#finals week proving to be not going as swimmingly as i thought. NO MATTER

[hools]

hi

[heywardsarchive]

If You Loved Me (Sirius Black)

Summary: sirius and y/n were the power couple, until they were not. Their loving relationship turned toxic. Will they be able to save it? Read to find out;)

Warnings: toxic relationship, kinda cheating but not really, injuries (nothing to graphic), angst, alcohol, I think that's it?

Word count: almost 4k

Pairing: Sirius Black x female! Reader

This is the request by fangirl_3004 on wattpad Hi I wanted to request a sirius one-shot where they are like 20 and have been working for the order and have been dating for a few years but he keeps flirting with other girls. So the reader and sirius get into a nasty fight and he says a bunch of mean things to her and they breakup but the reader gets badly injured in an order mission and the next day sirius realises how much he loves her and they make up.

a/n: a big thankyou to @iwritesiriusly​ and @tragically-here​/ @tragedy-of-sorts​ for proofreading this ❤

*****

All schools whether magical or not have that one couple who everyone thought would last forever, in Hogwarts, that couple was Sirius Black and y/n l/n.

Sirius Black had all the girls of the school wrapped around his finger but when y/n came along, Sirius was whipped, he was wrapped around her finger. They didn't start dating immediately no, Sirius had to prove himself before he managed to get a first date. And boy was he over the moon!

Their first date was simple, a picnic near the black lake (where the rest of the marauders were definitely spying on them) the skipped rocks on the water and just basked in each other's company, by the end of the date Sirius was convinced that he had found the woman he was going to marry one day.

He lay in his bed in the dormitory and gushed about the date to James, Remus and Peter. They pretended to fake gag and passed comments like , "oh no we've lost our pads to the other side, abort mission abort mission!" But they were truly happy that their friend had found someone who he loved and only hoped that she would give him the love that he doesn't get at home.

Soon they finished their seventh year at Hogwarts, it was bittersweet going home in the scarlet train for the last time in seven years, they would miss their school but their life had just begun. Sirius and y/n had been dating for about two years then and they decided to move in together, it was only fitting since they were utterly and truly in love and besides, sirius had inherited one of his uncle alphard's homes in London which was conveniently near where Lily and James were going to live.

Everything went swimmingly for a few years and in 1979 Lily and James got married in an intimate but beautiful ceremony. Everyone tried to stay happy in a time where things were dark. The dark lord called voldemort was rising and gaining support, it was only a matter of time before a war broke out.

Lily, James, Remus, Peter, Sirius and y/n had joined the order of the pheonix, an organisation started to by Dumbledore in order to stop the growth of the dark lord.

But like they say not everyday is the same, sirius and y/n started growing apart, unnoticed by them too. Their weekly date nights started becoming monthly date nights, work commitments and other such things came in the way. Still everyone believed that they were meant to be.

"Sirius, I will be away for a week." Y/n told Sirius one night, she had been called for a rescue mission by the order, her medical skills were required. "Don't worry love, I'll be fine." He reassured her with a pat on the cheek.

Early the next morning, y/n had her things packed and she was ready to go. She kissed Sirius goodbye and apparated to Scotland.

That evening Sirius sat down on the sofa, and opened his work file. He tried to get his work done but his mind kept wandering. He sighed and shut his file and closed his eyes. It was pointless just sitting around and he thought he may as well enjoy his Friday night. All his friends were wrapped up in their own business and he didn't want to disturb them.

He put on his leather jacket, the one y/n had got for him on his seventeenth birthday, and headed out of the door. He walked the streets of London and wandered into a bar. A few drinks wouldn't hurt. He sat down at the bar table and drank a few shots. He looked around the room, it was crowded and reeked of alcohol. Couples stood there making out in the back and others danced in the middle with their sweaty bodies pressed against each other due to the lack of space.

As Sirius watched the scene, a pretty brunette girl with electric blue eyes walked up to him. "Care for a dance?" She looked him up and down and asked. Sirius was about to decline but then decided to go for it. What did he have to lose anyway? It wasn't like he was cheating or anything, it was just one dance right?

He allowed the girl to pull him to the dancefloor. There he drank a few more shots and danced like there was no tomorrow. Soon it was midnight, sirius decided it was time to leave. As he was about to head out, the girl who's name sirius did not know decided to kiss him. Sirius almost kissed back but then y/n's face flashed in his mind and he pulled away quickly. "I can't do this." He said almost hesitantly and rushed out of the club.

He sat down on the sidewalk and put his hand on his head. Sirius couldn't understand why he almost kissed back when he absolutely in love with y/n. He shook his head, stood up and apparated home. His head couldn't handle it along with the alcohol.

He spent the next week buried in work, trying to distract his mind from thoughts he wished he didn't have.

It was on Friday night when y/n finally returned. A distinct pop sound echoed through the room. Sirius rushed out to greet her. He was dressed messily, his hair tousled from laying on the bed and his shirt wrinkled. "Hello love, you're back." He smiled wrapping his arms around her in a hug. As he took in her familiar scent, he realised that what happened at tha bar was a mistake and there was nothing wrong with his love for the girl in his arms.

He pulled away to take in her appearance. She had a few cuts and bruises littering her arms and face, otherwise she looked fine. "How was the mission?" Sirius asked, his grey eyes brewing with concern.

"It was fine." Y/n shrugged. "Managed to get hold of a few death eaters and interrogate them." She pulled Sirius info another embrace and sighed. "it's good to be home." A simple statement such as that made sirius feel extremely guilty. He had to tell her what happened. Not then, soon. He would tell her.

Sirius spent many a sleepless night with the guilt eating him from inside. He decided that it was time he came clean.

He woke up before y/n the next morning and drank his coffee, and made her a cup too. Soon y/n came down the stairs rubbing her eyes tiredly. "You're up early." She pressed a kiss to his cheek before drinking a glass of water and eyeing him carefully. "What's wrong?"

Sirius looked up as though he had been snapped out of a trance. "Uh with me? Nothing. Why do you ask?" He stuttered nervously.

"Don't lie to me siri, I can read you like a book." She spoke with such tenderness in her eyes that sirius wanted to slap himself for being so stupid and almost kissing the blond girl back in the bar. Well, he had to tell her. It was now or never.

"Actually something is bothering me. Remember when you left for the mission a few weeks back?" Y/n nodded. "Well that night I went to a bar, because I was unable to concentrate and-"

"You're guilty because you went out to drink without me? Oh sirius that's nothing to worry about!" Y/n cut him off.

"No, that's not it. Let me continue. So I drank a few shots and got a bit tipsy and soon I ended up on the dance floor. Now, before you hear this I want you to know that I'm very guilty about what happened." At these words y/n's brows furrowed and she looked at sirius intently.

"I was about to leave when a blond girl who was dancing in the group I was in kissed me. I didn't kiss her back though-" Sirius defended himself.

A series of expressions flashed through y/n's face. First sadness, hurt and betrayal. "Did you think about kissing back?" She gripped the counter top hard, her knuckled turned white.

"I- I didn't kiss her back! Please understand y/n! I love you I would never hurt you this way." He tried to defend himself reaching out to hold her hand.

"No! Answer my question. Did you think of kissing back? Be honest." She looked firm and sirius knew he couldn't lie to her.

"I- ok yes I did. But I didn't. Your face flashed in my head and I couldn't bear to do anything more. So I pushed her away and left that instant." He said honestly. Sirius looked at y/n hoping that she'll forgive him, now that he was honest. But all he was met with was her steely gaze eyeing him sharply.

"I thank you for your honesty. I really do appreciate it. But the fact that you almost kissed her back speaks volumes. I think it's better that you give me some space to think." She spoke calmly. The calm before the storm. Sirius wished she yelled at him, and eventually forgave him but alas, that didn't happen.

**** July 1980

Lily and James were blessed with a beautiful baby boy whom they named Harry. He had his mother's stunning green eyes and his father's dark hair. He was the light that lit up a dark room, or in the case of the marauders and lily and y/n, their dark lives.

Things were not looking up for sirius and y/n's relationship. After y/n asked for space, she pondered over whether the relationship she had with Sirius was worth fighting for or not. She loved the man, ofcourse she did not know if he would stay faithful to her forever, that was just one incident. Who knows how many would occur? But eventually she gave in and decided to mend their broken relationship.

January 1981

The happiness of sirius and y/n's mending relationship didn't last long. In the order, Sirius was obviously the attraction of many single women, they all flirted with him hoping to catch his eye. He ignored their attempts at first, but after a fight with y/n over a trivial matter he decided to flirt back just to spite her.

Their relationship was getting toxic. Everyone could see it. Sirius and y/n would fight over small things and in retaliation, sirius would flirt with other girls. It became so bad after a point that the two of them wouldn't even look at each other for weeks at an end.

James, Remus and Lily were worried about their friends. Everyone thought that their fights would stop but it only got worse.

One day Lily and y/n had a girls day in (with Harry ofcourse, y/n loved her godson) and she voiced her concerns to the (h/c). "Im worried about you, love. All you and Sirius do is fight. And when you fight he goes out and flirts with other girls. Don't you think it's time you break things off with him? Or try fix your differences?" She reasoned placing a hand on her knee.

Y/n sighed and placed her head on top of Harry's, who was sitting on her lap. "I have thought about it ofcourse, but I still love him." "Even after everything I love him. And besides, if we break up what will happen to our friend group? I love you and James and Remus and Peter, it's just that I may never see you again if we separate." "And if I'm being honest, I still have a small bit of hope that the old sirius will return, the one I fell in love with."

Lily pulled the girl into a hug. She was sobbing at this point and Lily wanted nothing more than to end her hurting. "Talk to him. Make him understand, if you can't leave him, try to get him to understand." She said still holding y/n in a hug.

She sniffed. "You're right. I'll talk to him."

*******

June 1981

Y/n never did get around to talking to Sirius. She kept putting it off and avoiding the topic as much as she could. Everytime she would meet Lily, she would tell her the same thing and y/n gave the same reply. "I will, eventually."

Disaster fell upon the group when the dark lord decided that Harry was the baby who was destined to kill him. Since he was on the lookout for James and Lily, they had to go into hiding. Peter was made the secret keepers, the world belived it was sirius but no one knew of the real secret keeper.

The order was on high alert and most of the members were killed or in hiding. The last few remaining were Remus, y/n, Peter and Sirius among others. Due to this, sirius and y/n didn't have much time to fight with each other which was a nice change to their lives.

It all came crashing down once again when Dumbledore approached y/n to go on a mission, a dangerous one to find out who the traitor in the order was. She agreed, anything to figure out who the awful human was who decided to give information about lily and James and pose a threat to their safety. She graciously agreed.

Sirius was furious when he got to know that she agreed to such a dangerous mission. "Are you insane?!" He slammed the door shut. He was running his fingers angrily through his dark hair. "What do you mean?" Y/n asked him.

"You took the mission bloody well knowing it was a suicide mission. You won't survive this!" He slammed his fist on the table.

"Oh so now you care about me?" Y/n slammed her book shut and stood up and jabbed her finger in his chest. "After so long! Did you not care about me earlier? When you flirting with all those girls!" She screamed, equally fumed.

"STOP CHANGING THE TOPIC!" Sirius yelled.

"All we do is fight Sirius, I can't take it anymore." Y/n replied in a small voice.

"What?" Sirius asked, his anger melting away. "What do you mean?"

"I think it's better if we just end it. Right here. Right now. It's best for both of us." Her voice broke.

"No you can't, you can't just walk away!" Sirius cried out. But y/n didn't reply. She shook her head and apparated away. It was then when Sirius allowed him to think about all the months they spent fighting and it hit him of how bad a boyfriend he had been.

*****

October 1981

Four months. That's how long it had been since y/n walked away from sirius that day. Three months since she went on the mission to find out who the traitor was. Sirius was broken without her. He couldn't meet his best friend, and so the only person left was Remus who was probably tired of hearing Sirius repent for his mistakes.

