#ft friends oc of the mum ever

[thehappiestgolucky]

day 2 is so funny because by default Odessa is child so here’s her even smaller

And for the funny here’s the smallest Odessa

so baby she’s still in eggy

[shebeafancyflapjack]

A Slip Through Worlds (Part 4)

(Silver tries to plead her case, ft @idiotwithanipad 's oc Gore Amy)

-

"You should rest, fluffy friend."

Robin forced his eyes open, the pink sky of rising dawn above him. He continued to pant, chest rising and falling to regain his strength. Not even his regular Zumba groups had prepared him for this.

Laying on his back in the grass, he turned to see Moonah Girl grinning at him from where she sat, as energetic as she had the moment she woke up.

"Hehehe, can tell you're getting tired. Not even Mummy has played with me so much all night long."

He shook his head, pushing himself to sit up; "It fine. Can keep going."

"No you can't, silly, hehehe." Silver pushed him back to lie down, her palms flat on his chest; "Or you'll crumple like I do when I keep trying to go on when it's bedtime. Don't wanna finally lose that way, do ya, hahaha."

No, that would be unfair, he supposes. He's pretty sure he proved himself as reigning champion of this "bucking" game, having managed to toss Silver off in less than a minute.

The teen patted his furs; "You take a nap. I'll be okay. Mummy says sleep is the the best meal for the mindses."

That definitely sounded like a Mary-ism.

Robin struggled to hold back a yawn, "Don't wanna leave Moonah Girl alone and bored. Want to spend time with Kitty?"

Or perhaps Pat? He was probably the only other one Robin would say he trusted to look after her. Thomas and Fanny would either bore or annoy her, whereas Captain and Fanny...Enough said.

"I was thinking maybe I can go ask Mr. Humphrey if Amy is feeling better?" Silver suggested, looking a little nervous, tilting her head.

He winced.

"Maybe best give her 'nother day. Once she fit to leave room, she find you."

Silver blinked, showing little reaction.

"...You're not lying to me, are you, Mr. Robin?" She asked, so innocent that it was like a tiny icepick to his heart.

Squirming with guilt, he felt he had no choice but to go for the gaslighting option. Just for now.

"Promise, Moonah Girl. You see Stompy soon. Just wait for she to come to you."

In her dreams, just as she did every now and then. Not as often for Robin these days, more the occasional visit a couple nights a week, but he knew the two girls spent constant time meeting together at the bridge between the stars and sleeping world.

He waited for Silver to huff and cross her arms and look disappointed further with his vague answer. But instead, she kept smiling, and reached to squeeze his hand.

"I believe you. Hehehe. It's so weird. We only met last night but I feel like I've known you forever and evers!" She giggled.

His heart fluttered as she lay down on the grass beside him, using his chest as a pillow. The pain of her forgetting him was numbed slightly at that little fact. Part of her did know him, on some level, it had just become distorted with this other reality her warped mind had constructed.

Had it been to cope with the loss of Amy? Or what he told her about Mary? After Amy's visit and message from their old friend, he'd been sure the witchling's mental health was improving. For it to snap so violently, so sudden...

Robin brought his hand to her hair, stroking it gently, a little surprised he'd never noticed how many leaves were tangled in it before.

"Knew your mum. Many Moonahs ago." He tells her, delicately, "Feel know Daughter too."

"Hmm. Do you have a moody brother who grunts like a bear? Maybe that's Mummy's friend who looks after me sometimes." Silver mused; "You smell like him...and feel like him, a little. Especially here, hehe." She reached her hand around to ruffle his mane.

Robin chuckled; "Maybe he my twin."

Or, more likely, that's the closest the girl can come to remembering him. Just some...'friend' of Mary's? That stung.

"He's the bad one then, hehehe. No. Shouldn't say that. Mean Silver." She tutted; "I know he's not as mean as he pretends. He's just grumpy...and tired. And sad. Like you."

He stiffened at that.

"Ey? Me not sad..."

"You are. I can feel it." She shifted, turning to move her fingers over his face, drawing over the many lines and bumps; "Just like Mr. Floof. You have so many years of pain and loss. So many tears shed, yet no where near enough. Difference is, he let's his pain out by being angry. But you?"

She giggles and leans her head down on top of his furs, over his chest.

"You let it out by being kind. Hehehe."

He blinked, watching her, trying to make sense of her words. There was always a hidden method to the madness.

She'd saved the memory of him in her mind as being mean. Taking his own pain out on others. That wasn't him. At least...he didn't want it to be. But the hurt he instilled in her, the betrayal and heartbreak, after their last fight, must have left a crack in her heart.

So now what? She's created two Robin's in her head? The Angry One and the Kind One?

He sighed; "Sorry he mean to you. He big stupid. No listen. He talk rubbish."

"He doesn't talk. Just growls, hehehe."

Great, so he was a monster too.

"Would give him big smack in head if he here. No one ever be mean to Moonah Girl." He said, which made her laugh.

If only she remembered the impressive slap she'd given him, the one that would forever tingle like a deep set burn on his cheek.

"He maybe sorry. Know I would be, if did anything to make Moonah Girl sad."

And he was. He'd never stop trying to atone.

Silver squeezed his wrist; "I don't think you have a mean bone in your body, sweet Robin."

If she believed that, then she clearly had forgotten much about him. Maybe for the best.

-

Clap. Clap.

"Silver? Silver, wake the fuck up."

Clap. Clap.

What the...?

Her eyes were already open. She wasn't due to sleep for a while. And yet something had dragged her mind under, swaddled her in a thick cloud, and made her feel like she was dozing.

Everything was blurry before her. Two hands were clapping in front of her, each noise forcing her focus to sharpen a little.

"C'mon, you gotta get with it! We haven't got long!"

One of the hands slapped her this time. Ow!

"Sorry. Need you to snap out of it." The familiar voice explained, "I know it's disorienting as wank the first time around."

Silver only knew one voice that was prone to casually swear like that.

She blinked, dragging her mind up as if pulling herself up out of a swimming pool. Swallowing the dry, acrid taste in her throat, she turned to the owner of the hands. And the voice.

"Ames? Ames, is that really you?!" Her Amy. Her Amy who could speak, who had the foulest mouth Silver had ever had the pleasure of knowing.

But the girl with black hair and headphones knelt at her side still looked at her with bleeding eyes that seemed ready to pop out their sockets at any moment, her lips still firmly shut to contain the drink she choked.

Silver deflated, disappointed; "Oh...You're still Namy."

"Namy?"

"Not Amy. Not my Amy, I mean."

"Yeah, don't go calling me that."

Silver rubbed at her eyes, still feeling woozy, like she was having some freak out from some weed that might have been cut with something funky.

"What's happening? How can I hear you? And..." She squinted at her; "Where'd you get that badass cloak?!"

Jealousy thrummed through her as she looked upon it. The bug eyed girl had traded her hoodie for a....much longer hoodie, with electric blue trim that seemed to constantly shimmer, along with sparkling stars down the arms. Amy grinned, standing up to turn around for Silver to get a decent view.

"Pretty sick, right? It was a present from Other You. Along with the boot upgrades." She put one of her massive heels forward for Silver to appreciate the matching blue adornments; "Dragon scales, apparently."

"Wow..." She glanced around her.

Even the woods seemed different. Lights of various hues from pink to yellow to green and more seemed to hover through the air like tiny floating lamps. There seemed to be far more stars in the sky, the constellations more distinct, even the moon twice her normal size.

She'd always loved the forest at night but...this was something else. Like she'd stepped into some mythical Elven woodland.

"Am I dreaming?" She almost hopes that she is.

"Little bit. It's kinda like an intense forced daydream. Or like wearing a VR headset."

The 90s kid scoffed; "What, in the year 3000?"

"Oh, right, I forgot you're fucking ancient."

Hey! Silver threw her an offended look that made Amy chuckle, covering her mouth to stop the water spilling again.

"You telling me we're still in the woods in...your world?" Silver asked.

"'Fraid so. Try not to think too much about how we're here. I did ask Mary if I could bring you back to my room in the house for us to speak, but her magic doesn't work in there. And that clicking is bloody murder on my cheeks and throat after too much."

Mary...Silver shuddered, counting her blessings that she was, if nothing else, out of the cage.

"She's the one doing this?" Silver reached out to touch the edges of Amy's cloak.

It felt so real...

"She's...messing with my head?"

"Not the time to worry about that, mate. We've probably only got a few minutes until she intends to...interrogate you herself. Trust me, you don't want that." Amy warned.

Silver gulped, suddenly remembering the skeletal woman holding up her hand of fire.

She try to burn you...

"Hey! Stay with me." Amy clapped again, steeling her gaze; "She's giving us the chance to talk, she can't take the Mango Loco from my gob but this place does give me some telekinesis."

"Telepathy."

"Eh?"

Silver shook her head; "Telekinesis is moving stuff with your mind, telepathy is mind reading and transmitting thoughts."

"Oooh, OK, smart-ass. Not all of us are lucky to have a mum as a witch!"

"I don't." Silver said.

Amy frowned.

"My mum...Mary. She's not a witch in my world." She explained, "She was burned as one, but was falsley accused. She...hated witches, till she met me, then she changed her mind...Maybe." She sighed, wanting to believe her friend; "But my Mary was always just a woman. A sweet, funny, scatty but awesome, normal woman. Her ghost form could smell of burning and smoke...and summon fire, a little, but...nothing like this."

Magic like this was far beyond even Silver's imagination.

"If we had time, I'd give you the tour, like my Silver did to me. You basically create what you desire. It's as real as you want it to be."

So just like her lucid dreams?

She looked at her palms, then held them inches apart. Focusing, she saw the object she desired in her mind's eye, then willed it into being. Manifest. Manifest.

"Fuck...You're doing it!"

Silver opened her eyes as the rectangle shaped box fell between her hands.

"What did you make?" Amy peered closer.

She looked up, smiling, before handing the box to Amy.

"Another present."

Amy looked taken back, then gently took the small package. Her already wide eyes almost burst out as she read the words on the front.

"Mayfair Sky Blue?! How the fuck?!" She looked at Silver as if she'd fallen from Heaven.

"Hoped you and my Amy liked the same brand." The Pagan grinned; "Oh wait, shit, your mouth-."

"It's fine!" She took one cigarette out and ran it beneath her nose, inhaling it like a line of coke.

"Oh, you can still smell too?"

"No. But this place has simulated taste buds. Closest as I can get, I'm taking the hit. Fuck, I've never thought to summon these before." She smirked, sitting cross legged beside Silver. "No Zippo on me but I wonder if I visit the dragons, one of them will..."

She turned her head just as Silver was staring at her.

"What? What you looking at me like that for? You got a problem with the gross eyes of mine?! Cause trust me, they ain't fun for-."

Silver threw her arms around Amy's neck.

"Shit!"

"Sorry. I know you're funny about hugs. I just...Just needed to do this."

She wouldn't attempt to explain why it had been so long since she'd hugged Her Amy.

Namy deflated, giving her back an awkward pat.

"All right, Luna Lovegood, calm down. At least you're a bit more aware of personal space than my Silv." She gently pushed her back, but gave her hand a squeeze; "Like I said, her mum won't give us much time and we've already wasted it chatting shit and you giving me my fags."

"Definitely nothing wasted there." Silver sniffed, fighting back tears.

Amy's cheeks flushed, just a little.

"Okay, Soppy Bitch. Start from the beginning. What do you remember about how you got here?"

Silver explained what little there was to explain.

She went to sleep as the moon began to wane ("Same as my Silv then.") and was having her usual lucid dreams ("Again, same as our witchling."). She remembered hearing voices calling to her from the shadows, mystery tempting her to discover lost secrets, and then someone calling her name.

Mary. Her mum.

"That's what doesn't make sense to me." Silver grimaced; "She keeps accusing me of being a Siren, but she's the one who called out to me! I ran to her because I thought she was my Mary! If I knew I was gonna wake up in some twisted version of my world, I wouldn't have gone near her. I didn't wanna steal anyone's place or whatever."

"Guessing she thought you were her Silver. She wasn't trying to kidnap you or anything." Amy rolled her eyes; "Just one big cosmic misunderstanding."

"Try telling her that. She's off her rocker and out for my blood."

"She ain't that bad..." At Silver's doubtful look, Amy clarified; "Okay, she's a little psychotic when it comes to her kid. I mean I wasn't exactly her favorite person to start with either. But overprotective parents are kind of a staple of this place."

The Wiccan watched Amy take another long sniff of her cigarette.

"You have your own Humphrey here too? Is he...anything like them?" She meant both Nary and Nobin.

Amy shrugged; "Depends. His head - gonna assume yours is in two pieces as well - is mostly just paranoid and worrisome, treats me like I'm twelve, is convinced that his ex who he believes is my mum is gonna return at any moment. But aside from that...he's kinda sweet. But then you've got his body, which treats me like I'm five and goes on a rampage if I'm more than a dozen feet away for too long. Why, what's your Humphrey like?"

"Honestly? About the same." Silver laughed and Amy joined in, drops of Monster spluttering from her lips. "...It's just...really cool that you two still have each other here."

Not Amy frowned.

"What d'you mean 'still'?"

Silver was saved from having to explain that one by the sound of a tremendous roar. The girls looked up to see a great set of leathery wings through the treetops, along with a long, spiky tail.

"Holy shit! Is that a dragon?!"

"Yeah, that's Fiona. Hey! Hey, Fi! I need you to light my cig for me!" Amy tried to call out but the dragon flew on, ignoring her; "Bitch."

Silver laughed, "Oh wow. I told my Amy that I had dreams about us riding dragons together. That's insane."

Amy's brow creased up.

"Huh."

"What?"

"Nothing, just...You reminded me of a theory that my Silver had." Namy mused; "She was rambling on about how she's practicing astral projection and lucid dreaming. She reckoned that dreams were like...How did she put it? Windows into other worlds? Maybe you dreaming about dragons was you seeing us." The teen shrugged; "Just a thought."

A penny dropped in Silver's head at that.

"....What else did she tell you about astral projection?" She asked, getting a very uneasy feeling.

"Uhm...Just that she wanted to travel up there and explore as far as she could. But sometimes she'd come to this wall she could never quite get past. She was determined to break through it, but her mum kept saying it was too dangerous..."

"A wall as in...between universes?"

Amy's eyes locked with her own as the realisation hit her.

"Holy fuckity shitballs. The mad bitch did it."

Silver felt the breath leave her. It wasn't her fault.

Relief swirled amidst existential terror. She hadn't done this, it was...the other Silver. She somehow got past this great barrier and Mary must have come looking for her daughter only to accidentally lure the wrong Silver, who also happened to be sleeping-

"Enough!" The voice of the wraith sliced through their peaceful scene.

Silver's head felt jerked, forward and back, as the illusion dissolved. The dragon and fae lights vanished. Back in the normal woods close to Button House, Namy was left sat in her regular hoodie and sniffing her empty hand.

Her expression read as 'fuck reality'.

A long, snaky arm of smoke grabbed Silver by the shoulder and hauled her to her feet. In a heartbeat, she was back to facing the monstrous form of this world's Mary Guppy, continuing to glare at her with pure hatred.

"Mine ears hath heard all they needs." She sneered.

Amy tried to defend her, only to hurl up more of her energy drink before remembering she couldn't speak. Then she hummed and tried to sign, desperate.

"Of course you believes her. She did tempt you with your noxious tobacco sticks." Mary dismissed; "But I shall determine the full truths of this ones heart."

Silver shuddered, "I told her everything, I swear. It was the truth."

"You accuse my darling girl of meddling with forces beyond her ken! She woulds never leave me! Not my Silver!"

She raised her bony hand, whisps of charcoal mist dancing around her fingers, merging into a long, pointed speartip.

"I shoulds haves done this from the start. I shall dig the truth from thee, pretty beast. Let's see how honest you were with young Amy."

Fuck. What was she gonna do?! Was it going to hurt?

She looked to Amy, who seemed to be gesturing for her to stay calm. She clicked as she did the most basic of signs.

NO FIGHT.

LET HER SEE.

Tears stung in Silver's eyes before she turned back to face the burned witch. She had no idea how this was going to feel or if it would make this Mary feel any kinder towards her...but at least she would see the truth.

She closed her eyes, just as something sharp struck through her cranium. Silver screamed as the world went dark.

[sooibian]

Dittany

✨ part of the Spellbound collab series with insanely talented writers @hkynm ​ @fullsuninbloom​ @blackberrykai​ and @j-pping​

✨ pairing: hufflepuff!kyungsoo x ravenclaw!oc/reader ft. ravenclaw!chen

✨ themes: fluff, mild angst, slow burn, cheesy couples

✨ genre: hogwarts!au

✨ description: broken bones and a tedious detention - can I still say that this is the best christmas i've ever had? it’s because I found magic in him - the big eyed, dark haired, hufflepuff boy. funny I say that as a witch! but sadly, good things don’t last forever.

✨ word count: 16.5k

✨ tag list: @eggsodose @christiandosworld @imgonweast @is-that-baekhyuns-shirt @changshapatrol @thatanonymousgirl-as14 @his-mochi-cheeks @charmedbaek @xiusoomygod @crescent-iak @gdaystays @mangobaek @keonaforever21 @staryyugy @hyckrens @yixing-jaebeom @halfbloodkjm @thepoeticfirefly​

With a baggie of Caramel Cobwebs grasped between her fingers, he saw her head towards Gladrags Wizardwear. He feigned untied shoelaces as his friends Baekhyun, Chanyeol and Chen made a beeline for a table at The Three Broomsticks. He stayed just so that he could see her for just a little bit longer as she walked down the quaint but bustling lane of Hogsmeade. It baffled him how different she looked to him every time he saw her. 

Yet she looked so familiar.

A sound of girls giggling reached his ears suddenly making him more aware. A jet of purple light shot in her direction and she stood frozen, right in the middle of the street, face buried in hands.

It enraged him to see her like this, weak and lost. With a flick of his wand he unbound her legs. Misty eyed, she hesitantly looked over her shoulder for a fleeting moment before hurrying into the safer confines of the shop as though nothing had happened.

This was their first ever trip to Hogsmeade and he thought J. Pippin's Potions worth the detour. 

