#cho & daphne

[maki-nsi]

Rumors 'round Hogwarts obviously based on Norman Rockwell's "Chain of Gossip", for those not caught up, basically, Harry told Hermione who told Ron who told Dean who told Lavender who told Parvati who told Padma who told Cho who told Luna who told Ginny who told Neville who told Daphne who told Blaise who told Pansy who told Draco who told Harry

[simspaghetti]

Turns out Ra had a bit of an ulterior motive for gathering round all their family and friends... 🤭

[olivers-cocoapuffs]

yeah the way the Marauders fandom treats the girls is sad but have you seen how the Lightning fans treat those girls? Fleur Delacour, the Greengrasses, the Patils, Cho Chang, Pansy Parkinson, Nymphadora Tonks, Lavender Brown, Ginny Weasley, Luna Lovegood, are all constantly bullied and put down for literally no reason

[scvrllet]

Cancelled, A Harry Potter + Modern/Social Media AU (14/?)

Feat. Harry, Draco, and Cho experiencing Daphne’s terrifying driving skills + Theo getting the wrong idea.

tap to read full text

[ao3statistics]

This is self-made. Date of creation: 29.09.2024

I'll make more charts for the Harry Potter fandom in the future!

I can't believe how popular Luna/Ginny is.

I assume no guarantee or liability for the completeness, correctness and accuracy of this chart despite my best efforts.

Includes fanfictions in all languages available, NOT English only. Includes all fandoms on Ao3 connected to Luna Lovegood.

Percentages were rounded up or rounded down to natural numbers for easier comprehension.

Poly ships were included.

More charts will follow. :)

Want to have a chart for different pairings, headcanons etc. in your favourite fandom? Send me an ask!

[rewritingcanon]

Definitely agree with the Pansy thing in your last post. Like, there’s four other underdeveloped Slytherin girls in the background ensemble to develop (Daphne, Tracey, Millicent, Astoria) and. It’s always just Pansy… (and if it’s Daphne, then. Well. It gets weird.)

exactlyyyy give some other slytherin girls more development they deserve it 🙁 pansy is not the ally people she thinks she is guys….

but i do ubderstabd people choosing to interpret her differently for fanon reasons. no one likes racism and she was draco’s friend (as well as blaise’s???) so draco fans might want to change her a little to fit their own ideas of the characters. as long as they can recognise the source material i dont have a problem really.

but it will always be weird that pansy is more developed than any other female side characters in fandom when she is like that in the books. not even just the slytherin girls (because i guess pansy had more page time than the other girls) but even the gryffindor girls. fandom can you please turn your attention to angelina johnson please i beg!!!

[sugareey-makes-stuff]

Writing Patterns

Thanks for the tag, @quackquackcey (x)! It's been a hot minute since I've posted something (because I'm going at my own pace and self care is a nice thing), so this going to be me mainly dipping into a mix of drabbles and fics from last year and early this year. Rules: List the first line of your last 10 (posted) fics and see if there's a pattern! >> xiii. I’ll Surrender (Sterek; T, 100, from Darkness was before the light drabble series)

A shiver runs down his spine as soft lips kiss his neck.

>> xxii. Simply Because (Sterek; G, 100, from Darkness was before the light drabble series)

Derek finishes up with the Jeep when the bell in the reception area jingles.

>> xi. A Quiet Truce (Sterek; T, 100, from Darkness was before the light drabble series)

Living in his blanket cocoon seems like an awesome idea right now.

>> x. Back Again (Sterek; G, 100, from from Darkness was before the light drabble series)

He’s never been crazy about holiday events.

>> Closer to the Edge (Stackson, M, 2k)

When Isaac finally found everyone next to the tree near the back entrance, Stiles wasted no time sliding off of a low branch and jumping onto the grass.

>> Dancing Shadows From Behind (Sterek, T, 500 w/ art)

There’s no way they can escape the warehouse alive.

>> The Walls Came Crashing Down (Sterek, T, 4.2k)

He really should have asked for more backup.

>> Feel You Breathing (Sterek, E, 8.4k)

You still up?

>> Should Have Known (Cho/Padma, G, 200)

"You didn’t have to get me anything."

>> What It Takes (Daphne/Padma, E, 200)

It’s a beautiful sight.

My conclusions: Teen Wolf took over the second half of last year, and I guess deductions, observations or dialogue are what I like to start with for opening lines. It also makes sense that drabbles have short lines, because WCs are precious! Also, my preference is to usually start things ambiguously in the first line before tapping into character mention and PoV right after. Of course, case by case. Huh...interesting!

Tagging (no pressure, this is just for funsies): @sinnabon-cosplay , @serenaew , @shealynn88 , @elisedonut , @siriusly-sapphic , @outtoshatter , @raisesomehale , @zaharya , @coffeedrgn87 , @lumosatnight , @hey-flynn , and anyone else who wants to join in!

[superfriction]

Chapter 4 of Phoenix is up!

Rating: Explicit for psychological manipulation, sexual manipulation, cults, non-con, dubious ethics, morally grey characters

Ships: Draco Malfoy/Ginny Weasley, Neville Longbottom/Pansy Parkinson, minor Blaise Zabini/Luna Lovegood, minor Theodore Nott/Daphne Greengrass

Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/59397433/chapters/155112595

Story Playlist on Apple Music

[wizardingworldlibrary]

Valentine’s Day (3) Masterlist

Links Last Checked: June 6th, 2024

part one, part two, part four

Bit of a Sweet Tooth (ao3) - Solar_dragon draco/harry G, 1k

Summary: Draco has never been fond of Valentine's Day but maybe a certain Boy Who Lived can change that for him.

