#its fun to watch but it gives me very unpleasant and intense anxiety for days on end

[theokusgallery]

The fnaf movie music fits arsenic somehow the into music that bop yk idk why

Gotta be honest i have never heard it let me just--

-- Okay I just listened to it and it's got a pretty good Nick vibe yeah ! On the topic of lyricless music that fits him, I also have Sleepwalker, Perfect Nothing (which is one of my favorite songs in existence) and probably anything by Crystal Castles. (linked three separate songs + the youtube channel)

[bellatrixobsessed1]

Athazagoraphobia (Part 5)

Li walks alongside Lo, the halls are painfully quiet, any conversation is held in hushed tones. “Good luck.” One of the younger serving girls whispers as they pass. “She’s in a mood.” Adds another.  Li isn’t particularly worried; taking care of the girl since before the crown could fit on her head, she has seen the princess in all sorts of moods.She is abundantly aware that the princess can be difficult, she is long past being intimidated by it. 

They enter the throne room. “Good evening, princess.” They greet. The princess looks anything but cheerful. In fact the princess looks bleak-eyed and exhausted and yet there is a fierce glimmer in her eyes, a warning glimmer. When it is pleasantly clear that she will not be returning their greeting, Li opts to get straight to the point. “Azula, we heard what happened. Why have you banished all your servants?”

“All your Dai Li agents…” Lo continues. 

“And the imperial firebenders.” Li finishes. 

“None of them could be trusted. Sooner or later, they all would have betrayed me. Just like Mai and Ty Lee did.” Azula replies. Her voice holds sharp overtones of anger and more subtle undertones of hurt and anxiety. 

In unison with her sister, Li speaks, “Azula, we are concerned for you and your well-being.” Truly, Li sympathizes with the girl having seen just how much pressure she places upon herself. How much more pressure that her father adds.

The princess only lashes out further. “My father asked you to come here and talk to me, didn't he‌? He thinks I can't handle the responsibility of being Fire Lord. But I will be the greatest leader in Fire Nation history.” 

She is much more temperamental than Li is used to. Really they ought to tread carefully, but Lo speaks first. “I'm sure you will. But considering everything that has happened today…”

Li cringes to herself, though, maybe the princess would find it more patronizing if they tried to sugarcoat things so Li continues, “perhaps it's best if you postponed your coronation.”

Rage flares to life in Azula’s intense gold eyes. They have made a mistake. “What?! Which one of you just said that?”

Li exchanges a glance with her sister as Azula continues speaking, “what a shame. There's only one way to resolve this. You two must duel each other. I order you to fight an Agni Kai!”

Rather flabbergasted Li leaves Lo to speak first. “But…”

Li joins the conversation. “We're not firebenders.”

“Alright, fine.” The princess seems to reluctantly accept this reminder. Pointing at Li, she declares, “Lo, you're banished.” And then to Lo, “Li, you can stay.” The girl walks away before they can question her a second time. 

“I think it would be best if we both took our leave.” Li says.

“Or we can make our way into one of the hidden passageways and wait for her state to pass.” Lo suggests. 

Li considers. Venturing beyond the palace walls with the war reaching its climax posed a ri.sk. But was the risk greater than the one the princess herself posed should she discover them? “Her mind is elsewhere.” Lo continues. “She won’t search us out.” 

Li nods, “let’s stop at the kitchen along the way.” 

The duo wanders down a long flight of stairs that make several twists and turns before opening into a hallway that they follow for a length of time. They make themselves comfortable in rather small, secret underground annex. But it is spacious enough to be comfortably livable, at least for a few days while the comet unfolds. Fixed on the ceiling, there is a narrow, horizontal window that lets light in and offers a view, albeit a limited one, of the outside world. 

The few days leading up to the comet pass remotely uneventfully. The most excitement they receive is watching cataipede crawl up the wall and begin the first stages of chrysalis. The day after provides a shift in the atmosphere. 

Li thinks, at first, that it is the effect of the midday sky warming into the orange and red hues of a sunset. “It is beginning.” Lo notes. 

