#hphm friendship

[judediangelo75]

Day One: Quidditch

I said I was gonna attempt this challenge for @hphm-ship-week and by the corner of Jesus' pure white robe, I was gonna do it. I'm cutting it close with Day One and I might have gotten a *little* inspired to write this one.

I'm not gonna do a lot of yapping, I'm half-dead as is. Hope you guys enjoy this Kendrick Lives AU installment. (Might as well be my new main storyline).

Word Count: 8,316

Featured MCs: David Willows, Phoenix Lang ( @that-scouse-wizard ) and Katriona Cassiopeia ( @kc-and-co )

Main Pairing: Talbott Winger x Judith Harris (Talith)

Side Relationships: Merula Synde x David Willows (subtle), Murphy McNully x Katriona Cassiopeia (subtle), and plenty of friendship

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Whenever Quidditch season rolls around in the magical school called Hogwarts, you can expect a lot of excitement and hype. The students would crowd their section of the respective house with colored face paint or some Quidditch-afflicted gear to cheer on the players on the field. There was always a sense of friendly rivalry, with its occasional resentment when it comes to a reigning champion. But nothing comes from it. 

The Quidditch pitch is the last place you would ever expect a Ravenclaw loner to be.

Let alone amid the Hufflepuff House section. Wearing one of their player's jackets magically sized up to fit his frame. Next to a Slytherin witch wearing a matching jacket to the boot.

But that was before he started dating a Quidditch player.

Talbott would've gladly flown under the radar during his school years at Hogwarts. But fate decided that would be too boring for him. He was given two years of peace until his third year. Where two Hufflepuffs were searching for him, Hogwarts Curebreakers.

David Willows and Judith Harris. The latter is more infamously known as "Scarface". 

Granted, Talbott knew about these two Hufflepuffs... but Judith proved to make a bigger splash than her Housemate. From what Talbott understood, Judith had the habit of hiding the left side of her face with her hair for the first few months of their first year. It wasn't until a fateful day in October, that a group of Slytherins and Gryffindors found a new target. Judith tried escaping the group, only for one of the boys to grab her by the ponytail, causing her hairstyle to fall apart.

Revealing the most nastiest burn scar anyone has seen. On a child, nonetheless.

To make a long story short, those group of boys learned quickly not to piss off a girl—a Hufflepuff girl, at that.

After that day, rumors about her scar spread across the school like wildfire. And she was christened with her new nickname, Scarface.

But that day in the Great Hall was the first time Talbott properly saw the young witch face to face. Even Talbott's impeccable poker face couldn't hide the surprise upon seeing her face. The large scar covered about half of her face and went back to her ear. Surprisingly, her brow was present, but a bit spotty in some places. Her eye was forced into a permanent glare, he could barely make out the gold of her iris (even though that particular eye looked a bit paler than its twin).

But that wasn't the thing that stole Talbott's attention. It was the almost painfully shy look on her face. Her brows were drawn close together as her lips were pulled down in a timid frown. Her fingers were fiddling with the multiple solid plain rings she had on. Her eyes...

Talbott could see that she was nervous, but there was a particular warmth that seemed to be reserved for just for him. It was confusing but...

He couldn't help but secretly like it. Even though he wasn't ready to admit it.

Took a while for the Ravenclaw to properly acknowledge his feelings for the Hufflepuff witch. With the encouragement of Andre and David, he finally asked Judith out on a date. While it left a lot to be desired (*cough* Tonks *cough*), Talbott enjoyed being close to his date. Amid their growing closeness, that meant Talbott was slowly being sucked into the world of Quidditch. Granted, Andre has been trying to get him to come to a match and teach him the mechanics of the game since the start of their friendship, but Talbott turned him down almost every time. But now with Judith as his blatant love interest... Talbott couldn't help to be a little curious about the sport the wizarding world seem so crazy about.

Honestly when Talbott learned that Judith was the famous "Tigress", he was skeptical. Tigress is one of Hufflepuff's Beaters, one of their best Beaters in many years. With the few snippets of information, Andre tried forcing down his throat, Talbott knew that Beaters were strong. They had to be to beat back iron spheres formerly known as Blooders (Andre would be happy to know that he was learning something, at least). Tigress, like her fellow Beater Hound (who Talbott came to learn was David), was incredibly strong with a deadly aim. A lot of people say it was as if she could interpret the Bludgers movements, knowing when and where to strike. 

Talbott couldn't keep the suspicious look out of his eye for anything when Judith said that she was Tigress during their date. He never asked her about her scar but he had eyes. And he could see that her left eye left her a little impaired. It was the one time he made the girl feel subconscious about herself during their date, which he internally slapped himself for as she turned the left side of her face away from his view.

"I know it sounds hard to believe that I'm Tigress, but I have no reason to lie to you. After my... incident, it took some time to even learn to properly walk. My coordination and balance was terrible. Before, I could only see the vague shadows of shapes. After you helped me become an Animagus, it surprisingly helped my vision in my left eye, though not by much. The outline of shapes are a bit sharper if it's close enough to me and I can kinda see colors if it's bright enough, but there are times my vision will get a little blurry. My dad, along with my little brother and stepdad, spent a lot of time helping me adjust to my scar after I first got it. I was determined not to let it hinder me, though. Papa was the first to train me to be a Beater. I spent the entire summer before second year so I would have a chance to prove myself... to show that I won't be a liability if I was chosen."

Talbott felt like a bastard for doubting the girl, something that she probably felt for years. After stumbling over his apology, he asked if he could watch her play or at least practice if she was comfortable with that. He wanted to understand her and be there for her if she would let him.

And to his pleasant surprise, she readily agreed. 

During that time, Quidditch season was long over. Normally around that time of the year, Judith and David were trying to break the latest curse that befell the school in hopes of finding their brothers. But Judith was human.

A human who was very familiar with stress.

Beating dummies with Bludgers seemed to be one of her many stress relievers. The first time he was invited to watch her practice, he was silently surprised. It was slowly starting to warm up as winter turned to spring in Scotland. Judith was already stretching, seemingly counting the seconds in her mind before switching forms. A yellow sleeveless crop top molded to her upper body and a pair of black athletic tights hugged her legs with black running shoes adorned her feet, presumably for comfort. Her long locs were maneuvered into a low ponytail by a yellow silk ribbon. Granted, Talbott had only seen Judith outside of her usual class robes only a handful of times, but he had rarely seen her show so much of her body and skin until recently.

While being only 15, Judith had muscles a lot of guys in their year and possibly older wished had. But the muscles didn't make her seem like a boy, rather it added to the curves her body was slowly displaying as she matured into a young woman. The dress she wore to their date made him feel like he was hit with the Stupefy spell. Her workout outfit seemed to have a similar effect.

But watching her practice?

Nothing could get him to look away from her. She easily slipped into the familiar notion of her practice exercise. She had three Bludgers sent out, each coming towards her with terrifying speed. Talbott couldn't remember all the details of Quidditch but he can safely assume getting hit by one of those iron spheres meant an overnight stay in the Hospital Wing. But Judith stepped into her swings with the confidence and swagger of the best duelists or even a Quidditch pro. Confident, focused, and calculating. He did take note that she would duck on a rare occasion when she took a misstep and leaned into her left side.

Gods know how much time has passed until Judith whipped out her wand and froze the Bludgers, which dropped to the ground with a frightening thud.

'I would love to never know what it's like to smack with one of those...'

Judith grabbed a water bottle before walking around and sitting next to the awestruck Ravenclaw.

"So what do you think," she asked before taking a swing of her water. He watched as her throat worked around the deep gulps of water she was taking in.

"Is it possible I can come to more of your training sessions?" Judith capped her nearly empty water bottle with a quirked brow.

"You actually like seeing me train? Watching me beat a bunch of Bludgers into some dummies can't be that entertaining," she insisted. Talbott felt a blush work its way onto his cheeks.

"I beg to differ... so is that a no," he said with an embarrassed cough. Judith narrowed her good eye at him before giving him a nod.

"You can come. I don't mind."

It soon became a part of Talbott's routine to sit in on Judith's practices. Talbott finds that she does alternate her routine. And got to witness the relationships with her Quidditch mates. 

Sometimes it'll be just her and the dummies. 

Other times, David would be present to train with her as well. Talbott could see the playful energy between the two Hufflepuffs, almost as if they were siblings. Most times, they would practice beating a Bludger to each other, while others the dummies will be involved. There were plenty of jabs and playful ribbing in their conversations. Whenever they were done, they would join Talbott in the grass for a quick chat until Judith's eyes would get droopy and David would give her a piggyback ride back to their Common Room. 

'Hate to cut the conversation short, mate, but this one needs her rest. C'mon Little Tigress. Time for your cat nap.' Talbott watched in quiet amusement as David shifted on his knees so he could allow the girl to crawl on his back before standing. The young witch yawned, nuzzling the back of her best mate's neck with an annoyed grumble.

'Mmmm... I'm not little, you stubborn git. Later bird boy...' With a cute little wave to the Ravenclaw, Judith allowed herself to be toted away to their shared Common Room. (Talbott would deny blushing at that nickname if you asked him)

Maybe even one (or both) of her on-sight Beater teachers, the fierce Erika Rath or the mischievous Phoenix Lang, would be present. Which he found strangely interesting as Erika and Phoenix were both well-known Beaters of the Houses of Slytherin and Gryffindor respectively, prodigies in their own right. Erika seemed more of the stern one of the two, more in charge of her training exercises while Phoenix would fill in the gaps where she could. Those sessions tended to be more intense as Erika tried to push Judith into using her left side more, which frustrated the Hufflepuff Beater greatly. Talbott knew it wasn't his place to question her mentor's methods but he couldn't help but to worry how close Judith would be to getting hit by the magical sphere of iron. The hits she was able to get in weren't always perfect as far as accuracy and impact. There were times when Talbott would witness Judith would drop to her knees with tears in her eyes. The first time it happened shocked him to his core, his heart ached at the sight.

'I-I-I can't! I can't see well, Rath!' Pale green eyes narrowed briefly before letting out a soft sigh. With a brief spell, the Bludger in use fell to the ground as Erika walked up to her mentee. The older witch rested a hand on her shoulder, giving it a brief squeeze as she glanced over to where Talbott was seated.

'Talbott, was it? Can you stay with her while I find Phoenix? I... I'm not exactly good at "comforting" as I would like to be.' Talbott nodded replacing Erika by the crying girl's side as she disappeared into the castle. 

'Little bird...?' Watery gold eyes glanced at him before Judith roughly started wiping her face to get rid of the evidence of the tears that seemed neverending.

'I-I'm sorry, I... I was hoping you wouldn't have to s-see me like t-this. I promise I'm not this weak-' The girl's ramble was brought to a halt as Talbott grabbed her by the arm and pulled her into a hug, tucking her face against his neck. The soft gasp that escaped her tickled the sensitive skin there.

'I want you to breathe with me, little bird. Can you do that for me?' Judith remained still for a moment before giving a shaky nod. Talbott took a slow, deep inhale, feeling the girl do the same. They held it for a few seconds before slowly releasing it. They did it a handful of times before Talbott felt the faint tremor in the girl's body disappear. He gently pulled her away from his neck to look at her face. The tears were still there, but they seemed to have slowed significantly. Gentle hands cupped her face, thumbing away the tears and dried tear tracks that remained. Shaky hands wrapped around Talbott's wrists before Judith leaned into his touch. With one last caress to her scarred cheek, Talbott pulled away a bit only to be surprised by the ironclad grip on his wrists. Judith's eyes reminded him of a wounded Hippogriff, wild with an underlying hint of fear.

"D-don't go... please, don't go...' she whimpered. Talbott leaned in again, brushing a soft kiss to her sweaty brow.

'Shhh, darling. I promise I'm not leaving you. But it would be best if you rehydrated, little bird. Let me grab some water for you.' Judith blinked slowly, recognition flashing in her eyes. She gave a timid nod before letting go of his wrists. Silently deciding not to get up and leaving his little bird's time, Talbott got out his wand to use the Summoning Charm instead. Judith took the bottle with a small thanks before taking small sips. When Talbott was sure she was okay, he tilted her chin up so she could look him in the eye.

'I'm not sure where your head is, exactly. But I want you to know that you're not weak. You're one of the strongest people I know and even strong people can cry sometimes. They can get overwhelmed sometimes. And that's okay. I would never think less of you, and you shouldn't either. I won't let you. Do you understand me, little bird?' Talbott watched as her eyes widened, the scar tissue surrounding her left eye stretching a bit. Judith pursed her lips before giving a nod. That wasn't good enough for the Ravenclaw wizard.

'Words, Judith. I need to hear you say it.' The girl winced at the firm tone before letting out a shaky sigh.

'I-I understand, Talbott. I... I'll do my best to take it easy on myself in these moments.' Talbott gave her a small smile before placing a small kiss on her cheek.

Not even a few moments later, Phoenix came into view while Erika trailed a few paces behind. The Gryffindor Beater fell to her knees before the couple, cerulean blue eyes studying the Hufflepuff's face intensely.

'Judith! Erika told me what happened, are you okay?!' Judith blushed as Phoenix cupped her face, fussing over her. Erika sat down by her rival, silently watching her with a hint of worry. Judith cleared her throat, pulling away before resting against Talbott's chest.