Dance with Me (ao3) - EvaMcGregor daphne/harry T, 4k

Summary: Back for his eighth year, Harry is determined to get his last year education, but also not to make a fool of himself for the upcoming Valentine's Day Ball. Enter Daphne Greengrass, who in a fit of altruism is giving dancing lessons. But does Daphne have ulterior motives, and will Harry get a clue?

Draco Malfoy Doesn't Do Valentine's Day (ao3) - Magnolia822 draco/harry E, 5k

Summary: Draco Malfoy is a busy man. He doesn’t have time for romance. He doesn’t have time for Valentine’s Day, and he certainly doesn’t have time for Harry bloody Potter to torment him for hours on end until he’s begging for exquisite release. Harry, however, has more than enough time.

even if you and me go up in flames (ao3) - ritaskeetered james/lily T, 4k

Summary: Head Boy James Potter and Head Girl Lily Evans are strongarmed - or Lily is - into joining the Ravenclaw Prefects Amos Diggory and Lucinda Talkalot for a Valentine's double date at The Three Broomsticks. The only problem? They are not exactly dating.

hypothetically, yes (ao3) - eveningstruggle hermione/draco E, 11k

Summary: “Malfoy.” She pushed her frames up higher on her face. “I’ve objectively analyzed the situation—“ “What situation?” “Our situation, and—“ “What is our situation?” “The state of our relationship.” “Which is what, exactly?” “—and I’ve determined that you and I should date.”

OR: Hermione uses science to convince Draco Malfoy to date her. He's not interested.

It’s Just a Necklace (ao3) - DracoIsForLovers, magicandmanuscripts hermione/pansy M, 2k

Summary: Pansy Parkinson finds herself at the annual LoveNott Valentine’s Day Extravaganza, anxiously awaiting the arrival of her girlfriend, Hermione Granger. In a haze of emotions, the couple decides to announce their relationship to their friends.

Leaving the Limelight (ao3) - spog00ter hermione/viktor G, 786

Summary: Wedding planning is overwhelming, especially so when both members to the marriage are internationally famous.

Love (ao3) - Duchess_of_Strumpetness draco/harry G, 1k

Summary: Harry goes out of his way to make his and Draco's first Valentine's Day memorable. Draco cannot contain his grin.

Me, Myself and You (ao3) - Mariana_Monteverde millicent/charlie T, 4k

Summary: Millicent thought she would always be by herself... until Charlie appeared in her life...

Mudblood, Mystery, and More Than He Deserves (ao3) - ftlow lily/snape N/R, 4k

Summary: Snape's Worst Memory: a reimagining in which teenage Severus is as much a victim of his own House as any other, and in which James is not obsessed with Lily, so he doesn't act like such an arrogant prat.

Not what he imagined (ao3) - orphan_account draco/harry, luna/pansy, hermione/ron T, 5k

Summary: Draco has to give out Valentine's day chocolate on his FREE day, Harry was supposed to help him and in nowhere to be found, all the couples make Draco gag, EVERYTHING IS GOING GREAT (if you didn't notice, this is sarcasm)

Perfect (ao3) - Leiaskywallker draco/ginny G, 1k

Summary: AU. One Shot. Drinny. "She was amazing, funny, kind, smart, beautiful, and he was positive he could keep that list going all day. She never seemed to believe the compliments he told her, but they were all true. Ginny Weasley was everything, and he loved her." Draco and Ginny's first Valentine's Day together. Pretty sappy, I have to admit, but very cute and fluffy.

Pomona's Big Mushy Butt (ao3) - Anonymous rolonda/pomona T, 532

Summary: Rolanda gives Pomona a special poem on Valentine's Day

Seasons of Love (ao3) - MrBenzedrine89 hermione/draco M, 4k

Summary: Strictly Dramione 2017 Valentine's Day prompt: Hogwarts. Draco and Hermione as professors. "Will you ever let go of the past, Granger? I'm not that little boy anymore. People can change." - Draco Malfoy never realized how pretty Hermione Granger's smile actually was until she bumped into him again. Now, he can't get her out of his head, but she isn't falling for his charm.

So that's a date (ao3) - Darth_Gojira hermione/neville G, 3k

Summary: For Neville and Hermione, Valentine's Day at Hogsmeade is a new kind of experience. Rated PG for brief mild language

The Man and his Moony (ao3) - WriterwithaWindow sirius/remus T, 3k

Summary: Remus is still getting used to his life with Sirius and Harry after Voldemort's fall. One Valentine's Day, Sirius decides to finally be open with him about how he is feeling.

Valentine’s Cheer (ao3) - Brockster550 cho/harry T, 938

Summary: An AU of Harry and Cho’s Valentine’s date at Hogsmeade in Harry’s fifth year, where they go to the Three Broomsticks instead of Madam Puddifoot’s Tea Shop.

Valentine's Day Vistior (ao3) - FeatherDancer106 luna/charlie T, 1k

Summary: Luna was watching the Next Generation as a last-minute favor for Mrs. Weasley. She gets a surprise from a wayward Weasley brother.

[realitybitesyouknowit]

When Lily's secret is revealed Harry runs away from home and meets a girl unlike any other. But she can never be with him, and he would never even suggest it. Things change drastically when his mother's legacy turns him into something no one expected.

[jadeshifting]

AMORTENTIA.