In which case, with the princess presumably attending her coronation, it is safe to emerge from hiding. Li vocalizes as much before standing up and stretching very stiff limbs. If the palace was sushed before, it is gravely quiet now. With the servants and much of the palace staff gone, the place is oppressively eerie. Their footsteps echo down the expansive hallway. A hallway that seems almost elongated by the change in atmosphere. 

“How long do you think her coronation will last?” Lo asks. 

“Long enough for us to restock our food supply and get some fresh air.” Li replies.  The pair scavenge the kitchen before making their way into the outside world. The sun may be blotted out by clouds (both natural and born of war machines and comet dust) but the comet itself provides plenty of light as begins to make its way across the horizon. 

The sky is tinged red, its reflection in the royal garden’s pond gives the waters an uncanny, coppery, resemblance to a pool of blood.  She and Lo wander to the nearest bench and unwrap simple sandwiches; a meal for their comet viewing. 

Distantly, they can hear the sounds of war balloons taking off and as the comet progresses comes the sound of a battle. The roar of fire slapping against fire, of explosions, the sounds of an agni kai. It is almost too close for comfort and keeps Li from fully enjoying her sandwich. 

She has her meal finished and is discussing their next move with Lo when comes an astoundingly bright bolt of lightning. She can imagine that it could be seen well and clear over the rim of the volcano. It is accented by terribly loud rumble of thunder. 

Thunder rocks the ground before all goes silent.  

Disturbingly so. 

Every now and again the sound of flames roar in the distant but they become less and less frequent as the comet reaches zenith. And then it does, it reaches its highest point and bursts into a brighter flare. 

A flare and then burst. 

Mayhaps it is that her sight isn’t what it used to be, but she swears that something--just a small chunk--has broken away from the comet. 

Li looks to Lo who gives a shrug. 

“We need to be gone when the princess comes home, maybe we should have a look.” Lo suggests. 

“These old bones, walking that far?” Li asks.

Her sister laughs, “no one is around we have our pick of any of the tanks.”

Li returns the wheezing cackle. “Like in the good ol’ days.” 

Interesting, in retrospect, to know that they were seeking out a taste of the past in something that would only distance them much further from it. 

The city passes in a blur, several times, Lo almost sends them careening into a building. By the fifth time Li grumbles, “let me drive you old moth-bat!” 

“Not a chance!” Lo clings to the wheel. “I haven’t done this in years!” Her laughter is of the howling variety and Li grins am almost toothless grin. She turns her head and spies the coronation square. She gives her own hooting laugh at the prospect of defying the princess in such close proximity. It is exhilarating, she will save feeling guilty for a later time.

A thin trail of dark smoke acts as a beacon, guiding them to where the space rock had collided. Lo rolls the tank to a stop near the rim of Capital City’s volcano. Li grimances, “do you think your old legs can carry you all the way up there?”

“It don’t matter.” Lo replies. “I’m only getting older, if I’m gonna go out, I might as well make it fun.” 

Li frowns. “You don’t have to rush to your grave.”

“Eh, who said this is gonna kill me.” She calls down, for the old coon has already scrambled herself halfway up the craggy rim. 

“You let me know what’s up there. My old legs won’t carry me that far.”  She chuckles to herself. Of course her sister still has her agility. She herself would rather stay where things are safe. She listened to the sound of Lo shuffling around.

“Well I don’t know what this is.” Lo calls at last. 

“What does it look like?”

Lo’s face peeks over the edge. “I can’t say. Every time I think that I’ve found the words for it, it changes.” 

“Has the princess driven you mad too?” Li asks. She doesn’t get an answer. “Lo?” The lengthy pause leaves her jittery. “Lo?” She calls again. She shudders, there is an unpleasant rippling in her soul. 

An incomprehensible blackness that seems to wedge itself into the interweaved souls of she and her sister. “Lo!?” She calls out a third time, louder, more desperate. 

Something is wrong, she can feel it in her core and yet she can’t say why it is wrong. 

It is an alteration. Perhaps not directly to her soul. But inadvertently as some type of spiritual poison works into Lo’s soul.

