#hogwarts: spring break 2022

[nidamae-approvedhpfanfics]

Fanfic.com my favorites as of March 2024.

It's a LONG list- mostly Harry Potter with a small handful of Labyrinth.

Alphabetically #-A

3 Slytherin Marauders by severusphoenix Harry Potter u:07-31-2016 - Harry & Dudley flee an abusive Vernon to Severus Snape. Severus finds a new home for himself & the boys with dragons and hunt the Horcruxes from there. The dragons, especially one become their allies. Tom R is VERY different.

10 Minutes And A Week Of Hell! by CrazyDuck5280 Harry Potter u:02-10-2013 - 10 Minutes can be the difference between the peace and the hell at Hogwarts! AU third year

13 Hours by magically-strange Labyrinth u:09-02-2013 - In the immediate aftermath of Sarah's victory, Jareth looses his magic and the Labyrinth breaks, unleashing a deadly villain that threatens the life of every goblin in the Underground. Now, Sarah faces a even greater challenge than before: restore balance to the Labyrinth, or suffer the death of the Goblin King!

A Better World by Pennilyn Novus Harry Potter u:02-19-2010 - A lost child wanders into Knockturn Alley, and who happens to find him but Draco Malfoy?

A Certain Romance by Nautical Paramour Harry Potter u:05-24-2018 - After helping out an unlikely student, Hermione Granger finds herself with an unlikely friend. Marcus Flint is only too happy to return the favor. As their paths continue to cross, the more drawn to one another they find each other. But can they be more than friends? A slice of life fic that takes place mostly after the war. Flintmione.

A Champion by Takao1160 Harry Potter u:06-03-2014 - 4th Year - Starts with Harry's selection as a champion. Harry is different he is angry, intelligent, and he absolutely does not want to participate in the tournament. Harry has a secret that he has shared with no one and new Harry is released and the pay-back begins. Strong Powerful - Harry /Fluer/ Daphne - Hermione later in the story.

A Change is as Good as a Holiday by ChloeParker05 Harry Potter u:12-29-2022 - The summer after 4th year, Harry's stewing in the anger caused by his friends' useless letters. By the time he reunites with them, he's furious and has a rather loud argument with them. However, Tonks notices something while coming across the confrontation, and drags Harry away. When she tells him what she witnessed, his outlook on life is changed rather drastically.

A Date by Proxy by AnneM.Oliver Harry Potter u:03-30-2009 - Hermione was bored & wanted something new. She changed jobs, her hair, her clothes, and now she was about to do something completely "UnHermionish" & go on a blind date! She just wondered why her blind date was with her new boss, Draco Malfoy. Romance.

A Dementor Named Radish by lvidler.op Harry Potter u:03-24-2023 - Harry Potter's horcrux makes the Dementors pause. They decide that their way of following the order to take the soul of Harry Potter is to take Harry Potter with them back to Azkaban. A story in which the guards and Dementors adopt Harry and how it falls out after.

A Different Type of Furry Little Problem by blue artemis Harry Potter u:07-23-2012 - Hermione gets quite a bit more than she bargained for when she takes Crookshanks as her familiar.

A Few New Looks by RiverWriter Harry Potter u:06-05-2023 - Glimpses into Draco, Hermione, and Scorpius' life as a family. A sequel to my story, "A Second Look."

A Fine Spring Day by DarthMittens Harry Potter u:07-23-2017 - On a spring day in his 6th year, Harry watches couples in love stroll around the lake at Hogwarts. Harry wants what they have, so he takes a swig of felix felicis so he can claim Ginny as his own. Felix has something else in store for him, though. One-Shot. H/Hr. Pure fluff.

A Ghost's Revenge by Fairywm Harry Potter u:01-07-2023 - Harry wakes up to a voice in his head when he's six years old. Lily has stuck around, and now she's going to fix his life. First, she has to take care of Petunia. How dare that woman treat her son this way. Then she's going to find out who mucked up Harry's life in the first place.

A Grave Decision by Ebenbild Harry Potter u:06-20-2022 - Petunia, unlike Lily, listened to the stories their mother told them when they were little. The magical world already got part of her family. When Lily dies, Petunia decides that she won't give it more. "We are leaving." Good Dursleys! AU!

A Jaunt Through Time by lecturience Harry Potter u:04-11-2013 - COMPLETE. The odds of temporal displacement were tiny, too infinitesimal to count, and yet… The Harry Potter luck striking again, he supposed. So now there's an older, wiser, more mature Harry (well, the older part's true at least) stuck in the past. And he's determined that if he's going to change things, he'll have some fun doing it. (OR: Time travel minus angst equals this.)

A Late Night Rendezvous by angelically-devilish Harry Potter u:06-16-2009 - 2009 TWIN EXCHANGE FIC OF THE YEAR! Fed up with playing the villain in her recent break-up with Ron, Hermione escapes to the Grimmauld Place kitchen for some solitude. But what girl would turn down the company of a sexy, shirtless Marauder? SiriusHermione

A Little Wave, A Big Change by loverofeevee Harry Potter u:07-06-2018 - The usual story. Manipulative Dumbles, Harry gaining his independence. This takes place after Harry's third year. It was a perfectly normal day in Privet Drive. The birds are singing, the bees are buzzing, and the Dursleys were their usual cheerful selfs. Then suddenly...Now what on earth is going on this time!

A Lonely September by mem0rycafe Harry Potter u:01-31-2005 - Ginny is feeling lonely and left out. She lets her feelings out through drawings. What happens when Blaise steals her sketch book and gives it to Draco. The bigger question is why is Blaise stealing her sketch book?

A Looping of the Scales by Ms-Figg Harry Potter u:10-20-2009 - A potions accident gives Snape a new lease on life by taking part of it away. More to come.

A Magical Childhood by Kendra James Harry Potter u:08-01-2010 - An injured six year old Harry Potter wishes for escape from his cupboard with surprising results. As the wizarding world struggles to cope with his disappearance, Harry discovers childhood can be fun.

A Malfoys Curse by Goth1cPr1nc3ss Harry Potter u:07-03-2009 - Draco has a curse. All the male Malfoys line had it. He only finds out after his mother finds out about him and a certain girlfriend of his. Will he able to fight the curse or will he surrender to it? What does Hermione have to do with it?HGDM, RWPP, HPOC

A Marriage Most Convenient by AnneM.Oliver Harry Potter u:05-24-2010 - Hermione lost it all when she divorced. Draco would lose it all by age 30 if he didn't marry. Marriage to each other would be perfect, one would even say it was most convenient. Her daughter even looked like him, although, he wondered why that was.

A Parents Secret Gift by EvilDaystar Harry Potter u:06-05-2006 - What if Harry's parents had put in place a few contingency plans for Harry's future. How different would his life have been in the magical world then? Harry Potter first year AU story with some Albus Dumbledore perspective every now and again.

A Prism of Darkening Glass by Lomonaaeren Harry Potter u:06-26-2022 - AU, HPTN. Theo has gifted Harry with several things, but the prism he gives him a few months into fifth year is altogether different. COMPLETE.

A Revelation by MSgt SilverDollar and Snake Harry Potter u:06-23-2015 - REVISED AND UPDATED: NON CANON Features a super powered Harry with lots of money, titles and all that rot. Its meant to entertain those who like those stories and bash my least favorite JKR chars. Harmony all the way. Minor Revision: 7/12/14

A Second Look by RiverWriter Harry Potter u:02-17-2020 - Her best friend's life was a mess and she would have done anything to make things better for him and his sons. So, when she found her former enemy in a similar situation her heart went out to him as well... and the beautiful blond baby in his arms didn't hurt his case. It was certainly enough for her to give him a second look.

A Sirius Matter by witowsmp Harry Potter u:10-31-2007 - AU A few days after being rescued from the dementor's kiss, Sirius Black decides to share information with Harry about his destiny. The story continues on from there. HHr

A Sleeping Dragon Poked Awake by Genuka Harry Potter u:03-10-2019 - Harry spectacularly looses his temper at his trial before fifth year, issues an ultimatum to the entire Wizengamot, arbitrarily assigns Snape as his new guardian, and storms off to the Goblins for sanctuary... Oh and did I mention that he openly announced they had treated him badly enough that he was now willing to side with the Dark Lord? Let the chaos begin!