Sirius regretted everything he had said to y/n everyday since she left. He barely left his house, he had become the shell of the man he once was and it was all his fault. He wondered if she was as hurt as he was, but another part of him hoped she was doing okay, he never wanted to break her heart which he swore to himself he would keep forever. He kept an eye out for letters from Dumbledore, or anyone for that matter hoping to get a shred of information of where y/n was and if she was safe, well as sage as she could be.

As for y/n, she apparated to her parents house after she left sirius in their house. She cried herself to sleep for a week but once she had no tears left to cry, she decided that it wasn't worth crying over someone who didn't appriciate her worth. She started preparing for her mission and spending as much time as she could with her parents because there was a chance she would not return in one piece from the mission.

******

Finally a few days later on October 27 1981, he recieved a letter from Dumbledore telling him that it was urgent and that Sirius had to arrive at the location with Remus that very instant.

The two of them arrived at the order safe house a few minutes later and rushed in. "What's the matter professor? Is everything alright?" Remus questioned but sirius' eyes were fixed on the bed in one of the bed rooms where he could see y/n's figure resting on the bed.

"What happened to her?" Sirius questioned urgently interrupting whatever conversation was going on between Remus and Dumbledore. "Ah. I knew you would ask. Well, y/n figured out who the traitor was but unfortunately she was cornered and attacked in an isolated alley, there were no eyewitness and so there is no way to know who did it to her."

Sirius' eyes widened and he was about to go rushing to y/n's side, but Dumbledore stopped him by placing a hand on his wrist. "Don't you want to know who the traitor was?" Dumbledore asked. Sirius and Remus nodded. "Peter." Dumbledore looked disappointed.

"Peter!" Remus cried out in disbelief. "How could he do such a thing? We trusted him with our life!"

"Im going to kill him. Look what he did to her!" Sirius said angrily.

"You don't have to." Dumbledore started. "Y/n already took care of him. When she found out what he did, she cursed him and he's now in ministry authority."

With that Dumbledore left. Sirius and Remus stood there staring holes into the ground. "Do you think, she'll forgive me?" Sirius asked Remus sadly. "I think I realised how much I love her after she left me." He gulped. "You dug yourself in this hole, now you get yourself out." Remus clapped his shoulder and entered the room where she lay, unconscious.

Sirius stood outside for a while before he decided to enter the room. There was healer with her who kept an eye on her heart rate. "Whats happening madam?" He asked the woman. She sighed and rubbed a hand against her forehead. "Hard to say, she was attacked pretty badly. She may remain in this comatose state for a week, a month, she may not even make it."

The words died in sirius' throat. Not make it? She couldn't just die? Y/n was the strongest woman he knew. He couldn't live with himself if the last conversation they had was them fighting. He swallowed the lump in his throat and sat down beside her bed. He held her hand and observed her face. The sunlight fell on her face and highlighted her features. He pushed away a bit of hair from her face and took in his peaceful y/n looked albeit she was covered in cuts and bruises.

*****

December 1981

It had been two months since Peter had been outed as a traitor and in those two months. Y/n was still unconscious and Sirius spent most of his waking hours by her bedside. With the help of veratuserum, Peter had confessed the names of all other death eaters and voldemort's plans. Dumbledore and the aurors were able to figure out a way to kill him and succeeded.

Once it was safe, Lily and James along with Harry came to visit y/n. "You look terrible mate." James said pulling his best friend into a hug. It had been almost a year since the two saw each other last. "Yeah well, I certainly feel terrible." He said honestly. James gave him a sympathetic glance before joining Lily who was sitting at sirius' spot beside y/n. She looked devastated at seeing her best friend in such a state. James smiled at her sadly while Harry babbled happily to himself.

"Are you all family?" Rushed in the healer who had been treating y/n.

"Yes, why?" James asked curiously.

"We have bad news. We have checked miss y/l/n's reports and if she doesn't wake up soon, she may not make it. " She said sadly.

Tears welled up in the eyes of everyone present there. It was hard to see y/n who was always so happy and bubbly lie there on a bed unconscious and almost dead. Sirius knelt before her. "I know we fought before you left, but please wake up. I can't live without you, I realised how much I loved you only after you left. Come back to me, to us I swear I'll be better. Please y/n/n." He kissed her hand that was slightly cold.

Call it dramatic, but a few moments after that y/n's eyes fluttered open. "Sirius?" She said softly. She looked pale and her eyes didn't have the shine they used to.

"Where am I? Did they catch Peter?" She asked confused. Lily reached forward and hugged her friend tightly. "You're in the order safe house, you've been here since the past two months. You're okay now, and they caught Peter. Soon all this will be over." She smiled happily.

Y/n sighed happily. Her gaze fell on everyone in the room but when it landed on Sirius, her smile fell a bit. "I think we should talk about what happened earlier." Y/n said to him. "No! You've just woken up, you're still weak." He protested. "I think it's better we get this over with." She said firmly. Sirius sighed and walked over to her. Everyone else left the room.

"Im sorry about the way I acted, I was scared for you." Sirius started. "I shouldn't have acted the way I did. Im sorry I hurt you so bad, it wasn't my intention. I promise I will never ever hurt you again." He finished earnestly.

"How do I know I can trust you again? You promised you loved me the first time and yet you did it again and again. We were toxic for each other Sirius, I don't think we're good for each other." Y/n told him.

"I understand how you feel but if you give me a chance to prove myself, I swear I'll be better." He grabbed her hand.

She sighed and sirius started to lose hope. "This is the final chance I'll give you. I want to be friends first, and take it from there. I don't promise you anything." A small smile played on her lips.

Sirius wanted nothing more than to be loved by her, as a friend or as a lover. That evening, all five friends sat together talking like they were back in Hogwarts and nothing was wrong.

Maybe everything would be fine.

******

A/n: ngl i was planning to tweak the request and kill off the reader but I felt nice and decided against it, you're welcome 😌

taglist (strikethroughv means tumblr wouldn’t let me tag you): @emilianamanson @itsarandomsparkle​

[missjosie27]

Year 3 Part 7- Keeper of the Keys

Hey, guys. I'm sorry this update took so long. Shit has been well...weird. Hard to explain. However, rest assured I am not abandoning this pic, not by a long shot. Updates just won't be consistently regular as a warning to all my readers. To make up for some lost time, this is a longer chapter and I hope you all enjoy!

To say that Tulip Karasu was eccentric was an understatement. Nevertheless, David had no choice but to play ball for now if he wanted any of the information he sought. He was a bit apprehensive sitting at the Ravenclaw table during dinner, but luckily Andre’s assertion proved to be correct. No one desired to sit near her and therefore they could spend the meal alone and in peace.

Stuffing Dennis into her shirt pocket, the Ravenclaw began to serve herself and cut up her chicken into several tiny pieces before eating. The young Gryffindor was hungry, but he preferred to focus on the matter at hand. Something about this girl was oddly fascinating. He also had many questions to ask.

“So how exactly did you stumble across my brother’s room and how was I not aware of that? Furthermore, since when are multiple people looking for the vaults?”

“One question at a time,” Tulip countered with a smile. “I still need to know why I should work with you, David Grant.”

The use of his full name was another idiosyncratic habit she seemed to demonstrate. That being said, it couldn’t hurt to give her a pitch. Especially since it sounded like she had been working with another person, possibly more than one in searching for the vault. From the looks of it, their progress was better than his in finding the latest one.

“I don’t usually play this card but...I’m the best chance you have at getting inside of a vault. I’m one of the strongest duelists in our year and I’ve broken one curse already.”

“You’re a very determined and talented person, there’s no denying that,” Tulip replied thoughtfully. “But it seems like I’m closer to finding the next vault than you are. Why shouldn’t I just go off on my own?”

“Because if we assist each other, it’ll help us solve the mystery faster,” David explained. “You found my brother’s room, but I doubt you’re any closer to knowing the vault’s location.”

“True. You make logical points. But Dumbledore forbade any student from searching for them this year. What if something goes wrong and you try to pin the blame on me?”

Tulip was testing him, he knew that. She followed rules no more than he did. But clearly this was a person who didn’t trust people easily.

“I don’t rat on my friends,” David said simply. “When I thought Bill might not make prefect, I tried to take the blame from McGonagall. I’d do the same for you.

“Perish the thought of me ever becoming prefect,” Tulip laughed. “However, I am glad that you value the people around you.”

“I’ll put this simply: I don’t care about whatever so-called power the vaults have. I’m only in this for one reason and that’s to find my brother.”

The Ravenclaw girl scanned him up and down, as though he were a mildly intriguing piece of modern art. David felt a bit uncomfortable but said nothing. Finally she spoke again.

“I don’t know that I like you yet, David Grant, but I do trust you.”

Okay that’s a start...I guess

“Then will you tell me who your accomplice was?” he asked her.

“Merula Snyde.”

David immediately spit out the pumpkin juice he’d been consuming causing a few Ravenclaws to look over with mild disgust.

“WHAT?! But why would you team up with her of all people? You seem way too smart to trust Merula.”

Tulip gave him her most serious look yet.

“Merula is a lot smarter than you give her credit for. You may not like her personality, but there’s no denying her skill.”

David scoffed. “Yeah I’ll get back to you on that one. I’ve beaten her so many times in duels I’ve lost count. She’s always trying to one up me but never succeeds.”

“Her greatest weakness is that she believes she’s invincible. But more on that later. The point is we were working together at one point but then we had a falling out. Unfortunately she still has the other key to your brother’s room.”

“Then we have to get it back.”

“Agreed,” Tulip said. “But the question is ‘how’? She’s not going to hand it over willingly.”

“I’ve found over the years that the only way to get Merula Snyde to do anything is by forcing her. Typically after one beats her in a duel.”

“That may work, but this situation is also quite delicate and we don’t want to draw unnecessary attention to ourselves from the teachers. Especially if they caught us fighting.”

David agreed with that conclusion. They would need to try another method.

“Then what do you suggest?

Tulip gave another sly smile.

“Leave that to me. I’ll come up with something that will turn Merula on her head.”

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Tulip told him she would need some time to plan and would message him when ready. In the meantime, David kept busy with homework which was significantly heavier this year with two added electives. He also enjoyed the start of Quidditch season given it was the first week of November. Unfortunately, unlike the previous year, things didn't go as swimmingly for Gryffindor this time around. Slytherin edged them 300-260 in the opening match. None was as ecstatic as Merula and she constantly reminded him about it during the week.

“I really hope Tulip comes up with a plan soon,” David muttered one day while sitting in the common room with Rowan and Bill. The two third years were finishing Transfiguration homework while the prefect looked over potions he might expect to find on his OWLs. “If I have to listen to Merula brag about Slytherin’s victory any longer I might just have to learn the silencing charm in order to shut her big mouth.”

Rowan chuckled as he turned the page on Intermediate Transfiguration by Emeric Switch.

“You’ll get your chance at payback soon enough, especially if you intend to get that key.”

“I know...I just wish she’d hurry up. Losing to Merula in anything is unbearable.”

“Be thankful you weren’t directly responsible for the loss,” Bill said to him, indicating the somber figure of his brother slumping in one of the chairs. Charlie had been noticeably quiet since the match, avoiding crowds and shutting himself up in the dormitory most of the time outside of class.

“Is he going to be alright?”

“He’ll get over it,” Bill assured them. “But despite what you may think, Charlie is super competitive when it comes to Quidditch. He hates losing and this was the first time in his career he’s never caught the snitch.”

“Can’t win them all I suppose,” David sighed. “We should have won, though. Skye was flying circles around them again. And that Slytherin beater totally committed a foul before Charlie could seal the deal.”

“It happens. I hate losing to Slytherin too, but a little perspective never hurts. There’s another cursed vault out there we need to find.”

David and Rowan nodded. You could always count on Bill to be level headed when it came to these situations.

“Speaking of, any luck with deciphering the rest of that book?”