Rat tails. Porcupine quills. Billywig stings.

The Hair Raising potion had its benefits, after all. 

A few drops of it in their pumpkin juice and those girls went around school with their hair standing on end. It made them the laughing-stock and not a single soul suspected the innocent looking, third-year Hufflepuff boy.

.

.

.

Professor Trelawney's got me feeling like I’ve downed an entire flask of Felix Felicis.

Maybe it was the fine sherry I brought her for Christmas and if I'm being honest she was most likely under the influence of some at the time - a bit too early in the day for such an indulgence but that’s just my opinion. Anyway, she has prophesied that today’s going to be a momentous day for me. She said it would “change the course of my destiny”. Jupiter has entered Pisces owing to which I’ll be able to open myself up more to the world. I shudder at the thought but her comically large, moony eyes bore a distinct hint of euphoria so I’ll take her word for it. And I don’t care what “opinions” other students - or even Professors for that matter - have of her but I’ll always believe that Divination is a highly compelling (albeit misunderstood) branch of magic. 

And Professor Trelawney is a truly gifted Seer.

With a spring in my step, I'm practically galloping down the Great Hall after a hearty breakfast and Professor Flitwick is unfeignedly in his element. A peppy tune on his lips, he blossoms golden baubles out of his wand, trailing them over the branches of the new dozen of frost covered fir trees akin to a Maestro weaving a symphony with his baton. Christmas has always been an ethereal treat for the eyes at Hogwarts. The Castle is covered in several feet of silver snow, in the Great Hall thick streams of holly and mistletoe criss-cross the ceilings and enchanted snow falls warm and dry from it. While I do feel a little lonely sometimes, I'd rather spend the holidays here than back home with Gran.  

Fourteen years of having to raise me all by herself after Mum and Dad passed away couldn’t have been easy. I reckon she could do well without having to unnecessarily fret over me during the holidays. And I could do very well without her persuasions, asking me to live up to the dreams my parents had had for me. Hopefully, she's enjoying herself with a cup or two of Firewhisky in the evenings in the company of her Ministry friends and gorging on those delicious Ugly Christmas Sweater Cookies and Liquorice Wands that she so relishes!

"Looks great, Professor!" I say to Professor Flitwick and with a cheery laugh he waves his wand bearing arm at me. I duck at the sudden attack of tinsels but one golden bauble nests in the loop of my topknot anyway. I think I'll keep it and use it for Hagrid's gift.

Hagrid!

A glance out the window behind the staff table and I resolve to brave the weather and pay him a long overdue visit. I have a little something for him and old Fang. I won’t lie, it helps to be the granddaughter of an influential woman for Hagrid’s Christmas presents don’t come easy. 

Another great thing about Christmas is that I have the castle all to myself. The dormitory is vacant and the Common Room is far emptier than usual. And I’m spared the everyday torment of hushed whispers and giggles and the occasional “practical jokes”. Carefully, I bring Hagrid’s present out of its little pen to measure it up against the stray bauble. Not his size. He rapidly blinks his beetle brown eyes at me and crawls up my arm with a certain urgency, nestling into the crook of my neck. “Aww Mr. Twiggles”, I plop the Bowtruckle down onto my lap and wrap a pink ribbon around its knobbly brown arm. Placing him under an airy bronze cloche, alongside a huge slab of butterbeer fudge, I bid him adieu. 

***

My butt is freezing, I’m pretty sure I heard something crack and it was definitely not the ice. A terrified Bowtruckle is smack in the middle of my face while I lie amidst crumbs of Butterbeer Fudge. Since this could be his only shot at freedom, Mr. Twiggles scuttles into the Forbidden Forest. Taking stock of the situation I realise that Fang’s present has now become one with the snow, I’ve lost Hagrid’s present to its natural habitat and probably snapped a few of my bones in the process. 

But this is the least of my concerns. 

My literal fall further down the school’s social structure has a witness - the Muggle-born Hufflepuff boy, who belongs to probably one of the most influential cliques in school. I don’t think much of them, to be honest. They’re just a babbling band of bumbling baboons. But can’t I have a day go by without being humiliated? Is that a lot to ask? Hagrid’s hut is barely ten feet from here. I wouldn’t mind breaking all of my bones in his company. He would’ve probably offered me some tea and his infamous rock cakes before carrying me to the Hospital Wing. Out of all the places in Hogwarts... out of all the places in the world...did this wide-eyed bloke really have to be here? Exactly in this moment? And just how many students is Hagrid friends with anyway? And why him? I swear I’ve never seen the boy smile. Not even when he’s with his rowdy friends. 

This can’t be it. 

This can’t be the ‘momentous day that changes the course of my destiny’. This is just like...any other rubbish day and it’s crushing my soul. I'm starting to believe that Divination is a whole lot of hogwash and Professor Trelawney is indeed a fraud. But at this point, I can’t feel my limbs and I really, really could use some help.

Squinting hard, the Muggle-born rushes to my aid. My lips begin to quiver and I feel warm tears trickle down my temples, further wetting my already damp hair. He stoops down and his eyes widen with surprise and recognition and he scoffs at my immobilized state. As he’s helping me up, I wrap my right arm around his shoulders. An imperceptible smile tugs at his lips as his left arm firms around my waist and before I know it, I’m standing on my own two feet - or one. My weight is supported by him and my good right leg. But before I can begin to thank him, a sharp pain shoots to my head and I see little stars buzzing around his ears. Maybe they are real! 

“Wrackspurts”, I mumble and observe his lips form the shape of a heart when curved into a wide smile. His smile is….bewitching.

And it's the last thing I see.

***

Madam Pomfrey strongly insists on keeping me caged in for the night. She’s implacable and my protests are met with a standard taut response, “Broken bones are particularly dangerous in winters. You’re staying the night.” How do I explain that I feel fine and keeping me in will only make matters a LOT worse for me.

I have to go see the Hufflepuff boy.

I have absolutely no memory of the events that unfolded after I literally started seeing stars. Not Wrackspurts. Did he perhaps carry me to the Hospital Wing? I have no answers and this isn’t exactly the kind of topic I wish to broach with Madam Pomfrey. My throat dries up at the thought of him struggling to bring me all the way up here and it makes me actively consider a transfer to Beauxbatons - if that is indeed possible. Because this cannot be happening right now! Sixth year has been quiet and I’d like to keep it that way, thank you very much. 

I don’t know if the Hufflepuff boy will keep it down for me. Will he tell his friends about it? Will I become the talk of the town even before school resumes? Will he keep it to himself if I cut a deal with him? I don’t mind helping him out with schoolwork or something.

My delirious train of thought is interrupted by three rhythmic knocks on the slightly ajar double door.

It’s him.

He’s standing in the doorway, twiddling a rectangular purple box in his hands, shifting his weight nervously from one foot to the other. Does he expect me to invite him in? What’s the protocol? Smoothing out the wrinkles in my blanket, I sit up slightly and crane my neck to find Madam Pomfrey who seems to be in her Office. Pursing my lips into an awkward smile, I turn to look at him and shrug noncommittally. He takes it as his cue to enter.

“This is for you.” He says in a low mellifluous voice which tastes like honeyed milk and gingerly places the box at the edge of my bed. Caramel Cobwebs. My favourite! He finds a seat at the edge of the other end of my bed.

“Thanks, you didn’t have to...and thank you for everything. I -”

His deep brown eyes suddenly meet mine and I lose all sense of speech.

“It was Hagrid who brought you here”, he says nonchalantly, drumming his fingers on his knees while allowing his large eyes to survey the sterile, sprawling infirmary.

Then why is he here?

“Aren’t you missing lunch?” I ask, unwrapping the box and offering the constellate of bite sized confectionery to him. “I’m not too hungry”, he says, guzzling down a few anyway. A soft smile touches the corners of his mouth. 

Silence echoes in the Hospital Wing, save for our muted nibbling. It’s soothing in its sense of comfort as neither of us is particularly chatty. And that’s just as gratifying as the sweet treats.

“Looks like we have company!” The stern but kind Matron swooshes out of her office, scrutinizing the boy from top to bottom, making him shift uncomfortably in his seat. She’s never been too fond of visitors. I remember the day I tagged along with Chen last year to visit his human banshee of a friend - Baekhyun. 

A doxy had apparently sunk it’s double row sharp front teeth into his arm, injecting him with its venom. His dense idea was to experiment with doxy venom to appear ill just so that he could cut a couple of lessons with his dimwitted oaf - Chanyeol. While the latter went unscathed and even managed to extract an ounce of venom out of the doxy (cute fairies he liked to call them), the human banshee had to be brought into the Hospital Wing to be administered the Antidote to Uncommon Poisons. I only visited the boy who cackles like a goose to get a little look-see of what doxy venom could do to a person. But to my absolute dismay, he looked... peachy, with an annoying boxy grin plastered across his face. The Matron shooed Chen, me and the big oaf out in a matter of minutes. It’s not that I blame her. I would’ve probably done the same in view of the racket that ensued amidst their boisterous conversation.

Madam Pomfrey brings out a small vial of brown liquid and applies a few drops of it on my elbow. I hadn’t noticed the nasty wound my fall had left on it, up until then. A greenish smoke billows upward and it quickly clears out to make the wound look several days old and new skin stretches over what had been a deep cut.

“Dittany!” The Hufflepuff boy and I say in unison.

“Well done! 5 points each to Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw!” Madam Pomfrey jokes as she peers over her spectacles and her gaze flits between him and me. I catch his heart shaped smile again. And for some reason, makes my stomach contract and my heart go into a somersault. Or maybe it’s the effect whatever Madam Pomfrey’s got me under.

The Matron raises her wand and points it at the table adjoining my bed. A large plate of sandwiches, two silver goblets and a jug of a cold beverage appear with a pop.

It's honeyed milk. 

She retracts into her office without pressing on him to leave and for that I am grateful. We share sandwiches in silence as a mildly bitter citrus aroma of Dittany wafts through the space between us. The plate endlessly refills itself but we’re both satiated by the third fill.

“I’m Kyungsoo, by the way. Sixth year.” He says in his dulcet tone and I take a huge gulp of the sweet nectar out of the goblet.

***

Madam Pomfrey sets me free with not one but two warnings. Avoid slippery outdoors if you’d like to enjoy the Christmas feast and Don’t count your owls before they are delivered. I’ll admit the second one is a bit difficult to stomach since I had my eyes trained on the door for the better part of the morning. It comes in fine print at the bottom of the letter of acceptance - steer clear of parent-less weirdos who believe in Divination and Nargles. Of course the sweet and quiet Kyungsoo received the same letter. 

After having sent Hagrid a Christmas greeting via an owl, I head over to the library. Its musty fragrance clears my mind off trivial sentiments. Sixth year is no child’s play and I need to read up on Apparition to avoid having a limb splinched especially after yesterday’s disaster. 

“Umm...HI!”, a chirpy voice startles me and I almost collapse into the Restricted Section. This voice is a little too sprightly for a deserted library and its owner looks like someone who does not belong in school during the holiday season. Her dazzling smile perfectly complements the twinkle in her eyes. She’s one of those girls but she seems nice? My puzzled expression asks her the obvious questions.

“Sorry! Professor Slughorn asked me to give this to you.” She hands me a rich parchment. It’s a letter addressed to me in the most exquisite cursive inviting me to dinner held by Professor H.E.F Slughorn.

Bleaaargh!

The girl is still here, eyes beaming with curiosity, “It’s for the Slug Club, right? What’s it all about? Well... I’ve always wondered.” Her voice trails off in an awkward giggle.

“Be my guest!”

It’ll help to have a slightly known, apparently friendly face in an obnoxious crowd.

***

I’m no stranger to the opulent ways of prestigious wizarding families but this isn’t something one would expect to see in a Professor’s office at Hogwarts. It’s barely even an office! It’s an enormous tent bathed in a dim orange of the sunset with its ceiling and walls draped in emerald hangings. The deep melody of violins drowns the frantic squeaking of house elves who are obscured by the heavy silver platters of the finest hors d'oeuvres.  

A circular dining area is set up right in the middle of the room where most of the invitees have taken their seats. There aren’t too many compared to last year. No Warlocks, no Vampires. Just a handful of students with their guests and a couple of past students - Slughorn’s proteges of course - who’ve managed to carve a name for themselves all thanks to the powerful connections he’d helped them forge through this very same Club. Or so he’d rather believe.

The tap on my shoulder strikes me with the realization that I’m still stood at the entrance. It’s my chirpy guest! The fifth year Gryffindor Prefect. One awkward small talk later, we find our seats at the ostentatious table.

Despite the grandiose, this is a rather intimate gathering. But judging by Professor Slughorn’s enthusiasm, the turnout is certainly not off-putting to him. He drones on about his overachieving handpicked students and I let my mind wander into the distance while Miss Prefect is certainly taken by the charms of this first-class motley. Well, at least someone’s liking it here.

“Kyungsoo, m’boy!” Slughorn jumps mid-feast at the sight of the newest entrant to this coalition, almost causing me to choke on my roast duck, “Welcome, welcome!” 

At a gesture from Slughorn, he sits down in the empty chair next to me and mutters a velvety ‘hullo’ in my direction and I’ve suddenly lost my appetite thanks to the butterflies in my stomach. He’s dressed casually in blue denims and a beige knit sweater yet he’s shining brighter than Sirius among all these boys in their finest ensembles.

“This young man is the only sixth year I’ve ever seen who’s managed to concoct the Draught of Living Death”, he takes a dramatic pause to peer at his guests over his spectacles before meeting my eyes, “flawlessly!”

Almost everyone at the table acknowledges Kyungsoo with a smile or a slight nod, save for a few overtly arrogant Purebloods who merely grunt in response or completely ignore his accomplishment. I, on the other hand, have my eyes trained on the roast duck to keep my erratic heartbeat in check.

Slughorn gears up for another act, “So tell us, Mister Doh, what exactly does your family do in the Muggle world?” His smile is cold, unwelcoming.

“My Mum is a chef, Professor...my parents own a restaurant.” Kyungsoo answers.

Slughorn contemplates on his answer for a while with a ‘hmm’, “A Muggle-born, eh?”, he lifts an eyebrow, “But the fumes from his cauldron almost lulled this old man into a deep slumber”, he chortles, wagging a sausage like finger, only to receive cold silence in response from everyone else except one invitee.

The feline eyed man laughs the loudest at Slughorn’s pathetic joke. One might think it’s probably out of sympathy. But it’s not. He seems to have actually found that funny.

Slughorn introduces him as Minseok Kim and goes on to sing praises about this former student of his. Slytherin. Excellent potioneer. One of the youngest registered animagi. 

His animagus is a cat. 

Minseok interrupts Slughorn’s discourse with an uncomfortable laugh showcasing his wide gummy grin, “You give me too much credit, Professor!”

“You’ve made me proud, my son! So tell us how your career as a Magizoologist is treating you? Well, I hope? Your uncle Soo Man Lee, a notable Warlock and a dear friend of mine, wrote to me saying that you happened to cross paths with an obscurus during one of your recent travels! That must have been...” Professor Slughorn shakes his head in horror and awe as his voice tails away.

“It’s certainly a story for a different occasion, Professor. Although, it happens to be one of my most memorable experiences.” Something about Minseok’s discomfit demeanour tells me he’d rather have a tête-à-tête with the obscurus than with Professor Slughorn. I take an instant liking to this man. 

“Minseok, we happen to have an aspiring Magizoologist in our company”, I loathe the nickname. It’s a garb. It’s a lie. But the conversation seamlessly steers towards me as a dozen pairs of eyes follow Professor Slughorn’s snivelling gaze. Clearing my throat, I say to Minseok, “I’m delighted to meet you - ”

“My dear, if I may ask and I hope you won’t mind”, Professor Slughorn interrupts me, per usual. Kyungsoo lets out a barely audible annoyed grunt and I hold my breath in anticipation of what he’s about to say next. Slughorn has a knack for broaching treacherous territories with utmost eloquence. I didn’t think it was possible for me to despise this gathering any more than I already do. I know where he’s going. I know what he’s going to say next. He’s going to play the Devil’s (Gran’s) Advocate. 

This is not a party. It’s an intervention which serves as an offhanded reminder of my parents’ gruesome deaths.

“You come from a lineage of Aurors par excellence. Your grandparents with whom I had the great fortune of exchanging notes and secrets in these very same classrooms. Your parents…. a tremendous loss to our world…” 

At this point, I’ve lost Professor Slughorn. 

He’s testing me again to see if I have any of my parents’ flair. I do not. Magizoologist is just a veil that conceals my seemingly purposeless life. I’m not sure what I want to be. Or who I want to be. If there’s one thing I know it’s that I don’t want to end up like my parents. Neither am I brave nor am I self sacrificial. Their deaths, I’ve come to terms with. It’s the torture they went through that keeps me up most nights - the unimaginable pain of the Cruciatus Curse before they were engulfed in blinding green light. My throat seizes up and I chew on the insides of my cheeks to feel pain that’s more superficial.

My sweaty palms clutch at the hem of my silk lilac dress. I feel hesitant fingers gently graze the back of my left hand, steadying the tremble. Judging by my lack of protest, Kyungsoo’s grip around my hand courageously strengthens. 

In subliminal comfort. 

I don’t feel cornered anymore.

.

.

.

KYUNGSOO

Oh I shouldn’t have. 

OH BOY I SHOULD NOT HAVE!

I’m not a pervert. In my defense her hand was right there! Trembling. Astray. Seeking shelter.

Asking to be held.

She didn’t say a word to me after that ridiculous party. I couldn’t muster the courage to say anything to her, either. What could I have said? I’m sorry? That would’ve been dishonest. I wasn’t sorry about it at all. Are you alright? I didn’t want her to feel any more uncomfortable than she already did. So I left it at that. Like I always do. 

Because I’m a coward. 

She swooped out with her friend as soon as the snoozefest was over, leaving her food completely untouched. In fact, I didn’t catch her taking a bite out of anything ever since I arrived. Her slender fingers were gracefully wrapped around a silver goblet the entire time.