A Slytherin way of being by catchingafallingstar Harry Potter u:04-16-2019 - At the end of his third year at Hogwarts, while recovering after the final escape of Sirius Black, Harry received an unexpected visit which would not only change his life upside-down, but also affect all the magical world in time. COMPLETED!

A Soul-Mate's Kiss by IShouldBeWritingSomethingElse Harry Potter u:02-07-2016 - "You are bound, Hermione. You shared a Soul-Mate's Kiss." / SS/HG HEA...Always :)

A Subtle Love by MaryRoyale Harry Potter u:12-12-2015 - Blaise Zabini has loved Hermione for half of his life, but due to the war he has never felt comfortable revealing his feelings for her. After he acquires a genuine DA coin, he gets the opportunity of a lifetime, and he grasps it with both hands. Submission for Round 9 Hermione Smut on lj. Hermione/Blaise.

A Time for Changeling by Bloodpage-Alchemist Harry Potter u:07-15-2013 - Two Dementors showed up in Little Whinging and changed Harry Potter's world forever. Now he's on the hunt for family he's never known plus entangled in a web of political intrigue and subterfuge. Why does everything happen to him?

A Trunk With A Difference by CatsAreCool Harry Potter u:04-07-2019 - Lily had hoped for the best, but she always planned for the worst.

A Twisted Timeline by MadnessPersonified Harry Potter u:06-18-2008 - Much to his displeasure, Harry is thrown back through time into his six year old body. As a result, Harry decides to contort the timeline, purely for his own amusement.

A Witch's Tale by snowblind12 Harry Potter u:11-01-2017 - This is Hermione's story. The wizarding world is in a crisis; increasing squibs and decreasing magical power of pureblood children. Hermione has a theory. She finds friendship and love where she least expects it. Rated M for LEMONS and light D/s. Please forgive spelling and punctuation errors. Needs editing! Hermione, Theo and Draco. Also, Snape lived. Not Canon.

A Witch with a certain point of view by anorc Harry Potter u:06-07-2023 - Daphne's point of view chapters for Not With a Half-Blood. Daphne's parents had 'A Plan', and it made her little sister happy, so it was worth it, she supposed. But allying with the Malfoys to take the Black fortune meant... having to have a child with Draco one day. Ugh. Then Harry Potter won?, but the Malfoys had somehow changed sides. And then, she met Harry Potter at a party.

A Wonderful Caricature of Intimacy by Countess of Abe Harry Potter u:09-03-2008 - Draco loves his son more than anything in the world. So, when his ex-wife plans to take his son away, Draco asks the most unlikely person for help. Hermione must decide whether changing her entire life is worth helping the man she hates unconditionally.

A Year and A Day by Mutt N. Feathers Harry Potter u:06-02-2021 - There's no Voldemort, no war, just a Wizarding society in need to moving into the twentieth century even though they are on the cusp of the twenty-first. The Source of All Magic determines who you will be best suited to, and when you turn seventeen you are given a name. Sirius Black didn't get his perfect partner until he was forty, and he already knows her, and she can't stand him

Absence does Something to the Heart by PauloPT90 Harry Potter u:09-02-2020 - Happily engaged to Ron, Hermione returns to Hogwarts to complete her seventh year. But the end of the war brings about a change in the teaching style of the school with a big impact on inter-house cooperation.

Accepting Defeat by GrandeVanillaSkimLatte Harry Potter u:09-24-2008 - Mrs Weasley is determined to pair Hermione with a Weasley, any Weasley. Eventually it takes Fred and George to step in and save the day. Winner of the Twin Exchange September 2008 Challenge. FredHermione.

Accidental Affection by katmd Harry Potter u:08-04-2004 - When mutual friends decide to marry, Severus Snape and Hermione Granger find themselves presented with the perfect opportunity to get to know each other better.

Accidental Proposal by CJRed Harry Potter u:08-26-2017 - Hermione finds out that she is really a Nott, and there are so many rules to being a Pureblood, too bad Draco Malfoy seems to have forgotten one of the most important rules of all! Hermione/Draco. Theo and Hermione are siblings. Ignores epilogue and off canon in some other places as well. Set in 8th year. Language, Fluff, and Lemons. Complete.

All Bets Are Off by PrettiestStar17 Harry Potter u:10-27-2018 - Hermione has harbored a crush on Fred Weasley for years. But that's all it is! A silly, little crush that's lingered from her Hogwarts' years. That's all it is...until one of her best friends, Ginny Weasley, is thrown into a life changing predicament. As she rallies with the rest of the family to help Ginny, Hermione regularly finds herself in Fred's charming company. M+

All Fall by Lomonaaeren Harry Potter u:11-12-2021 - HPTN. Harry Potter is one of the few wizards strong enough to enable a newly-turned vampire to return to human, as long as he feeds them his magically-charged blood for a few weeks and they neither kill him nor feed on anyone else. Called on to help new vampire Theodore Nott return to himself, Harry wishes he understood why Nott is acting like he doesn't want to. COMPLETE.

All For You by hermoine snape Harry Potter u:10-29-2010 - Remus had to leave his only daughter at the care of London's Childern's Home after his home his burnt down by death eaters. "I'm doing this because I love you." he told her. He left the building hearing her cries. Pairing: HP/HG COMPLETE! Updated Chapter 8 &9 7/12/16

All Through the Night by Bloodpage-Alchemist Harry Potter u:06-02-2019 - Harry awakens transported back in time over 500 years. Hogwarts is still being built and, amid the bustle, Harry finds the warm, nurturing parental figure missing in his life, in none other than Rowena Ravenclaw. Will Harry ever go home? Will he want to?

All Was Not Well by White Angel of Auralon Harry Potter u:12-27-2012 - Harry was massively disappointed in how things were going after the final battle. Nothing had changed, it only looked like it on the outside. So he decides to change the past to prevent certain things from happening. Being the Master of Death has its perks. Time-travel, Harry / OC

All the Time in the World by burnable Harry Potter u:03-06-2022 - After an accident, Harry finds himself reliving his day, over and over. He decides to use his time... wisely. One-shot.

All with Accio by freakyfinger Harry Potter u:07-25-2012 - Can the TriWizard Tournament be completed with just one spell? OneShot.

Alone by cheshirecat1333 Harry Potter u:02-09-2011 - What happens when Hermione is left alone while Harry and Ron are searching for Horcruxes? Will a certain Head Boy and his best friend finally give her a break? HGDMBZ

A long wait for freedom by charlie-becks Harry Potter u:06-06-2012 - A 5year old child dies at the hands of his family And to this day can be seen at the house in which he died. Will he be saved or will he be on his own forever? Warning: mentions of abuse

Always Read the Fine Print by questionablequotation Harry Potter u:03-16-2015 - ONE-SHOT. After being entered into the Tri-Wizard Tournament against his will, Harry does some independent research on what precisely "magically binding" means...and comes up with a very different approach to the competition. As they say, the pen is mightier than the sword...but is the quill mightier than the wand?

A mother's love by Ree923 Labyrinth u:10-01-2013 - From the moment Sarah left the Labyrinth, Jareth knew he needed to get her back. He didn't know what human love was, but he knew he would die without her. Karen knew it too.

And All the Nights to Come by Lomonaaeren Harry Potter u:07-31-2020 - Gen. On the night of Harry's ninth birthday, everything seems to be breaking apart for him. His despair reaches out into the darkness and summons the one person who stands a chance of comforting him. COMPLETE.

And We All Fall Down by Rumaan Harry Potter u:10-26-2012 - The spring term at Hogwarts starts with a bang with the return of Draco Malfoy, back for his eighth year after a stint in Azkaban. But all is not right with Draco and Head Girl Hermione Granger can't help but get involved. EWE

Angry Harry and the Seven by Sinyk Harry Potter u:10-22-2013 - Just how will Dumbledore cope with a Harry who is smart, knowledgeable, sticks up for himself and, worst still, is betrothed? A Harry who has a penchant for losing his temper? Ravenclaw/Smart(alek)/Lord/Harry Almostcanon/Dumbledore Non-friend/Ron Harry&Daphne (Haphne). No Harem. Rating is for language and minor 'Lime' scenes.

Animagus at War by White Squirrel Harry Potter u:11-20-2023 - Sequel to The Accidental Animagus. Voldemort's back, and this time, he's not alone. Harry and his family are caught in the middle as the wizarding war goes international. Years 5-7.

