his mother had secretly yearned for a daughter. The weight of shame had pressed even harder when he compared himself to his accomplished siblings and friends. And there were the insecurities he carried with him into adulthood. The gnawing fear he was never enough, not as a wizard, not as a friend, not even as a person. The lurking doubt he was merely a sidekick to Harry, forever in his shadow. The dread he'd never live up to the expectations of his friends, his family, or himself.

A litany of inadequacies played in his mind every day, echoing the voices of those who had ever doubted him.

Ramona's tears fell, and her words found a familiar dwelling place among the many shadows of shame that already haunted him. He wanted to explain, to tell her how much he'd wanted to do all those things she'd hoped for, but the words caught in his throat.

He had a wider group of people he’d let down than ever before. How many more people were out there cursing him for not doing enough?

Neville, who had been listening quietly, interjected, “Ramona… They did help. They were the most responsible for ending the war.”

“Not in time!” Ramona pressed on, her words heavy with pain. “My sister was tortured in that school— Dad got a Dementor’s kiss a couple of weeks before the Battle at Hogwarts. If they’d done something my dad might still be… be my dad.”

“Ramona…” Neville insisted. “It’s terrible what happened to your family. But this is not on Ron or Harry or Hermione. They’re just teenagers and it was a — ”

“Just teenagers?” Ramona spat, eyes falling to Ron. “I thought maybe… maybe you were ‘just teenagers’ when I finally met you at the first exam. I thought maybe I had been delusional, thinking anyone as entitled and lazy as you could be a hero… But then I saw you duel, how you flew, and how you lead…”

She shook her head.

“You’re not ‘just some teens!’ I’ve seen you! You’re amazing in the field. It’s like watching real-life superheroes… You broke into the Ministry, and Gringott’s and Hogwarts and saved so many families. You’re good and smart, and I had to watch as you helped family after family, but never mine!”

“That’s enough!” Neville said standing up. “You know that’s not fair, right? To expect them to save everyone?”

“They could've saved my family!” Her hard look crumbled and Ron wondered how young she was. She looked small and he found all the lingering anger at Ramona became brittle as tears welled in her eyes. “S-someone could’ve…”

Ron slowly slid down next to her.

"I’m sorry…” said Ron, not exactly sure what he meant by it. It was everything and nothing. It was a condolence for someone who had lost so much. It was an apology for not doing enough to end the war sooner. It was empty words to soothe someone whose anger and mourning he could endlessly empathise with. It was a place holder so he didn’t shout at the injustice of it all, or the injustice of being blamed. “I’m sorry we couldn’t do more.”

“Don’t apologise, Ron,” said Neville, voice surprisingly stern. “You did what you could, and it was so much… You don’t have a thing to apologise for.”

Part of Ron wanted to agree and tell Ramona off for her delusions. What did she think he was? How could she think him capable of saving her family? It was completely demented!

But… But he still wished he could’ve done it. Even if it was barmy and unrealistic and impossible…

And he had to wonder, how many other families had they let down? How many other people died or had their lives destroyed because they took too long gathering Horcruxes?

“So…” Ron managed to say through a tight voice. “Is it just you and your sister, now?”

“My dad’s not dead… I take care of him when his nurse can’t. That's why I was late for this exam—we’d run out of catheters and it was a huge mess, and then he puked, and I couldn't leave my sister alone with that. His nurse didn't show up because of a flat tire, and— and…”

“That sounds like a lot," Neville's voice cut through, a mix of understanding and sympathy. If anyone could understand ‘losing’ a parent, but they’re still alive, it was Neville.

Ramona nodded, her tears continuing to fall, and for a moment, amidst the pain and regret, a fragile connection formed between them all.

“Shall we join the others?” asked Neville.

Ron nodded while Ramona bit her lip.

“I don’t know how useful I can be, right now,” she said, voice smaller than he’d ever heard it.

“Ramona,” said Ron, standing up with a small groan. “You’re strong; tough as shit and mean as a fucking bag of rabid badgers. Let’s use that and end this exam, okay? Then you can throw darts at my photo or whatever you do in your spare time.”

Somehow that made her snort and a small smile flickered across her face.

“So… are you ready to kick arse?” he asked, finally noticing how sore his shoulders were from stooping.

She nodded and accepted a ride on his broom to the surface level.

“All good?” asked Vyse as they squinted into the sunny street.

“Yeah,” said Ron, giving his body one more Aguamenti before removing the bubble charm.

They were expectantly watching him, but this time he had a plan, a clear mind, and a fiery coal of hate against the Ministry keeping him going.

“Claudia, did you put a tracking mark on the Squid?”

She nodded the affirmative and did a Point Me spell.

“Brilliant. Okay we can hunt it down properly, now,” he said looking at his map. “When we were underground we weren’t able to hurt the Squid, except the red window. Harry managed to crack it. We need to break it to pieces and get the Aurors to leave the Squid.”

“Why would they leave it?” asked Ramona. “It can defend everything we throw at it.”

“Only if the arms are moving,” he said. “For a second, as the tunnel collapsed, an arm got stuck. If we get its arms stuck and bust through the window, we can get them.”

“It burrowed into the ground last time. Is there a way to prevent that from happening again?” asked Vyse.

“At the corner of the map,” said Ron, expanding the shrunk map from his arm for all to see and pointed to a spot. “Harry and I got to the edge and hit an invisible barrier. I’d wager the Squid can’t get past it either.”

“And once we get the Aurors out?” asked Theold.

“We need to split the Aurors up. If we get them in the open, we might stand a chance.”

“If they’re an easier target out in the open, we are too,” noted Neville. The corners didn’t offer much cover either.

“Then we’ll have given them a bloody good show for their money.”

The group grinned at one another.

“That’s all they want anyways,” Ron added in an undertone.

In minutes, the plan was in motion, and the recruits were positioned. Vyse and Ramona soared through the air on their brooms to strategically herd the Squid toward the designated corner of the map.

Ron, Neville, Theold, and Claudia waited with bated breath for the moment the Squid would come their way.

The waiting was absolutely interminable, and soon bated breaths turned to sighs and huffs.

The high sun had shifted and the shadows were growing long across the alley.

Standing at the ready in their buildings made his shoulders ache and hands twitch for something to do. The stillness of waiting let his exhaustion slowly take over. He was counting bricks to stay awake, when a tiny lone beetle landed on the sill.

The black beetle marched along, swaying to and fro as a small breeze tried to buffet it about. Its little legs made it positively waddle.

He let out a snort, and Claudia began to watch it too, an amused look on her face.

The two let out a small laugh as the beetle tripped over a nail and fell over, its small legs wildly flailing for purchase.

“Oh no,” Claudia let out, trying to poke it off its back without touching its little insect legs. Her compassion for the little bug reminded him of Hermione; she was always cooing at gross little things.

He told as much to Claudia as he pushed the beetle over for her, not minding touching it. Somehow beetles weren’t the same as spiders.

“She had a soft spot for Kreacher even, and he’d been calling her slurs for years!” laughed Ron.

“How did you and Hermione get together?” Claudia asked, a sappy look on her face he’d seen girls get about anything remotely romantic.

“Dazzled her with my good looks and charm,” he joked, watching the beetle nestle down and take a rest, no doubt exhausted from its time flailing.

Neville let out a snort.

Claudia watched Ron expectantly, a broad smile on her face.

“Well, maybe it wasn’t entirely those,” he conceded with a small laugh.

“Those two were dancing around each other for years,” said Neville with a rueful shake of his head. “We thought sixth year it’d happen. Dean, Seamus and I had a betting pool and everything.”

“Sorry to disappoint,” said Ron. “Eventually I got my head out of my arse… ”

“How long have you been together?” asked Claudia.

“Only a month or so, but I’ve been mad about her for years. I mean, she’s brilliant and beautiful and has this wicked passion about every single thing she does. And she’s fucking brave, it’s unbelievable. She sacrificed so much during the war, but even before, she’s the most kickarse witch I’ve ever met.”

Theold rolled his eyes while Neville and Claudia grinned at him.

His cheeks reddened as he realised how much a gushing sap he was being.

“Anyway, that’s part of why I’m joining the Aurors; so I can help her out when we get our signing bonus.”

“That’s so sweet!” Claudia sighed, her curiosity sated.

“Didn’t you win the Order of Merlin?” asked Theold. “You get thousands of galleons with that— no need for a piddly signing bonus.”

Ron’s head swung round to look at Theold. He didn’t seem to be joking.

“Yeah, my gran said something like that,” Neville confirmed with a nod.