Her sister comes back into view, providing only a fleeting moment of relief before Li notices her shambling gait. She is moving slower and her descent from the rim is more uncanny than the bloody reflection on the garden pond. 

She forces a smile and tries to ignore the feeling of terror. “Lo, I told you that you shouldn’t have made that climb. Now you’ve gone and hurt yourself.” Li scolds. With any luck Azula’s coronation will have left her in a better, more generous mood. And perhaps she will allow for Lo to receive adequate care. “Let’s get you to the place.” She adds when Lo doesn’t respond.

Her sister’s gaze never leaves the floor and her hands seem to stiffly twitch every few minutes. And as they walk back to the tank she takes pause every now and again as her whole body shudders. 

It isn’t normal. 

Not even slightly. 

But Li wants to believe that her sister is fine. 

“How about you tell me what you found up there?”

She is met only with raspy breathing. 

.oOo.

It is a miracle that Zuko is the one to greet her and with a grand and glorious tale of victory. Li wishes that she can share in his joy. Instead she forces Lo forward. “I don’t know what’s wrong with her, Fire Lord Zuko. But you need to allow her to see the royal physicians.” 

Zuko gives a sympathetic nod. “What happened?”

“We saw something break off of the comet. Lo and I wanted to see what it was.”

Zuko pinches the bridge of his nose. “What is with you old people and doing crazy things? I think the comet has driven everyone nuts!”

“You might be right there, Fire Lord.” But exactly what kind of madness has befallen Lo. 

Zuko escorts the twins to the infirmary. Lo is surprisingly strong as she resists Zuko’s attempts to lay her down. It is a silent protest, but the old woman refuses to get in bed. Zuko seems to grimace. “Maybe I should have her taken to the institution with Azula…” 

In need of a distraction she inquires, “what has become of the girl.” 

“She started screaming. Just screaming. And breathing fire…” Zuko trails off. “She wasn’t...she wasn’t her.” 

“Yes.” Li nods. “She was unusually cross with Lo and I.” 

Lo gives another full body tremor and collapses onto the bed. 

Her skin doesn’t begin to liquify for another day. But when it does, it is absolutely putrid. 

Her eyes go red first. Completely red as each and every blood vessel seems to rupture. Li watches it happen; first her right eye and then the left. Li tries not to stare for too long lest she be forced to accept that there is something silvery-white, fog-like, slithering in the pits of red. 

Li can’t help but be reminded of the pond. 

She begins to think of it as an omen. 

An omen she had failed to recognize. 

“Lo, are you still in there?” Li asks on the second day. 

Whatever it is that festers within Lo’s soul, only seems to grow. Li feels it in her own soul and wonders if she will fall to the madness too.

Lo’s lips move and Li regrets having coaxed it. That same silver-white smoke seems to ebb with in her mouth. But it isn’t like any natural mist, it doesn’t waft up. It doesn’t leave Lo’s mouth at all. It simply clings to the corners of her mouth as though waiting. 

The third day is when the first glob of flesh slouches down Lo’s cheek. It peels from the corner of Lo’s right eye. 

Li darts up faster than she thought her aged body ever could. “Fire Lord Zuko!” She calls. But what is he going to do? He is no doctor. Perhaps it is only the instinct of years of being an advisor that compels her to inform him of what is going on before sending for a doctor. Or maybe it is that she is used to Azula’s wit and quick thinking; the girl may not possess a friendly demeanor, but she had always granted them access to quality healthcare. 

Whatever the reason, she is at Zuko’s side. And the Fire Lord is on his feet in seconds. 

“Sit down, Fire Lord. If the woman is sick, you need to keep far from her.” A guard declares. “In fact, have this one quarintined.” 

Zuko bites his cheek, his eyes go downcast. “She’s…”

“Fire Lord.” The man continues. “If this is the same thing that has emerged near the west rim…” He trails off. “There is already talk of getting you evacuated.” 

“Evacuated?” Zuko snaps. “What the hell is going on here?”

She can see it on him, the stress weeps off of him like Lo’s decaying skin. He probably hasn’t even finished the paperwork that would have his sister institutionalized, much less has he had the time to get used to how the crown feels on his head. 