　　　.   　　˚　　 　　*　　 　　✦　　　.　　.　　　✦　˚ 　　　　 ˚　.˚　　　　✦　　　.　　. 　 ˚　.　

the air in the dungeon was practically electric, a low hum of whispered gossip and barely-contained giggles rippling through the students as they slid into their seats. today was the day—Amortentia day. everyone was buzzing, eyes darting around, wondering who among them might catch a whiff of their essence in the swirling potion. the curiosity was intoxicating: what would you smell? would it reveal some secret crush, or confirm a love you hadn’t dared to voice? the thought of brewing it, learning its secrets for future use, had everyone on edge, hearts thudding with anticipation. the room was alive with possibilities, every stir of a cauldron promising revelations and maybe, just maybe, a gossamer thread connecting you to the person you’re meant to be with

WHO IS IT THAT YOU SMELL ?

　　　.   　　˚　　 　　*　　 　　✦　　　.　　.　　　✦　˚ 　　　　 ˚　.˚　　　　✦　　　.　　. 　 ˚　.　　

˚☽˚.⋆ MATTHEO RIDDLE. dark chocolate and crackling embers devouring wood chips, with a hint of something dark and unidentifiable

˚☽˚.⋆ DRACO MALFOY. crisp winter air and freshly polished leather, laced with a whisper of expensive cologne

˚☽˚.⋆ THEODORE NOTT. ancient parchment and sandalwood, with undertones of the forest after an unforgiving storm

˚☽˚.⋆ PANSY PARKINSON. rich jasmine and a touch of spiced vanilla, wrapped in a cloud of luxurious bergamot perfume

˚☽˚.⋆ LORENZO BERKSHIRE. sea salt and sun-warmed driftwood, with a tiny hint of freshly squeezed lime

˚☽˚.⋆ BLAISE ZABINI. luxurious cooking spices and smooth, aged whiskey, with the faintest trace of cedarwood

˚☽˚.⋆ ASTORIA GREENGRASS. soft rose petals and sweet honey, tinged with the refreshing scent of a summer breeze

˚☽˚.⋆ DAPHNE GREENGRASS. mellow lavender and fresh morning dew, layered with a whisper of crisp apple

˚☽˚.⋆ MILLICENT BULSTRODE. earthy pine and rich musk, softened by the warmth of freshly brewed coffee

˚☽˚.⋆ HARRY POTTER. freshly cut grass and a hint of broomstick polish, with the undertone of gently burned bay leaves

˚☽˚.⋆ HERMIONE GRANGER. crisp parchment and freshly brewed peppermint tea, with a subtle whiff of vanilla candle wax

˚☽˚.⋆ RON WEASLEY. warm cinnamon and rich butterbeer, tinged with the comforting scent of old wood

˚☽˚.⋆ LUNA LOVEGOOD. the ethereal scent of rain-soaked wildflowers and a hint of parchment, like secrets whispered in a moonlit meadow

˚☽˚.⋆ GINNY WEASLEY. the fiery aroma of spiced apple cider and freshly mown grass, full of warmth and untamed spirit

˚☽˚.⋆ FRED WEASLEY. fiery cloves and burnt sugar, mingling with some mysterious electric buzz

˚☽˚.⋆ GEORGE WEASLEY. smoky bonfires and caramel toffee, layered with a cheeky twist of citrus zest

˚☽˚.⋆ CEDRIC DIGGORY. golden apples and the fresh scent of a cool river breeze, tinged with warm amber

˚☽˚.⋆ NEVILLE LONGBOTTOM. freshly turned soil and blooming flowers, with a faint trace of sun-ripened strawberries

˚☽˚.⋆ CHO CHANG. delicate baby’s breath blossoms and soft raindrops, with a whisper of green tea with too much sugar

˚☽˚.⋆ CORMAC MCLAGGEN. sharp citrus and molten pine candle wax, layered with the crispness of mountain air

˚☽˚.⋆ OLIVER WOOD. freshly mown grass and clean sweat, mixed with morning dew on wood and the stirring of broom polish

˚☽˚.⋆ SEAMUS FINNEGAN. smoky campfires and a hint of spiced firewhiskey, laced with the tang of sea salt

˚☽˚.⋆ DEAN THOMAS. charcoal sketches and warm cocoa, blended with the cozy scent of old bookshops

˚☽˚.⋆ REMUS LUPIN (ooh, scandal). warm honey and worn leather, with a trace of earthy pine forests after rain

THE JUICY AFTERMATH.

　　　.   　　˚　　 　　*　　 　　✦　　　.　　.　　　✦　˚ 　　　　 ˚　.˚　　　　✦　　　.　　. 　 ˚　.　　

the aftermath of Amortentia class is pure, unfiltered chaos. whispers turned into gasps when Dean realized his girlfriend didn’t catch his scent in the potion—no, she smelled someone else entirely. in front of everyone, too… yikes.

.　　. 　 ˚　. meanwhile, Astoria’s cheeks turned into fiery roses when she realized she smelled the awkward Gryffindor idiot she sneered at in the hallway (RON!! WEASLEY!!), and now she had to question practically everything about herself and her sensibilities

.　　. 　 ˚　. but the real scandal? Padma smelled Professor Lupin. yep, full-on professor. she looked like she wanted to sink into the floor, but how embarrassing was it, really? (no one else wanted to admit it, but plenty of his students knew that the gentle cadence of his voice and his capable nature made them swoon in class.) friendships were tested, secrets spilled, and the whole castle buzzed with the fallout of who smelled what—and more importantly, who smelled who

WHAT DOES YOUR AMORTENTIA SMELL LIKE ?