“Oh…” said Ron, not sure how to respond. Did he not need the Auror money after all? The thought of having his own money was nice… but he wasn’t sure he liked it coming from his time in the war…

“How ‘bout you? Why are you joining up?” he asked Claudia, happy to have the attention away from his money matters and his soppiness for his girlfriend.

Claudia gave an embarrassed look.

“I don’t know… I just… The war was terrible, and I didn’t feel like I got to help the way I wanted.” Her posture slowly fell.

“How so?” asked Neville.

“When I read history books, I’d sometimes sit and think ‘ohhh if I had lived in that time period, I would have helped lead a rebel cause, or saved people!’ I thought very grandly of myself… But I didn’t do much of anything and didn’t know how to. I only worked at a farm with rescue animals. I wasn’t part of anything…”

“What kind of animals?”

“All kinds of magical pets— cats, owls, goats, rats— you name them. During the war there were so many animals homeless or hurt. That’s how I got good at tracking spells, and it didn’t hurt with my flying either. We’d get a floo or owl telling us about an abandoned animal, and I’d go in to retrieve it then rehab the animal, if needed,” she said with a shrug. “But I wasn’t like you or your friends. I didn’t save anyone.”

“Sounds like you saved a lot of someone’s pets, though,” said Neville. “I’m sure all those pets’ owners would be happy to know they were in good hands.”

She glumly leaned against the window.

“Not everyone is going to be on the front lines, but you were where you were needed,” said Ron. “If something happened to me, I’d want to know my little Pig was okay.”

“You own a pig?” Theold asked.

“Ooo really?” squealed Claudia.

“Oh! No, that’s my owl,” Ron snorted. The rest of the recruits shared grins. “Don’t look at me like that, my little sister named him.”

“I didn’t say anything!” she laughed.

“Pushover,” said Theold, a vaguely amused look on his face.

“You know… You’re a lot less scary than you seem in the papers,” said Claudia.

“I seem scary?” Ron asked, flabbergasted that anyone could find him intimidating, let alone that he had a reputation for it.

“Mhmm!” she brightly hummed. “The pictures all make you look brooding, and the papers all write about ‘eight foot tall Weasley and his terrible temper’— how you were like a fearsome bodyguard for Harry.”

Bemused, Ron continued to look at the beetle. Him? Brooding and fearsome? He’d only skimmed a few articles before chucking them in a fury, but hadn’t imagined something like that…

“I mean, you are unreasonably tall,” added Theold with a snort from the corner.

“And you definitely can be scary when you’re mad, but… You’re nice. And smart. They didn’t say anything about that.”

He gave a small grunt. Of course they didn’t. “Maybe they called me a smart arse.”

“Your plans have been smashing,” she said with certainty. “If I don’t get to be an Auror… It’s been nice getting to know you.”

“I’m sure you’ll pass. You’ve done really well.”

“Nothing like you.”

Unsure of how to answer, Ron looked to the ceiling. It was cracked and peeling.

He wished he knew how to comfort her, but as usual he wasn’t sure what to do. Ron wasn’t good with words. Funny asides he was okay at… With Harry and Hermione at least.

“If I learned one thing,” he began, trying to comb out a good way to say it, “comparing your achievements with others only leads to heartache. Believe me, I had six siblings and Harry fucking Potter as measuring sticks for years.”

She let out a small laugh.

“Okay, that helps,” she acknowledged. “What about you, Theold? Why are you joining?”

“Because I’d be awesome at it.”

“Come on! Why really?”

He gave a shrug. “Sometimes it’s not that deep. I would be awesome at it.”

“Theooold,” Claudia complained.

“Ask Longbottom.”

“Fine! Neville? Why are you joining?”

Neville thought about it in silence before answering, “this seems like where I’m needed.”

Neville and Ron shared a smile.

“See? Not everyone is a mushy sap like Weasley,” said Theold with a sly smile.

Ron was about to protest when their wrists heated.

‘Nearly there! -Vyse’

Ron shooed the beetle away. “Get out of here, little guy. Don’t want you getting crushed in the upcoming duels.”

With a few pushes of his finger, the beetle buzzed off.

Wands at the ready, they crouched. His thighs twitched like coiled springs, and the agonised suspense took over him. A strange cocktail of fatalistic relief and a blaze of resentment surged within him as the Squid approached. He hated every person in that thing…

He heard the Squid before he saw it. Each step it took viciously crunched into the ground.

Through a small crack in the wall he spied the tiny figures of Vyse and Ramona weaving a path behind the Squid on their brooms like a pair of herding dogs in a field. The moment the Squid turned down an alley, they’d zip to the other side and head it off.

The earth trembled into a chaotic dance as the Squid stampeded down the alley, its metallic appendages thrashing.

“NOW!” Ron's command cut through the chaos, and the recruits launched themselves into action.

Cobblestones exploded, and rubble flew as Ron and Claudia threw forward their ropes. The thick cables wrapped along the length of one of the Squid arms. Its arm was secured to the concrete barriers in the street.

Meanwhile, Theold and Neville did the same to the other side, leaving two arms of the Squid stretched tight.

The ropes strained and the bestial Squidroom thrashed and groaned at the effort.

The ground-recruits fled as Vyse and Ramona flew around the remaining tentacle-like legs and tied them off.

“GET CLEAR!” Neville yelled as he and Theold set off the explosive spells.

The percussive blast sent rubble flying, and if not for shield charms, Ron might have had his skull split by a flying chunk of cement the size of a quaffle.

The buildings on either side of the Squid remained standing for only a moment before collapsing in a sea of dust and particulates, locking the Squid in place.

He could barely see the Aurors inside, but none were standing after the impact to the Squid.

This was their chance.

“THE WINDOW!” Ron bellowed.

As one, the recruits aimed their spells at the blood-red glass. Unable to dodge or deflect spells, the already cracked window shattered.

The recruits continued the assault on the jagged window, but soon spells met theirs, and the Aurors emerged.

A white-hot spell snapped through the air and nearly hit Ron in the temple. He pulled his head back and nearly lost his balance behind a pillar.

He activated his watch:

‘Split up! -Ron’

Ramona and Theold converged like a whirlwind on Sealy-Pearce. Across the fray, Robards squared off against Vyse and Neville, a furious tempest of spells erupting around them.

Claudia ran towards Ron when a red spell hit her from behind. She gave the smallest of ‘eeps’ before her vest disappeared along with her.

Behind her disappearing form, wand raised, stood Musaad.

Spells blazed through the air, creating a kaleidoscope of magic as recruits fought tooth and nail against the fierce Aurors. And then there was Ron. He had no partner. It was him against the best dueller he’d ever met. He was on his own, and in the open.

‘Get to cover! Get to cover!’ raced through his mind.

He ran.

Ron scrambled across the rubble-covered cobblestones, his movements far from agile as he evaded the barrage.

He blindly cast a stinging hex. It must have hit its mark, for Musaad gave a grunt. Despite any injury, Musaad didn’t slow an iota.

Ron had to climb over a downed wall on all fours to avoid a crack of spells. The jagged stones clawed at his palms, but he ignored the discomfort, his sole focus on reaching the nearby building.

Spells crashed all around, and shards of debris tore and whirled around him.

He finally reached the building and hurled himself through the shattered doorway. The room was a dim, wooden chamber with peeling wallpaper, and offered minimal cover. He realised, with a sinking feeling, that he'd be a sitting—

‘DUCK!’ the command echoed in his ears as his instincts took over.

He dropped to the floor as a lethal bolt of magic snapped viciously beside him. The spell collided with the cracked wall, sending splinters raining down like deadly raindrops. A fair few punctured his arm and he let out a hiss.

Ron's heart raced as he scrambled to his feet, wand in hand.

“Fuck!” he let out as a purple spell was hurled his way.

He flicked his wand, barely conjuring a shield in time.

Musaad's assault rebounded off the barrier, unleashing a shockwave through the room's walls. Wooden beams groaned, and dust and debris filled the air like a choking fog.

The scent of scorched wood and ozone hung heavy in the air as Ron crouched behind his meagre flickering shield. He couldn't last long staying pinned down like this.

Seconds seemed stretched into agonising minutes as Ron tried to formulate a plan.

He didn’t have the element of surprise on his side. They weren’t trapped in the confines of a duelling ring — Musaad was free-range and relentless!

Ron’s breaths came in ragged gasps as the shield's surface flickered, its strength waning with every spell Musaad hurled his way.

‘Move it, Weasley!’

With a surge of determination, he threw the shield towards Musaad and cast a Conjunctivitus curse, temporarily blinding the man. Ron tried to bolt deeper into the building, but the floorboards creaked with each heavy step and Musaad quickly spelled him through an already crumbling wall, inches away from hitting a brick fireplace. Damn, he needed to avoid hard surfaces… Or did he?