It’s always been like that with her. She always needs something or the other to physically hold on to. The straps of her bag, books, remembralls, whatever she can find. I notice these little things about her. I always have. But to her I’m only a face in the crowd. The very same crowd she fights shy of. I don’t blame her. It is quite rare for pretty girls to notice me. 

And she’s ethereal.

Year One

My heart was hammering in my chest as I was ridiculously close to missing the Hogwarts Express. Partially because the oddly named Platform was nowhere to be found and I was starting to think of the entire thing as an elaborate prank. And when we did end up finding the way to the Platform by following a snooty wizarding couple who seemed to be seeing their daughter off, I quite frankly lost my mind at the prospect of having to run through a solid wall to get to it.

I said a final word of my goodbye to my teary-eyed mother.

Earlier in the day, her theatrical sobfest went on for hours after she progressed from outright denial and came to terms with the fact that witches and wizards do exist and that her only son is in fact a wizard. He wasn’t going to take over his parents’ restaurant business like she’d always hoped he would. Honestly, at this point he’s not entirely sure what his future beholds but he’s a wizard and is indeed very happy about it.

But I didn’t dare say this to her. 

I pretended to be upset about having to practically move out at the age of eleven. In all honesty, I was mildly upset but far more excited about this school I’d, obviously, never heard of before the Letter arrived - Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. 

But it wasn’t long before all of my bubbling excitement was reduced to a pile of rubbish.

I had lost my little pouch of wizard money which I thought I'd carefully tucked into the back pocket of my jeans only to find out about it seconds prior to having to pay for the strange but oddly tempting treats. I felt myself shrink under the kind old lady’s sympathetic gaze as I put my little confectionery treasure back to where it belonged. On the top of her trolley. Suddenly, the embarrassing rumble of my stomach was drowned by a welcome jingle of coins.

The second year boy in my compartment - who later introduced himself as Baekhyun Byun - paid for the treats instead. I didn’t like him at first since he had a permanent smile plastered across his face, was giggly and extremely chatty. He’d told me all kinds of sorting stories which made me want to take the same train back home. I discovered his annoyingly loud chewing habits while sharing a stack of Cauldron Cakes with him. But I guess a happy stomach makes one truly tolerant.

We tried to offer Pumpkin Pasties to the girl in our compartment who had her face buried in a book right since the moment she boarded. Baekhyun even tried to strike up a conversation with her, multiple times, but to no avail. She’d only respond in nods and slight smiles.

After a point, we gave up. There’s no cure to snobbery.

There was an empty feeling in the pit of my stomach even after having annihilated five Chocolate Frogs, a dozen Liquorice Wands, six Pumpkin Pasties and two Cauldron Cakes. It wasn't even the first day yet and I’d lost ten Galleons in wizarding money which equalled fifty Pounds in muggle money which equalled two meals at our restaurant.

The rain thickened as the train sped further north. Baekhyun pulled on his long black robe, gave me all of his Chocolate Frog cards and scurried ahead with his trunk leaving me alone with the oddball. We were nearly there.

“Here”, she said, thrusting a heavy, knotted pink cloth in my hands before exiting the compartment in a rush.

It was five Galleons neatly wrapped in a cloth that smelled exactly like the “farewell” cake Mum baked me. 

Vanilla.

***

We didn’t have to wrestle a troll or turn a fat rat yellow for the Sorting Ceremony like Baekhyun said we’d have to.

“RAVENCLAW!” the Hat bellowed and the girl from the Hogwarts Express found her place amidst the brains at Hogwarts (as Baekhyun liked to call them) and that didn’t leave me surprised at all.

When the strict witch called out my name I almost stumbled upon a step on my way up to the wooden stool. For no particular reason the word “Ravenclaw” rolled off my tongue and the Hat contemplated, “Intelligent and hard-working, eh? Hmm….where should I place you...I see. I see! HUFFLEPUFF!”

The table next to Ravenclaw cheered me on as a ghost, the Fat Friar, swooshed past me in what was supposed to be a bone chilling embrace. I caught her eyes and she gave me a little wave.

Ravenclaw...at least I knew where to find her. I’ll return her money but not the piece of cloth.

It is a reminder of home.

Year Two

Am I invisible to her?

Every time I’ve so much as smiled at her she’s returned it with an unreadable expression like that lady in the fake painting at our restaurant. If I approach her and she doesn’t recognize me, I’ll be making a complete ass out of myself. Anyway, she probably thinks I’m not good enough to be seen around with but third-year Chen is. People say she belongs to one of the oldest wizarding families and she sure does act like royalty. I guess, five Galleons to her is nothing but a drop in the ocean.

***

While Professor Sprout thinks I’m the next Tilden Toots - a celebrity Herbologist and Potioneer, Professor Snape’s way of expressing his satisfaction with my abilities in Potions was with a scowl and a barely audible “five points to Hufflepuff.”

Most of the students think of Potions as a lot of hard work but to me, it’s really not. I don’t entirely blame them. The classes are held in a dungeon and the Potions Master looms over us with a murderous intent but if you ignore all of that it’s just intricacies of timing and stirring techniques.

The Hair Raising potion was disgusting to concoct especially since one of the key ingredients was rat tails and three counter clockwise stirs left the cauldron with a sickening green residue causing the entire dungeon to smell like a dead rat.

I must admit, Hogwarts is one weird school. What on earth would I need this potion for?

Year Three

Whenever I’ve tried to avoid the joined at the hips duo Baekhyun and Chanyeol, I’ve found myself in their ear splitting company. By now, I’ve resigned to my fate. My fellow Hufflepuff Yoongi isn’t up for much these days. To be honest, he’s always liked to stick to the confines of the Hufflepuff dorm and that’s kind of a downer.

So I spend almost all of my free time in the company of the Perpetually In Detention duo and their Ravenclaw friend Chen. And I realise that I can never be Chen. Chen is perfect in every way. He’s polite, he’s intelligent, and at such a young age he’s got his life planned out. He wants to work for the Ministry of Magic. Which, I believe, is a cakewalk for the likes of him. He’s also kinda good looking. While we’re all struggling with embarrassing bulk sticking out of odd places and less than appealing skin, he could very well replace Gilderoy Lockhart for the next issue of Witch Weekly.

***

When I saw her head toward Gladrags Wizardwear, fingers clutched at a baggie of Caramel Cobwebs, I feigned untied shoelaces as Baekhyun, Chanyeol and Chen made their way into The Three Broomsticks. Suddenly, a jet of purple light shot in her direction and a sound of girls giggling reached my ears. She stood frozen in the middle of the street, face buried in hands and with a flick of my wand I unbound her legs. Misty eyed, she hesitantly looked over her shoulder for a fleeting moment before hurrying into the safer confines of the shop as though nothing had happened.

This was our first ever trip to Hogsmeade and I thought J. Pippin's Potions worth the detour.

Rat tails. Porcupine quills. Billywig stings.

The Hair Raising potion had its benefits, after all. 

A few drops of it in their pumpkin juice and not a single soul suspected the innocent looking, third-year Hufflepuff boy.

Year Four

Hagrid seemed quite proud of his crate full of Blast-Ended Skrewts. They were cuddly creatures, very useful and made for exceptional pets. 

If you looked at them with Hagrid’s beady brown, affectionate eyes.

Everyone in class was visibly disturbed at the sight of them. Yoongi was quite close to disappearing into the Forbidden Forest. But that’s just him - slimy, foul smelling, shell-less lobsters or not. I wouldn’t be surprised if he chose, out of the blue, to live as a hermit in the company of centaurs. Not sure if he’s aware that they’re averse to humans.

Smiling, she took two graceful steps towards the crate as the rest of us took two steps back. Then four, then six as her waist length hair rippled down her shoulders and sunlight bounced off the silver trinkets in her ears. Perhaps motivated by her deep affection for Hagrid and anything non-human, she dipped a piece of frog liver to tempt the freshly hatched Skrewts.

It was pointless. Skrewts don’t have mouths. Mine is carefully locked away in a little pen under my bed. Honestly, I don’t care whether it survives the semester or not. 

Anyway, she ended up earning a roaring applause from Hagrid and ten points for Ravenclaw.

I found myself following her to the hideous crate like my legs had a mind of their own while Yoongi gaped at me in horror. I don’t know what struck me but I’m pretty sure that I don’t love Hagrid enough to get stung by an ugly lobster. 

But she had her eyes lovingly trained on the Skrewts the entire time and my valiant battle against a six inch burning, biting and stinging hybrid went completely unnoticed by her. 

Would I have to transfigure into an ugly Skrewt to get her attention? Or gulp down a vial of Polyjuice Potion to look like Chen? 

I’d still lack his charm.

Year Five

How Chanyeol and Baekhyun managed to advance to the sixth year is anyone’s guess, really. 

Because at this point I wish I had a Time Turner. Twenty four hours in a day are not enough for what the O.W.L.s demand. I’ve got Potions, Arithmancy, Charms, Transfiguration, Herbology, Care of Magical Creatures, History of Magic and Defence Against The Dark Arts. 

And Divination is entirely her fault.

There’s one thing, though, that Trelawney’s “Inner Eye” was right about - Everything is not as bad as it seems, my dear. It’s true. Professor Slughorn isn’t half as bad as Professor Snape. Although he’s a little vain and self-serving, I have a better shot at earning an O in Potions with him than I could have ever had with Snape. Where Snape would dismiss my nearly perfect brews with a grunt, I manage to earn some real points for Hufflepuff with Slughorn.

Professor Sprout, ever so confident in my abilities, had laughed away my Career Advice session by calling me the next Tilden Toots. Her face fell slightly when I told her that I aspired to be Tilden Toots the Potioneer and not Tilden Toots the Herbologist.

But my dreams won’t materialize if I don’t have near perfect scores in Charms and Arithmancy and these are the two subjects that have kept me away from my “happening” social life.

I’d been haunting the Hufflepuff common room with my fingers in my ears, muttering soundlessly and my dear friend Yoongi chose to “take a quick catnap for a refreshed mind” every chance he got. I haven’t seen them in a while - Baekhyun, Chanyeol, Chen and their Quidditch friends Kai and Sehun. With twelve (failed) study schedules strewn on the floor and six weeks left until the exams, I seized my copy of Defensive Magical Theory and stepped out of the dorm for some fresh air and mindless chatter.

Last I’d heard, they’d managed to earn themselves a week’s worth of detention for setting off Filibuster’s Fireworks in Filch’s office. 

What I witnessed in the corridor on my way out made me stop dead in my tracks. Chen had his arm around her shoulders as they walked along the hallway laughing and talking animatedly. This was the happiest I had ever seen her in all these years. At the sight of them, I felt a paralyzing dread seep into my consciousness. 

I hated it.

I hated to see her happy. With him. A part of me saw this coming but I could’ve never prepared myself for it and I immediately regretted leaving the unwitting confines of my Common Room. 

Seething, I went in the other direction, taking a detour for the Quidditch pitch, to find those clowns. 

With them, I could very well drift in and out of conversations. While I lacked patience for most of their rubbish and I usually brought my earmuffs along, today was different. I needed to hear something refreshing to get my mind off the horrible fragmented flashbacks of what I’d witnessed just minutes ago. It’s probably nothing and they’re just friends but the nagging rebuttal to my ‘just friends’ argument is making me restless.

To my absolute horror, Chen breezed into the pitch with an annoying grin on his face, cheeks flushed. I felt the knot in my stomach tighten.

“Guys! I asked her out and she said yes!” He announced to the world in his usual thunderous scream invoking a deafening response from the rest of them. Slamming my copy of Defensive Magical Theory shut, I rushed to the common room, ignoring Kai calling out for me.

Year Six

Study hard and you will be rewarded. Fail to do so and the consequences may be... severe.

And rewarded, I was. With 6 Os, 2 Es (Arithmancy and Defence Against the Dark Arts) and 1 A (Divination). Yoongi had managed to scrape through with a decent O.W.Ls score as well. And “Chen’s girlfriend” had topped the year, per usual. With 8 O’s and 1 E in Defence Against The Dark Arts, having messed up one counter jinx in the practicals.  She’s strangely under confident when it comes to this subject.

My house-elf friend Winky smuggled in a congratulatory vanilla cake - a Muggle recipe I’d helped her recreate.

***

So turns out “Chen’s girlfriend” isn’t Chen’s girlfriend. 

I mean, Chen has a girlfriend but it’s not the girl from the Hogwarts Express. It’s the Ravenclaw Head Girl. Because I spent nearly half a year sulking, slogging away in the library, feeling betrayed for no particular reason, despite my well above average O.W.Ls score I felt like a complete idiot.

The bearer of good news was Chanyeol Park.

Who enraged me and made me want to kiss a Blast-Ended Skrewt on its non-existent mouth at the same time with, “Of course he’s not dating that Ravenclaw oddball. He’s dating the Ravenclaw Head Girl.”

Smacking him on the head with my copy of Advanced Potion Making, I decided to spend the upcoming Christmas at school. 

It’s now or never.

***

She’s SUCH an idiot!

A freezing, injured, drenched, clumsy idiot. 

A Bowtruckle whirred past me into the Forbidden Forest as I rushed to help her off the ground. Tergeo, I muttered to siphon the blood off her elbow and hoisted her up not long before she collapsed into my arms.

She’s a cute idiot whose pain is… my gain.

.

.

.

“Why aren’t you home for the holidays?”

Howling, a chilly breeze engulfs us but the panoramic view of the landscape from the Wooden Bridge is well worth it. As is the mildly attractive Hufflepuff boy who’d asked, very shyly, if he could see me here.

“My parents are always busy with the restaurant during the holidays, anyway. Thought I’d use this time to prepare better in advance for N.E.W.T.s”, says a red-nosed, shivering Kyungsoo.

He’s ambitious as he is kind. “So, are you?”

“Hmm?”

“Preparing for... N.E.W.T.s?”

“No. Something’s kept me busy.” An imperceptible smile tugs at his lips and I find myself unconsciously mirroring him. It’s freezing out here but my cheeks are ablaze.

“What has?” My tone is unwavering but his rich pause has me dreading as well as anticipating the answer.

“The Patronus Charm”, he says, “All I can manage is formless silver vapour.”

Oh.

“I could help if you like.” I turn to face him to find his confused expression uncoil into a toasty smile.

“You can conjure an actual corporeal Patronus?” His excitable voice is not as deep as his regular talking voice but it’s melodic anyway.

Nodding, I say, “Let’s go.” 

Kyungsoo’s eyes aren’t exactly trusting. I’ve brought him to the seventh floor and we’re gawking at a tapestry of trolls ridiculously bent in a plier. If I were him, I wouldn’t trust me either. But Hogwarts is an ancient castle and I’ve spent a good amount of time recceing it’s rooms, hallways, and everything in between. Yet, I discover something new, every time. 

Last year, I discovered this - The Room of Requirement - or as Meady likes to call it - the Come and Go Room.

“Okay, so we’re going to walk past the area of this door, thrice, thinking clearly of what we need.” Pointing at the wall opposite the funny tapestry, I say to Kyungsoo but a look of sheer confusion mixed with worry clouds his face.

“We’re going to think of a large, dingy classroom where we can have our lessons without anyone disturbing us.”

His expression is short of saying, ‘You’re crazy. Goodbye.’ Despite that, he valiantly follows my instruction.

After the third pass we’re in a spacious classroom completely devoid of any furniture, save for two desks.

“Ahhh”, hands on hips, he gapes in surprise surveying the dimly lit room, “but...we could’ve practised anywhere. Why here?”

“For the effect?” My fingers clutch at the edge of the desk as a knot tightens in my stomach and I find myself hoping that he stays.

His ha-ha-ha echoes in the room and his voice is at it’s high pitch again, “Shall we?”

Nodding, I take the centre of the class, “So the incantation is ‘Expecto Patronum’”

“Of that, I am aware.”

“Great now concentrate hard on a happy memory. I know it’s going to be tough without an actual Dementor or even a Boggart to practise on. But let’s give it a try, alright? Professor Flitwick taught me using a Boggart last year. I didn’t leave him alo -- sorry I’m rambling. Okay, happy memory... now...go!”

Kyungsoo squeezes his eyes shut and his face screws up in concentration. With a swish of his wand he stutters, “Ex-expecto Patronus!”

Nothing except peals of laughter echo in the room.

“Lets go again. Together now.” I say patting his shoulder.

Signalling each other with a nod we try again, “Expecto Patronum!”

A lynx rises out the end of my wand, trotting across the room before diffusing into nothingness. While Kyungsoo manages to issue a not so tangible cloud of silver.

A few tries later, he manifests something visibly stronger but he’s not quite there yet. And we’re both exhausted. I fish for a Chocolate Frog in the pockets of my cardigan and hand it to him.

“This charm is ridiculously advanced! How about we try again after Christmas?” Leaning on one of the desks, he offers dejectedly, nibbling at the Frog’s head.

I gladly accept it.

***

Owing to the small number of students that have stayed back this year, the House tables have been put aside and a single table has been set up for the Christmas feast. As if it were the most natural thing to do in the world, Kyungsoo comes and sits next to me. I hope he doesn’t hold my hand like he did during Slughorn’s party or maybe I hope that he does. I hope we do get to hold hands often and discuss what happened at the party. But we’re both great at pretending that nothing unusual did. The Gryffindor Prefect is somewhere on the other end of the table, chatting to a fellow Gryffindor. And the spread, as always, is sumptuous. 

Digging into a delectable roast turkey I ask Kyungsoo, “What’s Christmas like in the Muggle world?”

“Isn’t half as exciting as it is here. For starters, we have no Wizard Crackers. Or silver Sickles hidden within puddings.” He says toying with the cardboard tube moments before it went off like a canon, covering him in a cloud of blue smoke. A flurry of white mice scamper down his legs and scurry out of the Great Hall.

His mouth drops, inviting a roar of laughter from the rest of the table and he chooses to steer clear of the Crackers for the rest of the Feast.

He insists on dropping me off to the Ravenclaw Common Room, “I’ll see you again tomorrow? Six in the evening, the Room of Requirement?”

It’s a date?

***

Today’s class wasn’t nearly as bad as the previous one but God knows Kyungsoo’s in a dire need of practise.

We sit on the floor after two scarcely productive hours with our stash of Chocolate Frogs pooled in the space between us.