　　　.   　　˚　　 　　*　　 　　✦　　　.　　.　　　✦　˚ 　　　　 ˚　.˚　　　　✦　　　.　　. 　 ˚　.　　

after all, if you know, you can zero in the moment someone else smells you—you hear someone whisper a description of your particular brand of personal fragrance, and their harbored affections for you are on full display for you to take advantage of

˚☽˚.⋆ freshly baked cinnamon rolls on a chilly morning, the scent of the creamy glaze cutting through the bite of the cold air

˚☽˚.⋆ the buttery sweetness of caramel popcorn at the fairgrounds, playful and indulgent, mixed with the salty tang of sea breeze at sunset

˚☽˚.⋆the rich, creamy fragrance of coconut oil warming on sun-kissed skin, luscious and inviting

˚☽˚.⋆ the soft, powdery scent of lavender sachets in a vintage wardrobe, delicate and calming with an undertone of light wood shavings

˚☽˚.⋆ the silky smooth scent of jasmine tea steaming in a porcelain cup, refined and subtly intoxicating

˚☽˚.⋆ crisp, clean and freshly laundered linen on a breezy day mixed with the sweet, fruity aroma of ripe peaches on a summer afternoon

THIS YEAR’S AMORTENTIA DISASTERS.

　　　.   　　˚　　 　　*　　 　　✦　　　.　　.　　　✦　˚ 　　　　 ˚　.˚　　　　✦　　　.　　. 　 ˚　.　　

sure, there’s always one or two, but the Amortentia mishaps that year were legendary

.　　. 　 ˚　. first off, poor Cormac accidentally dosed himself—yeah, rookie mistake—and spent a week hopelessly in love with his reflection (but how different was that from his true self, anyway? no way of knowing.)

.　　. 　 ˚　. then there was Katie, who slipped a few drops into a goblet meant for Mr. Harry Potter of boy-who-lived fame, only for his best friend Hermione to pick it up instead. The look on Katie’s face when Granger started waxing poetic about Katie’s “brilliance” in the middle of the great hall was priceless—but, of course, Hermione was beet red and positively humiliated after it wore off, and i believe the two haven’t spoken since. i think Katie learned her lesson, though.

.　　. 　 ˚　. and let’s not forget Jenny, who finally got her crush, Maximus, to fall head over heels—only to discover lovesick Maximus was clingy with a capital C. cue sleepless nights and desperate whispered pleas for antidotes. a couple of brave (or just plain desperate) students tried to brew their own fixes in the dorms, resulting in green smoke, shrieking mandrakes, and one extremely unfortunate case of squishy bones and a subsequent trip to the hospital wing

.　　. 　 ˚　. and of course, the pièce de résistance: Parvati and Lavender dragging a moonstruck Ruby to Slughorn, her eyes glazed over, babbling sonnets about a completely baffled Draco Malfoy—he loved attention, sure, but he looked like he wanted to die. Slughorn went easy on her to save them the embarrassment. the whole school buzzed with these tales, each mishap adding another layer of absurdity to a year that already had more than enough going on

GOOD LUCK IN LOVE THIS YEAR, WITCHES AND WIZARDS

yours truly,

— me :^)

[ravenclaws-stuff]

Harry Potter Love Language Drabbles

Slytherin Boys

Draco Malfoy: Gift Giving

I run my fingers across the emerald green dress, a wide grin on my face. It is absolutely beautiful. I could just picture myself wearing it. Draco and I dancing, swaying to the music.

“See something you like, love?” I pull my hand away, hoping Draco misses the fact I was looking at the beautiful dress. “Oh no. Nothing seems to have caught my eye.” The lie falls out of my mouth, smiling as I reach up, pushing the fringe out of his face. “Let’s go to the Three Broomsticks. I promised Pansy we would meet up after we were done here.” He huffs, rolling his eyes. “Only if you’re sure, you don’t need anything.” I nod, pulling Draco out of Gladrags. “I’m sure.”

“Good night Dray.” I kiss his cheek. Draco reaches up, pushing the hair out of my face. “Goodnight love.” I walk up the stairs, leading to the girl’s dormitory. “You have something on your bed.” Daphne calls as she walks into the bathroom. My brow furrows. "It’s cute!”

A gasp escapes past my lips as I see the emerald dress from Gladrags laying on my bed.

H..how?

Draco must have noticed I was looking at the damn thing. My eyes widen as I see the note beside it.

Love, please never hide anything you want from me. My vaults are for you to spend. Wear this Saturday night. We are going on a date. Dinner and a trip to your favorite bookstore. I love you, Princess. Get some sleep.

Theodore Nott: Acts of Services

“Theo, you really don’t have to do this.” I say from the top of the counter. Theo all but threw me on top of it, claiming I needed to rest my feet. I simply roll my eyes. I am pregnant, not invalid. Yet, I bit my tongue, knowing how futile it was to argue with my husband. "Alright, my love. Time to get you out of these clothes.” I giggle at the wiggle of his eyebrow as Theo undresses me. I once asked why he preferred to undress me, he said it was like Christmas morning every time. “Water isn't boiling as much as you prefer. Not good for the baby.” I roll my eyes, frowning. I miss my hot baths. “Join me Teddy?” I ask, placing my hands under his shirt, hope shining in my eyes. Theo leans down, pressing a gentle kiss to my lips. “If I ever say no, avada me.” I lean against his chest, seeking his warmth. “Theo.” I whine. Theo picks me up, placing me into the warm water before crawling into the bath behind me. “I'm serious. Avada me.”

Blaise Zabini: Physical touch

Gryffindor beats Ravenclaw in a landslide. It seems the eagles have lost their touch after Cho left last year. I groan as my feet touches the grass. “What’s wrong, doll?” Blaise asks, a teasing tone evident in his voice. Whining, I look up at the castle. “The castle is so bloody far and my feet are killing me.” Blaise chuckles. “Just leaves me here to perish. Don’t forget about me, Blaise.” The rest of the group laughs at my antics, used to my dramatics. “Well I am not leaving you here.” Blaise crouches down, his back to me. “What are you doing?” Another chuckle falls from his lips. “Giving me girl a piggy back ride so she can rest her poor aching feet.” I laugh, climbing onto his back. “You're the best, B.” I whisper into his ear, placing a lingering kiss behind his ear. His hands tightens around my thigh. “I know.”