His body ached and protested, but he pushed himself from the ground and ran further into the building. Ron managed to send a few spells back at Musaad. One spell grazed Musaad's shoulder, leaving a searing mark on his robe, while another sunk Musaad’s feet into a swamp-like mire, buying Ron precious seconds to widen the space between them.

If he could get Musaad in close quarters with hard surfaces, Ron might be able to beat him. If he missed with a precision spell, at least Musaad might get thrown into something that could incapacitate him.

"Where's... A... Fucking... Bathroom?!" he muttered to himself. his frantic search taking him from room to room.

Musaad's spells pursued him relentlessly, each one an intimidating reminder of his adversary's expertise. The gap between them was closing fast. Musaad prowled after his prey with precision and didn’t even seem winded, while Ron flailed and felt his lungs burning to shreds.

For an instant he dared to look back as he ran up the stairs.

“Weasley, you can’t keep running,” said Musaad, a glint of mirth in his eyes.

Ron burst through another door, finding himself in yet another narrow wooden hallway.

And then, at last, he found it.

An old, tiled bathroom stood before him, complete with a porcelain tub and sink; it was the perfect battleground.

Musaad sent a quick series of hexes Ron’s way, and he narrowly blocked them, but was forcibly thrown into the room across from the bathroom.

The room was cluttered with overturned furniture and shattered remnants of what once might have been a bedroom.

His breath came in ragged gasps as he regained his footing. With unsure movements he began to cast the unfamiliar spell. He’d just finished swiping his want through the air, when it was wrenched from his hand.

Musaad had taken up the doorway and disarmed him, easily catching Ron’s wand.

“Looks like you’re disarmed, Weasley.”

“Looks like it,” said Ron, slowly rising as Musaad’s wand was pointed at his chest.

“Hands up,” said Musaad, doing a small indication with his wand. Ron complied, slowly raising his hands, his fingers trembling with fatigue. Blood trickled from a small cut on his forehead, mingling with the sweat clinging to his brow.

“You’ve been a worthy opponent,” said Musaad, raising his wand and taking a deliberate step forward into the room.

Musaad’s foot landed on a floorboard that twisted and whipped him across the hall like a slingshot. Musaad crashed back-first into the porcelain tub, a loud groan escaping his lips as the wands slipped from his grasp and clattered to the ground.

With a ferocity born of desperation, Ron ran at him. He didn’t bother going for the wands— he let his fist fly. Pain seared through his hand, and he was fairly certain he'd broken a knuckle, but the satisfaction of seeing Musaad's condescending smirk wiped away was worth the agony.

Musaad finally lay still, face punchdrunk and unfocused.

Ron tapped the shield badge on Musaad's chest with his trembling fingers, activating the portkey spell that would send his adversary to the same unknown destination Harry had been sent earlier.

As Musaad disappeared in a snarl of magical light, Ron spat a glob of blood onto the floor, his chest heaving with exertion and triumph.

He tiredly bent and picked up his wand.

There was a calming chime, like a muted gong. A disembodied female voice, much like the lifts in the Ministry Lobby announced, “The third Combat Readiness Exam is now over. Prepare for evacuation.”

He only had time to blink before he felt the twist and pull of the vest taking him back to the Auror Department.

He expected to see a room full of recruits and Aurors. He expected to see Harry and Kevin and Claudia waiting. He expected the mirrors watching him and quills recording his every move. He expected someone there to help with his plentiful, but thankfully minor, injuries.

Instead, Ron was met with a dingy dark grey room with a lone bed against the wall, a side table and a toilet in the corner. He tried the door, but it was locked.

He performed a series of spells but Anti-Apparition spells were in place and nothing he knew would work.

“Hello?” he hoarsely called through the door, hitting the door with the fat of his fist. “Anyone there?”

No one answered him, but a pitcher of water and a cup appeared on the small table.

Suddenly, the disembodied voice was back: “Greetings Recruit, Interviews for the Fourth and Final Combat Readiness Exam have begun. When your interview time is near you will be released into the antechamber.

“Fucking ‘course they think locking us in solitary is a good idea,” Ron muttered.

He glanced at his watch but it was dented and the time was stuck at one sixteen in the morning.

“Do you have any injuries, Recruit?” asked the voice.

“I don’t know.” he rasped. Only the sound of ‘no’ must have registered because no one responded to his answer. It took at least a minute before he felt in his body enough to know if he had any injuries. He had a series of splinters up and down his left arm

Ron went to the pitcher and poured a glass. It was then he realised his wand hand’s finger didn’t want to bend around the glass. He must’ve either jammed it or broken it; he’d never quite been sure how to tell one from the other. He could do spells with his left hand, but didn’t quite trust the non-dominant hand to do something like heal bones.

Too tired and angry to worry about the interview, he drank his fill, took a piss, then sat back on the bed, picking splinters out of his arm. He was filthy and in dire need of a shower. His clothes began to cool and stiffen with sweat, and soon he was shivering.

The grime of battle still clung to him, and he felt a desperate need for a cleansing shower.

Restlessly, he attempted to find solace in a thin blanket. It offered little comfort or warmth. Micronaps, brief and fragmented, beckoned like distant islands of respite in a sea of exhaustion. Each time he slipped into the realm of sleep, he awoke with a start, the remnants of his nightmares with the Boggart dust haunting him.

He couldn't discern how much time had passed when the door to his cell finally swung open, its hinges creaking. With wary caution, Ron edged closer to the doorway.

The room he entered was a stark contrast to the cold, featureless cell. Warm wooden panels adorned the walls, radiating a sense of comfort that felt foreign after the ordeal he'd endured. His gaze fell upon Neville and Ramona

"Hey!" Neville greeted him, offering a weary but genuine smile.

Ron nodded in acknowledgment. "Were you stuck in a grey cell too?

"They let me out a moment ago," Neville confirmed, his voice tinged with relief.

“What time is it?”

“Search me,” Neville said, holding up his own damaged watch. “Got smashed and I’m rotten at repairing anything with mechanics.”

Ramona held up Vyse’s lucky coin and a bit of string. “It’s not a watch anymore.”

“Who made it to the end?” asked Ron.

“We’re all that’s left,” replied Neville.

“They okay?”

Neville gave a helpless shrug. “I have to assume so. Vyse got hit with a spell, then zipped away. I don’t know what happened to Theold.”

“The Squid got loose and pinned him, then he disappeared,” said Ramona.

Ron walked around the room checking each door. He was concerned for everyone, but most of all Harry. There was no sign of life beyond long-abandoned beds and drinking glasses with sips of water left.

“I’m sure Harry’s okay,” said Neville.

Ron shook his head. “I wouldn’t trust the Aurors with the care and feeding of a rock…”

Ramona gave a small snort.

“Are either of you any good with episkey? I think I broke my knuckle on Musaad’s chin,” he said, holding up a purpling knuckle. His finger could only marginally wiggle, but couldn’t hold anything or go into a fist.

“That’s not the same hand as earlier, right?” asked Neville, holding up his wand.

Ron made a hardy attempt to temper his glare. “No.”

Neville said the spell, and Ron’s knuckle gave a gross ‘pop.’

“Son-of-a-bitch!” Ron hissed in pain, but soon it was only a dull ache. “How about you? Any broken bits you need healed?”

Neville shook his head. “Surprisingly unscathed! Bruised as all out, but I have some okay bruise paste at home.”

Ron gave a grunt of approval, then looked to Ramona. She was wane and pale, but had a foreboding glare clearly telling him ‘fuck off and die terribly, if you please.’

“How about you?” Ron asked, despite himself.

Her glare softened the smallest amount. “The same ankle I hurt in the second exam is sore.”

“Need me to wrap it?”

She bit her lip, then nodded in assent.

He worked quickly and quietly. The ankle was swollen, but not nearly the purple mess it had been a few days prior.

“Thank you,” she quietly said as he was midway wrapping her ankle.

He nearly dropped her foot in surprise.

“Er… You’re welcome.”

Thankfully he had set her foot on the ground when she continued surprising him.

“You…” she began. “You helped me today. And the last exam.”

Unsure of what to say he opted to say nothing.

“That’s pretty par for the course for Ron and his friends,” said Neville, words more weighty than he let on.

A door opened and out came Sealy-Pearce, posture as straight as ever.

“Weasley. It’s time for your interview,” she said, face devoid of any emotion.

Neville gave his shoulder a squeeze and Ron promptly stood.

“Good luck,” said Ramona. She was unsmiling, but he could tell she meant it.

The corridor they went down was narrow, and his shoulder nearly caught on a torch as they passed by.