Apprentic James by Lil Nezumi Harry Potter u:07-05-2012 - Char. Ooc, AU/AR, still within JK's world - Harry is apprenticed to a Diagon Alley businessman at the tender age of seven. From there the story changes... very mild bashing of some regulars.

Are You Gonna Be My Girl by CajunWitch Harry Potter u:02-17-2013 - Hermione returns for her final year at Hogwarts. Rejects Head Girl position, this year is all about fun for her. One night she and Ginny sneak out of Hogwarts. When they sneak back in, Head Boy Draco catches them. Ginny is able to get away, but Hermione is at his mercy!

A reason to drink by angelfromhigh Harry Potter u:07-26-2006 - Harry opened his eyes slowly, afraid that he had just had a drunkenly induced fantasy. He was sincerely hopeful that he had not just been kissing thin air.

Art of Love by wickedswanz Harry Potter u:09-02-2009 - Hermione needs the Order's sexiest wizard to teach her the art of love making after being dumped, and Sirius is only too happy to oblige. But can the king of love-em and leave-em give her what she desires or will his heart get in the way? Rating: ADULT

As the World Falls Down by Iavas Labyrinth u:12-09-2009 - Stories become legends, legends become myths, and myths eventually become life. Jareth has waited seven years since his defeat, watching as Sarah grows into a woman and into her dreams of acting. A careless wish summons him back from the Underground.

A tale of two phoenix by Rahmota Harry Potter u:02-22-2022 - Harry and Hermione. Die together but are reborn together as Heart's blood bonded Phoenixes. Their world was strange enough now they have to learn to adapt to the changes in themselves as they learn the secrets Dumbledore kept. An unexpected ally helps them out though. Rated M for descriptions of violence, sexual situations, language. No harem. Weasleys are neutral.

Atonement by old-crow Harry Potter u:09-10-2019 - Harry received some useful advice before the third task. The butterfly effect will be going full-speed. Not everyone is happy with the changes. Enjoy

A very Black plan by WriterRose1998 Harry Potter u:02-14-2023 - Harry knows he's in trouble. Sixteen years old and already fighting for his and his friends lives just because some old men couldn't ignore a barmy woman sprouting a few lines. Harry's a boy with the world on his scrawny shoulders and with no adults to help him. But Sirius wouldn't leave his pup without a chance of survival. The world better watch out for a Black with a plan.

Avian Anarchy by Teddylonglong Harry Potter u:03-21-2021 - In a previous life, Hedwig's soul had once belonged to Lily. Recalling everything from her former life, the bird chooses Harry as her familiar shortly before his 11th birthday and causes mayhem at all who want to harm her son. Completely AU, partly OOC. Dumbledore/Weasley bashing. HP LL. COMPLETELY AU!

[themilkshanghai]

Spring Break Challenge 2022

[ April 3rd : Flying ]

Springs break 2022 by @kc-and-co

Mcs : Joseph | Joshua | Rin | Jeniferl

( @yoselin-uyu , @krinkitori , @hphm-jeniferltheman )

( Classroom )

" STOP—-STOP IT!! "

" You have no idea how many hours it took me to make props! "

「 Do you remember? In childhood, we made paper wings, brought a broom and played on the playground. Time and time again we tried to fly. Enjoyed together, laughed together. It was so fun.」

" He teases her again? (^^;)\ "

" Yeah, always and they soon got back together "

[aleapple1216]

Spring Beark Challenge 1 - Flying

I'm not a fast drawer and I don't really write well but I did this little sketches about how this 2 bitches ended up tasting the ground on the Hogwarts Festival.

Talbott's back and Arlene's face were not the same since that day.

[hphm-jeniferltheman]

Spring Break Day 1: Flying

Flying is Jeniferl's favorite hobby and what makes it better is to spend it with her friends.