"I-I'm fine now... I just got overwhelmed, b-but Talbott helped me calm down.' The eyes of the older Beaters were suddenly trained on their "guest", who blushed under their intense gaze.

'I... I'm not too familiar with what caused her anxiety, I just knew I couldn't stand there and watch her cry. Judith means a lot to me. Great players can have bad days and she's entitled to have those days...' Phoenix gave the boy a delighted grin while a glimmer of respect can be seen in Erika's eyes.

'I think I like this one for her, Rath. What do you think?' The Slytherin Beater gave an amused snort at the matching blushes that could be seen on the duo's faces.

'As long as I don't always have to find you whenever she gets overwhelmed, he can stay.'

'HEY! I resent that!' Erika let out a short laugh at Phoenix's disgruntlement. Deciding that her student/adopted little sister needed a well-deserved break, Phoenix dragged the girl to head to the Great Hall for some lunch. Just as Talbott was going to head to the Owlery, a hand on his shoulder stopped him.

'Wait.' The wizard turned to find Erika's eyes boring into him. And to his surprise, her stern gaze softened around the edges.

'I just wanted to say, thank you. Normally I don't care what people think of me, especially those who would just be stuck in the sidelines and nothing more. But I see that you care about her. I'm not trying to be a hardass on Judith for shits and giggles. We both are well aware that her left side is a weakness. I suffer from a blind spot, obviously not on the same level as Judith but you get the idea. If people are within that area, they're more than likely to get hurt. I don't want Judith to have to deal with that struggle, or even worse, have that blind spot used against her. I hope you understand.' Talbott's brows rose in silent surprise before nodding.

'I understand... you didn't have to explain your methods to me, but... I appreciate it either way. I'll do my best to be there for her whenever it gets too much for her.' Erika gave a firm nod, before turning on her heel back into the castle.'

Talbott had thought long and hard over what he had seen and what Erika had told him. He hated to see the haunted look in Judith's eyes as she broke down on not doing good enough. He was no Quidditch player so he wasn't sure how to help the girl. He went to the only other Quidditch player he knew for any advice. Granted, Talbott knew that Andre was no Beater, but he knew he had to try. Luckily for him, Andre knew two people who could help. Unluckily for him, Andre saw it fit to drag his ass out of bed on a late Saturday morning. The only day Talbott will grant himself the luxury of sleeping in. With no damn coffee.

'KC, McNully!' The two Ravenclaws, who seemed to be in the middle of a game of chess, looked up to find the Seeker Reserve dragging over one of their fellow Housemates who seemed to have rolled out of bed.

'Hey, Andre! What can we do for you?' the commentator asked with a bright grin. Andre gave a fond smile, clapping a hand on the disgruntled Ravenclaw's shoulder.

'Oh no, honestly, you've helped me enough mate. It's my friend here who could use your creative expertise on the matter of Quidditch.' Talbott shrugged Andre off with an embarrassed glare. The strawberry-blonde girl raised a cool brow, flustering Talbott further.

'My apologies. I asked Egwu for help on a Quidditch issue and this overexcited bloke dragged me out of bed before I had a drop of caffeine in my system.' KC let out a hearty laugh.

'A man after my own heart. Tell you what, I made a pot of coffee this morning. I grab you a mug and you tell us what you need...' Talbott quickly understood what the witch was subtly asking for.

'Talbott. Talbott Winger.' KC grinned, getting up from her comfortable seat to loop an arm around the wizard's arm.

'Katriona Cassiopeia, feel free to call me KC if you want. It's a pleasure to meet you, my fellow coffee fiend.' After Talbott had a bit of caffeine fix (and an introduction to one Murphy McNully), he felt more level-headed about broaching this topic.

'So, what seems to be the problem? Looking to join the Quidditch team? While I don't know you at all, I can see you being a Seeker for some reason.' KC pointedly ignored Andre's offended squawk in the background, eyes solely trained on Talbott.

'No, I'm not looking to join. I didn't get into Quidditch until recently...' Murphy raised a brow, curious.

'Because of our local Pride of Portree fanatic here?' Talbott gave an amused snort.

'He wishes. Egwu has been trying to teach me about the sport or at least drag me a game since we became friends.' KC blinked, confusion flashing in those bright blue eyes.

'So why the interest now?' Talbott coughed into his fist, slightly flustered.

'I'm kinda dating a Quidditch player. A Beater, to be exact.' Murphy gave a knowing smile.

'Is it Judith Harris?' Talbott was glad he didn't sip his coffee when the Quidditch announcer spoke because he was pretty sure he would've spit it out all over his chessboard. Either that or choke.

'Wha-?! Did Andre tell you?!' Andre waved his hands in alarm as Talbott rounded on him with a glare. Murphy laughed, waving off the outburst.

'Well, it's simple really. There are two Beaters to every team. It can't be Rising Star here, seeing how you just met her. And I doubt you know the other Beater on Ravenclaw's team seeing how you're coming to learn the sport and its players. Even if you heard more well-known players like Erika Rath and Phoenix Lang, more well-known as Rath and Fireball on the Pitch, they don't seem like your type per se. And again, you probably don't know the other Beaters on those two teams so that rules Slytherin and Gryffindor from the running. All that's left is Hufflepuff's Beaters, Tigress and Hound. Or as you normally know them as Judith Harris and David Willows. Both are well known enough outside of Quidditch and are in the same year and you and Style Wizard here. Plus, David seems more like a lady's man so that leaves just Judith. It's really simple when you think about it.' Talbott narrowed his eyes, slightly put off at how well someone he just met was able to pinpoint his crush with just one detail and how much he could talk without seemingly taking a breath.

'Yes, it's her...' KC chuckled, giving the boy a grin.

'I think it's cute. But one thing I'm not understanding is why she would need help. She's a phenomenal player. From what I hear, she has a bit of a religious training schedule to stay up to par with anyone on the field.' Talbott sighed, suddenly feeling unsure about exposing what he knew. Technically, Katriona and Judith were rivals. While he may not know much like the average Quidditch fan, he does know not to reveal secrets to potential rivals or enemies. 

But the memory of Judith crying flashes in his mind's eye. He didn't want her to continue to suffer from anxiety attacks if he knew he could find help for her.

'I haven't seen her play but I've seen her train. And she's earned every right to be known as a phenomenal player. But... she's not one without struggle. Can I trust you two with what I'm about to tell you?' KC and Murphy watched as those red eyes carefully studied them both, heavily guarded with a glint of worry beneath the surface. Andre wore down his bottom lip with his teeth at the intense silence. He placed a hand on Talbott's shoulder.

'Tal, mate. I wouldn't have brought you to them if I didn't believe they could help Judith. Let alone hurt her.' Talbott's hands curled into fists on his lap, his gaze stubbornly switching between the wizard and witch sitting across from him.

'I trust you, Egwu. But I need to hear it from them.' KC's eyes softened.

'Hey, Judith and I may be rivals on the Pitch but it's all friendly competition. I wouldn't actively try to hurt someone who pushes me to be a better player myself.' Murphy nodded.

'I wouldn't do anything malicious to harm the girl either. I met her father on the day she tried out for the open Beater position years ago. She's a force in her own right but it's not strange to have flaws. It's not unusual for players to come to me for advice. I do my best to be unbiased so I'm not spilling any secrets to other teams to give them an advantage. Talbott let out a small sigh.

'Thank you. I'm sure you're well aware of Judith's scar. The thing is... she's semi-blind in that eye. While she can see shapes and colors, it's only with certain exceptions. She's been training to strengthen that weakness but she still experiences some difficulties. Maybe she has days where that particular eye would cause everything to be more blurry and of course, that can be a danger to anyone, including her. It overwhelms her to the point she would experience an anxiety attack...' Talbott sighed, running a hand through his messy bedhead.

'I told her that it's okay to have bad days and she should take it easier on herself. But I feel like this cycle will continue if she doesn't find a more effective way of handling this... s-so, will you help?' KC and Murphy looked at each other for a few moments before turning back to the wizard with a nod.

'Of course, Talbott. It might take a little time for us to brainstorm something but we'll help you two. Besides, it would be nice to get to know Judith more outside of our matches.' Talbott let out a sigh of relief at KC's words, giving the pair a small smile.

'Thank you...' Murphy gave Talbott a nod.

'Of course! Once we're ready for you, we'll send you an owl for you to bring Judith to the Quidditch Pitch later on. Don't worry, Talbott. We'll help your girl out.' This time Talbott did end up choking on his next cup of coffee, much to the amusement of the three people surrounding him.

Much to Talbott's surprise, Talbott received an owl the next day from KC. He did find it odd that it said to come to the Quidditch Pitch at night, but he decided to trust his fellow Ravenclaw. Judith accepted his invitation to meet him at the Changing Tents just outside of the Pitch with a bit of wariness.

'Not that I don't like spending time with you Talbott, but why are we out here?' Talbott gave his little bird a small smile.

'I want to help you train. Especially with... your struggle area...' The Hufflepuff narrowed her eyes as they reached the entrance of the Pitch.

'How do you plan on doing that?' Talbott stopped in front of her, taking the time to grab her hand. Judith couldn't fight the blush that crept up to her cheeks as the boy laid her palm over his chest while looking into her eyes. She could feel his heart quicken but his face gave nothing away.

'Do you trust me, Judith?' The young witch didn't have to think about it.

'I do.' Talbott smiled, bringing her hand to his lips to place a soft kiss to her palm.

'Then trust me when I say that I'm looking out for you. Now come on.' Judith stumbled over her feet to follow her crush, fanning her face to cool down her intense blush. They continued to walk until they were in the middle of the field. When she finally got her blush under control, she looked up to find that they were not alone.

'Judith! Glad you could make it!' Murphy greeted with a grin. The witch next to him stepped up to offer a handshake.

'Hey there, Tigress. Nice to officially meet you outside of a match.' Judith took KC's handshake with a befuddled expression.

"McNully, Rising Star, it's... nice to see you too. But, what exactly is going on here?' Now it was KC's turn to give a smile.

'Your boy here came to McNully and I for some help. To help you matter of fact in regards to your blind spot.' Talbott glared at KC's small tease before looking at the surprised face of his little bird.

'You told them about my blindness?' Talbott bit his lip at the question. He couldn't decipher her tone for it gave nothing away. Her face even more so. Outside of the pinch of her brows that signifies her confusion, he wasn't sure how the girl felt about exposing her secret to one of her rivals.

'I did. I-I... I wanted to help you in some way. But I wasn't sure as to how. I know Rath is doing her best but maybe you needed a different approach. I'm not a Quidditch player, let alone a Beater so Andre led me to two people who possibly could provide that. Please, don't be mad, little bird. I know it's your secret to tell, but I couldn't stand to see you like that again. Frustrated and feeling hopelessly lost to yourself over something that you couldn't have helped. I'm sorry if I overstepped.' Judith stared at him for a few seconds longer before bringing him into a hug. Talbott looked down at the girl in surprise but didn't hesitate to wrap his arms around her. 

'I'm not mad, bird brain. You have nothing to apologize for. I know you wouldn't do anything to hurt me, and if you think that KC and McNully can help, I'm more than willing to hear them out.' Talbott squeezed her tighter, hiding his smile in the crown of her head.

'Great to hear that! Now, Talbott if you could remove yourself from my fellow Beater Babe's person, I want to show her what we came up with.' Talbott blushed, taking a stand by Murphy as KC looped her arm with Judith's to pull her to the crate with Beater Bats and a Bludger. There was a few metal practice dummies just a few yards away. Talbott turned to the handsome blonde commentator with a quirked brow.

'Care to share what you and Katriona came up with?' Murphy gave a smirk.

'Nope! For once, my lips are sealed this time. Just watch this lovely lady at work.' Talbott sighed, watching as the two witches converse with one another. He could spy Judith fiddling with her fingers, one of her nervous ticks, before grabbing a bat. KC already had the other one in hand, with her wand in her opposite hand.

'Now I'm gonna enchant the Bludger and we're gonna practice for a few minutes. Remember, don't be too hard on yourself and I'm right here with you so you don't have to experience so many close calls, alright?' Judith nodded, allowing herself to face forward with her left just as KC cast her spell. To Talbott's surprise, the Bludger began to glow a bright yellow, almost like a mini sun, zipping through the air before making its way towards the Hufflepuff Beater. Talbott watched with bated breath as he watched the familiar motion of Judith's swing and-

BANG! And-

CLANG!

Judith's smile was brighter than the glowing Bludger that night. And Talbott couldn't have been more happy to see the pure joy on his little bird's face.

While Judith was big on her training, both day and now night, that wasn't the only thing she did to improve. There were some instances where there were no bats and Bludgers involved. Those days were usually with her Captain, Orion Amari. Talbott found those practices a bit strange as the pair would be sitting on the ground meditating (something Judith would strong-arm him into doing as well), balancing on their brooms on a single leg, or being Inspired Broom Surfing. 

'Training is great to hone your skills, but a clear and steady mind can elevate one's game to substantial heights.' Talbott turned to find Orion standing beside him as he watched Judith surf on her broom. He regarded the older Badger with a raised brow, his silent question loud in the ears of the captain.