“It’s slow going,” Rowan said shaking his head. “I swear I’m going barmy from trying to make out all the symbols. It gets more complicated the deeper you get into the book.”

“Don’t overwork yourself,” Bill said kindly. “The best thing we can do now is getting into that room.”

As it happened, there was more progress on that front. Jae Kim suddenly appeared in front of their group.

“I was told by a certain Tulip Karasu to tell David that she wants you to meet her in the courtyard straight away.”

The three Gryffindors looked at each other with anticipation.

“Did she say anything else?”

Jae shrugged.

“Nope. I’m just passing along the message. If you’ll excuse me, I have orders to fill.”

Bill gave an uneasy expression as the Korean boy walked off.

“I sometimes wonder if I shouldn’t be doing more to prevent him from running that little black market of contraband he has.”

“Jae does plenty to get himself in trouble without your involvement,” David chuckled. “I swear we don’t even need Zonko’s. He supplies half the school with Fanged Frisbees by himself.”

He stood up and brushed off some of the couch lint on his jeans.

“Guess I better see what Tulip wants.”

“Hopefully she’s got a plan,” Rowan said eagerly.

“Yeah...hopefully.”

Despite barely knowing her, David had a feeling that whatever Tulip Karasu wanted, it was bound to be interesting to say the least.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

He made his way down to the specified area where Tulip was waiting just outside the entrance. Unlike her uniform, she wore a blue coat over a thick sweater with a matching beanie hat with a puffball on top combined with a flowy skirt, black tights, and flats. It was a brisk day despite the sunny weather and winter was well on the way.

“Good. You made it,” she greeted him. “Are you ready for my plan?”

“Don’t need Trelawney’s ‘Inner Eye’ to predict you’ve got something cooked up.”

“You’re becoming more perceptive,” Tulip said with a mischievous smirk. “Merula is over there, holding court with her lackeys.”

David gave a small peek, and sure enough the Slytherin girl was there alongside Barnaby and Ismelda. What they were talking about, he couldn’t hear but Merula was clearly animated about something.

“I’d recognize that orange tuft of hair anywhere. So what’s the big plan?”

“Even though they aren’t that bright, Barnaby and Ismelda are still tough and ruthless,” Tulip explained. “We need a diversion to lure them away from her. And luckily, I have the perfect item for the job.”

Out of her coat came a dungbomb, except twice as large and covered with some kind of outer shell.

“I call it the ultimate dungbomb,” she grinned. “Mixed in with some stinksap. I used the hardening charm ‘Duro’ to give it some heft. We toss this into their little circle and they won’t know what hit them.”

“Wouldn’t want to be on the receiving end of that thing,” David said, eyeing the putried projectile. “So now what? Do we levitate it or something?”

“Follow my lead. We hide behind the fountain until the perfect moment to strike.”

And so they entered the courtyard, tiptoeing along the way, careful not to make too much noise. The wind aided them in this goal and as they drew closer David could make out the conversation the three Slytherins were having.

“...can’t believe this! We’ve searched everywhere! We’re never going to find a cursed vault!”

“We should cast the Cruciatus Curse on Grant on his friends. Torture makes everyone talk,” Ismelda suggested with dark glee.

“Talking to you is torture. You have some serious issues, Ismelda,” Merula responded.

“We should ask Dumbledore. He’s really smart,” Barnaby said thickly.

By now Tulip and David were crouched low behind the fountain, peering over slightly to get a sense of distance from their opponents.

“Dumbledore spent half his welcome speech telling us to stay away from the vaults. Or did you forget that, you nitwit,” Merula chastised.

“We could give him Bertie Bott’s Every Flavor Beans. I heard he likes those.”

“Sometimes I wonder if your brain was replaced by a Bertie Bott’s Every Flavor Bean.”

“I still say we should use an unforgivable,” Ismelda cut in. “I’d like to cast the killing curse on the next Gryffindor I see.”

That earned a look of derision and disgust from her leader.

“You don’t even know the killing curse.”

“I sat on a bowtruckle once!” Barnaby pipped up.

“What does that have to do with anything?” Ismelda asked, looking at Barnaby as though he had a second head.

“I thought we were talking about killing things.”

“Ugh, I hate you both,” Merula commented, rolling her eyes.

David shook his head behind the fountain.

“Merlin, this is literally too stupid to listen to. Now?”

Tulip nodded.

“Now!”

Using her wand, the Ravenclaw sent the ultimate dungbomb flying into the air towards the Slytherin trio. It exploded upon impact causing a toxic mist of green and yellow to fill the air and all three began to tear up, covering their noses with their arms.

“Dear, Merlin that is awful!” Ismelda cried, coughing into her arm.

“I can’t breathe!” Barnaby said coughing as well. “Let’s get out of here!”

Merula was hacking and wheezing too, but she still had enough oxygen to call after them as they ran.

“Get back here you cowards! It’s just a dungbomb!”

David wasted no time in stepping out of the shadows, Tulip in tow. They both confronted the angry Slytherin, who became irate upon laying her eyes on them.

“I should have known it was you!” Merula shouted, trembling with rage.

“Your powers of perception are truly dizzying,” he said to her in a bored tone.

“Hand the key over to us, Merula. I don’t know how long I can stand your stink,” Tulip demanded.

The look on the Slytherin’s face went from rage to incredulous.

“Us? You betrayed me, started working with Grant and have the audacity to ask me to give you the second key?”

“Actually...yeah.”

Merula’s expression returned to its usual nasty leer.

“Well too bad. I’m not giving you anything. How does it feel knowing I found your brother’s room before you did, Grant?”

“I don’t have time for this, Merula,” David said sternly. “Give us the key, now.”

Tulip then did something unexpected, stepping forward, a note of sympathy in her voice.

“We could use your help. This doesn’t have to turn ugly. Work with us.”

David was surprised at the offer of assistance and wondered where it stemmed from but predictably, Merula turned it down.

“I don’t want to work with you, I want to duel. Specifically you, Grant. Beat me again and the key is yours…” she withdrew her wand from her sleeve. “But I don’t plan on losing to you. Not this time.”

David withdrew his own wand and prepared for battle. In truth, he was looking forward to pop her ego once more.

“You never learn, do you Merula?”

He quickly fired a disarming spell, but she ducked while sending one of her own which missed over his shoulder, causing Tulip to dodge.

“Petrificus Totalus!”

Despite it heading straight for her chest, the Slytherin demonstrated remarkable athleticism by rolling to her side and firing back a retort.

“Flipendo!”

David was forced to copy the same maneuver, scraping his elbow on the stone but managed to avoid the knockback jinx. Wheeling back around he aimed a jelly legs jinx but again it missed due to Merula’s agility.

She’s clearly learned a thing or two since last year

The Slytherin began pressing forward, drawing closer with each curse she fired off, putting David on the defensive retreating from his original spot back towards the wall. Some of the spells he recognized, some he didn’t and he was fairly certain a few were the kind a thirteen year old girl wasn’t supposed to know. All the same, he had to think of something before one of them landed on his person. Then, he remembered her weak spot, the same one as always.

Too aggressive. Too wild with her spells

Indeed while she was driving forward, he could see a manic look in her eye, the kind that someone had when they were determined but unhealthily obsessed. David then came up with an idea. Dropping his stance and his wand into a wide, lazy position, he allowed his opponent to think she was catching him off guard. Sure enough, Merula took the bait.

“Remollio!”

A jet of sickly, yellow light headed straight towards his head. Smiling slightly, he ducked forward into an almost ninety degree angle and sent back a spell of his own.

“Fumo!”

A mass of black smoke issued in front of Merula, blocking her vision and senses. It was all the time he needed to strike the winning blow.

“Depulso!”

The banishing charm smashed into the Slytherin girl sending her flying back and hard onto the ground into a groaning heap, wand dislodged.

Dissipating the smoke, David walked forward, wand aimed and ready in case she tried to cheat or lash back out.

“I win again, Merula. I won’t ask a third time. Give me the key.”

Clutching her shoulder painfully, she rose from the ground, grabbed her wand, and proceeded to chuck a golden key at his feet.

“Fine! Take the stupid key! I already got what I needed from that loser’s room anyway.”

Tulip came up behind him now that the duel was over, picking up the key, sympathy still lurking in her dark brown eyes.

“Merula, please we could still use…”

“My help? Save your breath. I don’t work with traitors!”

Lavender eyes switched over to David and for the first time, he saw that they were on the verge of tears.

“Watch out for this one, Grant. It's only a matter of time before she stabs you in the back.”

Without another word, Merula brushed past them, the sound of combat boots hitting against stone echoing across the courtyard as she ran back towards the dungeons.

David wondered what Tulip’s reaction would be to these thinly veiled accusations but to his slight surprise her sympathetic expression was gone, replaced by her usual mischievous delight.

“Mission accomplished, David Grant. Let’s go to your brother’s room.”

Though satisfied with receiving the key, Merula’s reaction unnerved the teenage Gryffindor. He didn’t bring it up further but there was no doubt Tulip hadn’t told him everything about her history with his chief rival.

At least not yet.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

The two teens wasted no time in heading towards Jacob’s room and soon they were standing in front of the dark brown, wooden, door. However, there was one question still burning in the back of David’s mind.

“Tulip?”

“Hm?”

“What did Merula mean when she said she already took what she needed from my brother’s room?”

Tulip shook her head.

“She was lying. We used this room because it was full of valuable information and research but there was nothing worth taking or pointing to the location of the vaults themselves...at least nothing that I saw.”

“Jacob was always pretty savvy at hiding things,” David informed her. “It’s perfectly possible you missed something. Hell, I just found a quill that turned out to be his transfigured notebook. I know this will sound strange, but I haven’t felt this close to him since he disappeared. There are a lot of things I’m still finding out.”

“Are you sure you want to do this?” the Ravenclaw teen asked him seriously. “You may not like what you find.”

David didn’t hesitate with his response. Any potential negative revelation about his brother could not outweigh the possible benefits of discovering more about his whereabouts.

“That’s a risk I’ll have to take. I have to see where he did his research.”

Tulip nodded, taking out her key and inserting it into the first part of the lock. She handed him the one they received from Merula.

“Do the honors.”

He did so, unclicking the lock, the golden seal falling to the floor with a metal clank. The door creaked open and the two teens entered the mysterious space. However, it was dark and impossible to see anything.

“I can’t see two feet in front of me,” David said aloud. “Tulip, you there?”

“Yeah. Lumos.”

The sight that greeted them was both unexpected and horrifying. Out of the shadows stepped a tall, bald, sickly pale man cloaked in black robes. His features were gaunt and waxy as though they had been warped or burnt, especially his nose, which was disproportionately smaller. But that was not the most disturbing aspect of this person. Within the skull like head were a pair of deadly, luminous blood red eyes that reeked of menace and murder. There was no mistaking who it was.

“Y-Y-You Know Who! It can’t be!” David cried.

“Run, Grant! RUN!”

Tulip immediately pulled him back before the figure could pull out his wand and slammed the door shut behind them.

Catching their breath from the near heart attack they both suffered, it took a few moments before either one could say anything.

“How is that possible? You Know Who is dead,” he panted.

“Use your common sense, David Grant. That was clearly a boggart. Hogwarts is crawling with them these days.”

Regaining his wits, the Gryffindor realized Tulip was right and mentally smacked himself for being so gullible.

“Merlin, that was embarrassing.”

“Don’t be hard on yourself,” Tulip reasoned. “A lot of grown witches and wizards would have reacted the same way, if not worse.”

She paused before adding. “I am curious, though. Why is your boggart, You Know Who?”

The truth was, David didn’t know the full reason why but before he could explain that to Tulip they were interrupted by another very unpleasant presence.

“Well, well...David Grant and Tulip Karasu...why am I not surprised to find you two here together?” Severus Snape spoke in his usual dangerous, silky tone.

Oh, shit

“Professor I-”

“Silence,” the potions master cut across him. “Your brother was the most disobedient student Hogwarts had seen since James Potter. You may have overtaken him.”