She spends her first day of Spring break at Hogwarts with Orion, Skye, Murphy, Penny, and Face Paint Kid. They're practicing for fun even though its their break. Penny and Face Paint kid is just there to cheer them and may also gather some Quidditch information, who knows.

~~~~~~

Day 1 of Spring Break base on this challenge by kc-and-co. So I decided to join through drawing(of course). The beginning of how Jeniferl spend her Spring Break in Year 3.

[the-al-chemist]

Now It Is Getting Late

A/N: My intention for @kc-and-co’s Spring Challenge was to use the prompts to create content for my modern era OCs, however, my OG girl felt left out. So, halfway through the challenge, we have an extra story for the “Regret” prompt, featuring Artemis Hexley, Charlie Weasley, and the new Potter family. A lot of credit for this story has to go to the incredibly talented @blvnk-art, whose artwork featuring Ginny and Harry’s children has massively influenced how I’ve written them in this story. Warnings: none really, but Charlie might make you feel a little broody.

The sun was setting over the rolling green hills when the Potter children returned home, James and Albus chasing each other through the garden whilst Lily sat on one of her uncle’s broad shoulders, her stuffed toy dragon on the other, talking animatedly to the small dark-haired woman who was with them.

“Look who’s back,” the children’s mother laughed, leaning in the doorframe. “I was starting to think that the zoo wanted to keep you all.”

“I did ask, but they said they had enough monkeys already,” Charlie Weasley lifted his niece off his shoulders and lowered her to the ground, where she held his hand and leaned back onto her heels. “Sorry we’re late back, Gin. We got held up at the baboon enclosure.”

“They had big red bottoms.”

“Did they really?”

“Yes, and two of them had a fight.”

“They weren’t fighting, Lily,” sniggered James. “They were having-”

“Okay,” Ginny Potter clapped her hands together, her voice suddenly loud and authoritative. “Let’s get you all fed and ready for bed.”

Three small voices bemoaned her idea, but Ginny wouldn’t be swayed.

“Uncle Charlie, are you staying for dinner?” Lily looked up at him with wide brown eyes. Charlie gave his sister a dubious look, which the little girl didn’t miss. “Please?”

“Sorry, Lily, I’ve got to pack ready to get my Portkey home in the morning. But I’ll see you soon.”

“Will you come and see my new swing first?”

“I think I can just about manage that,” Charlie said, after a brief nod from Ginny. “But then you have to do what your mum says and get ready for bed.”

Lily half-led, half-dragged Charlie across the garden, and Ginny shepherded the two boys inside the house, before smiling apologetically at the last person remaining at the front door.

“Sorry, Artemis,” she said. “I’d invite you both in for dinner, but they’re hyped up enough as it is, and-”

“Don’t worry,” replied Artemis. “I’m pretty tired, actually.”

“In general, or just of my children? I wouldn’t blame you if it was the latter.”

“Well, now that you mention it…” Artemis smirked, before shaking her head. “No, they were fine. Loud and energetic, but fine.”

“Yeah, they’re always loud and energetic. I’ve actually been tired for eight years,” Ginny laughed. “How long are you around for, anyway?”

“Until Wednesday.”

“Free for a coffee Monday morning?”

“Sure,” Artemis nodded. “You can catch me up on all the latest before I go to Iceland.”

Charlie and Lily were returning from seeing the swing, Lily still chatting away excitedly.

“Right, now it’s time for dinner and bed,” her mother told her, firmly. “What do you say to Artemis and Charlie?”

“Thank you for taking us to the zoo.”

Artemis patted Lily on the head as she wrapped her arms around her hips and Charlie crouched down so that he could hug her properly.

“Thank you for coming with us to the zoo. We would have been really bored without you there,” he said, and he kissed her on the nose. Lily held her toy dragon up to him.

“You have to kiss the dragon, too.”

“I don’t know if that’s a good idea. It’s very dangerous to try and kiss dragons.”

“It’s okay, Uncle Charlie,” Lily told him earnestly. “This one is just a toy.”

“Oh well, that’s alright, then.”

Charlie kissed the dragon’s nose too, and with a fresh round of goodbyes and thank yous, Ginny, Lily, and the dragon all went inside. The door closed and Charlie turned to Artemis.

“Food time?”

“Food time.”

They walked back up the garden path towards the road, neither of them speaking. Artemis frowned, casting a look over her shoulder at the house.

“You alright?”

“I’m fine,” said Artemis. She tilted her head to one side. “Charlie.”

“Yeah?”

“Do you ever regret it?”

“Uh, I’m not sure what you’re talking about.”

“The whole marriage and babies thing. Do you ever regret not doing that?”

Charlie’s red eyebrows furrowed. “Why do you ask?”

“Will your answer change depending on why I’m asking you?”

“No. No, I was just curious,” Charlie took a deep breath. “And no. I don’t regret it at all.”

“Really?”

“Really, I… Well, I mean, I’d be lying if I said I’d never thought about what it might be like - what they might be like - if… But that’s just normal, isn’t it?”

“Is it?” Artemis wrinkled her nose. “I never wonder about that.”

“In the nicest way, Artie, the fact that you’re asking me about this probably means that you’re wondering this right now.”

“No. Not really, anyway. Just seeing how you are with Lily and how much you love each other made me think, that’s all.”

“I love all my nieces and nephews.”

“Yeah, but Lily’s your favourite.”

“Am I really that transparent?”

“To me, yes.”

Charlie laughed, and Artemis smiled wryly to herself before sighing.

“And I guess for me it’s kind of a thing inside my head - or somewhere, anyway - saying that I need to think about this stuff now or it’ll be too late.”

“Artemis…”

“Don’t ‘Artemis’ me. It’s easy for you, you have all the time in the world. I am the one who is turning into a Shrivelfig.”

“That’s not true. Shrivelfigs don’t have nearly as much hair as you do.”

“Very funny,” Artemis rolled her eyes. “You know what I mean.”

“I do, but I don’t agree with you,” Charlie shrugged. “Oh, come on. You are thirty-nine years old, it’s not like... Anyway, you don’t want children.”

“No, but-”

“So, why are we having this conversation?” When Artemis didn’t reply, Charlie laughed. “You don’t even like children that much.”

“I like some children. The good ones.”

“You can’t guarantee that you’re going to get a good one, though. What if it was… I don’t know, allergic to cats or something?”

“I hadn’t even thought about that,” said Artemis, and she raised her eyebrows. “Imagine having a child that didn’t like dragons.”

“That would never happen. All children like dragons.”

Artemis chuckled before trying to turn the conversation back to where it had been before. “So, you don’t-”

“Shush. Listen.”

“What?” Artemis asked, but Charlie placed a finger to his lips and looked from side to side. Artemis frowned and whispered, “I can’t hear anything.”

“Exactly. It’s quiet.”

Artemis started to laugh.

“I had almost forgotten what quiet sounded like,” she murmured. “It’s nice.”

“So nice,” Charlie smiled serenely and breathed in the cool evening air. “How could I ever regret this?”

The setting sun was painting orange and lilac shades in the indigo sky, and the grass was starting to smell dewy. It was as if the world was holding its breath for them, knowing fully well how much they were enjoying the quiet.

“Come on. Let’s go and get something to-”

“MUM!” the sound of a child’s indignant shout filled the air from the house behind them. “JAMES STOLE MY DRAGON!”

Charlie and Artemis made eye contact before rushing away, both grateful that they had the option to do so.

[fischerfrey]

spring break: day 06; fruit

September 2005, The Malinda Manor

Verna was sitting in the back garden of her house, the day’s paperwork spread out in front of her like a flock of seagulls demanding food. She wasn’t making as much progress with the legislation regarding wrongful imprisonment as she had hoped but then again, the Ministry had always been slow to budge. She had come to work outside, as it was still warm and the rays of the afternoon sun filtered through her beloved apple trees, landing on Merula and Rowan who were busy picking the fruits into baskets and buckets and whatever else they had found in the cellar. Merula had forgone her wand begrudgingly after Roe threw a fit about how unfair it was that he wasn’t allowed to use magic yet, and he’d have to do everything by hand. Without the help of magic, the job would take far longer but looking at the two of them, laughing and bickering among the trees, Verna didn’t think they minded it all that much. And she had promised to help, too, once she had finished with the day’s work. Dipping her quill in ink, she started back up again.

~

When she finally finished, some 45 minutes later, and made her way into the orchard, Roe was tiptoeing on a wooden ladder, trying to grab the apples on the higher branches.

“That is an accident waiting to happen,” she said to Merula, pointing to their son teetering amongst the branches. She preferred to use sign language, but often, like now, also spoke the words aloud out of habit. It had been seven years since the Battle of Hogwarts, but she had lived 26 years of her life hearing. Out of the three of them, Verna had been practicing sign language the longest, but Roe had picked it fast, having grown up with it. Merula struggled the most but had made a lot of progress.

“He insisted,” she said now, and shook her head, defeated. “I’ve been waiting down here to catch him if he falls.”

“I can’t believe you ended up being the lenient mum.”

“Hey that’s---", started Merula but then looked up towards Roe. Verna followed her gaze and saw him clambering down from the ladder excitedly, clutching something in his hand. When he got down, he turned to them, holding out his hand where he held a perfectly round, golden apple. Verna had hoped there would be one this year. Her father had enchanted the tree long ago to produce golden apples for her and Jacob to find, like a treasure hunt. The apples only had the appearance of gold and were otherwise perfectly normal. They had been growing very rare lately. In fact, there hadn’t been a single golden apple in four years and Verna hadn’t yet figured out how to reproduce her father’s spell.