'I've known Judith since she was just a second-year student. Seen as a small, skinny, and shy Hufflepuff girl by many but I saw the fire in her eye. A spirit beaten down, but not broken. She wanted to prove herself. Something that is admirable but I could sense it was deeper than that. You saw it too, right?' Talbott froze as Judith's words flashed back to him.

'I promise I'm not this weak...'

'Yeah, I did...' Orion gave the young Eagle's shoulder a warm squeeze.

'You're good for her, you know? I noticed a shift in my Beater. She's not as hard on herself as she used to be. Her smile is brighter. And that only happened a little after you started coming around. And I greatly appreciate that...' Talbott swallowed around the emotional lump in his throat.

'I-It's nothing really. I would do anything for her...' Orion smiled, giving Talbott's shoulder another squeeze.

'The people who love her can see that. Trust me when I say that it means a lot to them and to her...' With that Orion hopped on his broom to surf alongside his student. Talbott watched as Judith gave her captain a bright smile, feeling one make his way on his own lips.

'She's so beautiful like this. In her element. Happy and healthy...'

Seeing her go through these different motions made him think of what she said on their date. How much she represents and values balance in her life. It just made her all the more intriguing and endearing to him.

It wouldn't be until their 5th year when he got to see her practice with her team. While they were real matches, Talbott always found them to be interesting and exciting. Seeing her play in action made him realize how good his little bird was and how well she and David worked together on the field. Even down to the Dobbleganger Defense, one of the most difficult plays for a Beater. The pride he would feel upon hearing the praise of her skill by the Quidditch commentator warmed his chest.

He couldn't wait for the girl's first game of the season.

Of course, he could've done without the pressure of meeting the girl's family. Talbott knew about her father through many sources. A former Beater-a Ravenclaw Beater at that, Talbott knew about her little brother, a Slytherin wizard in his third year if he remembers correctly, who he would see cling to her whenever he could get the chance. How he managed to avoid the little brother up until now is beyond him, but there was no avoiding it when the first fame of the season came around. It was Hufflepuff versus Ravenclaw.

There was usually a pregame party happening in the Courtyard before each game but Talbott knew his little bird well enough that she wasn't always one for mingling with others, at least not often. The next best place she would be is the Quidditch Pitch. 

Flying to the pitch was much faster than walking, and Talbott wanted to spend every second with the Hufflepuff Beater before her match. It wasn't until he was flying overhead that he realized that she wasn't alone. Part of him wanted to turn around and transform back into his human form so he could walk into the stadium instead. But Judith, ever so keen with her surroundings, spotted him. She waved him down with a bright smile, while the two males with her looked up to find him circling in the sky.

"Come down, love! I want you to meet my family," she called. After hesitating for a few seconds, he swooped down to land in front of the trio. The man and young boy looked at the eagle with a well-timed head tilt, though Talbott could see the suspicion in the man's pale gold eyes while there was a youthful glint of curiosity in the boy's near-black eyes. He looked to his little bird who gave him an encouraging smile. With that, he allowed himself to transform back into his human form. The boy flinched back before staring at him in awe. The older male version of his little bird only smirked.

"Like mother, like son," her father chuckled. Talbott eyed the man suspiciously. 

"I'm sorry?" Gold eyes regarded him with a knowing glint.

"Ah, you don't recognize me, don't you son?" Talbott's brow furrowed, racking his mind.

Has he met Judith's dad before? There's no way-

'Talbott, this is Kendrick Harris. He's my best friend from when I went to school. And his daughter, Judith...'

Talbott's eyes lowered to find a familiar necklace. The cord was decorated with dark red beads with a tooth of an animal of some sort.

"You... you were my parents' best friend. You came to my house that one time with..." he whispered, eyes watering. He turned to the witch next to him, finding that same warm look from that day in the Great Hall. The same look he got as they sat in the grand old tree on his parents' old property when they were children. Judith gave him a tentative smile, leaning in to kiss his cheek.

"L-Little Bird?" He watched as her smile grew.

"Yeah, it's me Bird Boy." He didn't hesitate to bring her into the circle of his arms, hugging her with all the strength she could muster. He smiled the joyful laughter in his ear.

"Talbott! You're gonna squish me," Judith giggled, hugging him back despite this. 

"You're the powerhouse Beater, little bird. If anything I should be worried about you breaking my bones with your bear hugs," he hummed. Kendrick let out a laugh at that, bursting the bubble the two teens found themselves in.

"As strong as my little girl is, she has one of the gentlest souls on this Earth. You should know," he said, with a kind smile. Talbott blushed before nodding.

"And I have you to thank for siring such a soul, Mr. Harris." Kendrick chuckled, waving him off.

"Call me Kendrick, Talbott. I'm not that old... plus, from what I heard you've proved me right. That you'll be good to my daughter and earn the right to be with her." Talbott and Judith balked at the elder Harris with blushes staining their cheeks.

"PAPA!" Kendrick raised a brow at his daughter's outburst.

"What? I'm the more tame parent. Ava had tried planning you two's wedding when you guys were toddlers," he said with an amused smirk.

"W-With all due respect, K-Kendrick, we're not officially together," Talbott stuttered. The man chuckled.

"Not yet, anyway." Judith groaned.

"Papa Kendrick, quit it. I already have to share Juju with her friends, I'll probably never see her if she gets a boyfriend," Nuri whined, finally chiming into the conversation. Talbott noticed the genuine discontentment on the boy's face. Judith huffed, extracting herself from Talbott's arms to snatch up her little brother. She placed her hands on his cheeks so she could meet his eyes.

"You listen here, Riri. No one will keep me from seeing and spending time with you. You're my little brother and will always hold a special place in my heart, understand," she said sternly. Nuri gave his sister a shy smile, before hugging her back. 

"I understand, Juju..." Kendrick and Talbott smiled at the sight before the man cleared his throat.

"The stands should be filling up soon, best if you boys find some good seats. You go ahead and change, baby girl. And remember, I'm proud of you no matter the outcome." Judith smiled at her dad, giving him one quick bear hug before the man went to the commentator booth. The three of them stood ready to go their separate ways before Judith stopped her brother.

"Before I forget, here you go, Riri." Talbott watched as the Hufflepuff took off her jacket, casting the Enlarging Charm before handing it to Nuri. She pulled the younger boy down to kiss his forehead, before making her way over to Talbott's side to kiss his cheek.

"Hope to see you two in the stands," she said before jogging her way out of the Pitch. 

The two wizards made their way up to the stands. Talbott could see Nuri eyeing him from the corner of his eye.

"What is it?" Nuri flinched, a bit surprised to be caught before deciding to speak up.

"This way is the way to the Hufflepuff Stands. You're a Ravenclaw, shouldn't you be sitting with them instead?" Talbott turned to look at the Slytherin wizard with a cocked brow. The boy didn't sound dismissive or hostile, just... curious.

"I want to support Judith. She's the whole reason why I got into Quidditch in the first place. It doesn't matter to me if it looks like I'm going against my own House. I'm here for her, and will always be here for her." Nuri smiled at the wizard, handing him the jacket her sister was wearing. Talbott took it with uncertain hands.

"Why are you giving me this," he asked as they made their way up the stands. Nuri paused on his next step and gave a shy smile, long fingers messing with a ring on his right hand. The same nervous tick as his little bird.

"My sister always gave me her letterman jacket whenever she played as a way for me to be comfortable sitting in with the Hufflepuffs ever since I came to Hogwarts. I'm going to be honest, I'm pretty selfish when it comes to her, and having to share her has been difficult for me. But as I got to see her interact with others and see those people care and love her too, I began to loosen up. While this is my first time officially meeting you, I can see how you look at her. Like she's the sun. The center of your universe. Papa Kendrick seems to like you a lot and he doesn't like the idea of sharing her love with any boy. Consider this my way of showing you that I'm willing to give you a fair chance. People who love my sister tend to be my favorite people, and I think you could be one of them." Talbott felt a flush wash over his face but he couldn't help but return the smile Nuri was giving him.

"Thank you. That means a lot and I would like to get to know you better too, Riri." The Slytherin boy sent the older wizard a playful glare.

"Okay, that's a step too far. Only Juju can call me Riri. My real name is Nuri. Nuri Lockheart." Talbott laughed at the look, it reminded him so much of Judith so he knew this look well enough to know that the boy wasn't actually upset.

"Heh, got you. I'm Talbott." The two wizards shared a smile as they continued their way up and reached the top of the stands. Talbott took the time to study the jacket, a letterman jacket as Nuri called it.

It was mainly black, with two stitched designs on either side of the torso. There was a gold honey badger symbol on the left side with two Beater bats in an "X" formation on the right. The sleeves were white and a bit baggy, looking like they would fit over his wrists thanks to the yellow cuffs with black and white lines. The same cuffs outline the collar and the bottom of the jacket. It even had decently sized-pockets. He flipped it over to find the word "TIGRESS" stitched on the back, the word beautifully made with gold yarn in impressive calligraphy. Talbott slipped on the jacket and immediately smiled.

The scent of his little bird lingered on the piece of clothing and he felt as if he was being embraced by the girl himself.

'If I could get away with it, I would never take this off...'

The duo decided to sit in the center on the bottom bench, only to be surprised to find someone already there.

"Merula?" The girl's head snapped up to find the two wizards standing beside her. And it didn't escape Talbott's attention that she was wearing a matching letterman jacket as himself, only it was obvious the jacket was made for someone much bigger than her.

"What are you doing here? Ravenclaw is on the other side and Slytherin isn't playing today," she snarked. Nuri frowned at the clear dismissal but Talbott knew better.

"The same reason why you sitting in the Hufflepuff stands. We're here to support someone we care about," Talbott clapped back. The witch blushed, grumbling.

"Fine, whatever. It's not like these seats are taken..." Taking that as an obvious invitation to join her, Talbott sat down next to the self-proclaimed "The Powerful Witch of Hogwarts" while Nuri sat beside him. Within minutes, the stands were starting to fill with eager Quidditch fans and casual watchers for the game. Even though there were some weird looks from the Hufflepuffs at the two newcomers who sat in their section, no one said anything to them. There was a buzz in the air until the crowd quieted with the sound of Murphy's voice.

"Welcome Hogwarts to the first game of this Quidditch season! Are you ready for this year's competition?" The crowds roared with approval and to Talbott's personal surprise, he was right there with that.

Talbott had to admit, he was excellent at getting the crowd going as he introduced the two teams. Ravenclaw had already made their entrance and waited in the middle of the field. It was now Hufflepuff's turn. He watched as the Hufflepuff team flew in, zooming through the stadium. He watched with bated breath as the team briefly paused in front of their stand, to the joy of the students there. Judith found him and Nuri easily, her eyes reflecting her surprise at him wearing her jacket before giving them a large grin. He could see the two top canines of her teeth were capped in gold before they zoomed off to meet their opponents in the middle of the Pitch. Despite being in his own heart-melting moment, he did notice that David, who was beside his fellow Beater, gave Merula a grin of his own followed by a cheeky wink. Talbott pretended not to see the blush on the pale girl's face.

Madam Hooch made sure to set the rules between the two teams, the captains of each team gave a firm handshake, and soon the balls were in.

The game has begun.

Talbott had to admit, it was the most fun he had in a while. Despite not fully knowing what was happening (Talbott was so grateful that he befriended Nuri as he was able to explain the mechanics of the game to him), the energy was contagious. Even Merula was standing and cheering for the team. The players were fast, it was sometimes hard to keep up with the action, even with his 20/20 vision. Sometimes he opted to just watch his little bird, who was her own beautiful force of nature. He watched as her mind was constantly at work, deciphering the patterns of the Bludgers before deciding on a play. Often passing the iron sphere to David, who used it to scatter the Ravenclaw Chasers. Other times, taking out unsuspecting players with a hit of her own. His favorite moment was the well-executed Bludger Backbeat, seeing her use the scarred side to knock a Chaser off their broom while dropping the Quaffle for Orion to steal for a goal, putting points up on the Badger's board. He was so caught up in watching her, he almost missed a stray Bludger making its way to him-

"Talbott, get down-" Nuri tried to warn him, but before he could pull Talbott down, it was deflected to the Ravenclaw Seeker (whom Talbott was sure spitting out some colorful language as they were so close to catching the Snitch). Talbott could only stare in a daze as Judith hovered over him on her broom. 

"You okay, Talbott," she quietly asked. Talbott, still in shock, gave a mute nod. Judith chuckled, leaning in to kiss his cheek before flying back into the fray.

"Awww, what a sweet moment from Hufflepuff's fiercest hunter, Tigress. Saving her handsome beau from a Bludger gone rogue before comforting him with a kiss! And who said romance was dead?" Talbott buried his red face in his hands as the crowd around him cooed along with Murphy's sentiment. Before Talbott knew it, the Hufflepuff Seeker managed to catch the Snitch, signaling the end of the game.

"Give it up for the Hufflepuff team! They will move on to the next round to face off the winner of the Slytherin and Gryffindor match!"

The next hour was a blur. With the win, of course, everyone on the Hufflepuff team had to accept the congratulations from fans and their rivals alike. Speaking eagerly amongst each other and toasting with some Butterbeer. Judith spent some much-needed time with her brother and father before they had to leave.

But soon, the field was empty and it was just Talbott and Judith. The young witch didn't get a chance to say a word as she was swept up in Talbott's arms, sinking into his warmth.