“But we’re allowed to be here, sir. It’s not after hours yet.”

“Do you really believe me to be a naive simpleton, Grant? Stay away from this corridor and give up your search for the vaults, or I will ensure you will share your brother’s fate. Now back to your common rooms, both of you.”

The two teens did not dare argue but before they parted company under Snape’s watchful eye he saw Tulip mouth to him, ‘We’ll talk later.’

They would need to. With Hogwarts' nastiest professor onto them and a boggart taking the form of Voldemort blocking the way, another method of gaining access to the room was needed.

David sighed as his brother’s room went out of view. He really hated roadblocks.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Thankfully, Snape couldn’t be everywhere at once and that included meal times as well as meetings after Transfiguration which the Gryffindors and Ravenclaws shared together. Though both David and Tulip were eager to try and go back to the room they mutually agreed to stay away for the time being lest the head of Slytherin catch them again. The main priority was getting rid of the boggart.

“Professor Sprout used some kind of spell to defeat the boggart that scared Penny earlier in the year,” David mused while he and the Ravenclaw walked together after class one day.

“Well technically we’re supposed to cover boggarts in Defense Against the Dark Arts this year. But we can’t wait for that incompetent buffoon to actually bring it up or teach us for that matter.”

“I swear these gormless prats are more and more useless with each passing year,” David agreed. “Guess it’s time to hit the library.”

“Let’s agree to research there after lessons are done every Friday,” Tulip suggested. “I’m sure there’s a lot we can learn before the holidays come around.”

“Sounds like a plan. I can bring Rowan along too. He’s one of the smartest people I know. Super brainy.”

Tulip suddenly hesitated.

“Actually, I’d prefer it to just be the two of us...for the time being. I can’t really explain it right now. Just trust me.”

As it was with Merula, David didn’t press the issue but he was steadily growing evermore curious about his new partner’s past. Whatever happened between her and the Slytherin teen must have been severe but he sensed there was more to it than that.

Adding to the surrounding mystery was another anonymous message he received one night. He had just come back from dinner with Penny, Tonks, and Diego when Rowan rushed to greet him quite frantically.

“David!”

“Whoa, steady on. What’s up?”

His best friend proceeded to pull out a letter from his robe pocket and hand it to him. The envelope was not addressed and carried no visible distinction.

“I found this on your bed,” he explained. “It just...appeared there. I didn’t open it in case it was private or cursed.”

David stared at the mail for a split second debating his chances. If it was a message from ‘R’ once again he was mostly certain it wasn’t cursed. Such a group would have tried to kill him by now. Then again he also had no idea what they were capable of given the general mystery surrounding them.

Taking his chances, he slit open the envelope, removed the parchment inside and read the contents aloud.

“You are in grave danger. Your investigation into the Cursed Vaults has drawn the attention of a group who is not to be trifled with. Be careful, but remain courageous. I’m depending on you to reach the final vault before the others. I will assist you when I can. I hope the next time I deliver you a message, the circumstances are far less mysterious.

Sincerely,

A Friend’” 

Taking a moment to reread the letter and analyze its contents David looked towards his brainiac friend for a possible explanation. Rowan appeared to be as lost as he was.

“For the record, I have no idea who wrote you that letter. Do you?”

David certainly had no more inkling than the hippogriff by Hagrid’s hut. There were a number of possibilities, which included his brother, an enemy playing tricks, or even the Headmaster himself.

“I’m as lost as you are. I’d say it was a ruse except for the fact none of the Slytherins know how to get into our common room. If anything, it sounds like an ally of some sort.”

“I sure hope so,” Rowan responded with a bit of anxiety. “These anonymous messages are starting to creep me out a bit.”

He paused before asking another question.

“By the way, what’s with this Tulip girl? Why does she insist on working with you alone?”

David genuinely shrugged.

“I wish I knew. Your guess is as good as mine.”

In truth, David had little time to reflect on it at the current moment. Tulip was a vital piece in all of this and he could scarcely afford to scare her off. Whoever the mystery man was that claimed to be on his side, there was no use in dwelling on that either. Aside from his schoolwork, which he was careful to pay close attention to, the only thing that mattered was learning how to get rid of that pesky boggart in his brother’s room in order to properly access it.

Thankfully, that wasn’t too difficult in principle. Within their first round of research the Ravenclaw girl discovered the spell ‘Ridikkilus’ which was the same one Professor Sprout used to disperse the boggart in the Herbology classroom. However, given the risks of using the spell without prior experience and with Snape still looming over their heads, Tulip advised against going back to the room before they were ready. David wanted to head back as soon as possible but he eventually relented as his new partner in crime told him to practice over the holidays while she thought of a plan.

Honestly, she’s always scheming that one

However, with Christmas around the corner, the dreaded return back to West Country loomed over his head and he was not looking forward to the strained, emotionally stunted holiday as was per custom in the Grant household. But on the eve of his departure, he received a distraction of sorts, something quite unexpected.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

It was the last Hogsmeade trip of the season before the holidays and David used that time to share a glass of butterbeer with his friends namely Rowan, Ben, Tonks, Penny, and Charlie. The Three Broomsticks was even cozier and warm this time of year and full of festive cheer and decorations, many of which he helped Madam Rosmerta put up before the big customer rush as a ‘thank you’ for giving him the quill. In return, he and his companions received a round of free drinks.

“I tell you what. Life doesn’t get much better than this,” Rowan said, taking a satisfying swig.

“I can’t wait to go home and see my family for Christmas,” Penny beamed. She was snuggled up in a blue coat with a matching beret, leggings, and snow boots. David couldn’t help but notice the rosy glow on her cheeks and how pretty she looked. “My sister is dying to know more about Hogwarts even though I’ve told her so much already.”

“What about you, Dave?” Ben asked genuinely.

David tried to hide the fact that he was secretly conflicted and tried to play it off with his usual sarcasm.

“Well my mom will stress herself needlessly from making the dinner, my dad will read his newspaper and do paperwork, we open some presents followed by an awkward crying session from said mother who tops it off with a bottle of wine….so yeah. Merry Christmas to me.”

The blond boy was unsure how to respond to that as flushed with embarrassment.

“I...uh…”

“Relax, Ben,” Tonks cut in. “Dave knows you didn’t mean anything by it. Besides, I know exactly how to cheer him up.”

She transformed her face into that of a toucan’s beak, something usually never failed to elicit a laugh. But this time the Gryffindor teen didn’t budge.

“Oh come on, David that always works. Show a little festive cheer!”

Before she could stick another butterbeer under his nose the second Weasley brother came back over with another round and a message.

“Drink up you lot. Also David, my brother wants a word with you.”

He raised an eyebrow in surprise.

“For what? Did he mention a reason?”

“Just said it was urgent. He’s over there sitting by himself. Pretty moody by his standards.”

Shrugging, he took the spare butterbeer weaved and ducked his way through the Christmas crowd and found Bill seated at one of the tables meant for two people. Indeed, he had a curious expression on his face.

“Charlie told me you wanted to talk?” he said, taking his chair. “Is everything okay?”

“How are you in the ways of romance, Dave?”

It was a loaded question, one he was not prepared to answer at all. Because the answer was not at all.

“Uh, Bill...I think you may want the tea shop down the street,” he joked referring to Madam Puddifoots. “What’s this about, anyway?”

“I’m obsessed with this girl named Emily Tyler,” the prefect explained and there was a swooning glint in his eyes. “She’s not only beautiful but in Defense Against the Dark Arts she single handedly stupefied an entire swarm of vampire bats.”

“That’s not saying much given the current state of that class,” David joked again, taking a sip from his glass. He did, however, see Bill’s point. He knew of Emily Tyler and many older Gryffindors had the hots for her. She always hung out with the same group of friends chatting away about gossip, makeup, Witch Weekly, and whatever they found interesting that day. She was also quite wealthy on both sides of her family. “So what’s the next step then? Are you going to tell her?”

“You make it sound so simple. But I was actually hoping you could talk to her for me.”

David had never seen Bill this...timid before and it was a bit unsettling. The tall, lanky, long haired Weasley was usually the cool one of their group- collected, confident, the voice of reason and was a favorite among the student body in the way he conducted his prefect duties. To witness him as being so unsure meant this girl meant a lot to him.

“Bill, no offense but you’re asking the wrong bloke. I know less about this stuff than you do. I’ve never even had a girlfriend.”

“Well neither have I. I’ve also never been in love before.”

“And what makes you think...wait you’re in love?” he asked, completely floored.

“Am I? I don’t even know anymore. What’s happening to me?”

It was then the adolescent Gryffindor knew just how important this was to Bill and the least he could do was try and spread some cheer before Christmas. Just as Tonks pointed out. If he could play matchmaker for one of his best friends, what was the harm?

“Don’t worry about a thing mate. I’ll go talk to her. No problem.”

Bill smiled in response, his worried brows relaxing slightly.

“Good. She’s actually right over there.”

He pointed behind him ever so subtly to indicate her presence, and sure enough, there she was hanging out with her usual assortment of friends, holding court at one of the wall booths.

“You sure you want me to do this?”

“I wouldn’t ask if I wasn’t serious.”

“Then I will,” David replied simply. “I’ll be right back.”

He drained the latter portion of his butterbeer and made his way over through the vast crowd. Upon finally reaching the booth it didn’t take long for the group of girls to look up at him with curious looks as though he were some kind of exotic alien. That certainly didn’t help his nerves but he pressed forward anyway.

“Emily Tyler?”

David didn’t need to ask as he recognized her right away. He could see what the elder Weasley meant. Like Bill, Emily was a fifth year but physically quite mature, and could have passed for two or three years beyond her age. True to word, she was very pretty, piercing brown eyes to go with high cheekbones and a slim, feminine jawline to go along with extensive makeup. Dark brown hair formed a widow’s peak along her forehead and was pulled back into a high ponytail. She also appeared to be quite fond of the color pink as she wore a long sleeved magenta dress complete with thick, pink tights, a cardigan and boots. It was indicative of someone who grew up quite upper class.

Though she did not look annoyed, there was a haughtiness to her expression that was a tad unsettling to the third year cursebreaker.

“That’s my name,” she responded evenly, ignoring the whispers of her posse. “And you’re that cursed vault kid, David Grant. What can I do you for?”

“Well I’m a friend of Bill Weasley’s…”

This didn’t seem to impress her.

“Okay?”

Out with it. She’s not going to wait for the grass to grow

“He fancies you and wants to know how you feel.”

On cue the rest of Emily’s friends began to giggle though she gave no indication as to how she personally felt.

“If I can speak in his favor, he’s a solid bloke. You couldn’t ask for a better friend.”

“He fancies me? I have to say I’m surprised,” Emily finally responded.

“It’s true. Haven’t seen him this frazzled...well ever really.”

“Is this some sort of joke? Because I don’t want to look like an idiot. What did he tell you?”

“Fair warning: I know as much about romance as I do about advanced Arithmancy, don’t hex the messenger,” David told her bluntly.

“Perish the thought. I want to hear this,” Emily said as much to her friends as she did to him to stop them from giggling.

“What else can I say? He thinks you’re amazing, powerful, beautiful, strong. Bill is as cool as any person in this school but he’s a mess over you. And you couldn’t ask to date a finer person.”

There it was. A glowing recommendation and an honest account of his friend’s intentions and feelings. Surely that was enough to win over a girl right?

He thought wrong. A very unpleasant, arrogant smirk crossed Emily Tyler’s face as she began playing with her pink, manicured nails.

“What a prat.”

David did a double take.

“I’m sorry?”

“Don’t get me wrong he’s reasonably handsome but why would anyone date a Weasley?”

Anger surged through David as his right hand turned into a fist around his glass mug. Was she really turning him down for the reasons he thought she was? The resumed giggling from her cronies made it worse.

“May I ask why?” he asked through clenched teeth.