“You found the treasure!” she exclaimed. “Your grandfather used to say it brings luck to whoever finds it.”

Roe beamed. “It’s pretty! Can I keep it?”

Verna nodded, and Roe put the golden apple amongst the others in his basket.

“Ma, will you help us now?” he then asked. “You’re much taller so we could really use your help.”

Verna laughed, while Merula looked perfectly offended, like always when her height was brought up. “Should’ve allowed me to bring my wand, then…” she complained. Roe stuck out his tongue at her.

“Yes, I’ll help you,” Verna laughed.

“No magic allowed,” Roe added resolutely.

Verna raised up her hands to show she didn’t have her wand with her. “Let’s get to it and maybe we can bake a delicious apple pie after we’re done.”

Roe sprung into action immediately. He was very easy bribe with baked goods. He went up the ladder again like a little spider and Verna called after him to be careful. Then she turned to face her wife.

“Did you have something to do with the golden apple?” she asked.

Merula looked found out. “I… may have figured out your dad’s spell.”

Verna’s smile widened. “You’re brilliant, you know that?”

“Yeah, I’ve been told.”

fin.

author’s notes: roe is 8 so verna and merula use he/him pronouns for them, as she hasn’t really vocalized her wishes on the matter/nor probably thought about it much himself yet

also; all three of them use sign language in the dialogue, as well as spoken english.

event by @kc-and-co

[madelineorionswan]

Hogwarts: Spring break

Day 2: My brothers (siblings)

A/N: Day 2 people! so for a little twist, this is from the hphl au. And I know I haven't finished the character sheets for Albert or his siblings but don't worry, it'll come soon. Now enjoy.!

Summary: Albert burke, finally gets to meet his younger brother Alexander at a little family reunion.

Warnings: Fluff

"Are you sure they have the correct address?"

"Trust me father, I do, they should be here any moment,"

Today was a big day for Albert Burke. The spring of 1908 had already been an eye-opening experience for him. After graduating from Hogwarts, officially declared an adult and heir to the lordship, viscount William Wyevernbush.

But today certainly would be one of his greatest endeavours as today, he was to meet his brothers.

Now, this might sound strange to some. But with the twisted history, Albert has to bear the burden for 18 years, it isn't something out of the blue.

Albert Abderus Edmund Burke. The second-born son of Aurelian and Gwydion Burke. The one who never got to know his parents. The unwanted child. Albert hadn't seen his father or mother in the past 17 years. That is after they decided to abandon him.

At first, when Albert learned about his parentage, he was willing to believe that they left him for a noble cause. But after experiencing his tenure at Hogwarts and, meeting his estranged elder brother Ernest, he was proved wrong. Albert was shocked and beside himself as he learnt about his parent’s loveless ways of life and their ruthlessness toward others. And with those tales, his hopes and wishes of ever meeting them were thrown away.

But Albert still wanted to meet his siblings. He had briefly interacted with his brother Ernest, occasionally talking with him during classes or in the hallways. The two brothers found that they had a strong bond, despite not knowing each other for most of their childhood. They became good friends.

The other children were barred from meeting him. Ever. Albert was devastated.

Ernest, who believed that his estranged brother had the right to meet his siblings was beside himself at his parents’ declaration but would not disobey them. So after his and Albert’s graduation, he arranged for a secret meeting with himself, his younger brother Alexander and Albert at the latter’s adoptive home, Livingbourne house.

And today was the day the three brothers would meet. Albert, paced impatiently on the driveway of the estate, while William too, waited at the entrance. He knew it was a big day for the young lad he had loved as his own.

He had mixed feelings about the meeting. Of Course, he would be leaving the young men alone to bond, but he too was nervous as to what they would think of them.

Albert too was nervous, although not for the same reasons, as his adoptive father. Yes, he was a little nervous to meet his younger brother, but more than that, he was nervous about what they would… do.

He wasn't sure how to exactly put it. But Albert had no idea how the union would go. He was shy and quiet like Ernest, but what of Alexander? He hadn't known the boy who he now knew to be his brother. How would he react to his parents and himself?

Both the men were nervous but their worries were put to rest for a moment, as they heard the distinct sound of horses' feet trotting on the cobbled drive, mixed with the sound of carriage wheels.

Albert's face brightened and his lips pulled into his signature soft smile as he saw the dark green and black carriage come to a stop near the fountain. The door of the carriage opened, revealing a young man who bore quite the resemblance to Albert.

“Ah there you are Albert,” he said gleefully as he got out of the carriage. This was Ernest Adeodatus Richard Burke.

He got off and quickly pulled his brother into a hug, which Albert happily returned, after not being able to see or form a correspondence with him for several months.

While the two eldest brothers hugged each other, William smiled fondly at them. He might not have exactly approved of such a meeting, but he noticed the strong bond that they both held.

Smiling to himself, he walked inside, to assess the needs of their guests.

"Brother, I believe you are yet to meet someone," Ernest said, letting go of his brother and moving a little away.

“Uh, r-right, yes, Alexander,” Albert said, nervously.

Ernest chuckled and then called for Alexander. The youngest Burke brother had been observing the reunion of the two eldest ones from a little distance. He had smiled softly to himself as he too felt the slight warmth of familial relations, something he’d only seen with his brother and younger sisters.

To him, Albert felt like a known stranger.

He quickly got off the carriage once summoned by his brother and stood straight as a stick. Albert too stiffened up a little. Alexander cleared his throat and walked up to his brother. But instead of smartly introducing himself in the gentleman like manner his father had made sure to drill into his brain, he froze.

Both the brothers didn't know what to say. They didn't know how exactly to greet each other. Were they to hug or shake their hands or just stare at each other. Ernest, unfortunately, was stuck in an awkward situation and had to stand at a discomfiting distance away from the brother.

Time stood still for them and it felt like an eternity before Ernest cleared his throat.

As if snapping out of a trance Albert shook his head. He then smiled brightly and opened his arms for a hug. Alexander, couldn't refuse.

And that was all that was needed to bring the three brothers together, just as good as old friends.v For now they had found each other and a little piece of their family.

[ellie-e-marcovitz]

On the Hogwarts Express Home

@kc-and-co​

Day 1 - Flying

12 April 1987 - 3rd year

I dropped my rucksack in the seat next to me. Besides a handful of other, more religious students, there were a fair number of townsfolk from Hogsmeade on the train as well. I stuck to the compartment me and Rowan usually shared to and from Hogwarts at the beginning and end of every year so far.

I really wasn’t eager to mingle with the other students on the train, who had been eyeing me suspiciously when I boarded, and me them, almost daring them to try me. I pulled the curtains shut, before changing out of my uniform.

I was honestly surprised there weren’t more students, what with the boggarts loose in the castle. But I was glad to escape, even for only a week. Mum and dad promised to take me to see The Voyage Home in cinemas, after hearing about it all summer from my American cousins. In the process, I’d borrowed both The Wrath of Khan and the Search for Spock to figure out what the storyline might be.

I flopped down in the seat, the scenery flying past. It felt weird, riding the Hogwarts Express without Rowan or any of my friends. I was glad, however, to not have to deal with Merula.

What smile I had faded some. No doubt, she was whining about me leaving and wondering why I was allowed to go home, unlike most of the school. I sighed, before rolling my eyes to myself.

I didn’t need her to control my vacation, so to speak. Let her live in her bubble of misery. I shoved those thoughts away, before opening my bag and pulling out my Astronomy books. This was the one class I didn’t mind getting a head start on the essay or reading ahead.

And I suspected having access to my other science books would come in handy as well, should Rowan owl about Muggle Studies.

The rest of the ride was quiet, the scenery shifting as we neared London, Kings Cross, and late afternoon. The train slowed, pulling into the quiet platform with a hiss. I grabbed my bag, slinging a strap and carrying my jumper.

Mum was waiting as I disembarked, and I hurtled over. This had been one of the reasons I didn’t come home at Christmas, as much as I wanted to (with all the boggarts around and Merula).

We chatted quietly, as we made our way to the tube station. I kept close moving through the ticket hall, relaxing as we reached the platform. We had to transfer to make it to Waterloo, but it wasn’t long before we were on our way home.

[usernoneexistent]

April 9th - Flowers

A/N: Naturally, I need to end this wonderful challenge with my favourite couple, Chariper. But this takes place in 5th year so they’re not dating yet (that’s in 8 years in the future lol). A big thanks to @kc-and-co for the challenge even thought I kinda just hopped on. Warnings: Just some fluff

Spring Break Masterpost here

"It's so beautiful here, I wish it could stay like this forever," The blue-haired mentioned. Next to her laying in the grassy meadow was a boy half asleep with fiery red hair. The sun was slowly rising warming the two teens. A spring breeze kept them cool though. Juniper was picking on the flowers nearby making an intricate daisy chain.

Hmm," He replied back lazily.