"I'm so proud of you. You were amazing." She smiled.

"How can I not? I have my number one fan cheering me on, wearing my letterman jacket better than I ever could." Before Talbott could say anything, most likely to refute the claim judging by his blush, she placed a single finger to his lips.

"Seriously Talbott. You helped me in more ways than you could ever know, and I wanted to show you by playing my absolute best. Your support, whether on the sidelines during my practices or in the stands at one of my games, means everything to me. Thank you." The boy beamed as he kissed her forehead.

"Anything for my champion..."

[carewyncromwell]

"And we're warning the city -- Now that we're in here, You'll know we've been here Before we are done!"

~"One Short Day" from Wicked

x~x~x~x

...Okay, honestly? I thoroughly blame the Super Bowl trailer premiere for the upcoming movie adaptation of one of my absolute favorite musicals, Wicked! (Even if I am really excited, I admit, I am trying to meter my expectations, since movie musicals getting proper justice is...well, less common than I'd like...)

But yeah, I already have associated Elphaba with our favorite MC best friend, Rowan Khanna, for a while, and I just HAD to draw her as my favorite green witch again after so long! ("Defying Gravity," because obviously!) And while I was at it, I decided to doodle up a Glinda!Penny Haywood, because honestly, of all of the HPHM cast, Penny suits Glinda better than anyone else. (Diego could make a pretty good Fiyero, actually, just personality-wise.)

Hope you all have a magical day! Much love and bubbles! 🫧🫧🫧

[indigobackfire]

In which Chiara reflects on a painting (and I do a bit of Menix exposition xD)

Chiara chokes in her next breath when she finally finds herself able to breathe. It's her poison right there - In oils or acrylics? Doesn't matter. Could be a proper window for all she knew -, glorious and pearly, breaking her heart in sharp-edged little pieces.

Badeea had all good intentions when she called her and other Hufflepuffs she found idly wandering the halls together to give their fair opinion and feelings on her art. She was to select a few to submit to an independent gallery of young talents in hopes of securing patrons and commissioners for the years beyond Hogwarts.

And, of course, Chiara was happy to help, she had seen a fair share of Badeea's art over the years and had always appreciated her talents, an ability not seen like it in anyone else their age, an artistic passion unmatched.

And of course, Witch in Velvet is mysterious, a painting Aspen had posed for in blood-red velvet drapes and done a good job of it with her sharp stare and ice-blue eyes. And certainly Birth of a Phoenix was to be picked, as the piece took her several weeks of watching Fawkes die and be reborn, flames moving as if real fire burned the canvas. Not to mention the mastery in detail from Dumbledore's still portrait whose eyes followed you in youthful melancholy regardless of where you stood before it.

So the piece before which Chiara stands shouldn't be anything special, not even Badeea wanted to place it there, but she felt important to include them all. A simple navy blue sky glittering with stars, accurate constellations of almost microscopic attention to detail, and on the forefront, a full sumptuous moon emanating shine so real it reflects on one's face.

And right now it's Chiara's tears reflecting said light, unable to remain unshaken, unable to look away.

She only notices Phoenix's presence when he already has his arm assuringly around her shoulders.

"Hey, it's okay."

She wipes her cheeks clean of tears even when more fall on their wake. "To think I'll never be to cherish a beautiful full moon."

"It's always so far in real life. This... this is pretty close to the real thing. Even prettier I'd say."

Perhaps romantic, she would've liked to add, looking at his ever-so-perfect profile and his thin golden curls in harmonious framing. Phoenix had always been enthralling and kind, but his heart never belonged to her, even the one time they kissed.

In fact, she's pretty certain the holder of said heart's eyes are boring holes on her back even without the need for Chiara to look. Ismelda had been walking with them when Badeea caught them, hand in hand with Phoenix. It was still a difficult sight to get used to but he wanted to acclimate both her and his friends to her presence and personality.

But even with the encouragements and evolution in friendliness, it'd be right out insane to get too friendly with him.

So she taps him on the shoulder and casually pulls herself away. "I'm quite alright now, Pheny. Thanks."

He nods, then lowers his voice as he continues. "You know you don't have to go through it alone. I know I'll never be able to solve your problems, but it might help to talk about your feelings."

"Indigo does plenty of that with me."

He smiles and nods knowingly. "Yes. But with somebody who experiences something... a little similar. Though not as frequent as yours, my transformations are never due to anything pleasant."

"Certainly not."

She dares a glance around the gallery and have her suspicions disappointingly confirmed with the side stare of dark green eyes on a starkly pale face.

She turns back to him quickly. "May I ask you something? Does she know?"

"Of my condition? Yes, of course. I wouldn't tag anyone along in ignorance of one of the core aspects of my existence. All my life it's been Indigo helping me through my moods, but I understand we'll eventually part and I have hopes of having her assistance in the future instead. I know it's a lot to ask, to expect, but I wouldn't ask if I didn't think she loved me and I know she does."

Chiara almost feels her face heat up at the exposure of his vulnerability, at the lightness with which he speaks of it. To hope someone would share the burden of being other, being dangerous and unstable. To hope for someone sturdy enough to hold her down.

"Must be nice, trusting it to someone like that. Being seen and understood. Being wanted so badly and lovingly, they're willing to go through the bad days."

He takes her hand and looks in her teary eyes. "Hey, look at me, you'll find that person. Chiara, you're a lovely girl with an unbelievably kind heart. Someone will make you braver and stronger through love."

She laughs, albeit a bit nervously. "Your words are touching and heartwarming, but please..." And tugs lightly at her hand. "People are looking."

He drops it immediately. "Forgive me, I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable."

"Oh, it's not you." She can't help glancing at Ismelda who looks away immediately. She thinks her glance to be quick, but Phoenix easily follows her path of sight.

He laughs musically and loudly, and her face burns with anticipation of his next move.

"Please!" He strides to Ismelda and pulls her into the conversation clumsily, even reluctantly she allows herself to be pulled. He wraps an arm around her shoulders. "Don't be fooled, this one wouldn't hurt a fly."

Ismelda doesn't hide her scowl nor her full face blushing. "Phoenix! You done besmirching my reputation? It's bad enough I date you of all people."

"What about dating me?"

She brushes the hair not covering her eye behind her ear. "You're the human equivalent of a buttery scone."

He grins charmingly. "At least I'm tasty, wouldn't you say?"

Chiara chuckles. "Can't argue with that."

"But not useful when one is trying to set a precedent of intimidation and respect."

"I think dating me makes you even more intimidating."

Almost reflexively Chiara finds herself nodding. "And we were just talking now."

"She knows."

"Do I?"

"Yes, you were looking."

"You looked cozy."

"Sorry, I'll make sure to look stiff and uncomfortable next time we talk."

She rolls her eyes but before she could utter a retort, Badeea approaches them to Chiara's relief.

"You guys seem to have taken a liking for this one. A candidate for the exposition?"

"I'd say so," Chiara responds.

"It's on the simpler side, for you that is," Phoenix says waving his hand, "but it's so sublime and realistic. Speaks of your sensibilities, not to mention your astronomical knowledge. This would make professor Sinistra cry with joy."

She holds her face as a smile spreads on her lips. "Ah, thanks, Phoenix. I require your poetic insight in all of the pieces, can you do it?"

"Of course."

And now, to Chiara's mortification, Badeea loops her arm around his elbow and takes him with her to look at the rest of her work.

She slowly looks in Ismelda's direction not looking her in the eyes. "Hey, I was trying to-"

Ismelda's looking at the painting. "I know."

"Oh, good."

"No, I know about your... condition."

Her eyes widen. "How do you..."

"It wasn't Phoenix, don't worry. Let's just say I know more than people think I do."

"I trust you haven't told anyone else."

"Not even he knows that I know. But I knew that he did." She turns to Chiara. "I'm not telling anyone, it'd be hypocritical of me, Phoenix being who he is. I think it's cool actually. Your type is very vicious, which is almost comical looking at you."

"Why?"

"You're frail and girly."

Chiara scoffs. "And you're certainly strong and vicious."

"I don't have to be. That's what wands are for." She balances her wand between her fingers swift and smoothly. "I respect your friendship with him and your special understanding, but I hope you don't try anything."

"And I hope you stop threatening me or I'll tell him myself."

Ismelda narrows her eyes. "Not a threat, just a warning."

"Same goes for you. You're not the only person that knows more than they should." She turns away from the painting, but before she leaves she looks at Ismeld one last time. "For the sake of my friendship with Phoenix, I hope we can be friends one day."

[akikocho]

Before going to sleep, Imma just share the colored sketch (more like a doodle) that I did rn.

I'm supposed to make a comic based on Charlie's lvl 10 friendship reward and I did this monstrosity

Look at Maya with Charlie's hairstyle. And yes, Charlie did the hairstyle himself.

He also likes the feeling of Maya's long, soft and silky silver hair yes....

[heleneplays]

for @moon-twins-and-the-gem <3

[unfortunate-arrow]

📻 for Cara

This song is on Cara’s playlist because it’s just got her vibes. I feel like she would absolutely love this song too. It’s just such a good song for her. I also kind of feel like Cara would have really great female friendships, kinda in like a Leslie Knope vibe.

Send me 📻 + an oc and I’ll give you a random song off their playlist + an explanation of why it’s there

[jxurnes]

some of these answers are so genuinely vile isn't there a date where you can tell talbott his parents are dead

[hairypotterhogwartsmystery]

Merula Is Not Actually That Evil

I recently finished Year 1 of HPHM and found many of Merula's actions to be rather unbelievable.

Kids can be awful, but I still don't think eleven-year-olds are capable of cold-blooded murder (such as the Devil's Snare Incident). The strangest thing about Merula's character, though, is that despite her track record, Jam City keeps trying to force Merula on us as a friend in the sidequests.

I didn't want to chalk it up to JC's dubious writing, and I was also inspired by the deep dives from @missnight0wl, so instead, I've spawned the theory that Merula Is Not Actually That Evil.

By the end of the first year, Merula has two "ambitions:"

1) To bully MC relentlessly.

2) To find the Cursed Vaults before MC.

Let's start with 1).

Merula is a bully---an awful, rude, reckless bully---but she's not pure evil. Most of her actions are not so much to instill fear and establish dominance (or, as I call it, MPWAH Syndrome) as they are an act of pushing people away. Merula does not find herself deserving of friendship, likely because she had a traumatic childhood that fractured her trust in people. This does not excuse for her behavior. However, I believe Merula's intentions for bullying MC + The Gang are different than what MC believes.

In their first Potions class, Merula coats MC's cauldron with Bulbadox Powder, which causes it to explode and makes Snape mad, yada yada. There are two strange things about this interaction:

1) Merula only learned of MC's identity five minutes before class, when MC stood up to her for tormenting Rowan. She kind of jumped on the "you're a disgrace" bandwagon, but didn't really say anything of note. See, Merula's original target was never MC---it was Ben Copper. This means that Merula's hatred for MC didn't appear out of nowhere---it was provoked by MC themself.

2) Bulbadox Powder isn't a potion ingredient. It's a joke product.

So Merula, who met MC five minutes ago and has only a generic hatred/jealousy of them, is also coincidentally carrying around a joke product in her pocket and manages to coat MC's cauldron in it without them noticing? Yeah, right. Merula didn't do it. Merula did not actually sabotage MC's potion. Chances are the cauldron was tampered with by some other mischievous student.

However, MC, assuming the worst about their newfound enemy, pins the blame on Merula, who, of course, denies it.

Then we have the Devil's Snare Incident, which most people cling to as a justifiable reason for hating Merula. Honestly, I did too, until I thought about it a bit harder.

I do believe that Merula sent the fake letter and locked MC in the closet full of Devil's Snare, because, well, Merula admits to it herself. However, I think she did this because MC framed her for blowing up their cauldron. Merula only says that she blew up MC's potion when MC is in the closet in order to seem more powerful and make MC afraid and distrustful of her. (See: MPWAH Syndrome.)

She also never intended for MC to die. Why?

a) She knows that MC is very good at Lumos.

b) I believe it was Merula who, in a fit of regret, alerted Hagrid that MC was trapped, and told Hagrid to go save MC. This is why Hagrid acted so shocked when MC told him it was Merula who locked them in the cupboard.

Now you might be wondering, "why didn't Hagrid just tell MC that Merula actually wanted to help them escape?"

Firstly, Hagrid is an adult, and in a position of power on campus compared to students. He understands that true disciplinary action can't happen without concrete proof (which MC doesn't have) and likely doesn't want to be the source of any gossip or rumors. Thus, he tried to de-escalate the issue instead of confusing MC with conflicting information, or encouraging MC to tattle/seek retribution.

Okay. That was a lot. In summary:

Merula's original target for bullying was never MC.

Merula bullies MC because she thinks MC wronged her.

Merula bullies MC + The Gang as a subconscious act of alienation, though she believes it to be a method of asserting her dominance.

This segues us into 2).

Why does Merula want to find the Cursed Vaults?

According to Merula, it's because of her MPWAH Syndrome.

I think this is partially the reason she seeks the Vaults. Though Merula herself may believe this is the true reason, her subconscious behavior says otherwise.