“Is Harry okay?” he asked her.

“He’s uninjured.”

That wasn’t the same as being okay, he wanted to argue, but he held his tongue.

Sealy-Pearce said nothing as she led the way, which was fine by Ron. He never was good at small talk with authority figures— not that they typically took much time with him anyways. Perhaps he hadn’t had the chance to practise.

Either way, he knew the simmering rage he felt towards the whole department wouldn’t be able to kept in check for long. It was best he held his tongue, grit his teeth and pushed down every swear and insult scrambling to break free.

They finally entered a small room that looked more like a place of interrogation than an ‘interview.’ It probably was an interrogation room. Behind a long wooden table sat Musaad, Robards, the Auror he had taken out on the roof, and another female Auror he didn’t recognize. They left an empty seat on the end Sealy-Pearce promptly filled.

“Take a seat, Weasley,” said Robards, waving a hand to reveal a wooden chair behind a small table with a pitcher and glass of water.

He sat, and immediately realised the chair was terribly uncomfortable. The back was too low, and the seat managed to slide back in an angle that made his tailbone hurt.

Ron stood, waved his wand and made it more his size and sat back down. If he was going to be fucked with, he’d at least do it without a sore arse.

“Water?” asked Robards.

“No thanks,” said Ron, trying to figure out where to lay his hands. On the table? In his lap?

“That was quite a show you put on in the exam,” said Robards, a wry smile on his face. “Quite a show… Musaad and Sealy-Pearce had said you were good, but I was impressed. We hadn’t heard much of you before this. Usually there are rumblings if someone has potential, but I didn’t hear anything about you from Hogwarts. Why is that?”

Ron clenched his fist and tried to convince his face not to flush. His face gave him the middle finger and slowly began turning him red, one centimetre at a time.

“I don’t know much about how ‘rumblings’ work,” Ron said, a small shrug.

He found himself rather impressed with his answer. He’d sounded sort of cool and nonchalant, in a way he rarely felt. The feeling of calm abated when he saw the unimpressed look on Robards face.

“Would you care to expand on that?”

Fuck.

“I dunno…” he said with a small cough.

He didn’t know what to tell them. All he could think of is things he probably shouldn’t say. Ron knew he probably shouldn’t say it was because he’d never been noticed a day in his life. He probably shouldn’t say he was useless compared to everyone else. He probably shouldn’t say they were putting him on the fucking spot and could eat a bag of dicks.

“Have some water, Weasley,” said Robards.

He promptly took a drink, and used it to buy more time. The water had a slightly acrid taste to it that made him wish for better water to wash it down with.

He had done things at Hogwarts… He’d never done them all that well, but he’d done things! He’d helped Hermione and Harry get across the chess board. He’d gone to the Ministry. He’d fought Death Eaters… He’d tried. And he’d obviously done alright in these trials.

“Maybe ‘rumblings’ aren’t much compared to people actually doing things?” Ron asked, scrambling to put his thoughts together and finishing off his glass of water.

“I mean, Neville’s obviously good enough to be an Auror, but I don’t think there were ‘rumblings’ before last year with him. But he was bloody brilliant at the Ministry in fifth year, and in sixth year he was there fighting off Death Eaters too.”

A few of the Aurors nodded, but Musaad bent forward. “This isn’t about Longbottom. This is about you.”

“I know that,” said Ron, irritation growing. “I’m not sure how I’m supposed to tell you why I was underestimated by people. That’s on you, isn’t it?”

He nearly slapped a hand over his mouth. He had to say the wrong thing.

Musaad leaned back in his chair, a hint of a smile on his face.

"Your performance today suggests you have the skills," Robards conceded. "But being an Auror is about more than skills. It's about dedication, teamwork, and a commitment to upholding the law. Do you feel you’d be capable of that?”

“Yes… I mean, I hope so,” said Ron with a shrug. “I’m… I try to be there for people. And if a law is a good one, then yeah, I’d commit to upholding it.”

“Sometimes you’ll be asked to uphold laws you don’t agree with,” said Sealy-Pearce, her face unreadable.

“Like the ones Voldemort put in place last year?” Immediately scowls turned his way. Ron averted his eyes. “If the Ministry has just laws, I’ll do my best. If it falls to hell again… That’s a different story.”

“What would you do?” she asked.

“Probably the same as last year,” he said, squinting at her and leaning back.

“Would you like to tell us more about your actions in the last year?” asked Robards.

Ron knew he’d have to tread carefully. The last year had more secrets than he thought himself capable of holding.

“Erm… What part do you want to know about?”

“We know you didn’t go to Hogwarts last year. Had a clever ruse with the ghoul taking your place,” said Robards, a genial smile on his face. “Was that your work or Arthur’s?”

“My idea, but my dad helped a bit with the spells.”

A few of the Aurors nodded in approval.

“So before you were captured at Malfoy Manor, what were you doing? I’m assuming you were part of the Ministry break in?”

“I was.”

“Why did you break in?”

“We needed to retrieve an object.”

Ron’s fingers tightened into the slight folds on the side of his trousers.

He wondered how much they knew of what he’d been up to with Harry and Hermione. Was this line of questioning about Ron and further proving his abilities by describing his record?

“What was this object?” asked Robards, genial mood slowly slipping into something more pointed and eager.

Were they fishing for more information about Horcruxes? If they were, they were a fat lot of idiots because he would never tell them anything. He’d rather bleed out on the floor and let them have an inkling of anything they wanted.

“A h—” Ron stopped himself. What the fuck? He hadn’t meant to say a thing and he’d nearly said Horcrux. He must have been more tired than he thought. “An object to help stop Voldemort.”

“Was this a Horcrux?” pressed Robards.

“I didn’t ask it,” said Ron.

Robards expression turned glacial.

“You were pretty gabby in the transcripts of your exams, Weasley. Is there a particular reason you’re reticent now?”

“I’m answering your questions,” said Ron, struggling to keep his voice neutral.

Robards leaned forward, his gaze sharpening. "Tell me, Weasley, have you ever had any struggles with your mental health? Stress, anxiety, anything of that sort?"

He knew Robards was trying to throw him with a sudden change in tack. Unfortunately, it was working.

Ron's heart stumbled and he hesitated for a moment, his voice less steady.

“Y-yeah. Sometimes. The last few years I’ve been fighting Death Eaters, I’ve lost people, and my family and friends were in danger… I think I’d be barmy not to have stress and anxiety during that.”

“But what about after? Today you had an extreme reaction to the Boggart dust,” noted Musaad.

“Everyone did,” said Ron, crossing his arms.

“Well, at least you didn’t dangerously blast one of your fellow recruits,” Musaad conceded.

“That wasn’t his fault!” Ron protested, struggling to keep himself in check. “He’s been through more than anyone.”

“Apparently…” Musaad with a small snort.

“Watch it,” Ron warned.

“You seem angry.”

“Of course I am. You’re a bunch of sadists who tortured my friend!”

“We didn’t put Boggart dust in the field,” assured the rooftop Auror. “The breeding den had been underground for years, it seems, growing without our knowledge.”

“Oh like that’s better! You put a bunch of people in danger—”

“None of you were in danger from that Boggart den you stumbled across. The only danger was from your friend,” Musaad added.

“Stop saying that!”

“You could barely restrain him when he was going mad. Are you really saying you don’t think Potter is dangerous under those circumstances?”

“He was but—” Ron cut himself off. He hadn’t meant to say that.

“Have you ever seen Potter behave dangerously before?”

He had to fight to keep himself from saying yes. Why was it so difficult?

“Under the right circumstances anyone can be dangerous!” Ron growled.

“The problem is, you can’t always be there to restrain him.”

“I know that, but—” Ron grit his teeth to cut himself off again. He felt almost compelled to speak.

“And while your loyalty is admirable, as an Auror you’d have to put the needs of your team and your government above your friend. Can you do that?”

Ron was about to snap back ‘probably not,’ when the realisation hit. He let out a bark of laughter and looked to the ceiling.

“Something funny?” Robards asked.

“You lot…” Ron said with another humourless laugh. “You’ve put something in my water and are trying to get a rise out of me. What is it, some sort of Veritaserum?”

“You’re not on—”

“I am,” Ron said surely. He could tell when he had been fucked with. It had happened enough times; the brains when he was sixteen, the love potion when he was seventeen, and then the locket… Add in Boggart dust and he’d had enough of it for a lifetime. His mind wasn’t entirely his to control.

The table mutely stared at him, but Musaad finally answered, “it’s a variant on Veritaserum. Makes you more suggestible to tell the truth, but leaves the speaker able to express themselves with full emotions, and able to hold back the truth if they are very inclined to do so. It’s less detectable than normal truth serum and less unethical as—”

“Less unethical?” Rons snorted. “You lot are nothing but unethical from where I’m sitting.”