"I cannae believe how the spring holiday has flown by," Juniper commentated. For the past two weeks, almost like a ritual Charlie and Juniper have been spending each morning at the crack of dawn in the meadows nearby. Soaking in the tranquillity of the countryside. She knew that Bill and Charlie offered her to come here as a way to forget about everything that happened in the portrait vault. Nobody talked about it. They didn't even dare to breathe about it, especially with Molly around.

“Yeah, I still can't wrap my mind around it, about everything," Charlie said softly. Out of the five of them, he was the quietest about his thoughts while Juniper had a full-on breakdown in front of them. She even managed to frighten Merula which was a strange feat in itself. She didn't push the boy to talk about it. Not after all the help he had given to her and given her space when she needed it.

Juniper placed the finished daisy chain now turning crown on top of Charlie's head. He gave a crooked grin at the gesture.

"How does it look?" He asked. Charlie sat up and fixed the present properly.

"Perfect for a dragon king," She teased.

"Now I need to make one for you," As he plucked out the white flowers and started to carefully peel the stem open. Juniper was fascinated by his massive hands yet how gentle they are. Once done, he lay the daisy crown gently on her blue locks.

"You have a petal," His callused hand caressing the soft hair, picking out the white petal, "Here."He was so close to Juniper right now. Just mere breathes away. She soaked in the smell of honeysuckle and fresh grass. The moment felt like an eternity. An eternity she wished to relish in forever.

"Your hair is so soft. Like a cat," Charlie complimented. Juniper grabbed his hand and guided it towards her hair, granting him permission to stroke.

Charlie's hand, which covered the top of her head, caressed her hair carefully. He realised why her hair felt so familiar. It was silky like the Russian blue cat that would visit the Gryffindor common room.

Juniper studied his face. How his chestnut eyes sparkled. The freckles clustered the most at his nose. His thin lips that she wanted to share a kiss with. Should she? She leaned in closer, centimetre by centimetre.

Charlie didn't pull back, actually quite the opposite. She could feel the dry skin brush against her lips.

"Am I interrupting something?" They immediately separated themselves. Charlie hid his beetroot red face, "Nope, it's fine."

Juniper gave Bill a death stare. A perfect moment ruined. Bill made a silent oh when he realised what was happening.

"Well, mum made breakfast...so we better head inside," Bill laughed nervously. Charlie and Juniper nodded, and they left silently. Juniper couldn't help but touch her lips. Charlie had almost kissed her there. But if Bill hadn't interrupted them, what more could have happened?

[endlessly-cursed]

Heightened Feelings (Blyle)

This is my entry for @kc-and-co​ ‘s Spring Event with the prompt “Flying”. 

Lyle Astor belongs to @cursebreakerfarrier​ 

Blanche Dubois had woken up early this Sunday morning for her ride. She went to the stables, where her dear abraxan, Apollo. He neighed at her sight and she smiled at him, caressing his snout and feeding him apples and every treat.

“I see you’re on a good mood. Shall we be off for our ride?”

He neighed in response and she smiled, quickly riding him and they flew off, but Apollo seemed to be scheming, for he stopped at Lyle’s window, and neighed to call his attention. One of his dormmates teasingly told him of the visit and Blanche tried to play it cool “Blanche? Isn’t it a bit early?”

“As Apollo here.” She nudged her abraxan, who neighed “Though I won’t be mad if you decline.”

He smiled fondly at her “I could never decline any invitation from you, Blanche. May I?”

She smiled broadly, making space for Lyle, and she placed both hands on her waist, and while she did not see, she could tell he was blushing. They flew off, gaining a few whistles from his friends.

Apollo flew high and a reasonable pace, and Blanche’s hairpins fell at the speed and she laughed, whooping. She looked at the sights before her: the bright blue morning sky, the clouds fluffy and the smell of pine, Lyle’s essence, and the wind stroking her every part and the feeling of freedom on her. Apollo went higher and both touched the clouds, laughing at how cold they were.

Lyle breathed Blanche’s intoxicating essence, basking on this moment and the warmth of her body, feeling as though as he had reached heaven. He allowed himself to stroke gently her hair and get as close as he could ever afford, the inebriating feeling intoxicating his very being and his heart beating as fast, feeling invincible. Blanche looked at him and smiled, and Merlin, was that the most beautiful smile from the most beautiful woman he ever beheld. He swallowed as he dared to lean closer, and so did she, and nothing seemed to matter. He could hear her heavy breathing and her eyes closing, and he whispered her name, pressing himself more against her. Their foreheads and noses touched, the only noise between them the wind and their breaths. He could almost feel the warmth of her mouth when the abraxan dipped low, going back to the ground, passing the lake. Blanche laughed and looked at him again, and he could hardly contain the laughter either. The abraxan stopped at the training grounds and he quickly got down, offering to help out Blanche. He had figured out that their moment a few minutes ago was the cause of it, for when they locked eyes as she tried to get down, she wobbled and fell right into his arms, being as close as they had been before. He swallowed hard and flushed furiously, staring at her tempting and beautiful pink lips, and licked his own.

“Blanche…” He whispered.

They nearly kissed when the flying professor cleared their throat, letting them know that class was about to begin. He quickly placed Blanche on the floor and both regained composure as they tried to avoid the first year’s giggles.

“I’ll, uh, see you at the Quidditch match, then?”

“Y-yes, I believe our house will play against Gryffindor.”

She smiled awkwardly before he bid Apollo goodbye and both went back to the stables.

“Lyle!”

He whipped his head to see what could she want, when he felt her lips on his cheek, on the corner of his mouth, and he gasped and stood perfectly still, stunned by her move. She giggled before finally retiring to the stables. Some first years laughed at him and he quickly excused himself, going back to his dorm, where he’d get endless teasing for his very red face.

[usernoneexistent]

They're all so cute 😊 I love their family dynamic

Spring Break Challenge - Day 6

Prompt: Fruit

A/N: It's the penultimate day of the Spring Break Challenge by @kc-and-co, I can't believe how fast it's gone! Today is all about picking cherries and who else could that prompt be for than my girl Lizzie Jameson and her family?

This story is set some time before Dylan and Reva attend Hogwarts. If anyone wonders why Lizzie already has her family but is still called Jameson, yes, good for picking up on that, but it is intentional.

Find all stories for this challenge in the masterpost here.

A flock of birds suddenly burst from a nearby tree as an ear piercing scream echoed through the orchard. Caught by surprise, Lizzie Jameson almost lost her balance and swayed on the ladder she was standing on before she caught hold of a branch and steadied herself again.

She grimaced as only moments after the scream the sound of a child crying could be heard, and she hung her head as the noise grew steadily louder. Sharing a look with her partner Orion Amari, Lizzie sighed, adjusted the basket full of cherries she was carrying in the crook of her arm and climbed down the ladder, just in time for two dark-haired children to appear from between the trees - one of them crying, the other with a defiant look on her little face.

After quickly assessing if her son was crying out of frustration or if he was actually hurt, Lizzie cut through the wild allocations of blame, crossed her arms in front of her chest and raised her eyebrows.

“What’s happened this time?”

“Reva! She’s -”

“No, Dylan! He -”

“When in dissonance, each voice is better heard on its own before harmony can unfold,” Orion said calmly as he joined Lizzie’s side. The two children glanced at her mother uncertainly.

“One after the other,” she clarified. “Dylan, why are you crying?”

Reva opened her mouth to protest, but a warning look from Lizzie made her close her mouth again.

“Reva pulled me off the ladder!” Dylan sniffed. “I fell down, and it hurt.”

“Oh dear, how far was it?”

“Far.”

“Not that far,” Reva muttered. “It was a small tree.”

“Reva,” Lizzie sighed, “why did you pull your brother off the ladder?”

“It was an accident,” Reva declared, obviously intimidated by her mother’s stern look. “I just wanted to pick some cherries, too!”

“Didn’t we tell you to take turns?”

“Yes, but Reva wasn’t playing fair,” Dylan protested. “She didn’t let me up forever and she ate all the cherries herself straight away.”

“I wonder where she got that from,” Orion said so quietly that only Lizzie would hear it. She gave him a look but a hard time trying not to laugh.

“So,” she said instead, “Reva, how would you feel being pulled down a ladder?”

“I wouldn’t cry like a baby.”

“Reva…”

“Fine,” Reva huffed dramatically, “ I wouldn’t like it.”

“And you, Dylan? How would you like to not get your turn?”

“That wouldn’t be nice,” Dylan mumbled and glanced at Reva defiantly, “but -“

“No,” Lizzie said firmly, “no ‘but’s. What do we need to do now?”

Reva and Dylan glared at each other before quickly shaking each other’s hand, letting go immediately afterwards. Lizzie had to bite back a laugh as she saw Reva furtively wiping her hand on her shirt.

“If you ask me,” Orion said gently and knelt down in front of his still glowering kids, “fun is just like these cherries.” He reached for the basket Lizzie had set down on the ground and pulled out two cherries which were joined by their stems. He plucked them apart and handed Dylan and Reva one each. “Just like fruit, fun is better shared.” He stood up again and picked up the basket. “How about we finish this up together?”

Both children were enthusiastic at their father’s suggestion, but Lizzie saw Dylan’s face darken just that little bit when Orion took Reva onto his shoulders and climbed the ladder back up with her.