“Here’s something I don’t get about Muggleborns. How are your parents okay with sending their children away to an entirely different world? Doesn’t matter what Professor Dumbledore has to say, I refuse to believe Hogwarts is one of the safest places in the world. We have moving staircases, a murderous tree, Quidditch, and Filch!”

His laugh reverberates in the empty classroom, “It’s not much of a trade off, really. The Muggle world has its own set of issues.” He unwraps a Chocolate Frog and offers it to me, “You live with your grandmother, right?”

“My fierce, retired Auror, grandmother. Yes. And you?”

“With my parents. I’m an only child. And you’re right. My mother wasn’t very keen on sending me away but she couldn’t risk their restaurant being reduced to a pile of ash every time I threw a temper tantrum.”

“You don’t look like the temper tantrum sort.”

“Ah you underestimate me.” He chuckles, “so the holidays end soon and I don’t have a Patronus which means our classes will have to continue. You’re okay with that, right?”

“Very much”, I nod but an upsetting finality pulls at me.

“Is there anything...you’d like to do on the last day of the holidays?” He fixes his gaze on my feet.

“Do you have something in mind?”

“Do you want to...well I was thinking if...I need to procure some Wolfsbane from the Forbidden Forest would you like to come with?”

“Are you daft? Do you have any idea what sorts of -”

“Creatures dwell in the Forest? Yeah, I’ve been there, multiple times.”

“And you haven’t been caught? Mauled? Battered?”

He sighs, “Unfortunately, not once.”

Meeting his unflinching gaze I welcome my impending doom, “Okay...maybe I’ll end up finding Twiggles in one of those Wiggentrees but don’t abandon me if Werewolves come for us.”

***

I guess there’s a first time for everything. But it’s my first time flouting a rule and getting caught. My adventurous friend from Hufflepuff seems absolutely unperturbed by the ghastly smile that’s spread across Filch’s face. And anything that makes Filch this happy can’t be good news. Kyungsoo shoves the bunch of Wolfsbane down the pocket of his jeans and I just stand there as an unwitting accomplice to his dumbassery. To my dumbassery. I should’ve never agreed to this. I didn’t even have any luck with Twiggles. But then again Bowtruckles are master camouflagers. What was I expecting?

“Follow me”, the sadistic old man wheezes and my legs feel bound by shackles. Kyungsoo tugs at my arm and teary eyed, I slowly shake my head. He laughs mouthing, ‘It’s nothing.’ Maybe it’s nothing to him considering the company he keeps. What if I get expelled? Where will I go? It’ll be enough reason for Gran to disown me but this bespectacled charming boy doesn’t have a lot to lose now, does he? He can waltz back into his Muggle world and work in his ‘restaurant’. Of course he’s an exceptional cook if he trades recipes with freaking house-elves! I can’t end up having a life worse than squibs. Boys are trouble unless they’re Chen. I literally never should’ve. What of this was a trap all along? I’m SUCH a fool!

I find myself in the part of the vast echoing Entrance Hall I’ve deliberately avoided in all these years. It’s foul smelling, really dull and a cat menacingly meows at us while curling around her Master’s feet. 

Room 234-00. Filch’s office.

Coughing, the caretaker points at the chains and manacles that are hung from the ceiling, “I keep ‘em well oiled in case they’re needed. The Forbidden Forest, eh? Brave enough for Acromantulas and Werewolves, are we?” His face is barely inches away from Kyungsoo’s and I feel a sudden pump of adrenaline, “Sir, please, it was a mistake. We promise to never venture into the Forest again. We promise to never venture out of our own dormitories again. Please, please just let us go!”

Filch is taken aback by my plea and Kyungsoo has pursed his lips, holding in a laugh and I feel stupid.

With the sound of a crack, Filch’s equipment of torture comes crashing to the floor. Mrs Norris’ tail shoots up in fear and a raucous laugh echoes in the room souring Filch’s mood, “PEEVES!”

“Nasty Filch! Leave the luuuuurve birds alone! Leave them alone! Loony woony filthy Filch!” An invisible Peeves’ annoying cackle resounds before ceasing with a deafening crack. 

Filch is boiling in rage. I tilt my head to look at the slightly experienced in disciplinary matters Kyungsoo and judging by his sullen expression, we’ve had it.

.

.

.

Does he think that I somehow jinxed his great expedition to the Forest? Because it’s been two days since the start of semester and there’s no sign of Kyungsoo. Neither in the Great Hall, nor in the classes I share with Hufflepuff. Is he avoiding me now that his friends are back? The lump in my throat aches.

“Oww!” 

Chen greets me with a smack of a book on my head, “I MISSED YOU, GOBLIN!”

I’ll never get used to Chen’s incessant need to announce everything to the world to get his point across but seeing him makes me realise just how much I’d missed him, too. Despite his dig at my height and an underhanded compliment to my brain. He slumps into the chair next to me, activating his ability to speak like a banshee. Not very different from his white haired Gryffindor friend. 

“So tell me. How was Christmas? Did you get the set of Wizard Chess I sent you? We should play sometime. Thanks for the Floo Connection, by the way! It was really thoughtful of you and I love it! My darling loved it a lot, too but I had a tough time explaining it to my folks. So how was Christmas?”

I wait patiently for my closest friend in school to finish babbling before telling him what I think he’d like to hear about my little adventures. Or the information Kyungsoo would rather have me share. The nagging feeling that he’s been avoiding me weighs me down like a rock. 

 “So you broke your leg, told Slughorn off and earned yourself Detention with a Hufflepuff boy who happened to be in the Forest at the same time as you. All of this in a matter of two weeks? Wait, why were you in the Forest again?” Chen is amused but also a little suspicious.

“I told you! I was bored. I went looking for the Bowtruckle!” I argue, needlessly.

“Bored? Didn’t you have to read up on Apparition? Also, you of all the people should know how elusive Bowtruckles are, Miss Magizoologist!” I cringe at the nickname. “And who is this Hufflepuff boy?” I wouldn’t be surprised if Chen were a Legilimens.

Letting out an exasperated sigh I answer, “Some Kwangsoo something?”

“Glasses? Kinda short? Squints a lot? Brooding?”

“So you know him, Mister Tall Guy?” I ask, inviting another smack on my head.

“Yes, through Baekhyun. I mean, haven’t you seen him with us? His name is Kyungsoo, by the way.” Chen’s not particularly suspicious now which bolsters my confidence to spew rubbish.

“No I haven’t. It’s probably because I can hear you guys before I can see you and I prefer not to violate my eyes like I do my ears when I’m around any of you. I hope this answers your question.” I think it was a bit much but Chen breaks into a fit of laughter.

“Then you’ve probably not heard him, either. He isn’t a lot like us.” He contemplates, “but don’t you look around in class? You haven’t ever noticed him before? He’s in the same year as you! You’re ridiculous!”

Of course I’ve noticed him. 

Every time he’s tried to talk to me, return my money, earned points for his house or even a sneer from Snape. Every time Madam Pomfrey has cooed at him. Even when he braved feeding a Skrewt. I’ve seen him in the hallways, in classes, in the Great Hall. 

But to know someone is to invite heartache and I’ve had my fair share of it.

“You mean he isn’t noisy like the rest of you. And no I haven’t. It’s probably because he’s not as attractive as a Merperson or as lithe as a Basilisk.” I lie. He’s not anything like the magical creatures I’ve studied about. He is a human. And humans are too tricky for my liking. Two weeks with him, two days without him and I seem to have lost my marbles. 

Guess, I am pathetic if not ridiculous.

“Come to think of it, I haven’t seen him around either”, Jongdae ponders.

***

“You’ve been avoiding me.”

Maybe it was too direct but I need to get this weight off my chest. I can’t spend every Saturday until the end of term with him in close quarters, clearing out Filch’s old files (the Muggle way) with animosity looming between us. Peeves is enough trouble with his water bombs already. And Kyungsoo’s silent treatment is simply too much. 

He brings me Caramel Cobwebs, holds my hand and refuses to talk about it, insists on being tutored, spends Christmas with me, lands me in Detention and starts avoiding me as soon as his friends are back.

“I caused you trouble and you seemed so disturbed by it. I’m sorry. I’ve not been avoiding you...I just thought maybe you wouldn’t like to see me again.” Mumbles Kyungsoo, dropping Filch’s File Number 27 on the floor, leaving a mess of loose, dusty papers.

‘Butterfingers’ here isn’t right at all. I’ve been dying to see him.

I help him clear the mess by re-filing the records of the 27th file in alphabetical order. 

“I’m not mad at you. I was a tad bit worried, that’s all. This is my first time being...punished and none of this is your fault. I’m sorry if I made you feel like that.”

His little smile and an understanding nod makes my heart flutter. Snapping out of it, I read out an amusing record from a random file, “at least we’re not pickling rat brains in the dungeons.” 

His eyes grow wide in horror, “What?”

“Sehun Oh and Kai Kim for bewitching snowballs to hit Professor Snape!” I summarise.

Kyungsoo guffaws, “Yes! This was last year. Baekhyun had dared them to it and those idiots thought Snape wouldn’t notice. They ended up reeking of dead rats for two weeks after that. Nobody would go near them! Not even Baekhyun.”

I put the file back with an ‘ahh’, “So Kai Kim, Sehun Oh, Baekhyun Byun are your friends right? And Chen, too?”

“Yeah, Chen and Chanyeol Park. Why?”

Of course, the Great Oaf.

“Nothing, you’re quite different from them.”

“How so?” Resting his chin in his hand, Kyungsoo inquires and avoiding his eyes I reply, “Well, you’re not very noisy or mischievous?”

He chuckles, “I’m not noisy that’s true. But I literally took you to the Forbidden Forest and it’s the reason why we’re here today sifting through these records. Will you still say that I’m not mischievous, Miss Ravenclaw?”

“I take back my words, Mister Hufflepuff”, I need to get away from this sweet talker, “Now let’s look for more, shall we? Filch certainly has your friends’ adventures chronicled in these files.”

“We’ll probably find something on Chen, too.” He says quietly.

“No wayyy! Chen’s perfect.” I protest.

He throws a file onto the desk, creating a cloud of dust, “What if we do end up finding something about him here, in these records? Then what?”

“Then I’ll….do whatever you ask!” 

Why! Why?

“It’s a deal!”

***

Kyungsoo and I have been seeing each other fortnightly for the sake of Dementors. Let’s just say if he were required to actually fight one off today, he’d end up having his soul sucked out. Does the boy have no solid happy memory or what? Or maybe I’m just a terrible guide.

In class, we’re cordial. But somewhat distracted.

We spend all of our Saturdays together. Turns out he’s a couple of weeks older than me which means we both qualify for  Apparition Lessons. The lessons are scheduled for Saturday mornings and we spend the rest of the day in Detention.

The first lesson was...quite unforgettable. 

For Kyungsoo, me and whoever was witness to our idiocy. Professor Flitwick positioned Ravenclaws into a line as did Professor Sprout with Hufflepuff which had Kyungsoo and me standing next to each other with the requisite distance of five feet between us. The Instructor from the Ministry waved his wand and old-fashioned wooden hoops appeared on the floor in front of us.

“Destination. Determination. Deliberation!” The man who was a white wispy version of humans, squeaked.

“Concentrate upon the destination now. Which is within the hoop. Then focus on your determination to occupy the visualized space. And when I give a command, on three, turn on your spot, feeling your way into nothingness, moving with deliberation!”

Kyungsoo gave me one furtive glance and I lost all sense of Destination and Determination.

“On my command….one….”

I spun on the spot, lost my balance and fell over and Kyungsoo crash landed into my wooden hoop. With our Professors’ eyes on us, I felt myself melt into a puddle of embarrassment.

The inexplicable tension crowding the office during Detention that day left hardly any room for conversation. Which was kind of okay considering the ground we covered with Filch’s wretched files.

Although, the next lesson found us positioned at the two opposite ends of our respective House lines by Professor Flitwick. 

Despite being in the same room, I missed Kyungsoo.

Transfiguration hasn’t been particularly eventful with Kyungsoo. With Professor McGonagall’s hawk-like eyes on us, we don’t dare to so much as shoot a glance in each other’s direction. 

But last week was different.

In a lesson that included conjuring a flock of birds out of our wands, the entire class managed a few feathers, some gross mutations, and severed heads. Everyone except Kyungsoo. He’d succeeded in creating several twittering birds in his third try. Which was not so great for me since the little yellow chirpers zoomed in my direction and circled around my head, singing merrily. This continued even after most of the class, including Professor McGonagall, had already left. His idea of an apology for the inconvenience was flashing his heart-shaped smile. 

I guess it doesn’t take a lot for me to forgive him.

***

It’s nearing the end of the third month of the semester and there’s no dirt on Chen. 

Like I’d said, he’s perfect. We’ve found volumes on the other two, though. Chanyeol and Baekhyun. How they’ve not been expelled yet is anyone’s guess. These delinquents make my little Forest excursion look like a joke.

They’ve set off dungbombs in Snape’s dungeon, cursed each other and ended up having a slug attack right in the middle of their Astronomy practicals, got caught sneaking out of their dorms after curfew only eleven times, transfigured McGonagall’s desk into a ferret to ‘showcase their Transfiguration prowess’, set off Filibuster’s Fireworks in Filch’s office, distracted Filch by jinxing Mrs Norris with Tarantallegra - her legs spasmed wildly out of control, making her appear as though she were dancing. 

No wonder they’re the only students Peeves gets on with.

This little vault of information made Kyungsoo exceptionally happy after moping around for not having anything on Chen, yet. He’s going to use these embarrassing incidents (one of the punishments included cleaning out the bedpans in the Hospital Wing without using magic) against the two of them, he says. 

Detention and shared classes is the only time Kyungsoo and I get to see each other since sixth year is no cakewalk. 

Free periods come by few and far between and are used to keep up with the vast amount of homework we’re being set. We’re studying as though we have exams everyday and lessons themselves are far more demanding than they used to be. Especially since we’re required to use Nonverbal spells now in every lesson that requires incantation. I often catch Kyungsoo’s motley around school. Somehow, they’re everywhere but he’s hardly ever to be seen with them. Working hard towards his ambition to become a Potioneer, I suppose. I wish I were just as passionate about something.

.

.

.

Sixth year is an anomaly. 

Professor Sprout says we’re allowed to swear loudly in today’s lesson since we’re going to be dealing with one of the most dangerous plants ever - Venomous Tentacula - a green, spiky, toothsome magical plant with mobile vines that tries to grab living prey. Kyungsoo quietly stations himself next to me in the greenhouse inviting snarky sideway looks and hushed whispers from a couple of Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws around us. “She’s latched on to him now”, sniggers a Ravenclaw boy and I notice Kyungsoo ears turn scarlet. 

A pair of thick gloves on, Professor Sprout takes her place behind a trestle bench in the centre of the greenhouse, “We’ll be extracting Venomous Tentacula’s essence for Professor Slughorn’s experimental Potion No 7 today. Now, who can tell me how we should proceed to extract essence out of a plant that could try to strangle you?”

Kyungsoo’s hand rose in the air like it always does during Potions and Herbology, “By using the Severing Charm, Professor.”

“Excellent. Ten points to Hufflepuff”, Professor Sprout beams at her favourite student, “We’ll use the Severing Charm but Nonverbally. Which will stun Venomous Tentacula and sever its mobile vines. Along with me, on three. One...two...”

I nearly squeal as one of the Tentacula’s sharp fangs grazes my arm. Kyungsoo notices and in a state of panic tries to stun my plant for me only to get seized and bitten by his own. “Diffindo”, I flick my wand at Kyungsoo’s plant, flailing it and flouting the nonverbal spell rule but it’s too late for any of that. The plant’s poison, although non-fatal, has started working on Kyungsoo. 

His skin turns bright purple, knocking the wind out of me.

Professor Sprout rushes him to the Hospital Wing.

***

On Professor Sprout’s special request, Filch has begrudgingly exempted Kyungsoo from this week’s Detention. I saw him for Apparition this morning and we’d both managed to, with Destination, Determination and Deliberation in mind of course, land into our own hoops. 

Kyungsoo looked perfectly fine. Which is to say the purple of his skin from yesterday has been washed over by the roses of his cheeks and the honey of his skin. Madam Pomfrey was required to keep him in only for the day as Professor Sprout was quick to act and the poison hadn’t caused much harm. I feel like a bad friend for not having visited him since lessons ended in the a.m. with Astronomy but he says he was out in a couple of hours at most. 

He’s planned to spend the rest of the day with his friends who he’d not had a chance to catch up with off lately.

By late afternoon I’d unexpectedly fallen into a state of blissful slumber on one of Filch’s old files. Coughing, I woke up engulfed by dust. I had to admit, Detention was boring without Kyungsoo and it’s honestly starting to scare me how used to I gotten to his presence, the faint scent of eucalyptus that trails after him and the ambrosial warmth that infiltrates through his seemingly tougher exterior.

But at the same time I regret misreading him. Mistrusting him or sometimes trusting him too much. He’s nothing like I thought he’d be. His simplicity is comforting but at the same time it is truly baffling. Maybe it’s okay to not give it much thought and let Jupiter do its celestial dance while I do mine by recreating damaged detention records.

#1116

>> Chen Kim

>> Lack of concentration in Charms resulting in production of a hoselike jet of water instead of a fountain from his wand, knocking Professor Flitwick flat on his face in the process

>> Lines - ‘I am a wizard, not a baboon brandishing a stick.’

>> Issued by Professor Flitwick

>> Points taken: None

I do a double take when I read the name. 

Chen! Chen? Chen in Detention? How did I never know about this? Even if it’s just lines it is still a punishment. And how did The (then) Ravenclaw Prefect Chen mess up a Charm in Professor Flitwick’s class? I must know. But Kyungsoo’s got to see this first! I quickly replicate the record on a spare parchment and shove it in my bag and with a flick of my wand, I place everything exactly where it belongs in Filch’s office. What’s he going to do about it when he finds out? Give me another detention? Bring it on!

Throwing caution to the wind I allow my feet to take me where Kyungsoo said he’d be. Swiftly descending down the staircase, I exit out the side door down the corridor off the Entrance Hall and run towards the courtyard feeling the harsh winds tugging against my skin.