Merula's Cursed Vaults mission is very hush-hush---she doesn't want other teachers or students (such as Rowan) to find out. Obviously, this is for self-preservation---she doesn't want to get punished and expelled like Jacob---but I think Merula's secrecy ultimately proves that she isn't simply seeking the Vaults for attention and prestige. She's seeking them in order to validate her own loneliness.

Merula wants the glory of the Vaults for herself. She needs to reach the Vaults before MC, even though MC's not even in the race---MC's sole motivation for seeking the Vaults is to track down Jacob. By finding the Vaults all by herself, Merula validates the instinct within her that pushes people away. By finding the Vaults all by herself, Merula can prove that she doesn't need other people to succeed.

So why the Vaults? Why not prove herself by doing something innocuous like doing well in school? Well,

a) doing well in school is impressive, but not atypical or risky

b) doing well in school is a solitary act anyway; Merula needs to do something that would typically be collaborative on her own in order to prove herself.

c) I think Merula has a bit of a self-destructive streak. I don't have super solid evidence for this, though, aside from her pursuit of the Vaults themselves and her love of dueling.

So in summary:

Merula says she's searching for the Vaults because of MPWAH Syndrome.

In actuality, Merula is searching for the Vaults in order to justify her lone wolf/aloof personality.

Whew. I never thought I would psychoanalyze a fictional eleven-year-old from a mobile game this hard, but honestly, it's a fun exercise. Perhaps this skill will come in handy for future English essays.

Keep in mind this analysis was made only with information from Year 1. In a previous lifetime, I played up to Year 4, but I recently started anew. Feel free to spoil things in your responses---I know pretty much all the main plot points up until MC graduates.

Thank you for reading this far.

[lifeofkaze]

Bright Moon Above

A/N: I swear to God, I'm never doing a mirror scene again... ever. This story is for @hphm-ship-week Day 2, using the prompt "First Kiss." Mirror to his mirror can be found here.

Silence embraced him as Orion stepped from the bustling post-match party going down in the Hufflepuff common room. He commended the spirit of his house, joining together to celebrate their team’s spectacular win earlier in the day, but for all the joy they had been met with, it was the stillness of his mind Orion was really longing for. 

That, and something else.

He’d been watching Lizzie for the better part of the evening, both wanting to share her company and strangely reluctant to go near her. It was just as well. Observing her among the people she loved, elevated by the glow of the adoration she so justly deserved - not only because of the fantastic match she’d played but because of who she was - was enough to bring a smile to his face, to make his heart leap with every laugh of hers carrying over the music to his ear.

Yes, this was another reason he had been eager to leave.

Frustrated, Orion sighed as he made his way towards the stairs leading to the ground level of the castle. There had been a lot of back and forth between him and Lizzie lately, many things he shouldn’t have said or done. His thoughts were constantly revolving around her, like moons around their fixed star - always circling, never near, doomed to live in the shadow of the very thing they gravitated towards the most. 

He sighed again. Maybe what Skye had said about them the other day was true, maybe it wasn’t. He didn’t know and was too afraid to pursue even the idea of it. What would it mean there was more between them than either of them wanted to let on? For himself, for his team? And most of all, for their friendship?

The sound of quick footsteps behind him made Orion pause. His heart began to beat faster. Waiting for the steps to catch up with him, he told himself that it could be anyone - a prefect even, which would get him into all sorts of trouble - but deep down he knew who those steps belonged to. 

When Lizzie rounded the corner and set her eyes on him, his lips curved into the same smile that was blossoming on her face. “Tired of the party already?” 

Lizzie laughed quietly, a sound like water running over smooth stones. “Same as you, apparently. Where are you going?”

“I don’t care much for huge parties with so many people,” Orion admitted. Preferring the company of a few friends to many, he’d occupied himself with Murphy McNully for a while, but when his quick-mouthed friend had found another source of divergence for the evening, Orion had gladly abandoned him to her.

Lizzie looked at him questioningly, breaking him from the thoughts revolving around Murphy and one of Ravenclaw’s Beaters. “So, what are you going to do now?”

 He shrugged. “I’m going to seek respite from the crowd in my favourite place.”

“The Quidditch pitch?”

“My second favourite place then,” Orion chuckled; she knew him too well. Pushing himself off the wall, he took the first couple of steps, then turned back to her again with a smirk. “Are you coming or not?”

Lizzie was by his side immediately. Together they climbed the steps to the ground level and then further on, higher and higher, always checking if the path was clear from professors, prefects and (maybe most importantly) Peeves the poltergeist. Neither of them spoke as they wandered the castle’s corridors and they didn’t need to; the silence between them was comfortable, Lizzie’s company as familiar to Orion as his very own. The sun outside had set, and aside from a couple of torches and candles flickering in their holders, the school had gone dark. Orion was glad that he knew where he was going, for he sure didn’t pay his steps much mind. It had been some time since he and Lizzie had spent so much time together one-on-one, and the longer she was walking by his side, the harder he found it to focus on their surroundings. The darkness had brought her close, so close that she was brushing against his arm every now and again. She had just said something to him but Orion wasn’t sure what; the way she spoke was too distracting for him to listen properly, as was the smile playing around her lips, the echo of it was reflected in her eyes.

They soon reached the grand stairwell traversing the castle from top to bottom. Lizzie was still talking when she stepped onto the staircase that had swung their way when Orion saw it - a light, bright like a star, piercing the darkness on the far side of the landing. A lantern.

“Who goes there?” The lantern was raised higher, turning the weathered face of caretaker Argus Filch into a sneering landscape of light and shadow. “Hey you, stop!”

Without thinking, Orion grabbed Lizzie’s hand and pulled her down from the staircase and back into a corridor branching off the great stairwell. Together they dashed away, up and down spiral staircases, through corridors and across abandoned hallways. They must have lost Filch some time ago but still they kept running, spurred on by each other and the adrenaline traversing their bodies.

Despite their mad dash, Orion did his best to keep his orientation, and soon the passage opened into a perfectly round room of sand-coloured flagstone. From its centre, a wrought iron staircase rose upwards, spiralling around its axis until it was lost in the darkness above. It was on its lowest step that Lizzie finally collapsed, chest rising and falling with heavy breaths. Struggling to catch his breath himself, Orion caught her eye and, simultaneously, they burst into laughter. 

“The Astronomy Tower, huh?” Lizzie said after she had regained her composure.

“Where better to be one with the universe than beneath the starry sky?” 

Tilting her head to look upwards, a slender beam of moonlight found its way from a small window in the tower wall and caught in Lizzie’s hair, caressing the curve of her neck. Orion forced himself to look away but it was no use. As he set foot onto the staircase and offered Lizzie his hand, and she laced her fingers through his, his heart beat as rapidly again as it had during their race through the castle. 

Upon reaching the top, Lizzie let go of him and wandered toward the star-lit platform surrounding the tower. Orion didn’t look at her as he leaned against the railing next to her, even though he knew she was watching him. Instead, he turned his eyes skywards, to the inky vastness dotted with silver. The stars had never failed him before. They would lead him now as well.

“So this is your favourite place in the castle?” Lizzie asked.

Orion nodded. “It’s the most peaceful place I know.” 

She didn’t reply, merely turning away and letting her eyes trail the firmament. They stood like this for some time without speaking, watching the earth, sky and anything but each other. The little room where their shoulders were almost touching had become tangible, as if the starlight had spun invisible threads of energy there that were pulling him towards her, body, mind and soul. Orion was used to trusting his instincts, believing that the universe would guide him where he needed to go, but with Lizzie, it was different. When she was near, everything else was wiped away. With her, all that mattered was the moment she was by his side, all that occupied his mind what she said, thought, felt, could possibly feel. He didn’t know. He had known once, or at least he had thought so. Now, he knew nothing anymore.

The night air, which had been cool to begin with, seemed to grow even chillier as a breeze swished over the platform, carrying with it the scent of wood, grass, and dew. Earlier, Orion had shrugged out of his coat and offered it to Lizzie, who - despite her claiming otherwise - had begun to shiver. Now, goosebumps were covering the backs of his arms but the cold air brushing over his skin helped ground his fluttery thoughts. When they wandered to places full of doubt and worry, the sharp bite of the wind pulled him back to where he had much better employ his focus - the present. Eventually, he took heart and turned to Lizzie. 

“Do you know why I like to come here?” 

“You like stargazing?”

A smile was playing around her lips but Orion remained serious. “Yes. The stars have a way of revealing your true self, if you know how to read them.”

Lizzie looked surprised. “You’re talking about astrology.”

He nodded. “I don’t know much about my past but the stars have taught me more about myself than I ever thought possible.” Lizzie gave him a wry response that made him laugh. “You don’t believe in it?” 

“Not really.”

“Why do you never take off your necklace then?”

His eyes dropped to where Lizzie’s hand had flown, right beneath the dip in her throat. She closed her fingers around the yellow topaz he had given her for her birthday, toying with the tiny pendant, not meeting his eye.

“I don’t know,” she said after a while. “It comforts me knowing it’s there.”

“That’s what birthstones are supposed to do.”

He touched the pendant of his own necklace, like he had done more times than he could remember. Twirling the silvery stone attached to it this way and that, a wave of calm washed over him. The waters of his fleeting peace rippled, however, when Lizzie reached out to take the stone from his hand to inspect it more closely. Her hand was cold but where it brushed against his, Orion’s skin was burning.

“Is this your birthstone?”

“Not mine,” said Orion quietly, waiting for the familiar surge of sadness, of longing, to pass. “It belonged to my mother. It gives me comfort when I feel unsettled. That’s how I came up with the idea for yours.”

Lizzie had gone still next to him. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be,” Orion shook his head. “All of this shaped me into who I am, and I wouldn’t want to change that. I know who I  am, even though it’s a truth I cannot share with many people.” 

The words were out before he could stop them. He’d never asked for pity, preferring to find solace in the inevitableness and purpose of any situation the universe seemed fit to challenge him with. But here, high above the world with no one but Lizzie and the star-dotted sky by his side, his innermost thoughts  were bubbling to the surface, longing to step forward and be heard, even just this once. 

“I never noticed,” Lizzie said, blissfully unaware at how open his heart was lying right in front of her. “To me, you’re always acting the same. Maybe you’re a little more direct when you’re around friends, but that’s about it.”

“Masking what you want to say behind words helps figuring out who really wants to listen. To most, I am merely the eccentric captain of our Quidditch team. They don’t see beyond what they expect, so in turn, it is all which I am ready to show them. With you, it’s different. You listen to what I have to say. With you, I can be truly honest.” 

Lizzie froze. She let go of his necklace and turned away, wringing her hands.

“Sometimes I wonder if it’s good to dig too deep,” she said quietly. “You might not like everything you find out about yourself.”

It had been bothering him, the change he’d witnessed in her this year. Trust was a flower, grown from constant care and nourishment, but even the most hardy plant needed fertile ground to thrive. As her friend, it was his duty to offer her a place to rest, provide her worries with a soil that would transform them into something beautiful, should she wish it so.

“Some things do remain mysteries to us,” he consequently said. “I don’t know what you’re running from, Lizzie. But I want you to know that you can always trust me if you need someone to share your burden.”

For a long moment, Lizzie remained silent. She had trouble keeping control of her features, Orion could tell, but there were so many things fighting each other in her eyes that it made it equally hard for him to watch her struggle than it was to look away. She opened her mouth but didn't speak. Instead, she reached out and lightly placed her hand on his, her voice a constricted whisper.

“I know.”

Orion waited a moment longer in case she wanted to say more. When she didn’t, he let it go. If she wasn’t ready, or if it wasn’t him she wanted to confide in, he would have to accept that, as much as it stung. Trust was a gift granted, not a debt to be claimed. 

“It’s lucky the moon isn’t full tonight, don’t you think?” he said, as much to change the topic as to distract himself from the surge that shot through him when Lizzie laced her fingers through his again. “You can see every star in the Leo constellation.”

“Can you?”

Orion turned his head, trying to take her measure. As captain of the Quidditch team, Professor Sprout kept him updated on the scores of his players. Lizzie was good at Astronomy; not exceptional, but certainly  good enough.

“You don’t see it?”

Much to his surprise, Lizzie shook her head. “I don’t.” 

“Well then.” 

He moved away from the railing to step behind her. Hesitating briefly, he wrapped his arm around her waist, closing what little distance had remained between them. His heartbeat picked up when she leaned against him, head resting in the spot where his shoulder met his neck, and placed her hand on the arm he was holding her with.

“See? There,” Orion murmured, barely able to focus. He pointed at a cluster of four stars forming a jagged vertical line. “The legs of Leo. From there to the side you can see Denebola, the second brightest star of the constellation. Work your way in the other direction, along its spine, to Algieba, which forms part of the Sickle, head and chest of the mighty lion.”

He moved his arm as he explained the glittering stars above their heads, all the while enjoying the way Lizzie’s hair brushed against his skin. The motions of her head were minuscule as she followed his directions, but every move of hers sent a pleasant jolt through him.

Eventually, he pointed at the final star - Regulus, the lion’s heart - which he had purposefully saved for last.

“Even though it is the brightest of them all, the light of the moon still eclipses it. That’s why we’re lucky the moon isn’t full tonight. On a night like this, you can see straight to the heart.” Aware of the goosebumps on the side of her neck, he murmured into her ear, “But I believe you know that very well.” 