“Hey champ,” she said and brushed through Dylan’s dark hair, “I’ve got so many cherries already I can hardly carry the basket anymore. How about you help me with that?”

“These are a lot,” Dylan confirmed and eyed the basket attentively.

“They are.”

“Give them to me.” He held out his hands and Lizzie gave him her basket before helping him get up to reach the branches of the cherry tree as well. She had to be careful not to slip as she made sure Dylan wouldn’t fall and smiled to herself.

It was a new kind of balance she’d found for herself, but she didn’t like it any less.

[themilkshanghai]

Spring Break Challenge 2022

[ April 9th : Flowers ]

Spring Break 2022 by @kc-and-co

( Flower Field )

「 Spring time full of colorful flowers, warm sunlight. When the wind blows, the scent of the flowers wafts, the fragrance of flowers is so sweet and so fresh, makes feel calm. 」

*Run*

" Sorry to keep you waiting... "

" It’s fine, come and sit with me "

" Ok "

" How was the exam? "

" It was very hard but I think I did great "

" Oh, Is that so?! "

.

.

.

" What are you doing during spring break? "

" Umm... going to father's villa and relax "

" That sound cool~ And I have something for you! "

" Wh...What? "

" This! Jasmine perfume bottle, hope you like it "

" For me?! Thank you, It's so lovely I love it~ I'll send postcard back "

" Oh! Thanks, I'll wait it "

" Ah!! The last train is coming, I must go to station now, bye "

" See ya bye~ "

.

.

.

「 Hope you enjoy on your Spring Break 」

[hphm-jeniferltheman]

Spring Break Day 3: Breakfast

Jeniferl, Rowan, and Ben spends their Day 3 Spring Break at Rowan's place for a picnic

~🌼🌳🥪~

Here's day 3 Spring Break from this challenge by @kc-and-co. I just want more of this trio to happily bond together.

And if you think this picture is familiar, its the spring version of this one 🍂 I'm gonna make Summer and Winter version of this soon~

[the-al-chemist]

The Turn of the Fruit

A/N: Saffron only gets one prompt for @kc-and-co’s Spring Challenge, and this is it: “Fruit”. This story features @lifeofkaze’s Dana Parkin, who is helping Saffron to face her fear and get back her zest for life. Warnings: phobias, fears, kiwi fruits.

Ever since she first purchased her wand at Ollivander’s, shortly after her eleventh birthday, Danielle Parkin had been fascinated by the spells she could cast with it. Once she started at Hogwarts, she quickly set about learning as many of them as she could.

In Charms, she was taught the basic incantations for day-to-day use, but she soon found out that cleaning charms and cheering charms were not the most exciting, and although Transfiguration covered more flamboyant spells, Dana couldn’t really see the point in knowing how to change a ferret into a feather duster. There was one subject that managed to strike a balance between practicality and glamour, and that subject was Defence Against the Dark Arts.

In the two years Dana had been at Hogwarts, the lessons had become a highlight of her week. And this week, Dana’s class would be learning a spell she had been looking forward to casting for some time: the Boggart banishing spell.

She had been reading up about the spell in advance, and about the creature it was designed to repel, though Boggarts were not truly creatures at all. They were non-beings, shapeshifters that were able to take the form of the person facing them’s worst fear. The spell to repel them was able to force them out of that shape and into another, one that the caster found funny.

“The spell isn’t really the thing that sees off the Boggart at all,” their teacher told them. “It’s your laughter, so really think of the thing that will make you laugh the most.”

One by one, the students approached the wooden trunk containing the Boggart, and faced their fears. A clown turned into a seal balancing a ball on its nose, a raging thundercloud turned into a rainbow, a growling dog turned into a teddy bear. Soon, it was Dana’s turn.

As Dana approached the teddy-shaped Boggart, it disappeared. The air swirled in front of her as the Boggart decided on its new shape, the one that would terrify her the most, before deciding on…

A pair of large crossed meat cleavers, sharp and bloody and ominous, hovered before Dana, floating towards her. Her heart began to beat in her chest, faster and faster as the knives drew closer and closer, and she took a deep breath before raising her wand and casting the incantation she had learned in advance:

“Riddikulus!”

The knives disappeared, and in their place stood a penguin dressed in a bow tie and top hat. The penguin began to tap dance to a music that Dana could not hear, and though she did not laugh out loud, it was only because she was smiling so proudly to herself, a smile that was reflected on her teacher’s face as she stepped to one side, ready for the next student to have a go at facing the Boggart.

Taking Dana’s place in the middle of the classroom was Saffron Summers, a Hufflepuff girl who had a reputation for strangeness that put many of her peers off befriending her. Dana was not one of them. She found Saffron’s eccentricity endearing, and quite enjoyed being partnered with the peculiar blonde girl in Herbology and Defence Against the Dark Arts.

The class fell quiet as Dana’s penguin disappeared and the Boggart began to choose a new form to take. Dana could see why; after all, who knew what sort of diabolical creature would exist in the darkest recesses of the mind of someone as odd as Saffron Summers? As for Dana herself, she closed her eyes. She knew that Saffron’s greatest joy in life was the care of her pet rabbits, and she really did not fancy seeing a dead bunny today, thank you very much.

Dana kept her eyes closed as the silence in the classroom gave way to hushed whispers, but as the whispers turned into stifled giggles, she frowned. How could anyone find someone’s pet dying funny? Cautiously, she opened one eye, then the other, to see that the one thing that scared Saffron Summers most in all the world was, in fact…

A kiwi fruit.

One single brown hairy fruit lay motionless on the floor in the middle of the Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom. Around the walls, Dana’s classmates were sniggering, and she almost laughed herself, out of a sense of relief rather than amusement. However, her laughter died the moment she saw the look on Saffron’s face. Poor Saffron had turned completely pale, and her wide brown eyes were filled with tears and terror. Dana had never seen anyone look so frightened.

Before Saffron even had a chance to cast the Boggart banishing spell, the kiwi fruit disappeared, the barely concealed snickers of their peers having grown loud enough to banish the Boggart without her input. A moment later, Saffron disappeared too, bursting into tears and running right out of the classroom.

She did not return before the bell rang to mark the end of the lesson, and though Dana kept her eyes peeled, she did not catch sight of Saffron for the rest of the day. By the time it reached dinner time, Saffron was still nowhere to be seen. Dana was starting to get worried, and so she headed over to the Hufflepuff table to see if anyone in Saffron’s own house knew where she might be.

“I saw her heading for the dormitories,” she was informed by Rylie Hopper-Lee, a Hufflepuff girl in the year below. “She looked really upset. I tried asking her what was wrong, but she ran up the corridor into her room before I could stop her. I’m sorry.”

“That’s okay,” Dana sighed. “Rylie, do you think there’s any way you could sneak me into the Hufflepuff dormitories after dinner? I’d really like to try to cheer Saffron up, we are sort of friends, after all.”

Rylie hesitated, but after a moment she nodded. Having agreed to meet Rylie at the entrance to the Hufflepuff dormitories, Dana ran up to her own dormitory in Gryffindor tower to fetch a box of brightly coloured nail varnishes from her chest of drawers, and carried it back down again to the basement of the castle, through the bright and cosy Hufflepuff common room, and down a tunnel shaped corridor lined with semicircular wooden doors. Dana knocked on the door Rylie told her was the one to Saffron’s dormitory.

No voice answered her knock, but Dana entered the room anyway, peering around the door to find Saffron sitting inside her open wardrobe clutching three large crystals, whilst her rabbits hopped about, roaming free around the dormitory. Dana sat cross-legged on the floor in front of the wardrobe.

“Saffron? I came to see if you were okay,” she told her, and Saffron’s eyes widened.

“Oh,” she said, quietly.

“Are you okay?”

“Oh,” Saffron said again. “Oh, no. Not really.”

“You know what I do when I feel sad? I paint my nails.” Dana opened her box of nail varnishes, held it out to Saffron and tilted her head to one side. “I can paint your nails too, if you like? You can pick whichever colour you like.”

Saffron’s attention had clearly been caught by the brightly coloured bottles, as she leant in towards the open box, but she frowned.

“Are they tested on animals?” She asked. “And are they vegan?”

“I don’t actually know, but we can check the labels.”

Though she didn’t smile, Saffron nodded her head, and between them the two girls picked out two bottles of nail varnish that met Saffron’s requirements - one purple and the other mint green - and Dana applied the two colours to Saffron’s nails in an alternating pattern.

“Thank you very much,” said Saffron, admiring the finished effect and blowing gently on her still damp nails.

“You’re welcome,” Dana replied. She paused before continuing, “Saffron, I’m really sorry that people laughed at your Boggart. It was really unkind of them.”

“Oh. Yes, I suppose it was.”

“You can’t help what scares you.”

“No, I know.”

Dana couldn’t help but ask, “Why are you so scared of kiwi fruit?”

Saffron opened her mouth as if to answer, before shutting it again without saying a word. Her eyebrows furrowed, and her eyes became tearful again.

“Why aren’t you?” she asked Dana eventually, her voice a terrified whisper.

It was a question that Dana had never thought to ask herself before, and one that she found herself unable to answer.

“I have an idea,” she told Saffron. “I think I know how to make you feel less frightened. Come with me.”