“Everyone knows the Weasleys are one the poorest wizarding families in Britain. They have no means, no manners, and no prospects. Why would I lower myself to such a standard?”

“I think you should take that back,” David said with quiet fury.

“And so what if I don’t?” Emily sneered. “Tell your friend thank you for sharing his feelings, it was a good for a laugh but he’s delusional if he ever thought he had a chance with me.”

By now, pure hatred surged through his veins, temper getting the best of him. More from the shock of someone actually insulting Bill, Emily Tyler was now the queen bitch in his eyes. Slamming his mug on the table with tremendous force, causing the four girls to jump with fright.

“I’ll tell you what I think,” he growled. “Bill must be attracted to your looks because your personality is pure rubbish.”

Emily recovered from the shock and shot him a venomous, threatening stare.

“You don’t know the first thing about me.”

“I know enough. You sit over here prattling on like my mother at a book club thinking you’re the greatest thing since Merlin’s first bowel movement. But you’re nothing but a stuck up piece of shite. I’m just glad I can tell Bill before he wastes any more time on you.”

He flipped the glass over, spilling the small amount of butterbeer left inside.

“Get bent...snobbish twit.”

Without wasting another second, he turned and left, still fuming over the audacity of Emily Tyler to call his mate ill mannered and inferior. It was also a highlight into the flaws of his own house. Just because you were bold and confident didn’t make you a good person. So pissed he was, he barely noticed Bill’s reaction when he sat back down at the table.

“Dave?”

“Huh?”

“You look like you’re about to explode. What’s the matter?”

“Nothing.”

Of course, Bill didn’t believe that.

“What happened and what did Emily say?”

On the one hand, David really didn’t want to reveal the full extent of Emily’s denigrating insults. It might shatter his heart given how much he liked her. Then again, it wouldn’t do to have someone he looked up to pining after someone who would sooner rip his heart out and stomp on it than date him. The truth was more important than protecting him from it.

“Bill...I won’t lie to you. It wasn’t good.”

“What do you mean?”

He hated seeing Bill’s confused face and he suspected that what was to follow would be equally as painful.

“Mate, she’s not interested. And she didn’t mince words.”

The eldest Weasley’s expression fell dramatically.

“Oh.”

“You can do better than her,” David tried to reassure him

“But-but she’s the most beautiful girl in our year...this whole school.”

“She’s also mean, arrogant, and generally awful. Bill, she insulted you and your family.”

He didn’t want to go there but there was little other choice than to prevent his friend from continuing his obsession. And he wasn’t fibbing. Bill did deserve better.

“She did?”

“Heard it with my own two ears.”

“But what did I do wrong?”

“Nothing,” David emphasized. “And that’s the point. You’re too good for her. And not the other way around.”

“It doesn’t feel that way,” Bill said with the slightest of tremors in his voice.

The third year leaned forward, speaking with the utmost sincerity he could muster.

“Listen to me...you’re one of my best friends. You’ve taught me a lot about dueling, magic, and Hogwarts itself. Everyone I know looks up to you as a person, prefect, and role model….and so do I. Don’t let someone like Emily Tyler change that. Be good to yourself.”

His impassioned speech seemed to finally break through and the Bill Weasley of old shone through.

“Thanks, David...I’m sorry for acting like an idiot. She’s the first girl I really fell for...it’s hard you know?”

He didn’t, not truly since he’d never had a crush on a girl before. But David felt a great deal of sympathy for his friend. Anything that could rattle the cool Bill Weasley could rattle anyone else.

“Of course.”

“Now let’s grab another butterbeer. Next one’s on me.”

“Cheers, mate. Merry Christmas.”

“Merry Christmas.”

He and Bill made their way back towards their friend group where Charlie, Rowan, and company were waiting, greeting them warmly. Though the drinks were sweet and the atmosphere quite merry for the upcoming Christmas season, David own’s spirits were far from being satiated. A part of him knew his angry reaction to Emily’s rejection of the eldest Weasley was due to his own misapprehension and unhappiness that plagued him this time of year.

Images of his brother flashed before his mind as though it were a dream sequence.

For all the faith people placed in him, he wished he could take his own advice.

[raleighcarreras]

Dancing With Our Hands Tied

Title Song: Dancing With Our Hands Tied by Taylor Swift

Pairing: F!Raleigh x F!MC (Silas -Sighless)

Prompts: #19: “If you don’t stop looking at my lips without doing anything about it, I will take you right here on this counter.”

#95: “I just want you to be happy, even if your happiness doesn’t include me, I just want you happy.”

Summary: Everyone told her this would end in burning flames, but Silas had never been one to heed ominous warnings.

Or

If I could dance with you again

I'd kiss you as the lights went out

Swaying as the room burned down

I'd hold you as the water rushes in

If I could dance with you again

Notes: Ha! Y'all thought this would be fluffy smut! It's angst! I got you! I mean it has a happy ending but I mean it's real rocky there for a sec (ok it's not that long or rocky but still). Anyway, I changed the song three times then finally settled on this one and I think it works because I can totally see MC singing this. Hmkay, enjoy!

Tag list: @furiouscloddonutpeanut @lovedrakewalker @ptxgirwaffles @playchoices-addicted

.

.

It's hot and steamy. Just like it always is in clubs like these. You would think the rich and famous would be at least a tad bit toned down of the absolute debauchery but no, they were worse.

Of course, at this point in the night she didn't care. She would never get over watching people grinding to her music no matter how famous she got, but the constant vodka cranberry shots were certainly helping.

There's a sudden hand on her hip and she flinches before relaxing as the owner presses themself into the curve of her back. She feels every bit of the cool leather of the woman's jacket slide against the bare skin of her back. She briefly wonders if she was thankful for choosing the backless dress or if it was proving to be a terrible decision.

And if she wasn't dancing to the best of her ability already, she definitely was now if the increasing of breathe coming from behind her is anything to go by. Her hips sway to the beat of her own drum quite literally as her song still chants its way through the surrounding speakers.

"Let's get some more drinks." It's floated directly into Silas' ear from her warm breath. It's the first thing Raleigh has said to her since she dragged her here in the first hints that night was approaching.

Silas has no choice but to nod as Raleigh takes her hand, guiding her over to the poorly lit bar. The bartender almost looks bored as he listens to Raleigh's order. The auburn haired man had obviously long ago gotten over the star struck glee and had now settled for vague indifference. Silas briefly thinks he and Raleigh she get along swimmingly.

Her newest shot is a blue kamikaze, something that she would have thought a bit too fruity to be in Raleigh's repertoire of alcoholic beverages but as Raleigh's lip wrap around the small glass, Silas chastises herself for ever questioning it. It was obviously a gift from God if that was the outcome.

“If you don’t stop looking at my lips without doing anything about it, I will take you right here on this counter.”

And who is Silas to deny her?

So yeah, she does several somethings about it. Somethings that take them well into the morning.

.

Maybe it's the deja vu of waking up naked in Raleigh's bed for the nth time or maybe it's simply the fact that she's no longer drunk, but something doesn't feel right.

She checks her phone with one eye closed out of fear.

Resident Bad Girl Raleigh Carrera And Newest Pop Princess Silas Call It Quits, A Source Confirms.

She knew it was a bad idea to subscribe to her own Google alerts but she couldn't help it. She finds what the internet thinks of her to be funny. Everything except for this.

Because this, this puts a wrench into things. Things she had just begun to explore without feeling guilty. Things she finally figured out the meaning of.

The "source" is undoubtedly Fiona, which means there is no contesting this one. This is Fiona's roundabout way of telling her the fake relationship has served its purpose and to stop sleeping with Raleigh.

Silas gets the message loud and clear. She won't be able to see Raleigh in public anymore if they're broken up and she sure isn't going to sneak around with her no matter how hot Raleigh would think it'd be.

Silas flopped back onto the lavish bed with a sigh. It was never supposed to get this complicated, but she should have known she was going to fall in love the second the devil herself kissed her.

Speaking of the devil, Raleigh walks into the room with a tired yawn. Her hair is wet, suggesting she took a shower, and her tattoos can be visibly seen through the partly see-through tank top she's wearing.

And Silas falls just that much deeper.

"We broke up."

Raleigh gives her a confused look before rifling through her drawers for clothes for the both of them.

She turns just in time to catch the phone hurtling towards her. She reads the headline then shrugs.

"Ok."

"Ok? Don't you get it? We can't see each other out in public anymore. We-"

Raleigh cuts her off with another shrug, "Then we'll just sneak around. That'd be like ten times hotter anyway."

"I'm not doing that." Silas sits up with a frown. Raleigh didn't get it so this was obviously a waste of both their times. She begins to put her clothing back on. Somehow, they had been thrown into a neat pile just by the end of the bed.

"Why not?"

"Because I like seeing you, Raleigh. I like it when other people see us. Together. Because I stupidly like pretending this isn't just some publicity stunt." Silas' arms flop sadly to her sides.

"C'mon, Silas. We both knew this was for show. It was just for fun." Raleigh's voice softens as Silas headed toward the bedroom door.

She's right, but unfortunately that doesn't keep her heart from blistering and shattering.

Silas walks out the door without anymore preamble.

.

It's about two weeks of avoidance and general stubbornness on Silas' part. It had felt like the two had actually broken up.

It's Avery that notices her change in demeanor and immediately equates it to Raleigh not even giving her the benefit of the doubt. She stalks off to confront her one day and that's the last Silas hears of anything until Raleigh shows up at her apartment door two days after that.

Surprisingly, it's Silas that speaks first. Raleigh can easily tell she's going to do that rambling thing she does.

"I'm sorry for the other day. I shouldn't have just sprung that on you like that. I love you and thats fine if you don't feel that way. I just want you to be happy, even if your happiness doesn’t include me, I just want you happy. I still want to be friends and-"

Raleigh grabs Silas' face with a roll of her eyes and presses her lips to hers to silence her. Silas has to stiffle a half squeak half moan.

When they finally do pull apart, Raleigh's hands now around the young singer's waist and Silas' gripping the lapels of Raleigh's jacket, Raleigh smirks, "You talk too much."

"Sorry?"

"Don't worry. Apparently, I'm attracted to that sort of thing."

Raleigh has since been pulled into the apartment. She sighs at the look of expectancy on Silas' face.

"I had a talk with Avery. Or rather Avery had a talk with me. I'm not scared of her but I'm sure anyone else would have been. Anyway, she helped me come to a couple realizations."

"Like?"

"Like, I love you and I'm sorry for ever making you think I wasn't. I was hurting you and that's the last thing I ever want to do." Raleigh rings her hands in an uncharacteristically nervous gesture.

Silas grabs them in hers and smiles and just like that, it feels like the weight of the world has lifted off her heart.

"I accept your apology and I love you too."

Raleigh smiles genuinely, "I think this means you have to tell Fiona to cook up another one of those headlines."

[bastardnev]

Not So Different

part 3!! the next one is the final one 👀👀👀

tagging @champnatalya and @gulakattack!!

(link to ao3)

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: World Wrestling Entertainment, Professional Wrestling Rating: General Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Mustafa Ali/Pac | Adrian Neville Characters: Mustafa Ali, Pac | Adrian Neville Additional Tags: Jealousy, and much to nev's utter horror, Bonding Series: Part 3 of The King and the Prince Summary: Neville and Mustafa discover that they have something in common: they're both going to miss Austin Aries.

For awhile, it seemed like Neville was on top of the world. Things had been going swimmingly for him over the last few weeks -- he had just recently retained over Tozawa at Great Balls of Fire and once again proved how much of a dominant champion he was. Sure, the way he'd won had been a bit... unsavory, but it got the job done. He was still the King. That was what mattered in the end, wasn't it?

And when he showed up to San Antonio for the 205 Live taping, his head was held high, even though he wasn't scheduled to compete that evening. Normally he would have complained, storming over to whoever put the night's card together and demanding that the show's resident monarch be featured in some capacity, but he refrained from doing so this time. He had been in too much of a good mood since Sunday to complain and decided to make the most of the situation -- if he was going to be spending the next few hours backstage, maybe he could set aside some time to mess with him...