“I’m in the middle of planning a victory and coronation ceremony. I still have to unchain…” 

“Those things can wait.” Says a second guard. 

“My sister…”

“We will take care of that.” Says the first guard. He eyes Li. “Will someone take this old moth-bat into quarantine. Agnidammit!”

“Be careful with her!” Zuko shouts as a pair of particularly uncaring hands grab her by her frail elbows. 

She scowls at the rudeness of the soldiers, she isn’t one to pull rank, but, spirits, she would think that they’d handle a royal advisor--especially one so aged as she--with a little more attentiveness. 

“We’ll give you a few days. If your eyes don’t go red we’ll let you out.” Says the man as he closes the door. It’s thick metal seals her away from the answers that she years for. It only opens once more for a different guard to hand her at least four days worth of food and drink.

She doesn’t see another human being for those four days. 

It gives her time to think. 

Think and agonize over what she doesn’t know and never will. 

No she never does find out what Lo had seen; what caused her body to jerk and shudder. Li is glad that her bones creak and groan too much for her to have seen it for herself. But only partially so. The other part of her knows that she should have been there. 

They were born together. 

They were supposed to die together.

If only they would have stayed in hiding. 

If only they had feared Azula’s wrath more. 

Day five rolls around--day two of her quarantine--and she knows that Lo is dead. In the same why she has felt the unintelligible vileness, she feels that the other half of her soul has been snuffed out.

She stops eating on day five. 

She is disturbed to realize that she feels hollow and free in equal measure; the death of her twin frees her soul and crushes it all at once. 

On day six, a guard--Shinu, as she comes to know him--comes to free her, which is more kindness than was, apparently, extended to the princess. 

She steps out of quarantine and back into the world. 

By then, most of it is gone.

[you-andthebottlemen]

46 - HP AU

The long-awaited ‘sequel’ to my first Harry Potter AU!

There were many requests for this and my first HP AU received so much love, so thank you so so much!!

Requests:

@chestinfect-me - “PLS DO ANOTHER HARRY POTTER AU”

@swimminginthesequins  - “more catfish in hogwarts pls pls pls”

And anons:

“You should definitely do a part 2 to the harry potter story I loved it!!!”

“please carry on the Harry potter story :)) x”

“Can you do more of van and the boys at Hogwarts please?”

“Please do more Harry Potter au! Please, please, please”

“Please please please can you do more Harry Potter stories?”

Still travelling and still on the move so sorry this is kinda shit. More bits and pieces rather than a dramatic story. A little more Hogwarts + Catfish fun. But better than nothing maybe?? I miss this blog and all of you so much it’s insane.  Thank you for sticking with me, I love u xxxxx

And Merry Christmas to those of you who celebrate it!

Evangeline x

************

“No, no...like this,” you instructed softly, wrapping your hand around Van’s and helping him with the wand motion. “Not up...down, like that.”

As always, Van’s hands were warm. Touching them felt like clutching a hot mug of tea.

“What would I do without you?” he smiled sweetly and swooped in to kiss your cheek.

As usual, your cheeks flushed soft pink and you could see Van smirking slightly out the corner of your eye. The warm, fuzzy feeling bloomed in your chest, just as it had when he kissed your cheek at the Three Broomsticks concert. Every time felt like the first time and you adored it, no matter how embarrassing it was; even Van’s teasing had started to grow on you.

Van continued to practice the charm. You sat and watched as he tried and failed, waiting for the triumph. His face contorted in concentration and flicked between confusion, frustration, and satisfaction. You suppressed a giggle and pulled your Hogwarts scarf up tighter around your neck, burying into any warmth you could. The courtyard was cold and empty besides a few students passing by. Any noise you made echoed into the wind. You and Van were huddled together in a corner, both bundled up. It was probably far too cold for you to be sat outside like this but neither of you cared. However, your hands were starting to turn blue so you pulled Van’s gloves out of his pocket and put them on in an attempt to warm your fingers. It was only November but it felt like high Winter.

“We can go inside, love,” he said, looking down at your hands before meeting your eyes.