[emeraldelixirs]

Bloodsport {I: where’d it go wrong?}

bsf! m. riddle x fem!sallow!reader, fem!sallow!reader stepbrother! t. nott

Bound by Blood, Betrayed by Fate. When you’re dragged to Malfoy Manor under orders from Voldemort himself, you learn the price of your mother’s mistakes: an Unbreakable Vow, tethering your life to the deranged Bellatrix Lestrange. Forced to navigate a web of dark magic, family debts, and impossible expectations, you must tread carefully in a house brimming with enemies—and a few familiar faces. As tensions rise and the lines between loyalty and survival blur, one question remains: will you find a way to break free, or will you lose yourself to the darkness?

Content warnings: 18+ themes, mentions of death, mental, emotional, physical abuse, torture, trauma, dysfunctional family dynamics, taboo themes, grief, underage coercion misogyny, classic canon HP themes of blood purity, house prejudices, oppression

Word count: 2.3k

A/n: and here lays the start of y/n’s trauma, with a lovely flashback. This is merely a filler before I get to the good stuff, bc next part is 8k worth of words and I will not elaborate any further. DISCLAIMER: girl in picture is not descriptive of Y/n, I am writing her with as little description as I can besides last name ofc. I just wanted a fitting pic for the chapter until I get to an official banner.

[playlist: the lakes–taylor swift, july–noah cyrus, forever winter–taylor swift, where’d it go wrong–d4vd]

<< previous part>> << next part >>

It was a bright summer day in June, one of those days where the remnants of spring lingered in the air—a soft, cool breeze running through the wildflowers in the fields surrounding the Parkinson Mansion. Despite the sun’s gentle warmth and the comforting drone of dragonflies and honeybees, something felt off in the pit of your stomach. You couldn’t place it, but the sense of dread fluttered there, stubborn and persistent.

You, Pansy, and Daphne had strayed from the bustle inside—your two closest friends pulling you out to the meadow behind the estate. The Parkinson Mansion itself was a grand, pristine building, though seldom occupied by actual parents these days; they were always away at this meeting or that trip. Under normal circumstances, you’d relish a carefree summer’s day with your friends, but the knot in your stomach refused to untie. Perhaps because your mother had acted so strangely the night before, insisting you spend the night at Pansy’s, hugging you tight enough to leave you breathless and—if you weren’t mistaken—a little dampness in your hair from her tears. You’d woken this morning with an irrational worry gnawing at you, ready to flee back to the perpetually hollow cold of Nott Manor to ask the meaning. But now, it merely circled your thoughts like a blackbird overhead. 

Nevertheless, it ought to have been peaceful here. Sunbeams chased off the last dewdrops from the night. Mourning doves cooed in the distance, half-hidden in the branches. The breeze ruffled Pansy’s dark hair as she crouched, meticulously polishing her new Nimbus broom, the latest model on the market. She paused every so often, lifting it into the sunshine to watch the metal fittings glint.

“Lorenzo,” she huffed, “is going to swallow his words when he sees this baby. And he’s coming with Draco later this week—they promised to run a few drills with me. I’ll be unstoppable against them.” Her tone was smug, but you only nodded, half-listening.

Meanwhile, Daphne lay on her stomach in the tall grass, your head pillowed on her back. She’d spent the last hour braiding bright wildflowers into flimsy crowns—two perched precariously on your heads, the third already wilted beside Pansy, who cursed every time it slipped off. Daphne flicked a new chain of daisies between her fingers, giggling under her breath at some rumor she’d heard.

“I heard Cho was found snogging Terry Boot on the train ride home,” she announced, her voice lilting with the thrill of gossip. “Not even a week after poor Cedric died, can you believe it?”

A shudder prickled at your arms. Cedric’s death had rattled the whole school, and you still felt uneasy about how the year had ended. You shifted your weight off Daphne, dislodging a few petals. “That’s got to be rubbish,” you muttered, frowning. “Cho wouldn’t move on that fast, surely. She was devastated.”

Daphne shrugged, weaving another blossom through her makeshift crown. “That’s what Astoria heard. From a friend of a friend, she claims.” She sniffed in that way she did when she wanted to sound superior.

Pansy snorted, hugging the broom handle against her chest. “Astoria’s sources are always questionable,” she said, rolling her eyes. “I call bollocks.”

In another world, on another day, you might have teased them both about digging into outlandish rumors. But the knot in your stomach tugged tighter, a creeping sense that haunted you with the talk of death. You cast your gaze toward the sky—blue, bright, with just a hint of humidity that promised a sweltering afternoon. The day felt too perfect, as if something unspoken lurked at the edges.

Trying to ignore the weight in your stomach, you steered the conversation elsewhere: “Have you heard Lyra Nox is releasing a new novel soon? It’s about a woman who falls in love with a charmed portrait.”

Pansy snorted a laugh. “A portrait as the love interest? That’s… creative.”

Daphne giggled, half listening, half braiding. “I’ll skip the reading and wait for your review,” she joked, nose wrinkling in playful distaste.

“I’ll opt out of both.” Pansy deadpanned. You huffed in faux annoyance, reaching over, grabbing a handful of stray wilting daisies, launching them at her.

She grinned at you, “kidding, kidding. Easy Sallow.”