She stood up and held out her hand, and Saffron took it. The two of them walked out of the Hufflepuff dormitories and up into the main castle, walking until they reached the now dark and deserted Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom. In one corner of the room was the trunk containing the Boggart, and Dana pulled the trunk into the centre. Saffron took a large step backwards and away from it.

“Wow,” she frowned. “I don’t think I like this idea.”

“I know, but hear me out a minute.”

“I will.”

“Okay, so I know you aren’t into duelling at all, but the thing everyone always says is that you have to keep your eye on your opponent’s wand so you get an idea of what they’re going to do and when,” Dana said, leaning against the trunk. “But my mum’s friend gave me private lessons, and she said you’re better looking them in the eye. They don’t expect that, and they think that you are so confident that you don’t even need to look at their wand, so it throws them off. They are trying to be the intimidating one, but when you face them so directly like that it makes them intimidated by you. Does that make sense?”

Saffron frowned and said nothing, so Dana stood up, and unlocked the trunk, holding it shut as she told Saffron:

“If you can face the Boggart, then it won’t be the scary one anymore, will it? And it’s not like you’ll be facing it alone. I’ll be here with you. Okay?”

“Okay.”

Dana and Saffron exchanged small smiles, one nervous, the other reassuring, and Dana opened the trunk. The swirling air that was the Boggart deciding on a form moved closer to Saffron, before shrinking down to the ground in front of her in the image of a brown fuzzy fruit. Saffron seemed to shrink too, her hand and bottom lip trembling as she stared at it in abject terror.

“It’s not real, Saffron!” Dana told her. “It’s not a real kiwi fruit, just a Boggart pretending to be one to scare you. Look it in the eye and let it know that you are the one to be scared of!”

Her words seemed to strike a cord with Saffron, because although the kiwi fruit did not have eyes, she stared at it with less fear and more determination, took a shaky breath, and raised her wand.

“Riddikulus!”

The kiwi fruit did not disappear, but instead, got bigger. Brown fluffy feathers sprouted from it, and it grew legs, wings, and a long beak.

“It’s a kiwi bird, Saff, you did it!”

“Oh, wow,” at last, Saffron was smiling. “I suppose I did.”

“Now you just need to laugh, and that will banish it completely.”

Saffron’s smile slipped slightly.

“What’s wrong?” Dana asked her.

“No, we can’t banish him now,” Saffron shook her head, her long blonde hair swishing as she did so. “He’s too cute to banish. Look at his little fluffy wings. I love kiwi birds.”

“But it’s not really a kiwi bird, Saff, it’s still a Boggart, pretending.”

“Yes, I know. But he isn’t doing any harm just pretending, is he?”

Dana smiled and linked arms with Saffron. “No, I suppose he isn’t.”

And so, the two newly best friends left the classroom arm in arm, leaving the kiwi bird Boggart to peck its way around the empty room, scaring absolutely no one.

[usernoneexistent]

Love it, what a great excuse instead the dog ate _____ it's a dragon lol

Spring Break - Day 4 - Regret

Reuben Willows mentioned in passing belongs to the lovely @that-scouse-wizard

I know it looks scary and the title of the day daunting, but it's far from it. Thank you @kc-and-co for this amazing challenge.

It took her a while to learn the safest paths inside the sanctuary, however the fire breathing dragons were not enough to stop Leila from performing her odd rituals. Even if she did not use blood magic, she would still sneak out to any body of water at least once a month in order to cleanse her body.

Reuben called it skinny dipping, but those were details she did not focus on.

She could still smell the blood on her skin and for someone who was so disconnected when it came down to any living creature, Leila was oddly enough very in touch with nature. While the sanctuary did impose certain limitations, it still had plenty of spaces she could venture and hide in when she needed a moment for herself.

Reaching her favourite spot, she gazed at the almost full moon shinning down on her from above the tree line, Leila smiling as she proceeded to undress, diving head first in the deepest part of the water before her. The sharp cold felt as if it brought her back to life, a sigh of relief leaving her lips once she reached the surface.

A sound from the forest drew her attention, Leila’s eyes widening as she could clearly make out the shape of a dragon approaching the water. Slowly moving she swam creating distance, the animal approaching the banks, snarling slightly at the sight of her. Closing her eyes, she inhaled deeply, trying to calm her energy and not antagonise the animal that was already eyeing her suspiciously.

Normally they did not venture in those parts, however this one appeared to be young, curious, but equally dangerous when it came down to a fight “What the fuck are you?” she whispered, the dragon snorting at her as she reached the other bank, getting out of the water slowly. Maybe she should actually start reading up more on them, she barely held any knowledge, could not actually distinguish them and that was never a good thing.

Her first instinct was to hiss, bare her fangs, however the animal decided she was too far away to be interesting, however it stopped to sniff her clothes “Shoo!” a growl hushed her, Leila freezing as the dragon smacked its tail against a tree, birds flying away scared. Perhaps venturing to that certain spot wasn’t such a good idea, especially without Reuben by her side.

Swearing under her breath, she could only watch as the dragon started chewing on her clothes nonchalantly. Taking a few steps back, she hid behind a tree thinking about her options. There was no way she could get near the animal in order to try and salvage anything, but if it decided to eat her clothes, who knew what it might do to her.

Silently making her exist, Leila ran back to the mansion, cursing her luck. With a few evading manoeuvres, she finally managed to get back home, passing Reuben’s office which had the door wide open. Usually he would be too focused on his work to notice anyone, but this time he lifted his eyes, having to do a double take as Leila passed without even a small hello.

Getting up from his desk, he peaked across the hall, making certain his eyes did not deceive him “Lei darling, where are your clothes?”

“At the bottom of a dragon’s belly where else?” she answered annoyed, stopping in her tracks.

Blinking a few times his mind could not come up with anything else other than “What?!”

“What?” heading inside the bedroom she heard him ask.

“You’re joking right?” her just shaking her head. How was she going to explain that to him? “Right Lei?”

[fischerfrey]

spring break: day 03; breakfast

Word count: 600

March, 1996; London

She found Merula on the balcony the next morning, wearing one of Verna’s own coats against the cool spring air, sipping tea from one of the mugs Verna had hidden on the highest shelf because she never used it. It had rained the previous night and Merula’s hair was curlier and messier for it. It was also longer, Verna noticed now, in the morning light. She hadn’t seen her in so long it felt like a lifetime. She wasn’t sure she had forgiven her either.

“I’m sorry,” said Merula when she heard her enter. “I didn’t know where else to go.”

“You said that already,” Verna replied, pushing the balcony door fully open.

“It’s still true. Barnaby and Ismelda don’t want anything to do with me.”

Verna wasn’t exactly surprised to hear it, after everything that had happened between them.

“What about Gael?” she asked.

“He’s one of them, now. His uncle escaped with my parents.”

“Yeah, I heard, I just didn’t really expect him to—"

“Trust me, neither did I.”

Verna sighed. A bad choice of words, trust, but at least she didn’t feel as though Merula was planning on killing her right at that moment.

“My parents brought him along once, to try and convince me to join.”

A question which had been plaguing her ever since Merula arrived popped to her lips: “Why didn’t you?”

“I couldn’t— I don’t want to be a fucking Death-eater. Have you heard what they’re saying about your grandmother? How she had your dad with a muggle man and now you’re all blood-traitors and—”

Before she could finish, Verna interrupted her, saying: “I know. My family is in hiding. And as for me, let them come.”

Merula shook her head, almost like she had anticipated Verna’s response. “You haven’t changed.”

Verna wasn’t an idiot, she knew she couldn’t face someone like Voldemort head-on, but most of his followers were a different deal entirely. She had bested better wizards at seventeen. Merula shivered despite the coat on her shoulders. Verna had already told her she could stay so there was no reason to lurk on the balcony, drinking stale tea from a dusty, old cup.

“Come on in,” she said softly, “It’s cold out here.”

~

Verna made them both fresh cups of tea and sat across from Merula at her tiny kitchen table. She had bought oranges the day before, so she grabbed one and started peeling it. Merula kept silent, staring at the steam coming from her tea. According to her, she had been on the run for weeks and she did look worse for the wear. Verna wasn’t sure if she had been telling the truth about having nowhere else to go, but at least the people after her would never expect Merula to come to Verna, not after everything.

“Do you want to split this?” Verna asked eventually, moving the discarded peels aside.

Merula looked up, startled, and nodded. Verna handed her half of the orange.

“Thank you,” said Merula. “For letting me stay.”

Verna nodded. She wasn’t sure why she had done that (or maybe she was but didn’t want to admit it to herself). She watched Merula slowly eat the orange, slice by slice.

“This doesn’t mean I’m alright with what you did,” she said, though her voice still sounded too gentle for the hurt in her heart.

“I know,” Merula replied. “I’m not asking for forgiveness and anyway, I don’t deserve it.”

“It’s got nothing to do with what you deserve,” said Verna, nibbling on an orange slice. Forgiveness didn’t come easy to Verna but she was tired of having more enemies than friends.

Merula looked puzzled. She’d worn the same expression the night before when Verna had let her in.

“What?”

“It’s about what I deserve. And I think I’ve earned some amount of peace.”

fin.

for @kc-and-co‘s event!