“No, it’s fine. Keep practising,” you replied with a cheerful enthusiasm despite wanting nothing more than to go inside and have a hot chocolate to warm your insides. You were proud of him for working so hard and didn’t want him to break the habit.

You tucked your legs up underneath you and curled into a ball as much as you could, trying your best to suppress shivers.

“Y/n, let’s just go in?” Van insisted, his eyebrows raised in worry.

You tried to argue but Van wouldn’t have any of it. He rubbed your gloved hands between his own to add to the warmth and afterwards, looked at you with his sparkling eyes and a toothy smile. Always enough to make you giddy.

You still had half an hour or so before potions class so Van took you into his common room and propped you up by the fire to thaw out. The flames danced as if they too, were made of magic; all gold and orange embers that disappeared in the blink of an eye. They were mesmerizing to look at. Van continued to practice his charms on the couch across from you, as exams were the following week. Slowly, life returned to your cheeks and you could feel the tips of your fingers and toes again. The warm yellow light of the fire was reflected in Van’s eyes and you were mesmerized, even more so than you had been by the fire itself.

“What’re you lookin’ at?” he asked playfully, his mouth curling up at the sides.

“You,” you replied with a small, dazed smile.

“Are you feeling any warmer?” he questioned seriously and you nodded, giving him back his gloves.

“Right. Well, your lips look a little blue still. Think I have just the thing to fix that though,” Van winked.

He stood up and plonked himself down beside you. The couch dipped where he sat and he held your face in his hands before kissing you hard.

..........

You and Van bolted down to the dungeons hand in hand, your scarves flying behind you, and giggling like maniacs. You passed a ghost and vaguely saw him roll his eyes at you before disappearing through a stone wall. 

By the time you burst through the door to potions class, you’d broken a sweat and were out of breath. The professor gave you both a thick scowl as you scrambled to take your seats with Rhiannon and Bondy.

Bondy gave you both a knowing smirk and you focused on your textbook intensely to avoid further embarrassment. Somehow, Bondy seemed to always know. He didn’t even need to say anything, but he could give a look that just told you he knew. Whatever there was to know.

“Late again?” Rhiannon asked you with faux innocence. “Weren’t snogging again were you?” She teased, nudging you with her elbow.

Van grinned. His eyes peeked through his messy, windswept fringe and glowed with mischief, giving it all away. You bit your lip to suppress a smile. Who’d have thought you of all people would be late to class because you were too busy kissing your boyfriend? Even more shocking was the fact that your boyfriend was none other than Van McCann; the last person you ever thought you’d be interested in. But it was wonderful and you could feel yourself falling for him more and more every day.

Potions was always a mess, especially with Van in the picture. Together with Bondy, it was a disaster. They egged each other on and found the stupidest stuff hilarious; it was like watching children do dangerous science experiments. Rhiannon didn’t help either; fuelling their mischief with laughter and challenges.

“Bit o’ this and a bit o’ that...” Bondy hummed deeply as he poured ingredients into his cauldron without stopping to measure them or even check the ingredients list. The whole thing made you tense with anxiety.

“What do you think would happen if I put this in?” Van asked you all.

You looked over at him and saw that he was holding up something that looked like a small, dried scorpion though it shone a brilliant green.

“Is it on the ingredients list?” you asked and Van shook his head. “Then don’t put it in,” you warned.

Van just glanced at Bondy who gave him a devilish look, then at Rhiannon who grinned. Before you could blink, Van dropped it into the cauldron with a splash. You braced yourself, not knowing what would happen. You’d literally seen him set fire to a potion before; you had no idea how he’d not been expelled. 

“Oh,” you said, your shoulders dropped.

You were surprised there was no reaction.

“Nothing?” Rhiannon asked sceptically.

 Van shook his head and shrugged. He had a triumphant, all too pleased look on his face as he sat back down on his stool at the table.

“See y/n. It’s fine, don’t have to be such a worry wart all the time,” he chuckled smugly, playing the whole thing off cool.

“Yeah, well, don’t speak too soon.”

You peered over into Van’s cauldron cautiously and your eyes went wide.