You made a show of tossing a few wilted daisies at Pansy in mock offense. She smirked, swatting them away. The three of you resumed your chatter—about next year’s classes, potential new teachers, Blaise Zabini’s upcoming party, and what you wanted for lunch. The conversation and the bright field nearly lulled you into forgetting the morning’s dread.

Until, you noticed a lone figure emerging from across the field. The shape drew closer, weaving through the tall grass in rushed strides. As it neared, your pulse quickened: Theo. It was definitely Theo, but something about his posture was wrong for such a sunny day. A heaviness radiated off him, like a storm cloud in human form.

He approached, slightly out of breath, hair windblown, and your friends halted their chatter. Pansy stood up a fraction, shielding her eyes against the sun. Daphne paused in her braiding, turning her head so your weight slid off her back. Silence fell.

Theo’s eyes were red at the edges, his mouth pressed into a thin line that barely contained whatever grief lay behind it. Your stomach lurched. Theo rarely displayed emotions so openly in front of others—especially not in front of Pansy and Daphne. The dread inside you knotted further, as if your body already knew what he was about to say.

“Y/n, you need to come home.” he urged softly, glancing at Pansy and Daphne with quick, polite acknowledgement before focusing on you. “Now. Your—it’s urgent.”

Fear spiked hot in your throat. “Is everything… is my mother…?” The question choked off, half-formed.

“We need to go home,” Theo repeated, voice taut. His eyes flicked from you to your friends and back again. He looked… distraught in a way you’d never seen, as if the ground had dropped beneath him. The phrase go home struck a chord of panic. You realized you never wanted to leave the safety of this sunlit field. 

“Wh–what’s wrong?” you asked, trying to laugh it off, but fear caught your breath. When he remained silent, you slowly stood, petals tumbling off your lap. Daphne’s crown of wildflowers dropped from her fingers, petals scattering in the grass as she sat up, alarmed, while Pansy clutched her broom handle.

“Just… trust me,” Theo insisted, more hoarse this time. “I—I’ll explain later, okay? We have to go home, now.”

You glanced at Daphne and Pansy, confusion rolling off them in waves. But the dread in Theo’s eyes sealed your decision. “Alright,” you whispered, “Let me just—”

“No,” he cut in, shaking his head. “We need to leave immediately.”

Pansy hugged her broom closer, confusion written across her face. “Hold on—what’s going on?” She demanded, stepping forward. “Theo, you’re scaring us.”

Theo parted his lips, but only managed, “I—I just can’t explain right now.” He caught your arm gently. “We’ve got to go home. Right away.”

Without another word, you allowed him to gently grip your arm, pulling you away from your friends. Shock rooted them in place. Pansy called after you—What’s going on?—but you just shook your head, tears unexpectedly pricking the corners of your eyes. You didn’t know why you felt this sudden wave of sorrow, but the air felt heavier, the sun less bright.

Daphne scrambled to her feet, her half-finished flower crown forgotten. “Wait, Y/N—?”

But Theo gave a final apologetic glance over his shoulder, and the two of you were gone, weaving back through the fields, up the winding path through the overgrown grasses toward the Parkinson Estate.  The day felt too bright for tragedy, but dread clawed at your ribcage. You blinked back tears, your breath hitching as you nodded, trusting the urgent plea in Theo’s eyes.

The moment you reached the Floo station inside, your heart hammered out of control. Theo grabbed a handful of powder and swept you into the emerald flames. You clung to his sleeve, a kaleidoscope of color and spinning magic swallowing you until you tumbled out into the drawing room of the Nott estate—your stepfather’s home, which you reluctantly shared. 

The abrupt shift from the sun-drenched meadow to this lifeless interior felt like stepping from day into a permanent night when You staggered out, disoriented, gripping Theo for stability.

The drawing room’s silence was a stark contrast to the lively field. At its center stood Narcissa Malfoy, her elegant features drawn tight with concern, and Theodore Nott Sr., whose expression held all the warmth of a gravestone.

A swell of panic rose in your chest, breath hitching. Theo hovered at your side, shoulders trembling in silent grief he tried to bury.

Your stepfather—no, your mother’s husband in name only—met your gaze with chilling indifference. “Your mother,” he said flatly, “died last night.”

A ringing filled your ears. The day’s brightness seemed to vanish from your memory, replaced by icy shock. “No…” you whispered, hardly aware that tears streamed down your cheeks. “That can’t be—there’s no reason—she was fine—”

Narcissa stepped forward, ignoring Nott Sr.’s disapproving scowl. “I’m so sorry, my dear,” she murmured, voice trembling with empathy. She guided you gently from the Floo, wrapping an arm around your shoulders, beckoning Theo in too.

Theodore Nott Sr. cleared his throat. “She arranged for you to spend the night with Miss Parkinson, presumably to spare you the drama of witnessing… the end.”

He spoke without even a glimmer of sympathy, as if narrating the front page of the Daily Prophet. Your mind reeled, refusing to accept the finality of his words. She can’t be gone…

“H-how?” You breathed out. You already had feeling as to how and why, but you wanted to hear it from him.

He sniffed, “complications on the job,” impatiently glancing between the three of you.

It was because of her.

The mad woman that decided to marry your mother off to Nott Sr that stood emotionless in front of you, that had free reign in your house, pulling your mother into the drawing room for hours on end, sending her away at elusive hours of the night, doing gods knows what. Bellatrix Lestrange. 

Theo gave a strangled sob, hearing the one that wracked through you loudly, turning his face away, wiping his eyes. You gripped his sleeve needing his presence as much as he needed yours, letting him tug you in his side.

“Emotional displays won’t—” He cleared his throat.