The movement of her fingers ceased. For a moment, everything did; the wind, the turning of the stars, the rise and fall of her chest, the beating of Orion’s heart. 

Then, Lizzie turned in his arms and her eyes found his. He held his breath as she parted her lips, her eyes dropping to his mouth. She raised a hand and placed it against his cheek in a touch as light as the wind that brushed around them, stirring their hair and caressing their skin as tenderly as lovers would. Her hand was cold to the touch but it didn’t matter; the heat spreading from his chest was enough to warm him as Lizzie rose onto her tiptoes and he closed his eyes, losing himself in the softness of her mouth as her lips grazed his.

Everything around them was forgotten. They could have stood on the highest peak or in the deepest pit in the centre of the Earth, the sky could have shattered into glittering shards and rained down on them and Orion wouldn’t have cared. Lizzie’s lips against his were all that remained, all that mattered. She was pervading every last one of his senses and he let her do so gladly. The scent of her perfume - jasmine and mint, a combination as unlikely and singular as herself - was clouding his mind, sharp and fresh, underlaid with the earthy warmness rising from his coat around her shoulders. Her lips tasted like cherries - of course they did - courtesy of the lip balm she always used, the one giving them the enticing red tint Orion had so often found hard to look away from. Touch, hearing, sight, he didn’t know where to put his attention first, being constantly drawn back to the point where their lips connected, where their breaths mingled, two spirits moulded into one beneath the starbright sky. 

Eventually, they broke apart, both their breaths coming heavily. There were no smiles anymore as they locked eyes again, just a mutual understanding, a need, that made Orion pull her in again. She flooded him, the entirety of her, a tidal wave which he was happy to meet face on and be washed away by it. His hand wandered from her neck into her hair, tangling in her locks as she moved closer until her body was flush against his. Lizzie shivered, almost imperceptibly so, and Orion was brought back to his senses, ready to stem the tide at a moment’s notice, when a sharp sensation in his lower lip made him pause. Surprised he pulled away but the corners of Lizzie’s mouth rose into a smile that matched the challenge in her eye. 

“Anything wrong, Captain?” 

Her eyes were captivating, mercilessly putting him under her spell. Their lips met again, a desperate edge to their kiss this time. Pushing herself onto the ledge behind her, Lizzie wrapped her legs around his midsection as he stepped into her. They were only inches away from the perilous drop into nothingness but they were too intoxicated with each other to even notice. In this moment, they were flying.

They were still kissing, Orion’s hands on Lizzie’s waist holding her steady, hers roaming, fingers raking through his hair, when…

“Get your hands off each other this instant!”

The fire that had burned between them just a moment ago went out, doused by the rigidness that suddenly got hold of Lizzie’s body. She firmly pushed him away and scrambled off the parapet. It was like he had ceased to exist, all her attention focused on the person who had come up the tower steps unnoticed. Following Lizzie’s wide eyes, Orion saw why.

Whom he had thought to be a random prefect controlling the castle was truly Rowan Khanna, the friend Lizzie was rarely seen without. Rowan’s eyes were fixed on Lizzie with a look in them Orion couldn’t read. A tremor went through her and she shook her head, slowly backing away. Then she turned and dashed back towards the staircase. 

“Rowan, wait!”

Lizzie set after her friend, dipping from the silver light of the platform back into the shadow of the Astronomy Tower. Orion followed them more slowly, unsure what was going on or whether the heated exchange between Rowan and Lizzie by the landing was for him to hear. All that he knew was that Rowan sounded agitated, and Lizzie desperate.

“Rowan, you need to calm down,” he said when he reached them, making his words as calm as possible. “I’m sure we can clear this misunderstanding together.” 

Rowan looked like he had lost his mind.

“Misunderstanding?” she barked with a laugh that sounded entirely unlike her. “The only misunderstanding here is that I thought Lizzie was my friend when in truth, she’s nothing but a liar. Did you never wonder why we wanted you to be our tutor when neither of us needed it, Orion? The truth is, it was a lie, a ruse, and nothing else. The truth is, our dear Lizzie can’t handle it when all attention isn’t on her.”

Orion didn’t understand what was going on but he had no time to sort his thoughts. The pain in her voice mirrored on her face, Rowan jerked away from Lizzie’s outstretched hand and drew her wand.

“Flipendo!” A pang cut through the night as Lizzie stumbled backwards, hitting the flagstone floor without uttering a sound. They stared at each other for a long moment, then Rowan whirled around and bounded down the steps until she was out of sight.  

On the floor, Lizzie was struggling to get to her feet. Within a heartbeat Orion was by her side. When he placed a hand against her cheek, willing her to focus on him, her skin was cold to the touch.

“Are you okay?”

Wordlessly, Lizzie shook her head. Her eyes found his, only for a moment, before something shattered in them and she averted her face, turned her entire body away from him. A sob racked her frame and then another and another as her tears began to fall. 

Orion tried again but she refused to talk to him, to talk at all. Not wanting to press here when she was so distressed he let her be. All he could do was kneel by her side and watch her cry, feeling numb, confused and farther away from her than ever before. 

[cursedvaultss]

HPHM OC Profile: Calliope Black

"No matter what anybody tells you, words and ideas can change the world."

Name: Calliope Antigone Black

Nicknames: Callie

Birthdate: October 31st, 1972

Zodiac Sign: Scorpio 

Blood Status: Pureblood 

Nationality: British

Sexuality: Bisexual

Callie is not the MC, she's just an OC that attends Hogwarts at the same time as Jacob's Sibling! She's open for friendships and rivalries, etc.

Physical Appearance

Hair: Dark brown

Eyes: Blue

Height: 1.60cm (5 ft 3½)

Weight: 53kg 

Skin Tone: Fair

Faceclaim: India Eisley

Background

Home: Raven Hall, a modest (by rich people standards) property owned by the Black family in rural England

Family

Mother: Cressida Black, n��e Rowle

Cressida is a Slytherin alumni. She works at the Wizengamot and leads a seemingly successful life. On the inside, she's struggling though. She's not happy with her life and her unhappiness is affecting her relationship with her daughter. She loves Callie but is misguided in her efforts to make her choices for her and attempt to keep her in line.

Father: Castor Black, the younger brother of Orion Black

Castor attended Hogwarts as a Slytherin. He's unlike most of his family members in that he is softer and less likely to spout blood-purist rhetoric. However, he is not close with his daughter and his marriage to Cressida is facing some difficulties. He has constantly lived in the shadow of his older brother and doesn't know how to stand up to him.

Uncle: Orion Black

Cousins: Sirius Black, Regulus Black, Bellatrix Lestrange, Andromeda Tonks, Narcissa Malfoy

Hogwarts

House: Ravenclaw (hat stall with Slytherin)

Career

11-17: Hogwarts Student 

17->: tbd

Personality & Attitude

Callie is the quiet sort who prefers the company of books to people. She doesn't go out of her way to make friends and can often seem cold or even rude to people who don't know her, but she's quite friendly once you manage to break through her surface. Deep down, she feels very alone due to her parents being distant and being an only child. She struggles with creating meaningful connections but craves them deeply.

She responds best to speaking of common interests, like books or music. She's a little bit clueless about the Muggle world and finds learning about Muggle culture fascinating. Callie is creative and sometimes scribbles poetry in the margins of her essays or in little notebooks. She doesn't have ambitions to become a poet as a fulltime job, though.

Priorities: Friends, gaining knowledge, independence

Strengths: Clever, works well under pressure, loyal to loved ones

Weaknesses: A bit of a loner, a penchant for melancholy, can come off as rude

Stressed: When dealing with her family or studying for exams 

Calm/Comforted: With her friends and in the library

Favorites

Colors: Black

Weather: Rain 

Hobbies: Reading, writing poetry, Wizard chess

Fashion: Business casual, blacks and grays, some grunge vibes

Relationships

Significant Other/Love Interest: Talbott Winger

Callie and Talbott have been house mates since year one, but they only really started to speak during year 4, when Callie got her pet owl Orpheus and started to spend time in the Owlery. They both enjoy a comfortable silence and the quiet comfort of each others' company.

The two started dating during year 6. They were together until graduation, after which they broke up for a while but reconnected during the Second Wizarding War. They married and have one daughter together.

Friends:

Talbott Winger

Badeea Ali

Murphy McNully

Matthew Luther by @hphmmatthewluther

Vienna Brokenshire, Jules Farrier, and Azariah Steele by @cursebreakerfarrier

Cato Reese by @catohphm

Eirlys Knell by @cursedlegacies

Dimitri and Skylar Di Angelo by @nicos-oc-hell

Caiden Solace by @camillejeaneshphm

Isabelle Dubois by @endlessly-cursed

Ruth Lyman, Huck Fitzgerald, Ryan, Cara, Sara, and Conor O'Donnell by @unfortunate-arrow

Marti Venturi by @smarti-at-smogwarts

OPEN FOR INTERACTION!

Rivals:

Merula Snyde (indirectly)

Children:

Thalia Winger

Talia was born in 1997. She's a Gryffindor and a Quidditch chaser.

Trivia

Callie likes to follow Quidditch although she doesn't talk about it because it clashes with her intellectual bookworm loner brand.

She has an owl called Orpheus

She has fond memories of her cousins Sirius and Regulus

[carewyncromwell]

McGonagall 🤝 Carewyn

in memory of Maggie Smith...rest in peace, sweet queen

The Battle of Hogwarts was hard-fought. With how many casualties there had been and how much the school had been damaged, it was inevitable that it would take a very long time before things would be as they once were. If nothing else, those poor students who had had to start at Hogwarts the year the Death Eaters took over would have to pretty much start all over again from the Defense Against the Dark Arts and Muggle Studies perspective, since everything they'd learned from the Carrows was both completely useless and incorrect. And that wasn't even touching just how hard it would be for the student body to find contentment and peace again after such a traumatic school year.

Hogwarts needed strong leadership, if it hoped to get through such a difficult time. Fortunately the school was in very good hands, with Minerva McGonagall as its Headmistress. There was truly no one better to take charge in Carewyn Cromwell's mind that her old Deputy Headmistress.

"Phoenix ashes," Carewyn stated the password that she'd received in her most recent letter.

At once the gargoyle moved aside, allowing her access to the Headmistress's Office. As she climbed the stairs, the Ministry's star lawyer caught the sound of two familiar voices.

"...word to Kingsley on the matter?" asked a very dreamy, serene male voice.

"I daresay our new Minister will have more than enough on his plate at present," said a much crisper, sterner female voice, before she exhaled. "But yes, I suppose I will have to. It's hardly a wonder last NEWT season was so disheveled: some retesting will be inevitable, under the circumstances..."

As Carewyn reached the landing, she found tall, austere Minerva McGonagall standing at the far back left of the office, speaking to the portrait of her old friend and mentor, Albus Dumbledore. The Headmistress had her graying dark hair tied back in a very tight bun as always, and she was dressed in high-necked black and red tartan robes. She had her back to Carewyn when she entered, which meant that Dumbledore's portrait caught sight of the red-haired Slytherin alumnus first.

"Hello, Carewyn," he said with a bright twinkle in his painted eyes.

Carewyn's red lips came together tightly. It was the first time she'd seen Dumbledore's portrait in the office. The last time she'd seen the man himself was nearly a year prior to his death -- hell, even the last letter she'd received from him had come through a good two years ago now.

"...Hello, Professor," she said stiffly.

She turned to McGonagall and her expression relaxed, seeing the small smile touching the older woman's features.

"Hello, Miss Cromwell."

"It's been a while, Professor."

"Indeed it has," said McGonagall. "I believe this is the first time we’ve spoken since I visited your flat at the start of the War…"

Carewyn nodded. She glanced around the Headmistress's office — it hadn’t changed that dramatically since she’d been there last, but there were a few things that felt off. Obviously the portrait of Dumbledore was new; there were a few magical instruments that had been replaced on the many shelves. The thing that caught Carewyn's eye, however, was the empty roost which years before had hosted Dumbledore’s familiar, Fawkes the phoenix.

McGonagall followed Carewyn's gaze, and her expression grew a bit more solemn.

"Fawkes left Hogwarts the night Albus died," she said, her eyes flitting back to Dumbledore's portrait as he swept out of it and out of sight. "Neither I nor anyone else I know of has seen him since."

Carewyn bowed her head. "I daresay with how loyal he was to Dumbledore, Fawkes will mourn him longer than anyone else."

McGonagall sighed. "Yes..."

Her eyes behind her glasses appeared misty and dark — Carewyn could sense a wave of nostalgia coming off of her, as well as a Dumbledore-shaped shadow sweeping silently around the office they now occupied. Even so, as she crossed the room back over to her desk, the Headmistress walked with purpose and pride in her shoulders.

"I lament you were unable to pay your respects, after what happened," said McGonagall, "but I suppose the role you played for the Order would have been compromised by your attendance?"

Carewyn frowned uncomfortably as she looked away.

"My Legilimency has…made it more difficult for me to be in tight proximity with lots of people. And people in mourning, especially people I knew…it would've been a struggle to act detached from Bill and the others, in the midst of that. With Umbridge and Scrimgeour in attendance as potential witnesses, I couldn't risk that loss of composure, if I wanted them to think I wasn't aligned with the Order."

Her blue eyes darkened.