Neville's plans were slowly crushed, however, when he arrived to the locker room only to find that the one person that he wanted to speak with was not there. His grip on his bag tightened as the memories of what had happened a few days ago returned to him.

That's right... He thought with a sigh, haphazardly tossing his bag down on a bench and plopping down next to it. Aries is... gone.

He remembered how just a few days before the pay-per-view, Austin had been officially released. He wasn't entirely sure what had happened or why Austin felt the need to leave all of a sudden, but if he knew Aries as well as he thought he did then there must be a reasonable explanation. This appeared to be a spur of the moment thing, but Austin was meticulous, never doing anything just for the hell of it.

Neville's relationship with Austin had been... strange, to say the least, ever since he had beaten him for the third time at Extreme Rules. The two of them were at each others' throats in the months prior, Austin's wit clashing with Neville's rage on a weekly basis.

After their submission match however, and after Tozawa landed himself in the Cruiserweight title picture, things had changed. Neville still didn't like him, as made evident by their interactions (he was still angry about Austin's little antics from the cruiserweight bar outing from a few weeks ago...) but his hatred had definitely cooled a bit. If he was being honest, Neville actually found himself looking forward to their weekly bickering. Not having Austin around anymore meant that Neville needed to find someone new to focus all of his attention on.

He looked up towards the door when he heard it open, his eyebrows raising when he saw that Mustafa was the one who entered, because of course it fucking was. This isn't exactly who I had in mind for who I wanted to focus on...

Neville had been so caught up with Tozawa in the last few weeks that he hadn't even had time to worry about Mustafa and whatever the fuck was going on between them. Now that they were alone together, however, it was all that he could think of. That period where Neville wasn't constantly doubting himself was lovely while it lasted.

He kept his gaze focused on the floor, not looking up until he was sure that Mustafa had passed him. He found himself relieved (and oddly offended) that he hadn't been greeted, but he let it go. He wasn't in any mood to start up a conversation.

"You seem a little out of sorts today, King." And of course, like clockwork, just as Neville was thinking that he didn't want to talk, Mustafa opens his mouth and speaks. "Trouble in the kingdom?"

"Hush," Neville replied curtly, avoiding eye contact as Mustafa turned to face him.

"'Hush'?" He repeated. "Not 'shut up'? Okay, something's really messing with you." He chuckled.

"I don't believe it's any of your concern now, is it?" Neville fired back. "Leave me alone."

"Alright, alright." Mustafa turned his attention towards his bag, unzipping it and digging around for something. Neville wasn't sure what, though -- he wasn't scheduled to compete either. Whatever his reasons, Neville didn't care enough to ask.

Then he caught sight of a familiar shade of bright blue coming from inside the bag. Neville's eyes widened once he realized what he was looking at. Mustafa had brought an Aries shirt with him on the road.

"Why do you have that?" Neville asked, quickly standing up from the bench and marching over.

"Have what?"

"This." Neville grabbed the shirt out of the bag, holding it up. He noticed that it had the sleeves cut off. "Why is this in your bag?"

"Austin gave it to me last week."

"He... gave it to you? And you kept it?" Neville bit down on his lower lip, glaring at him. Why did... Why did he keep it? How important is Aries to him? What does he see in him? What does Aries have that I... Neville's thoughts trailed off.

"Of course I did. I've been wearing it to the gym. But, uh..." Mustafa slowly took it back. "Why do you care so much about it?"

Neville sighed and shook his head.  "Just forget it, Ali." He started to walk away only to be grabbed by the arm. He shook free of Mustafa's grip. "What do you want?"

"Is that why you're so off today?" He asked. "Because of Austin?"

"No!" That was a lie. "I don't give a shit about what he does." Another lie.

"Then why does the fact that I own one of his shirts bother you so much?"

"I--" Neville's words got caught in his throat. How the hell does he even go about talking about the shit going on in his head? "I really don't care that you have it. I just found it to be... weird. I can't see why he would want to give one of his shirts to a peasant like you." And I can't see why you would choose him...

Mustafa's brow furrowed, as if something that Neville said confused him. There was a look in his eyes that asked 'are you seriously still acting like this?'. Neville hated it. "Quit looking at me like that, would you? You're freaking me out."

"Sorry," he apologized. Silence fell in the room for a moment before Mustafa asked, "... Austin was important to you, wasn't he?"

"What? Absolutely not. I couldn't stand him." Neville frowned, crossing his arms. "It was like he lived to spite me. He managed to figure out exactly what he needed to say to get me mad and exploited that knowledge whenever he could." Even when I'm drunk... "Good riddance."

"I see." Mustafa pressed his lips together into a line. "Well, you might not care about him, but I do. I'm personally gonna miss him."

"Aww, well isn't that sweet. You're gonna miss your little boyfriend..." Neville's fists clenched once he reached the end of his sentence.

"Boyfriend?" He grinned. "King, no. Our relationship isn't like that."

"...Ah," Neville replied, feeling like a weight had been lifted off of his shoulders. Thank Christ. "Well, either way, I still don't care."

"You know you're gonna miss him, too. I think you already do."

Neville took in a breath through his nose, staring up at the ceiling for a second before looking back at him. "I'll admit that it's certainly unusual not having The Greatest Douche That Ever Lived constantly up my ass, but I'll get over it soon enough."

"You two were always fighting whenever I saw you. Austin is the only other guy around here that was willing to give you a good fight whenever you wanted one. I bet you're gonna miss that."

"It'll take some getting used to, yes, but I'll find someone else to bicker with. There's plenty of guys here that I can hurl insults at."

"...Hey, can I tell you something real quick? You have to promise me you won't tell Austin."

"You know damn well that I'm going to do whatever it takes to avoid that man for the rest of my life."

"That's a good point... The truth is, I think that you were the real winner of some of your arguments."

"Oh?" Neville raised an eyebrow.

"You had some really clever comebacks. I'm jealous that you're able to come up with them so easily. You'll have to teach me how you do it sometime."

"The Prince wants the King to take him under his wing, eh?" Neville smirked, trying to ignore how hard his heart was pounding at the thought. His expression grew neutral again. "No."

"Well, I can't say I was expecting a different answer." Mustafa's phone vibrated in his pocket, and he pulled it out, reading the text he was just sent. "I gotta go meet up with Swann in catering."

"Is he gonna share one of his pathetic match strategies with you?" Neville remembered reading that Rich was set to have a match against a local competitor later on that evening. God only knows what nonsense he was planning this time.

"Probably. You, uh... You can come hang with us, if you want."

"You're inviting me along?" He swallowed.

"Yeah. I'm sure Rich won't mind."

"Well, I'd rather dive headfirst into an active volcano than hang out with the likes of you two."

"There's another one of those comebacks that I love. Keep it up." Mustafa patted Neville on the arm before heading towards the exit. He stopped right as he reached the door, turning to look back at Neville. "Hey, I think this is the first time that you and I have actually talked without fighting."

"Is it? Well, I wouldn't get used to it if I were you, Ali."

"I won't. But..." He grinned. "You're really nice to talk to when you're not angry." With that, he opened the door to leave.

The moment that the door closed, Neville let out a breath that he didn't realize he was holding, and he slumped down on a bench. Okay, what the fuck was that? Had that really just happened? Did they actually have a casual conversation as if-- as if they were friends? And did Neville really enjoy it?

And what was that towards the end? Mustafa used the word 'love' to describe how he felt about one of Neville's little quirks. He loved his retorts. Love.

This isn't good. Neville ran a hand through his hair, messing it up. This is bad. This is so, so fucking bad. He shouldn't be enjoying Mustafa's company this much. He shouldn't be getting so excited at the prospect of the two of them hanging out more. This wasn't right. He wasn't supposed to feel this way, especially not towards him.

He wasn't supposed to like him.

[mandysimo13]

For the prompt thingy: #148 - “Why do you only kiss me when I’m sleeping?”

Hi nonny! Sorry this has taken so long but I hope the wait was worth it! 

Sherlock dragged himself up the steps to their flat, swaying on his feet in exhaustion. The kind of exhaustion that only comes after good chase from a good case, complete with the food and sleep deprivation associated with a good puzzle. Every part of him was humming with satisfaction and called for the only thing that would make his victory complete: sleep. 

As much as he liked to poke fun at John for needing such pedestrian things like food and sleep, he knew he wasn’t immune to them himself. And, upon opening the door to see the comfortingly familiar sight of the couch, his motivation to make the extra steps to his bed seemed insurmountable. 

With a sigh of gratitude, he tipped himself over the arm rest, snuggling down deep into the worn leather and closed his eyes. 

“Sherlock,” John called behind him. “Come on, mate, you’re going to get a crick in your neck if you sleep like that.”

“Nnnnngh,” was all the protest Sherlock could muster in reply, though he was sure that it sufficiently conveyed “piss off, trying to sleep here, John”. 

John put a hand on his shoulder, shaking him gently to try and rouse him. Not wanting to be bothered, he pretended to be asleep so as not to be further disturbed. John huffed a soft “git” and walked away, leaving him be. Triumphant, Sherlock let his mind drift on its way to sleep. 

But then the weight of a blanket covered his body and nearly jerked him out of his limbo between wakefulness and sleep. He felt the dry pressure of a set of lips against his temple and it took all his remaining will power not to press back into it. Then, impossibly, a voice whispered to him. 

“Good night, Sherlock.”

John! John kissed me good night! Whatwhatwhatwhatwha....zzzzzz

He was fully asleep before he could process what had just happened. 

Sherlock grumbled awake. Frowning, he rubbed his neck as, predictably, a crick presented itself. Fresh-faced and smiling, John came tromping down the stairs and smiled at Sherlock’s discomfort. 

“Not a word,” Sherlock told him, wagging a finger in warning. 

“Wasn’t gonna,” John assured him. “Tea?”

“God, yes.” 

Breakfast was a normal affair of tea, toast, and eggs. Sherlock munched away on his toast, having the inkling that he was forgetting something. Something important. It bothered him. 

John took in his furrowed brows and asked if there was anything wrong. Sherlock shook his head. “Not that I can recall. I just feel...fuzzy. There’s a piece of data out of place but I can’t recall it. Terribly annoying.” 

John stood, putting his dishes in the sink. “Well, I’m sure you’ll find it.” He put a comforting hand on Sherlock’s shoulder and said, “I’m off to the clinic. See you tonight.” 

Sherlock’s whole body stiffened. John’s hand on him, like the night before, triggered his memory. John trying to rouse him, the blanket, the kiss. He looked up into John’s eyes to find his expression soft but not overly affectionate. He didn’t look like he wanted to kiss him again. Perhaps it had been a fluke. A sudden urge to care for someone after strenuous activity. It wouldn’t have been unheard of. 

But...what if John wanted to kiss him for real. On the lips, on Sherlock’s conscious person, being kissed in return? Did Sherlock want that? Yes, completely and totally, he answered himself immediately.

“Are you alright, Sherlock,” John asked, knocking him out of his reverie.

Sherlock physically shook the thoughts from his mind. “I’m sorry, lost in thought. Yes, quite alright.”

“Alright, then. See you later.” Then he was gone without another word, footsteps fading down the stairs then out onto the streets of London. 

Sherlock stared after him, at the empty space John had left behind, formulating a plan. It wouldn’t be too difficult to test his theory. He simply needed to give John more chances to kiss him. Both awake and asleep. He would pretend to fall asleep everywhere in the flat if that gave John more chances. He would present opportunities whilst awake that would clearly indicate that kissing was an option. He would find ways to entice John Watson to kiss him again, one way or another. 

Path set, he got to work. 