“Um. I don’t think your potion is meant to be moving like that...on its own.”

“What?” he asked worriedly, standing and looking down into it.

Van watched as the thick brown liquid congealed into what looked like mud and began to gurgle. Then, any liquid evaporated and it slowly morphed into a small, uneven and grotesque looking mound. The potion had turned into some kind of gooey, faceless creature that bubbled and made an unpleasant noise. 

Suddenly, there was an awful smell, like rotten eggs as the thing burnt a hole in the bottom of the cauldron. It fell through the hole and squashed onto the floor. You and Rhiannon jumped back in shock and fright. You grabbed Van by his robes and almost pulled him over. Everyone began to flee from the room in a panic.

“Mr. McCann!” the professor roared angrily as he held the door open.

Van blushed a violent red but smirked anyway. You took his hand and tugged him out of the room before he could cause any more damage. The creature slid slowly along the dungeon floor and under the desk, leaving some kind of steaming acidic trail. Rhiannon stayed back and with her hand over her mouth and nose, looked down at it with curiosity.

“What is it?” she muffled, crouching down.

“Doesn’t matter just don’t touch it!” you called worryingly.

Rhiannon shrugged and followed the rest of you out the door.  

“That was cool,” Bondy smiled casually.

You could tell he was secretly impressed and you rolled your eyes. Boys. 

“Honestly...what am I going to do with you?” the professor sighed at Van, sounding exhausted.

“My sentiments exactly, Sir,” you replied shaking your head at your sweet but idiotic boyfriend.

.....

Quidditch was never your thing. Though you’d come to thoroughly enjoy attending matches with Van and the others. You’d all sit bundled up in the stands, sharing sweets and mugs of enchanted hot cocoa that never went cold. 

Today’s match was Slytherin vs Gryffindor. You felt sorry for Bondy as you knew he was going to receive an absolute onslaught of abuse from Van and Larry. You walked from the castle to the stands, hand in hand with Van. You both wore large fuzzy earmuffs and your house scarves wrapped tightly around your necks. Van clutched a little Gryffindor flag in his spare hand, ready to cheer on his team.

“Sorry in advance mate,” Van grinned at Bondy, flashing his large teeth that you found completely endearing.

“Yeah, we’re gonna destroy you. Slytherin can wave goodbye to the Quidditch cup this year!” Larry piped up.

Larry, smaller than the others, bounded along behind you, trying to keep up with Van. He was like a little puppy and very often the third wheel in your relationship. But you didn’t mind; he and Van’s friendship was utterly enviable and it filled your heart with joy to watch them interact. 

Bondy’s eyes rolled lazily and he held a cigarette to his lips not caring for Van and Larry’s competitive jabs. 

“Someone might see! Put that out!” you whispered loudly to him. 

“So?” he shrugged, taking another lug puff.

Bondy’s face was pale and his nose bright red as if he had a cold. He too wore earmuffs and his soft waves of brown hair stuck out at funny angles. He wore his dirty fingerless gloves and hadn’t bothered to put on his tie. His coat didn’t look nearly warm enough and you could tell he hadn’t washed his shirt in far too long. 

Van handed you his little flag and snatched Bondy’s cigarette. You hated it when he smoked but stayed silent. Though, to be honest, you had found it pretty adorable when Van tried to work out the muggle money at Kings Cross when he tried to buy a pack earlier in the year.

You let go of Van’s hand went to walk with Bob and Rhiannon while he finished the cigarette with Bondy. Bob’s earmuffs hardly fit over his enormous cloud of curly hair and they’d made his glasses go wonky. He looked so cute and dorky. The three of you talked about the latest Hogwarts gossip and Bob told you how glad he was that he wasn’t in potions when Van had created that thing.

“I don’t blame you, Bob,” you sighed. 

 The frosty ground crunched beneath your feet and sent a shiver up your spine. You clenched Van’s flag tightly in your gloved hand and shoved the other into the pocket of your coat. Rhiannon’s earmuffs were a bright, glittering pink to match her new hair colour. Lately, it was a different colour for every mood. You loved her creativity and expression so, so much. 