It’s unusually cold for the first day of April.

Seated between Chanyeol and Baekhyun, he’s laughing away seemingly at the two lanky boys - Kai and Sehun who’ve got their wands at the ready. The courtyard is oddly vacant, save for these four rioters and Kyungsoo. 

Even Chen’s not here. 

All banter comes to an abrupt halt when Kyungsoo’s eyes meet mine, his expression solid as a rock. With a barely perceptible shake of his head he’s signalling me to walk away from here and maybe this is what it feels like being punched in the gut. Four curious pairs of eyes flit between Kyungsoo and me and I feel too numb to even get out of there. Did I make a mistake being here? Is he too embarrassed to acknowledge me in front of his friends? The frigidity of his expression is eating away at my insides. Moments of complete stillness later I sprint out of the courtyard amidst wolf whistles and peals of laughter.

Throwing my bag over my shoulder, I wipe the angry tears rolling down my cheeks and vow to never see this doe eyed pretender again.

KYUNGSOO

It’s been two weeks since the incident. 

Two whole weeks of her arriving after and leaving before me for our shared lessons. She’s even charted up a Detention routine which limits our interactions to curt nods and dismissive grunts. Needless to say, I still don’t know how to conjure a corporeal Patronus. She thinks she’s the only one I could’ve asked? Not Baekhyun. Not Chanyeol’s Slytherin friend. Just her?

So much for her big Ravenclaw brains. 

She walks around all high and mighty displaying her knack for embarrassing honesty but in the moments of truth she plays ostrich. I wasn’t trying to avoid her. I would never. But she’s a complete idiot who’d rather believe otherwise. An idiot who’ll never look into my eyes to feel what I feel. Even if she does, she’d just never accept it. It took me five and a half years to get her to talk to me. And if it takes just one misunderstanding to drive her away like that, I’m not sure if I want to try again.

.

.

.

The only two things I’ve gained out of my short lived acquaintance with Kyungsoo Doh are Detention and a new foul nickname “the girl who follows Kyungsoo around.”

I hear it everywhere I go. The Great Hall, the corridors and the Common Room isn’t very forgiving either. So all thanks to Kyungsoo, I’ve retracted into my wretched shell. I arrive late for lessons and swoop out like an owl as soon as it’s over. I spend every free period in one corner of the Library and try to avoid the Common Room as much as I can.

All these years I spent pretending like the cute, short, portly boy I met on the Hogwarts Express didn’t exist were far better than the last couple of months of letting him into my small Universe. In all honesty, I’ve started to loathe him. It takes immense self control for me to not have his pretty face eat slugs every time I cross paths every time I lay my eyes on it.

“Now, this one here….who can tell me what this is. My dear boy, Kyungsoo?” Holding a vial of liquid pearl in the air for us to see, play-acts Professor Slughorn. Another potential victim of my out-of-character slug attack.

“It’s Amortentia”, Kyungsoo’s voice reaches my ears from the far end of the dungeon. 

“It is indeed. It almost seems foolish to ask”, he says, bringing the vial to my eye level, “but I assume you could tell me what it does?”

“It’s a love potion, Professor.” I say.

“It’s not just a love potion, sir. It’s the most powerful love potion in the world.” Kyungsoo offers and I feel the heat rising up my cheeks. I hate having this volley regarding a love potion with Kyungsoo.

“Excellent! And how did you recognize it, my dear?” Slughorn directs his question to me.

“By its distinctive mother-of-pearl sheen.”

“And?” His theatrics redirect to Kyungsoo.

“And the steam rising in characteristic spirals.” His dulcet tone echoes in the gloomy dungeon.

“Well, well, take ten well-earned points each for Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw”, says Slughorn genially, “would you two please be kind enough to come forward?”

Kyungsoo and I take, in what it seems like, ages to be stood on either side of Slughorn, arms over our chests, looking in opposite directions.

“There is one more key characteristic --”

“It’s supposed to smell differently to each of us, according to what attracts us”, Interrupting Slughorn, Kyungsoo and I garble.

“So to demonstrate”, Slughorn brings the vial closer to my face, “my dear?”

Consumed by the heady steam rising out of the potion, I clear my throat, “I can smell honey and...eucalyptus and….” Dittany. But I leave it at that, “That’s all Professor.”

“Very well, Mister Doh?” Slughorn quizzes.

“Sleekeazy’s Hair Potion…..Vanilla and …..Dittany.”

***

‘Evanesco!’ 

With that my last bottle of Sleekeazy vanishes in thin air.

“What are you doing up so late?” Chen’s groggy voice makes me jump but I counter, “What are you doing up so late?”

“Early. Up so early. It’s three in the morning”, yawning he waves his Charms textbook in front of my face, “Protean Charm.”

“Vanishing Spell”, I say pointing my wand at the empty table in front of us.

Chen relaxes into the chair next to mine and I let my gaze wander around the deserted Common Room. It really is a work of art encapsulated in all the blue and bronze. The stars painted over the domed ceiling, shine the brightest at this hour of the night, waltzing gracefully across the midnight blue carpet. If they were my stars, they’d wobble and fall owing to their two left feet. Could they, in the very least, give me a reason for this nagging ache in my chest?

‘Aguamenti!’

Drenched and dishevelled by a jet of cold water that shot out of Chen’s wand, I silence his raucous laugh and shower him with the choicest expletives before lifting the spell and drying myself.

“WHAT WAS THAT FOR!” I demand.

“You seemed so lost I was tempted. It’s what my dad uses to wake me up when I oversleep, you know? A nice cold bucket of water.” Chen’s snicker causes me to silence him again and he continues to blather soundlessly. How is this idiot so energetic at three in the morning!

“I’m going to bed”, wearily, I get up to leave and wave my wand at him.

“Wait! Stay”, says Chen, “It’s been quite a while!”

Groaning I slump back into the chair without further protest, “You’re right...so how’s our Head Girl doing?”

“She’s doing great. We’re doing great! She’s signed up to intern with the Ministry this summer under a certain Arthur Weasley...The Misuse of Muggle Artifacts office.” Chen beams and making me want to pinch his cheeks in adoration.

“Congratulations Chen! Ah but I’m not surprised. She’s always been as bright as a button.” I can’t help but coo at these lovebirds. At how absolutely smitten they are with each other while I suffer with an inexplicable tug of longing.

“And you, not so bright. Stopped following Kyungsoo around, have we?” Putting on his ‘big brother cloak’ he quizzes me with a raised eyebrow and I shrink back into my chair out of embarrassment, “You know about it?”

“The whole school’s talking about it!”

“I’ve stopped ‘following him around’ now why isn’t anybody talking about that, eh?” My anger is misdirected at Chen.

“He’s been talking about that. About how you’ve been acting like he’s invisible. A notch below satisfactory behaviour, am I right?” The low rumble of his voice thunders.

“You’re defending your stupid friend here! So much for being unbiased, hah!” Seething, I argue.

“You’re absolutely right Dung Brains I am defending my stupid friend here which is you. Now tell me, airhead, what’s it called when two wizards have their wands pointed at each other, in a combative position.”

I groan, he can’t really be asking me that but the urging silence is uncomfortable.

“A duel”, I mumble.

“You, my dear, were walking straight into a battlefield of hair-brained blokes who were surrounded by stink pellets, dungbombs and fireworks. It was only natural for Kyungsoo to ask you to skedaddle, make a run for it...save your life! If only you’d have let him explain?”

Guilt courses through my veins and I find myself in the defensive, “But then why didn’t he just tell me instead of giving me that terrifying look? I thought he’s ...I thought he didn’t want to see me...and..and why didn’t he do anything when those great prunes started laughing at me? Also why do they keep causing trouble everywhere they go? Do they want to fill up Filch’s office with their records before they graduate? It only means more work for me. And for Kyungsoo.”

“They were celebrating a Muggle custom, April Fools’ Day as per the wise counsel of their frog brained leader Baekhyun and Kyungsoo was only trying to protect you. And you were too obtuse to see that. Why won’t you give him a chance? He’s one of the good ones, you know? And those prunes aren’t too bad either. They were laughing not at you but at him...they’re just happy for their friend.”

“Happy? Why?” My heart goes into a wild frenzy.

“You should ask him that. We’re going to be at the Three Broomsticks for Baekhyun’s birthday celebration on our trip to Hogsmeade this Saturday. So naturally, your Detention is suspended for the week. Come along?” He eyes me expectantly.

“Not in a million years”, I deadpan.

“Don’t be stupid”, with a flick of his wand he makes the three bottles of Sleekeazy’s Hair Potion reappear, “and live a little.”

***

On Saturday morning I went down for breakfast feeling thoroughly depressed but trying my best to act normal. Kyungsoo was seated with Yoongi at the Hufflepuff table. He was stealing glances at the Ravenclaw table before his eyes met mine. Pursing his lips he nodded slightly in acknowledgment. For a fleeting second I had a strange desire of joining him at the Hufflepuff table but I quietly slipped into my seat besides the fifth year girl who’s been tutoring Kyungsoo’s friend Kai and has been a tad chipper ever since.

The largest portion of my headspace has been occupied with an internal debate on whether I should apologize to Kyungsoo or not. But I’ve noticed how he’d not been trying too hard either. If I handed him the Detention routine he went along with it without a single word of protest. If I’ve been ignoring him in class he hasn’t been exactly forthcoming. The familiar sense of finality sets deep into my bones and I’ve lost my appetite. I gulp down my tea and slip out of the Great Hall to pay Hagrid a long overdue visit.

.

.

.

They never tire of it. 

The two boys from Slytherin provoked me to strike them with the Twitchy-Ear hex. They’d found it particularly amusing to call me by my stale nickname as I made my way down to Gladrags Wizardwear to buy Hagrid a new moleskin robe. 

He’d been exceptionally understanding despite my despicable behaviour. Not having visited him in nearly six months and communicated with him only via a flurry of owls, I had no idea Fangs had been suffering with distemper. Kyungsoo’s been helping out with a self prepared brew to keep him stable. Explains why he’s been frequenting Hagrid’s hut. Also explains why he didn’t come see me on the second day that I’d spent in the Hospital Wing.

And my attitude towards him explains exactly why he chose to keep the truth about helping me get to the Hospital Wing that day. 

I don’t know how to thank him or apologize to him. Maybe he’s just better off without me. 

I am here in Hogsmeade on a whim. 

As the sun fades into a deeper blue my feet stop outside The Three Broomsticks and I’m desperate to see him. But he’s at a friend’s party and I’d only be making it awkward for everyone.

“Hullo”, a familiar honeyed voice reaches my ears making me stop dead in my tracks.

Taken by surprise, I turn and tip my head back slightly to look up at the large eyed boy, his face bearing that lethal heart shaped smile. I hug myself despite the warmth of May wishing I could make myself smaller.

Having rehearsed an entire apology speech in the shower in the morning, I found myself strangely tongue tied at the sight of him. He prods me to walk the quaint streets of Hogsmeade by his side.

“I’m sorry”, staring into the distance, I muster with a giddy head and a seized up throat.

“No. I’m sorry”, says Kyungsoo as his hand slowly finds mine, inviting stares from passersby, “I should’ve...communicated better. But promise to never shut me out again? I couldn’t take it.”

Fireworks go off in my head at the sudden contact, “No, no I’m sorry I should’ve trusted you and… I promise to never shut you out again.” I couldn’t take it either.

“So what are we now?” He interjects, lacing his warm fingers with mine.

If only he could hear the thunder of my heart, “We’re friends again?”

“Friends who fancy each other? Isn’t that a bit odd?”

“I-- umm, I--”.

“I --- umm?” He teases, “Okay...I fancy you. I always have. In case you hadn’t noticed.”

Going up on my toes I plant a little kiss on his jaw, I don’t know what came over me. Maybe I’ve finally gone mad.

His fingers run over his jaw lightly and he chuckles, “If you attack me like this again I’d have to report you to Professor Sprout.” Letting go off my hand he wraps his arm around my shoulders, pulling me closer. I feel a tingling sensation run down my spine.

Having circled the rural settlement for nearly an hour, we’re famished. We find ourselves on the High Street, right outside of Honeydukes, “After you, M’lady!” Crouching down in a bow, Kyungsoo gestures me to walk in.

M’lady?

Together we stare in wonder at the shelves upon shelves of the most succulent looking sweets imaginable. We’ve both, individually, been here countless times but together we feel like children lost in wonderland. I realize how light my pockets feel as Kyungsoo’s eyes wander around the shop ambitiously.

“Kyungsoo, I only have enough for Hagrid’s moleskin robe. I didn’t think I’d need a lot of gold for this trip...I could make a quick run to a Cashpoint first”, embarrassed, I admit.

“If we were to compound the five Galleons that I’ve owed you for six years now, I’m certain I could buy you half the shop!” The portly Ambrosius Flume, the owner of Honeydukes, clears his throat in annoyance at Kyungsoo’s comment, eyeing us suspiciously. 

Buy half the shop we did. 

Kyungsoo wasn’t entirely lucky with all the flavours of Berti Botts having sampled soap, dirt and earwax while I almost choked on a rotten-egg flavoured one. The Pepper Imps had us breathing fire at each other and a lock of my hair got caught in the line which Kyungsoo doused just in time and saved my scalp from going up in flames. We pigged on Peppermint Toads which made us sick after they literally started hopping frantically in our stomachs. 

Kyungsoo suggested we make a quick stop at Dogweed and Deathcap for a handful of leaves of a very foul smelling plant that were supposed to help us keep our barbaric fare down. When I absolutely refused to chew on them, Kyungsoo force fed me. The weird red dotted black leaves made our mouths go completely dry and left us with a pungent after taste.

“If you wanted me dead, you could’ve just used the Unforgivable Curse instead!” I cried.

We realized if we weren’t quick about it, we’d just end up breaking curfew so we sprinted to Gladrags Wizardwear to pick up Hagrid’s robe only to be tempted to by the thought of staying longer in each other’s company. Going back to Hogwarts meant being held hostage by the blue and bronze and the yellow and black. I’ve never appreciated Hogwarts’ divisive House system, even more so now.

“We’ll make it in time if we leave exactly at 9:30 p.m.” Kyungsoo reasons.

“How much longer do we have now?” I ask, dreading the answer.

“20ish?” he says sheepishly.

Burying my face into his warm and fuzzy sweater, I whine, “That’s not a lot.”

Squeezing me in a hug he says, “Then let’s make the most of it!”

We enter the shop that’s apparently been dressing ‘the Elegant Wizard’ for over two centuries with lurid socks and flashy robes. I chance upon a moleskin one which I quickly set aside for Hagrid and a furry red one with silver and gold stars that bounced off of it. I egged Kyungsoo to try it on over his all black Muggle clothing along with a bright yellow hat made out of chicken and pheasant feathers. He on the other hand picked out a black velvet robe with a high collar, a set of fake fangs and dragon hide boots that made me look like a vicar at something that the Muggles call a “rock concert.”

The disapproving help at the shop agreed to get our magazine cover worthy looks on camera. She said she’d get them printed and that we could get a copy on our next visit for fifteen Sickles.

Along with Hagrid’s robe, I purchased a pair of socks for the birthday boy Baekhyun. They were patterned with wolves that howled when the socks got too smelly.

And then, just like that, it was time for us to go back to Hogwarts.

***

Which came first; the Phoenix or the Flame?

The eagle knocker drawls and for the first time in six years I have no clue what it’s talking about. I’ve lost all ability to reason and all I want to right now is run over to the Hufflepuff Tower. A tall, thin boy who stood leaned against the wall next to the door comes out of the shadows ‘tsk-ing’ at me.

“Aren’t you supposed to be one of the smart ones? Did Kyungsoo really manage to dumb you down?” He chuckles before proceeding to answer the knocker, leading us into the Common Room. 

I choose to not answer him but he continues to look at me questioningly. He extends his arm and says, “I’m Sehun Oh, fifth-year.”

“I know”, I say, “I’m --”

“I know who you are. The pretty girl who’s captured Kyungsoo’s heart thus breaking mine.” He dramatically clutches at his chest, falls and rolls over on the floor. 

Excusing myself, I softly apologize to the elongated Flobberworm and head over to the Dormitory.

“Wait!”, he calls out, “I didn’t mean to weird you out! Are you up for a game of Chess? You’re practically a friend now… considering what you have going on with Kyungsoo. And I’m really bored.”

What do I have going on with Kyungsoo and what does Flobberworm know about it?

Unsure of my role here as a friend or an entertainer, I decide to indulge him with, “...just one game!”

“Wicked! Let me call Chen and you can ask his girl to join.. also Miss Ravenclaw!”

“Aren’t we all Ravenclaw?”

“Sorry...you know the girl who’s tutoring Kai?”

This is by far the most eventful day I’ve had in all of my six years at Hogwarts.

***

Resting his chin on my shoulder, he’s circled his arms around my waist as we stare into the distance from the Wooden Bridge. Every free period finds us together, somewhere very far away from prying eyes. The seventh floor and the Bridge are our usual haunts. Although, we think of these excursions as extremely detrimental to our upcoming exams, we realize there’s nothing to be gained out of fighting a troll. That is, our intense feelings for each other. But I’m not that brave and honestly neither is he. The shadows underneath his eyes are self explanatory.

“We need to chart up a study schedule. We barely have any time left!” I say bursting out of our saccharine bubble.

“Sure”, he nods, “whatever you say.”

“Kyungsoo!” Freeing myself from his embrace I turn around to face him, “We need to make it to the seventh year!”

“Who says we won’t?”

He’s loopy.

“Kyungsoo!”

“That’s me.”

“Kyungsoo!” 

He pulls me into a hug again and I’m close enough to see the constellation of moles on his neck. “Mmm Sleekeazy”, he hums, sniffing my hair. Distracting me.

“Do you need some?” I ask, immediately realising how his hair seems to be getting shorter each day. I run a hand over his head, “guess you don’t. What do you keep doing with your hair?”

“I like it like that. It’s more comfortable”, he sighs, “Wait! You don’t like it?”

“I can learn to live with it. Besides, more Sleekeazy for me. Keeps my hair from looking like a bunch of Flobberworms!”