“Oh?” Robards asked.

Ron could feel it— the need to tell the truth— the need to tell them off with everything he had. They said he could hold it back if he was very inclined to do so.

Too bad he had no inclination at all to hold back.

“This whole things has been needlessly fucked up. You didn’t properly check the place for dangers like the Boggart dust—”

“No one was in danger—” began Robards.

Ron had so many emotions going through his mind, it was hard to pick just one. He decided on livid.

“Mental stuff is dangerous, okay!?” growled Ron. “People’s heads being fucked with is dangerous! And you lot have done it every single exam.”

“As Musaad said, you can hold back what you want to say if you’re so inclined,” said Robards, jaw clenched.

“I’m not, but thanks for that reminder,” Ron said with a shake of his head. “Do you have more questions for me, or can I go?”

Robards gave a supremely displeased look.

“Do you even want to be an Auror?”

“After seeing how you treat recruits? Not really,” Ron curtly replied.

“In that case, do you have any final questions for us?”

Ron thought and stared at the floor before letting his eyes meet theirs.

“I’ve known three great Aurors in my lifetime, and they were all in the Order. Where were you lot? Why didn’t Dumbledore trust you? Were you even helping fight in the war?”

They stonily stared at him, except Musaad who looked away.

“There were many ways to help in this war,” Robards quietly said. He had a glower that should have made Ron nervous, but he didn’t care anymore.

“Right, well, I’ll take my Order of Merlin and shove it, shall I?” he said, rising from his chair. “How’s that for ‘rumblings?’”

“You haven’t been dismissed,” barked Robards.

“You saw what I can do. Either you think I’ll be good at this, or you don’t. I don’t reckon anything I say will change your mind for the better when I’m on truth serum-light. I’ve had enough of this. I’m off.”

Ron went to the door and realised he had no idea how to leave.

“I’ll escort you,” said Musaad, a wry grin on his bearded face.

Ron begrudgingly followed the man out the door, and pointedly ignored the barbed looks the rest of the table were giving him.

He’d utterly ruined his chances of being an Auror, but he felt strangely lighthearted about it. Theold had said he would get money for the Order of Merlin— that could cover his expenses along with his pub job until he could get employment he enjoyed and was proud of.

They were a few metres into the hall when Musaad let out a laugh. Ron stopped walking and stared at him.

He’d let his temper ruin his chances to be an Auror and now Musaad was mocking him. It felt like a most fitting end to a most imperfect day.

“And Robards thought you gave quite a show in the exams,” Musaad laughed. “I must say, Weasley, you’re one of the most interesting recruits I’ve ever met.”

“I’m on truth serum or whatever so you might want to shut up,” said Ron, fists beginning to clench.

“I am not trying to provoke you anymore,” said Musaad, putting his hands up.

“Okay…” Ron crossed his arms and looked down at Musaad. He’d seemed an intimidating figure, but Ron realised just how much smaller Musaad was than himself. “How was Harry, really?”

“I can’t reveal anything from his fourth exam, that’s confidential,” said Musaad, but he continued before Ron could protest. “Right before the exam it was reported to me that he was quite distraught. They sent someone in to check him over for any remaining spores of Boggart dust. He was able to gather himself after knowing Kevin Gunther was fine.”

It wasn’t fully relieving news, but it was better than not knowing anything.

“Thank you…” said Ron. He gave a forceful exhale through pursed lips. “Have I… Did I ruin my chances back there?”

“Oh you want to talk to me now?” asked Musaad.

“Might as well.” Ron shrugged and waited.

Musaad continued down the hall a few paces before he spoke. “Your performance in the first three exams was excellent. The only red flags we had for you were a wild case of insecurity, and you have a tinge of disrespect for authority. Nothing too major, especially given the circumstances… You were probably a shoe-in after exam three.”

“And now?”

“Well, Robards is a proud man… Deserves to be. He did quite a lot to help our side win this war, but from the inside. He has an impeccable record. And you chose to question it in front of his peers and throw your Order of Merlin in his face…”

“So I’m fucked,” Ron said, rubbing his left arm.

“Well, it’s hard to say how he’ll react. We are very hard up on recruits, and it doesn’t hurt that your best friend is one of the most politically powerful people in the Wizarding World. Potter was a bit of an upstart too.”

“He saved everyone’s arses. He deserves to be.”

Musaad nodded, holding Ron’s gaze. “One could argue you deserve to be too. We’re alive and able to interview you both because of the steps you took to end this war. That won’t be forgotten. And I won’t let your very fair reaction to our tests affect your chances if I can.”

“Do you have anything to do with this decision?” Ron asked, a tiny bit of hope scrambling its ways to the front of his mind.

“Yes. I do,” said Musaad before giving a laugh. “And despite how much you very obviously disdain me, I find I like you.”

Ron narrowed his eyes.

“I like what I saw in the field,” Musaad continued, not the least bit intimidated by Ron’s glare. “You’re the kind of person I would want beside me in a battle, and nothing you said in the interview convinced me otherwise. But, at the end of the day, I’m just one vote.”

He stopped walking, and looked Ron in the eyes.

“If this somehow doesn’t work out, feel free to contact me. I want to make sure you have a position somewhere for your skills. I could, perhaps, write a letter or talk to someone. That’s the least you deserve.”

Musaad put out a hand for him to shake, and despite everything, Ron found himself shaking it.

“You’ve got a good nose for tactics. It’s a pretty rare thing in someone so young. It’s been a privilege,” said Musaad, firmly shaking his hand before letting it go and leaving Ron in the locker room.

He changed, but the whole time he had unsure footing similar to when he’d just played a Quidditch game and finally landed on the ground. Everything felt slow and unsteady as he took each step and changed his clothes. The world around him felt like it was vibrating. The tensile pulse still rang in his ears, but he had no idea of where to move and nowhere to walk.

He felt the inexorable urge to run and run until he was far from this underground torture chamber.

He didn’t know if he even wanted to be an Auror anymore… But he didn’t want them telling him he couldn’t be one…

He wished he could say goodbye to the Recruits. He wished he knew how they all did on the exam. He wished to go home and check on Harry, to throw himself into Hermione’s waiting arms, and to maybe have some of his Mum’s cooking. He wished… He wished a lot of things, actually…

But most of all, he wished to sleep in his own bed and wake up not regretting a thing.

“Fat chance of that,” Ron mumbled to himself as he stumbled towards the lifts.

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

author's note:

Thank you to everyone who reviews- you all really help motivate me and make me feel tied to other people. Sometimes it's hard to feel a sense of community in my life, but you really give that to me and it means so much!

Next chapter Hermione's POV again.

[thecoziestbean]

💕Happy Valentine’s Day!💘

sharp as a razor, sweet as honeysuckle

ch. 1: the first taste is free

haladriel rodeo au | E | 1.2k | 1/5

Read on ao3

They’ve been doing this two-step longer than she can remember. Galadriel swings by the bar whenever she’s in town, every few months or so. She’s not exactly sure she’d call him a friend, even though she’s known him half her life. They’re friendly certainly. Flirtatious often times. But Hal’s never taken the bait.

Or: The fic where Galadriel's a professional barrel racer on the rodeo circuit, Hal's a washed up bull rider running a honky tonk, and they're both idiots in love. 🤠

[sarahfeliciam]

The Ultimatum Ch 68

Chapter 68

Remus jolted awake to the sound of banging pans and the loud belting of ‘happy birthday’. 

When he opened his eyes, quickly and somewhat on edge, he was met with Emeline, Sirius and Tonks grinning and hollering something about birthday surprises. 

“Let’s go, doomsday!” Emeline pulled his arm from bed, practically dragging him out. 

He groaned in exhaustion and tugged her forcefully back, laughing when she fell onto the bed herself. 

“I’m not moving from right here!” He played, shoving a pillow over her head. 

“We’ll bring the party in here then, mate!” Sirius shouted. 

Emeline ripped the pillow off and chucked it at Sirius, shaking her head wildly. 

“No can do! We’ve slaved away to prepare - you’re getting up, now.” 

“How could I deny such a polite ask?” Remus replied cheekily, finally standing to follow them into the living room as Tonks grabbed his hand. 

“Close your eyes!” Emeline ordered before he stepped into the sitting area. 

“Not sure I should be guided by someone so clumsy.” He quipped, still holding onto Tonks’ hand. She shoved him playfully and Sirius snorted as the three of them moved to stand in front of their masterpiece, counting down together.

“Three…two…open!”