“Do you reckon the new seeker will be good?” she asked you.

Slytherin had recently acquired a new seeker and everyone was terrified that she would be even better than the one they had last year. The other houses couldn’t bear the thought of Slytherin winning the Quidditch cup for the third year in a row. 

“We’ll have to wait and see, I suppose,” you replied. 

“Glad there’s finally a girl seeker though,” Rhiannon added and you nodded in agreement. 

Once you were all in your seats in the rickety stand, Rhiannon and Larry went off to buy sweets. You were sat between Van and Bob as usual and were all huddled together like penguins. It was the last game of the season and you were worried it would snow. You always felt so bad for the players in Winter. It was bad enough being potentially gunned down by a bludger - they didn’t need the added stress of freezing cold air, rain, snow and foggy eye goggles. 

Van slid his ungloved hand into your pocket and entwined his fingers with yours. You sat in silence and didn’t even look at him. A smile crept onto your face and you warmed up instantly. He gave your hand a reassuring squeeze and you squeezed back. Sometimes the sheer cheesiness of the pair of you made you feel queasy. But you adored it. 

Before Rhiannon and Bob could settle back into their seats, Gryffindor had scored. 

Van and Larry stood up and roared with such a force that they almost knocked Rhiannon clean off her feet. 

“Watch it mate,” Bondy, said to Larry sternly, not caring about the game at all. 

Rhiannon sat tucked up under his arm, smiling both at the protectiveness of her boyfriend and the goal her team had just scored.

Larry apologised and Van cheered loudly with both hands in the air, completely unaware of the situation that had just occurred. You feebly waved the Gryffindor flag about. You were happy with the goal but the cold was starting to hit you. 

“Would you like some cocoa?” Bob asked you quietly, pulling a large metal flask out from his robes. 

“Yes please,” you beamed. 

...............

The end of year feast was always spectacular. The Great Hall was decked out beyond anything you could ever imagine. The floating candles weren’t even the half of it. The atmospheric ceiling shone with stars, the tables decorated with holly, tinsel and tiny little Christmas elves wandered up and down softly singing carols. The walls were splashed with tapestries, flowers, and wreaths that glittered elegant gold and silver. The Hall was filled with loud chatter and you could feel the excitement radiating off every person in the room; even the ghosts joined in on the occasion.

You’d all decided to disregard the rules and not sit on your designated house tables. You sat with Rhiannon while you waited for the others to show up. She sat with a small elf perched on her hand and smiled as it sung to her. You looked at her in the light and watched as the colours of her hair changed like a beautiful watercolour palette. Your stomach growled. You’d been anticipating the meal you were about to consume for months now. Though for some reason, you weren’t as hungry as you should be. Your stomach felt unsettled and your chest fluttered with nerves. You sighed and Rhiannon gave you a confused look.

“What’s the matter?”

“Nothing,” you responded a little too defensively as you yourself weren’t even sure what was wrong. She shot you a disbelieving look.

You sighed again and rested your arms on the table. The little elves ran up to you and sang even louder, trying to get you to smile. Their pointed noises were so cute and the apples of their cheeks were soft red. They wore hats with tassels and bells and they had shoes that curled up at the ends.

“I think it’s Van,” you admitted.

“What about him?”

You squeezed your eyes shut for a moment, fearing that you’d sound stupid.

“I’m worried about what’s going to happen now. You know? This is our last year at Hogwarts. We have a week or so left and then it’s over...” You could feel your eyes begin to prickle. “I just don’t know where we will go from here, if we will last or if he even wants to...”

“Oh y/n, no. Don’t think that way...” she began but was interrupted by a stream of boys cramming themselves noisily onto the benches beside you.

Van snaked an arm around your waist and leaned in for a kiss. You sat up straight, kissed him back and pretended everything was okay despite the fact that now you’d voiced your fears, it definitely was not. You made knowing eye contact with Rhiannon as Van continued to grip you but talked enthusiastically to Larry beside him, not sensing your change in behaviour. You sat quietly but smiled, feigning joy and happiness. You hoped the good feelings would return to you as the warmth in your fingers did by the fire all those weeks ago.