 Narcissa, her voice firm, snapped at Nott Sr. “Leave them. Now. They’ve just lost their mother.”

“This is my house, Narcissa,” The older wizard made a dismissive sound. “They’re old enough to keep emotions in check. The times we live in—” 

“Get out,” Narcissa repeated, sharp enough that even he winced, her authoritative maternal side shining through. With a roll of his eyes, he strode out, slamming the door behind him, leaving the room colder than before.

In the hush that followed, your tears came in earnest. Narcissa guided you and Theo to a nearby sofa, letting you cling to each other. She summoned tissues, stroking your hair lightly in a gesture that felt heartbreakingly maternal—something your mother could never do again.

You tried to reconcile the morning’s bright sunshine, the warm breeze, the friendly chatter with your friends, with this. The last vestiges of spring now seemed mockingly beautiful, overshadowed by your mother’s sudden absence. She must have known something terrible would happen—why else insist on your sleeping over at the Parkinsons’? The question gnawed at you.

Theo trembled at your side, every muscle tight. You slid an arm around him, drawing him close. Step-siblings, yes, but more than that—friends, companions. Now you were bound by even more shared loss, being there for him when his own mother passed a few years prior. And if Nott Sr. was your only guardian left, you shuddered at the hollowness that awaited you both under his roof.

Narcissa, kneeling by your feet, pressed her hand to yours. “You’re not alone. I’ll help however I can, you two are some of Draco's closest friends.” Her voice wavered, tears bright in her eyes. But she held steady for you, for Theo, gently bridging the gap left by that the cold, malicious man who cared little for either of you.

Outside, the June sun still shone, oblivious to your world’s collapse. You let your head rest against Theo’s shoulder, tears staining his sleeve. The memory of how lovely the day had seemed only hours ago panged in your chest, a cruel reminder that fate offered no warnings.

You still felt the knot of unease you’d woken with, that sense of dread now realized. The breeze you’d thought was gently stirring your hair had, in reality, been a herald of loss.

No matter the brightness of summer, the world looked bleak and gray now, hollowed by grief.

The sunlit day felt like a cruel mockery, each warm ray a glaring reminder of how a bright sky could so easily clash with a dark heart. You sat on the steps leading to Malfoy Manor’s lavish gardens, reading, but your body felt heavy, your mind drifting back to the day your mother died. The recollection threatened to swallow you whole, and you had no energy to resist.

Bellatrix had held you in her claws for most of the day—torturing you in every way possible except actually casting the Cruciatus Curse. You suspected she was saving that particular brand of agony for a later date. You stared at your tender hands, welts from her punishments forming red and raw across your knuckles. They pulsed with each heartbeat, a physical echo of the emotional storm churning within.

It hadn’t been physical violence alone; she forced you to “charm” a mirror, an exercise that turned your stomach. The mirror displayed a rotating gallery of men—some young, some old and unsavory—teaching you how to coax and manipulate them with your Veela magic. That memory made you feel unclean, as if your soul were smeared by something far more insidious than a simple bruise.

You’d rather have endured a hundred more blows than endure that humiliating ��lesson” again. Yet here you were, in broad daylight, the beautiful summer mocking your pain.

At last, the manor’s door opened behind you, footsteps on stone drawing your attention. You glanced up, shielding your eyes from the sun, spotting Theo stepping outside with Mattheo in tow. Both wore suits—dark, meticulously tailored, each cuff hiding the marks that chained them to the Dark Lord’s bidding. They looked weary, but they managed half-smiles, as they talked animatedly about something.

“Columba,” Theo called gently, that old nickname he’d used for you since you were kids. He approached with caution, Mattheo lagging behind like a silent sentinel.

“Ready to go home?” Theo asked, offering a hand to help you stand.

The word home jarred you. Home might as well have been a crypt these days, the Nott Manor empty except for house-elves who scurried about on edge, rarely speaking. You forced a nod, sliding your bruised hand into Theo’s. Pain shot through your fingers, but you let him lift you.

He froze when he saw the injuries marring your skin. “Gods, Y/N… she did this?” he whispered hoarsely, a flare of anger in his eyes. Over his shoulder, you saw Mattheo tense as he peered over his friend’s shoulder, running a hand through his curls before letting it drop to his side, frustration emanating off him in waves suddenly.

You shrugged, trying to sound calm. “I wasn’t doing well enough, apparently.”

Mattheo let out a hollow laugh. “How hard is it to twirl your hair and bat your lashes at someone, exactly?”

Your temper flickered, turning your gaze on him. “It’s more than that, you twat.”

He shot you a look, jaw clenching. “More than enough to get beaten for?” His dark eyes glinted with incredulity, but beneath the sarcasm you caught the faintest glimmer of concern. “Please, enlighten me.”

They’d never understand, not fully, not when you hadn’t even understood barely—the art of charming guarded men, of coaxing out secrets with a coy turn of phrase, all while Bellatrix delighted in your squeamishness. The memory of that mirror and those endless faces made your stomach churn.

“Lay off it, Matty,” you muttered, brushing his shoulder lightly as you passed him to reach the door with Theo.

Mattheo stayed put. You glanced back to see him rooted to the spot, arms rigid, eyes locked on the horizon as if waging an internal war. Theo stopped by the threshold, keeping a gentle hold on you. “You coming back, Mate?” he asked, trying for a casual tone.

“Nah,” Mattheo exhaled, glancing over at the hand Theo rested on your back. “Go ahead. I have a couple things to tend to.” His voice sounded distant, any previous good mood lost.