When Remus opened his eyes, he couldn’t even think of anything else in the regard of playful banter to respond. 

His mouth fell slightly open as he glanced around the sitting room and kitchen, both completely decked out in an explosion of balloons, streamers, confetti across the tables and, naturally, a large slab of cake on the dining table. 

There was a homemade birthday banner with little crescent moons and stars on either side hanging from the fireplace that was painted fairly haphazardly by, he assumed, Sirius. 

There was even a small pile of gifts, packaged neatly in parchment paper wrappings and twine, atop the coffee table.

Emeline watched him excitedly before moving forward to hug him.

“Happy birthday, dad.” 

He pulled her in tightly and shook his head.

“How did you lot pull this all off?” He asked in amazement, mouth still slightly open when Emeline pulled away.

“We were up until this morning!” She stated, matter of fact. “More than worth it.” She turned to Sirius and Tonks who were still watching Remus, too, with large smiles on their faces. 

“Thank you, all. This is too much.” He replied gratefully, walking over to run his fingertips along the banner. 

“Ofcourse it isn’t!” Tonks responded, resting a hand on his shoulder.

“It could never be too much.” Emeline added, grabbing up the gift on top of the pile. 

“Yeah, mate. We would’ve done the whole house up if we could’ve and that still wouldn’t have been enough.”

“I don’t know what to say.” He murmured, wrapping his arm around Tonks and taking the gift from Emeline with his free hand. 

“Don’t say anything! Just let us celebrate you; that’s all we’ve been waiting for.”

He smiled and nodded, his eyes misty as he took a seat on the couch. Tonks sat on the coffee table in front of him with Sirius as Emeline took the opening next to him and he tore into the paper of her gift carefully. 

“Emma,” he exhaled quickly, staring down at the book now in his hands. It was the final copy in a volume of books on defensive spells and dark magic apparitions similiar to what his father studied in his prime. He had the bulk of the set as a hand-me-down, but the latest and final volume he’d been avoiding due to cost and certainly not for lack of want. It was the only brand new volume he had. “How could you afford this?”

“I’m a working gal, now!” She beamed, shrugging her shoulders. 

“You shouldn’t-“

“- I should have! You eye this everytime we’re in Diagon Alley. I wanted you to have the finished shelf.”

“Thank you, darling. It’s perfect.” He responded, flipping through the pages absentmindedly. 

When he was done pouring over a brief rundown of the text and illustrations, he continued opening gifts from Sirius and Tonks, many of which involved chocolates in some form, and a new cardigan that Tonks insisted would look perfect with his skin tone. 

He had never worn such a rich blue before, but figured she knew what she was talking about.

When it came time for lunch to roll around, he stood to put on some tea and offered to make something, to which they all loudly disagreed. 

They insisted it was lunch out today, and everyone dressed quickly to head to their small town pub once more. 

•

It was a real change of pace to share a meal together out like they were. 

Not only due to financials, but also what a dim and dark world it felt they lived in everyday. 

Things had been looking up as of late, but Remus knew deep down the looming war was still just on the horizon, any day. It churned his stomach everytime he pictured his daughter involved in such a cruel and unjust fight. 

Remus lost everything he held dear last time and this time… he couldn’t fathom it. 

You alright? 

Her voice seeped into his mind softly and pulled him from his thoughts. He looked down at the last rib setting on his plate and then to his daughter with a smile.

I’m more than alright 

She smiled in satisfaction and went back to chatting with Tonks and Sirius animatedly - something about the next Weird Sisters concert, which apparently the twins had been trying to score tickets to for more than a month.

•

The rest of the afternoon passed uneventfully. 

Remus assured them that his happiest spot was right on the sofa, lounging with his family and new book. 

He was halfway through a riveting chapter on the most frightening appearances a Boggart had ever taken when a knock came to the door. 

He peaked up from his sentence to see Emeline already up and hurrying to answer it, and was surprised to realize that he’d let so much time past that the sun had already practically set. 

“Happy Birthday!” His ears began to ring on the tail skirts of the loud shouts that echoed into the room. Filing in were the Weasley’s, (save for Ron), Kingsley, Alastor and Poppy. 

“Merlin, you lot don’t quit, do you?” Remus chuckled, standing quickly and greeting everyone who’d stepped inside. Sirius shut the door and left everyone feeling painfully large in such a small space as Poppy embraced him tightly.

It was indeed joyful, despite their humble abode. 

Remus noticed then that they were all holding various dishes and bustling into the kitchen to set things down where they could.  

Before he could turn around, Sirius and Tonks were moving the sofa back a decent amount of paces to make room for everyone.

“We figured the biggest table we had was the floor.” Emeline grinned, sprawling out their largest blanket across the rickety wood.

Remus shook his head slowly, staring on at all the hustle and bustle and smelling the assortment of potluck dishes hit his nose. 

He felt completely enveloped in warmth as Molly began handing out plates and Emeline walked around trying to sort out drinks. 

Eventually, he felt a soft hand find his and he laced his fingers in between Tonks’ instinctively. 

“Happy Birthday, Remus.” She looked up at him expectantly and he kissed her in response without hesitation, causing the room to go silent.

“Well, we all assumed!” Alastor broke the tension gruffly.

“Some of us knew!” George quipped with a snicker before Emeline playfully elbowed him.

Tonks and Remus blushed lightly as everyone took their seats on the floor. 

A few more gifts had made their way to the coffee table that was now against the wall, and his cake was still setting on the kitchen table with candles ready to be lit after their meal. 

“Thirty six!” Emeline called out with a mouthful of steak. “Blimey, you’re nearly ancient, dad.” 

He laughed loudly, chucking a lone pillow at her as Tonks handed him another buttered biscuit. 

“She knows just how to get under your skin.” Tonks mused. “Never we mention that she’s about to be an adult, which is just as scary and old.” She stuck out her tongue playfully and Emeline groaned. 

“Bloody hell, don’t remind me.”

“Don’t remind me, either.” Remus replied gently. “I’m already not looking forward to the day that our lives are so separate again.”

Emeline looked up curiously, surprised at his emotion in front of so many people. George smiled slightly, glancing between them both to read between the lines. 

“I’m not going anywhere anytime soon.” She said quietly as Molly watched her with teary eyes. 

Remus simply nodded and glanced back down at his plate before taking a deep breath.

“Thank you all so much. I can’t explain what today has meant to me, truly.”

“It’s still not over!” Sirius yelled as the twins leapt to their feet. 

“If you all will follow us to the back yard,” George began. “I’m sure you won’t be disappointed!” Fred finished.

Moments later, they were all underneath the sky completely lit up by the most beautiful fireworks any of them had ever seen. 

Amidst the background noise of one final chorus of ‘happy birthday’, Emeline thanked the twins profusely before George bent down to kiss her lovingly. Remus glanced over just in time to see it and Tonks chuckled as his face changed slightly. 

“Hey, look here.” She pulled his face down to hers and kissed him quickly as he wrapped his arms around her.

“Thank you for being a part of this.” He mumbled against her hair - a rich blue that matched his new cardigan. 

“Hopefully the first of many, mm?” She asked quietly as more fireworks set off around them. 

“The first of many.” He agreed, tucking her hair behind her ear. 

Author’s Note: I hope everyone feels warm and fuzzy… I’d hold onto that if I were you. We’re about to catapult forward once more; we have a lot of gruesome work to do in HBP. Thanks for reading!

[fanfictalkdotcom]

Congratulations to all of our story finalists! Don't forget to vote for your favorite story by March 27th! Click here to access our voting threads.