Over the course of a week, Sherlock had pretended to fall asleep on the couch again, in his chair, in the cab on the way home from dinner, and at the kitchen table. Falling asleep on the couch again hadn’t garnered a kiss, only a shaking awake and a question of whether or not he wanted thai for dinner. The cab ride also hadn’t yielded any kisses, thought Sherlock supposed it was because that was more public and thus a touch more embarrassing for a grown man to be seen kissing another grown man whilst he slept so he could forgive that. 

However, falling asleep curled up in his chair and at the table with his head curled into his arms brought forth promising results. 

In his chair, John had gently brushed the fringe away from Sherlock’s head and a ghost of a kiss was brushed above his eyebrow. Happiness had curled itself so completely in his chest that he couldn’t help but snuggle down further into his chair, hoping that John would repeat the action after seeing how pleasantly Sherlock had reacted. But, alas, it was just the one and Sherlock was left to sleep. 

Falling asleep at the table had John tiptoeing quietly into the kitchen, sighing fondly. Before Sherlock knew it, John’s hand was smoothing the curls of his hair down and a kiss was pressed firmly, lovingly, onto the top of his head. John stood there for several long minutes, staring at him, and Sherlock longed to drop the experiment and tell John to do it again but against his lips. 

But before he could muster the courage, John had retreated, leaving Sherlock to sham a fake yawn and “wake up”. 

He put down these reactions to the probability of John thinking he was “adorable” and had to suppress an eye-roll at the thought. Still, he wouldn’t discourage the moniker if it got John kissing him more often. 

Part one of the experiment, recreating conditions for John to kiss him while sleeping was definitely coming along swimmingly. Part two, however, was proving more difficult. 

Sherlock had presented numerous opportunities for kissing. He invaded John’s personal space, angling his face closely as he spoke to his flatmate to give him  convenient access. He complimented him, making the man smile and boosting his confidence and hopefully making him more susceptible to affectionate outbursts. He even took the man out for dinner! At Angelo’s no less! With a candle, wine, and dessert and all! The whole lot clearly indicating a date! But no matter what he tried, John would just stare at his lips, breathe a mote quicker, and find a reason to excuse himself anytime Sherlock thought he might have convinced John to make a move. 

When John left for the clinic he tugged the ends of his hair in frustration and began pacing. He desperately wanted to take John’s face in his hands and just kiss him already! But that would defeat the purpose of the experiment, trying to decipher John’s real feelings. No, he would not rush the man. No matter how he felt. At a loss, Sherlock settled onto the couch to reorganize his mind palace. 

Next thing he knew it was dark and John was home. He could hear his flatmate’s steps coming up the stairs and he forced himself to remain in his semi-sprawled state on the couch. It would be clear to John that he had fallen asleep while reorganizing. Definitely something John would consider “adorable” while Sherlock would find it lazy and unproductive. 

John stepped through the door and chuckled slightly to see Sherlock passed out on the couch. Sherlock listened as John toed off his shoes and set his briefcase aside. The rustling of clothing signaled the removal of a jacket and then quiet feet were padding their way over to the couch. Sherlock suppressed a smirk at John’s attempts to not disturb him. John leaned down, quite close to his face and whispered, “bloody narcoleptic cat, you are.” 

Then, something new happened. 

John didn’t direct his kiss to Sherlock’s forehead, temple, or crown of his head. Nor did he put it on his eyebrows, nose or cheek. 

He kissed the corner of Sherlock’s lips. A brief, chaste action borne of sentiment and it made Sherlock’s heart ache. He couldn’t hold back any longer, knowing now for sure this was beyond simple affection. 

Without opening his eyes he spoke to John. “Why do you only kiss me when I’m sleeping?”

John jumped backward, not expecting Sherlock to open his mouth. “Jeezus, Sherlock!” When Sherlock opened his eyes, John was clutching his heart, eyes wide. 

“Answer the question, John,” he pushed. “Why do you only kiss me when I’m sleeping?”

John hung his head in embarrassment. “You’ve known this whole time?” 

“I’ve only been testing my theory for about a week. Though, judging by the ease of your actions and your words just now, I take it you’ve been doing it longer?”

John nodded. “Awhile, yeah.”

“How long is awhile?”

John bit his lip. “A couple months.”

“Months?! Good god, John! Whatever for?! And you still haven’t answered my original question! I do so hate to repeat myself.”

John sighed heavily and sat next to Sherlock on the couch. “They’re one in the same. Sneakily doing it while you’re asleep.” He clasped his hands in his lap and refused to look at Sherlock in the eye. “I’ve come to terms with my...attraction to you, Sherlock. But you said before that you were married to your work. That you were uninterested. And you’ve dated no one the whole time we’ve been flatmates and so I thought-”

He paused, reigning in some of his panic. “I thought that you would call me stupid, sentimental, and be angry with me. I’ve tried to be a good sport about it. I don’t force myself on you. You’re my friend.” he said, finally looking up at him. “I don’t want to lose you.” His lips stretched into a small, sad smile and he continued. “But when you’re sleeping it’s...safe. Your face looks soft, sweet, open. How could anyone not want to kiss you?”

Sherlock’s heart began to break. “John-”

“But now that you know, I suppose I’ve cocked it all up.” He closed his eyes, shaking his head. “I’ll be out of here as soon as possible.”

Sherlock blinked, not at all understanding. “Where?”

“A new flat. That’s what you want, right? To not live with a flatmate pining for you.”

The words left Sherlock’s lips without permission. “John, you’re an idiot.”

John flinched, stung. “Yeah, got it.” He stood up and turned, making his way towards the stairs to his room. 

Without thinking, Sherlock’s hand shot out to grip John’s wrist. “John, wait!” They stood there, staring at each other. John was determined not to speak first so, swallowing thickly, Sherlock plucked up his courage. He drew John close, his flatmate moving willingly even as his eyes darted around Sherlock nervously. One hand still clasped firmly around John’s wrist, the other came up to caress John’s cheek. John’s eyes were wide and uncertain, silently pleading for explanation. 

Then, without further prompting or explanation, Sherlock bent his head and kissed him. 

John stiffened in surprise at first. But when Sherlock showed no signs of stopping or announcing that his kiss was a trick, he kissed back with enthusiasm. He parted his lips with a soft groan, allowing Sherlock to deepen the kiss. His hands went into Sherlock’s hair as Sherlock’s arms wound themselves around John’s waist. The kiss was unhurried, tender, full of sliding lips and tasting tongues until they needed to part for breath. 

John opened his eyes, staring up at Sherlock. “Sherlock-”

“You’ve had lots of kisses in your life, haven’t you John?”

John licked his lips then nodded. “Lots.” 

“All manner of kisses. Men, women.”

“Yes.”

Sherlock pulled him impossibly closer and nuzzled John’s nose with his own. He closed his eyes, savoring the feeling. “Fancy a few more?”

John chuckled lightly, answering even as he kissed him, “oh god, yes.” 

[49scribes-archive]

The Hunt [Archive]

{--49scribes--}

                                    🐰 [[[♠] ⅩℒⅠⅩ [♥]]] 🐰

Determined.

That’s a good word to define all this, he thinks.

The Fireflies are determined, but so is he. He’s just good at pretending otherwise. Show a little eagerness to please, just a little, but not enough to seem desperate or rushed. Its a hard act to play well, but he likes to think he pulls it off swimmingly.

Its even easier when the ranks have shifted so drastically. They lost a long-time leader, a good one, from what he hears of it, and now the dynamics are shifting, their numbers trying to balance out with assigning a new one and promoting others.

Chaotic.

That’s another good word. Things are chaotic, because of the need to stabilize a hierarchy within the Fireflies. It leaves blaring opportunities open for him to prove his mettle and his capable brilliance. It gives him chances to rise in the ranks and get one step closer to his goal.

He still has to play it careful, even managing to earn some reputation for himself, and with reputation comes greater attention. Its a dangerous game, but its worth it. Always worth it. His friend is worth it.

He’ll deal with what that friend thinks later, because infiltrating the Fireflies, earning their trust, means doing things he isn’t always proud of, and putting himself in situations he would normally avoid. So long as he plays smart and careful, he’ll make it, but there’s always the lingering fear there of an inevitable slip that could be his last.

The Fireflies are determined, but they have more than one target. That gives him just a little piece of mind, but only a little, and it also puts him, once again, into a time and place he’d rather not be.

This girl that they’re after, for the same reasons they’re after his friend, is a tough one. She’s not going down without a fight, and more than that, she’s winning.

A small part of him roots for her to keep winning, were he to be entirely honest, even if he doesn’t know her. He can only hope the one he’s looking for is putting up the same tenacious kind of fight against them. He almost feels bad, maneuvering himself and others to capture her, but Allen comes first.

No matter what, he has to find Allen and bring him home, even if it means doing the dirty work of those he hates.

He can hear the commotion of a fight, the barks and shouts of men trying to overwhelm her, the loud BANG of gunfire and the shallow hiss of cursing. He considers his course of action from hiding, fingering the Firefly pendant around his neck.

Should he confront her as a Firefly or as a run-of-the-mill survivor? Would she react worse or better if he identified as one of them? He pondered it a moment, made a snap decision with shedding some of his outer gear that made him look more armed-to-the-teeth and militant, and kept only the pendent and arm-band, before quickly moving locations strategically ahead of where he figured the girl would be headed.

It quickly became a game of patience and waiting just within an open door, but it eventually pays off when the girl comes down the hall towards him and around the corner, fleeing from the group that’s after her. Immediately, he springs, catching her from behind and using his own back to slam the door shut and quickly snap a deadbolt into place.

She struggles, of course. She struggles viciously and he has a hard time maintaining his hold, one on her wrist to keep from getting attacked by the weapon in her hand, and he hisses out a quiet but sharp command he hopes she has enough sense to listen to.

❝  Stop fighting! I’m tryin’ t’ help you! Unless you want ‘em to find us!  ❞

{--xendure--}

The Fireflies.

The thought of their name brings a bitter taste into her mouth. They were supposed to help people. Wasn’t that their whole end game? Bring back government and bring back the world the way it used to be? It was an impossible task at this point though, but the thought was novel. Ellie used to think that before she was bit, and after the events of what happened.

But for that year, Ellie had been filled new hope that maybe the Fireflies had a chance. Maybe they could make the world a better place.All that hope went down the drain when they attacked the dam. They killed nearly everyone searching for her. Why? She was immune. It had come right back around to her. Nearly everyone she came to love at that dam was gone, and the final straw was Maria. She’d seen her body lie on the floor, bleeding out and Ellie could do nothing to stop it. She’d been too late. It would continue to happen if they stuck around.

So Ellie vowed to eliminate the Fireflies for what they’d done.

Ellie had been meaning to draw them out. Running. Hiding. Coming behind them while they were all in a frenzy to find her. Rinse and repeat. However, that cycle had halted when she was grabbed from behind and dragged into the room. Locked. She struggles, thrashing around in the man’s grip before he spoke. The woman was still tense in his grip, but she quieted down for just a brief second when she heard the stampede of boots come towards them. And just as quickly as they came, they went. Shouting and yelling see where the hell she was, before believing that she merely passed through and out the front door.

When the coast was clear, the girl slammed her head back to catch him off guard, before drawing her own gun and pointing it at the other.

“You have five seconds to convince me why the fuck I shouldn’t blow your head off.”

{--49scribes--}

He held his breath as he heard the footfalls of the Fireflies approach and recede down the hall, thanking whatever deities he didn’t believe in for the fact she actually listened, at least temporarily.

He let this relief be heard in a soft exhale, cut short moments later by a sharp jerk of her head into his face that left him reeling for a moment. By the time he regains his senses, only maybe a couple of seconds later, she has a gun drawn, and he has enough sense of his own to put up his hands in a show of peace.

❝  Easy–  ❞ he tried to soothe. ❝  I’m gonna need a little bit more than five seconds…  ❞

Of course the ever present flaw in his perfect little plan, were it not premeditated at least, is the pendent and arm band that her eyes zero in on, harsh light in her eyes that looks far too personal. So long as his tongue is faster than her trigger finger, he knows he should be fine, but its a gamble, and he tries not to take risks when he can get away with it.