Flobberworm! 

I have a Chess game to win!

“Kyungsoo! I have to go. I need to win this time. That Sehun boy is ridiculously good at Chess. Even Chen and I together don’t stand a chance against him.”

“Wait! You’re abandoning me for Sehun?” He asks, mock angrily.

“Noooo! I just….have to win this time. And you need to go chart up a study schedule for us. Also, what are you doing next week?”

“Whatever you’re doing next week”, he says, batting his eyelashes. And I try to suppress a smile.

“Have you ever watched a Quidditch match before?”

“Baekhyun’s Captain of Gryffindor, Kai is the Keeper. Chanyeol is the captain of the Slytherin team and Sehun’s the Seeker for Ravenclaw. And Yoongi is a lousy Beater. So yes, I have. Except I’ve never found myself rooting for my own House. And if you tell those Mandrakes this, I’m afraid I will have to break up with you despite you being the prettiest, smartest, nicest girl I’ve ever met. I’m sorry I don’t make the rules.” 

“Aww”, I tease, “Noted. And you could’ve just said yes. Let’s watch the Hufflepuff vs Ravenclaw match next week?”

“We’ll be in different stands!” He cries.

“Oh! That’s absolutely terrible but can we go anyway? I finally have someone to root for.”

“You’ve always had Ravenclaw to root for!”

“No, silly! Sehun Oh.”

“Ah! Of course”, he says, putting his arms around me. Again.

***

On the morning of the match, I had my game face on. I don’t even know why.

Having successfully followed the study schedule that Kyungsoo had laid out for us, our mood was light, and we were ready to let our hair down. Which, for all practical purposes, wasn’t something Kyungsoo was capable of. We were walking up to the pitch until it was time for us to go our separate ways.

“You turn right and I’ll go left”, I instruct Kyungsoo.

“I’m aware of where the Hufflepuff stands are. Thank you for your consideration.”

“Okay then”, I giggle, “see you later?”

“No...you’re joining me in the Hufflepuff stands.”

“Do you want me to get expelled? Was that your grand scheme all along?”

“Of course they’re going to expel you for this. And if they do, I promise to voluntarily drop out.”

“What will we do then? Deal in stolen artefacts?”

“Looks like you have it all planned out.”

“No, I just know someone...great we’re off on a tangent again! No, I’m not joining you in the Hufflepuff stands. Bye bye Kyungsoo Doh. See you later!”

“You’re bound by law to break the law”, he hands me a neatly folded parchment, “Chen’s detention record. When you came to see me that day, it made me wonder. What was so important? So I went back to sift through the records you’d worked on and voila!”

“What’s ‘voila’?”

“Don’t digress. Come along, house-elf and find me a good seat.”

“Yessir”, I give up. And covering all the blue and bronze of my uniform with the black robe, I sneak into the Hufflepuff stands. 

The things I do for this bald idiot.

The pitch is pulsing with a contagious energy and I find myself completely engaged as soon as Madam Hooch’s first whistle sounds. All the whizzing and whirring players make my head spin so I have my eyes trained on the Ravenclaw goalpost except for when I’m checking up on Sehun’s progress with the Snitch. Ravenclaw hasn’t been doing too well and with the game down to it’s final few minutes, Sehun really is their only hope. Kyungsoo pulls me down everytime I jump or squeal for the Ravenclaw side, “Do you want to get thrashed?” he whispers.

And just then the commentator shouts, “Ravenclaw’s Seeker Sehun has caught the Snitch! RAVENCLAW HAS WON THE MATCH!”

My voice is hoarse from all the screaming. I turn around to face Kyungsoo pulling him in a tight hug annoying all the Hufflepuff fans around us. 

In a fleeting moment of exhilaration, his lips are on mine and the world stops.

***

"Happy memory!" I parrot for our last lesson before the year ends but Kyungsoo seems to be awfully distracted. That teasing smile on his face he's trying not so hard to contain is making my heart thump against my ribcage.

"Focus", I croon once again with mock annoyance but my brain is mush and I feel like I'm levitating because there's no way my jelly legs could be supporting my stance right now. He sways closer to give me a quick peck on the nose. 

"Happy memory", he whispers as his eyes search mine. Brushing a stray lock of hair away from my face, he allows his thumb to softly caress my cheek. His fingers pry for mine before they're intertwined in a steady grip. 

We take our positions, raise our wands and yell with a flick, "Expecto Patronum!"

Two lynxes dance around the Room of Requirement illuminating it with the gleam of their silver.

Dumbstruck, I tilt my head to face Kyungsoo, “Your Patronus...”

“Our Patronuses”, he whispers.

“We have the same --”

Kyungsoo reaches for my waist and draws me close, his plush lips an agonizing touch away from mine. Twirling my fingers in the seams of his robe, I close my eyes and feel my breath hitch in my throat. A tingling sensation spreads through every fragment of my being as his hand finds the back of my neck and his lips meet mine in a dizzying kiss.

.

.

.

Two Years Later

My house looks wonky.

And, no. It’s not the after effect of Apparating here. A wonky house held up by charms in the middle of nowhere was the only thing Kyungsoo and I could afford with his meagre pay at J. Pippin’s Potions and the modest “severance” I received after being practically disinherited by Gran for wasting my time with a Muggle-born.

I trudge the short distance from the shabby front garden to the main door, weary from my dismal performance in today’s Stealth and Tracking lesson. 

The door swings open and the pungent odour coming out from Kyungsoo’s makeshift Apothecary in our basement makes me want to barf. Putting a bubble around my head to avoid the smell, I traipse to the basement.

A bald Kyungsoo is bent over a cauldron, the steam from which has fogged up his glasses and has apparently made him go deaf. I poke him on his shoulder to grab his attention, making him jump. Therefore causing his little vials to smash on the floor.

I just set us back by twenty Galleons.

Kyungsoo is quick to clear the sloppy and shard-y mess I’d made and reverse the Bubble Head charm I’d put myself under. He covers up the putrid cauldron immediately.

Tears well up in my eyes and I lean into his chest. 

The world is bleak.

“You’re home”, he coaxes, gently running a gloved hand over my head.

“Remind me again why I chose to become an Auror? I could’ve done anything with my perfect N.E.W.T. scores. I’m disastrous at this!” I’m sobbing against his soft ‘t-shirt’ as he comforts me with a ‘shhh..it’s okay’. “The chickens have made such a mess in the coop, Soo and I haven’t heard back from the Auror Office on the internship yet. We have a piteous stack of gold in our vault at Gringotts….” sniffling I continue, “You know we could just keep our money in a safe here..those clever Goblins are making so much money out of our money! The vault is a bad decision...we’re losing more money because of it. I hate the vault and the chickens and this house! What if it crumbles down while we’re asleep? What will we do then?” I pull away from him, my wide eyes demanding answers.

“We won’t have to worry about much if the roof comes crashing on us”, He reasons with a slight teasing smile. 

“The very stringent Auror Office accepted you because you’re a brilliant witch and right, I believe you enrolled with them only to spite Gran. And honestly my love, you’re being too hard on yourself. You did really well on the Concealment and Disguise training, didn’t you?” He says, lifting my chin up.

“Also on the Memory Charm”, I offer quietly, making him chuckle.

“Exactly! What else is bothering you? Ahh the chickens and the vault?” 

“Also the fact that Gran hates you and your parents think I’m a sinister witch who has tied their son down”, my lips begin to tremble again.

He sighs.

“I promise to take care of the chicken situation tomorrow and my love, we finally have a reason to keep that vault”, his eyes enlarge into beautiful brown circles and his plush lips stretch into a heart. A shrill pitch betrays his otherwise deep, calm voice, “Dogweed and Deathcap has offered me a job with a pay raise and a free supply of ingredients! Which is a great thing because ever since you’ve started your Auror training you’ve practically emptied my Dittany stores!”

“KYUNGSOO! I’m so happy for you!” Screaming, I jump into his arms and he twirls me around, dancing and giggling.

Panting, he says excitedly, “Wait! There’s more. Apparently the article on the benefits of Confusing Concoction I co-authored with Slughorn’s Warlock friend’s daft grand nephew?”

I nod vigorously.

“That article really took off! One of the reviews called me a ‘promising Potioneer’! Gran apparently got a whiff of that article...”

My expression soured, “And?”

“She’s invited us home to discuss it!” He rummages for a letter in his desk drawer and hands it to me, “Take a look at this!”

The letter reads in Gran’s shrewd yet artistic handwriting. She mentions, to the best of her abilities, how proud she is of me for following my parents’ footsteps and that she’d like to see us for dinner to discuss our ‘future’.

“She’s coming around”, Kyungsoo crouches to peer into my blank eyes.

“Took her long enough.”

“There’s one more thing”, he says sheepishly.

It looks like an evening full of surprises. 

Kyungsoo gives me a glossy magazine with a still picture of a woman in the most garish outfit I’ve ever seen with the word VOGUE sprawled across her scrawny frame in big bold white letters.

“Soo, why are you giving me a Muggle magazine?”

“For Muggle clothing inspo.”

I hate it when he uses these ridiculous foreign terms like “inspo” and “voila”. “Voila” is definitely his favourite.

“Why would I need clothing inspiration, Soo? Do you not like what I wear?”

“I love what you wear. Even when you don’t wear --”

“Soo!”

“Okay umm we have to take a trip to London...my parents would like to have us over for the weekend….you’re”, he pauses, “you’re okay with that right?”

It’s a lot to process. 

What if they prosecute me by hanging? I’ve read about what Muggles do to witches. Idly running through the pages of the magazine which suddenly seems too heavy for my arms, I buy time. Kyungsoo patiently waits for my answer.

“What’s ‘goss’?” I mumble, eyes trained on ‘Vogue’.

“Gossip?”

“Ahh...I have some ‘goss’ on Baekhyun and his girlfriend.” I digress and let me.

His brows crinkle in concern, “Oh-kay?”

“They were caught snogging in one of the Training Rooms yesterday...”

“And what became of them?”

“I don’t know.” They were made to clean all the Training Rooms the Muggle way. “Kyungsoo, I love you.”

“I love you, too.” He pulls me into his arms and presses his soft lips to my forehead, “We’ll get through this.”

“Of course, we will. We’re soulmates”, I say into his chest, reminiscing the time we’d kissed while two lynxes waltzed around us.

Suddenly, with a loud boom, Kyungsoo’s cauldron went flying in the air. It’s bubbling hot contents splattered on the walls of our basement. The impact made us duck under his desk.

“I forgot to turn off the burner.”

[redxxstrings]

oc song lyrics — band boys edition :) because it’s only fitting lmao

kazuki

a song lyric that makes you think of them “and i don’t give a fuck about my family name”

a song lyric to describe their love life “i see you, am i too scared? french kissing on your bed and i feel so brand new when you talk like that i feel so brand new, can you talk like that?”

a song lyric to describe their family life “drop a toaster in my bath, watch my mum and dad laugh see a thousand volts go through the son they wish they never had”

a song lyric to describe their personality “i’m sorry, i mean it, i’m sorry i’m sorry that your rapper sucks compared to me”

a song lyric to describe their physical appearance “ain't no ‘must be this tall to ride’ i'm a fun-sized, super nice guy i'm five foot something and i'm royalty”

a song lyric to describe their personal style “i like cool shirts, i like cold rings”

a song lyric that would comfort them when they’re sad “and i'm fuckin' living proof that if you want it you can have anything right before your eyes”

a song lyric that would make them feel Seen “i just feel like no one really gets me and it's sad to see 'cause someday i'ma grow up and show all of you it's meant to be”

a song lyric to make them cry “thinkin’ on if i did enough, they gon’ tell me that i did the most fuck whoever tried to make me quit can’t hold a fuckin’ flame to what i did”

a song lyric to make them happy “my life is startin' to look like a completed bucket list you know you in some trouble if your girl know i exist i been winning and i know that's what you hate to see i feel like i'm six foot tall whenever you stand next to me”

song list: sweatpants - childish gambino / blushing! - between friends / parents - yungblud / agust d - agust d / short kings anthem - tmg ft. blackbear / watch what happens next - waterparks / don’t want it - lil nas x / when i grow up - nf / lennon’s ghost - noel / bali - rich brian

ichigo

a song lyric that makes you think of them “throw your hands up, don’t be acting like a loser don’t be acting like a fatass”

a song lyric to describe their love life “but i'm kissaphobic don't wanna get too close to you your mouth is a hurricane, you'll drown me in the rain”

a song lyric to describe their family life “if we have each other then we'll both be fine i will be your mother, and i'll hold your hand you should know i'll be there for you”

a song lyric to describe their personality “i don't run from nothing, dog get your soldiers, tell 'em i ain't layin' low”

a song lyric to describe their physical appearance “'cause i get so lost in your blueberry eyes”

a song lyric to describe their personal style “necklace and earrings, bling bling my rings and shoes are, bling bling”

a song lyric that would comfort them when they’re sad “when mama said that it was okay mama said that it was quite alright our kind of people had a bed for the night and it was okay”

a song lyric that would make them feel Seen “hopped in the car mama let him play hooky missed the first hour just to get a cup of coffee she’s the only one who saw who he was, no one else could read him”

a song lyric to make them cry “hey mama i’m sorry mama for realizing now how much you’ve done for me, mama”

a song lyric to make them happy “i’m the biggest hit i’m the biggest hit on the stage”

song list: zero for conduct - bastarz / kissaphobic - make out monday / if we have each other - alec benjamin / industry baby - lil nas x ft. jack harlow / blueberry eyes - max ft. suga / bling bling - ikon / mama said - lukas graham / alone - nico collins / mama - j-hope / cherry bomb - nct 127

tai

a song lyric that makes you think of them “i wrote this song just looking at you yeah, the drums they swing low and the trumpets they go”

a song lyric to describe their love life “now she's got a boyfriend and i've got a rock band 'cause nothing really ever goes the way it's planned”

a song lyric to describe their family life “i'm weird but i'm trying man, i'm motherfuckin' trying i'm tryna get through this verse without me fucking crying suck it up, ‘you gotta be a man, gotta take care of your fam’”

a song lyric to describe their personality “it's just poetry divided, i'm the kind of guy who takes every moment he knows he confided in music to use it for others to use it”

a song lyric to describe their physical appearance "bleach my hair, mess it up”

a song lyric to describe their personal style “blue jeans, white shirt”

a song lyric that would comfort them when they’re sad “maybe it's not my weekend but it's gonna be my year”

a song lyric that would make them feel Seen “they're just stupid boys making basement noise in the basement, noise in the basement”

a song lyric to make them cry “when i was fed up and lost back then when i fell into a pit of despair even when i pushed you away, even when i resented meeting you you were firmly by my side”

a song lyric to make them happy “don’t think, just do, you’re holding the brush you have the most sense when you’re in front of the mirror life is short art is long”

song list: trumpets - jason derulo / she’s got a boyfriend now - boys like girls / wait on me - kyle / message man - twenty one pilots / papercuts - machine gun kelly / blue jeans - lana del rey / weightless - all time low / basement noise - all time low / first love - suga / artist - zico

hinata

a song lyric that makes you think of them "build your expectations saturated and inflated ‘cause i was born to be your favorite”

a song lyric to describe their love life “feels just like i don't try looks so good i might die all i know is everybody loves me”

a song lyric to describe their family life “i got a future so i'm singing for my grandma you singing too, but your grandma ain't my grandma”

a song lyric to describe their personality “if i to someone, a strength to someone, a light i wish i could be a piece of peace”

a song lyric to describe their physical appearance “my smile is beamin', my skin is gleamin' the way it shine, i know you've seen it”

a song lyric to describe their personal style “my whole closet, your whole crib see-through shirt on, bright pink timbs”

a song lyric that would comfort them when they’re sad “don't get too far in your own head when you shout we'll smile in front of all the things we used to worry about and i know it may not seem like it but we figured out how to live on the run when your heart weighs a ton”

a song lyric that would make them feel Seen “i'm sorry, i'm sorry, the lights got so blurry i just didn't want you to get mad or worried you keep me believin', i kept on deceivin' myself”

a song lyric to make them cry “it could leave, it could leave, come the morning celebrate the night, it's the fall before the climb shall we sing, shall we sing, 'til the morning?”

a song lyric to make them happy “take me to your best friend's house goin' 'round this roundabout, oh yeah oh, take me to your best friend's house i loved you then and i love you now, oh yeah”

song list: dream boy - waterparks / everybody loves me - one republic / sunday candy - donnie trumpet & the social experiment / p.o.p (piece of peace) pt. 1 - j-hope / 7 rings - ariana grande / bright pink tims - blackbear ft. cam’ron / a letter to my younger self - quinn xcii ft. logic / loser boy - joseph dubay / c’mon - panic! at the disco ft. fun. / tongue tied - grouplove

[mrsseverussnape]

Hi people! This is my very first “get to know my OC” post and i am very excited! First i will be writing information about her and then i’ll add 2 moodboards(younger/older), a polaroid photo grid and a song that fits her🌹 Please write me what do you think of her, that’ll mean a lot🥰

Her full name is Scarlett Serafina Rose and i can say she truly reflects her name; a fiery red rose, beautiful but has thorns🌹. Rose family is one of the most powerful pureblood families and Scarlett lives upto her family’s name. She is the only child of Aurelia and Ricardus Rose, she grew up in a very loving family. Scarlett’s best friend is Sirius Black, they were childhood friends even Sirius had his own room in the Rose Manor. Scarlett is a Slytherin and she was a very successful student during her Hogwarts years, also she was chosen to be the headgirl🐍. After the graduation Scarlett gave herself a full year just to travel around the world before diving into the adult life. When she was ready, Scarlett started to work at the Ministry of Magic and made her way to the top year by year and finally became the Minister of Magic as she always imagined✨. Being the minister was kind of a family tradition as her paternal grandfather and her mother were both ministers as well. After retiring from the ministry, she worked as DADA professor at Hogwarts for a while since it’s one of her favourite areas of magic, even she has created her own defense and attack spells since she was a teen. Also Scarlett is an animagus and her form is a nebelung cat as same as her patronus🐾🐱.