Best Long Form Story:

After Destiny by @CambAngst

How to Retire in Regency England, A Handbook by @Nigel the Backpacking Hipster

In This Darkness by @quill2parchment

Stupid Alex Summers by @Lost_Robin

The Crofter and The Snake by @Oregonian

Best Short Form Story:

Call It What You Want by @RogueSlytherin

Paper Rings by @RonsGirlTuesday

To Know Your Heart by @Gallifrey Gal

Best One-Shot Story:

Friends Don't by @RogueSlytherin

Here's To Looking At You...Again by @Gallifrey Gal

Mouse by @Agent Michael Scarn

run, run, run away, run away darlings by @Zarquon

three summers ago by @quill and ted

Best Drabble/Flash Fiction:

In Light Of You (ch 1: The Boy Who Lived) by @quill2parchment

Limitless by @RonsGirlTuesday

microcosm (ch 2: walnuts and peaches) by @VaguelyCreativeName

Best Series/Universe:

all roads lead to you by @dreamthief

The Moonlight Quartet by @inmyownlittletemporalanomaly

Best Original Fiction:

even the iron still fears the rot by @grumpy cat

A Mourning in January by @blackholeballet

A Season For Wallflowers by @Gallifrey Gal

Best Angst:

The Heart is Hard to Translate by @Gallifrey Gal

Lying Josephine by @Agent Michael Scarn

The Outsider by @Nigel the Backpacking Hipster

pink porcelain by @Zarquon

stay with me by @singmetothesun

Best Slow Burn Romance:

blue skies by @quill and ted

Fish For Pearls by @Zarquon

The Pride of Burrough House by @RonsGirlTuesday

Witchful Thinking by @The Grim Leaper

Best Raging Fire Romance:

Call It What You Want by @RogueSlytherin

A Language All Their Own by @prideofprewett

What A Wonderful Night This Is by @Ineke

Favorite Lead Character:

Lavender Brown in blue skies by @quill and ted

Howard Sutton in The Crofter and The Snake by @Oregonian

Verity in Don't Quit Your Day Job by @Goatspeed

Josephine Adaire in Lying Josephine by @Agent Michael Scarn

Favorite Supporting Character:

Jasper Jordan in as the lights went out by @dreamthief

Remy Chadwick-Esposito in Days That End in Y @RonsGirlTuesday

Daniel Knapp in How to Retire in Regency England, A Handbook by @Nigel the Backpacking Hipster

Fred Weasley Lying Josephine by @Agent Michael Scarn

Favorite Lead Pairing:

John Murphy/Emma Rhodes in as the lights went out by @dreamthief

Aziraphale/Crowley in Come Fly With Me by @Gallifrey Gal

Eddie Munson/Chrissy Cunningham in (i think) you taste like rock candy by @grumpy cat

Harry Potter/Ginny Weasley in In Light Of You by @quill2parchment

Ted Tonks/Severus Snape in More Than Words by @inmyownlittletemporalanomaly

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[thistlecatfics]

Women of House of Black Self Recs

@womenofthehouseofblack said self-recs were encouraged so I thought I’d put together a few of my favorites in honor of this very exciting fest. I picked two fics for each of the sisters and Tonks (even though each fic features multiple women.) Also I desperately need to write more Bellatrix.  

Andromeda

Andromeda Liberata (130k+, M, Andromeda/genderbent!Ted Tonks, 3 part series)

In which Andromeda Black cruelly betrays her sisters and sets in motion the total destruction of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black because she fell in love with a lesbian muggleborn.

Book 1: Andromeda Vincta Catenis (6th year) - 77k, Complete

Book 2: Andromeda Ausa Ire (7th year) - 55k, Complete

Reenactment (9k, E, Andromeda/Narcissa/Hermione)

Hermione has an idea to stop her nightmares. To her surprise, both Andromeda and Narcissa agree.

Bellatrix

Blood Is Rare and Sweet (8k, E, Andromeda/Bellatrix) 

In the spring of 1979, Bellatrix began sending Andromeda messages in the bodies of members of the Order of the Phoenix.

no sound, only me and my disgrace (2.8k, E, Andromeda/Bellatrix)

(An alternate version of ch 5 of Andromeda Ausa Ire.) During the Christmas holiday, Bellatrix takes her drunk sister to bed. Andromeda asks her to stay.

Narcissa

Acting Out (2k, M, Molly/Narcissa)

Narcissa’s to-do list for the evening:

-Drink enough champagne she forgets she ever had more than one sister. -Make someone cry. (Does not count if it’s herself.) -Be told she is the most beautiful woman at the party. (Preferably by multiple people.) -Have sex that would scandalise her parents. (If they would even pay attention.)

Narcissa’s Kindness (3k, M, Narcissa/Lily)

In order to protect Lily from the Death Eaters, Narcissa offers her a version of kindness.

Tonks

you will burn right now but then you won't regret it (32k, M, Fleur/Tonks)

Eight years after Voldemort’s defeat, as the illegal potions trade ravages England and the government intensifies lycanthropic restrictions in response, Fleur and Tonks join forces to uncover corruption in the Ministry.

As they discover a scandal deeper than they could imagine, Fleur contends with her complex legal status, Tonks contends with her mother, and they do their best to avoid contending with their feelings for each other.

Family Legacy (1.6k, T, Tedromeda + Remadora + Teddy/Victoire)

Three generations of trans/nonbinary/gender questioning Tonks-Lupins. (Tonks is not a woman in this fic but including it anyway because it’s a favorite of mine.)

[sideprince]

Snape's Doe Patronus

'Well, when it works correctly, it conjures up a Patronus, which is a kind of anti-Dementor — a guardian which acts as a shield between you and the Dementor. The Patronus is a kind of positive force, a projection of the very things that the Dementor feeds upon — hope, happiness, the desire to survive — but it cannot feel despair, as real humans can, so the Dementors can't hurt it.'

Lupin explaining what a Patronus is to Harry, Prisoner of Azkaban, Ch. 12

The essence of a Patronus, as we see Lupin explain, is hope, happiness, and the desire to survive, though this last point may be specific to the use of Patronuses as a defense against Dementors. It's unclear whether a Patronus has any other use, or was specifically invented to protect against Dementors, and if Dumbledore and the Order's use of them to communicate was specific to them or part of a more general practice and purpose. While I don't necessarily think that extra-textual references have a reasonable place in meta discussions, the Harry Potter Wiki also has the following quote from the Wonderbook: Book of Spells video game that JK Rowling contributed to and is attributed to the fictional character of Miranda Goshawk, which offers a bit more insight:

"This ancient and mysterious charm conjures a magical guardian, a projection of all your most positive feelings. The Patronus Charm is difficult, and many witches and wizards are unable to produce a full, corporeal Patronus, a guardian which generally takes the shape of the animal with whom they share the deepest affinity. You may suspect, but you will never truly know what form your Patronus will take until you succeed in conjuring it."

The key points here are that a Patronus is a projection of a person's most positive feelings, and takes the shape of an animal with whom they share the deepest affinity.

Based on this information, it makes sense that Tonks' Patronus changed form when her unrequited love for Lupin became all consuming. We see how much it affected her because in all of HBP she's consistently described as sad, downcast, and unlike her usual cheery self. The change in her Patronus is specific to her personal emotional state and isn't necessarily a statement on whether Patronuses change form any time a person is in love. Therefore we can conclude that a person's Patronus changes based on their emotional or mental state, not based on whether or not they're in love. Whether a person is even able to conjur a Patronus is also dependent on these factors. This is supported by the way we see characters who had previously been able to produce corporeal Patronuses struggle to do so when under stress:

The air around them had frozen: Harry’s breath caught and solidified in his chest. Shapes moved out in the darkness, swirling figures of concentrated blackness, moving in a great wave towards the castle, their faces hooded and their breath rattling … Ron and Hermione closed in beside him as the sounds of fighting behind them grew suddenly muted, deadened, because a silence only Dementors could bring was falling thickly through the night … ‘Come on, Harry!’ said Hermione’s voice, from a very long way away, ‘Patronuses, Harry, come on!’ He raised his wand, but a dull hopelessness was spreading through him: Fred was gone, and Hagrid was surely dying or already dead; how many more lay dead that he did not yet know about; he felt as though his soul had already half left his body … ‘HARRY, COME ON!’ screamed Hermione. A hundred Dementors were advancing, gliding towards them, sucking their way closer to Harry’s despair, which was like a promise of a feast … He saw Ron’s silver terrier burst into the air, flicker feebly and expire; he saw Hermione’s otter twist in mid-air and fade, and his own wand trembled in his hand, and he almost welcomed the oncoming oblivion, the promise of nothing, of no feeling … And then a silver hare, a boar and a fox soared past Harry, Ron and Hermione’s heads: the Dementors fell back before the creatures’ approach. Three more people had arrived out of the darkness to stand beside them, their wands outstretched, continuing to cast their Patronuses: Luna, Ernie and Seamus. ‘That’s right,’ said Luna encouragingly, as if they were back in the Room of Requirement and this was simply spell practice for the DA. ‘That’s right, Harry … come on, think of something happy …’ ‘Something happy?’ he said, his voice cracked. ‘We’re all still here,’ she whispered, ‘we’re still fighting. Come on, now …’ There was a silver spark, then a wavering light, and then, with the greatest effort it had ever cost him, the stag burst from the end of Harry’s wand. It cantered forwards, and now the Dementors scattered in earnest, and immediately the night was mild again, but the sounds of the surrounding battle were loud in his ears. ‘Can’t thank you enough,’ said Ron shakily, turning to Luna, Ernie and Seamus, ‘you just saved -”

Deathly Hallows Ch. 32

We know Harry, Ron, and Hermione can conjur a Patronus, but it's their hopelessness and the trauma they've experienced in the battle so far after a year of isolation searching for Horcruxes that affect their ability to do so, or whether or not a Patronus is corporeal. There is a connection between how able a person is to conjur a Patronus based on their emotional state, and what shape their Patronus takes based on the same.