"…Even coming to Hogwarts, after the Battle…even when separated from everyone by walls, the emotions were so loud and painful that I could barely stand."

McGonagall’s face gained a bit more compassion. "I see…"

The Headmistress indicated the chair on the other side of her desk. Carewyn accepted the mute offer and sat down.

"Would you like some tea?" asked McGonagall.

"That'd be lovely, thank you."

The Headmistress waved her wand. In a moment, a teapot had bounced off of a nearby table with a newly formed pair of legs and up onto the desk, little splashes of tea spilling out the top as it went. Not far behind it came two teacups, also bounding up onto the desk in front of Carewyn and McGonagall, respectively. McGonagall let the teapot pour its own contents into their cups as she flipped open a lid on a box to reveal a batch of Ginger Newts, which she placed down between them so Carewyn could reach them.

"I did visit his tomb on my way in today, though," said Carewyn. She picked up her newly full cup with a quickly murmured "thank you" to the enchanted teapot. "Mum asked me to drop off some flowers, for her."

"Albus would've appreciated that," said McGonagall. "He always spoke fondly of Lane…and of you and Jacob, as well. He does as well," she added, indicating the empty frame of Dumbledore's portrait with a nod of her head.

Carewyn eyed the empty frame too, but more beadily. However fond he may have been of them, Dumbledore had still expelled Jacob in a misguided attempt to protect Hogwarts from R, and that was something that even now Carewyn couldn'’'t forgive.

“How is Jacob?” asked McGonagall more solemnly. "I know he suffered his fair share of loss in the final Battle."

"He's doing as well as he can,” Carewyn said, grateful for the caring. "As we all are, after everyone we've lost in this War…"

The faces of Tonks, Lupin, Amelia Bones, Mad-Eye Moody, Fred, and Dobby ran over her memory as she glanced around the office again, her eyes lingering on the many portraits hung up on the walls.

For a brief moment, Carewyn had wondered if there would’ve been another portrait added of the Headmaster who had taken charge of Hogwarts for most of the last term — but, she reminded herself, someone would likely have to actively choose to put a portrait of him in the office for him to be there. And she had trouble thinking of anyone who'd want to hang a portrait of Severus Snape on Hogwarts grounds, after everything…

McGonagall’s own expression had become rather sad as she folded her hands on her desk.

"I daresay it will be a long time before we fully heal from all the pain we have suffered. Before our whole World heals..."

Her face then grew more serious again.

"...Fortunately, from what I understand, we've started on the proper path towards that. Is it true you've accepted the role of Chief Prosecutor, for the Ministry's upcoming trials?"

Carewyn nodded. "Minister Shacklebolt offered the role to me this last Tuesday. There's still a lot of work to do before we start, but all of the suspects the Ministry seeks to try are already in custody, so at least we don't have to worry about them causing any further damage. All we have to do now is prove the extent of their crimes..." Her eyes hardened. "...And I intend to make sure they all face justice — every last one of them.”

"I have no doubt of that, Miss Cromwell." Something proud seemed to flicker across McGonagall’s features. "If there's one thing Barty Crouch did not have while pursuing justice against Voldemort's supporters, it was a strong moral compass…and that is something you've never lacked."

Carewyn wasn’t able to fight back the flinch at the Dark Lord’s name; even now that he was dead, he remained her greatest fear, and the habit of not using his name was hard to break. Even so, she smiled slightly.

"…I appreciate the support, Professor. It'll take time to give everyone a thorough trial, but there are some who it'll be far easier to try and convict quickly. Those captured after the Battle of Hogwarts, primarily — I would say there is little to no defense anyone could offer for the likes of Alecto and Amycus Carrow."

McGonagall scoffed. "I doubt those savage simpletons would see any reason to excuse their behavior, as opposed to justify it."

Carewyn snorted in agreement. "The Malfoys, on the other hand, might require more deliberation…particularly Narcissa." She took a sip of tea. "...Then there are those suspects who will undoubtedly claim innocence and coercion, whether it's true or not — Dolores Umbridge, for instance."

McGonagall gave a louder scoff than ever.

"Oh yes, I'm quite sure she'll try," she said spitefully. "I do hope your case will be robust enough to contradict that?"

"Don't worry," said Carewyn with a cold smile, "I have a large file of evidence against Umbridge, and it should be more than enough to condemn her. If you want to submit your own testimony as to her sadistic character, though, I'd be happy to include it in my prosecution," she added with a larger smirk.

"You may expect it by tomorrow," McGonagall said very coolly.

"Much obliged," Carewyn said with a grin.

She put down her cup of tea so she could fetch a Ginger Newt from the open tin. She took a bite, chewing slowly as she considered her next words.

"...Professor...may I ask your opinion on something?"

McGonagall raised her eyebrows. "You may certainly ask it. Though I must confess, I'm pleasantly surprised to hear you openly asking for advice."

"I don't intend to make a habit of it," Carewyn said with a light huff. Glancing away, she then admitted a bit more seriously, "...It's just...you've had to look after a lot of children as if they were yours, even if they weren't. And well...I find myself in the position that I might have to, as well."

McGonagall peered at Carewyn over her tea with interest. "Oh?"

Carewyn smiled uncomfortably, her eyes averted as she rested her hand holding the Ginger Newt on the desk.

"...I...want to foster a child," she confessed.

McGonagall blinked in surprise.

"His name is Erik Apollo," Carewyn explained. "He's one of the children I'm representing before the Wizengamot, demanding compensation. He was orphaned, cursed, and rounded up by the Muggle-Born Registration Commission during the War -- he only just barely avoided getting chucked into Azkaban, after Umbridge's trumped-up trial of him. He's twelve years old, set to start at Hogwarts this September as a first year. His home was wrecked and he has no other family. He needs somewhere stable to live in the Wizarding World, while he attends school..."

"And you wish to provide him that?" presumed McGonagall.

Carewyn nodded very firmly. "I do."

"Hm..." McGonagall's face had warmed significantly. "...Well, Miss Cromwell, I think that is a truly noble and generous thing for you to do. I would be happy to give you any counsel you wish."

She then smiled a bit more wryly.

"And I sincerely hope your new ward gets up to less trouble than you or your brother got up to, when he arrives here this September."

Carewyn laughed.

Friendship Drabble Prompt!

[lunaxite]

drawing of Chiara Lobosca

I recently befriended her in hphm so why not draw her as a celebration of a newly established friendship

[late-to-the-fandom]

Get to know the fanfic writer!

Thank you to the wonderful @fluffleforce-mysdrym for the tag (learn about her here).

Tagging: @velvethopewrites @27fanficlilies @omnissian-scribe @frozen-fountain @mysticstarlightduck @darknightfrombeyond @malicious-compliance-esq

When did you post your first-ever fanfic?

2019 – it took a very long time (20 something years) to work up the confidence to complete something and post it

First Character(s) you wrote?

I started very on-brand, writing for a C list character in the HPHM mobile game AND after his extremely brief and small surge of popularity. So needless to say it was a nonexistent fandom.

Main Character(s) you're currently writing?

Oh, Prince Renathal and I are still hanging out daily.

Character(s) you haven't written about before but plan to soon?

Not sure I have one of those. I have no plans after I finish my current series except maybe to finish the AU I hiatused.

Fandom(s) you're currently writing?

World of Warcraft (but only B list characters from the least popular expansion to date because that’s just who I am)

Platonic Pairing(s) you're currently writing?

I suppose Renathal/Theotar, Renathal/Draven both show up in Wend in the Shadows. I wanted to stress Renathal’s desire for, but ultimate inability to cultivate, truly intimate friendships because of his political position (and also his dad being a dick).

Romantic Pairing(s) you're currently writing?

Mainly Renathal/the Maw Walker (Elisewin), although the more I float little bits of the Accuser/Curator’s story the more I wonder about writing something short just for them. I ship them super hard on the sidelines.

Your top AO3 tags?

Probably Smut, Explicit Smut, and Sorry, no smut

Current platform you use for posting?

Ao3 and Tumblr

Snippet of the WIP you are currently working on?

Well, I recently had a bug to finish the next chapter of Shadow UNIverse which had been hiatused since spring. I’m halfway done with the second to last chapter, which is exciting. Hoping I can finish it soon and not burn out again. I've included a little snippet under the cut.

"Shall I confess something?"

"Yes, please."

"I have wanted to do this for some time."

"Really?” The Maw Walker craned her neck gingerly to the right, attempting to catch Renathal's eye with her good one. “Help me wash my hair while keeping my casts out of water? That's a very specific fantasy."

Renathal’s reply was to reach around and daub soapy shampoo lather bubbles to the end of the Maw Walker’s nose, upsetting the careful decorum she had maintained throughout the undignified bathing ritual as well as her precarious balance on the edge of his claw foot tub. But she was laughing as she slipped and he was laughing as he caught her, and it was several mirth-filled minutes and inelegant contortions before both were back in position.

"The fantasy,” he explained around the dregs of amusement as he resumed scrubbing the top of the Maw Walker's head, “was to have you in my bath. I admit, this was not precisely what I pictured."

"Oh, I see." She cocked her head to the side again and Renathal could see the hint of a smile play around her puffy, bruised lips. "How did you picture it?"

“Hmm…”

He made a thoughtful sort of noise and scrubbed in silence for several seconds, as if only now considering the details of a fantasy he'd had ready and waiting for weeks.

"Well, there would certainly have been wine,” he said at last - the Maw Walker hummed her approval. "And candles perhaps. Bath salts. Bubbles."

She wiped a bit of lingering lather from the side of her nose.

"We do have those."

Renathal chuckled but otherwise ignored this interjection as he finished, “And we would both of us have actually been in the bath. And with all our limbs safely intact."

“Ah, I see,” the Maw Walker repeated, though this time the smile in it was shaky. Renathal could feel the tension settle stiffly in her shoulders as he worked shampoo through the ends of her hair “That does sound lovely. I am… sorry to disappoint.”

[kkangkkangie]

HPHM Character Headcanons for my Orwell Chess story

I just made MC and Jacob the Holmes family b/c let's be honest Sherlock would 10/10 go missing in his pursuit for the Cursed Vaults.

Mycroft Holmes

certified eldest, eldest. he acc attended during the Marauders Era where he was a prefect of the Slytherin House when Snape and Lucia entered

brilliant wizen, but his professors somehow never caught on to his lazy attitude. the one student who doesn't study but gets perfect grades.

but he's in Slytherin for a reason. his ambition is to live the laziest life he can but with every privilege. acts as a sort of foil to Vincent Phantomhive, who's in the same year.

he became the unofficial parent to Lucia Moriarty with Francis Phantomhive b/c he'd be damned if the most interesting gossip went missing.

he's a natural occlumens somehow. Lucia suspects it has something to do with his super high intelligence as one needs to be able to navigate their victim's memories well to be a good legilimens.

Sherlock Holmes

he's reckless (as Jacob is within the game), but he's not careless/arrogant. every plan for the Cursed Vaults was made meticulously with his brilliance

he too is a genius like his brother and family. a natural inclination for Potions and Charms. but he's not skilled in the Mental Arts. In fact, he became good at deductions b/c he lacks in Legilimency.

has several journals that detail how to create spells like him, but no one ever really reads them b/c they're so dense. the only ever person who read them was William Moriarty (Lucia's younger brother) & he's the only person to do so

the only Ravenclaw within his siblings. he doesn't care for position or fame—he wants to know magic. it's the reason why he gets along with Lucia so much. she created magic from ancient runes and practically gave him a whole new project.

best friend is still John Watson, a fellow Gryffindor, and Molly Hooper, one yr younger Hufflepuff. They're one of the only inter-house friendship at the time surprisingly.

Violet "Viola" Holmes

the MC of HPHM & Slytherin (despite knowing that we're supposed to follow in our older brother's house).

the most magically gifted within the family, but the least intelligent (which means nothing b/c Sherlock and Mycroft is not the norm). but her brothers didn't really care about that. in fact, they were more interested in magic.

she actually resembles Sherlock more than Mycroft, which she proceeds to deny every single time like siblings do. the resemblance gets worse when she puts her hair into a ponytail like he did

her magical education was stunted b/c of Sherlock's disappearance & her parents stopped encouraging magical experiments and such, which is why she's not as up-to-date at Hogwarts.

She's actually closer in age with the Phantomhive twins as they're four years apart. she became a mentor/older sister to them (they're legally related to each other b/c Lucia was adopted into the Phantomhive family and her brothers was 'married' into the Holmes family—quite complicated).

[ariparri]

A New Friend

HPHM Cardverse Masterlist

The Hogwarts Mystery Cardverse is an AU that takes place in a fantasy land called Cinderhaven. There are five regions, four of them representing a suit of cards; Spades, Clubs, Hearts, Diamonds. The final region representing the Jokers.

Warnings: A sassy bat annoying his owner.

Summary: Veruca meets the farm girl that lives between the borders of Spades and Clubs.

Word Count: 2,784

Tag List: @catohphm @lifeofkaze @eternalchaoschocolaterain @oneirataxia-girl @akikocho

If you want to be updated on content for the AU, let me know and I'll put you on the tag list!

Here is how our future queen and jack meet for the first time! Their friendship started off with a runaway Gambat just messing with his owner. Their friendship also eventually leads to them meeting the future King of Clubs but that will be for another chapter.