Personality wise Scarlett is a very elegant and clever woman. She comes off as cold and serious maybe even standoffish but if you get to know her, she is such a chill and funny lady. But still for Scarlett animals are better than humans, that being said she is a vegetarian🌱. She loves to travel and learn new things any day any time. Even she is a pureblood witch, she loves muggle music; her mum and Scarlett are very big fan of David Bowie🎶.

Her love life is complicated, bear with me here😅 this part is kinda choose your own story because it goes 2 ways since i couldn’t decide which men she will end up with. I will give a brief because i will do a separate post about Scarlett x Severus and Scarlett x Sirius. Scarlett is such a hopeless romantic and she always thought she would fall in love with only one person and live happily ever after with them until she dies. And that person happened to be Severus Snape, they started off as friends since both were Slytherins and both developed feelings during their 6th years. But the drama is Sirius was in love with Scarlett all along! And i won’t spill the tea right now😈 I will just say if we continue with Severus, they will have 3 kids; twins(girl-boy) and a son. And with Sirius; twins(girl-boy). You choose which ship do you want to see first, comment 💚 for Sev and 🖤 for Siri.

I forgot to talk about her physical appearance. Scarlett has copper red hair, it is between straight to wavy and she prefers to use it middle lenght👩🏻‍🦰. Her favourite body part of herself is her eyes; they are big with long lashes and colour of a dark forest🌲. Scarlett is a small woman around 162 cm/5 ft 4 and 55 kg/121 pounds, but she is curvy in a hourglass body shape.

This is younger Scarlett moodboard⬆️

And this is older Scarlett moodboard⬆️

I have created these polaroid photos for my old IG Snape acc. Also the girl in the photos is me, younger moodboard photo included. I use myself as younger Scarlett and for older Scarlett, face claim is Isabelle Huppert.

I guess that’s all for now. I hope you like Scarlett, i created her 5 years ago when i wasn’t in my bestest mood, she and HP books helped me to cope, i guess. So she is very special to me and i love her. Perhaps i might say she is my alter ego since she is lowkey based on me.

Also these fanfic series are about Severus x Scarlett x Sirius, you can check them out, i am linking my masterlist and these fanfics are on the top of the list! Well for some reason i couldn’t link it but it’s top on my profile and in bio...

[mocoat]

Ok, first actual post so if anything’s wrong or weird just tell me.

So this is my oc, Ellina Gold-Claw in a thing I’m writing. I’ve been writing random stuff in a google doc to try and keep to her character and I thought it be interesting to post.

Tiny Bosmer, itty bitty baby that will rip your tongue out and feed it to you if you ask if she knows any recipes for people.

She’s not that short tho, about 5 3’. Tall for a Bosmer. Gets it from her literal 7 foot tall Atmoran descent father.

Has bright blue eyes that turn gold when using the Thu’um.

Mums a Bosmer and dads a Nord. Both live in the Imperial city, mom is the head of the Penitus Oculatus and dad is the Archmage of the Arcane University. Writes them letters and maybe she’ll visit on Odah. Dads a softy, moms the badass.

Her dad, Eris Gold-Claw II, is 7 foot 1’ and hella intimidating. Towers over the tallest Altmer (6ft 5’- 6 ft 8 is my kinda canon for them.) and is best friends with Mead. He is a Master in Conjuration, Illusion, and Alteration. Gave Ellina her blue eyes (Martin Septims blue eyes) and her curly hair. His hair is curly, half braided back in a Nord ish style and dirty blond. Doesn’t carry a weapon but when fighting will conjure a daedric sword. Wears his dark blue Archmage robes with the little gold thing at his neck

Her mother, Lilith Gold-Claw, is 5 feet of pure muscle. Is fucken ripped from carrying a ebony bow a head taller than her. Wears ebony chainmail that has a plethora of enchantments to make it lighter and stronger. Literally makes arrows turn the other way when coming at her. Has bright red hair that is kept at shoulder level and is usually tied up. She is a woman of few words and is eternally patient, until she isn’t. If you cross this Bosmer you’re getting your throat ripped out. She quite literally makes people tremble with a look, the rest of the Penitus Oculatus have learned to fear her and also love her. Is very fair but loyal, will beat anyone who calls her husband a dumb Nord who only got his job because of his family name.

The Gold-Claws date back to the Nerevarine. Eresin Gold-Claw. He had a wife and 16 year old daughter, Willow Gold-Claw, the Hero of Kvatch. He was arrested for a bar fight and thrown in prison. Just like Willow would 7 years later. Ever since then the Gold-Claws have been close with the Empire and when Martin Septim died and left Willow alone and pregnant they became even closer. They helped the Meads rise to power and told them their secret. Titus knows who they are and always keeps it in mind that if they wanted to they could have his place as Emperor.

Their family’s are close as a result. Ellina basically grew up in the Imperial Palace, having every guard, maid, cook, prince wrapped around her little finger.

Has wild gold hair, big poofy curls that reach her mid back when dry and go past her butt when wet. Will only put it up when she’s relaxed enough around you. (Kinda backwards but I don’t care.)

Wears a green cloak flecked with gold, reaches the floor when she wears it. Wears Neloths robes, no armor plates. Later on she trades her green cloak for a red and gold one, matching Neloths colors when she goes to the Imperial city for a party

Likes dresses but only when she can. They’re a bit impractical for her line of work. Usually wears her cloak over dragonscale armor. Pretty badass

That’s when she’s traveling, when she’s just sitting around Lakeview she’s just in a shirt and leather pants or a plain dress.

Fucken loves Neloth’s robe that he lent her, and will never take them off now. They’re soft and have P O C K E T S. Yaaas

Once she spends some time around Neloth she starts to fall for him. She liked him from the start, she likes his no shit attitude and his unforgiving bluntness. After she sees him in the midst of a horrible nightmare about his mother using a cruel spell on him and after he wakes he curls up in her arms to cry. She's touched by him letting her comfort her. When he called her dear she just fucken melts. Sure he may be half asleep that first time but who cares.

When he kisses her for the firsts time she’s completely smitten and doesn’t bother trying to deny it to herself.

Also has piercings on her ears, two on the tip of her right ear and just the regulars ones on the other.

Can’t use a bow to save her life, uses Dawnbreaker and she usually has a dragon bone dagger in a sheathe on her lower back.

Used mostly alteration and illusion magic, is decent at healing and can throw a fireball if needed. Prefers her sword. Hates it when people comment on her not using a bow, Windhelm was particularly bad until she threw a guy across the city.

Is a stupidly brilliant artist, draws beautifully but rarely does it. If she finds the time to draw you, you’re special. Neloth keeps her drawing of him on his desk or in his pocket, specially enchanted to not rip or tear.

Likes to sit on Neloths desk and draw him. His expressions are always the best.

Also likes to sit in stupid places. will always choose a table over a chair, had scaled the tower and sat up there when Neloth needed space. Tops of bookshelves until Neloth finds her. Stuff like that

Is always humming, singing, tapping her fingers or feet. Always has a song going through her head.

Odahviing is her best friend, and so are the Companions. (Her and Farkas are close but not romantically.)

Can sing like an angel but can also destroy a tavern if she gets too into it so she doesn’t much.

Loved to hoard books. Until she goes to Moras place

Sucks ass at alchemy but tries her best, Neloth has (or will) banned her from using his alchemy table due to many explosions.

She specializes in Alteration and Illusion magic. Is decent with healing and knows like two fire spells. Hates shock magic, like fucken hates it. Can’t stand to see someone use it

Has three claw marks on her back from Alduin. They travel from the right to the left down her back. She almost died fighting him and if it wasn’t for the Greybeards she would be.

Also was tortured by the Thalmor when she was younger, 10 to be exact, has a lightning shaped scar down her right side that reaches her neck. Can be seen in regular clothing and armor.

Has horrible nightmares, has broken windows in her house in Falkreath from screaming. All of Alduin killing her family, the Companions, or the Greybeards. Neloth makes an entrance later on

Can change her appearance at will, takes concentration though and only lasts a few hours at most.

Hates the Blades with a seething passion, will never kill Paarthurnax. Ever. He’s amazing and he talks nice.

Didn’t take a side in the civil war, thinks Ulfric is hot but a dick. Hates him slightly less than Tullius. Rikke’s fucken funny tho. Hadvar is the best, so sweet. The way he says burns runs through my head constantly.

Is hella allergic to apples and will die if she eats them.

Also her sneezes will send her flying backwards and anything in front of her goes flying as well.

Loves Dunmer food and drink. Sujamma mostly. Flin is alright. Loves canis root tea as well. Is the only person who Neloth knows who actually likes the taste besides him.

True to Skyrim fashion, she loves cheese. Hoards cheese, will kill a room of druager for cheese.

Loves picking on the Thalmor, doesn’t kill them if she doesn’t have to, just likes to slip a Talos amulet into one’s pocket and watch the chaos.

Never calls Neloth anything but his name or when their alone “Dii brit onik fahliil.” Which means, “My beautiful wise elf.” Always makes sure to complement his mind and body.

[littlegalerion]

17 questions, 17 people

I was tagged by @sheirukitriesfandom , thank you~! 

Nicknames: I go by either Fawn or Jareth on social media!

Zodiac: I don’t really pay attention to zodiac stuff, but I believe I’m a Taurus. 

Height: 5 ft 4 inches

Hogwarts House: Ravenclaw. I actually come from an entire household of Ravenclaws, save for my mother who is Hufflepuff. It made our vacation to Universal Studios very entertaining. 

Last thing I googled: I was looking up TigerClaw from TMNT because I had forgotten his actual human name. It was bothering me. That and I briefly googled Taurus to make sure I spelled it right. 

Song stuck in my head: I’ve had “Life After Happily Ever After” from Tangled: The Series stuck in my head for a while now. That or “Nothing Left to Loose”. The entire soundtrack is way too catchy. 

Number of Followers: 121...I...was only semi-paying attention. Thank you guys!!! 

Amount of Sleep: I usually get at least eight hours of sleep. Eight or seven. 

Lucky Number: 6

Dream Job: I’m currently working on original fiction that I plan to publish as either novels or VNs. I’m not entirely sure yet. I’d love to make a living on my writing, but I also plan on going back to college and major in English, breaking off into the branch that allows me to work as a Librarian. My goal is to, by the time I only have ten to five years before retirement, to be working in a university’s library. The retirement age within the educational system in my county is 65, so I think that’ll be a nice final stretch. 

Wearing: Comfy shorts and my Splash Mountain t-shirt, because I’m cleaning house for company later and also the heat is horrible here. Btw, did you hear Splash Mountain is getting remodeled into a Princess and the Frog ride? Super excited, that movie deserves more attention. It better be riding a giant boat through the swamp with pretty fireflies everywhere, so help me...

Favorite Song: ...Hm. As my fiancé is obsessed with heavy metal but also samples various genres as “experiences”, in the past few years I’ve been more so pushed to find my favorite genre of music, let alone favorite song. In all honesty, I have no real set genre I’m stuck to. Mostly I just listen to music as backtracks for character development for OCs, of all things. But if really pressed, I can only narrow it down to “Magnum Bullets” by Night Runner or “Underground” by David Bowie, but with multiple close runner ups!

Favorite Instrument: I don’t really have one.

Aesthetic: I battle every day from wanting to be a soft mum figure that deals with shades of soothing brown, pastel purples and pretty blues to wanting to be a werewolf master sorceress that wears nothing but black and purple armor/robes.  

Favorite Author: My favorite book is The Hobbit, and while I do love Tolkien, I gotta say I love C.S. Lewis more. I just vibe with him and his style of writing- EXCEPT THE SPACE TRILOGY. I still have migraines over those books...

Random: I went to google real quick what those weird horns argonians play in Murkmire are called, the ones that use actual frogs in them? I was going to use that for the “favorite instrument” slot but realized my browser is infected with the Yahoo virus again. So after posting this I get to completely wipe all my browser settings back to default so as to wipe out the virus. Fun. 

Tagging @screaminginthuum @foxyhearts @the-bossmer

Seventeen total acquaintances, let alone friends- it would both make me happy but also terrify me. What a world. 

[quillwritten]

Psst I don't know much about your Silverstorm thing or your ocs so i have a challenge: wanna try bad/obscure descriptions?

Idk how bad all of these are but I had great fun writing them, thanks for the ask!

Silverstorm: some kids get mad at The Man and decide they’re gonna do some shit ft. magic but with a d and a k in it.

Avery: would probs be a biker girl if appropriate but it’s not so she sticks to the school uniform skirts and wears leather jackets when outside. Is a stubborn little shit but usually knows how to deal with the problems she gets into. Like Disney princess plasters over the bleeding gash the length of her entire forearm.

Anita: Mum friend™️. Only here bc she doesn’t trust Avery and Sorrel not to die without her. Half convinced they’re all gonna die anyway. Talks them all out of situations except when she busy being bitter about being in the situations in the first place. Potions whizz kid only it’s called philtres instead bc potions is boring.

Sorrel: local Disney princess and loves it. Animals everywhere. This is mostly useful but not always. Looks like a big scary guy, is actually the sweetest heart that ever lived.

Elva: my sweet autistic Irish flower child. Unashamedly my fave idec. Lots of ginger hair, lots of flowers everywhere, loves the stars. Doesn’t speak.

Dove: shit dove, should be a pigeon (pigeons are just shit doves irl). Pigeons are rock doves but dove is not a rock child. Just wants to be friends with Avery bc she wants to get shit done also but whoops her parents run the government they’re all trying to run from/take down.

[shebeafancyflapjack]

A Slip Through Worlds (Part 13)

Time to put things right. (Ft @idiotwithanipad 's oc Amy and her Gore Au).

-

As Robin walks through a road surrounded by, for lack of a better description, swirling clouds of Nothing, he can't remember experiencing anything this trippy since he and his brother Togh inhaled some burning herbs that had them chasing purple squirrels for twelve hours straight.

The girls both seem to be handling it better, clearly used to walking through dreams as easily as being awake. He knows he wouldn't be able to do this if not for Stompy somehow allowing him to tag along. She walks ahead, silent, her hood up, following her ears. The sound of Moonah Girl's cry of her name still rings in them, so she claims. Like a set of audible footprints, she follows it back to the source.

Other Moonah Girl skips at his side, as if they were going for a stroll through the countryside. For all his anxiety about what lies ahead with this...Protective Other Mary, he's glad to see the mad child is happier. He thinks. It's hard to tell.

"I'm going home to Mummy! Going to home to Mummy! Hehehe!" She sings as she bounces with each step, "Oh I can't wait to see her and tell her all about my adventures here, hehehe!"

Robin sees Amy's shoulders stiffen a bit. He's had to hold her back more than once to resist snapping at the overly bubbly girl who made Kitty seem down to Earth.

"You...had fun here then yes?" He asks the pink haired girl.

"It was wonderful! Except the part where I thought Mummy and everyone else was gone and I tried to rip my own face off, haha." She giggled and twirled; "But I loved dancing with Kitty and joining in on those group talks...And you!" She turned and took his hand; "I think I'll miss you most of all, Scarecrow."

He blinks, about to remind her what his name is. Then it clicks.

"Oh! Haha. Got it." He would have to, the amount of times Kitty has made them watch that bloody film.

"I mean it though. You were ever so kind to me. And you played with me and looked after me, hehe." She kissed his cheek and hugged his arm.

Amy turned briefly to throw him a look. He cleared his throat, doing his best to put any emotions aside.

"M'glad." He patted her head; "But you happy to go home? See Mum and friends again?"

"Oh yeah, of course, hehehe. But....I do wish I had my own Robin there too." She then gasped and squeezed his arm; "Maybe you can come with me?! You'd love it! You can play chess with Elves, they're real clever too, and I think you'd get on well with the Dwarves too..."

"That real sweet." He smiled, "But me have to stay here. Needed here."

Not that there was any pull to leave. Only a sadness at having to be parted from her.

"Oh! Right, of course. Hehehe. Lucky Other Silver." The bleeding girl blushes.

"Wish could see both Silvers. But...she need Robin more. Lose so much already. I keep promise to take care of her." He tries to explain, "Me thought was doing good job. But not even look after right Moonah Girl! Ugh." He shakes his head; "So stupid."

"No, hehehe. It still means the same! I'm sure she knows how lovely you are." Other Silver then sighs, resting her head on his shoulder; "As scary as this trip has been, hehehe, I'm glad I met you."

So was he, he thought, nuzzling her head briefly. He wanted his Moonah Girl back, was prepared to do anything to save her.

But he couldn't deny that he'd grown to care for this one too. Different enough to be her own Silver, but same soul deep down.

Most of all, she had let him feel needed again. Important.

I don't need you to look after me anymore, Robin. I've got Mum.

Those had been his Silver's last words to him. Those first four words like four individual spears to his heart. Or as best as he could remember them. For a few strange days, he'd thought that was wrong. He was needed. Wanted.

And he'd messed that up too.

Stompy stood still.

"We're here." She said, definitively.

Were they? Nothing about this place looked much different than the rest of their path. More swirling Nothing. Ugly boring clouds of emptiness.

Other Silver giggled and let go of his arm.

"There it is!" She raced past Amy and held out her palms, before coming into contact with an invisible wall, sounding with a soft thud.

"Trail stops here." Amy turns to tell him; "Silver was standing on the other side of this wall when she called out to me." She pointed to where Other Silver stood.

Robin could barely make out any such wall with how similar everything looked, grey and beige energy just wafting around them, waiting to be manifested in dreams, he assumed. Or nightmares.

The giggling teen pressed both palms to the wall and took a deep breath of air into her lungs.

Then she sang, her voice probably ringing throughout every universe; "MUUUUMMMYYYY!"

-

The sudden high pitched noise made Silver jump out of her skin. She'd almost begun to feel something close to being relaxed, curled up by the roaring fire in the warm furs with the sound of the pattering rain outside and Not Robin's steady, grumbled breathing.

She sat up, gasping, hairs on her neck standing upright. What the fuck was that?

Not Robin padded into the cave and gently nudged her arm.

You okay?

Genuine concern shone through the savage coldness in those eyes. For a small moment, she saw her Robin looking at her.

She nodded; "Did you hear that?"

He grunted in agreement.

It my....Mistress' Cub.

At Silver's confusion, he clarified.