How does this, then, inform what we know about Snape's Patronus? We know it symbolizes Lily, because he conjurs it in a moment when he's trying to prove a point to Dumbledore:

‘But this is touching, Severus,’ said Dumbledore seriously. ‘Have you grown to care for the boy, after all?’ ‘For him?’ shouted Snape. ‘Expecto patronum!’ From the tip of his wand burst the silver doe: she landed on the office floor, bounded once across the office and soared out of the window. Dumbledore watched her fly away, and as her silvery glow faded he turned back to Snape, and his eyes were full of tears. ‘After all this time?’ ‘Always,’ said Snape.’

Deathly Hallows Ch. 33

We don't actually know if Lily could conjur a patronus, let alone if the shape it took was a doe. We don't know if James could either or what shape it would have taken, we only know that James' animagus form was a stag, and that we are meant to conclude as a result that his wife is therefore symbolized by a doe, and that Snape's Patronus reflects his love for her as a result.

At its core, based on the above definitions of what a Patronus is, we can conclude that Snape's source of hope and happiness was Lily. All we know for a fact, based on canon text, is that they were best friends until their fifth year at school. There are varying opinions on whether Snape also felt romantic love for Lily, but we know he definitely felt love for her as a close friend, and his Patronus alludes to him continuing to feel this way after she ended their friendship and they stopped talking, not to mention how much this was compounded by his guilt for his role in her death.

I would take this further, though, and argue that Snape's Patronus was a reflection of him, ie. that it wasn't a projection of his affection for Lily but rather of the hope and happiness that he felt in their friendship and that, if we're taking the Miranda Goshawk quote at face value, his Patronus reflected his "most positive feelings" and "the animal with whom [he] share[s] the deepest affinity."

This definition implies that Snape's doe Patronus reflects that he and Lily were kindred spirits. That's why they were best friends, and why the doe is both reflective of Snape and symbolic of Lily. This isn't surprising when you consider that they were the only magical children of their age in a small midlands factory town. They grew up in different classes, but the same culture, with the same isolating factor of being able to do magic while surrounded by muggles. Childhood friendships create a strong bond, and how much more so with such factors at play? As a result, I think Snape's doe Patronus doesn't just symbolize his attachment to Lily, but that he was like her in many ways. We see this in the glimpses we get of Lily - that she was a brilliant student as described by Slughorn, that she had a righteous temper as demonstrate in Snape's Worst Memory, and that she was not afraid of what others thought of her whether it was the best friend she was challenging unflinchingly or the popular jock bully who she told off when no one else was willing to. Though we only Snape and Lily's interactions at school as ones where they're at odds, their personalities share many similarities and it quickly becomes apparent why they became such fast, and close, friends.

We don't know if James had a Patronus, but we do know that he's represented by a stag since it was his animagus form. We're shown clearly by the text that Harry's stag patronus is a reflection of his father's spirit living on in him. While the author's intention, I think, was that as a stag and doe James and Lily were a pair, she may not have understood how these animals mate. I'm not concerned with her intentions, though, and the fact that stags and does don't spend their lives together actually offers a more interesting reading of the conclusions the reader is meant to draw from the symbolism of the doe Patronus.

After mating stags leave does to raise the offspring on their own. While this interpretation has been used by some people to circumscribe James as a negligent parent and partner, I'm not convinced of this. James demonstrated selfishness and immaturity in his tendency to sneak out under his invisibility cloak even while he and Lily were in hiding, but ultimately we learn almost as little about James as we do about Lily so it's difficult to define his whole character based on limited information. It's worth noting that he did also put himself between Voldemort and his wife and child, knowing he would be killed, and though he did so while foolishly having left his wand in the other room, this kind of self-sacrifice is antithetical to the reading of the stag/doe symbolism that highlights stags' tendency to abandon does after mating.

There is, nevertheless, an interesting metaphor for the way the two animals come together for a higher purpose - that of survival of the species and continuation of life. In this way Harry and Snape reflect James and Lily respectively. The two of them had more potential for friendship than either was willing to see, and though they were enemies (or at least they had a lot of animosity towards each other - I would argue Harry saw Snape as an enemy but not vice versa) they nevertheless they came together - at times aware of it, at times not - for the greater purpose of defeating Voldemort, ie. the survival and continuation of life in the wizarding world.

And this, the knowledge we gain by the end of the books, that Snape's main purpose in life as he saw it was to protect a child and help raise him safely while working to defeat an existential threat, is what best explains why his Patronus is a doe. In fact, he goes out of his way and risks his life for much more than Harry, fighting for the safety of all the students in his care, and anyone else he is able to save. As the text shows us, just before he reveals his Patronus to be the doe, he has the following infamous exchange with Dumbledore:

‘How many men and women have you watched die?’ ‘Lately, only those whom I could not save,’ said Snape.

Deathly Hallows Ch. 33

If we interpret the doe as symbolic of Lily, a self-sacrificing parent who put the life of her child before her own, how much more so does Snape embody that symbolism, having given his life after risking it repeatedly for the sake of countless people, including the very same child Lily gave hers for? Had Lily's Patronus also been a doe, it would have reflected who she was at her core, and those aspects of her character which gave her strength and hope - and which reflected all she had in common with Snape. Therefore I would argue that Snape's Patronus symbolizing only his unrequited love is a reductive reading, and that it was, in fact, reflective of him as an individual as well, and of the qualities he possessed that were the reason for his bond with Lily.

[celestemagnoliathewriter]

Chocolate

Written for @remadoramicrofics day 6: sticky. G, 450 words. Read below or on Ao3.

Tonks sat on the back of her heels, wiping her son’s small hands with a wet cloth. Unbeknownst to Teddy, Remus had come home early and was planning on surprising the boy when Tonks finished cleaning him.

“Teddy,” she asked, “why are you always so sticky?”

“Chocolate!”

Tonks raised a brow. “Did you eat your dad’s chocolate?”

“No.” 

A quick glance at Remus, who stood in the background, showed him rolling his eyes and shaking his head.

“Then where did you get it, sweetheart?”

Teddy’s turquoise hair turned bright pink. “Gran.”

“Your gran gave you chocolate?”

“Uh huh.”

“When?”

“ . . . yesterday.”

“And you waited until today to eat it?”

“Yeah.” Teddy’s reddening hair and cheeks gave him away. Tonks saw Remus doubled over with silent laughter.

“You know,” Tonks said slowly. “Your dad had chocolate for me. It would make him sad if it was all gone.”

Teddy’s eyes went wide as saucers. “Daddy will be sad?”

“So sad, baby.”

“Mummy,” Teddy whispered, looking cautiously from side to side, “Gran took daddy’s chocolate and gave it to me.”

“Really?” Tonks feigned surprise and clutched her chest. “Gran needs a time out! Should I owl her to let her know?”

Teddy shook his head violently.

“No? Then what should we do with a naughty gran?”

The four year old wrung his little hands, looking just like his father when he was guilty.

“Teddy, is there something you want to share?” Tonks pressed gently. “Are you sure it was Gran who took Daddy’s chocolate?”

“No,” he replied, in a low voice. “I did.”

“Ahh . . . so. What should we do? Maybe apologize?”

“Okay.” Teddy’s voice had gone to a barely-there whisper.

“You’ll have to apologize to your dad first for stealing, and what else do we say sorry for?”

Teddy’s hair was white as snow. “I don’t know.” 

“How about for lying to mummy?”

“Sorry, mummy.” Teddy hung his head sadly. Remus, his face looking like it would burst with joy, gesticulated wildly at Tonks.

“Oh look! Daddy’s here! He’s home early!” Tonks announced. 

Teddy spun around, and when his eyes landed on his father, he burst into tears.

“S-s-sorry d-d-d-daddy!” he blubbered. “D-d-don’t b-be s-s-sad! I ate y-y-your ch-ch-chocolate!”

Remus scooped Teddy up and kissed the top of his head, shushing him reassuringly.

“It’s okay, it’s okay,” Remus hushed. “It's just chocolate.”

Tonks stood and joined them, running her fingers through her son’s natural, sandy brown hair. It took a few sniffle-filled minutes, but Teddy’s crying subsided.

“How about we go to the park, Teddy? I think mummy’s questioning was punishment enough, no?”

Tonks groaned inwardly. Remus was no disciplinarian, but Teddy’s shy, eager smile softened her.

They could always get more chocolate.