You can also read it on AO3

• ･❀･ ｡ . ⡀｡⠐❀ ･ ｡ . ⡀｡⠐❀ ･ •

The streets of the country were bustling with activity. The shops were busy and the trolleys were packed with people trying to get to their destinations. Townsfolk were happily chatting amongst each other while going about their day.

"Gambat!" A young brunette girl shouts, running through the streets of the town. Overhead, a brown fruit bat flies, chirping as if taunting the young girl to chase after him. "Come back here!" The small bat chirps again, before flying off further down the street. A frustrated groan came from the girl as she picked up her pace, almost bumping into people, shouting apologies as she goes.

"This was supposed to be easy!" She huffed, holding onto the leash as it flailed behind her. "Taking your pet out for a walk shouldn't be this hard!" She huffed, looking up once more to see Gambat flying in the direction of the markets and shops. "Argh– Gambat, come back here!" The girl pushes herself to run faster, hoping to catch up with her pet. A groan left her mouth, she promised her parents that she would be fine.

~ An Hour Ago - McQuaid Estate ~

Elroy and Wilhelmina stood in the foyer of the estate, watching their daughter come down the stairs with a maid following behind her. "Mo stoirín, are you sure you'll be fine on your own?" Elroy, ever the worrywart over his daughter, was proud that she was being more independent. A nudge from his wife was enough to get him to stop. "Veruca will be fine, love. She's a McQuaid, after all. It's other people that you should be worried about." Wilma mutters the last part to herself. A soft chuckle escapes her husband's lips.

It's true that Veruca can be a bit of a troublemaker herself. After all, she took after her father and brother in that regard. But most people can tell that Veruca was more like her mother. Strong willed, passionate, and easily irritable. A few were unfortunate enough to face their wrath after an incident at her old school where Veruca got in trouble for punching a boy. Well the boy had it coming, he was bothering Veruca after being told to stop multiple times. And Wilhelmina had to come in, telling off not only the headmaster and teacher, but also the parents for allowing such behavior to continue.

"Of course, Wilma. After all, our little Vera has the McQuaid fire burning within her. You are old enough to take Gambat out on your own now." Elroy states, feeling proud at their daughter's upbringing. "Though, it would be best to stay out of trouble." He nods his head at Veruca, giving her a knowing look.

Veruca lets out a huff as she rolls her eyes, "Of course dad, I know already. And I'll be fine, I'll just head to the park down the street and come back. No detours." She turns her attention towards the maid, Jolien. In her hands, a bronze cage holding a small flying fox bat. The young girl lets out her furry friend, holding her hand out for him to hang onto. "Hey there, boy. Are you ready to go out today?" Gambat chirps happily, a mischievous glint in his eyes. Wilhelmina steps forward a small smile gracing her features, "Remember little one, put his collar on before you head out. Gambat may listen to your commands, but he still has the tendency to fly off on his own."

Veruca takes the leash and collar from her mother, "I know, mother, I know. I promise there won't be any trouble." She gives both her parents a confident smile. "Besides, it will be simple and easy." Wilhelmina narrows her eyes, but nonetheless nods at her daughter. Elroy on the other hand looks down at his daughter with beaming pride. "Okay, okay. I believe our girl has had enough of our nagging and worrying."

Elroy guides Veruca towards the door, handing her Gambat's collar and leash, "If anything happens, mo stoirín–"

"Nothing is going to happen, dad!" Veruca cuts him off, taking the items from her father in haste. "You've tagged along on my walks with Gambat all the time. I know what I'm doing." She places the collar around Gambat's scruff before attaching the leash. "Right, right. I'm sorry." Elroy holds his hands up in surrender with a grin. "Go on sweetheart, enjoy your walk."

Veruca smiles up at her father, before turning back to her mother, "Well I'm off! I'll be back later." She exits the estate and begins her trek towards the park. Wilhemina and Elroy stand by the entrance watching their daughter. Wilhelmina straightens her posture before heading back inside. "Come along now dear, let Veruca grow some independence. She's not going to be a little girl forever."

A few sniffles are heard from behind her and she glances back to see Elroy still gazing ahead. "No matter how old she gets, little Vera will always be my little girl." Wilhelmina simply watched her husband cry about time moving by too fast. She let out a chuckle before taking her husband by the arm and leading him back inside.

She knew her husband was right though. Time was moving fast. Coby is now attending college, and Veruca is starting to be more independent. But as her husband had said, they will always be their little boy and girl.

"Oh by the way, dear."

"Yes, what is it?"

"Did you get the new leash for Gambat, like I told you?"

"A new leash…? Shoot. Aha, about that…"

"Mm, so you have set my daughter up for failure."

"Now, Wilma! It wasn't my fault, there was a new set of equipment for the Abraxan Derby!"

~ Present Time ~

As Gambat flies through the air, the metal on his collar shines in the sunlight. Attached to the ring of the collar is a metal latch, part of the broken leash still connected to it. 'This is the last time I let dad do my shopping!' A deep frown settled on Veruca's face. She was too focused on Gambat and her thoughts to notice a wagon cart had pulled to a stop just a few shops ahead. Or the girl getting down from it.

Seeing the girl and a man step down from the wagon, Gambat lets out a loud chirp, getting the attention of the girl. Gambat's chirping had snapped Veruca out of her thoughts and she turned her gaze to see the people in front of her. "Wo– woah, look out!" Eyes wide as she tries to slow down, however the momentum was not enough for her to slow down to a complete stop. The other girl looked to see Veruca come stumbling at her. A look of surprise crosses the girl's face, accidentally dropping the small crate she was holding. Veruca crashes into her, the sudden force of the impact knocks both of them on to the ground. The horse lets out a panicked neigh, standing on its hind legs leaning back with head raised. The man was quick to move in and calm the horse before it tried to run away.

They both let out groans as they untangled each other and tried to sit up. "Ow, ow, ow…" The girl gets up, rubbing the sore spot on her head and Veruca did the same with her arm. "Ouch… oh shite, I'm so sorry about that." Veruca quickly collects herself, scrambling to her feet to help the other girl up. "My pet, ah… his leash broke and he started flying off." The girl waves her hand dismissively, adjusting her glasses. "Oh no worries, my animals tend to run off too whenever we leave their gates open."

"Are you girls okay?" After calming the horse down, the man rushes over to them, checking over the girl. "That was quite the stumble. Rowan, are you hurt?"

Rowan simply smiled up at him, "Don't worry Uncle Ollie, I'm fine! Just a little accident." Ollie sighed in relief before letting out a small laugh. "That's good, can't have my little helper get hurt on the job. Though, that's one crate of produce that won't be sold." All three looked down to see the crate destroyed, some of the fruits were smashed from the impact. Veruca looks to the side a little embarrassed, her fingers subconsciously playing with the ribbon on her dress. "I'm terribly sorry about that. If anything, I can pay for the damage."

Ollie laughed and patted her on the head, "No worries, accidents happen. We still have more produce to sell anyway." Realization crosses his features and he turns to the shop, "Speaking of which, I still have work to do." He gets another crate from the wagon, "Rowan why don't you clean up the mess. I'll take care of things with the manager."

"Okay, Uncle Ollie!" Rowan nods, before turning to Veruca. "You can help out too! That way, you can make it up to us." Veruca looked surprised before agreeing with her. "I think that's fair, though I still feel bad you lost out on some money." Rowan shrugged, "Eh, it happens." As they were cleaning, the two continued conversing. Rowan formally introduced herself as part of the Khanna family.

Her home was just on the outskirts of Spades, lying between the borders of the country and Clubs. Her family runs a farm, they provide many materials and produce from wool, to fruits and vegetables, and wood. Today it was her turn to help her uncle by delivering the products.

Veruca also told a bit about her family, and what life was like being born into an aristocracy with lenient parents who don't like following old traditions. She even explained that she was supposed to take her pet bat out for a walk but the leash snapped along the way.

Rowan smiles at Veruca, and the little bat finally comes down to rest upon Veruca's head. He was tired of flying so he decided to lay flat on his tummy. "So this is the one that caused all that trouble, huh." She states with a mischievous smile. "What's his name?"

The corner of Veruca's lips turned up a bit as she reached one hand up to rest upon Gambat. "This little guy is named Gambat. He usually listens, but he does like to fly away whenever he gets the chance." She takes a piece of the damaged fruit and hands it to Gambat. The moment the fruit is within Gambat's sight, he instantly reaches for it. 

"What a fun little fellow!" Rowan exclaims and Gambat chirps happily while munching on the fruit. Both girls laughed at the little bat and continued cleaning while Gambat helped himself with the fruit. Once they were finished, the crate was placed back into the wagon. Some of the fruit were safe from the fall however the ones that were damaged were given to Gambat who was more than happy to eat them.

"Hm, I still feel bad for bumping into you." Veruca began again, pulling out a small wallet from her dress pocket. She takes out a small card with her family's contact information, courtesy of her mother making her take it wherever she goes, as well as a checkbook. She writes the necessary information on the check before handing it along with her contact info to Rowan. The other girl looks on in surprise, examining both the card and check before turning back to Veruca. "You can already write checks? And a contact card? You're just a kid and your parents already trust you with this amount of responsibility?!"

Veruca frowns at that statement, "It's not that… My mother insists on me learning about money and banking." Her hand subconsciously went back to playing with the ribbon on her dress. "And the contact card is for professional reasons. But this was an accident I caused and damaged your products. If anything, my parents can compensate for my actions." Her voice trails off and she stands awkwardly.

Rowan stares at her before a smile breaks out on her face and she begins to laugh. A young girl of nobility with a bat lying on top of her head looking embarrassed and awkward is a funny sight to behold. Veruca stares at her before her lips quiver into a smile of her own and joins in with Rowan's laughter. Their laughter continued and the people passing by couldn't help but give the two odd looks but continued on their paths.

Soon the girls' laughter died down. Rowan wipes a tear from her eye, "You're funny Veruca! Both you and your pet!" She gives Gambat a small pet behind his ear. Veruca's smiles in return, "Thank you, Rowan." Talking can be heard from within the shop, and the girls looked over to see Ollie and the manager still talking over the products. "Oh by the way," Rowan turns back to Veruca, "are you going to be attending the Abraxan Derby next week?"

"Hm? Oh yeah! My dad and I love the event." Veruca's eyes lit up, "I want to play, but my brother says I'm way too short to get on the horse." Rowan laughs at that, "Well to be fair, the abraxans are huge! They still tower over my parents."

"Aha yeah. My dad and I will be going, we usually reserve a stand so we can watch it better." 

"You reserve a stand!? I wish I could get seats like those, so much better than the main floor." Rowan's shoulders slumped down. To be able to sit in a stand and watch the show from the air is always a blessing. Veruca gazed at her before an idea came to mind, "You and your family can sit with us." Rowan instantly turned to her, eyes wide at Veruca's suggestion. "What, are you sure? I don't want to impose."

Veruca shook her head, "I'm sure. Think of it as another way to pay back for what happened today. Besides, it's usually just my dad, brother and I that attend the event. Mom usually stays home."

"Well if you're sure, then alright! My brother and I love the Abraxan Derby! So I know he would be excited to see the game with better seats."

"Then it's settled. I'll let my dad know and we'll send you the passes." Veruca nods with a look of satisfaction. She takes hold of the leash before turning to Gambat. She ties the end of it to the loop of his collar, "We have to head back home, but first we gotta get you a new leash." Gambat chirps, stretching a bit before flapping his wings and flying off of Veruca's head. "Well, we better get going. It was nice meeting you, Rowan."

"It was nice meeting you too, Veruca." An angry chirp is heard from Gambat, causing Rowan to laugh. "And you too as well, Gambat." A happy chirp is her response. "I'll see you guys later! Have a nice walk back home!"

"Bye, come on Gambat." Veruca gives Rowan a little wave before lightly tugging on the leash. "You've caused enough trouble today." Rowan waves goodbye, the sound of the shop bell ringing as the door opens catches her attention. She turns to see her Uncle Ollie exit the store. He looked around to see the mess had been cleaned up. "Where did your new friend go?"

"Oh Veruca had to go home, but Uncle Ollie, she gave us this check to compensate for the mess." Rowan handed him the contact card and check. He examined the items, the moment he read the text his eyes widened. "McQuaid? The girl that bumped into you is a McQuaid?" Rowan nodded cheerfully, thrilled to have made a new friend. "Yep! And guess what. She even offered to have us sit with her family in one of the stands in the Abraxan Derby!"

Ollie looked at his niece as she rambled on about her new friend. He chuckled and ruffled Rowan's hair, "Well I'll be. All of this excitement in one day." He patted her shoulder before getting onto the wagon, grabbing the reins. "Come on now, we still have the rest of these crates to deliver. You can tell your parents all about your new friend when we get home."

Rowan fixes her hair before rushing to get on the wagon. "Right!" Once she is settled in her seat, Ollie flicks the reins and the horse begins to move. "I can't wait to see Veruca again! Oh Uncle, we should invite her over one day!" Ollie laughs as they ride further into the marketplace, but agrees with his niece. "We should. She seems like a nice girl."

[jxurnes]

if james potter knew about how many interhouse friendships hphm mc made i fear he'd go into a state of cardiac arrest