Van laughed as the elves danced around the table in front of him. Larry had one sat on his head and Bondy was busy plucking them off his robes in distaste. You wondered where they came from and where they’d all go once food was served.

Speeches were made, last minute house points given out and as always, the house cup was awarded. Ravenclaw had won and Benji was beside himself with joy, you thought he might start crying; it was their first win in quite a while. Everyone was beaming and even those disappointed they’d not won had massive smiles on their faces. These only went wider when the food appeared.

The sheer amount of food shocked you every time; the desserts most of all. Van sat with eyes wide, staring at the massive trifle in front of him. He and Larry glanced at each other, grinned and grabbed at the sickly sweet dessert, filling their plates and their mouths shortly after.

Van turned to you and you didn’t fight the impulse that brought your hand to his chin to wipe off the sticky remnants of trifle. The action felt bittersweet and melancholy and you couldn’t shake the thoughts in your head that floated around telling you that the next few days would be goodbye.

“Thanks, babe.”

He looked at you, waiting. Though you weren’t sure what exactly he was waiting for. Van looked at you longer and you felt your insides crumble a little bit. When you didn’t respond or say anything, his eyes flickered and he shifted in his seat. 

“Are you okay?” he asked, his big blue eyes flooding with worry.

“Yeah.”

“No you’re not,” he replied; he knew you too well. 

You shrugged. 

“Come on,” he said, swinging his legs over the bench and taking your hand. 

He led you out of the loud and bustling Great Hall and out into one of the many empty corridors. You were anxious that a professor would follow you and take away house points but Van clearly wasn’t fussed. Van sat cross-legged on the floor and motioned for you to join him. You quietly folded your legs under yourself and sighed, feeling like an idiot for ruining his feast. 

“What’s going on y/n? You’ve hardly said anything all night.”

“You’re gonna think I’m being stupid,” you replied with one of those smiles that meant you were trying not to cry. You looked at your feet.

“Babe, no I won’t,” he insisted, gently holding a hand to your cheek and bringing your gaze back to him again. 

While Van was a clumsy, boisterous mess most of the time, he had this side of pure love and softness that you couldn’t explain. You sighed and looked him in the eyes.

“What’s going to happen after all this? Where is this, where are we going, Van?”

“Whatd’ya mean?” he asked innocently. 

“Fuck. Okay, well....do you want to be with me after Hogwarts?” you questioned desperately. Van’s face contorted into something that looked like shock and confusion.

“Of course I do, y/n,” he replied without hesitation. Van leant in to kiss you but you moved your face away. He looked hurt and it pained you to see that on his face. Your eyes prickled and you took a deep breath.

“Is that all you’re going to say?” you replied, feeling bitchy but you needed more reassurance than that. 

“Y/n I’ve never wanted to be with anyone as much as I have always wanted to be with you. Don’t be daft, of course I want to stay with you after Hogwarts. We’ll make it work. Promise,” he smiled genuinely, taking your hand once again.

You sighed and nodded, keeping your eyes glued to the ground. You felt slightly better but you still had the nasty feeling of doubt swirling around in your chest like a whirlwind.

“Van, I-” you began. 

“Y/n, I’m in love with you, okay? I like really fucking love you,” he blurted out, his eyebrows creasing ever so slightly. 

Your eyes snapped up to his and your mouth dropped open. You felt your heart rate shot up to a million miles an hour and your whole body filled with a feeling you couldn’t possibly explain. You knew deep inside that you loved Van too, you were just too frozen with shock to utter the words back to him. You sat there with his hand clenched tightly in yours, not able to move a muscle. 

“Y/n...?” Van whispered, sounding more nervous than ever before. 

You shook your head as if waking yourself up and gripped his hand tighter. 

“Uh-I...sorry, shit,” you fumbled, panicking. 

Before the words found you, you grabbed Van’s face with your hands and pressed your lips to his. As you kissed him, all the fear that harboured in your chest melted away and was instead replaced with a fire that felt stronger than ever. You loved this boy with everything you had.

And that was the most real magic of all.