You rolled your eyes with a touch of exasperation. Lately, this was the version of Mattheo you always got: cold, distant, and bitterly brooding. “Fine,” you said sharply, words cutting more than you meant. “We’ll see you at Zabini’s party later, yeah?”

He raised his hand in a noncommittal wave, turning away to pace near the garden steps. You half-wanted to call him back, to tell him you needed him at the manor just as much as Theo, that you despised him for being so frigid but also respected his reasons for it. But your body ached, and your heart was too drained for another confrontation or his dejected attitude.

Theo gently guided you inside, toward the Floo station. You cradled your bruised hand, stepping into the emerald flames with your stepbrother by your side. Home. The concept twisted in your mind like a knife, the echo of your mother’s demise still haunting your chest.

taglist: @moonlightttfae

A/N: I love a good broody Matthew and a protective Theo, anyone else? I quite literally thrive off of it, and platonic scenes between the Slytherin gang. Anyways, feedback, likes, weblogs are always appreciated. And lmk if you want to be added to the tag list!

[lovedlikeahummingbird]

Sixteen World | “The Myth of Daphne” photographed by Cho Giseok and styled by Matthew Josephs

Nymphs and myths come alive

[hssrarepairs]

📊 HSS Rare Pairs 2024: STATS 📈

Gather 'round, everyone, it's time for some pretty graphs and some big numbers. We gave out 178 gifts for this year's secret santa exchange! So many!! See our masterlists for a full list of works or check out the collection on AO3.

Masterlist 1: Creative Mediums

Masterlist 2: Femslash & Poly Fic

Masterlist 3: Gen & Het Fic

Masterlist 4: Slash Fic

View all gifts on AO3

🍐🎄🎁✨🍐

—

We had a range of ratings...

And a variety of ships...

We had 135 different ships!

Sirius/Severus and Neville/Pansy were our most popular ships at 6 works each

Not far behind were Sirius/Harry, Regulus/Remus, and Minerva/Poppy at 4 works each

We had some super rare pairs like Dawlish/Daphne, Puddifoot/Ron, Pomfrey/Andromeda, Muriel/Umbridge, and Sirius/Kingsley/Severus

Our most popular tags were Fluff, Smut, Established Relationship, Age Difference, and Angst...

Our most popular gift type was Creative Writing but we also had a range of other gifts...

A Rosekiller & Moonwater ship manifesto

A Blackbones fic recipe

Some wonderful crafts: embroidery, bookbinding, crochet, sculpture, diorama

An English and Dutch translation

4 podfics

7 moodboards & banners

And a ship guessing game!

Between all of our gifts, we wrote almost 700k words!!

We had 34 wonderful drabbles and ficlets (<1k words)

The majority of our fics, 67 of them, were between 1k to 5k words

Our longest works were a wartime Severus/Charlie fic (45k words), an arranged marriage Daphne/Harry fic (28k words), and a post-war Cho/Dudley fic (27k words)

Thanks for joining everyone and putting 178 more rare pair works out into the world! 🍐

[saintsenara]

Thoughts on fleurmione, dransy, druna, hedric, haphne, blarry, blairon, ron/ginny

thank you very much for the ask, anon!

fleur delacour/hermione granger

i think this has potential, in that hermione is demonstrably a francophile and one of the few people on earth who has the bulletproof sense of self-righteousness to cope with fleur's ego.

but i think it's not to last. hermione is clearly someone who likes a wife guy [of any gender] uncomplicatedly adoring her. she's going to have a low tolerance for "but your 'air would look so much better eef you just paid attention to eet".

draco malfoy/pansy parkinson

genuinely the relationship in canon [with the possible exception of harry's flop with cho] which feels the most authentically teenage. pansy, baby, he's really not that into you.

luna lovegood/draco malfoy

this got its own shoutout from another mystery anon:

i get it - we all love the "repressed posh boy falls for a free spirit" archetype - but i'm afraid to say it's not a ship i think is watertight, simply because it seems to require so much alteration of both draco and luna's canon personalities in order to make that archetype work.

[by which i mean it's always manic-pixie-dream!luna and suave!draco, two ways of writing them which never, ever slap for me.]

[i also don't like the fanon that she's a pureblood. "xenophilius lovegood" as a name fits the conventions the series uses for half-blood characters (that is, combining an unusual, non-standard-english name with an english surname - see also "mundungus fletcher", "tom marvolo riddle" and "severus snape"), and xenophilius'... esoteric views don't seem - to me - to be plausibly held by someone who is an inherent insider to a community, but by someone who feels peripheral to that community's inherent knowledge and therefore invents his own theories as a way of filling in the gaps.]

cedric diggory/harry potter

harry is canonically desperate for it - since cedric tells him to go gargle his old bathwater and he does.

but it's one-sided, i fear. cedric is demonstrably the hottest boy in school and harry is canonically scrawny and mid.

real ones know that the true potential lies with shipping cedric with ron, thus bringing about the heat death of the universe when harry's unexamined bisexuality catches sight of them canoodling.

daphne greengrass/harry potter

full respect [genuinely] to the self-insert-mary-sue girlies for turning this into a ship with its own lore. harmony nation walked so haphne nation could run.

by which i mean, sure, they work really well as a couple because daphne literally doesn't exist and - therefore - doesn't require the author to think about things like "making her canon personality compatible with harry's".

harry potter/blaise zabini

blaise couldn't pick him out of a line-up, be real.

ron weasley/blaise zabini

this, in contrast? true and plausible.

blaise canonically thinks that ginny's tasty, which means he's not going to turn down her fit, tall, sporty, easy-going brother.

that draco would be rattled is part of the fun.

ginny weasley/ron weasley

how else would she know about his pygmy puff tattoo?