Our Strange Girl. Noisy Girl.

"Your Silver?! But that means-."

The fire beside them suddenly exploded in a burst of ravenous flames and flailing embers. Silver instinctively shuffled closer to Not Robin who moved to shield her.

A swirl of black smoke, then a skull with determined eyes floated through along with the rest of her ghoulish form. The witch was back.

"The time hath come, dear ally. Our darling girl be at the great well. We must make haste." Her voice hissed in urgency.

Silver watched as Not Robin grunted and bowed his head. He quickly padded towards her and the two made their way to the opening of the cave.

She raced after them.

Not Mary turned and sent a plume of smoke into her chest, softly pushing her back into the cave.

Silver blinked; "I'm coming too! You need me to make the switch!"

"There shall be no switch. Has I not made that abundantly clear, dear child?" The witch spoke.

She was still determined with this?

"You won't be able to make a make a dent in the wall without both of us there."

Not Mary tilted her head; "Who said it needed to be two darling girls to form the link?"

Silver stared. What did she mean by that?

She glanced at Not Robin, whose head remained down, avoiding her eyes. Perhaps in shame?

"I have to be there. You can't just-."

Not Mary fired a ball of flame above her head. It shook the cave like a great earthquake. Stalactites plummeted to the ground in the space between them.

Silver screamed and fell back, crawling to the fire, watching the rocks fall only at the front, until Not Robin and Not Mary vanished from her view.

Leaving her buried inside.

"No!" She shouted; "Don't leave me here! Not again! Please! Rogh, please, don't let her do this!"

She threw herself forward and pounded her fists against the giant fallen rocks. They wouldn't budge, no matter what effort she put in to try to move them aside. Silver collapsed against them and cried in rage.

"Be strong, sweet girl. This be for your own good. Mummy will come to let you out once I has your sister back safe." The witch's voice echoed around the cave, as if she were right beside Silver, "Then wes shall lives happily ever afters."

-

"I hears, with my little ears, something beginning with....S!"

"Is it Silence?" Asked Amy through gritted teeth.

"Yes, Fizzy!" Other Silver chuckled, "How did you guess?!"

"Maybe because it was Silence the last six times." The teen got to her feet, quickly losing what little patience she had.

The three of them had been sat in this boring plane at the edge of the universe for almost an hour. Waiting. Just waiting for any response to Other Silver's cry.

"Maybe we try 'nother day? Am sure Moonah Girl safe." Robin tried to be optimistic.

"Yeah, hahaha. I'm sure Mummy is showing her the dragons!" The Pagan gushed; "I'm so jel, hehehe."

"You really have dragons in that world?" Asked Amy, curiosity piqued.

"Sure! Mummy makes them for me and my Amy to play with, hehe. And we have a magical forest and fairies and big long tables filled with my favorite foods and drinks, hehe."

"Wow, no wonder your Mary didn't get sucked off, sounds as good as my home." Amy sulked.

Robin blinked; "No dragons in stars?"

"There are but...well, they're kinda jerks. And they're not so much dragons as....dinosaurs. Ghosts of dinosaurs." Amy explained; "Which is still cool but they're not as willing to make friends and....Man, I would love a dragon. Hopefully I can work out how to just create one by the time Silv goes up."

It did her good to talk as if there would be a Silver, their Silver, to look forward to meeting in the next layer again. As if this wouldn't just all go to shit.

"Focusing on finishing Dad's....I mean, Humphrey's garden right now." Amy said coyly.

"Oooh, he like that." Robin chuckled; "Ey...He know you here?"

"Yeah. I visited him before grabbing you guys."

"He cool with this?" Robin looked doubtful.

"Hmm. Yes and no. Proud of me for wanting to get Silver back, but worried sick when I said it might be dangerous. By the way, he had a message for you." She looked at the caveman, "'Bring my Poppet back safe or my Body will hunt you through any bloody dimension.'"

Robin gulped; "Fair enough."

Not Silver let out a huff and stood up.

"I'm gonna try again! I'm sure Mummy must have heard me. Maybe she's busy protecting the boarder from witch hunters, hehe." She went towards the wall; "Mu...Oh! I think someone is coming! Can you feel it?"

Both Amy and Robin frowned at each other. They couldn't 'feel' anything. There was no sound in this place but their own footsteps and voices. No smells but each other. Nothing to see except the clouds.

"There! There they are!" She pointed at the wall.

"What you see?" Robin asked, scrambling to his feet.

"Nothing, silly! This may come as a shock but....I can't actually see very well."

Amy glared at her.

"No shit."

"But! I can hear! And there's footsteps coming from that way!" She kept on pointing.

Amy looked at the wall. At first there didn't seem to be a sign of anything there, until...the shapes began to form out of the swirling greys. Then color emerged. Smudged images like backgrounds of impressionist paintings.

There was something moving on the other side.

"Is it Mummy? Hehe. Is it me?" Other Silver skipped towards it.

Robin swept in to shepherd her back.

"Wait minute. Something...not smell right." He said with a frown.

"Now your nose works?" Amy rolled her eyes.

"Shh!" He fluttered his paw at her and then felt for the wall, stepping closer. He flared his nostrils; "Me know that smell....Not like Moonah Girl...."

"Then who?" Asked Amy.

He slid his palms along the flat surface, edging closer, sniffing. Quiet. Amy and Not Silver merely stood back and watched, waiting for the verdict.

What was coming towards them?

Robin grunted in surprise and looked at his hand, spotting an identical set of hairy digits wrapping themselves around his.

The veil in the wall fell. Clouds dispersed to reveal what lay beyond.

Robin stood in the clutches of his own reflection, growling at him.

"No..." was all he said as he stared at his own haggard and scarred image.

The other Robin roared in his face. And then he pounced.

-

Mary had fallen asleep at the table, the cup of tea from several hours ago now cold and forgotten. Annie had lovingly placed a blanket over her shoulders but hadn't attempted to rouse her. Her wife had gone to seek answers to this unusual trouble from some of their neighbours.

The kitchen was dark, save for a few candles left burning. They had a few modern appliances in the house like an air fryer, a vacuum and TV but liked to keep a lot of 'basic homely' things the same, partly to keep that rustic fairytale vibe which they both knew Silver would love when she came.

When. When. When.

Tapping came at the window. Mary rose her head, dreary and disoriented.

"A-Annie?" She looked around.

"Mum?"

Mary looked to the window. The most beautiful sight stared back at her. Smiling.

"Darling girl? Oh darling girl!"

She scrambled off her chair and ran to open the door. It wouldn't budge.

What the...?

She tried the window instead. Nothing.

"Hang on, swee'hear'. I's shall get you in. Lemme try the back door-"

"No, Mum. Don't bother. We haven't got much time." Silver told her.

Her defeated tone broke Mary's heart.

"What you means by that, my love? We shall has all the time in the world now that you be heres!" She grinned, hardly able to believe it.

Her little girl was here. The waiting was over.

Silver smiled back and kept her hand against the glass. Mary pressed hers against it too, quite a bit bigger.

"Mum. I just came to say goodbye." She told her, voice barely audible, despite the glass being single plane.

Mary balked; "What? Don't be silly, darling girl. You's only just arrived. We shall never have our goodbyes again..."

"Mum. She's trapped me here. And it took everything I had to project myself thtough to find your dream. They must have broken the wall again." She said, not sounding too thrilled; "I didn't want anyone to be hurt for me, Mum."

"Don't be daft. People loves you, Silver Guppy, they all be happy to risk anything for yous."

"I don't want that, Mum. All my life and after, I thought I just wanted to be cared about. To matter to people. But not if it means this." Her voice cracked; "She's too powerful for them. They won't win, they'll just get hurt trying...and once that wall repairs itself again...I know I'll never see you again."

"Darling girl, stop this..."

"I love you, Mum. Just....I just needed you to know that." Her lip wobbled, tears shining in her blue eyes; "And thank you. Thank you for choosing me as your daughter..."

Words failed Mary as she gazed at the fading image of her little'en. She wanted to tell her she loved her back. She wanted to stress to her not to give up. Not on Robin, not on Amy, not on herself. She wanted her to know she was prepared to wait a thousand lifetimes for her to join her and Annie here. At home.

But all she could manage was silent tears as she continued to press her hand against the glass. Her mouth opened, but no sound came. Devastation choked her like the smoke once had on that blasted pyre.

Silver seemed to read everything she wanted to say in her eyes. She smiled, a tear falling down her cheek.

"Bye, Mum."

And she was gone.

Mary kept staring. Her hand remained on the glass. Her eyes stared out into the darkness of the forest surrounding them.

Her little girl. Her Silver.

"No..." She whispered, that familiar fire coursing through her veins; "No, no, no, NO!"

The glass cracked under the intense heat of Mary's hand.

[sooibian]

Stranger Things (2)

Pairing: Baekhyun x fem!Reader ft. Kyungsoo, Mark Lee, Jongdae (if you squint)

Description: You met an obnoxious lawyer at the airport and fell stupidly in “love” but little did you know, his heart belonged to someone else.

Themes: Fluff, crack, stupid OC, Mark Lee’s debut with a law firm, organic cucumbers, cowsheds, corgis, farmer!Soo, lawyer!Baek

A/N: This was not supposed to happen but four people asked for it and that’s really all it takes to get me to do something. I was SO tempted to title this - Of Cowsheds and Corgis!! This fic is ridiculous and very predictable but I gave up on the angst I was writing for this because ridiculous is just what I need right now. I truly hope you’re all safe and healthy!

Word Count: ~ 1.6k

Chapters:  One | Two | Three | Four (Final)

Groaning, you put down your second ‘fruit platter’ with a deliberate clang on Kyungsoo’s bedside table. Nothing. “Yah! Did you catch narcolepsy in that ridiculously mind numbing hamlet?” The skinny end of your chopstick slowly made its way to the sole of his left foot. Still nothing. Panic swelled within you and you crawled over to his side to check his breathing. He was breathing, alright.

“Eomma!” You bellowed. Maybe it was time for the third medley of diced apples and bananas.

Still nothing.

***

“Sloth.” You took a jibe at a barely awake Kyungsoo.

“Creep.”

“Creep?”

“You were watching me sleep!”

“I was waiting for you to wake up! There’s a difference, Snorlax.”

“Patience - -”, his mouth fell open in a huge yawn.

“Isn’t my greatest virtue. Yeah, I know. You’ve said it a million times. It’s etched in my heart. I’ll get it tattooed across my forehead. Now spill.”

For a moment Kyungsoo looked confused before diving into his fruit platter with a half-suppressed snicker. 

“What?” You attacked his stupid bespectacled face with a pillow. When was the last time he got a change of glasses? He’s worn this thick-rimmed atrocity forever. Although the man was optically challenged, his hearing was more than just fine. He was quick to spot the hint of defensiveness in your tone and his heart shaped smile had a reputation of showing up only when you were in deep trouble. “Ahhhhh….my case? The bank is entitled to a lien on the adjoining cowshed - ”

You cut in with a long impatient sigh. “Kyungsoo, sweetie, can we talk about corgis for now?”

“Chubs”, you undid your messy bun at the sound of that horrendous nickname, “you’ve got a bad case of --- honestly whatever this is. You spent two hours with him. Two.”

“Squishy, I’m not three anymore. I am a woman now.” His face contorted into an expression of disgust. “Stop. Calling me. Chubs.” Interjecting every word by striking his shoulder with your feeble wrist, you noticed how ‘un-Squishy’ he’d gotten over the past one year. “And I know all there is to know...about your 174 cm tall friend who struts around like he’s no less than 185. But that’s not him...that’s Handsome Mr. Park, his partner.”

“Stalker!” Kyungsoo’s eyes grew wide in horror and he flicked your forehead very, very hard.

Swallowing your cry of pain, you pinched his ear with all your might, making him wince. “It’s called content curation. If you ever happen to meet a lovelorn village belle ….let me know, yeah? I’m willing to put up my skills to offer. For a fee, of course.”

“YAH!” He freed himself from your grasp. “Behave! You’re not three anymore, right? Tell me...how much do you know about Baekhyun?” He was curious. Slightly panic-struck, even. But you couldn’t tell why.

“I will tell you but I need to know something before that. Has he - Doh Kyungsoo I swear to God I will bury you alive if you so much as smile - has he mentioned me at all?” You felt your face flame and a part of you really did not want to know the answer to that.

Kyungsoo sucked the insides of his cheeks in and said, “He thinks you’re interesting.”

You knew 'interesting', almost always, was nothing but a euphemism for weird. Ignoring the tender ache in your chest you said, "Well, I think he looks a lot like his corgi Mongryong. Mum has invited you to dinner tomorrow. Later, Squish." You pulled him in a bear hug, picked up the two, now polished, plates and walked out of Kyungsoo's room, slowly closing the door behind you.

"Eomma, Kyungsoo will be joining us for dinner -"  

"Chubs, wait!" He hurried out of his room and handed you a rather heavy C4 size envelope. "My dentist appointment has been moved to today and I had to drop these documents off at Byun Park's", after a small pause he hesitantly continued, "he won't be there."

"Who won't be there?" Kyungsoo’s mother eyed the both of you suspiciously.

You couldn’t say no to the illustrious prince of a family who fed you a whole carton of organic fruits a while ago. At least not in front of the matriarch.

"It's nothing Eomma… it's Kyungsoo's friend Byun Baekhyun. Yah! Doh Kyungsoo! Stop acting like he's my ex boyfriend."

***

Your heart raced as you stepped into the elevator of the swanky commercial building. Pushing the button for the 27th floor, you turned around to examine yourself in the mirror feeling frumpy and underdressed in your faded yellow sweater and mom-jeans. The ding of the elevator jolted your heart and your mouth went dry as you lay your eyes on the blond haired man standing in front of you. You wanted nothing more than to snake your arm around Doh Kyungsoo’s neck and put him in a tight chokehold until he begged for mercy -- at this point you weren’t very keen on letting go of the imaginary, gasping for breath, blue in the face, Doh Kyungsoo. He won’t be there??

“Hi”, you said stepping out of the elevator but what you really wanted to say was ‘I want to delete myself’.

“Airport Girl!” He jested. You didn’t feel very apologetic anymore or even underdressed for that matter since the partner of a snooty law firm thought that a long sleeved jersey with bib shorts were an acceptable choice of clothing. Nevertheless, you properly introduced yourself and did what was long overdue.

“I am sorry about the other day and -- ” You briefly waited for him to cut you off with a ‘Don’t worry about it’ or even dismiss it with loud ‘hahaha’ but instead his little eyebrow raise insisted you complete your apology. “And I shouldn’t have - -”

“Airport Girl, I notice you have a problem completing your sentences.” Resting his hands on his hips he cocked his head to the side. That vaguely familiar annoying smirk made your skin crawl.

“Byun Baekhyun-ssi, I am here to see Lee Min Hyung. I am supposed to hand over Kyungsoo’s documents to him. I hope you’re working hard on my friend’s case. He really needs that cowshed back, he’s paid the broker’s fee in full for it. I hope this was coherent enough for you.” His smirk stretched into a genuine smile as he inched closer to you. Uncomfortable as you were standing in an enclosed space and conversing with a man in bib shorts, the diminished distance from his two small strides made you squirm. You could practically smell his cologne.

“I’ll forgive you if you agree to come cycling with me. Right now.”

“Absolutely not. Can I go see Lee Min Hyung now?”

“MARK LEE!” Baekhyun bellowed. The unsparing luminous smile on his face wasn’t doing any favours to the health of your heart. Within seconds, a bespectacled young lad who looked like he hadn’t slept a wink for days came rushing to his side. So Byun Baekhyun worked his employees to the bone while he himself took hiking trips in absurd outfits.

He put an arm around the frail boy and introduced the fresh law graduate to you, “This is my main man Mark Lee from Canada.” Violently thumping Mark’s back he continued, “Madam’s here with Doh Kyungsoo’s documents. Take her inside and go over the file. Check if anything’s missing and most importantly, offer her something cold to drink.” Letting go of Mark, he said to you with a wink, “I’ll be waiting in the lobby, Airport Girl. Or you’re never losing the nickname.”

***

Mark Lee’s involuntary metamorphosis from scaredy cat to ferocious lion cub in the conference room took you by surprise. While going over Kyungsoo’s documents like a hawk focused on its prey, he dutifully put a glass of ice water in front of you just as instructed by Byun Baekhyun. It was nothing more than a courtesy call. “Doh Kyungso-ssi’s personal documents all look okay -- ID card, bank statements, transaction information, realtors invoice, property possession documents.” You lost him at ‘realtor’s invoice’. “Seems to me, the realtor tricked him - - why did he not get due diligence done before investing in property? How could he not notice that the title deed does not extend to the cowshed?” Mark Lee was furious….at you.

“He’s just a simple man with simple dreams who wanted to trade his city existence for a quiet rural homestead and grow organic cucumbers, I guess? Why don’t you give him a call and --”

Mark Lee’s paw met the desk in a loud smack, startling you. “A simple due diligence would’ve saved him the hassle - -”

You weren’t exactly sure of the reason Byun Baekhyun thought you’d need a cold drink but he was so right, everything else seemed wrong. You took a rather large gulp of water, snatched Mark Lee’s notepad from his firm grasp and scribbled Kyungsoo’s number in it. “Here’s Doh Kyungsoo’s number. Call him if you need anything further.” You rose from your chair and eyed him sympathetically. “Take care, Mark Lee and please don’t skip meals.”

***

He waited for you, just as he’d promised. He somehow managed to look just as stunning in that funny costume as he did when you saw him at the airport. “Let’s go. Half an hour with that enthu cutlet Mark Lee and I need to feel the wind in my hair. How do you manage?”

“Yah! Airport Girl. He’s my best and brightest.” Sounding like a proud parent he guided you to the parking lot. The guilt weighing your heart down compelled you to ask, “What about Yoona?”

“She’ll be joining us.” Baekhyun quipped nonchalantly, opening the door to his Audi for you.

It was at that exact moment you said a silent prayer to a certain 3rd generation male idol to strike you with lightning and put you out of your misery.

Tagging: @hirumixoxo @majesticsnow @dreamingofdreamydream @juncottonluvbot