He ducked his head a little in submission at the fidgeting readjustment of her grip on her weapon, just itching to open fire, keeping his own hands up and away from any weapons of his own. Time to put his silver tongue to work.

❝  I’m not one of them. I know it looks like I am, but I’m not. These… Fireflies…  ❞ He made a sort of circular motion at the general room, but really at nothing at all. ❝  They used to be all about trying t’… ‘find a cure’ and ‘help people’… but these last couple years, its like they’ve lost their damn minds. I saw them tear up this community of survivors a while back… gathering people up, looking for something. Killed everyone, then move on to another, and another…  ❞

He paused, idly fingering the arm band. He could see doubt and heated suspicion clouding her face, but hopefully that would turn out to be a good thing for him.

❝  A few weeks back, I almost got caught tailing them, so I pulled this off of one of their dead guys. Figured, if they discovered me, at least they won’t up and kill me as soon as they see me. Hide in plain sight, pretend to be so new to join they haven’t heard anything of me yet.  ❞

Not entirely a lie, not entirely the truth, but he can’t risk total honesty. If his true intentions ever reach the wrong ears, Allen and this girl won’t be the only ones hunted.

❝  You don’t have a lot of reason to trust me beyond my word, I get that, but I’d at least much appreciate you not shooting me. An’ if you still doubt what I say is true, y’should consider the fact I just pulled you into hiding instead of helped them take you down, even though I had the advantage of surprise on you.  ❞

He hopes its enough to keep things at least peaceful enough not to get a bullet sent his way, anxiety flitting in his chest. He knows what a dangerous game this is that he’s playing, but its a game he’s been playing for a long time and pulled off so far. If there’s one thing he’s confident he knows how to do well, its play parts and do so with well-faked sincerity.

{--xendure--}

There was slight hesitation in her thoughts to pull the trigger. She gave him the chance to explain, and the more he talked, the more bullshit it sounded. The Fireflies at this point were a tight knit society. Nobody was joining up with them at this point. They were dying, and she was sure everybody thought they were already dead at that point. They’d notice a face, especially one that stood out like the man in front of her. The Fireflies also wanted her alive. They weren’t shooting to kill. They were trying to wound her enough to where she couldn’t move. And they’d take her injured body and kill her off when they had to extract the cordyceps surrounding her brain.

Another thing in his story that she noticed is that he didn’t run off. There was plenty of chaos before and during this encounter for him to escape. Maybe that’s what he was doing to get out of this.There were plenty of holes in his story to misplace his trust, but Ellie was all for having one less person to kill. So, she wasn’t going to shoot him. The gun did not lower. It wouldn’t lower for anyone still wearing that badge and dog tag.

“I won’t kill you, but don’t think it’s because I believe you.” Ellie frowned before looking towards the door and gesturing to it. “Unlock that door, and leave. You want out of the Fireflies? Leave while you can. Because I’m gonna find and snuff out the Fireflies…And I’ll find out if you’re still with them.” Her voice was harsh, cold, and if they met with the group again and he was still in it, she won’t hesitate to kill him. She was killing every last Firefly on this planet even if she ended up dying in the process. He was begging for his life at this point, and Ellie didn’t do too well with ignoring pleas. Joel hadn’t drilled remorse out of her yet.

“Don’t let me catch you wearing their shit again.”

{--49scribes--}

                                    🐰 [[[♠] ⅩℒⅠⅩ [♥]]] 🐰

So the cold, determined killer had some mercy after all, but he’d been banking on such. Certainly, this world made people into animals, but something of civilization, or at least resembling it, manages to survive. Its human nature to cling to a need for normalcy, after all, though what “normal” is deviates from one individual to the next.

He was careful about his movements and keeping his hands up peaceably, humming with what he hoped portrayed some sense of agreeableness rather than possible hostility or condemnation.

He inclined his head slightly, a show of compliance.

❝  Seems fair enough.  ❞

Sidestepping the door, he unlocked the bolt on it, keeping his hands visible and away from any weapons, and his eye trained on her. With another slight incline, he went to grab the handle and open the door, but paused for a moment, swiping his tongue across his lips in thought.

❝  Y’ever hear coyot’s at night? Sometimes gatherin’ together to make a fuss, sometimes cryin’ alone for a group to find.  ❞

Abrupt and seemingly random though the question may have appeared at first glance, it was the quickest of discreet means he could think up to communicate on short notice. Maybe it would lead nowhere, but it was always worth a try.

❝  Just goin’ off, yipyipyipyipyip. It’s a pretty unique sound. Y’can’t miss ‘em. Y’should listen for one some time.  ❞

That little bug dropped in her ear, he cracked the door open and peaked out, watching and listening, before leaving entirely and shutting the door behind him.

He quietly let out a breath, moving back to where he’d stored more of his gear he’d shed to confront her and look less of a threat, before quickly tailing after where he was sure the rest had gone in search of her.

Now, importantly, she was aware of him. In some ways, that might pan out greatly to his benefit, but it also may not. He’d have to be careful on how he tried playing both sides of the fence before one or the other side tried to put a bullet through his skull, but he’d figure out all the details as he went.

Though it did take some running, and dodging through one room after another, eventually he managed to regroup.

Only a second of tension had them whirling with guns lifted, but they relaxed well enough upon seeing him rather than her coming up behind them.

“There you are. Did you find anything?”

Of course I did, idiot. Really though, it was almost laughable. Tracking wasn’t hugely difficult, especially when he’d stuck so far to the sidelines to plan his moves.

❝  I thought I saw someone and went to investigate, but it just turned out t’ be Stalkers, stirred up by all th’ noise. I took ‘em out without too much worry though.  ❞

It seemed a satisfying enough answer, the topic switching to where to move to next, discussing a few likely possibilities, and suggesting dividing up their search between a few of them. Any uneasiness at the idea he dispelled with reinforcing that they were big, strong men, weren’t they? Surely they can handle it.

Maybe, if he was lucky, one of their search parties would conveniently not come back. That would quiet at least some of the whispering with one or two less voices to mutter them, he was sure.

❝  We’ll search over there, find a high spot to find out if we can see anything that might lead us to where she’s at. Time’s a wastin’, let’s go.  ❞

With a few uncertain looks, they dispersed, splitting up.

He’d have to come up with a way to get unfortunately separated again without raising suspicion next. Maybe a closing barricade. Or a collapsing passageway. Preferably, somehow that he keeps casualties at a minimum, simply because he can only feign both allegiance and competence both in so many ways, and too many team members dying isn’t one of them. A few here and there can always be accounted for by lack of vigilance for a split second, or a lack of luck.

Speaking of luck, part of the structure they investigated as they searched through the pre-agreed building had some questionable remaining structure, the crumbling floor of one hall bowing threateningly underfoot.

❝  I’ll go first.  ❞

Which, in truth, could be translated as I’ll be the only one, as in crossing, he made absolutely certain it collapsed in his crossing, making it look like a close call.

❝  I’ll see if I can find another way for you guys t’ get across, or a way for me t’ get back.  ❞

With little choice but to agree, it was easy enough to split on those circumstances, and give him plenty of room to go off on his own without too much suspicion if they ran across each other again later when he wasn’t ready to rejoin them.

And being separated, it was easier to likewise remove the pendant and arm band, tucking them into hiding at the bottom of his bag.

❝  Now then…  ❞

{--xendure--}

Mercy was one name for her actions. Had it been just a normal Firefly begging for his life with no one around to hear his screams? Ellie wouldn’t have hesitated to pull the trigger as soon as she could. His blood would’ve spilled against aged floorboards and left to be forgotten like many before them. However, the last thing Ellie needed was to fire off her gun with other Fireflies nearby and other Infected. Added to the man’s story, Ellie decided it’d be safer just to let him go. For now.

At least that’s how Ellie wanted to make herself believe she thought. After what the Fireflies did to her family and friends, the last thing she wanted to do was let herself think she gave them any mercy. They all deserved to die.

His words barely reach her ears in her attempt to keep herself focused on intimidation and aim. However, her brows do furrow at the strange man before he makes his exit. What the hell was he talking about? Why would he bring up coyotes as someone is holding a gun up to their face? It didn’t matter. Ellie waited till he left before the young woman made her escape out the window.

Ellie would follow the small group, gritting her teeth as she saw the redhead rejoin the group. How dare he take her ‘mercy’ and toss it away like that. She should’ve killed him when she had the chance! However, Ellie doesn’t attack now. That’d be suicide at this point. No. She’d wait, creeping at a careful distance as the group parted. She’d continue to creep and creep on the group, leaving the man she spared for later.

Like the coyotes in the distance, one could hear the screams of men echo across the sky as blood spilled across dirt and skin. Crimson smeared across freckled cheeks as her knife dug into the flesh of the men who wronged not only her, but many others. Children. Parents. Friends. But on top of it all, people who she dared call family in this messed up world.

She’d find them. Every last one of them.

And it was time to find the Firefly that escaped the end of her gun.

Ellie found her way back to cross, grabbing an old wooden plank. It wasn’t exactly the most stable, but it got the job done. With the ground still soft, she could still see the footprints left behind in the ground. Quickly. Carefully. Follow the tracks, Ellie. They’ll lead to the bug that escaped the web.

It took her hours to finally track down the small camp the man had set up. She supposed he’d camp for the night and leave in the morning to search for his friends. The girl was stealthy, as she held her gun on her and finally made herself known. She could see the man, and she finally pointed her gun at him once again.

“Keep your weapon down, or I’ll make sure I finish what I started before.”

{--49scribes--}

The trickiest thing was finding the excuse to part ways with the Firefly team he’d initially set out with. Once he was on his own, it was smooth sailing from there. Leave the buildings behind, set off into the overgrowth, hope his team wasn’t a little more competent at finding him than he gave them credit for.

The game he’s playing carries a lot of risk, but its worth taking the chances, as far as he concerns himself with. The only one he knows who plays strategy better than himself is the old man who taught him all that he knows of it.

Thoughts of his grandfather spiral into thoughts of others, and for a wistful moment he finds himself feeling a little bit homesick. Going back won’t matter though if he doesn’t have Allen with him. More than just him will be missing until they find Allen.

He idly wonders how everyone else is faring… Kanda is probably thriving outside the zone, truth be told. He might be just a tad worried about Krory. He really hopes, a touch too dangerously close to fondness, that Lenalee is doing alright.

Fanciful reminiscence becomes interrupted by the sound of death screams in the distance, faint but still near enough to echo and catch his attention. The scream sounds like a familiar voice. Whether its an Infected or the girl who’s done the deed, he can’t be sure, or be bothered to care.

Somehow he suspects that its her.

He continues on his way until he’s found a distant clearing partially sheltered by the ruins of a building, hearing and seeing no recent signs of either survivors nor Infected, and decides its as good a place as any to make camp in for now.

He’s got a small fire going and a good, dry log, smooth and stripped of bark, pulled up as a makeshift chair to sit on by the time the Immune girl appears again, still toting her gun along same as ever.

He hums acknowledgment to her and her words, single eye watching her moves carefully, and admittedly there is a moment of tension coiling in his body. He forced himself to relax, smiling lazily.

❝  Not a bad tracker…  ❞ He shrugs slightly, massaging his neck with one free hand passively and then shifting to lie on his back across the log he’d chosen as his perch. Lacing his fingers, he rests woven knuckles on top of his forehead, closing his one eye like he’s going to take a nap. ❝  Guess I’m not gonna have ta go howling at the moon to get your attention now,  so that saves me some trouble.  ❞

He’s aware that acting so aloof and casual might not be a wise move, she might simply come after him anyway or mistake the message he’s trying to send, but he’s at the very least hoping that showing little concern, and little threat, will make her more inclined to ease up than if he acts like he’s expecting an enemy.

❝  Sounds to me like you took care of more ‘an a few of my problems for me earlier. I suppose I should thank you for that.  ❞